Apparatus and method for remotely operating a plurality of information devices connected to a network provided with plug-and-play function

• US 6,870,555 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Communications Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sekiguchi, Kiyonori
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D.
• Application Number:
  US09/765,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20010009424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 345/740, 345/733, 345/739, 345/760, 345/771, 345/772, 345/810, 345/846, 345/700, 345/969, 709217-219, 709223-229
• US Class Current: 715/740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002

Abstract

When a remote display device is connected to a home network, a home network control apparatus receives a request from the remote display device, shows a display for use in operating a device to be operated on the remote display device, and controls the device to be operated according to a desired operation input from the remote display device.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a display device and connected to a home electric appliance not having an IP address via an IEEE 1394 network, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a node ID corresponding to a predetermined ID which is assigned to the home electric appliance, the node ID being assigned to the home electric appliance of the IEEE 1394 network when the home electric appliance is turned ON; and

a controller configured to check whether the node ID is assigned to the home electric appliance, based on the predetermined ID of the home electric appliance, when the display device is requested to display the status of the home electric appliance on the display device, to judge that the home electric appliance is OFF when the node ID is not assigned to the home electric appliance, and to display, on the display device, a message instructing a user to turn ON the home electric appliance.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is connected to the apparatus via the IEEE 1394 network.

3. An apparatus having a display device, connected to a home electric appliance not having an IP address via an IEEE 1394 network, and connected to the Internet, the apparatus comprising:

a first memory configured to store a node ID corresponding to an predetermined ID which is assigned to the home electric appliance, the node ID being assigned to the home electric appliance of the IEEE 1394 network when the home electric appliance is turned ON;

a second memory configured to store received data; and

a controller configured to receive Internet packet data from the Internet, to transform the Internet packet data to data which the home electric appliance can receive, and to store the transformed data in the second memory;

the controller being configured to check whether the node ID is assigned to the home electric appliance, based on the predetermined ID of the home electric appliance when the display device is requested to display the status of the home electric appliance on the display device, to judge that the home electric appliance is OFF when the node ID is not assigned to the appliance, and to display, on the display device, a message instructing a user to turn ON the home electric appliance;

the controller being further configured to display, on the display device, another message notifying the user of the received data in the second memory.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display device is connected to the apparatus via the IEEE 1394 network.

5. A method for remotely operating a home electric appliance not having an IP addresses via an IEEE 1394 network, a memory storing a node ID corresponding to a predetermined ID which is assigned to the home electric appliance, the node ID being assigned to the home electric appliance of the IEEE 1394 network when the home electric appliance is turned ON, the method comprising:

checking whether the node ID is assigned to the home electric appliance based on the predetermined ID of the home electric appliance when display of the status of the home electric appliance is requested;

judging that the home electric appliance is OFF when the node ID is not assigned to the home electric appliance; and

displaying a message instructing a user to turn ON the home electric appliance.