System and method of controlling surrounding devices, based on topology

• US 9,893,934 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeong, Hee-seok, Choi, Yong-jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Kyung H
• Application Number:
  US15/257,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20160373296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 709227, 709203, 717170, 717172
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/00 Systems controlled by a computer G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00
• 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 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems

Abstract

A system and method of controlling surrounding devices, based on a topology are provided. The method of controlling sub surrounding devices, which is performed by a main surrounding device, includes receiving a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information about the sub surrounding devices from a host device; receiving context information about a context of the host device from the host device; obtaining topology setting information about topology configuration standards; determining a sub surrounding device to be comprised in a topology from among the sub surrounding devices, based on the context information and the topology setting information; connecting the main surrounding device with the host device and the sub surrounding device; and controlling the sub surrounding device, based on control information received from the host device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling sub surrounding devices, the method performed by a main surrounding device and comprising:

receiving a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding the sub surrounding devices, from a host device;

receiving context information, from the host device;

obtaining topology setting information regarding topology configuration standards;

determining at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in a topology, among the sub surrounding devices, based on the plurality of pieces of the surrounding device information, the context information, and the topology setting information; and

controlling the at least one sub surrounding device, based on control information that is received from the host device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the context information comprises information about a type of content that is executed in the host device, and

wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the context information comprises information about a type of a service to be provided by the host device, and

wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the context information comprises information about a user of the host device, and

wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to an attribute of the main surrounding device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving application information about an application to control the at least one sub surrounding device, from the host device; and

installing the application in the main surrounding device, based on the application information,

wherein the controlling of the at least one sub surrounding device comprises controlling the at least one sub surrounding device, based on the application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the topology setting information comprises information regarding the topology configuration standards configuring the topology, according to functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device, and

wherein the determining of the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology comprises determining the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology, according to the functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the at least one sub surrounding device connected to the host device being changed, checking a topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device;

connecting the main surrounding device with the changed sub surrounding device, based on the topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device; and

controlling the changed sub surrounding device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving firmware of the at least one sub surrounding device corresponding to a function of the at least one sub surrounding device, from a server via the host device; and

providing the firmware to the at least one sub surrounding device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the function of the at least one sub surrounding device is determined based on connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device.

11. A method of controlling surrounding devices, the method performed by a host device and comprising:

scanning the surrounding devices;

determining a main surrounding device and at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in a topology, among the surrounding devices, based on topology configuration standards matching a context of the host device;

transmitting a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding the at least one sub surrounding device, to the main surrounding device;

transmitting context information to the main surrounding device; and

controlling the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the context of the host device comprises a type of content that is executed in the host device, and

wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the content.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the context of the host device comprises a type of a service to be provided by the host device, and

wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the service.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the context of the host device comprises a user of the host device, and

wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards regarding connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to an attribute of the main surrounding device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an application to control the main surrounding device, from a server; and

installing the application to control the main surrounding device, in the host device,

wherein the main surrounding device is controlled by the host device, based on the received application.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing application information about an application to control the at least one sub surrounding device, to the main surrounding device,

wherein the application to control the at least one sub surrounding device is installed in the main surrounding device, based on the application information.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the topology configuration standards configure the topology, according to functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device, and

wherein the determining of the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology comprises determining the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology, according to the functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to the at least one sub surrounding device connected to the host device being changed, checking a topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device; and

connecting the main surrounding device and the changed sub surrounding device, based on the topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device.

20. A host device comprising:

a memory configured to store at least one program; and

a processor configured to configure a topology with surrounding devices, and control the surrounding devices by executing the at least one program,

wherein the at least one program comprises commands to;

scan the surrounding devices;

determine a main surrounding device and at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in a topology, among the surrounding devices, based on topology configuration standards matching a context of the host device;

transmit a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding the at least one sub surrounding device, to the main surrounding device;

transmit context information to the main surrounding device; and

control the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.