JP2008288894A - Communication equipment and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control functions of a household electric appliance without needing the special correspondence of a different device. <P>SOLUTION: This communication equipment 10 is provided with a control object functioning part 12 and a network functioning part 18. The network functioning part 18 can be selected as a server device for providing content data through a network, and can also be selected as a renderer device for reproducing the content data acquired through the network. The network functioning part 18 stores various control methods to the control object functioning part 12 as content data, transmits the information of a list of the content data to a controller, and also gives a control command for executing a control method of selected content data to the control object functioning part 12 when receiving the information of the content data selected from the information of the list from the controller. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device with a home appliance function and a control method thereof.

  Currently, AV devices and personal computers compliant with DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) guidelines based on existing network technologies such as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) are becoming popular. If it complies with the DLNA guidelines, content data such as video, music, and images can be transmitted between devices of different manufacturers. That is, even when a server device and a client device of different manufacturers are connected to the LAN, the content data stored in the server device can be transmitted to the client device, and the content data can be reproduced by the client device.

On the other hand, a conventional document (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for controlling a microwave oven using a system that transmits and receives content data. In this prior art, a control command specific to the microwave oven is prepared, and the microwave oven is controlled by transmitting and receiving this control command within the system. However, in this conventional technique, since it is necessary to process a control command unique to the microwave oven, special measures are required for other devices constituting the system, and thus the versatility is poor.
JP 2003-16256 A

  When a control target device such as a home appliance is controlled via a network, if a special response is required for another device connected to the network, a device that does not have a special support for the control target device (for example, Interoperability with devices from different manufacturers) is poor, which hinders the spread of devices that can be controlled via a network. Therefore, there is a demand for a control target device that can be controlled via the network without requiring special measures for other devices connected to the network.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device with a home appliance function capable of controlling a home appliance function without requiring special measures of other devices, and a control method thereof. .

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a control target function unit having a function as a predetermined control target device, and a network function unit that communicates with an external controller via a network. The network function unit functions as a server device that provides content data list information via a network, and also functions as a renderer device that receives content from the controller and reproduces content data. Various control methods for the functional unit are stored as content data, and when the list information of the content data is transmitted to the controller and the information of the content data selected from the list information is received from the controller, the selection is performed. To control the content data Characterized in providing a control command to the control target function unit.

  In addition, the communication device control method according to the present invention includes a control target function unit having a function as a predetermined control target device, and a network function unit that communicates with an external controller via a network. The communication device functions as a server device that provides content data list information via a network, and the communication device functions as a renderer device that reproduces content data in response to an instruction from a controller. This is a communication device control method in which a control command corresponding to the content is given to a control target function unit in response to a content transmission command from the device to the renderer device.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the communication apparatus with a household appliance function which can control a household appliance function, and its control method can be provided, without requiring special response of another apparatus.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements or elements having the same function, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 shows a home network 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The home network 1 is configured by a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or a wireless LAN. The home network 1 includes a home appliance 10 with a network function, network AV (Audio Visual) servers 34 and 36, a network AV controller 32, a network AV renderer 38, a network AV player 40, a monitor 42, and a remote controller 44. And. These devices become part of the home network 1 by being connected to the hub 30. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the home network 1, and the home network may have a different configuration.

  The home network 1 according to the present embodiment complies with the guidelines of DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), and even when DLNA-compatible devices made by different manufacturers are added to the home network 1, video content, still image content, music Content data such as content can be used mutually. In particular, the home network 1 of the present embodiment employs a 2-box system and a 3-box system, which are one specification of DLNA.

  According to the 2-box system, the network AV servers 34 and 36 and the network AV player 40 are used. When the user operates the network AV player 40 to select desired content, the network AV player 40 transmits content selection information to the network AV servers 34 and 36. The network AV servers 34 and 36 take out the content selected by the user from the stored content such as video, music, and images, and transmit it to the network AV player 40. When the network AV player 40 receives content from the network AV servers 34 and 36, it plays the content.

  According to the 3-box system, the network AV controller 32, the network AV servers 34 and 36, and the network AV renderer 38 are used. When the user operates the network AV controller 32 to select desired content, the network AV controller 32 transmits content selection information to the network AV servers 34 and 36 and the network AV renderer 38. The network AV servers 34 and 36 take out the contents selected by the user from the stored contents such as video, music, and images, and transmit them to the network AV renderer 38. When the network AV renderer 38 receives content from the network AV servers 34 and 36, the content is reproduced.

  In the home network 1 of the present embodiment, the network AV controller 32 is a digital media controller (DMC) compliant with DLNA guidelines, and the network AV servers 34 and 36 are digital media servers (DMS) compliant with DLNA guidelines. The network AV renderer 38 is a digital media renderer (DMR) compliant with the DLNA guidelines, and the network AV player 40 is a digital media player (DMP) compliant with the DLNA guidelines.

  The home appliance 10 with a network function has a function as a lighting device installed in a house, and this lighting function is configured to be controllable via a network. In order to enable control of the lighting function, the home appliance 10 with a network function has a function as a network lighting server and a function as a network lighting renderer. Here, the network lighting server is a digital media server (DMS) compliant with the DLNA guidelines, and the network lighting renderer is a digital media renderer (DMR) compliant with the DLNA guidelines. In the present embodiment, the home appliance 10 with a network function has a function as a lighting device, but in other embodiments, the home appliance 10 with a network function has a function as another type of home appliance such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator, or a microwave oven. Alternatively, it may have a function as another device to be controlled.

  In the present embodiment, the home appliance 10 with a network function is controlled mainly using the above-described 3-box system. That is, the user operates the network AV controller 32 in order to control the home appliance 10 with a network function. The network AV controller 32 is a portable information terminal that can be connected to the home network 1 such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), for example, a display unit 32a that presents information to the user, and an operation unit operated by the user 32b. At the time of normal content selection, content list information such as video, music, and images is displayed on the display unit 32a. At the time of selecting home appliance control content prepared for controlling the above-described home appliance functions, the display unit 32a Content list information indicating various control methods of the home appliance is displayed.

  FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the home appliance 10 with a network function.

  The home appliance with network function 10 includes a home appliance function unit 12 having a function as a lighting device, and a network function unit 18 that communicates with other devices via a network. The home appliance 10 with a network function is provided with an operation switch 15, and the user can adjust the brightness of the illumination by operating the operation switch 15. The home appliance 10 with a network function is provided with a LAN cable connector 25, and the home appliance 10 with a network function is connected to the network by inserting the LAN cable into the LAN cable connector 25. The home appliance 10 with a network function corresponds to a “communication device” described in the claims.

  The home appliance function unit 12 includes a controlled function unit 13 having an original function of home appliances, and a controller 14 that controls the controlled function unit 13. In the present embodiment, the controlled function unit 13 is a light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, an LED, or the like, and has a physical function of a lighting device. Further, the controller 14 controls the controlled function unit 13 by controlling the switch ON / OFF, voltage, current, and the like according to the operation of the operation switch 15 by the user. For example, when the home appliance function unit 12 has a function as a lighting device as in the present embodiment, the controller 14 controls lighting on / off and adjusts the luminous intensity. Further, a control signal line is provided between the controller 14 and the network function unit 18, and a control signal can be taken from the network function unit 18. The home appliance function unit 12 corresponds to a “control target function unit” recited in the claims.

  The network function unit 18 is configured in the same manner as a personal computer having a general network interface. That is, the network function unit 18 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 21, an NV (Non-Volatile) memory 19 storing a boot image, a hard disk 23, a network interface 24, and a bus bridge. 22 and the like are connected via a bus. The network interface 24 is connected to the LAN cable connector 25.

  The network function unit 18 has a function as a network lighting server and a function as a network lighting renderer. As described above, the network lighting server is a digital media server (DMS) compliant with the DLNA guidelines, and the network lighting renderer is a digital media renderer (DMR) compliant with the DLNA guidelines. That is, the hard disk 23 or the NV memory 19 stores programs and data necessary to function as a network lighting server and a network lighting renderer, and the CPU 20 performs processing so as to function as the network lighting server and the network lighting renderer. Do.

  The network function unit 18 stores name data “network lighting server” and “network lighting renderer” so that the user can recognize that it is a network lighting server and a network lighting renderer. The network function unit 18 stores home appliance control content data in order to function as a network lighting server. This home appliance control content data represents various control methods for the home appliance function unit 12. For example, in the case of a lighting device as in the present embodiment, all lighting, lighting 50%, lighting 5%, It represents a control method such as turning off. Further, the content data does not need to include substantial data (moving image data, audio data, etc.) of the content, but metadata (for example, content name, creation date, channel, etc.) that is ancillary data of the content. Only data associated with the content). The content data includes, as metadata, name data indicating a control method such as full lighting, lighting 50%, lighting 5%, and extinguishing.

  The network function unit 18 stores a content-command correspondence table that defines the correspondence between content and commands. FIG. 3 shows the content-command correspondence table in the present embodiment. In the content-command correspondence table, a control method (content name) for controlling the home appliance function unit 12 and a command (command name) for executing the control method are registered in association with each other.

  In this embodiment, since it is assumed that the network lighting server is set as a digital media server and the network lighting renderer is set as a digital media renderer, the content data does not need to include substantial data of the content. . However, when it is assumed that the network lighting server is set as a digital media server and another AV device is set as a digital media renderer, the content data may include substantial data of the content. For example, video data that informs the control method for the home appliance function unit 12 may be included in the content data, and this video data may be provided from the network lighting server to another AV device. Thereby, in other AV equipment, the video data informing the control method for the home appliance function unit 12 is reproduced, and the user can know the control method visually.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a procedure for controlling the home appliance 10 with a network function via the home network 1 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the user controls the home appliance 10 with a network function. Here, (i) the home appliance with network function 10 is physically connected to the home network 1, and (ii) the IP address is correctly set for all the devices connected to the home network 1, It is assumed that logical connection is possible between application programs running on devices, and that (iii) power is supplied to each device and communication is possible.

  First, when the user performs an operation for displaying the list information of the server device using the network AV controller 32, the list information of the server device connected to the network is displayed on the display unit 32a of the network AV controller 32. Is done. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, “network AV server A”, “network AV server B”, “list of server devices connected to the network” are displayed on the display unit 32 a of the network function AV controller. The names of the three server devices “Network Lighting Server” are displayed. When “network lighting server” is selected from the server device list information in accordance with the operation of the network AV controller 32 by the user, the home appliance with network function 10 is selected as the server device to be controlled ( S401).

  Next, when the user performs an operation for displaying the list information of the renderer device using the network AV controller 32, the list information of the renderer devices connected to the network is displayed on the display unit 32a of the network AV controller 32. Is displayed. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, two lists of “network AV renderer” and “network illumination renderer” are displayed on the display unit 32a of the AV controller with network function as list information of renderer devices connected to the network. The name of the renderer device is displayed. When “network lighting renderer” is selected from the list information of the renderer device according to the operation of the network AV controller 32 by the user, the home appliance 10 with network function is selected as the renderer device to be controlled ( S402).

  In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the user selects the server device to be controlled from the list of server devices, and then selects the renderer device to be controlled from the list of renderer devices. However, this order may be reversed. After selecting, the server device may be selected.

  Next, when the user performs an operation for displaying content list information using the network AV controller 32, the network AV controller 32 transmits a control signal requesting the content list information to the server function of the network function unit 18. To do. The server function of the network function unit 18 transmits content list information to the network AV controller 32 in response to this control signal. As a result, the content list information of the home appliance control content held by the home appliance with network function 10 is displayed on the display unit 32a of the network AV controller 32. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, “all lit”, “50% lit”, “5% lit” is displayed on the display unit 32 a of the AV controller with network function as the content list information of the home appliance 10 with network function. ”And“ light-off ”are displayed. Then, the user operates the network AV controller 32 to select any one home appliance control content from the content list information (S403). Specifically, if you want to maximize the brightness of the illumination, select “Fully lit”. If you want to set the brightness of the illumination to 50%, select “Lighting 50%” and set the brightness of the illumination. If it is desired to select 5%, “lighting 5%” is selected, and if it is desired to turn off the illumination, “turn off” is selected.

  When the user performs an operation of selecting any one home appliance control content using the network AV controller 32, the network AV controller 32 sends a control signal instructing reproduction of the selected home appliance control content to the network function unit. Sent to 18 renderer functions. Specifically, when “all lighting” is selected, a control signal for reproducing “all lighting” content is transmitted, and when “lighting 50%” is selected, a control signal for reproducing “lighting 50%” content is transmitted. When “ON 5%” is selected, a control signal for reproducing “ON 5%” content is transmitted. When “OFF” is selected, a control signal for reproducing “OFF” content is transmitted.

  When the renderer function of the network function unit 18 receives a control signal from the network AV controller 32, it refers to the content-command correspondence table, selects a command corresponding to the home appliance control content for which the control signal commands reproduction, This command (control command) is output to the controller 14 of the home appliance function unit 12. Specifically, “COMMANDA” is output when the control signal instructs the reproduction of “all-lit” content, and “COMMAND B” is output when the control signal instructs the reproduction of the “lighting 50%” content. When the control signal instructs to play the content “5% on”, “COMMANDC” is output, and when the control signal instructs the playback of the “lights off” content, “COMMAND D” is output.

  When the renderer function of the network function unit 18 receives information on the home appliance control content selected from the content list information from the network AV controller 32, the network function unit 18 sends a control signal requesting the selected home appliance control content. To the server function. However, since the content for home appliance control does not include substantial content data, substantial content data is not transmitted between the server device and the renderer device.

  When the controller 14 of the home appliance function unit 12 receives a command from the renderer function of the network function unit 18, the controller 14 controls the controlled function unit 13 according to the command. Specifically, when “COMMANDA” is captured, the controlled function unit 13 is controlled so that the illumination is turned on at 100%, and when “COMMAND B” is captured, the illumination is turned on at 50%. The controlled function unit 13 is controlled so as to be in the state, and when “COMMANDC” is captured, the controlled function unit 13 is controlled so that the illumination is in the lighting state of 5%, and “COMMAND D” is captured. In this case, the controlled function unit 13 is controlled so that the illumination is turned off.

  In this embodiment, the renderer function of the network function unit 18 outputs a command to the controller 14, but in other embodiments, the server function of the network function unit 18 outputs a command to the controller 14. Also good. That is, in another embodiment, when the renderer function of the network function unit 18 receives information about the home appliance control content selected from the content list information from the network AV controller 32, the control that requests the selected home appliance control content. The signal is given to the server function of the network function unit 18. Then, the server function of the network function unit 18 outputs a command (control command) to the controller 14 of the home appliance function unit 12 in accordance with a control signal from the renderer function of the network function unit 18.

  According to the home appliance 10 with a network function of the present embodiment described above, the control of the home appliance function unit 12 is realized on the same mechanism as content transmission such as video, music, and images. That is, the home appliance 10 with a network function according to the present embodiment can correspond to a control method similar to that of a normal server device and renderer device by being set as a server device and a renderer device compliant with the DLNA guidelines. In particular, the DLNA three-box system has higher interconnectability than other device control methods via other networks, and is therefore easy to use for controlling the home appliance 10 with a network function.

  For this reason, in the household electrical appliance 10 with a network function of this embodiment, by changing only the household electrical appliance 10 with a network function, without affecting the specification of the other equipment of the home network 1, the household electrical appliance with a network function 10 can be controlled. For example, the home appliance 10 with a network function according to the present embodiment does not require a device having a user interface dedicated to home appliance control, and can use a user interface similar to video, music, image content, and the like. That is, the home appliance 10 with a network function can be controlled using the network AV controller 32 manufactured by a manufacturer different from the home appliance 10 with a network function.

  As described above, the home appliance 10 with a network function according to the present embodiment has an advantage that the home appliance 10 with a network function can be easily designed because only the home appliance 10 with a network function needs to be changed. That is, the designer of the home appliance 10 with a network function can design the home appliance 10 with a network function without considering other devices of the home network 1. For example, the designer can freely determine the data content and data configuration of content for controlling the home appliance 10 with a network function.

  In addition, you may control the household appliances 10 with a network function using the home network 1 mentioned above so that it may demonstrate below. That is, when the user operates the network AV controller 32, the home appliance 10 with a network function is selected from the list information of the server device, and the network AV renderer 38 is selected from the list information of the renderer device. Then, when the user operates the network AV controller, the home appliance control content is controlled to be transmitted from the home appliance with network function 10 to the network AV renderer 38. Here, the home appliance control content includes substantial content data such as video.

  In this case, the network AV renderer 38 transmits a control signal for requesting transmission of the home appliance control content to the home appliance 10 with a network function. When receiving the control signal from the network AV renderer 38, the network function unit 18 of the home appliance with network function 10 reads the home appliance control content, divides the video data into packets, and transmits the packet to the AV renderer with network function 38. . Further, the network function unit 18 refers to the content-command correspondence table and outputs a command corresponding to the selected content to the controller 14 of the home appliance function unit 12. Thereby, the household electrical appliance 10 with a network function is controlled according to a command, for example, will be in a fully lit state.

  Here, the home appliance control content may not include substantial content data such as video. In this case, the network function unit 18 of the home appliance 10 with a network function notifies the network AV controller 32 and the network AV renderer 38 of an error.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the home network which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the household appliances with a network function. It is a figure which shows a content-command correspondence table. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which controls household appliances with a network function. It is a screen for displaying a list of server device information. It is a screen which displays the list information of a renderer apparatus. It is a screen which displays the list information of the content for household appliance control.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Home network, 10 ... Home appliance with a network function, 12 ... Home appliance function part, 13 ... Controlled function part, 14 ... Controller, 15 ... Operation switch, 18 ... Network function part, 19 ... NV memory, 20 ... CPU, 21 ... RAM, 22 ... Bus bridge, 23 ... Hard disk, 24 ... Network interface, 25 ... Cable connector, 30 ... Hub, 32 ... Controller, 34,36 ... Network AV server, 38 ... Network AV renderer, 40 ... Network AV player 42 ... monitor, 44 ... remote controller.

Claims (7)

A control target function unit having a function as a predetermined control target device; and
A network function unit that communicates with an external controller via a network;
With
The network function unit functions as a server device that provides list information of content data via a network, and functions as a renderer device that receives content from the controller and reproduces content data.
The network function unit stores various control methods for the control target function unit as content data, transmits list information of the content data to the controller, and information on content data selected from the list information When receiving a command from the controller, the communication device is characterized by giving a control command for executing the control method of the selected content data to the control target function unit.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network function unit includes a server function that operates as a server device on a network, and a renderer function that operates as a renderer device on a network.   The renderer function of the network function unit, when receiving information of content data selected from the list information from the controller, gives a control signal for requesting the selected content data to the server function, and The communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a control command for executing a control method of the selected content data is given to the control target function unit. The renderer function of the network function unit, when receiving information of content data selected from the list information from the controller, gives a control signal for requesting the selected content data to the server function,
The server function of the network function unit, when the control signal is acquired from the renderer function, gives the control target function unit a control command for executing the control method of the selected content data. The communication device according to claim 2.   The said network function part has memorize | stored the table data in which the control method with respect to the said control object function part and the control command were matched and registered, The one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Communication device.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a control method for the control target function unit is stored as metadata of the content data. A control method for a communication apparatus comprising: a control target function unit having a function as a predetermined control target device; and a network function unit that communicates with an external controller via a network,
The communication device functions as a server device that provides content data list information via a network,
The communication device functions as a renderer device that receives instructions from the controller and reproduces content data,
A control method for a communication apparatus, wherein a control command corresponding to the content is given to the control target function unit in response to a content transmission command from a server device to a renderer device.