Network device, network connection management device, and method for connecting new network device

Abstract

The present invention is intended to simplify the user's initial setup operation when connecting a new network device to a network built in his/her house/room and prevent connection of a different network device unknown to said user. A network connection management device, when receiving a network connection request from a new network device, sends the request to other network devices connected already to the network so as to be displayed on their displaying means to prompt the user to make an operation for confirming the request. The confirmation data inputted by the user through the inputting means of the network device is sent to the network connection management device, which then determines whether to permit the connection to said network. When the decision result is YES (permit), the new network device is connected to the network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A network device, comprising: 
 a communication interface for connecting itself to a network;    configuration processing means for performing a procedure to obtain or generate its address information required to communicate with a different network device through said network;    request sending means for sending a request for necessary information to a network connection management device connected to said network said request to be sent according to an instruction from said configuration processing means; and    permission receiving means for receiving a processing result of said request from said network connection management device and transferring said result to said configuration processing means;    wherein said network device further includes: 
 notification receiving means for receiving a request for connection acknowledgement from said network connection management device, said request denoting that a different new network device is requesting its connection to said network;  
 response sending means for sending a processing result of said request for connection acknowledgement to said network connection management device;  
 displaying means for displaying a message for notifying the user of receiving of said request for connection acknowledgement;  
 inputting means for inputting a user's response to a message displayed on said displaying means; and  
 decision of acknowledgement means for transferring said request for connection acknowledgement received by said notification receiving means to said displaying means, deciding the content of said user's response input through said imputing means, and sending said decision result to said network connection management device through said response sending means.  
   
     
     
         2 . The network device according to  claim 1 , wherein said network device cancels message display on said displaying means when said notification receiving means receives a message from said network connection management device, said message denoting that user's connection acknowledgement is completed, while said displaying means displays said message for notifying user with respect to said request for acknowledgement of the connection of said different network device.  
     
     
         3 . The network device according to  claim 1  wherein said request sending means sends a network disconnection request to said network connection management device in prior to its disconnection from said network.  
     
     
         4 . A network connection management device, comprising: 
 a communication interface for connecting itself to a network;    decision of permission means for receiving a request from a network device for its connection to said network to decide whether to permit said connection, then returns the decision result to said network device;    displaying means for displaying a message denoting the receiving of the connection request from said network device by said decision for permission means so as to notify the user of said receiving;    inputting means for enabling said user to input his/her response to said message displayed on said displaying means, then transferring said user's response to said decision for permission means; and    registration processing means for registering address information of said network device connected to said network to device information memory means according to said decision result of said decision for permission means;    wherein said network connection management device further includes: 
 notification sending means for notifying the user that a first network device is requested to connect to said a network, to devices other than said first network device so as to request said user's acknowledgement; and  
 response receiving means for receiving a user's response to said request for acknowledgement and transfers said user response to said decision for permission means.  
   
     
     
         5 . The network connection management device according to  claim 4 , wherein said notification sending means notifies network devices other than said first network device of completion of user's acknowledgement when said user responses to said request through said inputting means for the connection of said first network device to said network, said request being notified by said notification sending means.  
     
     
         6 . The network connection management device according to  claim 4 , wherein said decision of permission means sends/receives a communication message periodically to/from each network device connected to said network so as to check if said network device is still connected to said network, then notifies said registration processing means of a network device that returns no response, thereby connection of said network device cannot be confirmed or a network device of which disconnection is requested from said network, then deleting the device information related to said network device or holding said device information together with information denoting disconnection of said device for a certain time, added to said device information and held until said device information is deleted later.  
     
     
         7 . A method for connecting a new network device to a network configured by a plurality of network devices and at least one network connection management device, said method comprising the steps of: 
 notifying said network of a connection request message issued from said new network device so as to request necessary information required for the connection to said network;    enabling said network connection management device that has received said connection request message, when one or more network devices other than said request message source network device are already connected to said network, to notify said one or more devices to display a message for denoting a request from said new network device for its connection on the screen of said one or more network devices to request for acknowledgement from the users;    enabling said one or more network devices that have received said request for acknowledgement to display a message to notify their users that a new network device is requesting its connection to said network;    enabling said one or more network devices to send their responses to said network connection management device upon an input of each of said users for a response to said request for acknowledgement; and    enabling said network connection management device to determine whether to permit connection of said new network device to said network according to the results received from said one or more network devices.