Home network device and method of receiving and transmitting sound information using the same

• US 20070074247A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jin, Ho, Cho, Jung-yon, Kim, Il-joo
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A home network device and a method of receiving and transmitting sound information using the same are provided. The home network device includes a reception unit, a display unit and a sound playing unit. The reception unit receives a user interface, which is used to control a control target device, and sound information, which is synchronized with the user interface, from the control target device connected through a home network. The display unit displays the received user interface. The sound playing unit plays the received sound information when the user interface is displayed.

Claims

1. A home network device comprising:

a reception unit which receives a user interface, which is used to control a control target device, and sound information, which is synchronized with the user interface, from the control target device communicably linked to the home network device through a home network;

a display unit which displays the user interface; and

a sound playing unit which plays the received sound information when the user interface is displayed.

2. The home network device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user input unit which receives an input value; and

a request unit which requests a user interface corresponding to the input value from the control target device.

3. The home network device of claim 1, wherein the sound information conforms to a transmission protocol of the user interface.

4. The home network device of claim 1, wherein the sound information comprises at least one of sound data, a type of the sound data, a format of the sound data, and meta data of the sound data.

5. The home network device of claim 1, further comprising a storage unit which stores sound data.

6. The home network device of claim 5, wherein the sound information comprises sound data identification (ID) information for identifying the sound data which is stored in the storage unit.

7. The home network device of claim 6, wherein the sound playing unit extracts sound data based on the sound data ID information from the storage unit, and plays the extracted sound data.

8. A home network device comprising:

a user interface generation unit which generates a user interface in response to a request from a control device communicably linked to the home network device through a home network;

a sound information generation unit which generates sound information to be synchronized with the generated user interface; and

a transmission unit which transmits the user interface and the sound information to the control device.

9. The home network device of claim 8, further comprising a synchronization unit which synchronizes the generated user interface with the generated sound information.

10. The home network device of claim 8, wherein the sound information conforms to a transmission protocol of the user interface.

11. The home network device of claim 9, wherein the sound information comprises at least one of sound data, a type of the sound data, a format of the sound data, and metadata of the sound data.

12. The home network device of claim 9, wherein the sound information comprises sound data identification information for identifying predetermined sound data stored in the control device.

13. A method of receiving sound information using a home network device, the method comprising:

receiving a user interface, which is used to control a control target device, and sound information, which is synchronized with the user interface, from the control target device communicably linked to the home network device through a home network;

displaying the received user interface; and

playing the received sound information when the user interface is displayed.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an input value from a user; and

requesting a user interface from the control target device based on the input value.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sound information conforms to a transmission protocol of the user interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sound information comprises at least one of sound data, a type of the sound data, a format of the sound data, and metadata of the sound data.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the sound information comprises sound data identification information for identifying previously stored sound data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the playing of the sound information comprises:

extracting sound data corresponding to the sound data ID information from the previously stored sound data; and

playing the extracted sound data.

19. A method of transmitting sound information using a home network device, the method comprising:

generating a user interface in response to a request from a control device communicably linked to the home network device through a home network;

generating sound information to be synchronized with the generated user interface; and

transmitting the user interface and the sound information to the control device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising synchronizing the user interface with the sound information.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the sound information conforms to a transmission protocol of the user interface.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sound information comprises at least one of sound data, a type of the sound data, a format of the sound data, and metadata of the sound data.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the sound information comprises sound data identification information for identifying predetermined sound data stored in the control device.