Remote device diagnostics

• US 7,302,474 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mayer, Matthias, Szucs, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayard; Djenane
• Application Number:
  US10/059,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,128 Days
• Field of Search: 709/253, 709/223, 709/203, 709/217, 709/224, 371/20, 370/466, 370/402, 714/25, 714/26
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] 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 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40097 Interconnection with other networks LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; single bridge functionality H04L12/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A method for diagnosing an IEEE 1394 home network device (6, 7) from remote is proposed. The communication between a remote testing device (2) and the IEEE 1394 home network device (6, 7) is split into two parts: between the remote testing device (2) and a gateway (4) of the home network (5) preferably TCP/IP is used as communication protocol. Inside the home network (5), i. e. between the gateway (4) and the IEEE 1394 home network device (6, 7), an IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol is used. As this IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol is common to all home network protocols employed by IEEE 1394 home network devices (6, 7), this communication method is independent of the home network protocol used by the IEEE 1394 home network devices (6, 7).

Claims

1. A method for communicating between a remote testing device and an IEEE 1394 home network device located in a home network, wherein said remote testing device is connected with said home network via a remote communication network, comprising:

communicating on a remote communication protocol basis between said remote testing device and a communication protocol interface which is part of said home network; and

communicating on an IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol basis between said communication protocol interface and said IEEE 1394 home network device;

sending commands as communication information via said remote communication network from said remote testing device to said communication protocol interface to instruct said communication protocol interface how to communicate with said home network device on said IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol basis;

extracting device status information from said home network device on the basis of said IEEE 1394 low level communication process between said home network device and said communication protocol interface according to said commands sent by said remote testing device; and

sending extracted device status information as communication information via said remote communication network from said communication protocol interface to said remote testing device, wherein said sending process of said extracted device status information is executed only after said device status information extracting process has been completed cording to said instructions of said remote testing device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

encapsulating/decapsulating communication information in/from a communication protocol frame, before/after transporting said communication protocol frame between said remote testing device and said communication protocol interface on said remote communication protocol basis.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

encapsulating/decapsulating said communication information in/from a home network communication protocol frame.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

transporting a home network communication protocol frame decapsulated/generated by said communication protocol interface within said communication protocol interface before transferring communication information contained within said home network communication protocol frame into an IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol frame or before transporting said communication protocol frame between said remote testing device and said communication protocol interface on said remote communication protocol basis.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

encapsulating/decapsulating said communication information in/from an IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol frame.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

encapsulating/decapsulating said IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol frame in/from a home network communication protocol frame.

7. A computer readable storage carrier including computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of providing a communication protocol interface as a part of a home network for transferring communication information encapsulated within a first/second communication protocol frame into a second/first communication protocol frame, comprising:

communicating on a remote communication protocol basis between said remote testing device and a communication protocol interface which is part of said home network; and

communicating on an IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol basis between said communication protocol interface and said IEEE 1394 home network device;

sending commands as communication information via said remote communication network from said remote testing device to said communication protocol interface to instruct said communication protocol interface how to communicate with said home network device on said IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol basis;

extracting device status information from said home network device on the basis of said IEEE 1394 low level communication process between said home network device and said communication protocol interface according to said commands sent by said remote testing device; and

sending extracted device status information as communication information via said remote communication network from said communication protocol interface to said remote testing device, wherein said sending process of said extracted device status information is executed only after said device status information extracting process has been completed cording to said instructions of said remote testing device.

8. The communication protocol interface according to claim 7, further comprising:

dividing into a first unit and a second unit wherein

said first unit comprises said remote communication protocol interface, a second IEEE 1394 interface and functionality for extracting/encapsulating a home network communication protocol frame from/into said second communication protocol frame; and

said second unit comprises said first IEEE 1394 interface and functionality for extracting/encapsulating an IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol frame from/into a home network communication protocol frame, said first and said second unit being connected via a home network connection to communicate between each other via said first and said second IEEE 1394 interface by using said home network communication protocol frame.

9. The communication protocol interface according to claim 8, wherein said first unit comprises a gateway connecting said home network to a remote communication network.

10. The communication protocol interface according to claim 8, wherein said second unit comprises a proxy.

11. The communication protocol interface according to claim 7, wherein said remote communication protocol interface supports TCP/IP.

12. The communication protocol interface according to claim 7, wherein said home network communication protocol interface supports AV/C and/or HAVi.

13. A remote testing device for extracting device status information of an IEEE 1394 home network device being located in a home network, wherein said remote testing device is connected with said home network via a remote communication network, comprising:

means for communicating on a remote communication protocol basis between said remote testing device and a communication protocol interface which is part of said home network; and

means for communicating on an IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol basis between said communication protocol interface and said IEEE 1394 home network device;

means for sending commands as communication information via said remote communication network from said remote testing device to said communication protocol interface to instruct said communication protocol interface how to communicate with said home network device on said IEEE 1394 low level communication protocol basis;

means for extracting device status information from said home network device on the basis of said IEEE 1394 low level communication process between said home network device and said communication protocol interface according to said commands sent by said remote testing device; and

means for sending extracted device status information as communication information via said remote communication network from said communication protocol interface to said remote testing device, wherein said sending process of said extracted device status information is executed only after said device status information extracting process has been completed according to said instructions of said remote testing device.