Home network system

• US 20030097452A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Young-Man, Kim, Sun-Young
• Application Number:
  US10/164,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• 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 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71

Abstract

A home network system having a set-top box for a television and a gateway which connects the set-top box with a plurality of electric home appliances and the Internet. The set-top box transmits/receives to/from a controller used by a user and has product information of the electric home appliances. The set-top box stores screen information for the television and control information for the home electric appliances, such that programs and an authentication procedure required to control the home electric appliances are not necessary. Thus, the home network system does not require an additional authentication module, reducing the producing cost of the home network system, and saving time and cost of development due to the additional authentication module.

Claims

1. A home network system, comprising:

a gateway connected to a plurality of electric home appliances; and

a set-top box which transmits/receives to/from a controller used by a user, the set-top box connected to the gateway and having product information of the electric home appliances.

2. The home network system according to claim 1, wherein the set-top box and the gateway are connected to a network access device connected to an external network.

3. The home network system according to claim 1, wherein:

the controller is a television; and

the set-top box comprises;

a program storage unit which stores at least one operation program, an Internet browser, and data thereof,

a screen information storage unit which stores control screen information of the electric home appliances,

a control information storage unit which stores control information of the home electric appliances,

a transmission/reception unit which transmits/receives information to/from the television, and

a network interface unit which interfaces the set top box with the gateway.

4. The home network system according to claim 3, wherein the screen information storage unit stores user interface information preset to correspond with a resolution of the television.

5. The home network system according to claim 3, wherein the set-top box further comprises an authentication unit which stores authentication information of the television.

6. The home network system according to claim 1, wherein the gateway comprises:

a network interface unit which interfaces with the set-top box, and

a power line communication unit which interfaces with the electric home appliances through a power line.

7. A set-top box for a television which communicates control commands input through one of the television and the Internet to one or a plurality of home appliances, the set-top box comprising:

a controller which controls a flow of data between the television and the home appliances or between the internet and the home appliances to control and/or obtain information from the home appliances;

an authentication unit which authenticates a connection of the television and the controller in response to a user command input through the television;

a storage unit which stores programs and information from which the controller generates a control screen for the television to present status information relating to the one or the plurality of the home appliances to the user in a format corresponding to a resolution of the television; and

a network interface unit which connects the controller with the Internet.

8. A set-top box for a television which communicates control commands input through one of the television and the Internet to one or a plurality of home appliances, the set-top box comprising:

a controller which controls a flow of data between the television and the home appliances or between the internet and the home appliances to control and/or obtain information from the home appliances;

a storage unit which stores programs and information from which the controller generates a control screen for the television to present status information relating to the one or the plurality of the home appliances to the user in a format corresponding to a resolution of the television; and

a network interface unit which connects the controller with the Internet.