HOME NETWORK SYSTEM USING Z-WAVE NETWORK AND HOME AUTOMATION DEVICE CONNECTION METHOD USING SAME

• US 20180159853A1
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Published: 06/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyungdong One Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyungdong One Corporation
• Inventors: OH, Se Young
• Granted Patent: US 10,469,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• 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 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings

Abstract

A home network system using a Z-Wave network according to the present invention includes: at least one home automation device connected to the Z-Wave network configuring a wireless network such that the device'"'"'s state is remotely controlled by a portable terminal or a notification is provided to the portable terminal; a wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge including a Z-Wave communication unit and an Ethernet communication unit, having a unique MAC address, and connecting the portable terminal that is given access to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge by a main server through authentication of the unique MAC address, to the Z-Wave network through the Internet; and the main server connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge or the portable terminal through the Internet, providing an application for a remote control when requested by the portable terminal, and performing authentication for giving access to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge. According to the present invention, anyone can easily control a home automation device through a portable terminal by configuring a Z-Wave network system and inputting a unique MAC address.

Claims

1. A home network system using a Z-Wave network, comprising:

at least one home automation device connected to the Z-Wave network configuring a wireless network such that the device'"'"'s state is remotely controlled by a portable terminal or a notification is provided to the portable terminal;

a wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge including a Z-Wave communication unit having a Z-Wave standard communication protocol and an Ethernet communication unit for Internet connection, having a unique MAC address, and interconnecting the Z-Wave network and the Internet so that the portable terminal that is given access through authentication of the unique MAC address by a main server remotely controls the home automation device; and

the main server connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge or the portable terminal through the Internet, providing an application for a remote control of the home automation device when requested by the portable terminal, and performing the authentication for giving access to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge upon request by the portable terminal.

2. The home network system of claim 1, wherein the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge further includes a connection button for switching into or turning off a connection mode allowing connection between the home automation device and the main serve, and a connection complete button for giving the MAC-authenticated portable terminal access to the home automation device.

3. The home network system of claim 2, wherein each home automation device includes a connection request button for giving the portable terminal access, and

in a state in which the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge is switched into the connection mode, the home automation device that is in a connectable state and the MAC-authenticated portable terminal are connected with each other by an input of the connection request button.

4. The home network system of claim 1, wherein the home automation device includes a main home automation device directly connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge, and a sub-home automation device connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge through the main home automation device, and

as the main home automation device functions as a router, sub-home automation devices in a wide area are communicatably connected with each other.

5. A home automation device connection method using a home network system including at least one home automation device connected to a Z-Wave network, a main server connecting a portable terminal to the home automation device, and a wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge, the home automation device connection method comprising:

(a) performing, by the main server, authentication for giving the portable terminal access by using a unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge if the portable terminal requests the authentication for connection to the home automation device by using the unique MAC address; and

(b) transmitting, by the main server, a remote control signal for the home automation device that is received from an application of the portable terminal that is given access as a result of the authentication, to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge, or receiving a notification indicating a state of the home automation device transmitted through the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge and providing the notification to the portable terminal.

6. The home automation device connection method of claim 5, wherein the (a) performing includes

determining, by the main server, whether the authentication is completed by using a unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored when the portable terminal requests the authentication;

switching, by the main server, into a standby state for receiving a unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge when the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored is not present; and

storing, by the main server, a unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that connection thereto is requested when the unique MAC address is received, to allow the authentication without switching into the standby state when the portable terminal is connected later.

7. The home automation device connection method of claim 5, wherein the (a) performing includes

detecting, by the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge including a connection button for giving the portable terminal access, an operation of the connection button to be switched into a connection mode, and determining whether the portable terminal requests connection for remotely controlling the home automation device;

and

detecting, by the main server, an operation of a connection complete button of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge when the authentication of the portable terminal is completed to give the portable terminal access to the home automation device.

8. The home automation device connection method of claim 7, wherein the (a) performing further includes

detecting, by the home automation device connected to the Z-Wave network including a connection request button for connection, an operation of the connection request button to be switched into a connectable state, and giving the portable terminal access in the connectable state.

9. A home network system using a Z-Wave network, comprising:

a wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge including a Z-Wave communication unit having a Z-Wave standard communication protocol and an Ethernet communication unit for Internet connection, having a unique MAC address, and interconnecting the Z-Wave network and the Internet so that a portable terminal that is given access through authentication of the unique MAC address by a main server remotely controls at least one home automation device on the Z-Wave network; and

the main server connected to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge or the portable terminal through the Internet, and performing the authentication by receiving the unique MAC address for giving access to the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge from the portable terminal,

wherein the main server determines whether the authentication is completed by using the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored when the portable terminal requests the authentication, and is switched into a standby state for receiving a unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge when the unique MAC address of the wired/wireless Z-Wave bridge that is pre-stored is not present.