METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING HOME NETWORK SYSTEM USING MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20110106279A1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwahk, Ji-Young, Kim, Sun-Ae, Oh, Hyun-Joo, CHO, Hyung-Rae
• Granted Patent: US 10,008,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• 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

Abstract

A method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal is provided, which includes the mobile terminal connecting to a gateway of a home network through a communication network, the mobile terminal receiving a list of devices which are connected to the home network from the gateway of the home network, the mobile terminal displaying the devices connected to the home network, if one of the displayed devices is selected, requesting the status information of the selected device from the selected device status information of the selected device through the gateway, receiving the status information of the selected device from the selected device, and displaying the received status information and a user interface for controlling the selected device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

the mobile terminal connecting to a gateway of a home network through a communication network;

the mobile terminal receiving a list of devices which are connected to the home network from the gateway of the home network;

the mobile terminal displaying the devices connected to the home network;

if one of the displayed devices is selected, requesting the status information of the selected device from the selected device through the gateway;

receiving the status information of the selected device from the selected device; and

displaying the received status information and a user interface for controlling the selected device.

2. The method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising transferring a control command to the gateway of the home network if the control command is input through the user interface for controlling the selected device.

3. The method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the home network is constructed using UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) middleware.

4. The method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal connecting to the home network is performed by executing an application for observing the status information of the devices of the home network and controlling the operation of the devices.

5. The method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mobile terminal displaying the devices connected to the home network comprises:

determining whether a device that is not stored in an application of the mobile terminal exists among the devices connected to the home network;

if the device that is not stored in the application of the mobile terminal exists, receiving through the gateway a sub application that includes a user interface for displaying the status information of the device that is not stored in the application of the mobile terminal and executing a control operation; and

the mobile terminal displaying a list of the devices connected to the home network in the form of icons.

6. The method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the status information of the device includes at least one of a power on/off state of the device, a current operation state, and a component or material status.

7. The method for controlling a home network system using a mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein displaying the received status information and the user interface for controlling the selected device is performed by displaying the received status information on a status information window and displaying a control button for controlling the selected device.

8. A mobile terminal for controlling a home network system, comprising:

a display unit displaying various kinds of display content and messages;

an input unit provided with a plurality of numeral keys and function keys to output key input data that corresponds to a key pressed by a user;

a storage unit storing programs and data which are used when the mobile terminal operates;

a communication unit performing wireless communication with a mobile communication base station and performing communication with a home network system gateway for controlling home devices of the home network system; and

a control unit controlling operations of other constituent units, connecting to the home network, receiving a list of the devices connected to the home network from the home network gateway, displaying the devices connected to the home network, if one of the displayed devices is selected, requesting the status information of the selected device from the selected device through the gateway, receiving the status information of the selected device from the selected device, and displaying the received status information and a user interface for controlling the selected device.

9. The mobile terminal for controlling a home network system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the storage unit stores a home network application for enabling the mobile terminal to grasp the status of the home devices of the home network and to easily control the home devices.

10. The mobile terminal for controlling a home network system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit transfers a control command to the gateway of the home network if the control command is input through the user interface for controlling the selected device.

11. The mobile terminal for controlling a home network system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the home network is constructed using UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) middleware.

12. The mobile terminal for controlling a home network system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connection of the mobile terminal to the home network is performed by executing an application for observing the status information of the devices of the home network and controlling the operation of the devices.

13. The mobile terminal for controlling a home network system as claimed in claim 12, wherein a display of the devices connected to the home network includes determining whether a device that is not stored in an application of the mobile terminal exists among the devices connected to the home network;

if the device that is not stored in the application of the mobile terminal exists, receiving through the gateway a sub application that includes a user interface for displaying the status information of the device that is not stored in the application of the mobile terminal and executing a control operation; and

the mobile terminal displaying a list of the devices connected to the home network in the form of an icon.

14. The mobile terminal for controlling a home network system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the status information of the device includes at least one of a power on/off state of the device, a current operation state, and a component or material status.

15. The mobile terminal for controlling a home network system as claimed in claim 8, wherein a display of the received status information and the user interface for controlling the selected device is a process of displaying the received status information on a status information window and displaying a control button for controlling the selected device.