Method and apparatus for user and device command and control in a network

• US 6,546,419 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Dongyan, Humpleman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US09/306,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 709/223, 709/201, 709/202, 345/733, 345/970, 700/218, 700/217
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 12/281 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 12/2814 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 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 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/03 Protocol definition or specification protocol conformance testing H04L1/244
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 : Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 : in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 : in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/328 : in the presentation layer [OSI layer 6]
• 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 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/97 : Instrumentation and component modelling, e.g. interactive control panel

Abstract

Method and system for performing a service on a home network having a plurality of home devices connected thereto, by: connecting a client device to the home network for displaying a user interface; executing a software agent on the client device for obtaining selection information for the network devices and displaying the selection information on a user interface displayed on the client device; selecting a first home device connected to the network from the user interface being displayed on the client device; reading first capabilities data for the first home device, where the first capabilities data includes information in a structured format for identifying the capabilities of the first home device; reading second capabilities data for a second home device connected to the network, where the second capabilities data includes information in the structured format for identifying the capabilities of the second home device; comparing the first and second capabilities data of the first and second home devices, respectively; selecting the second home device from the user interface displayed on the client device; and sending control and command data from the client device to the first and second home devices to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other to perform the service.

Claims

1. A method for performing a service on a home network having a plurality of home devices connected thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a client device to the home network, the client device capable of displaying a user interface;

(b) executing a software agent on the client device for obtaining selection information for said plurality of home devices and displaying the selection information on a user interface displayed on the client device;

(c) selecting a first home device connected to the network from the user interface being displayed on the client device;

(d) reading first capabilities data for the first home device, the first capabilities data including information in a structured format for identifying the capabilities of the first home device;

(e) reading second capabilities data for a second home device connected to the network, the second capabilities data including information in said structured format for identifying the capabilities of the second home device;

(f) comparing the first and second capabilities data of the first and second home devices, respectively;

(g) selecting the second home device from the user interface displayed on the client device; and

(h) sending control and command data from the client device to the first and second home devices to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other to perform fhe service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) further comprises updating said selection information on the user interface to include selection information for the second home device if at least a portion of the first and second capabilities data match, whereby the first and second home devices are compatible.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

step (e) further includes reading capabilities data for a plurality of home devices connected to the network, wherein each capabilities data corresponding to a home device includes information in said structured format for identifying the capabilities of the corresponding home device connected to the network;

step (f) further includes comparing the first capabilities data with said plurality of capabilities data and updating said selection information in the user interface to include selection information for home devices whose capabilities data match the first capabilities data and are compatible with the first home device;

step (g) further includes selecting one or more home devices from said user interface; and

step (h) further includes sending control and command data from the client device to the first home device and to one more other selected home devices to cause the first and said one or more other home devices to communicate with each other to perform the service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said selection information for each home device includes an iconic representation of the home device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said structured format includes the XML format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein only the client device is capable of displaying a user interface.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of connecting a third home device to the home network, the third home device storing application interface description data in a structured format for device command control of the third home device by one or more other home devices over the network.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of the first home device controlling the third home device by sending control and command information to the third home device utilizing said application interface description data.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of providing said application interface description data to the first home device.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of the second home device controlling the third home device by sending control and command information to the third home device utilizing said application interface description data.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing said application interface description data to the second home device.

12. A network system for performing a service, comprising:

(a) a physical layer, wherein the physical layer provides a communication medium than can be used by devices to communicate with each other;

(b) a first home device storing first capabilities data including information in a structured format for identifying the capabilities of the first home device;

(c) a second home device storing second capabilities data including information in said structured format for identifying the capabilities of the second home device;

(d) a client device including a user interface controller for displaying a user interface to provide selection information for at least the first home device to a user and to receive user input for selecting at least the first home device;

the client device further including a software agent such that when the user selects the first home device from the user interface being displayed on the client device, the software agent reads and compares said first and second capabilities data, and if compatible, the software agent causes the controller means to update said selection information on the user interface to include selection information for the second home device, and

wherein upon selection of the second home device from the user interface by a user, the client device sends control and command data to the first and second home devices to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other to perform a service requested by the user.

13. The network system of claim 12 wherein the software agent obtains selection information for a plurality of home devices and displays the selection information on the user interface displayed on the client device.

14. The network system of claim 12 wherein said selection information for each home device includes an iconic representation of the home device.

15. The network system of claim 12 wherein said structured format includes XML format.

16. The network system of claim 12 wherein only the client device is capable of displaying a control user interface.

17. The network system of claim 12 further comprising a third home device storing application interface description data in a structured format for device command control of the third home device by one or more other home devices over the network.

18. The network system of claim 17 wherein the first home device includes control application means for controlling the third home device by sending control and command information to the third home device utilizing said application interface description data.

19. The network system of claim 17 wherein the second home device includes control application means for controlling the third home device by sending control and command information to the third home device utilizing said application interface description data.

20. A method for performing a service via a home network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a client device to the home network, wherein the client device is capable of displaying user interface data;

(b) connecting a first home device to the home network, the first home device storing user interface data in a selected format that defines a user interface for user command and control of at least the first home device by a user via the network;

(c) connecting a second home device connected to the home network, the second home device storing application interface description data in a structured format for device command and control of the second home device by one or more other home devices connected to the network;

(d) receiving the user interface data of the first home device at the client device via the home network;

(e) displaying the user interface defined by the user interface data of the first home device on the client device;

(f) accepting user input from a user in response to the user interacting with the user interface displayed on the client device; and

(g) sending control and command data from the client device to the first home device based on the user input to cause the first and second home devices to communicate with each other utilizing said application interface description data to perform the service.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein step (f) further includes accepting user input for selecting the second home device from the user interface being displayed on the client device.

22. The method of claim 21, further including the step of the first home device controlling the second home device by sending control and command information to the second home device utilizing said application interface description data based on the user input to the first home device via the client device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of providing the application interface description data to the first home device via the network.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said application interface description data includes capabilities data for the second home device, and further comprising the steps of:

(i) querying the capabilities data within the application interface description data of the second home device, and (ii) updating said user interface data in the first home device using the capabilities data to allow commanding and controlling of the second home device by a user via the user interface of the first home device displayed on the client device.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising connecting two or more home devices to the network, each home device storing application interface description data in a structured format for commanding and controlling of the home device by one or more other home devices connected to the network.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the application interface data in each of said two or more home devices includes capabilities data for the respective home device, and further comprising the steps of:

(i) querying the capabilities data within the application interface data of said two or more home devices, and (ii) updating said user interface data in the first home device using said capabilities data to allow commanding and controlling of said two or more home devices by a user via the user interface of the first home device displayed on the client device.

27. The method of claim 25, further including the step of providing the application interface descriptions of a plurality of said two or more home devices to the first home device via the network.

28. The method of claim 27, further including the step of:

sending control and command data from the first home device to said plurality of home devices via the network utilizing the application interface description data corresponding to each of said plurality of home devices to control the operation of said plurality of home devices.

29. The method of claim 27, further including the step of:

locating said application interface descriptions over the network, and providing said application interface descriptions to the first home device via the network.

30. The method of claim 27 further including the steps of providing the application interface description data of one home device of said plurality of home devices to another home device of said plurality of home devices.

31. The method of claim 30 further including sending control and command data from said one home device to said another home device via the network utilizing the application interface description corresponding to said another home device to control the operation of said other home device.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the application interface description includes remote procedure call information for the first home device to control the operation of the second home device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the application interface description includes capabilities data for identifying the capabilities of the second device.

34. The method of claim 20 wherein the selected format includes HTML format.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein the structured format includes XML format.

36. A network system for commanding and controlling devices, comprising:

(a) a physical layer, wherein the physical layer provides a communication medium than can be used by devices to communicate with each other;

(b) a first server device storing user interface data in a selected format that defines a user interface for user command and control of at least the first device by a user;

(c) a second server device storing application interface description data in a structured format for device command and control of the second sever device by one or more devices;

(d) a client device capable of displaying user interface data, the client device including user interface controller means for displaying said user interface of the first server device on the client device to accept input from a user, and for sending control and command data to the first server device based on the user input, to cause the first and second sever devices to communicate with each other utilizing said application interface description data to perform a service requested by the user.

37. The network system of claim 36, wherein said user interface controller accepts user input for selecting the second sever device from the user interface being displayed on the client device.

38. The network system of claim 37, wherein the first server device includes application control means for controlling the second sever device by sending control and command information to the second sever device utilizing said application interface description data based on the user input to the first server device via the client device.

39. The network system of claim 38, wherein said application control means obtains the application interface description data from the first server device.

40. The network system of claim 37, wherein said application control means obtains the application interface description data from a data base.

41. The network system of claim 36, wherein the application interface description data includes capabilities data for the second sever device, and wherein the application control means obtains the capabilities data from the application interface description data and updates said user interface data in the first home device using the capabilities data to allow command and control of the second sever device by a user via the user interface of the first server device displayed on the client device.

42. The network system of claim 36 further comprising two or more server devices each storing application interface description data in said structured format for commanding and controlling of said two or more server devices by one or more devices.

43. The network system of claim 42, wherein the application interface data in each of said two or more server devices includes capabilities data for the respective server device, and wherein the application control means obtains the capabilities data from the application interface data of said two of more server devices and updates said user interface in the first server device using said capabilities data to allow command and control of said two or more sever devices by a user via the user interface of the first server device displayed on the client device.

44. The network system of claim 42 wherein the application control means sends control and command data to said two or more server devices utilizing the application interface description data corresponding to each of said two or more server devices to control the operation of said two or more server devices.

45. The network system of claim 36 wherein said application interface description data includes remote procedure call information for the first server device to control the operation of the second server device.

46. The network system of claim 36 wherein the selected format includes HTML format.

47. The network system of claim 36 wherein the structured format includes XML format.