Portable information device, access device for portable information device, home network system, and home network access method

• US 7,142,128 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/955,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20020033760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.52, 340/825.56, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/3.5, 370/402, 370/466, 370/467, 710/305, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/225, 709/245, 709/238, 709/249, 709/250, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557
• US Class Current: 709/218
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A home network system disclosed herein includes a high-speed network for networking a plurality of home appliances and a low-speed network. A portable information device is provided so as to be connectable to the high-speed network and the low-speed network 11 in a wireless manner. A portable information device access point is provided for helping the portable information device reciprocally communicate with the home appliances connected to the high-speed and low-speed networks. The portable information device does negotiation with the access point to be served by the access point. Thus, both the home appliances and the portable information device share their resources to effectively exploit them, with the home appliances organically associated with the portable information device such as a cellular phone or a PDA.

Claims

1. A portable information device comprising:

initialization data transmitting means for transmitting initialization data to an access point connected to a high-speed network of a home networking system including a bridge configured to change the protocol between a high-speed network for connecting electronic devices and a low-speed network for connecting home appliances, wherein a plurality of the electronic devices and the home appliances are configured to function as hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) servers, and are accessible from the portable information device by a uniform resource locator (URL);

response data receiving means for receiving response data responsive to said initialization data from said access point connected to the high-speed network of a home networking system; and

operational information transmitting means for transmitting information used to operate a home appliance connected to the low-speed network or electronic device connected to the high-speed network after said response data receiving means receives said response data.

2. An access device connected to a high-speed network of a home network and serving as an access point to permit access to said home network from a portable information device, said access device comprising:

a network interface for providing access to a home network including a bridge configured to change the protocol between a low-speed network for connecting home appliances and a high-speed network for connecting electronic devices, said network interface operating to communicate with each of said home appliances and electronic devices, wherein a plurality of the electronic devices and the home appliances are configured to function as hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) servers, and are accessible from the portable information device by a uniform resource locator (URL);

a portable information device interface for communicating with said portable information device; and

control means for negotiating with said portable information device via said portable information device interface, said control means configured to provide conversion of transmission rates and protocols to enable said portable information device to communicate with said home network,

wherein data can be transmitted between said portable information device and each of said low-speed network for connecting home appliances and high-speed network for connecting electronic devices through said portable information device interface and said network interface after the negotiation by the control means.

3. A home network system comprising:

a bridging element configured to provide conversion of formats of messages and character codes, and to exchange address structures;

a home network including a bridge configured to change the protocol between a low-speed network for connecting home appliances and a high-speed network for connecting electronic devices;

a portable information device connectable to said home network in a wireless manner; and

an access point connected to the high-speed network for reciprocal data communication between said low-speed network for connecting home appliances and said high-speed network for connecting electronic devices and said portable information device, said,

wherein said home network includes a bridge configured to change the protocol of data sent between said low-speed network and said high-speed network,

wherein said portable information device performs negotiation with said access point to gain access to said home network; and

wherein a plurality of the electronic devices and the home appliances are configured to function as hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) servers, and are accessible from the portable information device by a uniform resource locator (URL).

4. A method for accessing a home network, comprising:

receiving from a portable wireless information device a request for accessing information used to designate home appliances and electronic devices included in said home network including a bridge configured to change the protocol between a low-speed network for connecting home appliances and a high-speed network for connecting electronic devices which provides conversion of formats of messages and character codes, and enables exchange of address structures, wherein a plurality of the electronic devices and the home appliances are configured to function as hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) servers, and are accessible from the portable wireless information device by a uniform resource locator (URL);

recognizing, upon receipt of the request for access, a URL address for designating home appliances or electronic devices with which said portable wireless information device will communicate; and

enabling exchange of data between the low-speed network connecting home appliances or high-speed network connecting electronic devices designated by said address and said portable wireless information device by providing conversion of transmission rates and protocols to enable communication between said home appliances and electronic devices connected to said home network and said portable information device.

5. A method for accessing a home network, comprising:

transmitting a request for accessing information used to designate home appliances or electronic devices included in said home network to an access point connected to a high-speed network of said home network including a bridge configured to change the protocol between a low-speed network connecting home appliances and a high-speed network connecting electronic devices;

providing conversion of transmission rates and protocols to enable communication between said home appliances and electronic devices connected to said home network and a portable information device, wherein a plurality of the electronic devices and the home appliances are configured to function as hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) servers, and accessible from the portable information device by a uniform resource locator (URL);

transmitting URL address information used to designate home appliances or electronic devices included in said home network; and

transmitting operational information used to operate said home appliances or electronic devices.