Network system, message processing method, service server, direct access management server, network home appliance, and computer program

• US 8,281,357 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Chiba, Hiroyuki, Kinoshita, Akihiko, Kanao, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): SHANG, ANNAN Q
• Application Number:
  US12/126,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20080307480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 725106-120, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 709217-232
• US Class Current: 725/118
• 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

Abstract

A network system includes a terminal apparatus, a network home appliance, a service server that provides the terminal apparatus with a service for controlling the network home appliance through a network, and a direct access management server that performs exchange of information necessary for directly accessing the network home appliance through the network. The network home appliance includes a first storing unit that stores setting information for setting necessity of message transmission concerning an event that occurs in the network home appliance and a message transmitting unit that judges necessity of transmission of a message concerning the event and transmits the message. The direct access management server includes a first message-transmission processing unit that specifies the service server and transmits the message to the service server. The service server includes a second message-transmission processing unit that specifies a destination of the terminal apparatus and transmits the message to the destination.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a plurality of terminal apparatuses;

a network home appliance controlled by the terminal apparatuses;

a service server that provides the terminal apparatuses with a service for controlling the network home appliance through a network; and

a direct access management server that performs exchange of information to directly access the network home appliance through the network, wherein

the network home appliance includes;

a first storing unit that stores

a plurality of management IDs, each one of the management IDs representing a combination of a terminal apparatus and a service; and

for each management ID, a plurality of message transmission settings, each of the message transmission settings indicating whether a message must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus corresponding to the respective management ID when a corresponding one of different events occurs in the network home appliance; and

a message transmitting unit that judges, when an event of the different events occurs, whether a message concerning the event must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus based on the message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit and transmits, when transmission is necessary, the message including the management ID corresponding to the message transmission setting,

the direct access management server includes a first message-transmission processing unit that specifies the service server based on the management ID included in the message received from the network home appliance and transmits the message to the service server, and

the service server includes a second message-transmission processing unit that specifies a destination of a terminal apparatus based on the management ID included in the message received from the direct access management server and transmits the message to the destination.

2. A network system according to claim 1, wherein

each terminal apparatus includes a first message-transmission-setting processing unit that transmits a first message transmission setting request including at least one message transmission setting and user identification information, which should be registered in the network home appliance, to the service server,

the service server includes:

a second storing unit that stores the user identification information and the management IDs in association with each other; and

a second message-transmission-setting processing unit that acquires, from the second storing unit, a management ID corresponding to the user identification information included in the first message transmission setting request received from a terminal apparatus and transmits a second message transmission setting request including the management ID and the at least one message transmission setting to the direct access management server, and

the direct access management server includes;

a third storing unit that stores the management IDs and a controlled apparatus management ID allocated to the network home appliance in association with each other; and

a third message-transmission-setting processing unit that acquires, from the third storing unit, a controlled apparatus management ID associated with the management ID included in the second message transmission setting request received from the service server and transmits a third message transmission setting request including the at least one message transmission setting to the network home appliance to which the controlled apparatus management ID is allocated.

3. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one message transmission setting further includes information indicating whether a message must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus for each of event types.

4. A network system according to claim 1, wherein

the service server further includes a first update-information transmitting unit that generates update information for the at least one message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit of the network home appliance and transmits the update information to the network home appliance through the direct access management server, and

the network home appliance further includes a setting-information-update processing unit that updates the at least one message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit on the basis of the update information.

5. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one message transmission setting further includes a load distribution parameter for message transmission processing as additional information.

6. A network system according to claim 5, wherein the load distribution parameter is delay time of message transmission.

7. A network system according to claim 5, wherein

the service server further includes a second update-information transmitting unit that generates update information for the additional information stored in the first storing unit of the network home appliance and transmits the update information to the network home appliance via the direct access management server, and

the network home appliance further includes an additional-information-update processing unit that updates the additional information stored in the first storing unit based on the update information.

8. A network system according to claim 1, wherein, when the at least one message transmission setting concerning an event of the plural different events is set in the network home appliance, the message transmitting unit of the network home appliance transmits a confirmation of this setting as the message.

9. A network system according to claim 1, wherein

the message transmitting unit of the network home appliance judges, when the event of the plural different events occurs, whether a message concerning the event must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus based on the message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit, transmits, when a transmission is necessary, an acquisition request for information necessary for the network home appliance to access the service server to the direct access management server as the message, and transmits the message concerning the event to the service server based on information returned from the direct access management server, and

the direct access management server further includes an access-information providing unit that acquires information necessary for accessing the service server, which corresponds to the management ID included in the message of acquisition request from the network home appliance, from the service server and responds to the network home appliance.

10. A network system according to claim 9, wherein the information necessary for accessing the service server provided by the access-information providing unit of the direct access management server includes a one-time password.

11. A message processing method for a network system including a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a network home appliance controlled by the terminal apparatuses, a service server that provides the terminal apparatuses with a service for controlling the network home appliance through a network, and a direct access management server that performs exchange of information to directly access the network home appliance through the network, the message processing method comprising:

storing, in a first storing unit of the network home appliance

a plurality of management IDs, each one of the management IDs representing a combination of a terminal apparatus and a service; and

for each management ID, a plurality of message transmission settings, each of the message transmission settings indicating whether a message must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus corresponding to the respective management ID when a corresponding one of different events occurs in the network home appliance;

judging, by a message transmitting unit of the home network appliance when an event of the different events occurs, whether a message concerning the event must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus based on the message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit;

transmitting, when transmission is necessary, the message including the management ID corresponding to the message transmission setting;

determining, by a first message transmission processing unit of the direct access management server, the service server based on the management ID included in the message received from the network home appliance and transmits the message to the service server; and

determining, by a second message transmission processing unit of the service server, a destination of a terminal apparatus based on the management ID included in the message received from the direct access management server and transmits the message to the destination.

12. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting a first message transmission setting request by a first message transmission setting processing unit of a terminal apparatus including the message transmission setting and user identification information, which is registered in the network home appliance, to the service server;

storing, in a second storing unit of the service server, the user identification information and the management IDs in association with each other;

acquiring, by a second message transmission setting processing unit of the service server from the second storing unit, a management ID corresponding to the user identification information included in the first message transmission setting request received from the terminal apparatus and transmits a second message transmission setting request including the management ID and the message transmission setting to the direct access management server;

storing, in a third storing unit of the direct access management server, the management IDs and a controlled apparatus management ID allocated to the network home appliance in association with each other; and

acquiring, by a third message transmission setting processing unit of the direct access management server from the third storing unit, a controlled apparatus management ID associated with the management ID included in the second message transmission setting request received from the service server and transmits a third message transmission setting request including the setting information to the network home appliance to which the controlled apparatus management ID is allocated.

13. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 11, wherein the message transmission setting further includes information indicating whether a message must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus for each of event types.

14. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating update information for the message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit of the network home appliance by a first update information transmitting unit of the service server and transmitting the update information to the network home appliance through the direct access management server; and

updating the message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit by a setting information update processing unit of the network home appliance based on the update information.

15. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 11, wherein the message transmission setting further includes a load distribution parameter for message transmission processing as additional information.

16. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 15, wherein the load distribution parameter is delay time of message transmission.

17. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 15, further comprising:

generating update information for the additional information stored in the first storing unit of the network home appliance by a second update information transmitting unit of the service server and transmitting the update information to the network home appliance via the direct access management server;

updating the additional information stored in the first storing unit by an additional information update processing unit of the network home appliance based on the update information.

18. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting, by the message transmitting unit of the network home appliance, when the at least one message transmission setting concerning an event of the different events is set in the network home appliance, a confirmation of this setting as the message.

19. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 11, further comprising:

judging, by the message transmitting unit of the network home appliance, when an event of the different events occurs, whether a message concerning the event must be transmitted to a terminal apparatus based on the message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit;

transmitting, when a transmission is necessary, an acquisition request for information necessary for the network home appliance to access the service server to the direct access management server as the message;

acquiring information necessary for accessing the service server, which corresponds to the management ID included in the message of acquisition request from the network home appliance, by an access information providing unit of the direct access management server from the service server and responding by the direct access management server to the network home appliance; and

transmitting the message concerning the event by the message transmitting unit of the network home appliance to the service server based on information returned from the direct access management server.

20. A message processing method for a network system according to claim 19, wherein the information necessary for accessing the service server provided by the access-information providing unit of the direct access management server includes a one-time password.

21. A service server that is connected to a network together with a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a network home appliance controlled by the terminal apparatuses, and a direct access management server that performs exchange of information to directly access the network home appliance through the network, the service server providing the terminal apparatuses with a service for controlling the network home appliance through the network, the service server comprising:

a second storing unit that stores

user identification information for identifying a user of a terminal apparatus, and

a plurality of management IDs, each one of the management IDs representing a combination of a terminal apparatus and a service, the user identification information being stored in association with at least one of the plurality of management IDs; and

a second message-transmission-setting processing unit that

receives from the terminal apparatus a first message transmission setting request concerning an event of plural different events which occur in the network home appliance, the first message transmission setting request including at least one message transmission setting for each of the management IDs, each of the message transmission settings indicating whether a message must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus corresponding to the respective management ID when a corresponding one of the plural different events occurs in the network home appliance, the first message transmission setting request further including user identification information,

acquires from the second storing unit a management ID corresponding to the user identification information included in the first message transmission setting request received from the terminal apparatus in order to transmit the message transmission setting to the network home appliance through the direct access management server and cause the network home appliance to store the message transmission setting, and

transmits a second message transmission setting request including the management ID and the message transmission setting to the direct access management server.

22. A direct access management server connected to a network together with a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a network home appliance controlled by the terminal apparatuses, and a service server according to claim 21 and performs exchange of information to directly access the network home appliance through the network, the direct access management server comprising:

a third storing unit that stores

a plurality of management IDs, each one of the management IDs representing a combination of a terminal apparatus and a service, and

a controlled apparatus management ID allocated to the network home appliance in association with one of the plurality of management IDs; and

a third message-transmission-setting processing unit that

acquires, from the third storing unit, when the second message transmission setting request is received from the service server, a controlled apparatus management ID associated with the management ID included in the second message transmission setting request in order to transmit the setting information to the network home appliance and cause the network home appliance to store the message transmission setting and

transmits a third message transmission setting request including the message transmission setting to the network home appliance to which the controlled apparatus management ID is allocated.

23. A network home appliance connected to a network together with a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a service server according to claim 21, and a direct access management server according to claim 22, the network home appliance comprising:

a first storing unit that stores the message transmission setting included in the third message transmission setting request received from the direct access management server; and

a message transmitting unit that

judges, when an event of the different events occurs, whether a message concerning the event must be transmitted to a terminal apparatus based on the at least one message transmission setting stored in the first storing unit, and

transmits to the terminal apparatus, when a transmission is necessary, the message including the management ID included in the message transmission setting.

25. A computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of controlling a direct access management server connected to a network together with a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a network home appliance controlled by the terminal apparatuses, and a service server according to claim 21 and performs exchange of information to directly access the network home appliance through the network, the method comprising:

storing in a third storing unit

a plurality of management IDs, each one of the management IDs representing a combination of a terminal apparatus and a service, and

a controlled apparatus management ID allocated to the network home appliance, the controlled apparatus management ID being stored in association with one of the management IDs;

acquiring, by a third message transmission setting processing unit from the third storing unit, when the second message transmission setting request is received from the service server, a controlled apparatus management ID associated with the management ID included in the second message transmission setting request in order to transmit the message transmission setting to the network home appliance and cause the network home appliance to store the message transmission setting; and

transmitting a third message transmission setting request including the message transmission setting to the network home appliance to which the controlled apparatus management ID is allocated.

24. A computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of controlling a service server connected to a network together with a plurality of terminal apparatuses, a network home appliance controlled by the terminal apparatuses, and a direct access management server that performs exchange of information to directly access the network home appliance through the network, the service server providing the terminal apparatuses with a service for controlling the network home appliance through the network, the method comprising:

storing in a second storing unit

user identification information for identifying a user of a terminal apparatus, and

a plurality of management IDs, each one of the management IDs representing a combination of a terminal apparatus and a service, the user identification information being stored in association with one of the plurality of management IDs;

receiving a first message transmission setting request concerning an event of plural different events which occur in the network home appliance, the first message transmission setting request including at least one message transmission setting for each of the management IDs, each of the message transmission settings indicating whether a message must be transmitted to the terminal apparatus corresponding to the respective management ID when a corresponding one of plural different events occurs in the network home appliance, the first message transmission setting request further including user identification information;

acquiring by a second message transmission setting processing unit from the second storing unit, a management ID corresponding to the user identification information included in the first message transmission setting request received from the terminal apparatus in order to transmit the message transmission setting to the network home appliance through the direct access management server and cause the network home appliance to store the message transmission setting; and

transmitting a second message transmission setting request including the management ID and the message transmission setting to the direct access management server.