KR100605203B1 - Network device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a home network system, and more particularly, to a home network system capable of separating a home appliance from a home network system by deleting information related to the home appliance and initializing an address of the home appliance. The present inventors the home network system transmits a delete request message to the home appliance to separate the home appliance connected to the home network system, and receives a delete ACK response message from the home appliance to delete the information associated with the home appliance And a home appliance which receives a deletion request message from the master device, transmits a deletion ACK response message, and deletes information related to the home network system.

Description

Network devices {NETWORK DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a home network system, and more particularly, to a home network system capable of separating a home appliance from a home network system by deleting information related to the home appliance and initializing an address of the home appliance.

At present, home automation for automatic control of home appliances in each home or remote is almost commercialized. In the early stages of home automation, each device was controlled separately using a telephone or an infrared ray, and there was no connection between the devices, but now, there is a controller that controls the network by establishing a network between home appliances using communication means. A method for integrated management is used.

1 is a block diagram of a general overall home network system. As shown, a home network means that various digital home appliances can be connected to each other to enjoy convenient, safe and economical living services at home and at any time.

In the background of the appearance of the home network, refrigerators and washing machines, which have been called white household appliances, have been gradually digitized due to the development of digital signal processing technology. Also, due to the rapid development of home appliance operating system technology and high speed multimedia communication technology These technologies are emerging as a form of new, convergent information appliances.

Here, the IT network refers to a network type established for exchanging data or providing Internet services between a personal computer and peripheral devices, and the AV network refers to a network type between home appliances that handle audio or video information. And, the living network is a network constructed for the purpose of simple control of home appliances, such as home automation or remote meter reading, and may include a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave oven, a light gas alarm, an air conditioner, a telephone, and the like.

A home network system configured in such a home is a master device, which is a home appliance that can control or monitor the operation of other home appliances, and the ability to respond to the needs of the master device based on the characteristics or other factors of the home appliance, and its status. It consists of a slave device, which is a home appliance with the function of informing about the change. As used herein, a home appliance (or a new device) is meant to include not only home appliances for living network services described above, such as a washing machine and a refrigerator, but also home appliances for IT network services and AV network services.

2 is a block diagram of a home network system in a typical home. As shown, a home network system 1 formed in a home consists of at least one master device 10 connected by a bus network 28 and slave devices 1 to 4 (20, 22, 24, 26). .

The master device 10 sets an address for identifying the slave devices 1 to 4 (20, 22, 24, 26) as shown in FIG. 3 by a predetermined method.

3 is an embodiment of a home network list. As shown, this home network list is formed and stored by the master device 10 and includes information of addresses for all connected devices of the home network system 1.

Here, if the slave device 4 (26) is completely separated from the home network system (1) to look at the process for migrating to another place, home of another home. If the user migrates the slave device 4 (26) separately from the bus network 28, the master device 10 is not operated because the slave device 4 (26) is powered off or is disconnected by migration. There is no way to know if there is no activity. Therefore, since the master device 10 keeps storing the home network list shown in Fig. 3, an address that can be set when a new device is connected to the entire home network system 1 is wasted and is not connected. There is a problem in that it is possible to generate and transmit a control command for the devices that do not, effectively use network resources.

As another example, if it is desired to logically separate the slave device 4 26 from the bus network 28 so as not to receive any data in the home network system 1, rather than physically separate it from the bus network 28. There is. This slave device 4 (26) to perform a predetermined control name without interference from other devices, or to reduce the network traffic when the number of devices connected to the bus network 28 is excessive, this slave device 4 (26) In the case where a logical separation of), i.e., blocking of data communication is required, the prior art does not solve this point.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a home network system for efficiently using storage space and address resources in a home network system by performing a process of deleting information about a device previously connected to and disconnected from a home network system. It aims to do it.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a home network system for performing a process of deleting information about a home network system stored in a device separate from the home network system so that there is no confusion of the system when connected to another home network system. .

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a home network system that can be efficiently connected to another home network system by reducing option values set according to the situation of the home network system to the original device.

The present invention also provides a home network system that allows a given device to be physically and / or logically separated from the home network system, thereby reducing network traffic and allowing a given device to perform a given command without interference from other devices. It aims to do it.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention home network system transmits a delete request message to the home appliance to separate the home appliance connected to the home network system, and receives a delete ACK response message from the home appliance to the home appliance; And a home appliance for receiving the deletion request message from the master device, transmitting a deletion ACK response message, and deleting the information related to the home network system.

In this case, the deletion request message preferably includes a logical address for the home appliance.

The information related to the home network system may include at least a logical address assigned by the master device, and the home appliance may change the logical address into a pre-stored initial logical address and store the logical address.

In addition, the master device preferably further includes a predetermined display device for displaying deletion of the information related to the home appliance.

In addition, the home appliance detaching method in the present inventors home network system is a home network system including at least one master device and at least one home appliance, the master device is deleted to separate the home appliance from the home network system Transmitting a request message to the home appliance, transmitting a delete ACK response message to the master device by the home appliance, deleting the information related to the home network system by the home appliance, and the master device Deleting information associated with the home appliance.

In this case, the deletion request message preferably includes a logical address for the home appliance.

The information related to the home network system may include at least a logical address assigned by the master device, and the separation method may further include the home appliance changing and storing the logical address as an initial logical address. desirable.

The method may further include displaying, by the master device, deletion of information related to the home appliance through a predetermined display device.

In addition, a program storage medium storing a computer readable program of the present invention includes a program for separating the home appliance from a home network system including at least one master device and at least one home appliance, wherein the master device is the home appliance. Sending a delete request message to the home appliance to detach a from the home network system, the home appliance sending a delete ACK response message to the master device, and wherein the home appliance is associated with the home network system. Deleting information, and the master device deleting information related to the home appliance.

In this case, the deletion request message preferably includes a logical address for the home appliance.

Further, the information related to the home network system includes at least a logical address assigned by the master device, and the program further includes the home appliance changing the logical address to an initial logical address.

The program may further include displaying, by the master device, deletion of information related to the home appliance through a predetermined display device.

1 is a block diagram of a general overall home network system.

2 is a block diagram of a home network system in a typical home.

3 is an embodiment of a home network list.

4 is a block diagram of a home network system according to the present invention.

5A is a block diagram of a master device according to the present invention of FIG.

5B is a configuration diagram of a slave device according to the present invention of FIG. 4.

6A-6C illustrate an address system used in a home network system in accordance with the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a separation method in a home network system according to the present invention.

8A and 8B are embodiments according to the separation method of FIG.

 4 is a block diagram of a home network system according to the present invention. As shown, a home network system 100 formed in a home consists of at least one master device 50 and slave devices 60, 70, 80 connected by a bus network 90. In addition, the gateway 30 for connecting to the external Internet, and the network manager 40 connected to the gateway 30 to provide Internet services and to perform configuration and initialization functions of home appliances in the home network system 100. ) May be additionally provided.

Here, the master device 50 may perform the same function as the above-described master device, and the network manager 40 may perform a function similar to that of the master device 50 except for an internet service. However, for convenience of explanation below, it is assumed that the network manager 40 performs a function such as a bridge for an Internet service, etc., and only one master device 50 exists in the home network system 100. It is assumed that the explanation is made.

Here, the bus network 90 may be a wired medium such as a power line or a telephone line that is installed in a separate line or already installed in each home, or may be a wireless-based transmission medium. However, as shown, the home network system 100 according to the present invention constitutes a closed network that connects home appliances in an independent home with a wired or wireless transmission medium. In this case, the closed network includes physically connected but logically separated networks.

5A is a block diagram of a master device according to the present invention of FIG. As shown in Fig. 5A, the master device 50 has at least the interface means 52 for connection with the bus network 90 and the product information and product-specific addresses for the other slave devices 60, 70, 80. A memory 54 for storing information (including a home network list), display means 56 for displaying predetermined information (for example, a home network list) to a user, and the interface means 52; And a control means 58 for controlling the memory 54 and the display means 56.

However, the network manager 40 additionally includes a separate interface means (not shown) for connection with the gateway 30.

Here, when the information on the slave devices 60, 70, and 80 stored in the memory 54 includes the functional characteristics and the performance of each product, it is also identified with other devices in the home network system 100 in the home. Contains the address for. This address is disclosed below.

5B is a configuration diagram of a slave device according to the present invention of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5B, the slave device 60 includes an interface means 62 for connection with the bus network 90, and a memory 64 for storing information about product information and addresses for the slave device 60. And the control means 66 by controlling the interface means 62 and the memory 64.

6A-6C illustrate an address system used in a home network system in accordance with the present invention.

6A discloses a structure of an address field used in the home network system 100 according to the present invention. As shown, the product code is assigned a unique value that identifies the basic functionality of the product and is an immutable physical address assigned to the product at the time of product shipment and the same type of product will have the same fixed address. The device code is a logical address used to identify devices with the same product code. Next, the place code is a logical address assigned according to the place installed in the home.

6B is a detailed configuration diagram of the address field of FIG. 6A. As shown, the MSB of the fixed address field is used as a flag so that "0" means the device code and "1" means the place code. As such, the use of logical addresses for this device code and location code can be identified by differently setting the value of the MSB in the global address field. In addition, when all bits in each subfield are set to "1", it means a group address. For example, when the product code of the refrigerator is 0x01, 0x01FF represents a group address of the refrigerators, and 0x81XX (where X represents an unspecified number) becomes a group address indicating mode refrigerators having the same place code.

Although this device code is automatically set for each slave device by the master device 50, the place code may be automatically set by the master device 50, but in many cases is set by the user for technical problems or the like. In the present specification, the logical code is used to mean a device code, and a place code is additionally used in a special case.

6C is an embodiment of a product-specific product code and address range. Here, in the address range, 0xXX00 means the initial logical address of each product, as described above, 0xXXFF means the group address of each product, and the remaining 0xXX01 to 0xXXFE is each master device in the home network system 100 And a logical address assignable to the slave device.

This product code and initial logical address are stored in the memory 64 of the slave devices 60, 70, and 80 at the time of product shipment. In addition, the device-specific product code and address range are stored in the memory 54 of the master device 50, so that the logical addresses within each address range are newly connected to the home network system 100 by the control means 58. Are assigned to each.

By this address system, the master device 50 adds an address (i.e., product code and logical address) which is the only value for identifying the slave devices 60, 70, and 80 connected to the home network system 100 to the home network list. Registered and stored in the memory 54, the slave device 60, 70, 80 stores the address consisting of the logical address set by the master device 50 and the already stored product code in the memory 64, the received message The recipient's address is checked and received or discarded.

In addition, after the slave devices 60, 70, and 80 are connected to the home network system 100, the master device 50 transmits an activity event message every predetermined activity notification period to transmit the status of the slave devices 60, 70, and 80. Informed). This activity notification period is determined according to predetermined criteria (e.g., product characteristics, etc.) at the time of product shipment, stored in the memory 64, read by the control means 66, and the activity event message is transmitted. The master device 50 receiving the activity event message needs to adjust the activity notification period differently for each slave device 60, 70, 80 according to the situation of the home network system 100 or the situation of the bus network 90. There is. In this case, the master device 50 transmits a new activity notification period to the slave devices 60, 70, and 80, and the slave device 60, 70, 80 stores this new activity notification period in the memory 64. FIG. .

7 is a flowchart illustrating a separation method in a home network system according to the present invention. This separation method includes a step (S70) of transmitting a delete request message, a step (S72) of transmitting a delete ACK response message, and a step of deleting information (S74).

Specifically, in step S70, the control means 58 of the master device 50 reads from the memory 54 the address for the slave device (or device) 60, 70, 80 to be deleted, and The delete request message including the address and the delete command code is transmitted to the slave device 60, 70, or 80 to be deleted through the bus network 90.

In step S72, the control means 66 of the slave device 60, 70, 80 receives the delete request message and compares the included address with the address stored in the memory 64 to indicate that it is a delete request message for itself. It identifies and receives and transmits a deletion ACK (ACKnowledgement) response message to the master device 50.

In step S74, the control means 66 of the slave device 60, 70, 70 reduces the logical address previously set by the master device 50 to the initial logical address and stores it. If the same option value is changed by the master device 50, it is reduced to the previous initial option value and stored. In addition, after receiving the deletion ACK response message, the master device 50 deletes information (product information, etc.) about the slave device 60, 70, 80 to be deleted, and the slave device 60, 70, Leave the address assigned to the slave device 80 (the logical address, ie the device address and the location address) to be assigned to the other slave device. In addition, the control means 58 of the master device 50 informs the user through the display means 56 that the slave devices 60, 70, 80 have been deleted and separated.

Through this separation method, the master device 50 and the deleted slave devices 60, 70, and 80 do not have information about each other, and the user can freely connect the slave devices 60, 70, and 80 to the bus network ( Can be connected to other home network systems and installed.

This configuration method may be implemented as a series of programs stored in predetermined storage means of the master device and / or slave device in the home network system.

8A and 8B illustrate embodiments of a home network list according to the detaching method of FIG. 7.

The home network list of FIG. 8A shows information of the home network system 100 before the separation method is applied, and the master device, the refrigerator, the air conditioners 1 to 4, and the microwave oven constitute the home network system.

The home network list of FIG. 8B shows a state in which the master device has performed the separation process for the air conditioner 2, and the address (0x0203) becomes empty according to the separation of the air conditioner 2, and another air conditioner is newly connected to the home network system and registered. At this time, this address (0x0203) can be allocated.

Table 1 below shows the protocol of messages used in the home network system according to the present invention. As disclosed, these message protocols consist of messages used by the home appliance and the master device in the home network system.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail by taking a home network system as an example based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the above embodiments and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

Claims (12)

A deletion request message including a deletion request command code for the other network device and a logical address of the other network device, or an ACK response to the command. Store a delete ACK response message comprising the code. In the deletion processing method in a network device that can be connected to another network device through a network, Transmitting, by the network device, a delete request message to the other network device; Receiving, by the network device, a deletion ACK response message from the other network device; And deleting, by the network device, information related to the other network device. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the deletion request message includes a logical address for the other network device. 4. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the information related to the other network device includes at least a logical address of the other network device assigned by the network device. In the deletion processing method in a network device that can be connected to another network device through a network, Receiving, by the network device, a deletion request message from another network device; Transmitting, by the network device, a deletion ACK response message to the other network device; And deleting, by the network device, information related to the other network device. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the deletion request message includes a logical address for the network device. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the deleting step includes the network device changing the logical address to an initial logical address and storing the logical address. delete delete delete delete delete

Images