System and method for managing an application or software component for use in a device to be controlled in a home network

• US 20100070616A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: YOOK, Hyungyoo
• Granted Patent: US 8,677,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for managing an application wherein a function of a controlled device can be dynamically extended by continually updating the application for use in the controlled device. According to the present invention, a framework capable of providing integrated support to a variety of home network middleware is loaded on an application server corresponding to a control device, and Internet access services and middleware services for accessing various kinds of devices are bundled into the framework. Thus, application installation and management can be performed within a home network environment regardless of the hardware, network protocol and operating system used.

Claims

1. An application management system comprising:

a plurality of controlled devices; and

an application server performing the installation and management of applications for the plurality of controlled devices by using a framework capable of providing integrated support to a variety of home network middleware,

wherein the application server controls the plurality of controlled devices in response to the installed applications,

wherein each of the controlled devices includes positional information on an application file to be installed, and the application file is stored in a file server on the Internet.

2. The application management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the home network middleware is selected from a group consisting of HAVi and HWW.

3. The application management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the framework is an OSGi framework.

4. The application management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the controlled devices includes a home network middleware module for communicating with the application server.

5. The application management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application server extracts the positional information on the application file from the plurality of controlled devices and downloads the application file from the file server to install a relevant application in response to the extracted positional information.

6. The application management system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application server includes a home network middleware module for communicating with the plurality of controlled devices and extracting the positional information on the application file from the plurality of controlled devices, an application loader module for downloading the application file from the file server in accordance with the extracted positional information on the application file, and an application management module for controlling operations of the home network middleware module and the application loader module.

7. The application management system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the home network middleware module and the application loader module are bundled into the framework.

8. A method for managing an application using an application management system including a plurality of controlled devices and an application server, the method comprising:

(1) detecting connection of the plurality of controlled devices with a home network by an application server loaded with a framework capable of providing integrated support to a variety of home network middleware; and

(2) installing the applications and controlling the plurality of controlled devices in response to the installed applications by the application server,

wherein each of the plurality of controlled devices includes positional information on the application file, and the application file is stored in a file server on the Internet.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the home network middleware is selected from a group consisting of HAVi and HWW.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the framework is an OSGi framework.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the framework provides Internet access services and home network middleware services.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein step (1) comprises:

extracting the positional information on an application file necessary for controlling the plurality of controlled devices, by the application server;

downloading the application file from the file server in accordance with the extracted positional information by the application server; and

executing the downloaded application file and installing a relevant application by the application server.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an application management step of executing, stopping, deleting, and updating the application installed in the application server.