Home network control apparatus, home network service system using home network control apparatus and control method thereof

• US 8,682,361 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Jung-bum, Park, Ki-su
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US11/856,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20080233983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,381 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/419, 455/466, 713/171, 713/191, 380/279
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A home network service system using an SMS service, the home network service system including: a text message processor to receive a text message; and a home network control apparatus to control a home network device according to the text message by converting a control signal corresponding to the text message using a protocol compatible with the home network device and transmitting the converted control signal to the home network device. Accordingly, various types of home network devices can be easily controlled.

Claims

1. A home network service system comprising:

a text message processor to receive a text message including a control signal, the text message being sent from a transceiver having a sender number to a receiver number; and

a home network control apparatus to control a home network device according to the received text message by converting the control signal of the text message to a converted control signal using a protocol compatible with the home network device to be controlled and transmitting the converted control signal to the home network device,

wherein;

the home network control apparatus determines if the receiver number of the text message matches a registered number of the home network control apparatus, transmits the converted control signal to the home network device when the receiver number matches the registered number of the home network control apparatus, and does not transmit the converted control signal to the home network device when the receiver number does not match the registered number of the home network control apparatus, and

the home network control apparatus converts the control signal to correspond to command data matching the control signal of the text message using the protocol compatible with the home network device, the command data being selected from prestored command data.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the home network device comprises:

a receiver to receive the converted control signal corresponding to the command data matching the control signal of the text message; and

an operator to perform an operation on the home network device according to the received converted control signal.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the home network control apparatus controls the text message processor to send a response to the received text message.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the text message processor transmits a text message command list to an external apparatus such that a user prepares the text message, to be transmitted to the text message processor, based on the text message command list.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the text message command list comprises a location entry, a device name entry, a key entry, a setting value entry, or combinations thereof such that the user prepares the text message to include a value for each selected entry.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the home network control apparatus is at least one of a protocol transformer, a home network server, a short message service (SMS) processing system, and a home gateway.

7. A home network control apparatus to control a home network control device, the home network control apparatus comprising:

a storage unit to store a registered number, and command data to control the home network device, the command data having control signals corresponding to potential text message control signals;

a protocol converter to check the command data in the storage unit for matching command data corresponding to a text message received from an external apparatus, and to convert a control signal of the received text message to a control signal of the matching command data using a protocol compatible with the home network device; and

a communication unit to transmit the converted control signal to the home network device,

wherein the text message is sent from a transceiver having a sender number to a receiver number, the protocol converter converts the control signal when the receiver number and does not convert the control signal when the receiver number does not match the registered number.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a communication unit to transmit the converted control signal to the home network device.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the communication unit receives data relating to a status of a control operation performed by the home network device according to the converted control signal, and informs the external apparatus of the status based on the received data.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the communication unit transmits a text message command list to the external apparatus such that a user prepares the text message, to be received by the protocol converter, based on the text message command list.

11. A text message transceiver to control a home network device, the text message transceiver comprising:

a program download unit to download a home network control program;

a user interface (UI) provider to provide a UI to control the home network device according to the home network control program; and

a text message generator to generate a text message to control the home network device according to a control command input through the UI,

wherein a number of the text message transceiver is registered in a home network control apparatus and is used to authenticate the text message transceiver.

12. A text message transceiver to control a home network device, the text message transceiver comprising:

a user interface (UI) provider to provide a UI to receive a user input to control the home network device;

a text message generator to generate a text message to control the home network device according to the user input; and

a communication unit to transmit the text message to a home network service system of the home network device,

wherein;

the home network service system converts a control signal of the text message to a converted control signal using a protocol compatible with the home network device, and transmits the converted control signal to the home network device, and

a number of the text message transceiver is registered in a home network service system and is used to authenticate the text message transceiver.

13. The text message transceiver as claimed in claim 12, wherein the UI provider receives a text message command list and provides the UI according to the text message command list such that a user provides the user input based on the text message command list.

14. A home network service method comprising:

receiving a text message including a control signal to control a home network device from a text message transceiver, the text message being sent from a sender number to a receiver number;

converting the control signal of the received text message to a converted control signal using a protocol compatible with the home network device to be controlled; and

transmitting the converted control signal to the home network device,

wherein the converting and transmitting is performed when the receiver number matches a registered number and at least one of the converting and transmitting is not performed when the receiver number does not match the registered number.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the converting of the control signal comprises:

converting the control signal to correspond to command data matching the control signal of the text message using the protocol compatible with the home network device, the command data selected from prestored command data.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, in the home network device, the converted control signal corresponding to the command data matching the control signal of the text message; and

performing an operation on the home network device according to the received control signal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting a text message command list to the text message transceiver such that a user of the text message transceiver prepares the text message, to be transmitted, based on the text message command list.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, from the home network device, data relating to a status of a control operation performed by the home network device according to the converted control signal; and

informing the text message transceiver of the status based on the received data.

19. A method of controlling a home network device, the method comprising:

storing a registered number and command data to control the home network device, the command data having control signals corresponding to potential text message control signals;

checking the stored command data for matching command data that corresponds to a text message received from an external apparatus, the text message being sent from a sender number to a receiver number;

converting a control signal of the received text message to a control signal of the matching command data using a protocol compatible with the home network device; and

transmitting the converted control signal to the home network device,

wherein the converting and transmitting is performed when the receiver number matches the stored registered number and at least one of the converting and transmitting is not performed when the receiver number does not match the stored registered number.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting the converted control signal to the home network device.

21. A method of controlling a home network device with a text message transceiver, the method comprising:

downloading a home network control program to the text message transceiver;

providing a user interface (UI) to control the home network device according to the home network control program; and

generating a text message to control the home network device according to a control command input through the UI.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting the generated text message to a home network control apparatus that is connected to the home network device.

23. A method of controlling a home network device with a text message transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving a user input in the text message transceiver to control the home network device, the text message being sent from a sender number to a receiver number;

generating a text message according to the user input;

transmitting the generated text message to a home network control apparatus;

converting a control signal of the text message to a converted control signal using a protocol compatible with the home network device to be controlled; and

transmitting the converted control signal to the home network device,

wherein the converting and transmitting occur when the receiver number matches a stored registered number and at least one of the converting and transmitting does not occur when the receiver number does not match the stored registered number.

24. A system for controlling a home network device with a text message, the system comprising:

a text message transceiver comprising;

a user interface (UI) provider to provide a UI to receive a user input to control the home network device,

a text message generator to generate a text message to control the home network device according to the user input, and

a communication unit to transmit the text message, the text message being sent from a sender number to a receiver number; and

a home network service system connected to the home network device, the home network service system comprising;

a text message processor to receive the text message, and

a home network control apparatus to control the home network device according to the text message by converting a control signal of the text message to a converted control signal using a protocol compatible with the home network device to be controlled and transmitting the converted control signal to the home network device,

wherein the home network control apparatus performs the converting and the transmitting when the receiver number matches a stored registered number and does not perform at least one of the converting and transmitting when the receiver number does not match the stored registered number.