Method of and apparatus for bridging a UPnP network and a rendezvous network

• US 7,844,738 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eytchison, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US10/759,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20050160172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,510 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 709/227, 709/230, 709/246, 709/249, 713/1
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances

Abstract

A UPnP rendezvous bridge appropriately bridges a UPnP network with a rendezvous network. The UPnP rendezvous bridge appropriately allows device and service discovery and converts communications directed between devices within the UPnP network and devices within the rendezvous network into an appropriate format for the receiving device, utilizing a UPnP proxy, a rendezvous proxy, a UPnP table and a rendezvous table. The UPnP rendezvous bridge includes a programmable microprocessor which manipulates communications into the proper format for the receiving device. The UPnP rendezvous bridge is implemented within a stand-alone device coupled between the UPnP and the rendezvous networks. Alternatively, the UPnP rendezvous bridge is implemented within an appropriately configured device in one of the networks. A protocol conversion program is stored within a read only memory (ROM) and used by the microprocessor to perform the appropriate conversions. Alternatively, the programmable microprocessor is programmed for the appropriate conversions by a device coupled to the UPnP rendezvous bridge.

Claims

1. A method of bridging communications between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device comprising:

a. receiving a communication from the universal plug and play type device for the rendezvous type device at a bridge;

b. converting the communication into the rendezvous type protocol thereby forming a converted communication; and

c. transmitting the converted communication from the bridge to the rendezvous type device;

wherein the rendezvous type protocol utilizes Internet Protocol and the bridge comprises a rendezvous type interface circuit that is configured to couple to the rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, at least one entry corresponding to the universal plug and play type device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein converting the communication is performed by a conversion circuit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

6. A method of bridging communications between a rendezvous type device and a universal plug and play type device comprising:

a. receiving a communication from the rendezvous type device for the universal plug and play type device at a bridge;

b. converting the communication into the universal plug and play type protocol thereby forming a converted communication; and

c. transmitting the converted communication from the bridge to the universal plug and play type device;

wherein the rendezvous type device utilizes Internet Protocol and the bridge comprises a rendezvous type interface circuit that is configured to couple to the rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, at least one entry corresponding to the universal plug and play type device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein converting the communication is performed by a conversion circuit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

11. A converter configured to couple between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device to convert communications between the universal plug and play type device and the rendezvous type device into proper formats, comprising:

a. a universal plug and play type interface circuit configured to couple to a universal plug and play type device operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. a rendezvous type interface circuit configured to couple to a rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol, wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, at least one entry corresponding to the universal plug and play type device; and

c. a conversion circuit coupled between the universal plug and play type interface circuit and the rendezvous type interface circuit, wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type device to the rendezvous type device into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the rendezvous type device to the universal plug and play type device into the universal plug and play type protocol,

wherein the rendezvous type protocol utilizes Internet Protocol.

12. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

13. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

14. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein a conversion program used by the conversion circuit is stored within the conversion circuit.

15. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

16. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the converter is a stand-alone device.

17. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the converter is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

18. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

19. A converter configured for coupling between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device to convert communications between the universal plug and play type device and the rendezvous type device into proper formats, comprising:

a. means for interfacing to a universal plug and play type device configured for coupling to the universal plug and play type device operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. means for interfacing to a rendezvous type device configured for coupling to the rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol, wherein the means for interfacing to a rendezvous type device comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, at least one entry corresponding to the universal plug and play type device; and

c. means for converting coupled between the means for interfacing to a universal plug and play type device and the means for interfacing to a rendezvous type device, wherein the means for converting converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type device to the rendezvous type device into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the means for converting converts communications directed from the rendezvous type device to the universal plug and play type device into the universal plug and play type protocol;

wherein the rendezvous type protocol utilizes Internet Protocol.

20. The converter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

21. The converter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

22. The converter as claimed in claim 19 wherein a conversion program used by the means for converting is stored within the means for converting.

23. The converter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the means for converting is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

24. The converter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the converter is a stand-alone device.

25. The converter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the converter is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

26. The converter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the means for interfacing to a universal plug and play type device comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

27. A bridge device configured for coupling between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device for converting communications between the universal plug and play type device and the rendezvous type device into proper formats, comprising:

a. a universal plug and play type interface circuit configured for coupling to the universal plug and play type device operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. a rendezvous type interface circuit configured for coupling to the rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol, wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, at least one entry corresponding to the universal plug and play type device; and

c. a conversion circuit coupled between the universal plug and play type interface circuit and the rendezvous type interface circuit, wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type device to the rendezvous type device into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the rendezvous type device to the universal plug and play type device into the universal plug and play type protocol;

wherein the rendezvous type protocol utilizes Internet Protocol.

28. The bridge as claimed in claim 27 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

29. The bridge as claimed in claim 27 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

30. The bridge as claimed in claim 27 wherein a conversion program used by the conversion circuit is stored within the conversion circuit.

31. The bridge as claimed in claim 27 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

32. The bridge as claimed in claim 27 wherein the bridge is a stand-alone device.

33. The bridge as claimed in claim 27 wherein the bridge is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

34. The bridge as claimed in claim 27 wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

35. A network of devices, operating under a plurality of protocols, the network of devices comprising:

a. one or more universal plug and play type devices operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. one or more rendezvous type devices operating under a rendezvous type protocol; and

c. a converter coupled to the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices for converting communications between the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices into proper formats, comprising;

i. a universal plug and play type interface circuit coupled to the universal plug and play type devices, wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit maintains a universal plug and play table of all the rendezvous type devices in the network;

ii. a rendezvous type interface circuit coupled to the rendezvous type devices, wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit maintains a rendezvous table of all the plug and play type devices in the network; and

iii. a conversion circuit coupled to universal plug and play type interface circuit and the rendezvous type interface circuit, wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type devices to the rendezvous type devices into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the rendezvous type devices to the universal plug and play type devices into the universal plug and play type protocol,

wherein the rendezvous type protocol utilizes Internet Protocol, and further wherein the plug and play table and the rendezvous table are formatted such that each device within the network is discoverable by each other device in the network.

36. The network of devices as claimed in claim 35 wherein a conversion program used by the conversion circuit is stored within the conversion circuit.

37. The network of devices as claimed in claim 35 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by a universal plug and play type device or a rendezvous type device.

38. The network of devices as claimed in claim 35 wherein the converter is a stand-alone device coupled between the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices.

39. The network of devices as claimed in claim 35 wherein the converter is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

40. The network of devices as claimed in claim 35 wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

41. The network of devices as claimed in claim 35 wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a universal plug and play type device.

42. A network of devices, operating under a plurality of protocols, the network of devices comprising:

a. one or more universal plug and play type devices operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. one or more rendezvous type devices operating under a rendezvous type protocol; and

c. a converter coupled to the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices for converting communications between the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices into proper formats, comprising;

i. a universal plug and play type interface circuit coupled to the universal plug and play type devices, wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of rendezvous entries, each rendezvous entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device;

ii. a rendezvous type interface circuit coupled to the rendezvous type devices, wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of universal plug and play entries, each universal plug and play entry corresponding to a universal plug and play type device; and

iii. a conversion circuit coupled to universal plug and play type interface circuit and the rendezvous type interface circuit, wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type devices to the rendezvous type devices into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the rendezvous type devices to the universal plug and play type devices into the universal plug and play type protocol, wherein a conversion program used by the conversion circuit is stored within the conversion circuit, wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by a universal plug and play type device or a rendezvous type device, and

wherein the rendezvous type protocol utilizes Internet Protocol.

43. A method of bridging communications between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device, wherein the universal plug and play type device and the rendezvous type device are coupled together through one or more networks operating according to Internet Protocol, the method comprising:

a. receiving a communication from the universal plug and play type device for the rendezvous type device at a bridge;

b. converting the communication into the rendezvous type protocol thereby forming a converted communication; and

c. transmitting the converted communication from the bridge over the one or more Internet Protocol networks to the rendezvous type device;

wherein the rendezvous type protocol utilizes the Internet Protocol and the bridge comprises a rendezvous type interface circuit that is configured to couple to the rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, at least one entry corresponding to the universal plug and play type device.

44. A method of bridging communications between a rendezvous type device and a universal plug and play type device, wherein the rendezvous type device and the universal plug and play type device are coupled together through one or more networks operating according to Internet Protocol, the method comprising:

a. receiving a communication from the rendezvous type device for the universal plug and play type device at a bridge;

b. converting the communication into the universal plug and play type protocol thereby forming a converted communication; and

c. transmitting the converted communication from the bridge over the one or more Internet Protocol networks to the universal plug and play type device;

wherein the rendezvous type device utilizes the Internet Protocol and the bridge comprises a rendezvous type interface circuit that is configured to couple to the rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, at least one entry corresponding to the universal plug and play type device.