Architecture for home network on world wide web

• US 20030009537A1
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• 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 7,337,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• 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

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 communication with the remote access device, the user interfaces for controlling the devices that are currently connected to the first network. The remote access device establishes communication with the first network via the interface device; the remote access device sends a request to the interface device 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 generating a user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of each of said one or more first devices; the interface device sends the user interface description to the remote access device; and the remote access device displays a user interface based on the user interface description, for user interaction with the first network. In another example, the interface device is connected to a second network via a communication link; the remote access device is connected to the second network via a communication link; the remote access device establishes communication with the second network, for communication with the interface device of the first network via the second network; the remote access device sends a request to the interface device via the second network for accessing the first network; and the interface device sends the user interface description to the remote access device via the second 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 communication with the remote access device, 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 first network via the interface device;

(b) the remote access device sending a request to the interface device 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;

(d) the interface device sending the user interface description to the remote access device; 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 interface device is connected to a second network via a communication link;

the remote access device is connected to the second network via a communication link;

step (a) includes the steps of the remote access device establishing communication with the second network, for communication with the interface device of the first network via the second network;

step (b) includes the steps of the remote access device sending a request to the interface device via the second network for accessing the first network; and

step (d) includes the steps of the interface device sending the user interface description to the remote access device via the second network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each reference in the user interface description includes an external address for the associated device in the first network, such that said associated device is accessible from the remote access device using said external address.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each reference in the user interface description includes an external address for the associated device in the first network, such that said associated device is accessible from the remote access device via the second network using said external address.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein one or more of the first devices perform a service.

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

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the second network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.

10. The method of claim 8, 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.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the second network comprises a web site service.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the steps of generating the user interface description further includes the steps of providing each 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.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of generating each user interface description further comprises the steps of:

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

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the device information in each first device in the first network includes a user interface description for user interaction with that device.

15. The method of claim 2, 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 sending the request to the interface device; and

step (d) further includes the steps of;

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

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

16. The method of claim 16, wherein in step (b):

sending a request to the portal further includes the steps of sending the request to the portal using secure communication protocols; and

sending the request to the interface device by the portal further includes the steps of sending the request to the interface device using secure communication protocols.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote access device communicates with the second network using secure communication.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the second network communicates with the interface device using secure communication.

19. The method of claim 15, 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.

20. The method of claim 19, 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.

21. The method of claim 15, 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.

22. The method of claim 15, 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.

23. The method of claim 15, 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 for accessing the selected device to the interface device via the portal;

(h) 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;

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

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

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

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

(l) the remote access device sending a request for control of the selected device to the interface device via the portal;

(m) 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;

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

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

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

25. The method of claim 2, wherein in step (a) establishing communication with the second network further includes the steps of:

the remote access device establishing a connection with the interface device in the first network via a communication link;

the remote access device transmitting identification information to the interface device;

the interface device verifying the identification information, and if verified, the interface device terminating said connection remote access device, and establishing communication with the remote access device via the second network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the interface device comprises a smart phone.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the remote access device establishes dialup Internet connection with the interface device.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of the user terminating said communication between the remote access device and the interface device through the portal, by sending a request from the remote access device to the interface device via the portal, to terminate said communication.

29. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of terminating said communication between the remote access device and the interface device through the portal, by the interface device automatically terminating said communication.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein terminating said connection further comprises the steps of the interface device automatically sending a command to the remote access device via the portal to terminate said communication.

32. The network system of claim 1 further comprising an external network for providing services, 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

the remote access device is connected to the external network for communication with the local network, 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.

33. The network system of claim 32, wherein the local network comprises a 1394 network, and the external network comprises a non-1394 network.

34. The network system of claim 32, wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.

35. The network system of claim 32, wherein the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.

36. The network system of claim 35, wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.

37. The network system of claim 35, 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.

38. The network system of claim 37, wherein a service provided by at least one of the devices connected to the external network comprises a web site service.

41. The network system of claim 32, 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.

42. The network system of claim 41, wherein the remote access device communicates with the portal using secure communication.

43. The network system of claim 41, wherein the portal communicates with the interface device using secure communication.

44. The network system of claim 41, 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.

45. The network system of claim 41, 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.

46. The network system of claim 45, 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.

47. The network system of claim 41, 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.

48. The network system of claim 41, 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.

49. The network system of claim 41, 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 portal;

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.

50. The network system of claim 49, 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 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.

51. The network system of claim 32, wherein:

the remote access device is further configured for establishing a connection with the interface device in the local network via a communication link, and transmitting identification information to the interface device; and

the interface device agent verifies the identification information, and if verified, the interface device terminates said connection with the remote access device, and establishes communication with the remote access device via the external network.

52. The network system of claim 51, wherein the interface device includes a smart phone.

53. The network system of claim 51, wherein the remote access device establishes dialup Internet connection with the interface device.

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

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 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, and

an interface device in the local network configured for communication with the remote access device and for sending the user interface description to the remote access device;

wherein the remote access device is configured for displaying a user interface based on the user interface description for user interaction with local network.

39. The network system of claim 31, 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.

40. The network system of claim 31 further comprising said remote access device.

54. 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,

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.

55. The network system of claim 54, wherein the local network comprises a 1394 network, and the external network comprises a non-1394 network.

56. The network system of claim 54, wherein the interface device comprises a gateway device.

57. The network system of claim 54, wherein the external network comprises a plurality of interconnected second devices providing one or more services.

58. The network system of claim 57, wherein each of said second devices comprises at least one computer system programmed to provide services.

59. The network system of claim 57, wherein:

the external network comprises the Internet,

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

60. The network system of claim 54, 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.

61. The network system of claim 54, 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.

62. The network system of claim 61, wherein the remote access device communicates with the portal using secure communication.

63. The network system of claim 61, wherein the portal communicates with the interface device using secure communication.

64. The network system of claim 61, 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.

65. The network system of claim 61, 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.

66. The network system of claim 65, 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.

67. The network system of claim 61, 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.

68. The network system of claim 61, 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.

69. The network system of claim 61, 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 portal;

the communication agent is configured for obtaining information from the selected device, said information including device control information; and

the user interface description generation agent is configured for generating a device user interface description including at least one reference associated with the device information of the selected device, wherein the communication agent sends 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 69, 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 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.

71. The network system of claim 54, wherein:

the remote access device is further configured for establishing a connection with the interface device in the local network via a communication link, and transmitting identification information to the interface device; and

the interface device communication agent verifies the identification information, and if verified, the communication agent terminates said connection with the remote access device, and establishes communication with the remote access device via the external network.

72. The network system of claim 71, wherein the interface device includes a smart phone.

73. The network system of claim 71, wherein the remote access device establishes dialup Internet connection with the interface device.

74. The network system of claim 54, wherein the routing agent comprises a software agent.

75. The network system of claim 54, wherein the communication agent comprises a software agent.