SERVICE SYSTEM

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of China patent application 200610106346.5 filed July 14, 2006 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a service system and, more particularly, to a service system in which the Internet is interposed between a service demanding apparatus and a service providing apparatus.

[0003] An example of a service system in which the Internet is interposed between a service demanding apparatus and a service providing apparatus is a remote service system of a medical imaging apparatus. In the remote service system, a functional check, trouble shooting, and the like are performed on the medical imaging apparatus such as an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, a radiographic apparatus, or a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) apparatus which is working in a site of a user from a server of a service provider by communications utilizing the Internet (refer to, Patent Document

I)-

[0004] In the remote service system, the medical imaging apparatus that is working in the user site corresponds to the service demanding apparatus, and the server of the service provider corresponds to the service providing apparatus. Generally, the correspondence between the service providing apparatus and the service demanding apparatuses is 1 : n. Since the Internet is used for communications, a global remote service system can be configured.

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-190105

[0006] On the Internet, each service demanding apparatus is identified by an IP (Internet Protocol) address. In environment of a static IP address, an IP address is unique to a user. In contrast, in environment of a dynamic IP address, an IP address is extracted from a group of IP addresses that are pooled in advance and the extracted IP address is used each time access is made, so that an IP address is not unique to a user. Consequently, when a serving demanding apparatus uses a dynamic IP address, the service demanding apparatus cannot be specified with the IP address, so that service cannot be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is desirable that the problem described previously is solved.

[0008] One aspect of the invention provides a service system in which the Internet is interposed between a service demanding apparatus and a service providing apparatus, wherein the service demanding apparatus has a demand-side rooter connected to the Internet by using a dynamic IP address via a broadband line, the demand- side rooter has: authentication obtaining means for obtaining authentication from the service providing apparatus; and communication means for performing communication with the service providing apparatus, the service providing apparatus has: an authentication server for authenticating the service demanding apparatus; and a providing-side rooter for performing communication with the service demanding apparatus, the service providing apparatus has: an authentication server for authenticating the service demanding apparatus and a supply-side rooter connected to the Internet by using a static IP address, and the providing-side rooter has: communication starting means for accessing the demand-side rooter by using a telephone number on the broadband line and making the demand-side rooter start performing communication; and communication means for performing communication with the service demanding apparatus.

[0009] It is preferable from the viewpoint of realizing a remote service system for a medical imaging apparatus that the service demanding apparatus demands for service on a medical imaging apparatus, and the service providing

apparatus provides service on a medical imaging apparatus.

[0010] Preferably, the broadband line is ADSL for the reason that the communication cost is low. Preferably, the communication is cipher communication for the reason that it is difficult for a third party to intercept the communication. Preferably, the cipher communication is VPN communication for the reason that security is high.

[0011] According to the invention, a service system is provided in which the Internet is interposed between a service demanding apparatus and a service providing apparatus. The service demanding apparatus has a demand-side rooter connected to the Internet by using a dynamic IP address via a broadband line. The demand- side rooter has: authentication obtaining means for obtaining authentication from the service providing apparatus; and communication means for performing communication with the service providing apparatus. The service providing apparatus has: an authentication server for authenticating the service demanding apparatus; and a providing-side rooter for performing communication with the service demanding apparatus. The providing-side rooter has communication starting means for accessing the demand-side rooter by using a telephone number on the broadband line and making the demand-side rooter start performing communication. Consequently, the service system capable of providing service even in environment of a dynamic IP address can be realized.

[0012] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a service system as an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a flowchart of operations of the service system as an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a flowchart of operations of the service system as an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the best mode for carrying out the invention. Fig. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a service system. The system is an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention. With the configuration of the system, an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention related to the service system is shown.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the system is configured by connecting service demanding apparatuses 100 and a service providing apparatus 200 via an Internet 300. The service demanding apparatus 100 is an example of the serving demanding apparatus in the present invention. The service providing apparatus 200 is an example of the service providing apparatus in the invention. The Internet 300 is an example of the Internet in the invention.

[0018] The service demanding apparatus 100 is, for example, a medical imaging apparatus such as an MRI apparatus, an X-ray CT apparatus, a radiographic apparatus, or a PET apparatus, and the service providing apparatus 200 is an apparatus for providing various services such as functional check, trouble shooting, and software updating on the medical imaging apparatus.

[0019] The service demanding apparatus 100 is not limited to a medical imaging apparatus but may be various devices or facilities in various industrial fields and academic fields demanding for services. The service providing apparatus 200 provides required services to the facilities.

[0020] The service demanding apparatus 100 is installed in the location of a user. When a number of users are spread out globally, a plurality of service demanding apparatuses 100 exist globally. The service providing apparatus 200 is installed in the location of a service provider. The service providing apparatus 200

provides services from its location to the service demanding apparatuses 100 all over the world via the Internet 300.

[0021] The service demanding apparatus 100 is connected to the Internet 300 via a broadband line 110 using a dynamic IP address. As the broadband line 110, for example, an ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) is used. By using the ADSL, low-cost communication can be performed. The broadband line 110 is an example of the broadband in the invention.

[0022] The service demanding apparatus 100 has a service demanding machine 102. The service demanding machine 102 is the main body of service demand. The service demanding machine 102 is connected to the broadband line 110 via a rooter 106. The rooter 106 is provided by the service provider. The rooter 106 is authorized in advance by the service provider. The rooter 106 is an example of a demand-side rooter in the invention.

[0023] The rooter 106 has a dynamic IP address. The address is extracted from a group of IP addresses that are preliminarily pooled each time an access is made and is not unique to the service demanding apparatus 100. The rooter 106 has a telephone number on the broadband line. The telephone number is unique to the service demanding apparatus 100.

[0024] The service providing apparatus 200 is connected to the Internet 300 by a static IP address via a broadband line 210. As the broadband line 210, for example, FTTH (fiber to the home) or the like is used. The broadband line 210 is not limited to FTTH but may be ADSL.

[0025] The service providing apparatus 200 has a service providing machine 202. The service providing machine 202 is the main body of service provision and is constructed by a server for providing service or the like. The service providing apparatus 200 also includes an authentication machine 204. The authentication machine 204 authenticates validity of service demand from the service demanding apparatus 100 and is constructed by a server for authentication or the like. The authentication machine 204 is an example of an authentication server in the

invention.

[0026] The service providing machine 202 and the authentication machine 204 are connected to the broadband line 210 via a rooter 206. The rooter 206 has a static IP address. The address is unique to the service providing apparatus 200. The rooter 206 is an example of a providing-side rooter in the invention.

[0027] The operation of the system will be described. There are two operation modes; a push mode in which the service providing apparatus 200 side takes action first, and a pull mode in which the service demanding apparatus 100 side takes action first.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of operations in the push mode. As shown in Fig. 2, in step 21, the service providing apparatus 200 makes a call to a predetermined service demanding apparatus 100. A telephone call is made from the rooter 206 of the service providing apparatus 200 to the rooter 106 of the predetermined service demanding apparatus 100.

[0029] Since the telephone number is unique to the service demanding apparatus 100, by making a call to the number, the service demanding apparatus 100 intended by the service side can be accessed with reliability. That is, even the user of a dynamic IP address can accurately use on-demand push service from the service providing side.

[0030] Since a dynamic IP address is sufficient, service can be provided also to a user in an area in which a static IP address cannot be used or is difficult to be used, so that customer coverage is widened.

[0031] The rooter 106 of the service demanding apparatus 100 that has received the call establishes communication with the service providing apparatus 200 in step 22. Cipher communication is used as the communication. The cipher communication makes interception of a third party difficult. As the cipher communication, for example, VPN (Virtual Private Network) is used. By the VPN, high levels of security are maintained.

[0032] By utilizing the established VPN, in step 23, the service providing apparatus 200 provides services to the service demanding apparatus 100. The service is provided by the service providing machine 202.

[0033] The rooter 206 that makes a call in step 21 and makes the rooter 106 establish communication in step 22 is an example of communication starting means in the invention. The rooter 206 performing communications with the service demanding apparatus 100 in step 23 is an example of communication means in the invention.

[0034] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of operations in the pull mode. As shown in Fig. 3, the service demanding apparatus 100 accesses the service providing apparatus 200 in step 31. Specifically, the rooter 106 in the service demanding apparatus 100 accesses the rooter 206 in the service providing apparatus 200.

[0035] The service demanding apparatus 100 accesses the service providing apparatus 200 by using a static IP address. Since the static IP address is unique to the service providing apparatus 200, the access to the service providing apparatus 200 is made accurately.

[0036] The rooter 106 is connected to the authentication machine 204 in the service providing apparatus 200 in step 32. The authentication machine 204 determines whether the service demanding apparatus 100 is a site that has been preliminarily authenticated or not in step 33.

[0037] When it is determined that the service demanding apparatus 100 is an authenticated site, the rooter 206 stores predetermined information such as serial number, site name, access time, and the like in step 34 and establishes communication to the service demanding apparatus 100 in step 35. As the communication, cipher communication is used. The cipher communication is, for example, VPN.

[0038] By using the established VPN, the service demanding machine 102 receives the service provided by the service providing machine 202 in step 36. The rooter 106 performing communication with the service providing apparatus 200

in step 36 is an example of communication means in the invention.

[0039] When it is determined in step 33 that the service demanding apparatus 100 has not been authenticated yet, the rooter 106 of the service demanding apparatus requests the authentication machine 204 to perform authentication in step 37. The rooter 106 making the request for authentication in step 37 is an example of authentication obtaining means in the invention.

[0040] On the basis of the request, in step 38, the authentication machine 204 examines whether the request is to be permitted or not. When the request is permitted, in step 39, the request permission is downloaded to the rooter 106 of the service demanding apparatus.

[0041] Consequently, when the rooter 106 is connected again to the authentication machine 204 in step 32, based on the determination of the authentication machine 204 in step 33, service provision can be received. When the authentication machine 204 determines in step 38 that the request is not permitted, the request is rejected in step 40.

[0042] Many widely different embodiments of the invention may be configured without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.