Method and apparatus for controlling home network system using mobile terminal

• US 10,008,108 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Hyung-Rae, Kim, Sun-Ae, Kwahk, Ji-Young, Oh, Hyun-Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNN, DARRIN D
• Application Number:
  US12/914,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,798 Days
• Field of Search: 709217, 709218, 709223, 709225, 709229, 700 17, 700 65, 700 83, 700 99, 340 31, 340 39, 340 43, 340 432, 340 1222, 715734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007

Abstract

A method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal is provided, which includes the mobile terminal connecting to a gateway of a home network through a communication network, the mobile terminal receiving a list of devices which are connected to the home network from the gateway of the home network, the mobile terminal displaying the devices connected to the home network, if one of the displayed devices is selected, requesting the status information of the selected device from the selected device status information of the selected device through the gateway, receiving the status information of the selected device from the selected device, and displaying the received status information and a user interface for controlling the selected device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a home network, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request including user authentication information from a mobile terminal in the home network, wherein the connection request is transmitted based on an application installed in the mobile terminal;

performing an authentication procedure of the mobile terminal based on the user authentication information of the mobile terminal;

upon connecting with the mobile terminal, transmitting a list of at least one device connected to the home network so that the mobile terminal is capable of displaying status information and a user interface including at least one control button for performing a different control operation according to a type of the at least one device selected by the user below the status information, to the mobile terminal;

receiving a request for a current status information of a device selected by the user among the transmitted list and transmitting the received request to the selected device;

receiving a response of the current status information from the selected device in response to the request, and transmitting the received response to the mobile terminal; and

upon receiving a control command for the device from the mobile terminal, transmitting the received control command to the device so that the device may be controlled in accordance with the control command,

wherein the method further comprises;

if the device that is not stored in the application exists in the home network, transmitting a sub application that includes a user interface which displays status information of the device that is not stored in the application to the mobile terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the list depending on whether the at least one device is connected to the home network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein updating the list comprises:

allocating an address upon discovery of the at least one device; and

identifying a description of the discovered at least one device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the list is automatically added or deleted upon connection of the at least one device.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one device is discovered using a Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the user interface including at least one of status information of the at least one device, and a kind and a type of the control button, and transmitting the user interface to the mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information includes at least one of a power status of the corresponding device, a current operation status, a component status and a material status.

8. A gateway for controlling a home network, the gateway comprising:

transceiver; and

a controller for controlling the transceiver to,

receive a connection request including user authentication information from a mobile terminal in the home network, wherein the connection request is transmitted based on an application installed in the mobile terminal;

performing an authentication procedure of the mobile terminal based on the user authentication information of the mobile terminal;

upon connecting with the mobile terminal, transmit a list of at least one device connected to the home network so that the mobile terminal is capable of displaying status information and a user interface including at least one control button for performing a different control operation according to a type of the at least one device selected by the user below the status information, to the mobile terminal;

receive a request for a current status information of a device selected by the user among the transmitted list and transmit the received request to the selected device;

receive a response of the current status information from the selected device in response to the request, and transmit the received response to the mobile terminal; and

upon receiving, a control command for the device from the mobile terminal, transmit the received control command to the device so that the device may be controlled in accordance with the control command,

wherein the controller is further configured to;

if the device that is not stored in the application exists in the home network, transmitting a sub application that includes a user interface which displays status information of the device that is not stored in the application to the mobile terminal.

9. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the controller updates the list depending on whether the at least one device is connected to the home network.

10. The gateway of claim 9, wherein the controller allocates an address upon discovery of the at least one device, and identifies a description of the discovered at least one device.

11. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the controller configures the user interface including at least one of status information of the at least one device, and a kind and a type of the control button, and transmits the user interface to the mobile terminal.

12. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the status information includes at least one of a power status of the corresponding device, a current operation status, a component status and a material status.