Abstract:
There is disclosed a technique for increasing security in a system using the same communication protocol for maintenance/management as used in device functions. An information communication device transmits and receives maintenance/management information for maintenance/management in accordance with the same communication protocol as device function information used for device functions. A maintenance/management device transmits and receives maintenance/management information to/from the information communication device in accordance with the communication protocol. The maintenance/management device transmits and receives maintenance/management information to/from the information communication device in accordance with the communication protocol, and instructs the information communication device on maintenance/management control. The information communication device executes maintenance/management control in accordance with the maintenance/management information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting and receiving maintenance/management information for SIP devices.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Recently, attention is paid to SIP (Session Initiation protocol) used in IP (Internet Protocol) telephones or home information appliances. Besides primary functions (hereafter, called device functions) in SIP devices, maintenance/management functions are important. Device functions in SIP devices, for example, are communications by IP telephones and are used to control home information appliances. In these device functions, SIP is used to establish and disconnect sessions in IP telephones and home information appliances.  
         [0005]     Conventionally, for maintenance/management for SIP devices, there is a configuration in which maintenance/management can be performed from the outside via a network. In this configuration, it is necessary to transmit and receive maintenance/management information between the SIP device and a maintenance/management device.  
         [0006]     Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-229110 describes an example of a conventional method of transmitting and receiving maintenance/management information.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional system performing maintenance/management for devices via a network. Referring to  FIG. 1 , LAN (Local Area Network)  87  connected with terminals  83 ,  84  and PCs (Personal Computers)  85 ,  86  is connected to internet  81  via gateway  82 . Also, LAN  93  connected with terminals  89 ,  90  and PCs  91 ,  92  is connected to internet  81  via gateway  88 . Further, internet  81  is connected to maintenance center  80 .  
         [0008]     In  FIG. 1 , terminals  83 ,  84 ,  89 ,  90  are target devices of maintenance/management.  
         [0009]     Maintenance center  80  performs remote maintenance/management for respective terminals  83 ,  84 ,  89 ,  90 , namely, target subjects of maintenance/management. Each of terminals  83 ,  84 ,  89 ,  90  accepts a request from maintenance center  80 , determines whether access is available or not, and executes control in accordance with the request.  
         [0010]     The operation of this system is explained.  
         [0011]     First, maintenance center  80  transmits a device information output request or a device information update request to terminals  83 ,  84 ,  89 ,  90  via a WWW (World Wide Web) browser. The device information output request is a request for outputting information stored in devices. The device information update request is a request for updating information set in devices. Terminals  83 ,  84 ,  89 ,  90  output or change device information in accordance with requests from maintenance center  80 . With this arrangement, it is possible to perform maintenance/management for respective terminals  83 ,  84 ,  89 ,  90  from remote locations.  
         [0012]     However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems.  
         [0013]     It is necessary for devices connected with networks to take into account security, and security devices, such as firewall, are frequently used.  
         [0014]     Further, conventional maintenance/management systems use the WWW browser, and thus HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) are used for communications. For this reason, in order to make remote maintenance/management possible, it is necessary to set the firewall so that HTTP and FTP are allowed.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration in which the conventional system is applied to maintenance/management for SIP devices. Referring to  FIG. 2 , SIP device  96  is connected to internet  81  via firewall  94 . Also, maintenance/management device  80  and SIP device  95  are connected to internet  81 .  
         [0016]     Since communications about device functions between SIP devices  95 ,  96  are performed by SIP, firewall  94  is set so as to allow SIP. Also, since communications about maintenance/management from maintenance/management device  80  to SIP device  96  are performed by HTTP or FTP, firewall  94  has to be set to allow HTTP or FTP.  
         [0017]     Accordingly, in the conventional system, it is necessary not only to allow SIP, needed for device functions, but also protocols which are basically not needed, such as HTTP and FTP. Therefore, there is a problem, namely, a deterioration in the security.  
         [0018]     Further, in conventional systems, in order to make maintenance/management from remote locations possible, it is necessary to change settings on the security device so that HTTP and FTP are allowed, and operations therefore become complicated.  
         [0019]     Furthermore, in conventional systems, in order to make maintenance/management from remote locations possible, it is necessary to implement FTP, HTTP or the like, in addition to SIP, which is fundamentally necessary, and this causes an increase in costs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The object of the present invention is to provide a maintenance/management system for SIP devices, capable of performing maintenance/management from remote locations easily at a low cost while retaining a high level of security.  
         [0021]     To achieve the above-mentioned object, a remote maintenance/management system according to the present invention is a remote maintenance/management system for remotely maintaining and managing devices that are implemented with communication protocols that are used to execute device functions, and is provided with an information communication device and a maintenance/management device.  
         [0022]     The information communication device transmits and receives maintenance/management information for maintenance/management by the same communication protocol as device function information for device functions, and executes maintenance/management control based on the maintenance/management information.  
         [0023]     The maintenance/management device transmits and receives maintenance/management information to/from the information communication device in accordance with the communication protocol, and instructs the information communication device on maintenance/management control.  
         [0024]     According to the present invention, it is unnecessary to implement protocols except for communication protocols that are fundamentally necessary for information communication devices. Also, when protocols are restricted for he sake of security, it is unnecessary to allow any protocol except for communication protocols which are fundamentally necessary, and setting operations thereof are not required. As a consequence, maintenance/management can be performed from remote locations easily at low cost while retaining a high level of security.  
         [0025]     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a conventional system for performing maintenance/management for devices via a network;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a configuration in which the conventional system is applied to maintenance/management for SIP devices;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a maintenance/management system according to an embodiment;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a maintenance/management device according to the embodiment;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a SIP device according to the embodiment;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a table of an example of maintenance/management control commands;  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a table of an example of setting information for the SIP device; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a view for example of the operation of the maintenance/management system. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]     In this description, explanation is given of a system for performing maintenance/management for SIP devices via Internet from a maintenance/management device. In this embodiment, SIP devices include a device connected to the internet via a firewall and a device connected to the internet without a firewall.  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a maintenance/management system according to this embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 3 , this system includes maintenance/management device  10  and SIP devices  11 ,  12 . SIP device  11  is connected to internet  14  via firewall  13 . Also, maintenance/management device  10  and SIP device  12  are connected to internet  14 .  
         [0036]     Maintenance/management device  10  performs maintenance/management for SIP devices  11 ,  12  from remote locations via internet  14 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a maintenance/management device according to this embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4 , maintenance/management device  10  includes maintenance/management processing unit  21  and SIP processing unit  22 .  
         [0038]     Maintenance/management processing unit  21  performs maintenance/management for SIP devices  11 ,  12 . For that purpose, maintenance/management processing unit  21  produces maintenance/management information and transmits the information to SIP processing unit  22 . Maintenance/management processing unit  21  also receives maintenance/management information from SIP devices  11 ,  12  via SIP processing unit  22  and analyzes the information.  
         [0039]     Maintenance/management control is performed, for example, in accordance with an input command by an operator. Examples of maintenance/management control, include control for acquiring log information or current setting information from SIP devices, control for defining setting information to SIP devices, and control for resetting SIP devices. Results of maintenance/management control may be displayed to the operator who inputs the command.  
         [0040]     SIP processing unit  22  performs a SIP process for the maintenance/management information processed by maintenance/management processing unit  21 , and transmits and receives SIP packets of the maintenance/management information to/from SIP devices  11 ,  12 .  
         [0041]     SIP devices  11 ,  12  are devices for performing communications using SIP and for executing primary device functions (device functions), for example, to control home information appliances. Also, SIP devices  11 ,  12  can be maintained and managed by maintenance/management device  10 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a SIP device according to the embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 5 , SIP devices  11 ,  12  are provided with device function unit  31 , maintenance/management processing unit  32 , and SIP processing unit  33 .  
         [0043]     Device function unit  31  executes device functions as the SIP device. Device function unit  31  transmits and receives information necessary for executing device functions (hereinafter, called device function information). For example, device function information is transmitted and received between SIP devices.  
         [0044]     Maintenance/management processing unit  32  executes maintenance/management control instructed by maintenance/management device  10 . Maintenance/management processing unit  32  transmits and receives maintenance/management information necessary for executing the maintenance/management control. Control from maintenance/management device  10  is transmitted to SIP devices  11 ,  12  as maintenance/management information. Control execution results of maintenance/management processing unit  32  are transmitted to maintenance/management device  10  as maintenance/management information.  
         [0045]     SIP processing unit  33  performs the SIP process for the device function information processed by device function unit  31  for and maintenance/management information processed by maintenance/management processing unit  32 , and transmits and receives SIP packets to/from maintenance/management device  10 .  
         [0046]     Firewall  13  is provided with to ensure security of LAN  15  connected with SIP device  11  and restricts communications between LAN  15  and Internet  14  in accordance with specified settings.  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a table of an example of maintenance/management control commands. In this embodiment, these maintenance/management control commands are added to SIP. Maintenance/management device  10  is able to inform SIP devices  11 ,  12  of these commands by SIP. SIP devices  11 ,  12  are able to analyze these commands and to execute maintenance/management control in accordance with the commands.  
         [0048]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , commands, such as “GetLog”, “Reset”, “GetConfig”, and “SetConfig”, are specified.  
         [0049]     GetLog is a command instructing that log information stored in SIP devices (terminals) be transmitted to maintenance/management device. Reset is a command instructing that SIP devices be reset. GetConfig is a command instructing that information currently set in SIP devices be transmitted to the maintenance/management device. SetConfig is a command instructing that the information be set from the maintenance/management device to the SIP devices.  
         [0050]     Maintenance/management processing unit  21  in maintenance/management device  10  transmits these commands to SIP devices  11 ,  12  as maintenance/management information. Maintenance/management processing unit  32  in SIP devices  11 ,  12  receives these commands and executes them. For example, when the Reset command is received, maintenance/management processing unit  32  resets the SIP device itself. When GetLog command or GetConfig command is received, maintenance/management processing unit  32  transmits an operation status log or information to be set to maintenance/management device  10 . Further, when SetConfig command is received, maintenance/management processing unit  32  sets the setting information to the SIP device itself.  
         [0051]      FIG. 7  is a table of an example of setting information for the SIP device. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the setting information includes “DHCP Mode”, “IP Address”, “Subnet Mask”, “Default Gateway”, “VLAN Mode”, “VLAN ID”, and “VLAN Priority”.  
         [0052]     Explanation is given of an example of the operation of the maintenance/management system according to this embodiment.  
         [0053]      FIG. 8  is a view for explaining the example of the operation of the maintenance/management system. In  FIG. 8 , maintenance/management control for SIP device  11  connected to internet  14  via firewall  13  is shown as an example.  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , first of all, when the operator starts an input operation, maintenance/management device  10  determines the maintenance/management control that is to be executed in accordance with the input (Step  101 ). Then, maintenance/management device  10  produces maintenance/management information to be transmitted to SIP device  11  (Step  102 ). Subsequently, maintenance/management device  10  produces SIP packets including the produced maintenance/management information (Step  103 ) that has been generated, and transmits the SIP packets to SIP device  11  (Step  104 ).  
         [0055]     The SIP packets that are transmitted from maintenance/management device  10  are received by firewall  13  via Internet  14  (Step  201 ). Firewall  13  confirms that communication of the SIP packets is allowed (Step  202 ), and transmits the SIP packets to SIP device  11  via LAN  15  (Step  203 ).  
         [0056]     The SIP packets transmitted from firewall  13  to LAN  15  are received by SIP device  11  (Step  301 ). Then, SIP device  11  analyzes the SIP packets (Step  302 ), and extracts maintenance/management information. Further, SIP device  11  analyzes the maintenance/management information (Step  303 ), and executes the operation instructed by the maintenance/management information.  
         [0057]     As described above, according to this embodiment, in SIP device  11 , SIP processing unit  33  transmits and receives the device function information and the maintenance/management information in accordance with SIP, and maintenance/management processing unit  32  performs the maintenance/management control in accordance with the maintenance/management information transmitted and received by SIP processing unit  33  using SIP packets. Therefore, it is unnecessary to implement protocols except SIP which is fundamentally necessary for SIP device  11 . Also, in the configuration using firewall  13 , it is unnecessary for firewall  13  to allow protocols except for SIP, and operations to set information are not required. As a result, remote maintenance/management is possible easily at low cost while retaining a high level of security. In SIP devices connected via Internet  14 , namely, a public network, it is possible to prevent damage, such as that caused by a virus, from occurring while retaining a high level of security.  
         [0058]     Also, according to this embodiment, the maintenance/management device informs the information communication device of commands for maintenance/management control in accordance with the communication protocol for the device functions, and the information communication device analyzes these commands and executes the maintenance/management control in accordance with the commands. Therefore, only by adding simple commands to SIP, can remote maintenance/management maintaining a high level of security be performed easily.  
         [0059]     While preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purpose only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.