PAIRING METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE THEREFOR

• US 20100013660A1
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hwang, Chang-hwan, Yu, Seung-dong, Chang, Woo-yong, Park, Eun-hee, Kim, Dae-hyun
• Application Number:
  US12/401,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A control device includes a search unit which receives profiles from each of a plurality of apparatuses in a home network and searches for a plurality of apparatuses able to be controlled in the home network, a user interface unit which displays information regarding the plurality of apparatuses found as a result of searching, and a control unit which pairs the control device with an apparatus selected from among the plurality of apparatuses found. Therefore, it is possible to provide a user with information regarding the plurality of apparatuses in the home network, so that the user may easily perform pairing using the information.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a search unit which receives profiles from each of a plurality of apparatuses in a home network, and searches for in a searching, controllable apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses able to be controlled in the home network;

a user interface unit which displays information regarding the controllable apparatuses found as a result of the searching; and

a control unit which pairs the control device with an apparatus selected from among the controllable apparatuses.

2. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the user interface unit comprises a plurality of keys, and

the user interface unit maps each of the controllable apparatuses to one of the plurality of keys, illuminates the plurality of keys mapped to each of the controllable apparatuses, and displays the information regarding the controllable apparatuses.

3. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface unit comprises a touch screen which displays the information regarding the controllable apparatuses.

4. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user interface unit classifies the controllable apparatuses according to the received profiles, and displays the controllable apparatuses classified.

5. The control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

the user interface unit comprises a plurality of keys, and

the user interface unit maps each of the controllable apparatuses to one of the plurality of keys according to the type of apparatus classified, illuminates the plurality of keys mapped each of the controllable apparatuses, and displays the information regarding the controllable apparatuses.

6. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit transmits to the paired apparatus a control code to provide feedback to the paired apparatus.

7. The control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the user interface unit comprises a plurality of keys,

the user interface unit maps each of the controllable apparatuses to one of the plurality of keys, and

the feedback comprises displaying the name of the key mapped with the selected apparatus, displaying a message notifying pairing completion, tuning to a channel corresponding to the name of the key mapping with the selected apparatus, outputting a predetermined sound, or turning on or off.

8. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein if a confirmation command is input or if a predetermined period of time has elapsed after a control code to provide feedback to the selected apparatus is transmitted to the selected apparatus, the control unit pairs the selected apparatus with the control device.

9. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit generates a task list comprising tasks able to be performed by the paired apparatus based on the received profiles.

20. The network of claim 9, wherein the selected apparatus is controlled based on a task list comprising a plurality of tasks corresponding to a plurality of functions of the selected apparatus.

10. A pairing method, comprising:

receiving profiles from each of a plurality of apparatuses in a home network, and searching for in a searching, controllable apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses able to be controlled in the home network;

displaying information regarding the controllable apparatuses found as a result of the searching; and

pairing the control device with an apparatus selected from among the controllable apparatuses.

11. The pairing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the displaying comprises mapping each of the controllable apparatuses to one of a plurality of keys, illuminating the plurality of keys mapped to each of the controllable apparatuses, and displaying the information regarding the controllable apparatuses.

12. The pairing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the displaying comprises displaying on a touch screen the information regarding the controllable apparatuses.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the displaying comprises classifying the controllable apparatuses according to the received profiles, and displaying the controllable apparatuses classified.

14. The pairing method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the displaying comprises mapping each of the controllable apparatuses to one of the plurality of keys according to the type of apparatus classified, illuminating the plurality of keys mapped to each of the controllable apparatuses, and displaying the information regarding the controllable apparatuses.

15. The pairing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pairing comprises transmitting to the paired apparatus a control code to provide feedback to the paired apparatus.

16. The pairing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

the displaying comprises mapping each of the controllable apparatuses to one of the plurality of keys, and

the feedback comprises one among operations of displaying the name of the key mapped with the selected apparatus, displaying a message notifying pairing completion, tuning to a channel corresponding to the name of the key mapping with the selected apparatus, outputting a predetermined sound, or turning on or off.

17. The pairing method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pairing comprises if a confirmation command is input or if a predetermined period of time has elapsed after a control code to provide feedback to the selected apparatus is transmitted to the selected apparatus, pairing the selected apparatus with the control device.

18. The pairing method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

generating a task list containing tasks able to be performed by the paired apparatus based on the received profiles.

19. A control device for controlling a plurality of apparatuses which are connected to a network comprising:

a search unit which broadcasts a profile request signal and receives a plurality of profiles from responding apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses, which respond to the profile request signal;

an user interface which displays information corresponding to the responding apparatuses and performs pairing with at least one of the responding apparatuses; and

a control unit which selects an apparatus and provides a control command to control the selected apparatus so that the selected apparatus is paired with the control device.