KR20040020182A - An universal discovery and operation service system for home network on heterogeneous protocols - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device integrated discovery and operation service system capable of embodying a home network by various communication standards is provided to compose and operate the home network having various electronic products without being dependent on a specific technique or product. CONSTITUTION: A driver manager(100) registers a specific home network technical driver. A discovery server(101) stores information about services and devices in a home network, as an intrinsic format which is independent on technique embodied in the services and the devices, in a device registry(102). When the use of the services or the access of the devices is requested, a device dispatcher(103) converts information about the services and the devices into the intrinsic format which is independent on the technique embodied in the device which performs the request. The device dispatcher(103) inquires the discovery server(101). The device dispatcher(103) executes the service in the home network or accesses the device by a driver and a real address obtained from the discovery server(101).

Description

Device integrated search and operation service system that enables home network implementation using various communication standards {AN UNIVERSAL DISCOVERY AND OPERATION SERVICE SYSTEM FOR HOME NETWORK ON HETEROGENEOUS PROTOCOLS}

The present invention subordinates a home network made of various electronic products such as white appliances (refrigerator, washing machine), AV equipment (TV, Audio), office appliances (copier, fax), information equipment (computer, PDA) to a specific technology or product. It relates to a system and a method for enabling configuration and operation without the need. Conventional home network related technologies include Home Network Control Protocol (HNCP), Universal Plug and Play (UPNP), Jini, Powerbus, CEBus, and X10. Conventional home network technologies have their own unique device and service discovery and operation functions, making it impossible to provide or receive services directly between devices that follow different technologies.

In this conventional method, the use and production of devices are limited depending on the home network technology used, and the home network-related technology innovation is only benefited to a specific user depending on which home network technology is applied to the product. There is a problem.

The present invention provides a system and method that can ensure compatibility between operations according to any technical standard in order to solve the above problems, so that a user can easily use a product to which various technical methods are applied, and manufacture a home network device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for a company to apply a variety of technologies to a product conveniently.

1 is a block diagram of a home network service system of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing>

100-Driver Manager: Software to manage the task of adding, deleting, and changing the driver software to communicate with the electronic devices included in the home network.

101-Discovery Server: Discovers devices connected to your home network and the types of services they provide, receives signals from connected devices, addresses them, stores them, and makes them available later on your home network. Server

102-Device Registry: A repository to store results retrieved or received by Discovery Servers in 101

103-Device Dispatcher: Software that acts as a mediator so that users and devices using the home network service system of the present invention can operate without considering the technical characteristics of the specific service or device.

104-HNCP (Home Network Control Protocol): The Korean Standard for the Home Network Control Protocol

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP): Microsoft's Communication Technology Method

Jini: Communication Technology Invented by Sun Micro Systems

In order to achieve the above object, the system and method proposed by the present invention integrate a service search (search, registration) function performed differently in various existing technologies to search for services available between devices using different technologies. It consists of an integrated search that enables users to register and register, and an integrated operation part that can acquire and execute the searched services regardless of the technology applied to individual devices on the home network.

Referring to FIG. 1 as an example of such a configuration, the Driver Manager 100 registers drivers, which are software for physical connection with devices of various home network technologies (HNCP, UPNP, ...), to the service system. Record in Device Registry 102 for use in navigation and operation. When applying a new home network technology to this service system or changing or deleting an existing technology, only the driver in charge of the technology is added, changed, or deleted through the Driver Manager, but the service system itself does not change.

The discovery server 101 searches for accessible home network devices and services using search functions of registered drivers or receives signals from devices participating in the home network and stores them in the device registry 102. The information stored at this time is the driver used by the service system to communicate with the device and the real address created according to the home network technology applied to the device and the virtual address to be used in the service system. Device Dispatcher (103) queries the Discovery Server when a service system receives a request for service on a home network or an access request for a device at a specific address, and searches the Device Registry or a home network for a driver and a real address to use for communication. Answer.

The service system uses the searched driver and the real address to use the service or access the device. At this time, the task of linking different service classifications according to the function provided by each driver and home network technology follows the predefined rule inside Device Dispatcher.

As described above, the present invention provides a system and a method capable of guaranteeing compatibility between operations according to an arbitrary technical standard, thereby enabling a user to easily use a product to which various technical methods are applied, and to manufacture a home network device. Companies can apply more diverse technologies to their products.

Claims (5)

end. Steps for Driver Manager to register a driver for a specific home network technology: I. Storing, by the discovery server, services and devices existing on a home network in a device registry in a form independent of a technology for implementing services and devices; All. When the device dispatcher is requested to use a service on a home network or access to a device, querying a discovery server by converting the device dispatcher into a form that is not dependent on the implementation technology of the device that has performed the request; la. Accessing a device or executing a service on a home network using a driver and a real address obtained from a discovery server; Method for integrating and supporting a variety of implementation technologies in the home network comprising a The method of claim 1, The above Driver Manager includes features for integrated search and operation of services or devices in a home network composed of various implementation technologies, and specific home network technologies by adding, changing, and deleting drivers to the home network service system. Method of operation of a home network service system provided with a function of applying. The method of claim 1, The discovery server includes features of integrated discovery and operation of services or devices in a home network composed of various implementation technologies, and addresses and functions not dependent on the implementation technology of devices and services belonging to the home network. Operation method of home network service system provided with the function of storing as definition The method of claim 1, Device Dispatcher includes features of integrated search and operation of services or devices in a home network composed of various implementation technologies, and implements the requested device when a request for use of devices and services belonging to the home network is received. Operation method of home network service system provided as a feature that delivers search query to Discovery Server by converting to address system and function definition not dependent on technology The method of claim 1, Device Dispatcher includes features of integrated discovery and operation of services or devices in home networks composed of various implementation technologies, and actual implementation of information on services and devices of home network systems delivered by Discover Server. How to operate the home network service system provided as a feature used by converting to technology-dependent address and function definition