KR100641101B1 - Home network system for distributed control - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a distributed-controlled home network server system, and the conventional home network server controls all functions because a single server manages a video call function including a home appliance control network, a sensing function control network, and an external communication network. The need for a high performance main controller (CPU) and complex and high performance peripheral systems is inevitable, resulting in lower system efficiency, higher power consumption, and the difficulty of easily applying new features. There was a problem that they could not cope with the ubiquitous environment in which their autonomy, mobility, and networking functions were emphasized. Accordingly, the present invention for solving the conventional problems as described above is to block the home network server by the main function block that requires high control performance is equipped with the main controller, the block that does not need high control performance is the micro By blocking functions by using a controller or a controller for specialized functions, and distributing the server system to enable communication between blocks, it maximizes system utilization, flexibly responds to function addition, and greatly reduces standby power and system price. It can be effective.

Description

Distributed control home network server system {HOME NETWORK SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED CONTROL}

1 is a general configuration of a conventional home network.

2 is an embodiment of the present invention distributed home network.

*** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing ***

10: first block 15: display unit and touch panel

20: second block 25: speaker

30: wireless modem controller

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distributed control home network server system, and more particularly, to a distributed control home network server system in which a controlled control of a system is distributed in order to cope with a ubiquitous environment and reduce system standby power.

Recently, the home network, which is in the spotlight with the spread of various local area networks (LAN) and wired / wireless internet networks, enables home appliances to communicate with each other so that most home appliances can be operated with a single remote controller. Digital audio and video data is now available. In other words, all home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, and computers are not only communicated with each other, but also the so-called 'home networking' world has been started.

The ultimate goal of these home appliances to be connected to the network will be the implementation of a ubiquitous integrated environment, with the aim of adding functions continuously.

1 is a block diagram of a general home network server. As shown in FIG. 1, a home appliance control network, a wired / wireless data network, and a security / disaster prevention network are complicatedly connected, and a video communication function is added. I'm going. There is also a growing need to respond quickly to the need to add new features.

As shown in the drawing, the control functions of all home appliances, various sensing functions are concentrated on the server, and the main control unit (CPU) and peripheral systems of the server are managed to cope with the addition of external network interworking, video call, and wired / wireless communication functions. High performance. However, advanced applications such as video calls, which lead to higher performance of the main controller, are a major factor in lowering the efficiency of the system because the utilization time is shorter than the cost or current consumed for the main controller.

In addition, in the light of the trend toward a ubiquitous environment where all objects are self-service and mobile, and aim to be integrated into the network, the conventional centralized home network server is an inefficient way to counter the trend of technology development. Must be.

As described above, the conventional home network server manages a single server from a home appliance control network, a sensing function control network, and an external communication network to a single server, so that it can handle all functions. The need for the main control unit (CPU) and complex, high-performance peripheral systems reduces system efficiency, increases power consumption, makes it difficult to apply new features, and provides autonomy, mobility, and networking of all objects. There was a problem that could not cope with the highlighted ubiquitous environment.

Therefore, the present invention for solving the conventional problems as described above is to block the home network server by the main function block that requires high control performance is equipped with the main controller, the block that does not need high control performance is a low performance micro By blocking functions by using a controller or a controller for specialized functions, and distributing the server system to enable communication between blocks, it is possible to maximize system utilization, flexibly respond to function addition, and greatly reduce standby power. Its purpose is to provide a controlled home network server system.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a high-performance control block having a control unit and the peripheral circuit portion of the highest performance to perform processing related to image processing and Ethernet communication; Functions for controlling various sensing means, switching audio and video signals, and processing wired / wireless control signals are divided according to the correlation of system resources and blocked to have individual controllers, and also between the high performance control block and the separated blocks. And one or more medium and low performance control blocks configured to perform communication.

In addition, the present invention defines a system resource showing a strong correlation according to the relationship between the respective functions managed by the home network and the system resource as a predetermined function block, and after configuring the individual control unit for each function block, input and output By defining an interface, a plurality of functional blocks are interconnected by a predetermined communication interface and connected with home network devices corresponding to respective functions.

When described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of the present invention as described above.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a home network server is distributed to a plurality of functional blocks so that each block performs a specific function. In addition, the distributed control server is built to increase system efficiency by operating only relevant blocks when driving a specific application.

First, by looking at the configuration or connection relationship of the commonly used home network server, to check the basic functions that the home network server should have, and to block them by dividing them by function and system resources used.

The main functions of a basic home network server are as follows.

1. Door phone interworking function

2. CO line call transmission and reception function

3. Method / disaster prevention function

4. Internet interworking (VoIP) function

5. Networking function with server only in apartment or group residence

6. Linkage with integrated remote controller

7. Bridge function for connecting to different networks

8. Home appliance control function

9. User Console Function

In order to cover all the above functions with one server having a single controller, the performance of the controller must be high, and the entire system must be operated to perform one small function. Therefore, it should be blocked according to the correlation between function and system resources, and resources that can be shared should be shared to improve price and system efficiency.

Table 1 below shows the main functions of the above-mentioned home network server and their relationship with the system resources that should be used to perform each function.

CPU video Ethernet Serial communication Wireless communication audio Door phone interlocking function lowness height - - usually height CO line call transmission / reception function lowness height - - - height Security / disaster prevention function lowness - - height - usually VoIP call function height height height - - height Only server networking height - height - - height Integrated remote control linkage function usually - - - height - Network bridge function (physical) lowness - - height - - Net bridge function height - height height height - Appliance control function lowness - - height - - User interface features usually height - - - height

The correlation between the system resources of the table and each function means that the higher the correlation, the higher the required performance value. Among the system resources, the control unit, the video resource, and the Ethernet resource are resources to be implemented through a high performance function unit, and the serial communication or wireless communication part is resources that can be sufficiently implemented even through a low performance function unit. In addition, audio can also be implemented through low performance functions as long as it amplifies a simple analog signal or generates a simple alarm sound.

If the function of the system is divided into three blocks through the above analysis results, it can be divided into the following blocks. The division of simple functions can be decided at the designer's discretion or as a kind of standard, so it is desirable to configure new blocks so that new blocks can be connected.

First, a high-performance control block (first block 10) may be configured as the most complicated function as shown for advanced application driving functions including an image processing function, an Ethernet management function (including a network bridge function), and a user interface. . It consists of a high-performance controller (CPU), various video and video processing devices, and a device for bridging Ethernet, the Internet, and different networks. ) Voice (VoIP) function (4 functions), networking with only server (5 functions) for apartments or group residences, bridge function (7 functions) for connecting to different networks, user console function ( Function 9), and also has a serial communication function for connecting to other networks. The display unit and the touch pad 15 may be connected to the additional device.

Then, for a function requiring intermediate performance, a simple signal can be used to control external devices, receive status information from the devices, and provide it to the first block 10 which processes itself or manages a user interface. The second block 20 can be configured to be. In this case, the controller can be configured as a microcontroller capable of simple operation or various input / output control. Since a special operating system is not required, high speed operation and low cost can be realized, and a large number of input / output can be managed effectively. Functions that the second block 20 can handle include door phone interworking function (1 function), trunk line call transmission / reception function (2 function), method / Disaster prevention function (Function 3), home appliance control function (Function 8), and the function to switch the analog audio / video signal to the first block 10 is not only possible by the control of the switch element, Simple confirmation sound output is also possible. The speaker 25 connected to the second block 20 is for outputting analog audio sound, and at the same time, the user changes state by various security / disaster prevention functions or home appliance control functions managed by the second block 20. It may also be for digital audio sound output to alert the user.

Finally, the part responsible for short-range wireless communication (RF communication) can be separately separated and set as individual blocks, which can consist of a simple wireless modem controller and a wireless communication device. The wireless modem controller may be a microcontroller having a simple wireless communication related protocol and a serial communication function, and thus becomes the block having the lowest performance (third block 30). This is a simple function that accepts an input of an RF door lock or a homenet integrated remote controller (RF or infrared) and provides it to the first block 10 or the second block 20. The nine main functions of the home network server identified above are provided. In the meantime, it will be in charge of the interlocking function with the integrated remote controller (Function 6).

The first block 10, the second block 20, and the third block 30 divided as described above exchange information and control signals with each other in a serial communication manner, and are connected to exchange analog audio / video signals. Each of these blocks may be integrated in one device or distributed and divided in all directions.

As a matter of course, the second block 20 may be divided into more detailed blocks, and the second block 20 and the third block 30 may be integrated into one block. It is also possible to configure a home network server by adding more blocks responsible for other functions.

As described above, after dividing the functions managed by the home network into a plurality of control blocks in consideration of correlation with system resources, managing each control block as a controller capable of inter-block communication, provides the following advantages: You can get it.

In other words, if it is improved to a ubiquitous environment, each block can be modified so that it can easily ride on a new flow.Because each block can be optimized for performance, the system efficiency is greatly increased. They can significantly reduce power consumption because only blocks for performing specific functions can be operated while waiting.

As described above, according to the present invention, the distributed controlled home network server system blocks a home network server according to its main functions so that a block requiring high control performance is equipped with a main controller, and a block that does not need high control performance has a low performance microcontroller. After blocking by function to use the controller for professional functions, distributed server system is configured to enable communication between each block, which maximizes system utilization, flexibly responds to function addition, and greatly reduces standby power and system price. It works.

Claims (3)

A high performance control block having a highest performance controller and peripheral circuitry for performing processing related to image processing and Ethernet communication; Functions for controlling various sensing means, switching audio and video signals, and processing wired / wireless control signals are divided according to the correlation of system resources and blocked to have individual controllers, and also between the high performance control block and the separated blocks. A distributed controlled home network server system, comprising one or more medium to low performance control blocks configured to enable communication. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the low and low performance control blocks control various sensing means by using a microcontroller as a controller, and receive or output audio and video signals to the high performance control block or other blocks, and control the home appliances. An intermediate performance control block having a sound output function by sensing; Distributed using a wireless modem controller as a controller and including a low performance control block that senses radio signals and interprets them as specific signals or transmits specific signals as wireless signals and communicates with the high performance control blocks and the neutral performance control blocks Controlled Home Network Server System. By defining system resources that show a strong correlation according to the relationship between the functions managed by the home network and the system resources as predetermined function blocks, configuring individual controllers to be in charge of each function block, and defining an input / output interface, A distributed controlled home network server system comprising a plurality of functional blocks interconnected by a predetermined communication interface and connected to home network devices corresponding to respective functions.

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