JP2003298621A - Terminal device connection system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified)
Even in the case of N-to-N or N-to-N, two-way communication is possible between them, and a terminal-to-terminal connection system is provided which can be performed via a communication network by TCP / IP communication means. A user terminal device includes providers a to d.
, A global IP address is obtained from the network, a connection is made to the provider g via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means via the providers a to d, and a connection to the terminal device 15 is requested. Provider g
Sends connection request information to the terminal device 15 to which connection is requested, using the private IP address. The connection request destination terminal device 15a receives a global IP address by connecting to the provider e of the terminal device 15a, and connects to the global IP address of the user terminal device 10 described in the connection request information. I do.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection system capable of bidirectional data transmission between terminal equipments via a communication network by TCP / IP communication means such as the Internet, and more particularly, by the TCP / IP communication means from terminal equipments. The present invention relates to a terminal device connection system that does not limit connection to a communication network to a specific communication means, and that allows bidirectional data transmission between terminal devices to be performed via a communication network using TCP / IP communication means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, remote monitoring and remote management have been performed. However, in order to perform bidirectional communication of image data, voice data, numerical data, etc., remote monitoring or remote management destination terminal equipment and monitoring are performed. A dedicated communication line is used between the terminal device for management or management. As a dedicated communication line, a telephone line or a line in which a dedicated communication line is laid between terminal devices is used.When a telephone line is used as a dedicated communication line, between the terminal device and the telephone line, Both must use a common telephone communication system. When different telephone communication systems are used between the terminal equipment and the telephone line, data communication between the terminal equipment cannot be performed because the data processing method of image data etc. is different for each telephone communication system. It was

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-333464 discloses that
A remote monitoring system using a telephone line is disclosed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the device disclosed in this publication installs a plurality of slave units 20 at a place where a user wants to monitor and also a monitoring terminal 21 that collects monitoring information from the slave units 20.
Is installed in a location where wireless communication with the handset is possible. The monitoring terminal 21 and the user terminal 22 (PC or mobile phone)
Also, a management computer 23 owned by a person who provides the monitoring service is connected via a telephone line network 24 having a communication function of a simple mobile phone (PHS or the like) so as to be capable of data communication. The monitoring terminal 21 opens a communication line with the management computer 23 of the service provider connected to the telephone line network 24 by sending and receiving a call, and transmits / receives data to / from both sides.

The monitoring terminal 21 compresses the monitoring information from the slave unit 20 and transmits it to the management computer 23, and the management computer 23 stores the same information. The user terminal 22 is connected to the management computer 23 by using a dedicated communication function used in a simple mobile phone, and the management computer 23
It is possible to obtain the information from the monitoring terminal 21 stored by the.

In the invention described in this publication, the management computer 23 is required to store the monitoring information and transfer it to the user terminal 22. In addition, both the user terminal 22 and the monitoring terminal 21 must use a dedicated communication function used in a simple mobile phone, and data is exchanged with a terminal equipped with another communication system without a protocol conversion service. Incompatible with the
In particular, data exchange cannot be performed in a communication system using a communication network such as the Internet using TCP / IP communication means.

Further, since the dedicated communication function used in the simple mobile phone is used, the user terminal 2
A communication line is opened between 2 and the management computer 23 by calling a specific telephone number, which requires the communication line to be established between the user terminal 22 and the management computer 23. At this time, the user terminal 22 and the management computer 23 perform one-to-one communication. Also, one-to-one communication is performed between the monitoring terminal 21 and the management computer 23 by a telephone line. For this reason, unless the user terminal 22, the monitoring terminal 21, and the management computer 23 have a communication function that operates in the same system, data cannot be communicated with each other.

When the communication function of a simple mobile phone such as PHS is used, TCP / IP via the Internet or the like is used.
There is also a problem that the usage fee for communication is higher than that of a communication system using a communication network of communication means. For this reason, the communication cost is kept low, and not only the one-to-one connection between the terminal devices but also the connection that enables the two-way communication even in the case of 1: N or N: N is TCP / IP.
It was required to be carried out via a communication network by communication means.

However, in order to perform bidirectional data transmission via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means, it is necessary to always establish a communication line with the communication network between terminal devices that perform bidirectional data transmission. There was a problem that it had to be. That is, each of the terminal devices that perform mutual communication must hold a fixed global IP address, and the communication partners must be mutually specified by using the global IP address. In particular, when the number of each terminal device is N, in order to perform N-to-N bidirectional communication, the N terminal devices and the N terminal devices all hold the global IP address, The communication partner on the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means must be specified by the global IP address.

By the way, in a network using a communication network using TCP / IP communication means, it is necessary for all communication partners to be assigned a global IP address.
/ IP that can be used by IP communication means
The address has an upper limit. For this reason, it is generally necessary to call the provider from the user side terminal device to have the global IP address assigned to the terminal device only when necessary. The global IP address must be connected to the provider from the terminal device. By
It is supposed to be allocated for the first time.

Since a blank global IP address stored by the provider is assigned each time a connection is made, a fixed global IP address is not assigned to the terminal device. When the terminal device is connected to the provider, the same global IP address is supposed to be allocated during the connection.
In order to connect a plurality of terminal devices via a communication network using TCP / IP communication means, each terminal device must always be in a connected state with a provider, but in reality, all connected terminals are connected. There is a problem that the device cannot be connected to the provider and communication cannot be performed using the same global IP address.

[0011]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above problems and provides a terminal equipment connection system capable of bidirectional data transmission of N to N via a communication network by TCP / IP communication means. It is in. In particular, it is to provide a terminal equipment connection system capable of connecting, when necessary, a plurality of remotely monitored or remotely managed equipment and a plurality of terminal equipment capable of bidirectional communication with the equipment. .

[0012]

The object of the present invention is achieved by the inventions described in claims 1 to 10 of the present application.
That is, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is to connect from a user terminal device to a provider that manages private IP addresses of a plurality of terminal devices, and at the provider, a connection request by the user terminal device from the plurality of terminal devices. Send connection request information to the destination terminal device,
A global IP address is obtained by the terminal device that has received the connection request information, and the terminal device and the user terminal device are TC-connected by using the global IP address.
A terminal equipment connection system is characterized in that bidirectional data transmission is possible via a communication network by P / IP communication means.

According to the present invention, the user terminal device and the terminal device desired to be connected by the user terminal device can be connected via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means by the following procedure. That is, a connection is established from a user terminal device to a provider that manages private IP addresses for a plurality of terminal devices via the provider of the same user terminal device via a communication network by TCP / IP communication means. As a result, a global IP address is allocated to the user terminal device from the provider of the user terminal device (actually, a DHCP server managed by the provider). In the provider to which the user terminal device has connected, the private IP address of the plurality of terminal devices stored by the provider is used to send mail to the terminal device to which the user terminal device is requesting connection by using the private IP address, The connection request information is transmitted using FTP, HTTP or the like.

A mail requesting connection request information from the provider,
The terminal device of the connection request destination, which has received the call-in by FTP, HTTP, etc., receives the global IP address allocation by connecting to the provider of the terminal device, and the global of the user terminal device described in the connection request information. The connection to the IP address is performed, and the connection with the user terminal device via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means is completed. The global IP address can be notified by using the mail function, or can be sent by FTP (File Transfer Pro) which is a file transfer protocol.
tocol), TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protoco)
l), HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or the like.

By using the inter-terminal-device connection system of the present invention, it is possible to make a connection from any user terminal device to a terminal device desired to be connected via a communication network by TCP / IP communication means. Therefore, a common communication system in a communication network using TCP / IP communication means can be used between the terminal devices, and bidirectional transmission of various data such as image data, audio data and numerical data, contact information, etc. between the both terminal devices. You will be able to communicate.

As the user terminal device, the user terminal device can be connected to the desired terminal device by connecting to the provider that manages the private IP address of the connection request destination terminal device. A plurality of user terminal devices can be connected at the same time, and bidirectional communication can be performed between them. Therefore, from one-to-one communication to one-to-N
P communication and N-to-N communication can be performed bidirectionally.

Further, in order to prevent unauthorized connection to the terminal device, the user terminal device connected to the provider may be confirmed using the ID number, password and the like. In addition, emails from providers, FTP, HTT
Authentication information and the like for permitting connection to the user terminal device can be transmitted together with P and the like. It is also possible to manage the private IP address related to the terminal device by the user terminal device and transmit the connection request information from the user terminal device to the terminal device via the provider of the terminal device. After that, the terminal device that has received the connection request can connect to the user terminal device by the same procedure as described above.

In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, in addition to the matters of claim 1, in the case where the user terminal device is a user terminal device for which a global IP address cannot be obtained, the user terminal device performs a predetermined communication by telephone communication means. The terminal-device-to-device connection system limits the matters for connecting to the computer and connecting to the provider via the computer via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means. In the present invention, the user terminal device is TCP /
Even in the case of a mobile phone or the like that does not have a function of connecting to the communication network by the IP communication means, by interposing a computer capable of connecting to the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means from the user terminal device. , It becomes possible to establish a connection line with a terminal device to be connected.

For example, from a mobile phone that does not have a function of connecting to a communication network by TCP / IP communication means, TCP / IP
By connecting to a predetermined computer connectable to a communication network by the IP communication means using a telephone line and controlling the computer with a mobile phone, the TCP / IP communication means is provided between the computer and a terminal device of a partner to be connected. It is possible to connect so as to enable bidirectional communication via the communication network. Moreover, the data communication performed between the computer and the terminal device can be obtained and transmitted by the two-way communication between the computer and the mobile phone, and as a result, the data communication between the mobile phone and the terminal device can be performed. It becomes possible to perform two-way communication.

In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, in addition to the matters of claim 1 or 2, at least one of the user terminal device and the plurality of terminal devices is remotely monitored, remotely managed or remotely operated. It is a connection system between terminal devices that limits the items that are allocated to equipment. In this invention,
Connection can be made from the same equipment or from the other terminal equipment via a communication network using TCP / IP communication means, via a terminal equipment arranged in equipment that is remotely monitored, remotely managed or remotely operated. As a result, it is possible to perform desired operations, obtain information, and the like for the same equipment, and automatically transmit information from the same equipment to the other terminal device.

Therefore, as long as there is a terminal device that can be connected to the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means, the information necessary when needed regardless of where in the world or from any terminal device is available. It is also possible to take out the equipment and operate and monitor the equipment. Further, the abnormal state of the equipment can be received at any time via the terminal device by the terminal device which is the external management device, so that it is possible to promptly deal with the abnormal situation.

In the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, in addition to the matters of claim 3, the terminal equipment arranged in the equipment is limited to the terminal equipped with a built-in personal computer equipped with a Linux operating system. It is in the inter-device connection system. In the present invention, the equipment to be remotely monitored, remotely managed, or remotely operated is provided with a terminal device having a built-in personal computer equipped with a Linux operating system.

By using the Linux OS as the operating system (OS) of the built-in personal computer of the terminal equipment installed in the equipment, TCP in the OS can be used.
It becomes possible to use the communication system to the communication network by the / IP communication means. Also, OS of Linux
Is an OS of UNIX (registered trademark) clone,
It is designed to realize the same function as that of NIX (registered trademark). Moreover, no license fee is required for using Linux and redistributable free of charge, so that it is possible to flexibly and inexpensively deal with corrections and changes of control programs etc. in terminal devices. Become.

In addition, it is impossible to connect a device distributed in the personal computer market with a conventional dedicated machine, and the device to be connected is a dedicated device developed by each maker, so that it lacks flexibility. there were. But,
In the present invention, since a personal computer is used as the terminal arranged in the facility, there is an advantage that a large number of commercially available devices for personal computers can be directly connected to the terminal equipment. Further, various network technologies developed in the personal computer market, for example, remote management by telemetering, LAN, WAN, VPN, and all other cutting-edge network technologies can be implemented as standard.

In the invention according to claim 5 of the present application, in addition to the matters of claim 4, the matters in which the built-in personal computer can mutually communicate with the operating device arranged in the facility through the interface built in the terminal device are limited. It is in the connection system between terminal devices. In the present invention, since the built-in personal computer and at least one operating device are connected via the interface, the difference between the voltage or signal level in the operating device connected to the I / O port of the interface and the voltage or signal level in the personal computer. Adopting a structure that has a structure for absorbing light, an input / output port for analog and digital signals, a converter for converting analog and digital signals, and a connection port corresponding to the image data processing system provided in the camera as an interface. As a result, various operating devices can be connected to the built-in personal computer so that they can communicate with each other. Accordingly, for example, it becomes possible to control various operating devices in the facility from the user terminal device based on the signal from the user terminal device.

In the invention according to claim 6 of the present application, in addition to the matters of claim 5, the operating device is a monitoring device used in a monitoring system of a specific area, and includes an image pickup device, an infrared sensor, a temperature monitoring sensor, Sound monitoring sensor, smoke sensor,
A monitoring device including at least one of an impact sensor, a vibration sensor, and a horizontal state monitoring sensor is included, and a plurality of terminal devices communicate monitoring information from the monitoring device to the built-in personal computer through the interface to monitor the same. An inter-terminal-device connection system that limits the items having a function that enables information to be transmitted to a predetermined external management device.

According to the present invention, when the monitoring device is used as the actuating device, the monitoring information of the abnormal situation by the monitoring device can be transmitted to a predetermined external management device. For example, a user terminal device can be used as the external management device. The transmission to the user terminal device is performed from the terminal device equipped with the monitoring device via the provider of the terminal device to the provider who manages the private IP address of the external management device in advance by TCP /
A connection is made through the communication network by the IP communication means, and the relevant management apparatus is selected from the private IP addresses of the plurality of management apparatuses stored by the provider at the same provider, and the private IP address for the same management apparatus is selected. To send the connection request information using mail, FTP, HTTP, or the like.

In the management device that receives a call from the provider by mail or the like, the management device receives a global IP address from the provider of the management device, and the terminal device equipped with the monitoring device written in the mail or the like. Make a connection. Thereby, the abnormality information can be obtained from the terminal device. Further, the terminal device can be controlled from the management device to retrieve information from other operating devices.

When the external management device is a management device that cannot be connected via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means, the TCP / IP communication means specified by the management device from the terminal device equipped with the monitoring device is used. By connecting to a computer that can be connected via a communication network and connecting the computer and the management device by a telephone line, the management device and the terminal device can be bidirectionally connected. If the terminal device equipped with the monitoring device has the same telephone communication system as the management device,
It is also possible to connect using the telephone communication network by using the telephone communication system. With this, when the terminal device detects an abnormal condition, it can notify the external management device that an abnormal condition has occurred, and operate the other operating devices from the management device to check the situation of the abnormal condition. You will be able to understand.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application resides in a terminal-device connecting system in which, in addition to the items of claim 6, the facility is a vending machine. This invention uses TCP /
A user terminal device can be connected via a communication network using IP communication means, and an automatic vending machine can be used as a facility for remote monitoring, remote management or remote control. By installing the terminal equipment in the terminal equipment connection system inside the vending machine, various monitoring devices for the vending machine, security devices, and monitoring, operation and management of the sales status of the vending machine, the inventory status of products, the storage status, etc. About TCP
/ IP communication means enables communication at a remote location via a communication network.

For example, by incorporating the POS system into the vending machine, it becomes possible to manage the sales situation of the products in the vending machine in time series for each type of the products. In addition, by combining various operating devices equipped in the vending machine, information required by the administrator of the vending machine can be retrieved and operated at any time and using various user terminal devices. become able to.

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is, in addition to the matters of claim 6, an inter-terminal-device connection system in which the matter that the facility is an unmanned parking lot is limited. This invention uses TCP /
It is possible to connect to a user terminal device via a communication network using IP communication means, and an unmanned parking lot can be used as a facility for remote monitoring, remote management or remote control.

By installing the terminal equipment in the terminal equipment connection system in the control device installed in the unmanned parking lot, security measures in the unmanned parking lot, management of parking fee,
It is possible to meet various demands in unmanned parking lots, such as handling accidents. Also, while displaying the status of vacant vehicles that can be parked in an unmanned parking place on the display board along the road, it becomes possible to manage the parking fee and the like at the same time by the user terminal device located in another place.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present application resides in the terminal-device connection system in which, in addition to the items of claim 6, the facility is a medical-related monitoring support facility. In the present invention, it is possible to connect to the user terminal device via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means, and it is possible to use the medical-related monitoring support facility as the facility for remote monitoring, remote management or remote operation.

By providing the terminal equipment in the inter-terminal equipment connection system in the medical-related monitoring support facility, various kinds of monitoring can be performed on the intensive care unit in the hospital, the medical facility in the remote place, the ambulance on the way, etc. It is possible to obtain diagnostic / treatment data, receive data from an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance, instruct a patient to perform treatment, instruct an ambulance to a destination, and the like. Moreover, it is not limited to a specific terminal device, and it can be connected to the terminal device installed in the monitoring support facility anytime and anywhere, such as at a doctor's home, in a moving place, etc. Even if it requires, it becomes possible to promptly give an accurate instruction.

The invention according to claim 10 of the present application is the invention of claim 6
In addition to the above items, there is a connection system between terminal devices that limits the items whose facilities are management / monitoring facilities related to restaurants.
According to the present invention, it is possible to connect to a user terminal device via a communication network using TCP / IP communication means,
Management / monitoring facilities related to restaurants can be used as facilities that are remotely managed or operated remotely.

By installing the terminal equipment in the terminal equipment connection system in the management / monitoring facility related to the restaurant, the post data of each store nationwide such as the total of sales using the POS system from the cash register installed in the restaurant. Information can be centrally managed within the group by transmitting the information to the headquarters or the like. In addition, the administrator at the headquarters,
Various necessary data can be obtained anytime and from any place, and furthermore, based on the data, instructions can be given to each store individually. Also,
For example, it is possible to obtain an image of a surveillance camera installed in each store and monitor the inside of the store. Alternatively, a display device is installed in the store and a CM or the like is displayed on the display device along with a sound. It is also possible to broadcast together. Further, if necessary, the control system in the facility can be upgraded from a remote location, and the maneuverability for the upgrade can be improved.

[0038]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic view of the present invention, in which a personal computer 1 used by a user 1 as one user terminal device 10 for one-way connection that enables bidirectional communication via a communication network using TCP / IP communication means.
a, a mobile phone 2a used by the user 2, a mobile information terminal 3a used by the user 3, a personal computer 4a used by the user 4, and a communication device 4b of the personal computer.
Terminal equipments 15a and 15b are arranged in the other equipment A, and a camera 7a as an operating device is provided in the terminal equipment 15a.
Are connected, and cameras 7b and 7c are connected to the terminal device 15b as operating devices. Each terminal equipment is TCP /
The personal computer 1a is connected to a communication network by IP communication means, the personal computer 1a is a provider a, the mobile phone 2a is a provider b, the mobile information terminal 3a is a provider c, and the personal computer 4a is a communication device 4.
The provider d is connected via b, the terminal device 15a is connected to the provider e via wireless communication means, and the terminal device 15b is also connected to the provider f via wireless communication means.

In the following description, the connection system capable of bidirectional data transmission from the user terminal device 10 to the terminal device 15 in the facility A via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means will be described. It is also possible to make a connection capable of bidirectional data transmission from the terminal devices 15a and 15b in A to the user terminal device via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means. Terminal devices 15a, 15 in facility A
Even when connecting from b to the personal computer 4a via the user terminal equipment 1a, 2a, 3a or / and the communication device 4b, the connection system via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means between the terminal equipment is It can be performed in the same manner as described below.

FIG. 2 shows an overall schematic diagram of the terminal equipment connection system according to the present invention, and the terminal equipment connection system will be described with reference to this overall schematic view. By connecting from the user terminal device 10 to the provider p, the user terminal device 10 requests the provider p to connect to the desired terminal device and receives a global IP address allocation from the provider p.
As the global IP address, a vacant global IP address is assigned from the global IP addresses managed by the provider p. The assigned global IP address secures the address of the user terminal device 10 in the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means.

At this time, the provider p identifies that the user of the accessing user terminal device 10 is a registered user for the terminal device 15 which has made a connection request.
Perform confirmation work using numbers, passwords, etc. After confirming that you are a registered user, provider p
Sends the connection request information to the terminal device 15 using mail, FTP, HTTP, or the like. The connection request destination terminal device 15 that receives the connection request information from the provider p by mail, FTP, HTTP, etc. is connected to the provider p, receives the global IP address allocation, and is written in the connection request information. Connection to the global IP address of the user terminal device 10 that is currently running, and TCP / I with the user terminal device 10 is established.
The connection via the communication network by the P communication means is completed. The connection request information may also be transmitted together with information that the user terminal device 10 has authenticated that the user terminal device 10 is a registered user who can connect to the terminal device 15.

As a result, the fixed global IP
It becomes possible to perform bidirectional communication between terminal devices that do not have addresses. After the connection via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means is completed, the user terminal device 10 issues a command to operate the cameras 7d and 7e connected to the terminal device 15 and obtain an image captured by the camera. It can be carried out. In addition to the camera, various operating devices such as various sensors and various control devices can be connected to the terminal device 15.

The provider p may be the same provider with which the user terminal device 10 and the terminal device 15 have a connection contract, or may be another provider with a respective connection contract, or the user terminal. Equipment 10
It is also possible to use a provider that manages the registration information of both terminals in order to connect them to the terminal device 15. Further, instead of first accessing the terminal device 15 from the user terminal device 10, the connection request is sent from the terminal device 15 to the user terminal device 10 and the user terminal device 10 is reversed.
It is also possible to connect to the terminal device 15 after obtaining the global IP address.

In FIG. 1, a connection system for establishing a connection line between the user terminal device 10 and the terminal device 15 in the facility A will be described in more detail. The personal computer 1a connects to the provider a using a connection line to the provider a. Alternatively, by using a system for connecting to a communication network by the TCP / IP communication means included in the mobile phone 2a, the mobile phone 2
Connect from a to provider b. Alternatively, the portable information terminal 3a connects to the provider c. Further, the communication device 4b such as a PC card is inserted into the personal computer 4a and connected to the provider d of the communication device 4b.

For example, if the mobile phone 2a is TCP / IP
When the communication system does not have a connection system to the communication network, the computer is connected to a computer (not shown) that provides connection service to the communication network by the TCP / IP communication unit by connection from the telephone line. To TC
It is also possible to connect to the communication network by the P / IP communication means. At this time, the two-way exchange of data information and the like with the terminal device of the other party via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means is performed by the same computer, but between the same computer and the mobile phone 2a. The two-way communication allows the mobile phone 2a to be passed through the computer.
And the terminal device of the other party can be connected via a communication network using TCP / IP communication means. Further, the phone is not limited to a mobile phone, and a fixed phone can be used.

Personal computer 1a of the user terminal equipment 10
A free global IP address from the global IP addresses that can be used on the network managed by the provider a
The address is assigned to the accessing personal computer 1a. At this time, a free global IP address is allocated to the user terminal device from among the pooled DHCP servers managing the global IP address.

After the global IP address is allocated, the personal computer 1a makes a connection request with the terminal device 15b to the provider g which manages the personal IP address of the terminal device 15b in the facility A to be connected. The provider g confirms whether the user 1 requesting the connection from the personal computer 1a is a user who can connect to the terminal device 15b of the facility A by using the user ID and password.

After confirming that the user 1 of the personal computer 1a can connect to the terminal device 15b of the facility A, the provider g connects to the terminal device 15b of the connection request destination by using mail, FTP, HTTP or the like. Send request information. For the mail, FTP, HTTP, etc., the user 1 of the personal computer 1a sends a request for connection to the terminal device 1 of the facility A together with numerical values such as the global IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway of the personal computer 1a.
5b is also transmitted together with information and the like that is authenticated as a person who can connect. E-mail sent, FTP, HT
The TP or the like is sent to the provider f of the terminal device 15b of the facility A, and the provider f sends a notification of the arrival of mail or the like to the terminal device 15b in the facility A. The terminal device 15b in the facility A that has received the notification of the arrival of the mail etc.
Via the communication means of the terminal device 15b such as a wireless communication means,
After receiving the connection request information from the provider f and confirming that the connection request is from the personal computer 1a used by the user 1 who can connect, a global IP address is assigned from the provider f and the connection request information is provided. Connection is made to the listed global IP address of the other party.

As a result, it is possible to connect the global IP addresses via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means. After that, information such as data is bidirectionally transmitted between both terminal devices 1a and 15b, and the terminal device 15b
It is possible to obtain the image information of the camera 7b from the device or to send a control command to the camera 7b or / and the camera 7c which is the operating device. Further, in some cases, various processes such as correction, change and addition of the control program of the terminal device 15b can be performed via the communication network by the TCP / IP communication means. Based on the authentication from the provider g, the terminal device 15b in the equipment A can respond only to the access from the user who can connect to the equipment A, and thus the terminal device 15b can be connected to the unauthorized access. You can avoid the situation.

In this description, a connection system for connecting the terminal device 15b in the equipment A by accessing the provider g from the personal computer 1a in the user terminal device 10 via the communication network by TCP / IP communication means will be described. However, conversely, the terminal device 15a or 15b in the facility A
User terminal device 1 connected to provider g from
It is also possible to make a connection with 0. In this case, equipment A
When the cameras 7a to 7c provided for the device detect an abnormal condition, or when a sensor (not shown) detects an abnormal condition, the user terminal device 10 registered in the provider g is notified of the occurrence of the abnormal condition. , Terminal equipment 15 of facility A
Periodic notification of data and the like from a and 15b can be performed.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the built-in personal computer 17 and various actuating devices 19 provided in the vending machine, which are used in the vending machine as an example of equipment that can be used in the present invention, are used in the vending machine. explain. The OS of Linux is used as the operating system (OS) of the built-in personal computer 17. Further, by storing a control program and an OS for controlling various devices in the vending machine in a rewritable compact flash memory or the like, it becomes possible to flexibly deal with addition or modification of functions. Therefore, it is desirable to store the control program and the OS in a CompactFlash (registered trademark) memory or the like. Built-in personal computer 17 and various operating devices 1
9 is connected via an interface 18. The interface is for absorbing a difference in voltage between the built-in personal computer 17 and the operating device 19 and a difference in signal level, and a connection port for converting a digital signal and an analog signal, and an image device such as a camera in particular. It is provided with a conversion function capable of accommodating different transmission methods even if different transmission methods are used, and a connection port of a connection cable based on the transmission method.

As the operating device 19, a bill management device,
Coin management device, product selection means, refrigeration device, product transfer device, liquid crystal display device, microwave oven device,
Card readers / writers for credit cards, mobile phone payment devices, telemetering communication devices, imaging devices as monitoring devices, infrared sensors, temperature monitoring sensors, sound monitoring sensors, smoke sensors, shock sensors, vibration sensors,
A horizontal state monitoring sensor, a door opening / closing sensor, an alarm generating device, and a sound generating device such as a DVD player can be used. In particular, when an abnormality is detected by the monitoring device, it is possible to notify a predetermined terminal device via the Internet from the terminal device 15 via the communication device 16 using the telemetering communication device. Further, it is possible to control the operation of the various operating devices 19 in response to a command from the terminal device.

When the operating device 19 is equipped with a control board such as a personal computer, the operating device can obtain a global IP address and directly connect to the internet. Further, a router or IP masquerade can be used to perform relay / transmission between various operating devices and the Internet. Further, it is possible to control relay / transmission between various operating devices and the Internet by controlling the built-in personal computer.

As a facility that is remotely controlled, remotely managed or remotely operated, it can be applied to an unmanned parking lot. Various devices that can be used in unmanned parking lots, such as security cameras in unmanned parking lots, vacant vehicle condition management in parking lots, display devices that display the vacant vehicle condition on roads along the way, operating devices such as money management, etc., via the Internet control,
Can manage, operate, etc. Also in this case, the connection between various operating devices via the Internet can be made directly between the operating devices or by using a router, IP masquerade or the like.

As the equipment that is remotely controlled, remotely managed or remotely operated, it is also possible to apply to medical-related monitoring support equipment. Conventionally, a remote monitoring system and a video transmission system have been used in the medical field, but in either system, only video data or only numerical data is transmitted. However, by using the terminal equipment connection system according to the present application, not only video data but also numerical data including breath, circulation, and body fluid management including voice can be handled at the same time. In addition, since the communication direction is bidirectional, it is possible to send information in remote areas and to instruct remote hospitals or moving ambulances based on the information. You can also Moreover, since the connection between the terminal devices is not limited to a specific terminal device, a doctor or the like can promptly give an accurate instruction even at home, and can quickly respond to an emergency itself. Will be able to.

The remote control, remote management or remote control facility can also be applied to restaurant-related management and Chinese poetry facilities. By using the terminal device connection system according to the invention of the present application, various information such as sales information and cash accounting information from a register provided in each store of a restaurant is combined with a POS system to collectively manage at the headquarters, and It is possible to give instructions to the writing department based on this information. It is also possible to obtain it as image information using a camera installed in the store, and it is also possible to monitor in real time the abnormal state in the unattended store after the employee returns home and the state inside the store. Further, by displaying the CM image, service information, news, etc. from the headquarters on the display device installed in the store, it becomes possible to provide various services to customers.

The remote control, remote management or remote control equipment is not limited to vending machines, unmanned parking lots, remote medical monitoring support systems, restaurant management systems, and various industrial plants. Monitoring system,
As long as it is a system that can control, manage, and operate lessons such as preparatory schools, class content in cram schools, correspondence classes in remote locations, and remote locations such as various stores, various types used in these systems The operating device can be controlled, managed, operated, etc. by using the internet connection system of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic diagram of a connection system between terminal devices.

[Figure 3] Configuration diagram inside the vending machine

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-4 users 1a PC 2a mobile phone 3a Mobile information terminal 4a PC 4b communication device 7a-e camera 10 User terminal equipment 15 Terminal equipment 15a, b Terminal equipment 16 Communication device 17 built-in personal computer 18 interfaces 19 Actuator 20 cordless handsets 21 Monitoring terminal 22 User terminal 23 Management computer 24 telephone network af, p provider A equipment

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Satoshi Masuda             Hiroshima Prefecture Hiroshima City Asanan-ku 3-25-18 Higashihara               Limited company Cha Net F term (reference) 5B089 GA04 GA21 HB02 HB10 HB18                 5K030 HA08 HB06 HD09 JT02 LB02                 5K048 AA04 BA21 DA07 DC01 DC07                       EB02 EB07 EB10 EB15 FB08                       FB11 FC01 GC05 HA01 HA02                       HA21

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A user terminal device is connected to a provider that manages private IP addresses for a plurality of terminal devices, and in the same provider, from the plurality of terminal devices to a terminal device to which a connection request is made by the user terminal device. The terminal device that transmitted the connection request information and received the connection request information is the global IP
An inter-terminal connection characterized in that an address is obtained, and the global IP address is used to connect the terminal device and the user terminal device so as to enable bidirectional data transmission via a communication network by TCP / IP communication means. system. 2. The user terminal device is a global IP
For user terminal devices for which an address cannot be obtained,
2. The connection from the user terminal device to a predetermined computer by telephone communication means, and the connection to the provider via the computer via TCP / IP communication means via a communication network. The terminal device connection system described. 3. The user terminal device or one of the plurality of terminal devices is arranged at least in a facility to be remotely monitored, remotely managed or remotely operated. The terminal device connection system described. 4. The inter-terminal-device connection system according to claim 3, wherein the terminal device arranged in the facility comprises a built-in personal computer equipped with a Linux operating system. 5. The inter-terminal equipment connection system according to claim 4, wherein the built-in personal computer is capable of mutual communication with an operating device arranged in the facility via an interface built in the terminal equipment. 6. The monitoring device used in a monitoring system for a specific area, wherein the actuating device is an imaging device, an infrared sensor, a temperature monitoring sensor, a sound monitoring sensor, a smoke sensor, an impact sensor, a vibration sensor, a horizontal state. The monitoring device comprises at least one of a monitoring sensor and a door opening / closing sensor, and transmits monitoring information from the monitoring device to the built-in personal computer through the interface, and the monitoring information is sent from a terminal device equipped with the built-in personal computer. 6. The inter-terminal equipment connection system according to claim 5, wherein the message can be transmitted to a predetermined external management device. 7. The inter-terminal equipment connection system according to claim 6, wherein the facility is an automatic vending machine. 8. The inter-terminal-device connection system according to claim 6, wherein the facility is an unmanned parking facility. 9. The inter-terminal equipment connection system according to claim 6, wherein the facility is a medical-related monitoring support facility. 10. The inter-terminal equipment connection system according to claim 6, wherein the facility is a management / monitoring facility associated with a restaurant.