Gateway device allowing home network appliances to be introduced and controlled over a network and a control method therefor
First Claim
1. A gateway device connectable to a telecommunications network and an electronics appliance to be controlled, comprising:
- an input/output circuit for receiving information supplied over the network, and outputting information from the appliance to the network;
a format converter for converting information supplied to first information in a first format handled by the network and second information in a second format handled by said gateway device; and
a controller for converting the second information to control information handled by a communications protocol of the appliance,said controller comprising;
a binder for binding information about the communications protocol, a driver, a control setting condition and a status of the appliance to each other;
a memory for storing the information bound; and
a converter responsive to the information stored in said memory for converting the information supplied to either of the control information corresponding to the communications protocol of the appliance and response information to be outputted over the network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gateway device includes a base processor which converts a signal input from an IP network to a signal which can be handled by the gateway device, and a home appliance control processor having a controller which converts the signal which can be handled by the gateway device to a control signal in compliance with the communications protocol of a home appliance to be controlled. The controller stores, on a table, information about the communications protocol, driver, controllable setting condition and status of respective appliances to be controlled in association with each other. The controller also includes a conversion functional block which converts information supplied to the control information of the communications protocol of the respective appliances to be controlled on the basis of the stored information.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A gateway device connectable to a telecommunications network and an electronics appliance to be controlled, comprising:
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an input/output circuit for receiving information supplied over the network, and outputting information from the appliance to the network; a format converter for converting information supplied to first information in a first format handled by the network and second information in a second format handled by said gateway device; and a controller for converting the second information to control information handled by a communications protocol of the appliance, said controller comprising; a binder for binding information about the communications protocol, a driver, a control setting condition and a status of the appliance to each other; a memory for storing the information bound; and a converter responsive to the information stored in said memory for converting the information supplied to either of the control information corresponding to the communications protocol of the appliance and response information to be outputted over the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of controlling an electronics appliance to be controlled on a basis of information supplied over a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of:
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retrieving first information for operating the appliance when the first information is not available; selecting the first information and downloading the selected first information; converting the selected first information to second information in a predetermined format; binding the second information to a communications protocol, a driver, a control setting condition and a status of the appliance and storing the bound second information; converting the information supplied to control information corresponding to the communications protocol of the appliance; generating a drive signal on a basis of the control information; and outputting a control signal to the appliance in response to the drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification