Method for managing domain using multi domain manager and domain system

• US 8,584,206 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Sung-hyun, Chung, Min-gyu, Pak, Koo-yong, Park, Il Gon, Kim, Soo Jung, Jeong, Man Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAIDI, SYED A
• Application Number:
  US12/298,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20090300724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,094 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4, 713/182
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1012 to domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• 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

The present invention relates to a method of managing a domain employing a multi-domain manager and a domain system. The method of managing a domain employing a multi-domain manager includes designating a primary domain manager, configuring the domain by registering a domain device with the primary domain manager, designating at least one secondary domain manager of the domain devices, and managing the domain through conjunction of the primary domain manager and the secondary domain manager. Thus, domain management can be performed efficiently by employing a multi-domain manager.

Claims

1. A method for managing a domain, performed by a first device, the method comprising:

designating the first device as a primary domain manager that implements domain management functionalities;

configuring a domain by registering one or more domain devices based on at least one of a first mode initiated by the primary domain manager and a second mode initiated by a user input,

wherein, in the first mode, the primary domain manager detects the one or more devices within a domain area, requests the one or more devices to be certified and registers the one or more devices based on certification of the one or more devices, and

wherein in the second mode, the primary domain manager receives a registration request from a device that has received the user input, and detects the device that has received the user input signal;

checking a capability of each device associated with the configured domain;

wherein the capability includes at least one of hardware performance, network performance, security performance, and battery capability;

designating second devices associated with the domain as secondary domain managers based on checking the capability of each device associated with the domain, wherein each of the secondary domain managers has a priority that is assigned in order of a higher capability, and a first secondary domain manager that has the highest priority among the secondary domain managers replaces the primary domain manger when the primary domain manager is in a failure state;

splitting the domain management functionalities by transferring at least one of the domain management functionalities, which includes management of a temporary device that is temporarily registered with the domain and is provided limited domain service based on a predetermined criterion, from the primary domain manager to at least one of the secondary domain managers; and

managing the domain using the domain management functionalities provided by the designated primary domain manager and at least one of the secondary domain managers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the domain management functionalities further comprise:

authorizing joining and leaving of the domain,

wherein the primary domain manager is responsible for the management of a normal domain device and at least one of the secondary domain managers is responsible for the management of the temporary device,

wherein at least one of the normal domain device and the temporary device is multiple-input-single-output device which generates a complex file by integrating a plurality of input content, generates a license of the generated complex file and outputs the generated complex file and license.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary domain manager communicates with a server in an external region or is within the server, and each of the secondary domain managers is included within the domain and performs domain management under a control of the primary domain manager.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to at least one of the secondary domain managers, a signal indicating a status of the primary domain manager; and

receiving, from at least one of the secondary domain managers, a signal indicating a status of at least one of the secondary domain managers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is elected as the device having the highest capability by comparing, amongst devices, a capability of the devices, and

wherein designating the first device as the primary domain manager comprises:

transmitting a primary domain manager designation request to a server, the primary domain manager designation request including capability information of the first device and digital rights management (DRM) information of the first device, and

receiving, from the server, a response indicating that the first device is designated as the primary domain manager, wherein the server determines, in response to the primary domain manager designation request, whether the elected first device can be designated as the primary domain manager, and upon determining that the elected first device can be specified as the primary domain manager, transmits the response to the first device.

6. A system for managing a domain, the system comprising:

second devices associated with the domain; and

a first device for;

designating the first device as a primary domain manager that implements domain management functionalities;

configuring a domain by registering one or more domain devices based on at least one of a first mode initiated by the primary domain manager and a second mode initiated by a user input,

wherein, in the first mode, the primary domain manager detects the one or more devices within a domain area, requests the one or more devices to be certified and registers the one or more devices based on certification of the one or more devices, and

wherein in the second mode, the primary domain manager receives a registration request from a device that has received the user input, and detects the device that has received the user input signal;

checking a capability of each device associated with the configured domain;

wherein the capability includes at least one of hardware performance, network performance, security performance, and battery capability;

designating the second devices associated with the domain as secondary domain managers based on checking the capability of each device associated with the domain, wherein each of the secondary domain managers has a priority that is assigned in order of a higher capability, and

a first secondary domain manager that has the highest priority among the secondary domain managers replaces the primary domain manger when the primary domain manager is in a failure state;

splitting the domain management functionalities by transferring at least one of the domain management functionalities, which includes management of a temporary device which is temporarily registered with the domain and is provided limited domain service based on a predetermined criterion, from the primary domain manager to at least one of the secondary domain managers; and

managing the domain using the domain management functionalities provided by the designated primary domain manager and at least one of the secondary domain managers.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the domain management functionalities further comprise:

authorizing joining and leaving of the domain,

wherein the primary domain manager is responsible for the management of a normal domain device and at least one of the secondary domain managers is responsible for the management of the temporary device

wherein at least one of the normal domain device and the temporary device is multiple input single output device which generates a complex file by integrating a plurality of input content, generates a license of the generated complex file and outputs the generated complex file and license.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the primary domain manager communicates with a server in an external region or is within the server, and each of the secondary domain managers is included within the domain and performs domain management under a control of the primary domain manager.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the primary domain manager transmits, to at least one of the secondary domain managers, a signal indicating a status of the primary domain manager;

and receives, from at least one of the secondary domain managers, a signal indicating a status of at least one of the secondary domain managers.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the first device is elected as the device having the highest capability by comparing, amongst devices, a capability of the devices, and

wherein designating the first device as the primary domain manager comprises:

transmitting a primary domain manager designation request to a server, the primary domain manager designation request including capability information of the first device and digital rights management (DRM) information of the first device, and

receiving, from the server, a response indicating that the first device is designated as the primary domain manager, wherein the server determines, in response to the primary domain manager designation request, whether the elected first device can be designated as the primary domain manager, and upon determining that the elected first device can be specified as the primary domain manager, transmits the response to the first device.