NIC IP Address Storage Eliminates DHCP Server Dependency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing large numbers of portable information terminals face issues with IP address duplication errors when manually set, require excessive static IP addresses, and security concerns when using DHCP servers, leading to increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A portable information terminal with a NIC interface and controller that reads and writes IP addresses stored in non-volatile semiconductor memory, eliminating the need for static IP addresses and DHCP servers by setting IP addresses directly on the NIC.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a static IP address is manually set on the OS of the portable information terminal, then the IP address can be assigned to the terminal, but setting errors such as IP address duplication occur more easily and thousands of man-hours are involved when using a large number of terminals

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIP address setting operationVSAvoidIP address assignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The IP address is pre-stored in the NIC's non-volatile semiconductor memory before the portable information terminal is used. When the terminal connects to the LAN, the controller automatically reads and applies this pre-stored IP address without requiring manual input, thereby eliminating setting errors and reducing manual workload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The NIC is designed to automatically read and apply the IP address stored in its own non-volatile semiconductor memory without external intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual IP address configuration on the OS and prevents duplication errors by ensuring each NIC has its unique pre-assigned IP address.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If a DHCP server is installed in the LAN to automatically set the IP address of the portable information terminal to the NIC, then the IP address can be automatically assigned, but an unspecified number of portable information terminals are likely to access the LAN causing security problems

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIP address automatic assignmentVSAvoidLAN security risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The IP address is pre-configured in the NIC's non-volatile semiconductor memory before the terminal connects to the LAN. This preliminary action eliminates the need for DHCP server interaction, thereby preventing unauthorized terminals from accessing the LAN through DHCP while still providing automatic IP address assignment to authorized terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The IP address assignment function is extracted from the DHCP server and embedded directly into the NIC's non-volatile semiconductor memory. This extraction removes the dependency on the DHCP server for IP address assignment, thereby eliminating the security vulnerability of allowing unspecified terminals to access the LAN through DHCP while maintaining automatic assignment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a DHCP server function is provided for each NIC to solve security problems, then security is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveLAN securityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The IP address assignment function is extracted from the DHCP server and embedded into the NIC's non-volatile semiconductor memory. This extraction eliminates the need for expensive DHCP server functionality in each NIC while maintaining security by pre-assigning unique IP addresses to authorized terminals, thereby reducing system cost while improving security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of implementing expensive DHCP server functionality in each NIC, the solution uses a simple, inexpensive non-volatile semiconductor memory in the NIC to store the IP address. This approach provides equivalent security and functionality at a much lower cost by replacing complex server functionality with simple stored data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS7664128B2Portable information terminal, IP address setting program, and IP address setting method

Publication Date: 2010.02.16 FUJITSU FRONTECH LTD

AI summary

The present invention has been made to provide a portable information terminal, an IP address setting program, and an IP address setting method capable of eliminating the need to assign a static IP address to each portable information terminal and eliminating the need to provide a DHCP server for each portable information terminal.A portable information terminal 1 performs a communication using an IP address by connecting to a USB-LAN adapter 2. The potable information terminal 1 has a USB interface 15 that connects to the USB-LAN adapter 2 and a controller 11 that reads an IP address previously stored in the USB-LAN adapter 2 through the USB interface 15 and sets the IP address to the portable information terminal as the IP address thereof.