Proxy device and method for controlling devices in a domain

• US 20050099982A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Sohn, Young-chul, Lee, Won-hee, Cho, Jung-yon
• Application Number:
  US10/972,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 61/4541 Directories for service discovery

Abstract

A method of remotely controlling universal plug and play (UPnP) devices in a domain system, the method comprising, (a) requesting list data of the devices in the domain system and storing the list data, and (b) generating a search response packet based on the list data stored in step (a), when a search for the devices is remotely requested, so that the UPnP devices in the domain can be effectively searched.

Claims

1. A method of remotely controlling devices in a domain, the method comprising:

(a) requesting list data of the devices in the domain and storing the list data of the devices; and

(b) generating a search response packet based on the list data of the devices stored in step (a), when a search for the devices is remotely requested.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the devices have a UPnP format.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a-1) when an advertisement/byebye packet is received in step (a), reflecting data of the advertisement/byebye packet in the list data of the devices.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a-2) updating the device list data with reference to an advertisement/byebye packet, which is received in response to transmission of a search request packet when power is turned on in step (a).

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the advertisement/byebye packet is received within a predetermined time interval.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises:

(b-1) analyzing a UPnP device on the basis of a received search request packet;

(b-2) searching the list data for the UPnP device analyzed in sub-step (b-1); and

(b-3) generating the search response packet on the basis of the list searched in sub-step (b-2).

7. A proxy device for remotely controlling universal plug and play (UPnP) devices in a domain, the proxy device comprising:

a device list unit which stores a list of the UPnP devices;

a list management unit which requests the list of the UPnP devices in the domain and stores the list in the device list unit; and

a UPnP processing unit which generates a search response packet corresponding to the UPnP devices stored in the device list unit when a search for the UPnP devices is remotely requested.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the UPnP processing unit comprises:

a packet analyzer which analyzes the search request packet to search for a particular UPnP device;

a list searcher which searches the list of the UPnP devices for the UPnP device analyzed in the packet analyzer; and

a response packet generating unit which generates a search response packet on the basis of the list of the UPnP devices searched in the list searcher.

9. A domain system in which a remote UPnP controller controls universal plug and play (UPnP) devices in a domain, the system comprising:

CP proxy means for transmitting a UPnP packet received from a UPnP device through the Internet and transmitting a received UPnP packet to the UPnP device; and

CD proxy means for transmitting the UPnP packet received from the UPnP controller to the CP proxy means and transmitting the UPnP packet received from the CP proxy means to the UPnP controller,

wherein the CD proxy means stores a UPnP device list received in response to requesting the CP proxy means for the UPnP device list, and when receiving a search request from the UPnP controller, searches the UPnP device list and generates a response packet.