Architecture for home network on world wide web with private-public IP address/URL mapping

• US 20030001883A1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Dongyan
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/25 of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 : between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

Method for providing user interfaces in a first network to a remote access device, the first network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium, and at least one interface device for connecting said first network to at least a second network, the user interfaces for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network. The remote access device establishes communication with the second network; the remote access device sends a request to the interface device via the second network for accessing the first network; at least one of the first devices in the first network obtains information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the first network, said information including device information, and generates a user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, said reference including an external address for the associated device in the first network, such that the device is accessible from remote access device via the second network using said external address; the interface device sends the user interface description to the remote access device via the second network; and the remote access device displays a user interface based on the user interface description, for user interaction with the first network.

Claims

1. A method for providing user interfaces in a first network to a remote access device, the first network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium, and at least one interface device for connecting said first network to at least a second network, the user interfaces for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) the remote access device establishing communication with the second network;

(b) the remote access device sending a request to the interface device via the second network for accessing the first network;

(c) at least one of the first devices in the first network obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the first network, said information including device information, and generating a user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, said reference including an external address for the associated device in the first network, such that the device is accessible from remote access device via the second network using said external address;

(d) the interface device sending the user interface description to the remote access device via the second network; and

(e) the remote access device displaying a user interface based on the user interface description, for user interaction with the first network

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a 1394 network, and the second network comprises a non-1394 network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the second network comprises the Internet, and

at least one of said second devices providing services comprises one or more web servers providing services.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the second network comprises a web site service.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the steps of generating the user interface description further includes the steps of providing at least one reference associated with services provided by the first network, in the user interface description, wherein each reference in the user interface description associated to services provided by the first network comprises at least one hyper-link to service information in the first network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating each user interface description further comprises the steps of:

associating a hyper-link with the device information of one or more of said first devices.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device information in each first device in the first network includes a user interface description for user interaction with that device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second network includes at least a portal for providing services;

step (b) further includes the steps of;

the remote access device sending a request for accessing the first network, to the portal;

the portal receiving the request and redirecting the request to the interface device in the first network; and

step (d) further includes the steps of;

the interface device sending the user interface description to the portal;

the portal sending the user interface description to the remote access device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said external address for each associated device in the first network includes the private address of that device in the first network prefixed by the public address of the first network prefixed by the address of the portal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the private address for each device in the first network comprises an IP address in the first network;

the first network public address comprises a public IP address for the first network; and

the portal address comprises an IP address of the home portal.

14. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of maintaining identification information for the first network, and maintaining authorization information for access to the first network;

and wherein;

step (b) further includes the steps of the portal sending the request to the interface device using said identification information for the first network;

and

step (c) further includes the steps of the interface device authorizing access to the first network based on said authorization information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

in step (b) sending a request further includes the steps of providing user identification information in the request from remote access device;

in step (c) authorizing access further includes the steps of the interface device comparing the user identification information to the authorization information, and authorizing access to the first network only if one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

in step (b) sending a request to the interface device further includes the steps of the portal determining if the request is from a qualified remote access device, and if so, sending the request to the interface device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein:

in step (d) sending the user interface description, further includes the steps of the portal determining if the user interface description is from a qualified user interface device, and if so sending the user interface description to the remote access device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating said user interface description further includes the steps of generating said external address for each associated device, including a private address of that device in the first network, an address of the first network and an address of the portal, such that said device in the first network is accessible by the remote device via the second network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating said external address for each associated device in the first network further includes generating said external address to further include a name of a software agent in that device for providing services.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein generating said external address for each corresponding device in the first network further includes generating said external address to further include a name of a software agent in the first network for providing services.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein generating said external address for each corresponding device in the first network further includes generating said external address to further include a name of a software agent in the second network for providing services.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote access device communicates with the second network using secure communication.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network communicates with the interface device using secure communication.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the remote access device communicates with the second network using secure communication; and

the second network communicates with the interface device using secure communication;

whereby the remote access device communicates with the first network securely.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) the remote access device receiving user input via the displayed user interface, requesting access to a selected device in the first network;

(g) the remote access device sending a request including an external address from the user interface description for the selected device, to the interface device via the second network for accessing the selected device; and

(h) the interface device using said external address to communicate the request to the selected device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

the second network includes at least a portal for providing services;

step (g) further includes the steps of;

the remote access device sending said request to the portal for accessing he selected device;

the portal receiving the request and using said external address in the request to send the request to the interface device in the first network.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of generating said user interface description further includes the steps of generating said external address for each associated device, including a private address of that device in the first network, an address of the first network and an address of the portal, such that said device in the first network is accessible by the remote device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein generating said external address for each associated device in the first network further includes generating said external address to further include a name of a software agent in that device for providing services.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein generating said external address for each associated device in the first network further includes generating said external address to further include a name of a software agent in the first network for providing services.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein generating said external address for each associated device in the first network further includes generating said external address to further include a name of a software agent in the second network for providing services.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said external address for each associated device in the first network includes the private address of that device in the first network prefixed by the public address of the first network prefixed by the address of the portal

32. The method of claim 31, wherein step (g) further includes the steps of:

transforming the external address to a modified address including said private address of the device in the first network prefixed by the public address of the first network, and

the portal using the address of the first network in the external address to send the request with said modified address to the interface device in the first network.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein step (h) further includes the steps of:

transforming said modified address to a private address including said private address of the selected device in the first network, and

the interface device using the private address of the selected device in the first network to communicate with the device in the first network.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

(i) the interface device obtaining information from the selected device, said information including device information, and generating a device user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of the selected device;

(j) the interface device sending the device user interface description to the remote access device via the portal; and

(k) the remote access device displaying a device user interface based on the device user interface description, for user interaction with the selected device.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

(l) the remote access device receiving user input via the displayed device user interface, requesting control of the selected device in the first network;

(m) the remote access device sending a request for control of the selected device to the interface device via the portal, the request including said corresponding external address for the selected device;

(n) the portal sending the request to the interface device in the first network after verification;

(o) the interface device sending the request for control to the selected device, and the selected device performing a service based on the request for control;

(p) the interface device obtaining response information from the selected device;

(q) the interface device sending the response information to the remote access device via the portal; and

(r) the remote access device displaying said response information.

37. The network system of claim 36, wherein the local network comprises a 1394 network, and the external network comprises a non-1394 network.

38. The network system of claim 36, wherein the interface device comprises a gateway 8device.

39. The network system of claim 36, wherein the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.

40. The network system of claim 39, wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.

41. The network system of claim 39, wherein:

the external network comprises the Internet, and

at least one of said second devices providing services comprises one or more web servers providing services.

42. The network system of claim 41, wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the external network comprises a web site service.

43. The network system of claim 36, wherein each reference in the user interface description associated with services provided by the local network comprises at least one hypertext link to device information of the devices in the local network.

44. The network system of claim 36 further comprising said remote access device.

45. The network system of claim 36, wherein:

the external network includes at least a portal for providing services;

the remote access device is configured for sending a request for accessing the local network to the portal, the portal including a routing agent for receiving the request and sending the request to the interface device; and

the interface device includes an agent for sending the user interface description to the portal, wherein said routing agent in the portal sends the user interface description to the remote access device.

46. The network system of claim 45, wherein the user interface description generation agents generates said user interface description such that each external address for each associated device, includes a private address of that device in the local network, an address of the local network and an address of the portal, such that said device in the local network is accessible by the remote device via the portal.

47. The network system of claim 46, wherein each external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in that device for providing services.

48. The network system of claim 46, wherein each external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in the local network for providing services.

49. The network system of claim 46, wherein each external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in the external network for providing services.

50. The network system of claim 46, wherein said external address for each associated device in the first network includes the private address of that device in the first network prefixed by the public address of the first network prefixed by the address of the portal.

51. The network system of claim 50, wherein:

the private address for each device in the first network comprises an IP address in the first network;

the first network public address comprises a public IP address for the first network; and

the portal address comprises an IP address of the home portal.

52. The network system of claim 46, further comprising identification information for the local network, and authorization information for accessing the local network, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal sends the request to the interface device using said identification information for the local network; and

the interface device is configured for authorizing access to the local network based on said authorization information.

53. The network system of claim 52, wherein:

the remote access device provides user identification information in said request; and

the interface device is configured for comparing the user identification information to the authorization information, and authorizing access to the local network only if one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied.

54. The network system of claim 46, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal is configured for determining if the request is from a qualified remote access device, and if so, sends the request to the interface device.

55. The network system of claim 46, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal is configured for determining if the user interface description is from a qualified user interface device, and if so sends the user interface description to the remote access device.

56. The network system of claim 46, wherein the remote access device communicates with the portal using secure communication.

57. The network system of claim 46, wherein the portal communicates with the interface device using secure communication.

58. The network system of claim 46, wherein:

the remote access device communicates with the portal using secure communication; and

the portal communicates with the interface device using secure communication;

whereby the remote access device communicates with the local network securely.

59. The network system of claim 36, wherein:

the remote access device is configured for receiving user input via the displayed user interface, requesting access to a selected device in the local network, and sends a request including an external address from the received user interface description for the selected device, for accessing the selected device to the interface device via the external network; and

the interface device includes an agent configured for using said external address to communicate the request to the selected device.

61. The network system of claim 57, wherein:

the external network includes at least a portal for providing services;

the remote access device sends said request to the portal for accessing the selected device; and

the portal further includes a routing agent that uses said external address in the request to send the request to the interface device in the local network.

62. The network system of claim 60, wherein the user interface description generation agent generates said user interface description such that each external address for each associated device in the local network, includes a private address of that device in the local network, an address of the local network and an address of the portal, such that said device in the local network is accessible by the remote access device via the portal.

63. The network system of claim 61, wherein said external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in that device for providing services.

64. The network system of claim 61, wherein said external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in the local network for providing services.

65. The network system of claim 61, wherein said external address for each associated device further includes name of a software agent in the portal for providing services.

66. The network system of claim 61, wherein said external address for each associated device in the local network includes the private address of that device in the local network prefixed by the public address of the local network prefixed by the address of the portal.

67. The network system of claim 65, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal transforms the external address in the request from the remote access device to a modified address including said private address of the device in the local network prefixed by the public address of the local, and

the routing agent uses the address of the local network in the external address to send the request with said modified address to the interface device in the local network.

68. The network system of claim 66, wherein:

the interface device transforms said modified address to a private address including said private address of the selected device in the local network,

the interface device uses the private address of the device in the local network to communicate with the selected device in the local network.

69. The network system of claim 60, wherein:

the interface device is configured for obtaining information from the selected device, said information including device control information, for generating a device user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of the selected device, and sending the device user interface description to the remote access device via the portal, such that the remote access device displays a device user interface based on the device user interface description, for user interaction with the selected device.

70. The network system of claim 68, wherein:

the remote access device is configured for receiving user input via the displayed device user interface, requesting control of the selected device in the local network, and sending a request for control of the selected device to the interface device via the portal, the request including said external address for the selected device;

the portal routing agent, upon receiving the request, uses the external address to send the request to the interfaced device;

the interface device agent sends the request for control to the selected device, such that the selected device performs a service based on the request for control, and the interface device obtains response information from the selected device and sends the response information to the remote access device via the portal, wherein the remote access device displays said response information.

36. A network system for performing services to a remote access device, comprising:

an external network for providing services, wherein the remote access device is connected to the external network;

a local network of first devices interconnected via a communication medium;

a user interface description generation agent in at least one of said first devices in the local network, configured for;

(a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the local network, said information including device information; and

(b) generating a user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, said reference including an external address for the associated device in the local network, such that the device is accessible from remote access device via the external network using said external address;

wherein the interface device is connected to the external network via a communication link, and the interface device is further configured for establishing communication with the external network and sending the user interface description to the remote access device via the external network; and

wherein the remote access device establishes communication with the external network and is configured for receiving said user interface description, and displaying a user interface based on the received user interface description for user interaction with the local network.

71. In a network system comprising a local network connected to an external network, and a remote access device connected to the external network, the local network including first devices interconnected via a communication medium and an interface device connecting the local network to the external network, a remote access agent providing communication between the remote access device and the local network, comprising:

a user interface description generation agent in at least one of said first devices in the local network for;

(a) obtaining information from one or more of said first devices currently connected to the local network, said information including device information; and

(b) generating a user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices, said reference including an external address for the associated device in the local network, such that the device is accessible from remote access device via the external network using said external address;

an interface device communication agent configuring the interface device for communication with the remote access device and for sending the user interface description to the remote access device via the external network, wherein the remote access device is configured for displaying a user interface based on the user interface description for user interaction with local network, and

a routing agent in the external network for routing information between the remote access device and the local network.

72. The network system of claim 71, wherein the local network comprises a 1394 network, and the external network comprises a non-1394 network.

73. The network system of claim 71, wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.

74. The network system of claim 71, wherein the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.

75. The network system of claim 74, wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.

76. The network system of claim 74, wherein:

the external network comprises the Internet, and

at least one of said second devices providing services comprises one or more web servers providing services.

77. The network system of claim 76, wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the external network comprises a web site service.

78. The network system of claim 71, wherein each reference in the user interface description associated with services provided by the local network comprises at least one hyper-text link to device information of the devices in the local network.

79. The network system of claim 71, wherein:

the external network includes at least a portal for providing services;

the remote access device is configured for sending a request for accessing the local network to the portal, wherein the routing agent receives the request and sends the request to the interface device; and

the communication agent sends the user interface description to the portal, wherein said routing agent in the portal sends the user interface description to the remote access device.

80. The network system of claim 79, wherein the user interface description generation agent generates said user interface description such that each external address for each associated device, includes a private address of that device in the local network, an address of the local network and an address of the portal, such that said device in the local network is accessible by the remote device via the portal.

81. The network system of claim 80, wherein each external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in that device for providing services.

82. The network system of claim 80, wherein each external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in the local network for providing services.

83. The network system of claim 80, wherein each external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in the external network for providing services.

84. The network system of claim 80, wherein said external address for each associated device in the first network includes the private address of that device in the first network prefixed by the public address of the first network prefixed by the address of the portal.

85. The network system of claim 84, wherein:

the private address for each device in the first network comprises an IP address in the first network;

the first network public address comprises a public IP address for the first network; and

the portal address comprises an IP address of the home portal.

86. The network system of claim 79, wherein the remote access device communicates with the portal using secure communication.

87. The network system of claim 79, wherein the portal communicates with the interface device using secure communication.

88. The network system of claim 79, wherein:

the remote access device communicates with the portal using secure communication; and

the portal communicates with the interface device using secure communication;

whereby the remote access device communicates with the local network securely.

89. The network system of claim 79, further comprising identification information for the local network, and authorization information for accessing the local network, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal sends the request to the interface device using said identification information for the local network; and

the communication agent is configured for authorizing access to the local network based on said authorization information.

90. The network system of claim 89, wherein:

the remote access device provides user identification information in said request; and

the communication agent is configured for comparing the user identification information to the authorization information, and authorizing access to the local network only if one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied.

91. The network system of claim 79, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal is configured for determining if the request is from a qualified remote access device, and if so, sends the request to the interface device.

92. The network system of claim 79, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal is configured for determining if the user interface description is from a qualified user interface device, and if so sends the user interface description to the remote access device.

93. The network system of claim 71, wherein:

the remote access device is configured for receiving user input via the displayed user interface, requesting access to a selected device in the local network, and sends a request for accessing the selected device to the interface device via the external network, the request including an external address from the received user interface description for the selected device; and

the communication agent of the interface device uses said external address to communicate the request to the selected device.

94. The network system of claim 92, wherein:

the external network includes at least a portal for providing services;

the remote access device sends said request to the portal for accessing the selected device; and

the portal includes said routing agent, wherein the routing agent uses said external address in the request to send the request to the interface device in the local network.

95. The network system of claim 94, wherein the user interface description generation agent generates said user interface description such that each external address for each associated device in the local network, includes a private address of that device in the local network, an address of the local network and an address of the portal, such that said device in the local network is accessible by the remote access device via the portal.

96. The network system of claim 95, wherein said external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in that device for providing services.

97. The network system of claim 95, wherein said external address for each associated device further includes a name of a software agent in the local network for providing services.

98. The network system of claim 95, wherein said external address for each associated device further includes name of a software agent in the portal for providing services.

99. The network system of claim 95, wherein said external address for each associated device in the local network includes the private address of that device in the local network prefixed by the public address of the local network prefixed by the address of the portal.

100. The network system of claim 99, wherein:

the routing agent in the portal transforms the external address in the request from the remote access device to a modified address including said private address of the device in the local network prefixed by the public address of the local, and

the routing agent uses the address of the local network in the external address to send the request with said modified address to the interface device in the local network.

101. The network system of claim 100, wherein:

the interface device communication agent transforms said modified address to a private address including said private address of the selected device in the local network,

the interface device communication agent uses the private address of the device in the local network to communicate with the selected device in the local network.

102. The network system of claim 94, wherein:

the interface device communication agent is configured for obtaining information from the selected device, said information including device control information, and the user interface description generation agent generates a device user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of the selected device, and the communication agent sending the device user interface description to the remote access device via the portal, such that the remote access device displays a device user interface based on the device user interface description, for user interaction with the selected device.

103. The network system of claim 102, wherein:

the remote access device is configured for receiving user input via the displayed device user interface, requesting control of the selected device in the local network, and sending a request for control of the selected device to the interface device via the portal, the request including said external address for the selected device;

the portal routing agent, upon receiving the request, uses the external address to send the request to the interfaced device; and

the interface device communication agent sends the request for control to the selected device, such that the selected device performs a service based on the request for control, and the communication agent obtains response information from the selected device and sends the response information to the remote access device via the portal, wherein the remote access device displays said response information.