METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VISITOR CALL IN HOME NETWORK SYSTEM

• US 20170034689A1
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Soo-Young, LEE, Gye-Young, KIM, Hee-Dong, JUNG, Hyun-Ki, HAWNG, Dong-Yun
• Granted Patent: US 10,135,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2567 for reachability, e.g. inquiring the address of a correspondent behind a NAT server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Disclosed is a technology for a sensor network, machine to machine (M2M), machine type communication (MTC), and internet of things (IoT). The present disclosure can be used for intelligent services (for example, services related to a smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, retail business, security, and safety) based on the technology. A method of controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a first terminal in a home network system includes: reading home information pre-stored in the communication module when communication with a communication module installed inside the home is possible; transmitting a visit request message including the home information and identification information of the first terminal to the smart home server or a at least on second terminal from among a plurality of second terminals; and communicating with the at least one second terminal when at least one of the plurality of second terminals accepts communication with the first terminal.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a first terminal in a home network system, the method comprising:

reading home information pre-stored in a communication module when communication with the communication module installed outside the home is possible;

transmitting a visit request message including the home information and identification information of the first terminal to the smart home server or at least one second terminal from among a plurality of second terminals; and

communicating with the at least one second terminal when at least one of the plurality of second terminals accepts communication with the first terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one second terminal is configured to perform a gateway function with respect to another second terminal other than the at least one second terminal from among the plurality of second terminals, wherein the communication includes at least one of a near field communication (NFC) module, a quick response (QR) code, and a device that supports bluetooth low energy (BLE), and the home information includes a home identification that identifies a household including the plurality of second terminals.

3. A method of controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a smart home server in a home network system, the method comprising:

receiving a visit request message including home information and identification information of the first terminal from the first terminal; and

transmitting a call message to one of a plurality of second terminals included in a household corresponding to the home information.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a home information request message that makes a request for home information from one of the plurality of second terminals; and

generating home information of the household and transmitting a home information response message including the generated home information to the one second terminal,

wherein the home information includes a home identification for identifying the household.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting of the call message to the one second terminal comprises transmitting the call message to each of the plurality of second terminals or the one second terminal based on a preset terminal call order, wherein the call message includes identification information of the first terminal.

6. A method of controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a second terminal in a home network system, the method comprising:

receiving a call message from a smart home server or a gateway existing inside the home;

transmitting a call response message including information indicating whether to communicate with a first terminal of a visitor; and

performing communication with the first terminal when the information indicating whether to communicate with the first terminal of the visitor corresponds to positive information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting a home information request message that makes a request for home information to the smart home server;

receiving a home information response message including the home information from the smart home server; and

transmitting the home information included in the home information response message to a communication module installed outside the home,

wherein the home information includes a home identification for identifying the household, the communication module includes at least one of a near field communication (NFC) module, a quick response (QR) code, and bluetooth low energy (BLE) patch, and the call message includes identification information of the first terminal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the performing of the communication with the first terminal comprises performing the communication using a network address translation (NAT) technology.

9. A method of controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a gateway existing inside the home in a home network system, the method comprising:

receiving a call message from a smart home server or a first terminal of a visitor;

transferring the call message to at least one of a plurality of second terminals included in a household; and

performing communication with the first terminal and relaying the communication to the at least one second terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting a home information request message that makes a request for home information to the smart home server;

receiving a home information response message including the home information from the smart home server; and

transmitting the home information included in the home information response message to a communication module installed outside the home,

wherein the home information includes a home identification for identifying the household, the call message includes identification information of the first terminal, and the communication module includes at least one of a near field communication (NFC) module, a quick response (QR) code, and a bluetooth low energy (BLE) patch.

11. An apparatus for controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a first terminal in a home network system, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to read home information pre-stored in a communication module comprising communication circuitry, when communication with a communication module installed outside the home is possible, to control a transmitter to transmit a visit request message including the home information and identification information of the first terminal to a smart home server or at least one second terminal from among a plurality of second terminals, and, to communicate with the at least one second terminal when at least one of the second terminals accepts communication with the first terminal; and

the transmitter is configured to transmit the visit request message to the smart home server or the at least one second terminal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one second terminal is a terminal that performs a gateway function with respect to another second terminal other than the at lest one second terminal from among the plurality of second terminals, the communication includes at least one of a near field communication (NFC) module, a quick response (QR) code, and a bluetooth low energy (BLE) patch, and the home information includes a home identification that identifies a household including the plurality of second terminals.

13. An apparatus for controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a smart home server in a home network system, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a visit request message including home information and identification information of the first terminal from the first terminal;

a controller configured to determine at least one second terminal to which to transmit a call message from among a plurality of second terminals included in a household corresponding to the home information; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the call message to the determined at least one second terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to identify a home information request message that makes a request for home information received from at least one of the plurality of second terminals, to generate home information of the household, and to control the transmitter to transmit a home information response message including the generated home information to the one second terminal, and the home information includes a home identification for identifying the household.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the call message to each of the plurality of second terminals or to determine the at least one second terminal to transmit the call message based on a preset terminal call order, and the call message includes identification information of the first terminal.

16. An apparatus for controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a second terminal in a home network system, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a call message from a smart home server or a gateway existing inside the home;

a transmitter configured to transmit a call response message including information indicating whether to perform communication with a first terminal of the visitor; and

a controller configured to control communication with the first terminal, when the information indicating whether to communicate with the first terminal of the visitor corresponds to positive information.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to control the transmitter to transmit a home information request message that makes a request for home information to the smart home server, to control the receiver to receive a home information response message including the home information from the smart home server, and to control the transmitter to transmit the home information included in the home information response message to a communication module comprising communication circuitry installed outside the home, and the home information includes a home identification for identifying the household, the call message includes identification information of the first terminal, and the communication module comprises communication circuitry including at least one of a near field communication (NFC) module, a quick response (QR) code, and bluetooth low energy (BLE) patch.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the communication with the first terminal is performed using a network address translation (NAT) technology.

19. An apparatus for controlling a visitor'"'"'s call by a gateway existing inside the home in a home network system, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a call message from a smart home server or a first terminal of a visitor;

a transmitter configured to transfer the call message to at least one of a plurality of second terminals included in a household; and

a controller configured to cause communication with the first terminal and to relay the communication to the at least one terminal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to transmit a home information request message that makes a request for home information to the smart home server, to receive a home information response message including the home information from the smart home server, to control the transmitter to transmit the home information included in the home information response message to a communication module installed outside the home, and to communicate with the first terminal using a network address translation (NAT) technology, and the home information includes a home identification for identifying the household, the call message includes identification information of the first terminal, and the communication module comprises communication circuitry including at least one of a near field communication (NFC) module, a quick response (QR) code, and a bluetooth low energy (BLE) patch.