DEVICE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 20170068527A1
• Filed: 07/06/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Inventors: WANG, YUANBO, HOU, ENXING, CHEN, HAO
• Application Number:
  US15/203,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20170068527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling a device. The method includes receiving a control instruction associated with a first device; determining that a first program plugin is not installed, wherein the first program plugin is configured to control the first device; acquiring the first program plugin from a server, the first program plugin including a control interface and a control logic; determining that a second program plugin is installed, wherein the second program plugin is configured to control a first set of devices that are different from the first device; installing the first program plugin based on the determination that the second program plugin is installed; and controlling the first device based on the control instruction and the first program plugin.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a device, the method comprising:

receiving a control instruction associated with a first device;

determining that a first program plugin is not installed, wherein the first program plugin is configured to control the first device;

acquiring the first program plugin from a server, the first program plugin including a control interface and a control logic;

determining that a second program plugin is installed, wherein the second program plugin is configured to control a first set of devices that are different from the first device;

installing the first program plugin based on the determination that the second program plugin is installed; and

controlling the first device based on the control instruction and the first program plugin.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein installing the first program plugin includes overwriting the second program plugin with the first program plugin.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of devices includes smart devices located within a same local area network (LAN).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the first program plugin includes:

sending to the server a first request to acquire the first program plugin, wherein the first request includes an identifier of the first device, a model number of a first mobile terminal; and

a version number of a first application; and

receiving from the server the first program plugin based on the first request.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein before sending the first request, the method further comprises:

sending to the server a second request to acquire a list of controllable devices;

receiving from the server the list of controllable devices including the identifier of the first device; and

displaying the list of controllable devices, wherein the identifier of the first device is sent to the server by the first device after the first device establishes a connection with the first application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server;

acquiring the updated version of the first program plugin from the server; and

installing the updated version of the first program plugin.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server includes:

receiving from the server a push notification indicating that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server includes:

sending to the server a program plugin version search request including an identifier of the first device;

receiving from the server a latest version number of the first program plugin corresponding to the first device; and

determining that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server when the latest version number is greater than a current version number of the first program plugin.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first program plugin and the updated version of the first program plugin are stored in a first mobile terminal;

and

wherein the updated version of the first program plugin includes (i) an identifier and a version number of the first device, or (ii) identifiers and version numbers of the first device and other devices to be controlled.

10. An apparatus for controlling a device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a control instruction associated with a first device;

acquire the first program plugin from a server, the first program plugin including a control interface and a control logic;

determine that a second program plugin is installed, wherein the second program plugin is configured to control a first set of devices that are different from the first device;

install the first program plugin based on the determination that the second program plugin is installed; and

control the first device based on the control instruction and the first program plugin.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the processor is further configured to install the first program plugin by overwriting the second program plugin with the first program plugin.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first set of devices includes smart devices located within a same local area network (LAN).

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein when acquiring the first program plugin, the processor is configured to:

send to the server a first request to acquire the first program plugin, wherein the first request includes an identifier of the first device, a model number of a first mobile terminal, and a version number of a first application; and

receive from the server the first program plugin based on the first request.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein before sending the first request, the processor is further configured to:

send to the server a second request to acquire a list of controllable devices;

receive from the server the list of controllable devices including the identifier of the first device; and

display the list of controllable devices, wherein the identifier of the first device is sent to the server by the first device after the first device establishes a connection with the first application.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine that an updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server;

acquire the updated version of the first program plugin from the server; and

install the updated version of the first program plugin.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein when determining that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server, the processor is configured to:

receive from the server a push notification indicating that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein when determining that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server, the processor is configured to:

send to the server a program plugin version search request including an identifier of the first device;

receive from the server a latest version number of the first program plugin corresponding to the first current device; and

determine that the updated version of the first program plugin exists on the server when the latest version number is greater than a current version number of the first program plugin.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first program plugin and the updated version of the first program plugin are stored in a first mobile terminal;

and

wherein the updated version of the first program plugin includes (0 an identifier and a version number of the first device, or (ii) identifiers and version numbers of the first device and other devices to be controlled.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a control instruction associated with a first device;

determining that a first program plugin is not installed, wherein the first program plugin is configured to control the first device;

acquiring the first program plugin from a server, the first program plugin including a control interface and a control logic;

determining that a second program plugin is installed, wherein the second program plugin is configured to control a first set of devices that are different from the first device;

installing the first program plugin based on the determination that the second program plugin is installed; and

controlling the first device based on the control instruction and the first program plugin.