Method and apparatus for managing control ownership for application of remote user interface server

• US 9,231,778 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Oh, Seung-jae
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yongjia
• Application Number:
  US12/123,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,787 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/733, 715/736, 715740-743, 715/748, 715/749, 715/764, 715/810
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

Provided is a remote user interface (RUI). An RUI server inserts a newly defined object to a user interface (UI) page so as to manage control ownership of an application, and a RUI client controls an application of the RUI server after obtaining control ownership of the corresponding application by using the newly defined object. Accordingly, RUI clients can control the application of the RUI server without conflict, even when a separate plug-in program is not installed in the RUI clients.

Claims

1. A method allowing a first remote user interface (RUI) client to control a home network device application of a RUI server, the method comprising:

receiving a user interface (UI) page including a predetermined plug-in object, which manages ownership control of a home network device application, from the RUI server;

determining whether the home network device application is already controlled by a second RUI client by using the predetermined plug-in object to inquire the RUI server whether the home network device application is already controlled by the second RUI client when the UI page is loaded in the first RUI client;

obtaining control ownership of the home network device application by executing an obtaining method of the predetermined plug-in object, if it is determined that the home network device application is not controlled by the second RUI client; and

periodically notifying the RUI server that the home network device application is controlled by the first RUI client, by periodically executing a notifying method of the predetermined plug-in object while controlling the home network device application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second RUI clients and the RUI server comply with the CEA-2014 standard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises inquiring the RUI server whether the home network device application is controlled by the second RUI client, by executing an inquiry method of the predetermined plug-in object, when an event for opening the UI page is generated.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing control ownership of the home network device application by executing a release method of the predetermined plug-in object while controlling the home network device application.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination is performed without using an agent.

5. A remote user interface (RUI) client comprising:

a receiver which receives a user interface (UI) page including a predetermined plug-in object from an RUI server;

a determiner which determines whether a home network device application of the RUI server is controlled by another RUI client by using the predetermined plug-in object to inquire the RUI server whether the home network device application is controlled by the another RUI client when the UI page is loaded in the RUI client; and

a controller which obtains control ownership of the home network device application by executing an obtaining method of the predetermined plug-in object, when it is determined that the home network device application is not controlled by the another RUI client, and periodically notifies the RUI server that the home network device application is controlled by the RUI client by periodically executing a notifying method of the predetermined plug-in object while controlling the home network device application.

6. The RUI client of claim 5, wherein the RUI client, the another RUI client, and the RUI server comply with the CEA-2014 standard.

7. The RUI client of claim 5, wherein the determiner inquires the RUI server whether the home network device application is controlled by another RUI client, by executing in inquiry method of the predetermined plug-in object, when an event for opening the UI page is generated.

8. The RUT client of claim 5, wherein the controller releases control ownership of the home network device application by executing a release method of the predetermined plug-in object while controlling the home network device application.

9. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method allowing a first remote user interface (RUI) client to control a home network device application of a RUI server, the method comprising:

receiving a user interface (UI) page including a predetermined plug-in object from the RUI server;

determining whether the home network device application is controlled by a second RUI client by using the predetermined plug-in object to inquire the RUI server whether the home network device application is controlled by the second RUI client when the UI page is loaded in the first RUI client;

obtaining control ownership of the home network device application by executing an obtaining method of the predetermined plug-in object, if it is determined that the home network device application is not controlled by the second RUI client; and

periodically notifying the RUI server that the home network device application is controlled by the first RUI client, by periodically executing a notifying method of the predetermined plug-in object while controlling the home network device application.

10. A method allowing a remote user interface (RUI) server to communicate with an RUI client, the method comprising:

providing a user interface (UI) page including a predetermined plug-in object to a first RUI client;

receiving, from the first RUI client through the predetermined plug-in object, an inquiry about whether control operation of a home network device application is taken, wherein the inquiry is provided to the RUI server when the UI page is loaded in the first RUI client;

determining, in response to the inquiry, whether control ownership of the home network device application of the RUI server is taken by a second RUI client when a first method of the predetermined plug-in object is executed; and

notifying the first RUI client of a result of the determination,

wherein the UI page includes a script, which executes the first method when an event for opening the UI page is generated, and executes a second method of the predetermined plug-in object for obtaining the control ownership when the control ownership is not taken by the second RUI client.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and the second RUI clients and the RUI server comply with the CEA-2014 standard.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising setting the control ownership into a not taken state when a method of the predetermined plug-in object for periodically notifying that the control ownership is taken has not been executed by the second RUI client that has taken the control ownership after a predetermined time.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the determination is a first determination, the method further comprising:

when a predetermined RUI client executes a method of the predetermined plug-in object for releasing the control ownership, determining, in a second determination, whether the predetermined RUI client has taken the control ownership; and

selectively setting the control ownership into a not taken state based on a result of the second determination.

14. An apparatus for providing a user interface (UI) of a remote user interface (RUI) server to a first RUI client, the apparatus comprising:

an UI provider, which provides an UI page including a predetermined plug-in object to the first RUI client;

a control ownership manager, which;

receives, from the first RUI client through the predetermined plug-in object, an inquiry about whether control operation of a home network device application is taken, wherein the inquiry is provided to the RUI server when the UI page is loaded in the first RUI client,

determines, in response to the inquiry, whether control ownership of a home network device application of the RUI server is taken by a second RUI client when a first method of the predetermined plug-in object is executed, and

notifies the first RUI client whether control ownership of a home network device application of the RUI server is taken by a second RUI client when a first method of the predetermined plug-in object is executed,

wherein the UI page includes a script, which executes the first method when an event for opening the UI page is generated, and executes a second method of the predetermined plug-in object for obtaining the control ownership when the control ownership is not taken by the second RUI client.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first and the second RUI clients and the RUI server comply with the CE-2014 standard.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control ownership manager sets the control ownership to a not taken state when a third method of the predetermined plug-in object for periodically notifying that the control ownership is taken is not executed by the second RUI client that has taken the control ownership for a predetermined time.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein, when a method of the predetermined plug-in object for releasing the control ownership is executed, the control ownership manager determines, in a determination, whether a RUI client that executed the fourth method has taken the control ownership, and selectively sets the control ownership to a not taken state based on a result of the determination.

18. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method allowing a remote user interface (RUI) server to communicate with an RUI client, the method comprising:

providing a user interface (UI) page including a predetermined plug-in object to a first RUI client;

receiving, from the first RUI client through the plug-in object, an inquiry about whether control operation of a home network device application is taken, wherein the inquiry is provided to the RUI server when the UI page is loaded in the first RUI client;

determining, in response to the inquiry, whether control ownership of a home network device application of the RUI server is taken by a second RUI client when a first method of the predetermined plug-in object is executed; and

notifying the first RUI client of a result of the determination,

wherein the UI page includes a script, which executes the first method when an event for opening the UI page is generated, and executes a second method of the predetermined plug-in object for obtaining the control ownership when the control ownership is not taken by the second RUI client.