Method of and apparatus for bridging a UPnP network and a rendezvous network

• US 20050160172A1
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eytchison, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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 12/282 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 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• 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 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances

Abstract

A UPnP rendezvous bridge appropriately bridges a UPnP network with a rendezvous network. The UPnP rendezvous bridge appropriately allows device and service discovery and converts communications directed between devices within the UPnP network and devices within the rendezvous network into an appropriate format for the receiving device, utilizing a UPnP proxy, a rendezvous proxy, a UPnP table and a rendezvous table. The UPnP rendezvous bridge includes a programmable microprocessor which manipulates communications into the proper format for the receiving device. The UPnP rendezvous bridge is implemented within a stand-alone device coupled between the UPnP and the rendezvous networks. Alternatively, the UPnP rendezvous bridge is implemented within an appropriately configured device in one of the networks. A protocol conversion program is stored within a read only memory (ROM) and used by the microprocessor to perform the appropriate conversions. Alternatively, the programmable microprocessor is programmed for the appropriate conversions by a device coupled to the UPnP rendezvous bridge.

Claims

1. A method of bridging communications between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device comprising:

a. receiving a communication from the universal plug and play type device for the rendezvous type device;

b. converting the communication into the rendezvous type protocol thereby forming a converted communication; and

c. transmitting the converted communication to the rendezvous type device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein converting the communication is performed by a conversion circuit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

6. A method of bridging communications between a rendezvous type device and a universal plug and play type device comprising:

a. receiving a communication from the rendezvous type device for the universal plug and play type device;

b. converting the communication into the universal plug and play type protocol thereby forming a converted communication; and

c. transmitting the converted communication to the universal plug and play type device.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein converting the communication is performed by a conversion circuit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

11. A converter configured to couple between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device to convert communications between the universal plug and play type device and the rendezvous type device into proper formats, comprising:

a. a universal plug and play type interface circuit configured to couple to a universal plug and play type device operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. a rendezvous type interface circuit configured to couple to a rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol; and

c. a conversion circuit coupled between the universal plug and play type interface circuit and the rendezvous type interface circuit, wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type device to the rendezvous type device into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the rendezvous type device to the universal plug and play type device into the universal plug and play type protocol.

12. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

13. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

15. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

16. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the converter is a stand-alone device.

17. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the converter is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

18. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

19. The converter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a universal plug and play type device.

14. The converter as claimed in claim 111 wherein a conversion program used by the conversion circuit is stored within the conversion circuit.

20. A converter configured for coupling between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device to convert communications between the universal plug and play type device and the rendezvous type device into proper formats, comprising:

a. a first means for interfacing configured for coupling to a universal plug and play type device operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. a second means for interfacing configured for coupling to a rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol; and

c. means for converting coupled between the first means for interfacing and the second means for interfacing, wherein the means for converting converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type device to the rendezvous type device into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the means for converting converts communications directed from the rendezvous type device to the universal plug and play type device into the universal plug and play type protocol.

21. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

22. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

23. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein a conversion program used by the means for converting is stored within the means for converting.

24. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the means for converting is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

25. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the converter is a stand-alone device.

26. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the converter is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

27. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first means for interfacing comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

28. The converter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the second means for interfacing comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a universal plug and play type device.

29. A bridge device configured for coupling between a universal plug and play type device and a rendezvous type device for converting communications between the universal plug and play type device and the rendezvous type device into proper formats, comprising:

a. a universal plug and play type interface circuit configured for coupling to a universal plug and play type device operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. a rendezvous type interface circuit configured for coupling to a rendezvous type device operating under a rendezvous type protocol; and

c. a conversion circuit coupled between the universal plug and play type interface circuit and the rendezvous type interface circuit, wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type device to the rendezvous type device into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the rendezvous type device to the universal plug and play type device into the universal plug and play type protocol.

30. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the universal plug and play type device is coupled within a network of universal plug and play type devices.

31. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the rendezvous type device is coupled within a network of rendezvous type devices.

32. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein a conversion program used by the conversion circuit is stored within the conversion circuit.

33. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

34. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the bridge is a stand-alone device.

35. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the bridge is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

36. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit comprises a UPnP universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

37. The bridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a universal plug and play type device.

38. A network of devices, operating under a plurality of protocols, the network of devices comprising:

a. one or more universal plug and play type devices operating under a universal plug and play type protocol;

b. one or more rendezvous type devices operating under a rendezvous type protocol; and

c. a converter coupled to the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices for converting communications between the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices into proper formats, comprising;

i. a universal plug and play type interface circuit coupled to the universal plug and play type devices;

ii. a rendezvous type interface circuit coupled to the rendezvous type devices; and

iii. a conversion circuit coupled to universal plug and play type interface circuit and the rendezvous type interface circuit, wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the universal plug and play type devices to the rendezvous type devices into the rendezvous type protocol, and further wherein the conversion circuit converts communications directed from the rendezvous type devices to the universal plug and play type devices into the universal plug and play type protocol.

39. The network of devices as claimed in claim 38 wherein a conversion program used by the conversion circuit is stored within the conversion circuit.

40. The network of devices as claimed in claim 38 wherein the conversion circuit is programmed by a universal plug and play type device or a rendezvous type device.

41. The network of devices as claimed in claim 38 wherein the converter is a stand-alone device coupled between the universal plug and play type devices and the rendezvous type devices.

42. The network of devices as claimed in claim 38 wherein the converter is implemented within the universal plug and play type device or the rendezvous type device.

43. The network of devices as claimed in claim 38 wherein the universal plug and play type interface circuit comprises a universal plug and play type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a rendezvous type device.

44. The network of devices as claimed in claim 38 wherein the rendezvous type interface circuit comprises a rendezvous type proxy which maintains a table of entries, each entry corresponding to a universal plug and play type device.