SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SETTING UP CONFIGURATIONS OF HOME NETWORK

• US 20090083401A1
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Park, Jun-Hee, Moon, Kyeong-Deok, Son, Young-Sung
• Granted Patent: US 8,112,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Provided are a system and method for automatically setting up configurations of a home network. The system includes a setting information manager, placed within an individual home, for collecting and managing setting information associated with configurations of the home network. The setting information manager shares the setting information with a remote setting information management server or another setting information manager. Since customized setting information of an individual home is shared, setting information of home network configurations can be effectively managed, thereby reducing costs and efforts required for maintenance and repair of the home network.

Claims

1. A system for automatically setting up configurations of a home network, the system comprising:

a setting information manager, placed within an individual home, for collecting and managing setting information associated with configurations of the home network,

wherein the setting information manager shares the setting information with a remote setting information management server or another setting information manager.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the setting information manager comprises:

a setting information storage unit for storing setting information and a list of a device, a network, a management system and an application service within the home network;

a user error-management record storage unit for recording error information and user'"'"'s error management details on an error;

a setting information inquiry unit for inquiring required setting information to an external device right after initialization of the management system or in occurrence of configuration change;

a server transmission unit for transmitting the setting information and an error management record to the setting information management server when the setting information is changed or a new error management record is generated; and

a setting information sharing unit for allowing a setting information manager within another home to access the setting information and the error management record.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the device comprises a computer, a digital television, an air conditioner, a digital video disc (DVD) player, lighting, and a security camera.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the network within the home network comprises a power line, a wired/wireless interface network of the home network including IEEE1394, network equipment, and a modem.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the application service within the home network comprises an Internet browser service, an Internet protocol television (IPTV) service, a residential environment control service, and a security service.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a home network management system for managing overall operation of the home network.

8. A system for automatically setting up configurations of a home network to manage a home network home group, the system comprising:

a setting information table for storing an error management record and setting information collected from at least one setting information manager within an individual home;

a standard setting information generating unit for generating standard setting information for each home network configuration from the setting information table; and

a transmission unit for transmitting properly selected standard setting information according to an inquiry of the setting information manager.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the setting information is managed separately according to a device, a network, a management system, and a service within the home network.

10. A method for automatically setting up configurations of a home network, the method comprising:

initializing a management system within a home network of an individual home;

recognizing the initialized home network configurations;

determining whether initial setting information is present;

inquiring presence of setting information to a setting information management server or a setting information manager of another home if the determination indicates that the initial setting information is not present;

acquiring the corresponding setting information from the setting information management server or the setting information manager of another home; and

automatically setting up home network configurations according to the acquired setting information.

2. The system of claim 11, further comprising an error manager for recognizing an error of a home network, informing a user of the error, and reporting error information and user'"'"'s error management details to the setting information manager.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, if the acquiring of the corresponding setting information fails:

displaying a manual setup request message to a user; and

setting up the home network configurations on the basis of setting information input by the user.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising, if the home network configurations of the individual home and the setting information are changed after the acquiring of the corresponding setting information:

storing the setting information changed in the individual home; and

sharing the changed setting information between the setting information managers or via the setting information management server.

13. A method for automatically setting up configurations of a home network, the method comprising:

receiving setting information stored in a home network of an individual home;

storing the received setting information in a setting information table; and

generating standard setting information for each home network configuration from the setting information table.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the generating of the standard setting information comprises acquiring the standard setting information according to one reference of a mean value and a maximum value of setting information stored in the setting information table.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the setting information is managed separately according to a device, a network, a management system and an application service installed within the home network.