Smart home system using portable device

• US 9,948,685 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Na, Il Kang, Lee, Gye Young, Song, Kwan Woo, Hawng, Dong Yun
• Primary Examiner(s): Keehn, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US14/157,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20140207707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• 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
• 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 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1033 Signalling gateways

Abstract

A smart home system using a portable device in which a gateway function is installed in the portable device to provide a smart home service using a multiplex gateway, and a control method thereof is provided. The smart home system includes one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances located in a home, each of the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances having a gateway, a home network to interconnect the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances, and a master device selected from among the one or more portable devices or the one or more home appliances, the master device activating the gateway thereof to connect the home network with an external communication network, wherein the master device transfers a home appliance control command to a corresponding one of the one or more home appliances.

Claims

1. A smart home system comprising:

one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances, each of the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances equipped with a gateway; and

a home network to interconnect the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances,

wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances are configured to select a master device from among the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances, and so that

the gateway of the master device is operable to connect the home network with an external communication network, and

for each respective home appliance of the one or more home appliances, the gateway of the master device is operable to, while the gateway of the master device connects the home network with the external communication network, receive a home appliance control command for the respective home appliance from the external communication network, and transfer the received home appliance control command to the respective home appliance.

2. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliance devices are configured to select one of the one or more portable devices as the master device.

3. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances are configured to select one of the one or more home appliances as the master device.

4. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances are configured to select the master device from among the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances based on Internet protocol (IP) address information of the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances.

5. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances are configured so that the master device periodically transfers a check alive message to the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances connected to the home network.

6. The smart home system according to claim 5, wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances are configured to select one of the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances connected to the home network as a new master device when each of the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances connected to the home network fails to receive the check alive message for a certain period of time.

7. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances are configured so that the master device transfers a synchronization message for data synchronization with the one or more home appliances connected to the home network or a history information request signal to the one or more home appliances.

8. The smart home system according to claim 7, wherein each of the one or more home appliances connected to the home network is configured to generate and store history information upon receiving the synchronization message, and transfer the history information to the master device.

9. The smart home system according to claim 7, wherein each of the one or more home appliances connected to the home network is configured to determine whether a history index in the history information request signal is up-to-date information, upon receiving the history information request signal.

10. The smart home system according to claim 9, wherein each of the one or more home appliances connected to the home network is configured to transfer history information corresponding to the history index to the master device when the history index is determined to be up-to-date information.

11. The smart home system according to claim 9, wherein each of the one or more home appliances connected to the home network is configured to generate and store latest history information when the history index is determined not to be up-to-date information, and transfer the latest history information to the master device.

12. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more home appliances includes at least one of an illumination controller, a temperature controller, a door controller, a window controller, a security system controller, a home theater controller, and a medical system controller.

13. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances, and a new portable device, are configured so that a new master device is selected from among the one or more portable devices, the one or more home appliances, and the new portable device, when the new portable device is additionally connected to the home network.

14. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein:

the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances are configured so that the master device transfers a synchronization message for data synchronization with the one or more home appliances or a history information request signal to the one or more home appliances at a predetermined time; and

the predetermined time includes at least one of a time when a new portable device is connected to the home network, a time when the master device is connected to the home network for a first time, and a time when a connection change occurs among the one or more portable devices and home appliances.

15. The smart home system according to claim 1, wherein the external communication network is connected to a server.

16. The smart home system according to claim 15, wherein the external server transmits utility pricing information to the home network by way of the external communication network.

17. The smart home system according to claim 15, wherein the external server provides electricity price variation-based energy level information of one or more home appliances to the master device.

18. The smart home system according to claim 17, wherein the external server fixes different electricity prices in connection with power consumption of the one or more home appliances and controls electricity to be supplied to the one or more home appliances for the fixed electricity prices.

19. A portable device comprising:

a communication unit, connectable to a home network, and while connected to the home network, configured to transmit/receive information to/from other portable devices, each equipped with a gateway, and a plurality of home appliances, connected to the home network;

a gateway to connect the home network with an external communication network; and

a controller configured to;

communicate with the other portable devices to determine whether the portable device is to be a master device of the portable device and the other portable devices, based on device information of the portable device and device information of the other portable devices received by the portable device from the other portable devices through the home network,

activate the gateway of the portable device in response to the controller determining that the portable device is to be the master device, so that the gateway of the portable device thereby connects the home network with the external communication network, and

while the gateway of the portable device is activated and thereby connects the home network with the external communication network,

for each respective home appliance of the plurality of home appliances, cause the gateway of the portable device to be operable to receive a home appliance control command for the respective home appliance from the external communication network, and transfer the received home appliance control command to the respective home appliance.

20. The portable device according to claim 19, wherein the device information comprises Internet protocol (IP) address information.

21. The portable device according to claim 19, further comprising a storage unit configured to store IP address information of the other portable devices and the plurality of home appliances, and history information of the plurality of home appliances.

22. The portable device according to claim 21, wherein the history information includes power consumption of the home appliances and control history of the home appliances.

23. The portable device according to claim 19, wherein the controller, while the gateway is activated, is configured to perform a control operation to transfer a synchronization message for data synchronization with the plurality of home appliances to the plurality of home appliances or transfer a check alive message to the other portable devices and the plurality of home appliances.

24. The portable device according to claim 19, wherein the controller, in response to a history information request signal being received, is configured to perform a control operation to include a history index in the history information request signal and transfer the resulting history information request signal to a corresponding one of the plurality of home appliances.

25. The portable device according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of home appliances include at least one of an illumination controller, a temperature controller, a door controller, a window controller, a security system controller, a home theater controller, and a medical system controller.

26. A home appliance comprising:

a communication unit, connectable to a home network and, while connected to the home network, configured to transmit/receive information to/from other home appliances, each equipped with a gateway, connected to the home network;

a gateway to connect the home network with an external communication network; and

a controller configured to;

communicate with the other home appliances to determine whether the home appliance is to be a master device of the home appliance and the other home appliances, based on device information of the home appliance and device information of the other home appliances received by the home appliance from the other home appliances through the home network,

activate the gateway of the home appliance in response to the controller determining that the home appliance is to be the master device, so that the gateway of the home appliance thereby connects the home network with the external communication network, and

while the gateway of the home appliance is activated and thereby connects the home network with the external communication network,

for each respective home appliance of the other home appliances, cause the activated gateway to be operable to receive a home appliance control command for the respective home appliance from the external communication network, and transfer the received home appliance control command to the respective home appliance.

27. The home appliance according to claim 26, wherein the device information comprises Internet protocol (IP) address information.

28. The home appliance according to claim 26, further comprising a storage unit to store IP address information and history information of the other home appliances.

29. The home appliance according to claim 28, wherein the history information includes power consumption of the other home appliances and control history of the other home appliances.

30. The home appliance according to claim 26, wherein the controller, when the gateway is activated, is configured to perform a control operation to transfer a synchronization message for data synchronization with the other home appliances or a check alive message to the other home appliances.

31. The home appliance according to claim 26, wherein the controller, when the communication unit receives a synchronization message, is configured to perform a control operation to generate and store history information and transfer the history information to the home appliance in which the gateway is activated.

32. The home appliance according to claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a history index in a history information request signal is up-to-date information, when the communication unit receives the history information request signal.

33. The home appliance according to claim 32, wherein the controller is configured to transfer history information corresponding to the history index to the home appliance in which the gateway is activated, when the history index is determined to be up-to-date information.

34. The home appliance according to claim 32, wherein the controller, when the history index is determined not to be up-to-date information, is configured to perform a control operation to generate and store latest history information and transfer the latest history information to the home appliance in which the gateway is activated.

35. The home appliance according to claim 26, wherein the other home appliances include at least one of an illumination controller, a temperature controller, a door controller, a window controller, a security system controller, a home theater controller, and a medical system controller.

36. The home appliance according to claim 26, wherein the other home appliances include at least two of an illumination controller, a temperature controller, a door controller, a window controller, a security system controller, a home theater controller, and a medical system controller.

37. A method comprising:

selecting a master device from among one or more portable devices, each including a gateway, and one or more home appliances, each including a gateway, connected to a home network;

activating the gateway of the master device in response to the selection of the master device to connect the home network with an external communication network through the gateway of the master device; and

while the gateway of the master device connects the home network with the external communication network,

controlling the gateway of the master device so that, for each respective home appliance of the one or more home appliances, the gateway of the master device is operable to receive a home appliance control command for the respective home appliance from the external communication network, and transfer the received home appliance control command to the respective home appliance.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the selecting comprises selecting one of the one or more portable devices as the master device.

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein the selecting comprises selecting one of the one or more home appliances as the master device.

40. The method according to claim 37, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the master device from among the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances based on Internet protocol (IP) address information of the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances.

41. The method according to claim 37, further comprising:

periodically transferring, by the master device, a check alive message to the one or more portable devices and one or more home appliances.

42. The method according to claim 41, further comprising:

selecting a new master device from among the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances when each of the one or more portable devices and the one or more home appliances fails to receive the check alive message for a certain period of time.

43. The method according to claim 37, further comprising:

periodically transferring, by the master device, a synchronization message for data synchronization with the one or more home appliances or a history information request signal to the one or more home appliances.

44. The method according to claim 43, further comprising, upon receiving the synchronization message:

by each of the one or more home appliances,

generating history information, and

transferring the history information to the master device.

45. The method according to claim 43, further comprising:

by each of the one or more home appliances,

determining whether a history index in the history information request signal is up-to-date information, upon receiving the history information request signal.

46. The method according to claim 45, further comprising:

by each of the one or more home appliances,

transferring history information corresponding to the history index to the master device when the history index is determined to be up-to-date information.

47. The method according to claim 45, further comprising:

by each of the one or more home appliances,

generating latest history information when the history index is determined not to be up-to-date information, and

transferring the latest history information to the master device.

48. The method according to claim 37, wherein the one or more home appliances include at least one of an illumination controller, a temperature controller, a door controller, a window controller, a security system controller, a home theater controller, and a medical system controller.

57. At least one non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions that control at least one processor to implement the method of claim 37.

49. A system comprising:

a home network;

a plurality of home appliances connected to the home network, each home appliance of the plurality of home appliances including a gateway; and

a portable device including a gateway,

wherein the portable device and each home appliance of the plurality of home appliances are configured to cooperate together to select a master device among the portable device and the plurality of home appliances, and so that,

the gateway of the master device is operable to connect the home network with an external communication network, and

for each respective home appliance of the plurality of home appliances, the gateway of the master device is operable to, while the gateway of the master device connects the home network with the external communication network, receive a home appliance control command for the respective home appliance from the external communication network, and transfer the received home appliance control command to the respective home appliance.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein the plurality of home appliances include at least one of an illumination controller, a temperature controller, a door controller, a window controller, a security system controller, a home theater controller, and a medical system controller.

51. A method of a smart home system in which one or more first portable devices, each including a gateway, and one or more home appliances, each including a gateway, are connected to a home network, the method comprising:

connecting a second portable device that includes a gateway to the home network, after the second portable device moves into an area in which the second portable device is connectable to the home network from outside the area;

selecting, based on device information of the second portable device, device information of the one or more first portable devices and device information of one or more home appliances connected to the home network, a master device from among the second portable device, the one or more first portable devices and one or more home appliances connected to the home network;

activating the gateway of the master device in response to the selection of the master device to connect the home network with an external communication network through the gateway of the master device; and

while the gateway of the master device connects the home network with the external communication network,

controlling the gateway of the master device so that, for each respective home appliance of the one or more home appliances, the gateway of the master device is operable to receive a home appliance control command for the respective home appliance from the external communication network, and transfer the received home appliance control command to the respective home appliance,

wherein the selecting selects the second portable device as the master device based on the device information of the second portable device, the device information of the one or more first portable devices and the device information of the one or more home appliances connected to the home network.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the one or more home appliances include at least one of an illumination controller, a temperature controller, a door controller, a window controller, a security system controller, a home theater controller, and a medical system controller.

58. At least one non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions that control at least one processor to implement the method of claim 51.

53. A method of a smart home system in which a plurality of home appliances, each including a gateway, are connected to a home network, the method comprising:

connecting a portable device including a gateway to the home network, after the portable device moves into an area in which the portable device is connectable to the home network from outside the area;

selecting, based on device information of the portable device connected to the home network and device information of the plurality of home appliances connected to the home network, a master device from among the portable device and the plurality of home appliances;

activating the gateway of the master device in response to the selection of the master device to connect the home network with an external communication network through the gateway of the master device; and

while the gateway of the master device connects the home network with the external communication network,

controlling the gateway of the master device so that, for each respective home appliance of the plurality of home appliances, the gateway of the master device is operable to receive a home appliance control command for the respective home appliance from the external communication network, and transfer the received home appliance control command to the respective home appliance.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the device information comprises Internet protocol (IP) address information.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the selecting selects, as the master device, one of the portable device and the plurality of home appliances having the lowest IP address.

56. The method according to claim 53, wherein the selecting selects the portable device as the master device.

59. At least one non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions that control at least one processor to implement the method of claim 53.