COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, COMMUNICATION ADAPTER, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20160156483A1
• Filed: 07/04/2014
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Komatsu, Masayuki, YANO, Hirotoshi, Yabe, Masaaki, Minezawa, Satoshi, Maruyama, Ichiro, Nakamura, Shinji, Suzuki, Shiro, Ogawa, Yuki, Sato, Kaori
• Granted Patent: US 10,256,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• 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 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A standardized information acquirer acquires standardized information from an electric device. A standardized telegraphic message sender sends a standardized telegraphic message including the standardized information to a communication device. An unstandardized information acquirer acquires unstandardized information from the electric device. A standardized telegraphic message receiver receives the standardized telegraphic message including the standardized information. An electric device determiner determines whether the electric device meets a specific condition based on the standardized information included in the received standardized telegraphic message. When the electric device is determined to meet the specific condition, an unstandardized telegraphic message sender sends the unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information. An unstandardized telegraphic message receiver receives the unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a communication adapter configured to provide for communication of an electric device; and

a communication device configured to communicate with the communication adapter, wherein

the communication adapter comprises;

a first acquirer configured to acquire standardized information from the electric device, wherein the standardized information represents information that is standardized;

a first sender configured to send a standardized telegraphic message including the standardized information acquired by the first acquirer to the communication device, wherein the standardized telegraphic message represents a telegraphic message that is standardized;

a second acquirer configured to acquire unstandardized information from the electric device, wherein the unstandardized information represents information that is not standardized;

a first receiver configured to receive an unstandardized telegraphic message including request information of the unstandardized information from the communication device, wherein the unstandardized telegraphic message represents a telegraphic message that is not standardized; and

a second sender configured to send an unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information acquired by the second acquirer to the communication device when the first receiver receives the unstandardized telegraphic message including the request information, and

the communication device comprises;

a second receiver configured to receive the standardized telegraphic message sent by the first sender;

a determiner configured to determine whether the electric device meets a specific condition based on the standardized information included in the standardized telegraphic message received by the second receiver;

a third sender configured to send the unstandardized telegraphic message including the request information to the communication adapter when the electric device is determined to meet the specific condition by the determiner; and

a third receiver configured to receive the unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information sent by the second sender.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the unstandardized information includes unstandardized telegraphic message creation information for creating the unstandardized telegraphic message for utilizing an unstandardized function that is a function not standardized;

the communication device further comprises a first executer configured to create, based on the unstandardized telegraphic message creation information included in the unstandardized information, the unstandardized telegraphic message for utilizing the unstandardized function;

the third sender is further configured to send, to the communication adapter, the unstandardized telegraphic message for utilizing the unstandardized function, the unstandardized telegraphic message being created by the first executer;

the first receiver is further configured to receive, from the communication device, the unstandardized telegraphic message for utilizing the unstandardized function; and

the communication adapter further comprises a second executer configured to execute a process relevant to the unstandardized function when the first receiver receives the unstandardized telegraphic message for utilizing the unstandardized function.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the unstandardized information includes user interface creation information for creating a user interface applied for utilizing the unstandardized function; and

the first executer is configured to create the user interface based on the user interface creation information included in the unstandardized information, and configured to create, in accordance with information given to the created user interface, the unstandardized telegraphic message for utilizing the unstandardized function.

4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the communication adapter further comprises a first communicator configured to communicate with the communication device based on a communication protocol other than a communication protocol using the standardized telegraphic message or the unstandardized telegraphic message;

the communication device further comprises a second communicator configured to communicate with the communication adapter based on the other communication protocol; and

the first executer is configured to create the unstandardized telegraphic message that includes an instruction for communication between the first communicator and the second communicator based on the other communication protocol.

5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein:

the standardized information includes information that indicates a manufacturer of the electric device; and

the determiner is configured to determine that, when determining that the manufacturer indicated by the standardized information is a specific manufacturer, the electric device meets the specific condition.

6. A communication device that communicates with a communication adapter provided for communication of an electric device, the communication device comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive, from the communication adapter, a standardized telegraphic message including standardized information acquired from the electric device, wherein the standardized telegraphic message represents a telegraphic message that is standardized, and the standardized information represents information that is standardized;

a determiner configured to determine whether the electric device meets a specific condition based on the standardized information included in the standardized telegraphic message received by the first receiver;

a sender configured to send an unstandardized telegraphic message including request information of unstandardized information to the communication adapter when the electric device is determined to meet the specific condition by the determiner, wherein the unstandardized telegraphic message represents a telegraphic message that is not standardized, and the unstandardized information represents information that is not standardized and is acquired from the electric device; and

a second receiver configured to receive the unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information sent by the communication adapter.

7. A communication adapter enabling an electric device to communicate with a communication device, the communication adapter comprising:

a first acquirer configured to acquire standardized information from the electric device, wherein the standardized information represents information that is standardized;

a determiner configured to determine whether the electric device meets a specific condition based on the standardized information acquired by the first acquirer;

a second acquirer configured to acquire unstandardized information from the electric device, wherein the unstandardized information represents information that is not standardized; and

a sender configured to send the unstandardized information acquired by the second acquirer to the communication device when the electric device is determined to meet the specific condition by the determiner.

8. A communication method executed by a communication system comprising a communication adapter configured to provide for communication of an electric device and a communication device configured to communicate with the communication adapter, the communication method comprising:

causing the communication adapter to acquire standardized information from the electric device, wherein the standardized information represents information that is standardized;

causing at least either the communication adapter or the communication device to determine whether the electric device meets a specific condition based on the acquired standardized information;

causing the communication adapter to acquire unstandardized information from the electric device, wherein the unstandardized information represents information that is not standardized; and

causing the communication adapter to send the acquired unstandardized information to the communication device when the electric device is determined to meet the specific condition.

9. A non-transitory recording medium storing a program for a computer of a communication device configured to communicate with a communication adapter provided for communication of an electric device, the program causing the computer to function as:

a first receiver configured to receive a standardized telegraphic message including standardized information from the communication adapter, wherein the standardized telegraphic message represents a telegraphic message that is standardized, the standardized information represents information that is standardized, and the standardized information is acquired from the electric device;

a determiner configured to determine whether the electric device meets a specific condition based on the standardized information included in the standardized telegraphic message received by the first receiver;

a sender configured to send an unstandardized telegraphic message including request information of unstandardized information to the communication adapter when the electric device is determined to meet the specific condition by the determiner, wherein the unstandardized telegraphic message represents a telegraphic message that is not standardized, the unstandardized information represents information that is not standardized, and the unstandardized information is acquired from the electric device; and

a second receiver configured to receive the unstandardized telegraphic message including the unstandardized information sent by the communication adapter.

10. A communication system comprising:

a communication adapter configured to provide for communication of an electric device; and

a communication device configured to communicate with the communication adapter, wherein

the communication adapter comprises;

a first acquirer configured to acquire standardized information from the electric device, wherein the standardized information represents information that is standardized; and

a second acquirer configured to acquire unstandardized information from the electric device, wherein the unstandardized information represents information that is not standardized;

at least one of the communication adapter and the communication device comprises;

a determiner configured to determine whether the electric device meets a specific condition based on the standardized information acquired by the first acquirer;

the communication adapter further comprises;

a sender configured to send unstandardized information acquired by the second acquirer to the communication device when the electric device is determined to meet the specific condition by the determiner.