Home network system and method for operating the same

• US 7,287,062 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Chang Ho, Im, Hyung Taik
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US10/376,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 707/200, 707/204, 709/220, 709/230, 709/213, 709/217, 709/223, 717/168
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

A home network system and a method for operating the same configured to be capable of recovering system and user data of a home server by allowing a user to press a recovery button when the home server cannot recover from a functional error of the home server. Initial system data of the home server, controlling and managing a home network connected to a plurality of home appliances, is automatically stored in an internal database as backup data. Data updated in the home server is periodically transmitted to a portal server connected to the home server through the Internet. Therefore, data, damaged due to a functional error of the home server, can be automatically recovered by using the backup data stored in the portal server.

Claims

1. A home network system, comprising:

a home server installed in a building for controlling and managing a home network connected to a plurality of home appliances;

a portal server located outside the building for communicating data with the home server through the Internet; and

a data manager for managing data backup for the home server by periodically transmitting, via the Internet, data stored in the home server to the portal server as backup data such that the backup data, when the data stored in the home server are damaged due to a functional error of the home server, can be automatically restored in the home server; and

a recovery button arranged on an exterior of the home server such that a data recovery command can be directly input when a functional error of the home server occurs,

wherein the recovery button is configured such that a control signal is output to the system recovery unit when the recovery button is pressed, to automatically recover the backup system data stored in the internal database,

wherein the data manager comprises;

a data backup unit for periodically transmitting the data stored in the home server such that backup of updated data stored in the home server can be performed;

a data recovery request unit for determining existence of a functional error in the home server and transmitting a data recovery request signal for requesting a recovery of data to the portal server when the home server cannot recover the data damaged due to the functional error; and

a data recovery unit for receiving the backup data from the portal server as a response to the data recovery request signal, and recovering data of the home server.

2. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data manager is implemented as a module embedded in the home server.

3. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data backup unit further comprises:

a system backup unit for automatically performing backup of system data initially installed in the home server and storing the system data as backup system data in an internal database.

4. The home network system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the data recovery unit further comprises:

a system recovery unit for recovering a basic system of the home server using the backup system data stored in the database.

5. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the data manager further comprises:

a system update unit for accessing the portal server, downloading system data of a latest version associated with the home server from the portal server and updating a system of the home server.

6. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the recovery button is configured such that a control signal is output to the data recovery request unit to request the portal server to recover the damaged data.

7. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portal server located outside the building is configured to store the backup data.

8. A method for operating a home network system, comprising:

when an initial system is constructed in a home server installed in a building, performing backup of system data of an initial version and storing the system data as initial backup system data in an internal database;

periodically transmitting data stored and updated by a data manager in the home server to a portal server connected to the home server through the Internet and performing backup of the transmitted data as backup data, the portal server being located outside the building;

receiving the backup data from the portal server when a functional error of the home server occurs, and recovering data of the home server; and

inputting a data recovery command initiated by a recovery button arranged on an exterior of the home server, when a functional error of the home server occurs,

wherein the recovery button is configured such that a control signal is output to the system recovery unit when the recovery button is pressed, to automatically recover the backup system data stored in the internal databases,

wherein the data manager comprises;

a data backup unit for periodically transmitting the data stored in the home server such that backup of updated data stored in the home server can be performed;

a data recovery request unit for determining existence of a functional error in the home server and transmitting a data recovery request signal for requesting a recovery of data to the portal server when the home server cannot recover the data damaged due to the functional error; and

a data recovery unit for receiving the backup data from the portal server as a response to the data recovery request signal, and recovering data of the home server.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said receiving comprises:

recovering a basic system of the home server by using the initial backup system data stored in the internal database;

accessing the portal server, downloading system data of the latest version for the home server from the portal server and updating system of the home server; and

downloading the backup data from the portal server and restoring the downloaded backup data in the home server.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the portal server located outside the building stores the backup data.

11. A home server installed in a building for controlling and managing a home network and a plurality of home appliances connected to the home network, the home server being configured to:

communicate with a portal server located outside the building, through the Internet;

periodically transmit data stored in by a data manager the home server to the portal server via the Internet as backup data;

request the portal server to send the backup data, when the data stored in the home server is damaged due to a functional error of the home server;

restore the backup data sent from the portal server to recover the damaged data; and

input a data recovery command initiated by a recovery button arranged on an exterior of the home server when a functional error of the home server occurs,

wherein the recovery button is configured such that a control signal is output to the system recovery unit when the recovery button is pressed, to automatically recover the backup system data stored in the internal database,

wherein the data manager comprises;

a data backup unit for periodically transmitting the data stored in the home server such that backup of updated data stored in the home server can be performed;

a data recovery request unit for determining existence of a functional error in the home server and transmitting a data recovery request signal for requesting a recovery of data to the portal server when the home server cannot recover the data damaged due to the functional error; and

a data recovery unit for receiving the backup data from the portal server as a response to the data recovery request signal, and recovering data of the home server.