Digital satellite broadcasting set-top box, and home network control system employing the same

• US 20070130598A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Kim, Nae-Soo, Chang, Dae-Ig, Oh, Deock-Gil, Choi, Eun-A
• Application Number:
  US11/607,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20070130598A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup

Abstract

Provided is a digital satellite broadcasting set-top box and a home network control system employing the same. The set-top box includes: a satellite signal receiving unit for receiving a satellite signal including a home network control signal for controlling the household appliances through a satellite broadcasting network from a remote terminal; and a control unit for extracting a household appliances control signal included in the satellite signal transmitted from the satellite signal receiving unit and commanding a power line converter to transmit the household appliances control signal to a corresponding household appliance, wherein the power line converter converts the household appliances control signal transmitted from the digital satellite broadcasting set-top box into a power line communication signal and transmits the power line communication signal on the home network through a power line.

Claims

1. A digital satellite broadcasting set-top box for controlling household appliances on a home network realized through a power line in a house, comprising:

a satellite signal receiving means for receiving a satellite signal including a home network control signal for controlling the household appliances through a satellite broadcasting network from a remote terminal; and

a control means for extracting a household appliances control signal included in the satellite signal transmitted from the satellite signal receiving means and commanding a power line converter to transmit the household appliances control signal to a corresponding household appliance,

wherein the power line converter converts the household appliances control signal transmitted from the digital satellite broadcasting set-top box into a power line communication signal and transmits the power line communication signal on a home network through a power line.

2. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an input means for receiving the home network control signal for controlling the household appliances from a home user,

wherein the control means of the digital satellite broadcasting set-top box commands the power line converter to transmit the household appliances control signal to the household appliance.

3. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a satellite signal transmitting means for transmitting a specific satellite signal to a remote terminal through a satellite broadcasting network,

wherein the control means of the digital satellite broadcasting set-top box transmits a control operation response signal transmitted from the household appliance through the power line converter as a result of the household appliances control signal transmission command to the remote terminal through the satellite signal transmitting means.

4. The set-top box as recited in claim 1, wherein the power line converter is realized in any one between a form integrated with the digital satellite broadcasting set-top box and a form connected to the digital satellite broadcasting set-top box through an interface.

5. A home network control system controlling household appliances on a home network realized through a power line in a house, comprising:

a digital satellite broadcasting set-top box for extracting a home network control signal for controlling the household appliances included in a satellite signal transmitted from a remote terminal through a satellite broadcasting network and commanding a power line converter to transmit the household appliances control signal to a corresponding household appliance; and

a power line converter for converting the household appliances control signal into a power line communication signal and transmitting the power line communication signal on the home network through the power line.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a satellite signal receiving means for receiving a satellite signal including the household appliances control signal through a satellite broadcasting network from a remote terminal; and

a control means for extracting the household appliances control signal included in the satellite signal and commanding the power line converter to transmit the household appliances control signal to the corresponding household appliance.

7. A home network control method using a digital satellite broadcasting set-top box to control household appliances on a home network realized through a power line in a house, comprising the steps of:

a) when a remote terminal transmits an access request through a satellite broadcasting network, authenticating a user of the remote terminal;

b) when the user authentication is successful, requesting the remote terminal to transmit a home network control signal through a satellite broadcasting network;

c) when a satellite signal including the household appliances control signal is transmitted from the remote terminal through a satellite broadcasting network as a result of the transmission of the household appliances control signal request, extracting the household appliances control signal from the satellite signal; and

d) converting the extracted household appliances control signal into a power line communication signal and transmitting the power line communication signal on the home network through a power line.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of:

e) when a control operation response signal is transmitted from the household appliance as a result of the transmission of the household appliances control signal, loading the control operation response signal in the satellite signal and transmitting the control operation response signal to the remote terminal through the satellite broadcasting network.

9. A home network control method using a digital satellite broadcasting set-top box for controlling household appliances on a home network realized through a power line in the inside of house, comprising the steps of:

a) when a user requests to control a specific household appliance, authenticating the user;

b) when the user authentication is successful, creating the household appliances control signal for controlling the household appliances corresponding to the request of the user; and

c) converting the created household appliances control signal into a power line communication signal and transmitting the power line communication signal on the home network through a power line.