Home network system using Z-Wave network and home automation device connection method using same

• US 10,469,494 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyungdong One Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyungdong One Corporation
• Inventors: Oh, Se Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Li, Meng
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lapian, Alexander R
• Application Number:
  US15/534,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20180159853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

A home network system using a Z-Wave network includes a wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge having a Z-Wave communication unit to which a plurality of home automation devices are accessed through the Z-Wave network and an Ethernet communication unit which is accessed to a main server through the Internet, and a main server providing an application for a remote control of the home automation device, and performing MAC authentication to allow access to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge upon request by the portable terminal, in which the MAC authenticated portable terminal of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge is accessed to the home automation devices to perform remote control.

Claims

1. A home network system using a Z-Wave network, comprising:

at least one home automation device connected to the Z-Wave network configuring a wireless network, wherein a state of the at least one home automation device is remotely controlled by a portable terminal or a notification is provided to the portable terminal; and

a wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge including a Z-Wave communication processor having a Z-Wave standard communication protocol and an Ethernet communication processor for Internet connection, the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge being configured to have a unique MAC address, and interconnecting the Z-Wave network and the Internet, wherein the portable terminal that is given access through an authentication of the unique MAC address by a main server remotely controls the at least one home automation device,

wherein the main server is connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge or the portable terminal through the Internet, provides an application for a remote control of the at least one home automation device when requested by the portable terminal, and performs the authentication for giving access to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge upon request by the portable terminal,

wherein the main server determines whether the authentication is completed by using the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored when the portable terminal requests the authentication, and is switched into a standby state for receiving the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge when the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored is not present.

2. The home network system of claim 1, wherein the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge further includes a connection button for switching into or turning off a connection mode allowing connection between the at least one home automation device and the main server, and a connection complete button for giving the MAC-authenticated portable terminal access to the at least one home automation device.

3. The home network system of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one home automation device includes a connection request button for giving the portable terminal access, and

wherein, in a state in which the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge is switched into the connection mode, the at least one home automation device in a connectable state and the MAC-authenticated portable terminal are connected with each other by an input of the connection request button.

4. The home network system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one home automation device includes a main home automation device directly connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge, and sub-home automation devices connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge through the main home automation device, and

wherein, as the main home automation device functions as a router, the sub-home automation devices are communicably connected with each other.

5. A home automation device connection method using a home network system including at least one home automation device connected to a Z-Wave network, a main server connecting a portable terminal to the at least one home automation device, and a wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge, the home automation device connection method comprising:

(a) performing, by the main server, an authentication for giving the portable terminal access by using a unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge if the portable terminal requests the authentication for connection to the at least one home automation device by using the unique MAC address;

(b) transmitting, by the main server, a remote control signal for the at least one home automation device that is received from an application of the portable terminal that is given access as a result of the authentication, to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge, or receiving a notification indicating a state of the at least one home automation device transmitted through the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge and providing the notification to the portable terminal;

(c) determining, by the main server, whether the authentication is completed by using the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored when the portable terminal requests the authentication; and

(d) switching, by the main server, into a standby state for receiving the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge when the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored is not present.

6. The home automation device connection method of claim 5, wherein the (a) performing of the authentication includes

storing, by the main server, the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that connection thereto is requested when the unique MAC address is received, to allow the authentication without switching into the standby state when the portable terminal is connected later.

7. The home automation device connection method of claim 5, wherein the (a) performing of the authentication includes:

detecting, by the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge including a connection button for giving the portable terminal access, an operation of the connection button to be switched into a connection mode, and determining whether the portable terminal requests connection for remotely controlling the at least one home automation device; and

detecting, by the main server, an operation of a connection complete button of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge when the authentication of the portable terminal is completed to give the portable terminal access to the at least one home automation device.

8. The home automation device connection method of claim 7, wherein the (a) performing of the authentication further includes,

detecting, by the at least one home automation device connected to the Z-Wave network including a connection request button for connection, an operation of the connection request button to be switched into a connectable state, and giving the portable terminal access in the connectable state.