Portable device-interoperable home network system

• US 20040145468A1
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kwon, Oh Sung, La, In Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation

Abstract

A portable device-interoperable home network system is disclosed. A home server controls data transmission and reception of an internal network to which a plurality of home appliances are connected in a home. An image server outputs information regarding at least one image in the home to the home server. A portable device server receives the image information from the image server via the home server and transfers it to a portable electronic device. Therefore, a user can recognize a situation in the home through the portable electronic device from anywhere outside of the home, resulting in an increase in convenience of use.

Claims

1. A home network system interoperable with a portable electronic device, comprising:

a home server for controlling data transmission and reception of an internal network to which a plurality of home appliances are connected in a home;

an image server for outputting information regarding at least one image in the home to said home server; and

a portable device server for receiving said image information from said image server via said home server and transferring it to said portable electronic device.

2. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one camera means for capturing said at least one image in the home and sending it to said image server.

3. The home network system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said image server includes:

a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) communication module for sending said image information to said home server according to a TCP/IP communication protocol;

a database for storing said image information; and

an image server microcomputer for controlling data transmission and reception of said TCP/IP communication module and the storage of said information regarding said image captured by said camera means in said database.

4. The home network system as set forth in claim 3, further comprising display means for displaying said information regarding said image sent from said camera means to said image server.

5. The home network system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said image server further includes an image information output unit for outputting said image information to said display means.

6. The home network system as set forth in claim 3, further comprising alarm means installed in an entrance of the home for sensing intrusion of a burglar into the home,

wherein said alarm means sends a sensed result to said image server upon sensing the burglar intrusion.

7. The home network system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said alarm means includes:

at least one sensor installed in the entrance of the home for sensing intrusion of a burglar into the home;

an alarm means microcomputer for determining whether said sensor has sensed intrusion of a burglar into the home and generating a security request signal upon determining that said sensor has sensed the burglar intrusion; and

a security request signal output unit connected to an external security service provider server for sending said security request signal thereto.

8. The home network system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said image server further includes an alarm information input unit for receiving the sensed result sent from said alarm means.

9. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said home server includes:

a network interface for transmitting and receiving data to/from said internal network;

a TCP/IP communication module for transmitting and receiving data to/from said portable device server and said image server, respectively, over an external Internet network and a TCP/IP network; and

a home server microcomputer for controlling the data transmission and reception of said network interface and TCP/IP communication module and sending said image information from said image server to said home appliances connected to said internal network.

10. The home network system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said image server includes a door phone server for acquiring image information through a camera contained in a door phone and sending the acquired image information to said home server so that a user can check a security state in the home.

11. The home network system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said door phone server includes:

a TCP/IP communication module for transmitting and receiving data to/from said home server over a TCP/IP network;

a database for storing said image information acquired through said door phone; and

a door phone server microcomputer for controlling the data transmission and reception of said TCP/IP communication module and the storage of said image information acquired through said door phone in said database.

12. The home network system as set forth in claim 11, further comprising alarm means installed in an entrance of the home for sensing intrusion of a burglar into the home,

wherein said alarm means sends a sensed result to said door phone server upon sensing the burglar intrusion.

13. The home network system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said door phone server further includes an alarm information input unit for receiving the sensed result sent from said alarm means.