Remote Terminal Communication Path Switching Around Firewalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote device operation systems face challenges in establishing direct communication with devices due to firewalls, leading to increased costs in cloud-based solutions with usage-based billing, necessitating more efficient communication methods.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device equipped with a communicator and controller that establishes communication through a mediation device when direct access is possible, and uses an external system for relay when direct communication is blocked, optimizing connection paths based on communication status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a Web server is constructed and operated to proxy communication for bidirectional communication, then communication capability is improved, but construction and operation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based mediation server that acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and external devices. Instead of requiring each user to construct and operate their own Web server, the system uses a shared cloud infrastructure with mediation functionality. The controller selects whether to use direct communication or relay through the mediation server based on firewall conditions, thereby achieving bidirectional communication capability without incurring high server construction and operation costs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cloud service with usage-based billing is used to construct remote device operation environment, then remote operation capability is improved, but communication costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic communication path selection where the controller determines whether to use direct communication or relay through the mediation server based on real-time firewall conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to network conditions and minimize cloud service usage. When direct communication is possible, the system uses it to avoid cloud communication charges; when blocked by firewall, it dynamically switches to the mediation server path, thereby reducing overall communication costs while maintaining remote operation capability.
3Productivity
If direct communication is attempted with device address, then communication efficiency is improved, but communication may be blocked by firewall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based communication strategy where the controller first attempts direct communication with the external device. When this attempt fails due to firewall blocking, the system receives feedback about the communication failure and automatically switches to using the mediation server for relay communication. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system adapts to network conditions, maintaining both communication efficiency when direct paths are available and reliability when firewalls are present.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device comprises: a communicator that communicates with an external device via a network; and a controller that controls the communicator. The controller, when attempting to remotely operate an external device, establishes communication with the device or a mediation device that mediates the device and remotely operates the device in a case where direct communication is possible with an address of the device or the mediation device, and establishes communication with the device and remotely operates the device using a predetermined external system that relays remote operation with the device or the mediation device in a case where direct communication is not possible with an address of the device or the mediation device.