Communication control device for realizing uniform service providing environment

• US 6,523,696 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Hashimoto, Mikio, Takabatake, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/073,140
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/217, 709/232, 709/219, 709/236, 709/230, 370/401
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• 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 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5665 Interaction of ATM with other protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64 Addressing network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00; support for multicast or broadcast of one-way stream services H04L65/611
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64307 ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 : for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless

Abstract

A communication control device capable of realizing a uniform service providing environment without relying on a particular network is disclosed. A communication control device connected with first and second networks has a collecting unit for collecting service information of service providing devices connected with the first network, according to a first protocol depending on the first network, and a notifying unit for notifying the service information to a device connected with a second network, according to a second protocol not depending on the first network.

Claims

1. A communication control device connected with first and second networks, comprising:

a collecting unit configured to collect first network service information of service providing devices connected with the first network, the first network service information being readable by using a first protocol depending on the first network;

a notifying unit configured to notify second network service information equivalent to the first network service information collected by the collecting unit to a device connected with the second network, as information on services provided on the second network by the communication control device, the second network service information being readable by using a second protocol not depending on the first network, such that the device connected with the second network that receives the second network service information from the communication control device recognizes services indicated by the second network service information as services provided by the communication control device on the second network;

a receiving unit configured to receive a second protocol packet for controlling at least one of the service providing devices connected with the first network, from said device connected with the second network; and

a control unit configured to control said at least one of the service providing devices specified by the second protocol packet, according to the first protocol.

2. The communication control device of claim 1, wherein the second protocol is a network layer protocol.

3. The communication control device of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is depending on a datalink of the first network.

4. The communication control device of claim 1, wherein the notifying unit also notifies the second network service information to another device connected with the first network,

the receiving unit also receives another second protocol packet for controlling at least another one of the service providing devices connected with the first network, from said another device; and

the control unit also controls said at least another one of the service providing devices specified by the another second protocol packet, according to the first protocol.

5. The communication control device of claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the second network service information to a directory agent of the second network, so as to register a service provided by one service providing device into the directory agent on behalf of said one service providing device.

6. The communication control device of claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the second network service information to a user agent of the second network, so as to notify the second network service information of one service providing device in response to a query from the user agent on behalf of said one service providing device.

7. The communication control device of claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies the second network service information by using a logical multiplex identifier defined by the communication control device and assigned to one service providing device as an access port for said one service providing device.

8. The communication control device of claim 7, further comprising:

a transfer unit configured to receive a second protocol command in the second protocol which is destined to a port specified by the logical multiplex identifier assigned to said one service providing device, to convert the second protocol command into a first protocol command in the first protocol, and transmitting the first protocol command to said one service providing device.

9. The communication control device of claim 8, wherein the transfer unit has a correspondence table for mapping second protocol commands in the second protocol into first protocol commands in the first protocol.

15. The communication control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a home page creation unit configured to create a home page for issuing a first protocol command in the first protocol for controlling a service provided by one service providing device according to the first network service information collected by the collecting unit, so that the notifying unit notifies the second network service information in a form of the home page created by the home page creation unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive a message based on the home page from said device connected with the second network; and

a control unit configured to control said one service providing device by the first protocol command issued according to said message received by the receiving unit.

16. The communication control device of claim 15, wherein the home page creation unit has a table registering a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device that corresponds to the first protocol command which is prescribed for the service provided by said one service providing device, and the home page creation unit creates the home page by obtaining from said table an information regarding the second protocol command that corresponds to the first network service information collected by the collecting unit.

17. The communication control device of claim 15, wherein said message contains a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device, and the control unit converts the second protocol command contained in said message into the first protocol command by referring to a correspondence table of first protocol commands and second protocol commands.

18. The communication control device of claim 17, wherein said message also contains an address depending on the second protocol and a multiplex identifier for identifying said one service providing device, and the control unit controls said one service providing device as identified by said multiplex identifier in the first protocol command.

19. The communication control device of claim 17, wherein the home page contains a program configured to generate a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device and said message contains the second protocol command generated by said program.

20. The communication control device of claim 15, wherein the control unit activates a program for issuing the first protocol command with respect to said message received by the receiving unit.

21. The communication control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory unit configured to assign a second logical multiplex identifier to a service provided by one service providing device on the first network which is identified by a first logical multiplex identifier, and to store a correspondence between a set of a first address of said one service providing device and the first logical multiplex identifier and a set of a second address accessing from the second network and the second logical multiplex identifier, such that the notifying unit notifies the second network service information in order to present the service provided by said one service providing device as a service accessible from the second network at the second address and the second logical multiplex identifier; and

a packet transfer unit configured to carry out packet transfer between the first network and the second network in order to provide the service provided by said one service providing device to the second network according to the correspondence stored by the memory unit.

22. The communication control device of claim 21, further comprising:

a unit configured to collect first logical multiplex identifiers and first addresses of the service providing devices on the first network.

23. The communication control device of claim 21, further comprising:

a second memory unit configured to store identifiers of packets transferrable to the first network; and

an output unit configured to output those packets having identifiers which are stored by the second memory unit among packets entered from the second network.

10. A communication control device connected with first and second networks, comprising:

a collecting unit configured to collect first network service information of service providing devices connected with the first network, the first network service information being readable by using a first protocol depending on the first network;

a notifying unit configured to notify second network service information equivalent to the first network service information collected by the collecting unit to a device connected with the second network, in a form of a home page for issuing a first protocol command in the first protocol for controlling a service provided by one service providing device, as information on services provided on the second network by the communication control device, the second network service information being readable by using a second protocol not depending on the first network, such that the device connected with the second network that receives the second network service information from the communication control device recognizes services indicated by the second network service information as services provided by the communication control device on the second network;

a receiving unit configured to receive a message based on the home page from said device connected with the second network; and

a control unit configured to control said one service providing device by the first protocol command issued according to said message received by the receiving unit.

11. The communication control device of claim 10, wherein said message contains a second protocol command in the second protocol which is depending on the second network for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device, and the control unit converts the second protocol command contained in said message into the first protocol command by referring to a correspondence table of first protocol commands and second protocol commands.

12. The communication control device of claim 11, wherein said message also contains an address depending on the second protocol and a multiplex identifier for identifying said one service providing device, and the control unit also controls said one service providing device as identified by said multiplex identifier in the first protocol command.

13. The communication control device of claim 11, wherein the home page contains a program configured to generate a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device and said message contains the second protocol command generated by said program.

14. The communication control device of claim 10, wherein the control unit activates a program for issuing the first protocol command with respect to said message received by the receiving unit.

24. A method of communication control at a communication control device connected with first and second networks, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting first network service information of service providing devices connected with the first network, the first network service information being readable by using a first protocol depending on the first network;

(b) notifying second network service information equivalent to the first network service information collected by the step (a) to a device connected with the second network, as information on services provided on the second network by the communication control device, the second network service information being readable by using a second protocol not depending on the first network, such that the device connected with the second network that receives the second network service information from the communication control device recognizes services indicated by the second network service information as services provided by the communication control device on the second network;

(c) receiving a second protocol packet for controlling at least one of the service providing devices connected with the first network, from said device connected with the second network; and

(d) controlling said at least one of the service providing devices specified by the second protocol packet, according to the first protocol.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second protocol is a network layer protocol.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first protocol is depending on a datalink of the first network.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step (b) also notifies the second network service information to another device connected with the first network, and the method further comprises the steps of:

(e) receiving another second protocol packet for controlling at least another one of the service providing devices connected with the first network, from said another device; and

(f) controlling said at least another one of the service providing devices specified by the another second protocol packet, according to the first protocol.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step (b) notifies the second network service information to a directory agent of the second network, so as to register a service provided by one service providing device into the directory agent on behalf of said one service providing device.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the step (b) notifies the second network service information to a user agent of the second network, so as to notify the second network service information of one service providing device in response to a query from the user agent on behalf of said one service providing device.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the step (b) notifies the second network service information by using a logical multiplex identifier defined by the communication control device and assigned to one service providing device as an access port for said one service providing device.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

(e) receiving a second protocol command in the second protocol which is destined to a port specified by the logical multiplex identifier assigned to said one service providing device, converting the second protocol command into a first protocol command in the first protocol, and transmitting the first protocol command to said one service providing device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step (e) uses a correspondence table for mapping second protocol commands in the second protocol into first protocol commands in the first protocol.

38. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

(e) creating a home page for issuing a first protocol command in the first protocol for controlling a service provided by one service providing device according to the first network service information collected by the step (a), so that the step (b) notifies the second network service information in a form of the home page created by the step (e);

(f) receiving a message based on the home page from said device connected with the second network; and

(g) controlling said one service providing device by the first protocol command issued according to said message received by the step (f).

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step (e) uses a table registering a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device that corresponds to the first protocol command which is prescribed for the service provided by said one service providing device, and the step (e) creates the home page by obtaining from said table an information regarding the second protocol command that corresponds to the first network service information collected by the step (a).

40. The method of claim 38, wherein said message contains a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device, and the step (g) converts the second protocol command contained in said message into the first protocol command by referring to a correspondence table of first protocol commands and second protocol commands.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said message also contains an address depending on the second protocol and a multiplex identifier for identifying said one service providing device, and the step (g) controls said one service providing device as identified by said multiplex identifier in the first protocol command.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the home page contains a program for generating a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device and said message contains the second protocol command generated by said program.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the step (g) activates a program for issuing the first protocol command with respect to said message received by the step (f).

44. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

(e) assigning a second logical multiplex identifier to a service provided by one service providing device on the first network which is identified by a first logical multiplex identifier, and storing a correspondence between a set of a first address of said one service providing device and the first logical multiplex identifier and a set of a second address accessing from the second network and the second logical multiplex identifier, such that the step (b) notifies the second network service information in order to present the service provided by said one service providing device as a service accessible from the second network at the second address and the second logical multiplex identifier; and

(f) carrying out packet transfer between the first network and the second network in order to provide the service provided by said one service providing device to the second network according to the correspondence stored by the step (e).

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

(g) collecting first logical multiplex identifiers and first addresses of the service providing devices on the first network.

46. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

(g) storing identifiers of packets transferrable to the first network; and

(h) outputting those packets having identifiers which are stored by the step (g) among packets entered from the second network.

33. A method of communication control at a communication control device connected with first and second networks, comprising the steps of:

(a) collecting first network service information of service providing devices connected with the first network, the first network service information being readable by using a first protocol depending on the first network;

(b) notifying second network service information equivalent to the first network service information collected by the step (a) to a device connected with the second network, in a form of a home page for issuing a first protocol command in the first protocol for controlling a service provided by one service providing device, as information on services provided on the second network by the communication control device, the second network service information being readable by using a second protocol not depending on the first network, such that the device connected with the second network that receives the second network service information from the communication control device recognizes services indicated by the second network service information as services provided by the communication control device on the second network;

(c) receiving a message based on the home page from said device connected with the second network; and

(d) controlling said one service providing device by the first protocol command issued according to said message received by the step (c).

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said message contains a second protocol command in the second protocol which is depending on the second network for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device, and the step (d) converts the second protocol command contained in said message into the first protocol command by referring to a correspondence table of first protocol commands and second protocol commands.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said message also contains an address depending on the second protocol and a multiplex identifier for identifying said one service providing device, and the step (d) also controls said one service providing device as identified by said multiplex identifier in the first protocol command.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the home page contains a program for generating a second protocol command in the second protocol for controlling the service provided by said one service providing device and said message contains the second protocol command generated by said program.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the step (d) activates a program for issuing the first protocol command with respect to said message received by the step (c).