Method of control between devices connected to a heterogeneous network and device implementing the method

• US 20050066024A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Sirot, Joel, Crocitti, Valerie, Henry, Jean-Baptiste
• Application Number:
  US10/926,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20050066024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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 12/40052 High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus bus transfer protocol on a daisy chain bus using an embedded synchronisation G06F13/426
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40097 Interconnection with other networks LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; single bridge functionality H04L12/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of control of a target device, by a client device, in a heterogeneous network containing at least one bus according to a first given protocol, and at least a second bus according to a second protocol. A gateway between the buses provides centralized means of control of devices that are connected to the buses and that are able to act as target devices. These centralized control means are used to control the target devices of each bus by using the control standard specific to the bus. These centralized control means are made accessible to the devices able to act as clients via a server on the gateway according to a standard communication protocol. This method includes at least the following steps: a conditional transfer step for transferring, from the gateway to the client device, an application for controlling the target device; an execution step for the execution of this control application by the client device when the application is transferred, involving a direct dialogue between the two devices, client and target, according to the control standard of the bus to which they are connected.

Claims

1. Method of control of a target device, by a client device, in a heterogeneous network containing at least one bus according to a first given protocol, at least a second bus according to a second protocol, a gateway between the buses providing centralized means of control of devices that are connected to the buses and that are able to act as target devices, the said centralized control means being used to control the target devices of each bus by using a control standard specific to the bus, the said centralized control means being made accessible to the devices able to act as clients via a server on the gateway according to a standard communication protocol, which control method is characterized in that it includes at least the following steps:

a conditional transfer step for transferring, from the gateway to the client device, an application for controlling the target device;

an execution step for the execution of this control application by the client device when the application is transferred, setting up a direct dialogue between the two devices, client and target, according to the control standard of the bus to which they are connected.

2. Method according to claim 1, including, for a client device, a first step for sending profile information to the gateway indicating its capability to execute a control application according to a given standard.

3. Method according to claim 2, including, for the gateway, a decision-making step for the transfer of a control application to the client device.

4. Method according to claim 3, in which the decision-making step for the transfer of the control application is based on the said profile information and on the detection of the presence of the two devices, client and target, on the same bus.

5. Method according to claim 1, in which the control application is a Java application.

6. Gateway equipment between at least one bus according to a first given protocol and at least a second bus according to a second protocol, the said gateway providing centralized means of control of devices that are connected to the buses and that are able to act as target devices, the said centralized control means being used to control the target devices of each bus by using the control standard specific to the bus, the said centralized control means being made accessible to the devices able to act as clients via a server on the gateway according to a standard communication protocol, which gateway equipment is characterized in that it includes conditional transfer means for transferring a part of its control means to a client device with the intention of an execution on that device in order to control a target device.

7. Gateway equipment according to claim 6, including decision-making means for the transfer of a control application to the client device.

8. Gateway equipment according to claim 7, in which the decision-making means for the transfer of the control application to the client device use profile information of the client device indicating its capability of executing a control application.

9. Gateway equipment according to claim 7, in which the decision-making means for the transfer of the control application to the client device use detection of the presence of the two devices, client and target, on the same bus.

10. Equipment according to claim 6, in which the control application is a Java application.