Gateway device, network system, communication program, and communication method

• US 20060133392A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ajitomi, Daisuke, Teramoto, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• 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 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A communication method includes; generating identification information for identifying each of detected appliances on a second network; classifying the generated identification information; publishing for a terminal device on a first network a list of the identification information; upon receipt of a request for call connection with identification information on the published list from the terminal device on the first network, establishing call connection with the terminal device; and mediating communication between the terminal device and an appliance on the second network assigned the identification information.

Claims

1. A gateway device which connects a first network and at least one second network and performs communication based on a call control protocol with a terminal device on the first network, comprising:

a connection detecting unit which detects appliances on the second network;

an identification information generator which generates identification information for identifying by the call control protocol each of the detected appliances;

a classification unit which classifies the generated identification information according to at least either a type of a control protocol with which the detected appliances on the second network comply or a type of the second network to which the detected appliances belong;

a storage unit which storages the classified identification information;

an information publishing unit which, upon receipt of an information subscription request according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, publishes for the terminal device on the first network a list of the identification information classified according to the at least either the type of the control protocol or the type of the second network;

a call connection unit which, upon receipt of a request for call connection with identification information on the published list according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, establishes call connection with the terminal device having made the request for call connection; and

a mediation unit which mediates communication between the terminal device having made the request for call connection and an appliance on the second network assigned the identification information serving as a target of the request for call connection.

2. The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein the connection detecting unit detects the appliance by receiving a broadcast packet which the appliance on the second network sends on the basis of the control protocol with which the appliance complies.

3. The gateway device according to claim 2, wherein the broadcast packet contains information of the appliance which sends the broadcast packet, the information of the appliance being unique among appliances on the second network.

4. The gateway device according to claim 1, further comprising a registration unit which registers an appliance that performs communication based on the call control protocol on the second network, wherein

the connection detecting unit detects an appliance on the second network which performs communication based on the call control protocol as the control protocol with which the appliance on the second network complies, by receiving a unicast packet for requesting the registration from the appliance on the second network.

5. The gateway device according to claim 4, further comprising an identification information notifying unit which notifies the appliance on the second network that performs communication based on the call control protocol of the identification information generated by the identification information generator.

6. The gateway device according to claim 4, wherein the unicast packet for requesting the registration contains information of the appliance which issues the unicast packet, the information of the appliance being unique among appliances on the second network.

7. The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information generator generates the identification information on the basis of information of the detected appliance and basic address information given in advance for communication based on the call control protocol, the information of the detected appliance being unique among appliances on the second network.

8. The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein if a category representing at least either the type of the control protocol with which the detected appliance complies or the type of the network to which the detected appliance belongs is not created yet, the classification unit creates the category and registers the identification information of the detected appliance in the category, whereas if the category is already created, the classification unit registers the identification information of the detected appliance in the already created category.

9. The gateway device according to claim 8, wherein the information publishing unit presents the category to the terminal device on the first network in response to the information subscription request, and if the information publishing unit receives data designating the presented category, the information publishing unit publishes for the terminal device on the first network identification information which is registered in the designated category.

10. The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein the call control protocol is SIP, and the control protocol used on the second network is one of a UPnP protocol, AV/C protocol, ECHONET protocol, and a combination of the protocols.

11. A network system comprising:

a gateway device which connects a first network and at least one second network and performs communication based on a call control protocol with a terminal device on the first network; and

a server device connected to the first network to register an appliance participant in communication based on the call control protocol,

the gateway device including

a connection detecting unit which detect appliances on the second network,

an identification information generator which generates identification information for identifying by the call control protocol each of the detected appliances,

a classification unit which classifies the generated identification information according to at least either a type of a control protocol with which the detected appliances on the second network comply or a type of the second network to which the detected appliances belong,

a storage unit which storages the classified identification information,

an information publishing unit which, upon receipt of an information subscription request according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, publishes for the terminal device on the first network a list of the identification information classified according to the at least either the type of the control protocol or the type of the second network,

a call connection unit which, upon receipt of a request for call connection with identification information on the published list according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, establishes call connection with the terminal device having made the request for call connection, and

a mediation unit which mediates communication between the terminal device having made the request for call connection and an appliance on the second network assigned the identification information serving as a target of the request for call connection,

the server device including

a gateway specifying unit which, upon receipt of a unicast packet from the appliance on the second network which performs communication based on the call control protocol for requesting registration of the appliance, specifies a gateway device to which the appliance on the second network belongs, and

a transfer unit which sends out, to the appliance on the second network, instruction data giving an instruction to request the registration to the specified gateway device,

wherein the connection detecting unit in the gateway device detects the appliance on the second network by receiving a unicast packet for requesting the registration from the appliance on the second network.

12. The network system according to claim 11, wherein

the server device further comprises an address storing unit which stores in advance an address of a gateway device, and

the gateway specifying unit specifies a gateway device to which the appliance on the second network belongs by comparing a source address of the unicast packet with an address in the address storing unit.

13. A communication program for executing in a gateway device which connects a first network and at least one second network and performs communication based on a call control protocol with a terminal device on the first network, comprising:

detecting appliances on the second network;

generating identification information for identifying by the call control protocol each of the detected appliances;

classifying the generated identification information according to at least either a type of a control protocol with which the detected appliances on the second network comply or a type of the second network to which the detected appliances belong;

upon receipt of an information subscription request according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, publishing for the terminal device on the first network a list of the identification information classified according to the at least either the type of the control protocol or the type of the second network;

upon receipt of a request for call connection with identification information on the published list according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, establishing call connection with the terminal device having made the request for call connection; and

mediating communication between the terminal device having made the request for call connection and an appliance on the second network assigned the identification information serving as a target of the request for call connection.

14. A communication method of implementing in a gateway device which connects a first network and at least one second network and performs communication based on a call control protocol with a terminal device on the first network, comprising:

detecting appliances on the second network;

generating identification information for identifying by the call control protocol each of the detected appliances;

classifying the generated identification information according to at least either a type of a control protocol with which the detected appliances on the second network comply or a type of the second network to which the detected appliances belong;

upon receipt of an information subscription request according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, publishing for the terminal device on the first network a list of the identification information classified according to the at least either the type of the control protocol or the type of the second network;

upon receipt of a request for call connection with identification information on the published list according to the call control protocol from the terminal device on the first network, establishing call connection with the terminal device having made the request for call connection; and

mediating communication between the terminal device having made the request for call connection and an appliance on the second network assigned the identification information serving as a target of the request for call connection.