FR2933558A1 - Remote equipment controlling method for e.g. home automation surveillance field, involves communicating centralizer point to user terminal via telephonic connection, which ensures bandwidth gain to provide quick connection and image quality - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves communicating a centralizer point e.g. subscriber box (21), with a user terminal e.g. portable cellular phone (10), through a telephonic connection, where the telephonic connection between the user terminal and the centralizer point ensures gain of end to end bandwidth to be sufficiently large for providing a quick connection and image quality equivalent to a direct video telephony. A service access is carried out by a telephone call from the user terminal to a video telephony access. An independent claim is also included for a system for controlling a remote equipment with video telephony.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling remote equipment, equipment located in a room, especially in the user's home, and a method for controlling remote equipment by means of a visiophony device and a system for implementing said method. for access to the control of equipment (heating start, for example) and media (consulting a computer, for example) of this room with flexibility and speed. The invention also relates to the system for carrying out such a method.

The present invention applies to the fields of computer monitoring, particularly home automation, and telecommunications, and takes advantage of the synergy between these two domains for remote action on equipment and media located in the premises. .

For a long time, management and remote control systems exist in the case of integrated systems for the remote supervision of identical equipment, for example monitoring alarms or the temperature of different rooms of an apartment, an office building or factory premises. These systems respond to the particular need for monitoring and remote action from a remote fixed point. Recently, methods have been developed for monitoring and controlling disparate equipment, such as: lighting lights, starting a washing machine, air-conditioning or heating, or even heating. a computer or video recorders, this thanks to developments in home automation and telecommunications. In this field, it is already known to monitor and remotely control home automation: the visualization of this surveillance, by tables or reports, or sometimes even by videotelephony, is done on a computer or cellphone. Display screens generally have good ergonomics for displaying still images, but video telephony, for the display of animated screens, offers with the current state of the art a degraded quality with blurred images or tressautantes. It is for example known that, from a computer or a mobile phone, it is possible to control and control remotely, via the Internet, a Wifi terminal installed at home, a terminal connected by Wifi technology to the various home automation equipment of the home. home, this system requiring the installation and use of an Internet browser and a specific application on the computer or on the mobile phone. The patent application KR20040067151 provides an improvement by using a remote control system of home automation equipment of a home, by mobile terminal and WAP protocol (initials of Wireless Application Protocol, that is to say Wireless Application Protocol : a wireless Internet access protocol). A gateway of the WAP network serves as an interface to the central control module installed in the home, this module monitoring the various equipment in the home. When an abnormal activity is detected, an SMS is sent on the mobile terminal. By WAP commands, it is possible to take control of the equipment in abnormal activity. Another improvement provided by the patent application KR20040092084 relates to remote monitoring of home automation equipment from a mobile terminal, telephone or computer, equipped with an Internet browser and a particular remote interrogation software, connected to it. at home by mobile phone network. Central equipment in the home is connected to the various equipment of the home by wired or wireless links. The purpose of this system is to save energy and for this purpose includes a memory which stores the consumption of home equipment and transfers it to the mobile terminal.

However, these devices for remote control of home automation equipment do not allow to easily view remotely faulty equipment or the cause of an abnormal motion detection alarm, may be caused by an intrusion. Indeed, if these current devices have video telephony functionality, this remote view is penalized by its lack of quality, in the current state of the art: - in mobile communication, the current standards of mobile telephony 30 (GSM 2G, CDMA, GPRS with WAP protocol), offer a videophone of poor image quality (fuzzy or jittery image) because of the low bandwidth of these networks, and a low ergonomics for the commands of the consultation; in remote communication using an Internet browser, the connection is long to establish because of entering a URL into a web browser, then entering identifiers and passwords; and - if, moreover, the computer is a portable, connected to the home by a mobile phone network, the two types of problems are cumulative.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by providing the user bandwidth large enough to allow the rapid exchange of information, especially videophone, a simple connection to establish, with little information to enter, and a quick access time to the remote control service of home automation.

To do this, the present invention proposes to use the features of UMTS-type broadband networks, in particular its video-telephony functionality and its large bandwidth, enabling rapid exchanges and the quality of video telephony.

More specifically, the subject of the invention is a method for controlling remote equipment with videotelephony, these devices being located in a room and being connected to the interior of the room by video links at a centralizing point, this centralizing point. communicating by telephone connection to an operator's computer terminal. The mobile telephone link has a sufficiently wide bandwidth end-to-end between the terminal and the centralizing point to provide connection speed and video image quality equivalent to direct video telephony, i.e. same order of magnitude as a videophone without a telephone link. The terminal may preferably be a mobile device including a receiver / transmitter and a digital processing unit transmitted data and a display screen, such as a mobile phone or a laptop.

The advantage of a high bandwidth for videotelephony is to quickly provide good quality images for access to home media, such as a computer, a Web-camera, a video recorder, while ensuring at the same time the classic control of heating, lighting or safety alarms. Moreover, the speed of consultation makes it possible, by the number of views consulted in a short time, to increase the experience of the user.

According to particular embodiments: - Access to the service is made by telephone call from the terminal to the video telephony service and, for security reasons, this access request can be completed by a password and the fixed telephone number of the terminal. home; this mode of access is simple, fast and safe; - The condition of the monitored equipment, as well as any sound they emit, are displayed remotely in videophone on the mobile phone or computer; the ability to see the devices that create the alarms provides the user with a good way to choose commands to be given remotely, and improves his or her knowledge of the reported problems in relation to an alarm without visiophony; - The equipment control panel is displayed on the terminal, with commands such as: stop-start, or open-close, etc. ; - The user can act remotely on the centralizing point. The invention also relates to a system for implementing the remote control method defined above, in which the equipment to be controlled is connected within the local to a signal matching centralization point called a box. subscriber or box, this subscriber box being connected to the user's terminal 15 by an interoperable broadband network type UMTS and its 3G standard, all of whose elements process or route video telephony. The advantage of the 3G standard is the interoperability of this standard with all mobile phones with the 3G standard.

According to particular embodiments: the home-based equipment itself has a home automation function with video telephony; the equipment of the premises that does not have video telephony functionality are each connected to a module having this functionality, such as the box or the set top box or STB (that is to say a signal adaptation box). multimedia), and used to connect these devices to the central point by providing the gateway function, that is to say gateway; - The subscriber box, central point of the local, is a server responsible for exchanging the voice and video telephony of the mobile network with 30 home equipment; - the remote videophone user terminal is compatible with a data sharing standard selected from H323 and SIP for voice over IP, H324 and H324m for video telephony in UMTS network, 3G standard; The terminal of the user of the remote video telephony is connected to an IP PBX switch, called Centrex operator, located in the telephone network; - communications crossing the public fixed telephone network (PSTN) are encapsulated in the PSTN ISDN digital protocol; the Centrex operator encodes the telephone calls from the terminal intended for the premises to voice over IP calls, and sends them directly to the local; - The Centrex operator routes IP calls to a device called Visio Kiosk, which is responsible for receiving IP-telephony calls from the Centrex Operator, and forwards them to the home by communicating with the subscriber box via HTTP requests. voice (that is, http voices); io - the Centrex operator is connected directly to the subscriber box when this subscriber box also integrates a Visio Kiosk function, and then sends IP subscriber calls directly to the subscriber box.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following reading of detailed embodiments, with reference to the figures which respectively represent: in FIG. 1, a synthetic view of an example of control of equipment to distance with video telephony according to the current state of the art; - In Figure 2, a synthetic view of remote control equipment by videophone according to the invention; - In Figure 3, an exemplary embodiment of a remote control according to the invention, and - in Figure 4, an example of commands for remote control of equipment by videophone according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows a synthetic view of an example of remote equipment control by a mobile telephone 3 equipped with an Internet browser, according to the current state of the art, with a mobile telephone standard: GSM 2G , GPRS / WAP, or CDMA. The user of this service wants to control with his mobile phone 3 equipped with the Internet browser equipment 1 located at his home. To access a service managing this service, it is necessary to enter on the mobile phone 3 the Internet address (the URL) of the Web server (not shown) associated with the subscriber box 7 located in the home of the user. The communication is routed over a link including a mobile telephone network and the Internet. The subscriber box 7 is connected to the equipment 1, by a wired connection 9 or Wifi. The control of the equipment 1 is done on the keypad and the screen of the telephone 3, in view of an alarm status table on the screen of the telephone 3, or by videophone of low quality because of the small network bandwidth 5.

By comparison, Figure 2 shows a synthetic view of remote equipment control by a mobile phone or laptop, according to the invention, with a 3G UMTS mobile telephony standard. The user of the service wishing to control a home-based equipment 1, equipped with home automation functions, calls using his mobile phone 10, compatible UMTS 3G, the centralized Kiosk Visio 17 by dialing a number common to all subscribers. The call is routed over a telecommunications network 15. The io Visio Kiosk 17 communicates, via the link 19, with the subscriber box 21 in http. The subscriber box is connected to the equipment 1 via a network link 22. The animated video telephony images are routed from the equipment 1 to the telephone 10 in a UMTS 3G broadband network. The web server (not shown) can be used in some cases: it is a Visio Kiosk installed at home, next to or in the subscriber box 21. In this case, the mobile phone 10 is connected directly to the server, without going through the Kiosque Visio 17.

An exemplary embodiment of driving home equipment by broadband video telephony according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The user of the service dials a video telephony call with his cellphone 10 to the centralized video display 17 by dialing a number common to all subscribers. The call is routed in H324m protocol by the link 10a to the IP 23 PABX located within the telephone network, called Centrex operator. If the user wishes to take advantage of the remote control service from the computer 11, he connects to the Internet and uses the video telephony feature on Voice over IP: this allows him to access the service by calling in voice over IP Visio Kiosk 17. The call is also routed by the Centrex Operator 23. The Centrex operator 23 sends the videophone calls to the Kiosk 30 Vision 17, and the voice over IP calls directly to the subscriber box 21 of the home 2 The Visio Kiosk 17 communicates with the subscriber box 21 in HTTP requests. The Media Server function of the Visio Kiosk 17 then requests the user of the telephone 10 to authenticate by entering his fixed line number and a service access code and sends to the Centrex Operator 23 on the link 25 a request for obtain, with this information, a right of access to the service. It thus obtains from the Centrex Operator an IP address called ip subscriber gateway for the subscriber box 21.

The Media Server function of the Visio Kiosk 17 can then send HTTP requests to the subscriber box subscriber ip gateway address 21, first to test and establish the connection in the event that the subscriber box 21 is on. line (that is to say, running and connected to the network), and then for the control and control of home automation equipment at the home of the subscriber. In the case where the subscriber box 21 is off line (that is to say stopped and / or not connected to the network), the Media Server function of the Kiosk Visio 17 informs the user of the telephone 10 or the Computer 11 that the control functions can not be activated, but that the user can for example leave a message. The subscriber box 21 can also integrate a Visio Kiosk 21a function, the Centrex operator 23 then sending directly to the subscriber box 21 IP video telephony calls, via the link 27.

The subscriber box 21 is connected to the equipment by a module 1a having the home automation functionality, the Multimedia Set Top Box (STB), placed near the equipment to be monitored and connected to it to ensure in its place, the domotics function that concerns it.

An example of user commands for remote control of equipment by video telephony according to the invention is described below with reference to FIG. 4. The subscriber wishing to view and control the equipment at his home, presses the DTMF keys (initials of Dual Tone Multifrequency, meaning the two tones played simultaneously by voice frequency keys) 25 of the keypad of his telephone 10. The user interface on the mobile is a videophone delivered by the Kiosk Visio 17 presenting the control menus of the equipment.

In this example, to turn on the lighting 1c of his house, the user 30 calls the number of the Kiosque Visio 17, identifies himself, and obtains on the screen a first menu 30, indicating his name: subscriber 1, and a choice to make in a menu: control the webcam with the key 1, control the heating with the key 2, etc .... For lighting, the user presses the key DTMF 3; he then obtains on the screen submenu 32, presenting the choices for illumination: switch on with key 1, or switch off with key 2. The user then presses the DTMF key 1. The service answers him that the lighting of the house is on.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown. It is possible to carry out an equivalent telephonic remote control service without the Centrex Operator: in this case, calls from the mobile phone or the computer are either routed via an enterprise PBX or connected directly to the UMTS 3G mobile network. , and in these two cases the UMTS 3G network routes the calls directly to the Visio Kiosk, without passing through a Centrex Operator; in this case, the communications arriving at the Visio Kiosk are encoded differently than the routing by the Centrex Operator: the Visio Kiosk must be set to receive these types of calls. It is also possible to provide mini-cameras located at different locations of the housing to visualize equipment whose only states of stopping or open-closed situation can be sufficient, to check the actual condition of the equipment after action from a distance, not just the situation of his only information or if cameras are used to monitor possible intrusions, use them to send video information on the operation of home automation equipment. It is also possible to contact the STB in order to have access to the integrated telephone directory. This access will thus make it possible to consult the cards 20 and numbers of the contacts specific to the subscriber's home to trigger a call directly by the videophone service. 20

Claims (17)

REVENDICATIONS1. Method for controlling equipment (1) remotely with videotelephony, these devices (1) being located in a room (2) and being connected within the room (2) by video links (22) to a central point (21) ), this centralizing point (21) communicating by telephone connection to a terminal (10, 11) of the user, characterized in that the telephony connection between the terminal (10, 11) and the centralizing point (21) benefits from end-to-end bandwidth io sufficiently wide to provide a connection speed and image quality equivalent to direct video telephony. 2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the access to the service is performed by telephone call from the terminal (10,11) to the videophone service. 3. Control method according to the preceding claim, wherein the access request is completed by a password and the fixed telephone number of the local. 4. The driving method according to claim 1, wherein the state of the monitored equipment, as well as the possible sound they emit, are displayed in remote videophone on the terminal. 25 5. Driving method according to claim 1, characterized in that an equipment control panel is displayed on the mobile phone or computer, with the commands stop-open or open-closed. 30 6. Control method according to claim 1, characterized in that the centralizing point is operated remotely from the terminal. 7. Remote control system for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the equipment to be controlled (1) is connected within the room (2) to a subscriber box ( 21), this subscriber box (21) being connected to the terminal (10, 11) of the user by an interoperable broadband network, all of whose elements process or carry video telephony. 8. Remote control system according to claim 7, wherein, the premises being a home, the equipment (1) located at home (2) themselves have a home automation feature with videophone. 9. remote control system according to claim 7, wherein, the premises being a home (2), those of equipment (1) located at home, which have no feature with videophone, are connected individually to a module STB (1 a), having this functionality and used to connect these io equipment (1) from the home (2) to the subscriber box (21) ensuring the home automation function instead of the equipment (1). 10. Remote control system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the subscriber box (21) is a web server 15 for exchanging voice and video telephony with the mobile network (19). and 27) and with home equipment (1, la). 11. A remote control system according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the user terminal (10,11) is compatible with a data sharing standard selected from H323 and SIP for voice over. IP, H324 and H324m for video telephony in UMTS network, 3G standard. A remote control system according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the user terminal (10, 11) is connected to an IP PBX or Centrex operator (23) located in the telephone network ( 10a, 11a, 25, 27). A remote control system according to claim 12, wherein the Centrex operator (23) encodes the home telephone calls (10, 11) to the home (2) in voice over IP calls, and sends them directly to the home. (2). A remote control system according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein the communications traversing the public fixed telephone network (PSTN) are encapsulated in the PSTN ISDN digital protocol. 15. The remote control system according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the Centrex operator (23) routes IP calls videophone calls to a Visio Kiosk (17) which, receiving video calls by protocol IP of the Centrex Operator (23), forward them to the home (2) by communicating with the subscriber box (21) in pages described in V-XML language in the http protocol. 16. Implementation system of the remote control method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the Centrex operator io (23) is connected directly to the subscriber box (21) when this box of subscriber also integrates a Visio Kiosk function (21 a), and in this case sends directly to the subscriber box calls for video telephony and voice calls in IP protocol. 17. Remote control system according to any of claims 7 to 16, wherein the terminal is a mobile phone (10) or a laptop (11).