Information transmission system, information transmission method, electric device communication device, information communication device, communication control program

• US 7,464,157 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yoshiaki, Sadahira, Masafumi, Nakayama, Atsushi, Okude, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nissan; Barak
• Application Number:
  US10/544,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/224, 700/12, 714/4
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• 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 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/164 Adaptation or special uses of UDP protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An information transfer system includes an information panel which controls electrical equipment and includes a first transmission and reception section. The system also includes a server which is communicably connected via a network to the information panel and includes a second transmission and reception section and a trigger generation section which generates a communication request trigger for making a request to communicate with the information panel. The first transmission and reception section transmits information based on a UDP protocol periodically to the server, the second transmission and reception section receives the information based on the UDP protocol. When the communication request trigger is generated, the second transmission and reception section transmits request response information based on the UDP protocol or based on a TCP protocol to a transmission-origin address of the information.

Claims

1. An information transfer system comprising:

an electrical-equipment communication apparatus operable to communicate with electrical equipment; and

an information communication apparatus communicably connected, via a network, to the electrical-equipment communication apparatus,

wherein the electrical-equipment communication apparatus includes a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the information communication apparatus,

wherein the information communication apparatus includes;

a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus; and

a trigger generating means for generating a communication request trigger for requesting communication with the electrical-equipment communication apparatus,

wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus periodically transmits periodically-transmitted information including an address identifying a position, on the network, of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the address being sequentially switched, and the periodically-transmitted information being periodically transmitted to and received by the information communication apparatus based on a connectionless-type protocol,

wherein, the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus receives the periodically-transmitted information, and when the communication request trigger is generated by the trigger generating means, transmits request information based on the connectionless-type protocol, to a transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information, the request information indicating a request for obtaining, from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, state information indicating a state of the electrical-equipment at a time when the communication request trigger is generated,

wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus receives the request information transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, and transmits request-confirmation information based on the connection-type protocol to the information communication apparatus, the request-confirmation information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment, and

wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus receives the request-confirmation information transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, and transmits the request-response information based on the connection-type protocol to the transmission-origin address of the request-confirmation information, the request-response information indicating a content of a control for the electrical-equipment included in the communication-request trigger generated by the trigger generating means.

2. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus receives the request-response information, and transmits result information based on the connection-type protocol to the transmission-origin address of the request-response information.

3. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the information communication apparatus includes a server communicably connected, via the network, to the electrical-equipment communication apparatus.

4. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the information communication apparatus includes a server communicably connected, via the network, to the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, and includes an information terminal communicably connected, via the network, to the server;

the information terminal includes a transmitting means for transmitting the communication request trigger to the server;

the server includes a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus;

the transmitting and receiving means of the server receives the periodically-transmitted information, and, when receiving the communication request trigger, the transmitting and receiving means of the server transmits the request information based on the connectionless-type protocol, to the transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information, the request information indicating the request for obtaining, from the electrical-equipment apparatus, the state information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment at the time when the communication request trigger is generated;

the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus receives the request information transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the server, and transmits the request-confirmation information transmitted based on the connection-type protocol to the server, the request-confirmation information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment; and

the transmitting and receiving means of the server receives the request-confirmation information transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the electric-equipment communication apparatus, and transmits the request-response information based on the connection-type protocol to the transmission-origin address of the request-confirmation information, the request-response information indicating the content of the control for the electrical-equipment included in the communication-request trigger generated by the trigger generating means.

5. The information transfer system according to claim 4, wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the server receives result information, and transmits the result information as a result signal to the information terminal.

6. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein, at a time the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus receives the periodically-transmitted information, the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus transmits confirmation information based on (i) the connectionless-type protocol or (ii) the connection-type protocol, to the transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information.

7. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus receives (i) the request-response information based on the connectionless-type protocol or (ii) request information based on the connectionless-type protocol, transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, and at a time of receiving the request-response information or the request information, the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus transmits confirmation information based on (i) the connectionless-type protocol or (ii) the connection-type protocol.

8. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electrical-equipment communication apparatus is incorporated into the electrical equipment; and

the electrical-equipment communication apparatus controls the electrical equipment when the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus receives the request-response information based on (i) the connection-type protocol or (ii) the connectionless-type protocol.

9. The information transfer system according to claim 8, wherein when a state of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus or the state of the electrical equipment changes, the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus transmits change information associated with the electrical-equipment communication apparatus or the electrical equipment to the transmission-origin address of the request-response information based on (i) the connection-type protocol or (ii) the connectionless-type protocol.

10. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the electrical equipment includes a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information to and from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus; and

the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus receives the request-response information based on (i) the connection-type protocol or (ii) the connectionless-type protocol, and, at a time of receiving the request-response information, the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus transmits a control signal to the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical equipment.

11. The information transfer system according to claim 10, wherein:

the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical equipment transmits change information indicating a change in the state of the electrical equipment or a state of the electrical equipment communication apparatus, the change information being transmitted to the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus; and

when the state of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus or the electrical equipment changes, the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus transmits the change information associated with the electrical-equipment communication apparatus or the electrical equipment to the transmission-origin address of the request-response information based on (i) the connection-type protocol or (ii) the connectionless-type protocol.

12. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein according to a time from an establishment of a session to an opening of the session, the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus sets a time interval from the transmission of the periodically-transmitted information to a next transmission of the periodically-transmitted information.

13. The information transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus detects a time from an establishment of a session to an opening of the session, and, if the time is shorter than a predetermined time, then the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus notifies the electrical-equipment communication apparatus or the information communication apparatus that the time is shorter than the predetermined time.

14. An information transfer method in which an electrical-equipment communication apparatus communicates with electrical equipment, and an information communication apparatus is communicably connected, via a network, to the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the electrical-equipment communication apparatus including a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the information communication apparatus, the information communication apparatus including a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus and including a trigger generating means for generating a communication request trigger for requesting communication with the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the information transfer method comprising:

a first transmitting step, for the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, to periodically transmit periodically-transmitted information including an address identifying a position, on the network, of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the address being sequentially switched, and the periodically-transmitted information being periodically transmitted, to the information communication apparatus, based on a connectionless-type protocol;

a first receiving step, for the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, to receive the periodically-transmitted information periodically transmitted based on a connectionless-type protocol;

a trigger generating step for, the trigger generating means, to generate the communication request trigger;

a second transmitting step, for the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, to transmit request information based on the connectionless-type protocol to a transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information when the communication request trigger is generated in the trigger generating step, the request information indicating a request for obtaining from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, state information indicating a state of the electrical-equipment at a time when the communication request trigger is generated;

a second receiving step, for the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, to receive the request information transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus;

a third transmitting step, for the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, to transmit request-confirmation information based on the connection-type protocol, to the information communication apparatus, the request-confirmation information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment;

a third receiving step, for the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, to receive the request-confirmation information transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus; and

a fourth transmitting step, for the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, to transmit request-response information based on the connection-type protocol to a transmission-origin address of the request-confirmation information, the request-response information indicating a content of a control for the electrical-equipment included in the communication-request trigger generated by the trigger generating means.

15. An electrical-equipment communication apparatus communicably connected, via a network, to an information communication apparatus including a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, and including a trigger generating means for generating a communication request trigger for requesting communication, the electrical-equipment communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the information communication apparatus,

wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus periodically transmits periodically-transmitted information including an address identifying a position, on the network, of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the address being sequentially switched, and the periodically-transmitted information being periodically transmitted, to the information communication apparatus, based on a connectionless-type protocol, and

wherein, after the communication request trigger is generated, the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus (i) receives request information based on the connectionless-type protocol transmitted to a transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information by the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, the request information indicating a request for obtaining, from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, state information indicating a state of the electrical-equipment at a time when the communication request trigger is generated, (ii) transmits request-confirmation information based on the connection-type protocol to the information communication apparatus, the request-confirmation information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment, and (iii) receives request-response information based on the connection-type protocol transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus to the transmission-origin address of the request-confirmation information, the request-response information indicating a content of a control for the electrical-equipment included in the communication-request trigger generated by the trigger generating means.

16. An information communication apparatus communicably connected, via a network, to an electrical-equipment communication apparatus including a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information via the network, the information communication apparatus comprising:

a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus; and

a trigger generating means for generating a communication request trigger for requesting communication with the electrical-equipment communication apparatus,

wherein the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus receives periodically-transmitted information including an address identifying a position, on the network, of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the address being sequentially switched, and the periodically-transmitted information being periodically transmitted, from the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, based on a connectionless-type protocol, and

wherein, when the communication request trigger is generated by the trigger generating means, the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus (i) transmits request information based on the connectionless-type protocol to a transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information, the request information indicating a request for obtaining, from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, state information indicating a state of the electrical-equipment at a time when the communication request trigger is generated, (ii) receives request-confirmation information based on the connection-type protocol transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the request-confirmation information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment and (iii) transmits request-response information based on the connection-type protocol to the transmission-origin address of the request-confirmation information, the request-response information indicating a content of a control for the electrical-equipment included in the communication-request trigger generated by the trigger generating means.

17. A computer-readable recording medium having a communication control program recorded thereon, the communication control program for controlling an electrical-equipment communication apparatus communicably connected, via a network, to an information communication apparatus including a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, and including a trigger generating means for generating a communication request trigger for requesting communication, the communication control program causing the electrical-equipment communication apparatus to execute a method comprising:

transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the information communication apparatus;

periodically transmitting periodically-transmitted information including an address identifying a position, on the network, of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the address being sequentially switched, and the periodically-transmitted information being periodically transmitted, to the information communication apparatus, based on a connectionless-type protocol; and

after the communication request trigger is generated, receiving request information based on the connectionless-type protocol transmitted to a transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information by the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, the request information indicating a request for obtaining, from the electrical equipment communication apparatus, state information indicating a state of the electrical-equipment at a time when the communication request trigger is generated, transmitting request-confirmation information based on the connection-type protocol to the information communication apparatus, the request-confirmation information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment, and receiving request-response information based on the connection-type protocol transmitted to the transmission-origin address of the request-confirmation information by the transmitting and receiving means of the information communication apparatus, the request-response information indicating a content of a control for the electrical-equipment included in the communication-request trigger generated by the trigger generating means.

18. A computer-readable recording medium having a communication control program recorded thereon, the communication control program for controlling an information communication apparatus communicably connected, via a network, to an electrical-equipment communication apparatus including a transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving information, via the network, the communication control program causing the information communication apparatus to execute a method comprising:

transmitting and receiving information, via the network, to and from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus;

generating a communication request trigger for requesting communication with the electrical-equipment communication apparatus;

receiving periodically-transmitted information including an address identifying a position, on the network, of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the address being sequentially switched, and the periodically-transmitted information being periodically transmitted, from the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, based on a connectionless-type protocol; and

when the communication request trigger is generated, transmitting request information based on the connectionless-type protocol to a transmission-origin address of the periodically-transmitted information, the request information indicating a request for obtaining, from the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, state information indicating a state of the electrical-equipment at a time when the communication request trigger is generated, receiving request-confirmation information, based on the connection-type protocol, transmitted by the transmitting and receiving means of the electrical-equipment communication apparatus, the request-confirmation information indicating the state of the electrical-equipment, and transmitting request-response information based on the connection-type protocol to the transmission-origin address of the request-confirmation information, the request-response information indicating a content of a control for the electrical-equipment included in the communication-request trigger generated by the trigger generating means.