JP2006238226A - Home network system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct a home network system which achieves automatic registration of domestic electrical information equipment, simple communication connection and automatic information sharing between domestic electrical information equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The home network system includes a plurality of first domestic electrical information equipment E1 in which a first sub-system S1 is integrated, and second domestic electrical information equipment E2 in which a second sub-system S2 is integrated. The first sub-system S1 records management information such as group belonging information, terminal information and contents information relating to the first domestic electrical information equipment E1 in which the first sub-system itself is integrated, and the second sub-system S2 records management information relating almost all the first domestic electrical information equipment E1 belonging to the same home group as the second domestic electrical information equipment E2 in which the second sub-system itself is integrated. The above management information is automatically exchanged between the first domestic electrical information equipment E1 and the second domestic electrical information equipment E2, thereby automatic registration, simple communication connection and automatic information sharing are achieved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a home network system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a peer-to-peer home network system that can automatically register information home appliances in a system, automatically connect registered information home appliances, and share information.

  Currently, research and development related to home networks in the home is actively underway. By interconnecting various information appliances, including home information appliances and personal computers in the home, to operate information home appliances from a network outside the home and to promote sharing of content information held by information home appliances Yes.

  Particularly in the home network control access system via the Internet, the systems studied and proposed so far are basically of the client / server type in which a home server for device control is installed in the home or on the home network side. The system is mainstream, and it is a network system system that is centrally managed by its home server. (For example, see Non-Patent Document 1)

  FIG. 23 shows a configuration example of a conventional typical home network system. In the figure, HN is a home network, and this home network HN has a home server HSV, an information home appliance EA ′ (for example, CD player: Compact Disk player), an information home appliance EB ′ (for example, DVD player: Digital Versatile). Disk player), information home appliance EC ′ (for example, PDA: Personal Digital Assistance), and the like are communicably connected via the home server HSV. The home information appliances EA ′, EB ′, and EC ′ in the home network HN are connected to the Internet IN via the router R, and can communicate with the home information appliance E5 ′ in the local network LN3 outside the home network HN. is there.

DLNA Home Network, Yasutoshi Honda, Nikkei BP, Nikkei Bytes, November 28-33 (DLNA: Digital Living Network Alliance)

The following problems have arisen in home network systems and technologies that have been proposed so far to cross the network.
In the prior art, a DNS (Domain Name System) server that centrally manages information on information home appliances possessed by a user is required. By using a home server having this function, it has been convenient to access an IP (Internet Protocol) address of an information home appliance. However, the user has to purchase a home server having a DNS server function. In addition, if the home server cannot be used due to a network failure or failure, there is also a risk that other information home appliances cannot be used.

  In addition, the user has to perform many setting operations such as registering information on information home appliances in the server before use. When the user tries to connect from the information home appliance at hand to another information home appliance in the house, the user needs to input an IP address or a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). In such a system, it is particularly difficult to use a small device without an input device or a display device on a home network, and it is difficult for a general user who is not familiar with network knowledge to set up a home network. there were. Moreover, if the information home appliances can communicate directly with each other without going through a server, the transmission and reception of information becomes faster. Therefore, there has been a demand for the construction of a home network system without using a server.

  On the other hand, in the conventional method, since content information is searched at the time of searching, a server having a search engine is used for searching for information held by an information home appliance whose power is OFF and determining whether access is possible. It was necessary to provide. For this reason, there has been a demand for a technique capable of referencing content information and the like possessed by an information home appliance whose power is off without using a server.

  Further, in the conventional system, a server is required to provide a security function when used by individual family members. For this reason, it has been desired to add a security function that can refer to personal secret information, for example, information stored in one's own notebook computer in one's own room without knowing it, without using a server.

  In this way, in devices constituting a home network including information home appliances and personal computers, the user can register with the home network without setting any IP address or URL, router port forwarding, etc. It is desired that communication home appliances can be easily connected to each other via the Internet, and content information (referring to bibliographic information about content, not including content details) can be shared.

  The present invention builds a home network system that can automate registration of information home appliances to a home group, enables easy communication connection between information home appliances belonging to the same home group, and automatically share content information For the purpose. It is another object of the present invention to construct a peer-to-peer home network system that does not use a server and is easy for users to use. It is another object of the present invention to construct a home network system that can acquire content information of information home appliances whose power is turned off without using a server and can secure security for personal use.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the home network system according to claim 1 includes a plurality of first information appliances belonging to a common home group in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated, for example, as shown in FIG. Communication connection between the device E1, the second information home appliance E2 belonging to the common home group in which the second subsystem S2 is incorporated, and the plurality of first information home appliances E1 and the second information home appliances E2 Home network system composed of a network to be operated, and the first subsystem S1 includes subsystem information, group affiliation information, and terminal related to the first information home appliance E1 in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated Information, management information such as content information held by the first information home appliance E1 is recorded, and the first information home appliance E1 has a common home When connected to the home network HN related to the loop and turned on for the first time, the first home information appliance E1 is automatically connected to the second subsystem S2 of the common home group HN. Registering as belonging to the group, the second subsystem S2 records management information relating to almost all the first information home appliances E1 belonging to the common home group.

  Here, the home network is a network used by a home group, which is an individual group belonging to a global network such as that provided by a network provider, and typically refers to a home network. Internal network and private business office network are included. Further, the information home appliance includes a computer and a communication device used in a general home such as a personal computer and a portable terminal, in addition to a home appliance to which a computer and communication means are added. In addition, the first subsystem and the second subsystem are software, and are used by being incorporated in the first information home appliance and the second information home appliance constituting the home network system. It controls the system. Management information is information used for management control of information home appliances such as subsystem information, group affiliation information, terminal information, user information, content information (refers to bibliographic information of content, does not include content) Say. The number of second home information appliances belonging to the home group is typically one, but may be two or more, including a spare, or may be distributed and used in two or more. Moreover, almost all devices mean all devices except for exceptions such as failure and registration.

  With this configuration, the registration of information home appliances to the home network can be automated, and the IP address and URL registration work required for server use is not required, and a home network system that is easy for the user to use can be constructed.

  Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the home network system according to the first aspect, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the first sub-system S1 is a first sub-system in which the first sub-system S1 is incorporated. 1 information home appliance E1 is connected in the home network HN related to the common home group, and when the power is turned on, the first information home appliance E1 is connected in the home network HN, In addition, management information can be mutually exchanged with other first information home appliances E1 and second information home appliances E2 that belong to a common home group and are powered on, and can be connected to each other. When turned on, the first information home appliance E1 is connected to the outside of the home network HN via the second information home appliance E2 belonging to the common home group. Are, and belong to a common home group, the power mutual will exchange the first information home appliances E1 and mutually management information is ON, to allow communication connection.

  Here, the connection within the home network means that the connection is made to a network constructed in a home, office, facility, personal office, etc. independently of the Internet network. Means to be connected to the home network via the Internet network or via the Internet network. In addition, in the case of communication connection between the information home appliance in the home network and the information home appliance outside the network, in addition to the second information home appliance belonging to the network group, other second information belonging to the same home group You may go through home appliances. In addition, the subsystems exchange management information with each other and enable communication connection in the sense that the management information can be exchanged with each other and communication connection can be established by cooperation with the subsystem of the communication partner. is there. The same applies to the following claims. In addition, when communication connection is possible, if the first home information appliance that is a communication partner is specified (for example, an abbreviation of a terminal name is specified), the communication connection is automatically established and the communication connection becomes possible. Means.

  With this configuration, content information can be automatically shared from information home appliances in the home network with other information home appliances inside and outside the home network belonging to the same home group, and communication connection becomes possible. It is possible to construct a home network system that is easier for the user to use, such as peer-type, fast information transmission / reception, and the risk of equipment being unavailable due to server failure.

  Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the home network system according to the second aspect, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the first subsystem S1 includes a first subsystem in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated. When one information home appliance E1 is connected outside the home network HN related to the common home group and the power is turned on, the first information home appliance E1 is connected within the home network HN, In addition, the management information is mutually exchanged with other first information home appliances E1 which are connected to the inside and outside of the home network HN and are powered on via the second information home appliances E2 belonging to a common home group. Communication connection is possible.

  With this configuration, it is possible to easily connect to information home appliances that belong to the same home group inside and outside the home network from information home appliances that have moved outside the home network, and automatically share content information. From outside, a peer-to-peer home network system that is easier for the user to use can be constructed.

  In addition, the invention according to claim 4 is the home network system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which, for example, as shown in FIG. And the second information home appliance E2 connected in the home network HN related to the common home group is connected to the home network HN inside and outside the home network HN. Management information is mutually exchanged with the first information home appliance E1 in which is turned on, communication connection is possible, and the home belongs to a common home group via the second information home appliance E2. The first home information appliance E1 connected outside the network HN and powered on belongs to a common home group and the home network Is connected to the N out, power is mutual will exchange the first information home appliances E1 and mutually management information on, and mutually communicable connection.

  If comprised in this way, the information household appliances which belong to the same home group via the 2nd information household appliances will be easily connectable via the Internet, content information can be automatically shared, and the user can A home network system that is easier to use can be constructed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the home network system according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the first subsystem S1 includes the first subsystem S1. When the management information is exchanged with the first information home appliance E1, the management information of the first information home appliance E1 that is turned off is used as the first information home appliance E1 or the second information home appliance that is turned on. The second subsystem S2 is obtained via the device E2, and the second information home appliance E2 in which the second subsystem S2 is incorporated is turned off when the management information is exchanged. The management information of the information home appliance E1 is acquired via the first information home appliance E1 whose power is on.

  If comprised in this way, even if it does not use a server, the terminal information (status information: power supply ON / OFF) and content information of the information household appliances whose power supply is OFF are acquirable.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the home network system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first subsystem S1 is incorporated in the first subsystem S1. The first information home appliance E1 can be connected to only the second information home appliance E2 and the other first information home appliance E1 belonging to the same home group as the first information home appliance E1.

  If comprised in this way, the security regarding home network use, such as family use, can be ensured, without using a server.

  Further, in the invention described in claim 7, in the home network system described in any one of claims 1 to 6, for example, as shown in FIG. 20, a private group for personal use is set in the home group. The first information home appliance E1 can be connected to the removable devices SD1 to SD3 that specify the private group to which the first information home appliance E1 belongs. When connected to the removable devices SD1 to SD3, the first subsystem S1 The first information home appliance E1 in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated is replaced with the second information home appliance E2 and another first information home appliance belonging to the same private group as the first information home appliance E1. Communication connection is possible only with E1.

  Here, the removable device means a storage device that can be attached to and detached from an information home appliance such as an SD (Secure Digital) memory card, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) flash memory, and a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory). With this configuration, it is possible to ensure security for personal use without using a server.

  Moreover, Claim 8 and Claim 9 make 1st information household appliances E1 perform the function of 1st subsystem S1 corresponding to Claim 1 and Claim 3, respectively, and 1st information household appliances E1 Claim 10 is a readable program, and claim 10 is a second information home appliance E2 readable program corresponding to claim 4, which causes the second information home appliance E2 to execute the function of the second subsystem S2. is there.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, registration to the home group of information household appliances can be automated, and the home network system which is easy to use for a user can be constructed | assembled.
Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, information home appliances belonging to the same home group can be easily connected to each other, content information can be automatically shared, and a peer-to-peer type that does not use a server. A home network system that is easy for the user to use can be constructed. Moreover, according to another preferable aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain content information of an information home appliance whose power is off without using a server, and according to another preferable aspect of the present invention, Even without using a server, security for personal use can be secured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a home network system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, all members belonging to the home group can use the network. In the figure, HN is a home network (home network), and the home network HN includes an information home appliance EA (eg, a CD player), an information home appliance EB (eg, a DVD player), and an information home appliance EC (eg, a PDA). Etc. are communicably connected as their constituents. These information home appliances EA, EB, and EC each incorporate a first subsystem (Subsystem 1) S1. The information home appliance in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated is referred to as a first information home appliance E1. An information home appliance E2 (for example, a personal computer) is communicably connected to both the home network HN and the Internet IN, and the information home appliance E2 includes a second subsystem (Subsystem 2) S2. . The information home appliance in which the second subsystem S2 is incorporated is referred to as a second information home appliance E2. The Internet IN is connected to the first information home appliance E3 in the local network LN1, the first information home appliance E4 in the local network LN2, and the like so as to communicate with each other. These information home appliances E3 and E4 also incorporate the first subsystem S1. The two subsystems (first subsystem S1 and second subsystem S2) are implemented and provided as middleware, for example. The information home appliance includes a computer and a communication device used in a general home such as a personal computer and a portable terminal, in addition to a home appliance to which a computer and communication means are added.

  Compared with the conventional example of FIG. 23, there is no home server HSV, the information home appliance E2 is arranged at the position of the router R, the first sub-system S1 is placed in the information home appliance E1, and the second sub-station is placed in the information home appliance E2. The difference is that the system S2 is incorporated.

  The first subsystem S1 includes subsystem information, group affiliation information, terminal information (including address and status), user information, and contents related to the first information home appliance E1 in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated. Information (referring to bibliographic information of content, not including content) is recorded in the individual management information database PMDB of the first information home appliance E1. These pieces of information are collectively referred to as management information. This management information is referred to and used by the first subsystem S1 to manage and control the first information home appliance E1.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the individual management information database PMDB. The subsystem type (first / second distinction) and the subsystem identification number are recorded as the subsystem information, and the global group identification number, home group identification number, and personal group identification number are recorded as the group affiliation information. The information home appliance product name, terminal name, terminal abbreviation, terminal identification number, address, and status (power ON / OFF state) are recorded as information, and the user registration number, name, name abbreviation, and password are recorded as user information. As the content information, all the contents held by the first information home appliance E1 are first organized into folders according to folder names, and divided into contents according to content file names within each folder. Type (music, video, video, etc.), title, author, publication , Price, amount of data, content identification number, content providing device name, content providing device identification number (ID: Identification), content providing device address, registration date, the most recent date of use, and the like are recorded.

  A second subsystem S2 is incorporated in the information home appliance E2. The second subsystem S2 records management information related to the second information home appliance E2 in which the second subsystem S2 is incorporated in the individual management information database PMDB of the second information home appliance E2. The contents of this management information are the same as those related to the first information home appliance E1. Furthermore, the second subsystem S2 relates to almost all the first information home appliances E1 and second information home appliances E2 belonging to the same home group as the information home appliance E2 in which the second subsystem S2 is incorporated. Management information is recorded in the home group management information database HMDB. These pieces of management information are referred to and used by the second subsystem S2 to manage and control the second information home appliance E2.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the home group management information database HMDB. In this example, an individual management information identification number is assigned to each individual management information database PMDB, and these are collected.

  When the user purchases, for example, the information home appliance EC in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated, connects to the home network HN, and turns on the power for the first time, the first subsystem S1 becomes active. The second subsystem S2 in the home network HN is automatically searched. The search is performed by sequentially accessing each information home appliance connected to the home network HN and collating the subsystem type in the individual management information database PMDB. Normally, the second information home appliances E2 are arranged one by one in the home network HN, and the power is always turned on. Therefore, the second information home appliances E2 always reach the second subsystem S2 incorporated in the information home appliances E2.

  Next, the individual management information database PMDB of the information home appliance EC is set. The subsystem type and subsystem identification number are automatically set when the subsystem is installed. As for the global group identification number and the home group identification number, the second subsystem S2 automatically transfers the same identification number as itself from its own individual management information database PMDB. Although the personal group identification number field is initially blank, the personal group identification number field can be input when the user starts up by connecting a removable device to the information home appliance EC. For example, the user's name abbreviation (for example, kt) can be input from the input means (keyboard, mouse, etc.). ), The second subsystem S2 refers to the home group management information database HMDB and extracts and assigns a personal group identification number associated with the same name abbreviation.

  As for the address, the second subsystem S2 refers to the address of each information home appliance adjacent to the information home appliance EC, determines the address of the information home appliance EC, and automatically assigns the number. The terminal status information is recorded as ON at the time of setting corresponding to the power ON / OFF of the information home appliance EC. The information home appliance name, terminal name, and terminal abbreviation can be input by the user from the input means of the information home appliance EC, but the information home appliance name and terminal name may be selected from a pull-down menu. As for the terminal identification number, the second subsystem S2 refers to the home group management information database HMDB and automatically assigns appropriate serial numbers, for example, but the user can rewrite it from the input means of the information home appliance EC. The user registration number, name, name abbreviation, and password are assigned by the second subsystem S2 by extracting the user registration number of the user having the same name abbreviation from its own individual management information database PMDB.

  The content information is initially empty, and can be input from the input unit of the information home appliance EC when the user acquires the content. When acquiring content from the Internet, it is convenient if content information such as content number, content type, title, author, publisher, price, and data volume can be acquired at the time of content distribution. May be used. As the content number, for example, it is preferable to use a number that is given uniformly in Japan and overseas, but the user may freely assign a number. The folder name and content file name are automatically given the name of the folder and content file for recording the content. Further, the first subsystem S1 automatically acquires or generates a content identification number, a content providing device name, a content providing device identification number (ID: Identification), and a content providing device address, and writes the registration date as the content. Is acquired, and the latest use date is automatically updated every time the content is used.

  Note that the first information home appliance E3 removed from the home network HN and outside the home network HN has an IP address as an address when accessing the second subsystem S2 of the home group from outside the home network HN. And an access log such as a communication start time and an end time is recorded.

  Further, the first information home appliance E1 has a home group management information database HMDB that records management information related to the first information home appliance E1 that belongs to the home group and exists inside and outside the home network HN. This configuration is the same as the management information database HMDB of the second information home appliance E2, and, as will be described later, the management of the first information home appliance E1 and the second information home appliance E2 belonging to the home group. The contents are recorded and updated by exchanging information. This management information is also referred to and used by the first subsystem S1 to manage and control the first information home appliance E1.

  Next, the first information home appliance EC is automatically registered in the second subsystem S2 of the same home group as belonging to the home group. Furthermore, it is registered in the first subsystem S1 in the same home group.

  FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show examples of registration processing flow of the first information home appliance. FIG. 4 shows an example of a processing flow as viewed from the first subsystem S1, FIG. 4A shows a flowchart, and FIG. 4B shows signal exchange between the subsystems S1 and S2. FIG. 5 shows an example of the processing flow as viewed from the second subsystem S2. FIG. 5A shows a flowchart, and FIG. 5B shows signal exchange between the subsystems S1 and S2. In the drawings, hereinafter, as a typical example, the home network may be referred to as a home network, and the outside of the home network may be referred to as an external network.

First, the first home information appliance EC is automatically registered as belonging to the home group in the second subsystem S2 of the common home group.
The first subsystem S1 transmits a registration request to the second subsystem S2 (step S101), and the second subsystem S2 receives the registration request (step S201). At this time, for example, a subsystem identification number (s1001 in FIG. 2) is used as a unique identifier of the first subsystem S1, and the second subsystem S2 can recognize the request source. Next, when a communication procedure is established between the first subsystem S1 and the second subsystem S2, registration data from the first subsystem S1 to the second subsystem S2, that is, the contents of the individual management information database PMDB ( 2) is transmitted and stored in the home group management information database HMDB of the second subsystem S2 (step S202). Thereby, registration of the management information related to the information home appliance EC in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated into the second subsystem S2 is completed. Also at this time, the subsystem identification number is used as a unique identifier of the first subsystem S1, and the second subsystem S2 can recognize the data transmission source.

Next, the first subsystem S1 (related to the information home appliance EC) acquires management information from the second subsystem S2.
The second subsystem S2 returns a response to the first subsystem S1 (step S203), and the first subsystem S1 receives the response (step S102). Next, the contents of the home group management information database HMDB (see FIG. 3) are not connected to the home network HN from the second subsystem S2 to the first subsystem S1 (the contents of the HN will be described later). ) The individual management information (including the IP address) of the first information home appliance E3 is transmitted. As a result, the information home appliance EC incorporating the first subsystem S1 incorporates the second subsystem. Communication connection with the 1st information household appliances E3 outside the home network HN is attained via the 2nd information household appliances E2. The information home appliance EC records and stores the individual management information (including the IP address) received from the second subsystem S2 in its own home group management information database HMDB (step S103).

Next, the first subsystem S1 (related to the information home appliance EC) registers with the other first subsystem S1 in the common home group, and exchanges management information between the first subsystems S1. Hold on.
The first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance EC automatically searches for another first subsystem S1 in the home network HN. This is performed by sequentially accessing the first information home appliance E1 connected to the home network HN and collating the subsystem type in the individual management information database PMDB, for example.

  When another first subsystem S1 is found, management information is exchanged with each other. First, a registration request is transmitted to another first subsystem S1 incorporated in another information home appliance E1 connected in the home network (step S104), and the other first subsystem S1 Receive a registration request. At this time, for example, a subsystem identification number (s1001 in FIG. 2) is used as a unique identifier of the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance EC, and the other first subsystem S1 has a request source. Can be recognized. Next, when a communication procedure is established between these first subsystems S1, registration data from the first subsystem S1 to other first subsystems S1, that is, the contents of the individual management information database PMDB (see FIG. 2) Is transmitted and stored in the home group management information database HMDB of the other first subsystem S1. Thereby, registration of the management information related to the information home appliance EC in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated into the other first subsystem S1 is completed. Also at this time, the subsystem identification number is used as a unique identifier of the first subsystem S1, and the other first subsystem S1 can recognize the data transmission source.

  Next, the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the first information home appliance EC receives a registration request from the other first subsystem S1 (step S105), and management from the other first subsystem S1. Information is acquired and stored in its own home group management information database HMDB (step S106).

  In this way, the management information is sequentially exchanged with other first subsystems S1 existing in the same home network. As a result, the home group management information database HMDB belongs to the same home group. Management information of almost all first information home appliances E1 inside and outside the home network HN is stored, so to speak, it functions as a list that covers the first subsystem S1. In the management information exchange (steps S104 to S106), the other first subsystem S1 may be sequentially performed through steps S104 to S106. After the steps of S104 are sequentially performed, Steps S105 to S106 may be performed sequentially.

  In this way, the first subsystem S1, the second subsystem, and the first subsystem S1 belonging to the same home group exchange management information including content information with each other. Therefore, by incorporating the first and second subsystems into the information home appliance, the user does not need to input a special device such as the home server HSV, IP address, or URL, and includes the content information in the home group. Share information. In addition, by exchanging management information in this way, the peer-to-peer type that does not use a server, the transmission and reception of information is fast, and the risk of equipment being unavailable due to a server failure is distributed. Can build an easy-to-use home network system.

  Here, the second subsystem S2 is briefly touched. The second subsystem S2 is a subsystem placed at a position corresponding to the conventional router. That is, when the first home information appliance E3 in which the first subsystem S1 belonging to the same home group is incorporated moves outside the home network HN, the registered content (home group identification number) when it is in the home network HN ) Recognize that the information home appliance E3 belongs to the same home group, and when the home information appliance E3 makes a connection request to the second subsystem S2 from outside the home network HN, the home network HN Communication connection with other 1st information household appliances E1 inside and outside is enabled. As a result, the first home information appliance E1 belonging to the home group relays the second subsystem S2 regardless of whether it is inside or outside the home network HN, and inside and outside the home network HN belonging to the same home group. Access to the other first information home appliance E1 can be performed. Due to such a function of the second subsystem S2, when the second subsystem S2 is introduced, the management information in the home group can be shared seamlessly across the networks inside and outside the home network HN.

  FIG. 6 shows a concept of mutual exchange of management information between information home appliances using a cache memory. The first information home appliance E1 (EA to EC) and the second information home appliance E2 are connected in the home network HN, the first information home appliance E4 is in the local network LN2 outside the home network HN, and the Internet IN Can communicate with the second information home appliance E2. Within the home network HN, the first information home appliances E1 (EA to EC) can exchange management information with each other by the cooperative action of the first subsystem S1, and each first information home appliance E1 ( EA to EC) and the second home information appliance E2 can exchange management information with each other by the cooperative action of the first subsystem S1 and the second subsystem S2. In addition, since the first information home appliance E4 outside the home network HN belongs to the same home group as the information home appliances EA to EC, the first sub-system S1 and the second sub-system S2 cooperate to perform the second operation. Management information can be exchanged with the first information home appliance E1 (EA to EC) in the home network HN via the home information appliance E2. The exchanged management information is stored in the home group management information database HMDB in the cache memory. It should be noted that the management information of the first information home appliance E1 whose power is off is the first information home appliance E1 or the second information home appliance E2 whose power is off when the power is on. It can be acquired by exchanging with the management information acquired from one information home appliance E1.

  Information obtained by exchanging management information such as content file names, terminal names, and terminal states between the first subsystems S1 or between the first subsystem S1 and the second subsystem S2 as described above. Is stored in the home group management information database HMDB in the cache memory. Since the subsystems S1 and S2 pass management information of the other subsystems S1 and S2 together with their own management information, the subsystems S1 and S2 can know the terminal state of the information home appliance with the power off and the presence of content. You do not need to receive your management information from others. Therefore, by referring to these pieces of management information, it is possible to determine whether to access each information home appliance and whether to download the content. There may be cases where a plurality of information devices have the same content.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which management information is exchanged between the information home appliances EA to EC. By the action of the first subsystem S1, management information is exchanged between the information home appliances EA, EB, and EC whose power is on. By exchanging the management information in the individual management information database PMDB, the management information of the three information home appliances EA to EC in the home group is stored in each home group management information database HMDB. FIG. 7 shows a situation in which device information (terminal name), status information (ON / OFF status), and content information (content file name) are shared among the management information. In the figure, A, B, etc. in () of the content information indicate that the home appliance information device EA, EB, etc. has the content. A high-speed cache memory is used for the individual management information database PMDB and the home group management information database HMDB, and high-speed data exchange is performed.

  8 and 9 show examples of operation screens in the home network system. FIG. 8 is an example in which a list of information home appliances such as a car navigation system and HDDR (High Density Digital Recorder) is displayed on the operation screen of the first information home appliance E1 (EA, EB, EC) operated by the user. This operation screen is displayed in common on the information home appliances EA, EB, and EC. Product names of the first information home appliance E1 and the second information home appliance E2 belonging to the home group are displayed. Among these, devices that can be accessed when the power is on are displayed brightly, and devices that cannot be accessed when the power is off are displayed. The display is dark, and the user can select an access destination from a device accessible by a touch panel or the like. When a device that cannot be accessed is powered on, the display changes brightly and becomes accessible.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which a list of music contents is displayed on the operation screen of the first information home appliance operated by the user. This operation screen is also displayed in common on the information home appliances EA, EB, EC. Music content (content file name, amount of data) of the home group such as Music1 is displayed. Among them, the information home appliance is turned on, the accessible music content is displayed brightly, and the information home appliance is turned off. The inaccessible music content is displayed darkly, and the user can select an access target from the accessible music content with a touch panel or the like. This is an example in which the content type is music, but the same operation screen can be displayed for images and moving images. When content increases due to recording or ripping, the content is added to the content list in real time. When a device that cannot be accessed is turned on, the display changes brightly and becomes accessible.

  FIG. 10 shows a state in which the power supply of the EB is turned off among the information home appliances EA to EC. At this time, in the home group management information database HMDB of the information home appliances EA and EC, the state information (terminal state) of the first information home appliance EB changes to OFF.

  FIG. 11 shows a state where the first information home appliance ED is added to the information home appliances EA to EC and the power supply is turned on. At this time, management information is exchanged between the information home appliances EA and EC and the information home appliance ED, and the management information of the information home appliances ED is stored in the home group management information database HMDB of the information home appliances EA and EC. Management information of the information home appliances EA, EB, EC is stored in the home group management information database HMDB of the information home appliance ED. Content owned by the information home appliance ED is added to the content information in the figure.

  In this way, the first information home appliance E1 has the home group management information database HMDB in the cache memory, so that the information home appliance EC and the information home appliance ED are not present at the time of the home network at the same time. The state of the information home appliance EC is transmitted to the information home appliance ED, and by referring to the terminal state of each information home appliance, it is possible to easily and quickly determine whether to access the information home appliance. The operation screen is displayed in common on the information home appliances EA, EB, and ED. The information home appliance EB stores management information when the power is turned off, and exchanges management information again with other information home appliances when the power is turned on.

  FIG. 12 shows a processing flow of content download in each first information home appliance E1. FIG. 12A is a processing flow diagram of content download, and FIG. 12B is a content download permission determination table. First, the first information home appliance E1 exchanges management information with the other first information home appliance E1 and the second information home appliance E2 in the home network HN, and the home group management information database of its own cache memory The acquired management information is stored in the HMDB (step S701). Next, device information (terminal name), status information (terminal status), and content information (content file name) are extracted from its own home group management information database HMDB (step S702), and a content download availability determination table is created (step S702). Step S703). In the content download enable / disable determination table, items of content file name, terminal name, and download determination are recorded for each content, and the determination result is recorded as Yes or No in the download determination column. Here, in the download determination, the content owned by the user is not downloaded. If the terminal status information is OFF, it is determined that the download is impossible. Every time the state information (terminal state) changes, the processes in steps S701 to S703 are repeated.

When a content download request is made by the user (step S704), the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the requested first information home appliance E1 refers to the content download availability determination table and downloads the target content. Is determined (step S705). If the download determination column is Yes, the content download is started (step S706), and if the download determination column is No, a download impossible notification is sent to the requested first information home appliance E1 (step S707). .
In this way, the first information home appliance E1 has the content download availability determination table in the cache memory, and by referring to this, it is possible to easily and quickly determine whether the target content can be downloaded.

In FIG. 13, the first home information appliance E3 in which the first subsystem S1 that was in the home network HN is incorporated is connected to the local network LN1 outside the home network, and from there, the first home appliance H3 in the home network HN 1 shows a concept of connection to one information home appliance EC. This is also a diagram for explaining security in the present network system.
FIG. 14 shows signal exchange at that time.

  The information home appliance E3 is first turned on in the home network HN, and at that time, the information home appliance E3 exchanges management information with the second information home appliance E2 in the home network HN, thereby The second subsystem S2 incorporated in the information home appliance E2 recognizes that the information home appliance E3 belongs to the same home group. Then, the information home appliance E3 in the home network HN is disconnected from the home network HN, connected to the local network LN1 outside the home network, and the first sub-unit incorporated in the information home appliance E3 when the power is turned on. The system S1 automatically searches for the second subsystem S2 incorporated in the information home appliance E2, and accesses it by indicating its own subsystem identification number, for example. The second subsystem S2 can recognize that the information home appliance E3 belongs to the same home group by referring to the home group identification number of the information home appliance E3 in its home group management information database HMDB. The device E3 is allowed to exchange management information. At this time, the second subsystem S2 acquires the IP address of the first information home appliance E3 and registers it in its home group management information database HMDB. Thereafter, the second subsystem S2 refers to this IP address and allows the information home appliance E3 to connect to the first information home appliance E1 in the home network HN via the second information home appliance E2. . As a result, the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance E3 is only for the first subsystem belonging to the same home group and the first information home appliance E1 and second belonging to the group. The content information of the information home appliance E2 can be disclosed.

  The second information home appliance E2 and the first information home appliance E3 connected to the local network LN1 are connected to the local network LN2 via the Internet IN, and the information home appliance not belonging to the home group to which the user belongs. It is also possible to communicate with E6. However, the information home appliance E6 makes a connection request to the first information home appliance E1 in the home network HN to the second information home appliance E2 directly or via the first information home appliance E3. Since the second home information appliance E2 is not registered as belonging to the home group, the connection request is rejected. Thus, in this network system, only those belonging to the home group are allowed to access the home network HN, and the security of the home network HN is maintained.

  Next, a processing flow of connection from the first information home appliance E3 incorporating the first subsystem S1 connected to the local network LN1 to the information home appliance E1 in the home network HN will be described.

  FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show an example of a connection processing flow from the outside of the home network of the first information home appliance. FIG. 15 is an example of a processing flow viewed from the first subsystem S1, FIG. 15A shows a flowchart, and FIG. 15B shows signal exchange between the subsystems S1 and S2. FIG. 16 shows an example of a processing flow as viewed from the second subsystem S2. FIG. 16A shows a flowchart, and FIG. 16B shows signal exchange between the subsystems S1 and S2.

  First, the first home information appliance E3 in which the first subsystem S1 is incorporated is connected to the local network LN outside the home network HN (step S301). The first subsystem S1 on the local network LN already holds the management information of the second subsystem S2 of the same home group in its own home group management information database HMDB, and refers to the address information. The second subsystem S2 of the same home group can be accessed. The first subsystem S1 transmits a connection request to, for example, the first information home appliance EA in which the first subsystem S1 in the home network HN is incorporated in the second subsystem S2 in the home network HN. (Step S302), the second subsystem S2 receives the connection request (Step S401). At this time, for example, a subsystem identification number (s1001 in FIG. 2) is used as a unique identifier of the first subsystem S1, and this subsystem identification number is assigned to the second subsystem as that of the first subsystem S1. Since it is registered in the home group management information database HMDB of S2 (step S402), the second subsystem S2 can recognize the request source. That is, the home group management information database HMDB of the second subsystem S2 functions as a connection permission list.

  The second subsystem S2 records the management information of almost all the first information home appliances E1 in the home network HN in its home group management information database HMDB, and the management information of the information home appliances E3 Also, management information of the information home appliance EA is included. The second subsystem S2 refers to the terminal information (address, state) of the information home appliance E3, determines whether connection is possible, and responds to the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance E3 (step) S303). That is, if the IP address of the information home appliance E3 matches the IP address registered in its own home group management information database HMDB and the terminal state is ON, it is determined that connection is possible, and the IP address is If they do not match or the power is OFF, it is determined that connection is impossible (step S403). In the case of notification of connection possible, the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance E3 refers to the address information of the information home appliance EA already recorded in its own home group management information database HMDB. Thus, communication connection with the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance EA is possible via the information home appliance E2, and the management information of the home group management information database HMDB held by the information home appliance EA can be shared. The content held by the information home appliance EA can also be acquired (step S304). Then, the information home appliance E2 acquires management information related to the information home appliance E3 while being connected to the information home appliance E3, and stores it in its own home group management information database HMDB (step S404). In addition, when the connection impossible notification is given, the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance E3 cannot access the information home appliance EA, but the home group management information database held by the information home appliance EA. The management information of HMDB can be acquired from the first subsystem S1 incorporated in another first information home appliance E1 (EB, EC) (step S305).

  FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show an example of the flow of processing for monitoring the connection of information home appliances from outside the home network. FIG. 17 is an example of a processing flow viewed from the first subsystem S1, FIG. 17A shows a flowchart, and FIG. 17B shows signal exchange between the subsystems S1 and S2. FIG. 18 shows an example of a processing flow as viewed from the second subsystem S2. FIG. 18A shows a flowchart, and FIG. 18B shows signal exchange between the subsystems S1 and S2.

  The first subsystem S1 incorporated in the first information home appliance E3 on the local network LN has already stored the management information of the subsystem S2 in the home network HN in its home group management information database HMDB. Referring to the address information, a connection maintenance request is transmitted to the second subsystem S2 belonging to the same home group (step S501), and the second subsystem S2 receives the connection maintenance request (step S601). The second subsystem S2 refers to its own connection history and determines whether or not a connection maintenance request from the first subsystem S1 is periodically made (step S602), and is periodically made. If it has been registered, the connection to the information home appliance E3 is maintained based on the address information (IP address) of the information home appliance E3 registered in its home group management information database HMDB (step S603). The connection maintenance response is sent to the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance E3, and the first subsystem S1 receives the response (step S502). Then, the information home appliance E3 on the local network LN and the information home appliance EA in the home network HN can continue to share files (steps S503 and S603). If the connection maintenance request is not made periodically, the second subsystem S2 sets to reject the connection from the first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance E3 into the home network HN. This is performed (step S604). The first subsystem S1 incorporated in the information home appliance E3 cannot receive a response from the subsystem S2 (step S502) and cannot access the information home appliance EA, but the home group management information database held by the information home appliance EA The management information of HMDB can be acquired from the first subsystem S1 incorporated in another first information home appliance E1 (EB, EC) (step S504).

  FIG. 19 shows a hierarchical structure of the information home appliance group. The top hierarchy is a global group, and a plurality of home groups are provided in the global group, and a plurality of private groups are provided in the home group. A home group is a group used by an individual group, and typically includes home information appliances used by families. A private group is a group used by an individual, and typically includes an information home appliance used by the individual.

  The global group is a group to which all the first subsystems S1 and all the second subsystems S2 have joined in the initial state, and the global network is a network provided by a network provider, for example. A global group identification number is provided as an identification number unique to the global group. Unless there is a particular restriction, all information home appliances that share a global group identification number can communicate with each other, and content information can be shared.

  A home group is an individual group belonging to a global network. The group is typically used by a family, but includes a group used in an office, a group used in a facility, a group used in a private office, and the like. A home group identification number is provided as an identification number unique to the home group. When the first information home appliance E1 is connected to the home network HN and turned on for the first time, the home group identification number is automatically assigned by the cooperative action of the first and second subsystems S1 and S2. The self management information as belonging to the home group is automatically registered in the home group management information database HMDB of the second information home appliance E2 in the home group, and the power is turned on in the home group. It is automatically registered in the home group management information database HMDB of a certain first information home appliance E1. In addition, the management information of the first information home appliance E1 and the second information home appliance E2 belonging to the home group is automatically recorded in its own home group management information database HMDB. Further, when the power is turned on and a home group does not exist, a new home group identification number is given.

In this way, by sharing the home group identification number, it is possible to determine whether access is possible based on the home group identification number, enabling communication limited to the home group, and limiting to the home group. Content can be shared and security is maintained.
Even in this case, the entire global group can be used. Global groups can share application programs and advertisement content files. For example, copyright-free content data is provided in common.

  In this embodiment, the use of a private group is not mentioned, and one example will be described in the next embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, there is no need for a private group identification number.

  The private group is typically a group used by an individual and has a private group identification number as an identification number unique to the private group. By sharing the private group identification number, as will be described later, by using a removable device such as an SD memory card, communication limited to the private group becomes possible, and content is shared only within the private group. Yes, private group security is maintained.

  FIG. 20 shows a configuration example of a home network system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the network is used only for private groups. A removable device such as an SD memory card is attached to the first information home appliances E1 (EA to EC) in the home network HN and the first information home appliances E4 and E5 connected to the local network LN outside the home network HN. By inserting and starting, it becomes possible to perform communication limited to the first information home appliance E1 (EB, EC, E5) having the SD memory card inserted and sharing the private group identification number. Content can be shared only within. The private group identification number is recorded on the SD memory card. The private group identification number fields of the individual management information database PMDB and the home group management information database HMDB of each first information home appliance E1 are left blank when no SD card is inserted, and an SD memory card is inserted. It is acquired from the SD memory card when it is activated, and is erased when the SD memory card is removed and activated or when the power is turned off. In this way, the first information home appliance E1 is normally used in the home group, and can be used in the private group when the SD memory card is inserted and activated.

  FIG. 21 shows the concept of building a private group. When an SD memory card is inserted into the first information home appliance E1, for example, EB, EC, E5, and activated, the private group identification number recorded on the SD memory card is assigned to each individual management information database PMDB in the home group and each It is recorded in the private group identification number column of the home group management information database HMDB, and a private group is constructed. As a result, the first information home appliances EB, EC, and E5 that share the private group identification number can be connected to each other, and content can be shared. However, the first information home appliance having no SD memory card and the private group identification number is not attached to the first information home appliance having a different private group identification number and the private group even if the SD memory card is inserted. Communication home appliances EB and EC belonging to the network cannot be connected, and content sharing is also impossible. At this time, the search query of the information home appliance is also delivered only to the information home appliance belonging to the private group, and not to the information home appliance not belonging to the private group.

  FIG. 22 shows an example of a processing flow for constructing a private group. First, a home group is created (step S801), and information sharing is started within the home group (step S802). The above is realized by the processing flow of FIGS. Next, it is determined whether or not a removable device such as an SD memory card storing private identification information exists in the home network HN (step S803). If it exists, a private group is created between the first information home appliances E1 to which a removable device that shares private identification information is connected (step S804), and information sharing is started within the private group (step S804). S805). If it does not exist, nothing is displayed in the in-group information device list (see FIG. 8) or the shared content list (see FIG. 9) on the operation screen of the first information home appliance E1. That is, only the terminal in which the SD memory card in which the private identification number is written is inserted into the private group corresponding to the private identification number and belongs. Therefore, the user perceives that the private group cannot be created by displaying nothing about the information home appliance. (Step S806).

  When an SD memory card in which a private identification number is not described (not initialized) is inserted into the first information home appliance E1, a private identification number is automatically generated by the action of the first subsystem S1. Is done. The generated private identification number is transferred to the SD memory card or another SD memory card, or the private identification number is input to the SD memory card from the operation screen. Information home appliances E1 can be increased.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a plurality of second subsystems S2 are used. The second subsystem S2 has a function of registering a plurality of second subsystems S2. If the second subsystem S2B is registered in the second subsystem S2A (the IP address of the subsystem S2B is set from the operation screen and setting file related to the subsystem S2A), the second subsystem S2A is used. Information can also be shared through the global group even between the first subsystem S1B using the one subsystem S1A and the subsystem S2B. Therefore, if registration is performed between the plurality of second subsystems S2A to S2N, the plurality of second subsystems S2A to S2N and the first subsystems S1A to S1N using them belong. Information can be shared globally by multiple home groups.

  Even in this case, since each home group can be identified in the first subsystem S1 of each first information home appliance E1, a group that is not used as a group for exchanging information among a plurality of home groups (groups A to N). It is also possible to make it selectable.

  As described above, according to the present invention, registration of information home appliances to a home group can be automated, and an IP address and URL registration work required for server use is not required, and the user can use the home network system easily. Can be built. Further, according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, information home appliances belonging to the same home group can be easily connected to each other, content information can be automatically shared, and a peer-to-peer type that does not use a server. It is possible to construct a home network system that is easier for the user to use, such as fast transmission / reception of information and the risk of disabling devices due to server failures. Moreover, according to another preferable aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain content information of an information home appliance whose power is off without using a server, and according to another preferable aspect of the present invention, Even without using a server, security for personal use can be secured.

  In addition, the user's expense can be suppressed and the same feeling as the conventional Internet setting can be maintained. That is, the user buys and connects a broadband router or the like incorporating the second subsystem S2, such as a car navigation system, HDDR, or DTV (Digital TeleVision) incorporating the first subsystem S1, as before. You can easily share information. And, it becomes possible to seamlessly shift to home networks where information home appliances are the main, from the Internet feeling that was mainly PCs so far.

  In addition, the present invention is a program for causing the first information home appliance E1 to execute the function of the first subsystem S1, and as a program for causing the second information home appliance E2 to execute the function of the second subsystem S2. It is feasible. Each program is used by being incorporated in the first information home appliance E1 or the second information home appliance. The program may be recorded on the internal memory or hard disk of the computer unit of the first information home appliance E1 or the second information home appliance, or may be recorded on a CD-ROM or DVD and installed in the computer unit. It may be supplied so that it can be downloaded from the Internet to the computer unit.

  Although the embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, it is obvious that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the subsystems S1 and S2 are incorporated in the information home appliances E1 and E2 in advance has been described. However, after the information home appliances E1 and E2 are purchased, the subsystems S1 and S2 are installed. May be. Moreover, although the above embodiment demonstrated the example which exchanges the management information between the 1st information household appliances E1 connected in the home network directly between the 1st information household appliances E1, Separately or in combination, management information may be exchanged with each other via the second home information appliance E2 of the same home group.

  Further, as an example of using a plurality of second subsystems S2, the example in which the third embodiment is used in a plurality of home groups has been described. However, between the plurality of second subsystems S2 belonging to the same home group, Management information can be exchanged, and these may be arranged at various places outside the home network HN and connected via these. Further, a plurality of second subsystems S2 may be used, and the first information home appliance that is duplicated, used for time sharing, used as a spare, or distributed and managed may be used separately.

  Various configurations of the individual management information database PMDB and the home group management information database HMDB are also possible. For example, the private group identification number may be excluded from the configuration of the home group management information database HMDB of the first embodiment. In addition to ON and OFF, status information may be busy. In this case, for example, busy can be processed in the same manner as ON, and can be used as a reference when the user accesses the information home appliance. As for the use of private groups, it is possible to determine whether or not each first subsystem S1 can access by referring to both the home group identification number and the private group identification number in the configuration of the first embodiment. May be.

  The present invention is used in a home network system, in particular, a peer-to-peer home network system capable of automatic registration in the system, automatic connection between registered home information appliances, and information sharing.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the home network system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the separate management information database PMDB. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the home group management information database HMDB. It is a figure which shows the example of a registration processing flow of the 1st information household appliances seen from the 1st subsystem. It is a figure which shows the example of a registration processing flow of the 1st information household appliances seen from the 2nd subsystem. It is a figure which shows the concept of the mutual exchange of the management information between information household appliances using a cache memory. It is a figure which shows the state which is exchanging management information between information household appliances. It is a figure which shows the example which displayed the list | wrist of information equipment on the operation screen of the 1st information household appliances. It is a figure which shows the example which displayed the list of the music content on the operation screen of the 1st information household appliances. It is a figure which shows the state by which the power supply of EB was turned off among information household appliances. It is a figure which shows the state by which ED was added to the information household appliances and the power supply was turned ON. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the content download in each 1st information household appliances. It is a figure which shows the concept which the 1st information household appliances which existed in the home network connect to the 1st information household appliances in a home network from the outside of a home network. It is a figure which shows the exchange of a signal when the 1st subsystem which existed in the home network connects to the 1st subsystem in a home network from the outside of a home network. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection processing flow from the home network of the information household appliances seen from the 1st subsystem. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection processing flow from the home network of the information household appliances seen from the 2nd subsystem. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection monitoring process flow from the home network of the information household appliances seen from the 1st subsystem. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection monitoring process flow from the home network of the information household appliances seen from the 2nd subsystem. It is a figure which shows the hierarchical structure of an information household appliances group. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the home network system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the concept of construction | assembly of a private group. It is a figure which shows the example of a processing flow of construction | assembly of a private group. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conventional home network system.

Explanation of symbols

E1, EA, EB, EC First information home appliance E2 Second information home appliance E3-E5 First information home appliance EA ′, EB ′, EC ′, E5 ′, E6 Information home appliance HMDB outside the home network Home group management information database HN Home network HSV Home server IN Internet LN, LN1-3 Local network PMDB Individual management information database R Router S1 First subsystem S2 Second subsystem SV server

Claims (10)

A plurality of first home information appliances belonging to a common home group incorporating the first subsystem;
A second information home appliance belonging to the common home group in which a second subsystem is incorporated;
A home network system comprising a network for communication-connecting the plurality of first information home appliances and the second information home appliance;
The first subsystem includes subsystem information, group affiliation information, terminal information, content information held by the first information home appliance, and the like related to the first information home appliance in which the first subsystem is incorporated. Record management information,
When the first information home appliance is connected to the home network related to the common home group and the power is first turned on, the first information home appliance is automatically assigned to the common home group. Register as belonging to the common home group in a second subsystem;
The second subsystem records the management information relating to almost all first information home appliances belonging to the common home group;
Home network system. When the first information home appliance in which the first subsystem is incorporated is connected to the home network related to the common home group and the power is turned on, the first subsystem The first information home appliance is connected to the home network, belongs to the common home group, and is mutually managed with the other first information home appliance and the second information home appliance that are powered on. When the power is turned on, the first information home appliance is connected to the home network via the second information home appliance belonging to the common home group. Exchanging management information with the first home information appliance that is connected to the outside and belongs to the common home group and is powered on to enable communication connection;
The home network system according to claim 1. When the first information home appliance in which the first subsystem is incorporated is connected outside the home network related to the common home group and the power is turned on, the first subsystem The first information home appliance is connected to the inside of the home network via the second information home appliance that is connected to the home network and belongs to the common home group, and is turned on. Exchange management information with one information home appliance to enable communication connection;
The home network system according to claim 2. The second subsystem includes the second information home appliance connected to the home network related to the common home group, the second subsystem incorporated therein, and the second subsystem Management information is mutually exchanged with the first information home appliance connected to the inside and outside of the home network and the power is turned on to enable communication connection, and further, the common home is connected via the second information home appliance. A first information home appliance belonging to a group and connected outside the home network and powered on is connected to the common home group and connected inside and outside the home network and powered on first Exchange management information with each other's information home appliances to enable mutual communication connection;
The home network system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. When the management information is exchanged with the first information home appliance in which the first subsystem is incorporated, the first subsystem sends management information of the first information home appliance that is turned off to the power supply Is acquired via the first information home appliance or the second information home appliance that is on,
The second subsystem sends management information of the first information home appliance that is turned off when the management information is exchanged to a second information home appliance that incorporates the second subsystem. Is obtained via the first home information appliance with ON;
The home network system according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The first sub-system includes a first information home appliance in which the first sub-system is incorporated, as a second information home appliance and another first belonging to the same home group as the first information home appliance. Communication connection only with other information home appliances;
The home network system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A private group for personal use can be set as the home group,
The first information home appliance is connectable to a removable device that designates a private group to which the first information home appliance belongs, and when connected to the removable device, the first subsystem is the first subsystem. The built-in first information home appliance can be communicably connected only to the second information home appliance and the other first information home appliance belonging to the same private group as the first information home appliance;
The home network system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A plurality of first home information appliances belonging to a common home group incorporating the first subsystem;
A second information home appliance belonging to the common home group in which a second subsystem is incorporated;
In a home network system configured by a network for communication connection between the plurality of first information home appliances and the second information home appliances,
A program that is incorporated in the first information home appliance and causes the first information home appliance to execute the function of the first subsystem;
Record management information such as subsystem information, group affiliation information, terminal information, content information held by the first information home appliance related to the first information home appliance,
When the first information home appliance is connected to the home network related to the common home group and the power is first turned on, the first information home appliance is automatically assigned to the common home group. Register as belonging to the common home group in a second subsystem;
The first information home appliance readable program. When the first information home appliance is connected in the home network related to the common home group and the power is turned on, the first information home appliance is connected in the home network; and Management information is mutually exchanged with other first information home appliances and second information home appliances that belong to a common home group and are powered on, enabling communication connection, and the power is turned on. The first information home appliance is connected to the outside of the home network via the second information home appliance belonging to the common home group, and belongs to the common home group, and is turned on. Exchange management information with a certain first information home appliance to enable communication connection,
When the first information home appliance is connected outside the home network related to the common home group and the power is turned on, the first information home appliance is connected in the home network, and the Communication information can be exchanged by exchanging management information with other first information home appliances that are connected inside and outside the home network and powered on via the second information home appliances belonging to a common home group And
The program according to claim 8. A plurality of first home information appliances belonging to a common home group incorporating the first subsystem;
A second information home appliance belonging to the common home group in which a second subsystem is incorporated;
In a home network system configured by a network for communication connection between the plurality of first information home appliances and the second information home appliances,
A program that is incorporated into the second information home appliance and causes the second information home appliance to execute the function of the second subsystem;
Recording the management information relating to almost all first information home appliances belonging to the same home group as the second information home appliances;
The second information home appliance that is incorporated in the second subsystem and connected in the home network related to the common home group belongs to the common home group and is connected to the inside and outside of the home network, Management information is mutually exchanged with the first information home appliance with which is turned on, communication connection is possible, and it belongs to the common home group via the second information home appliance, and the home network Mutually managed with the first information home appliance connected to the outside and connected to the first information home appliance that is turned on and connected to the inside and outside of the home network and turned on. Exchange information and enable communication connections to each other;
program.

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