JP2000354053A - Network communication module and electrical apparatus to which the module can be connected - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily shift from a home network to another having a different communication medium by transmitting an input/output program that is according with the input/output display form of the input/output part of a main device to this main device to perform the control of the input/output part, when the main device is connected to a network via a communication module. SOLUTION: When a communication module 2 is connected to a main device 1, a control part 11 starts a dynamic updating program which is stored in a dynamic updating program storage part 222. Then the device information is read out of a device information storage part 122 of the device 1, and the output type of an input/output part 13 contained in the device 1 is checked from the read device information. A graphic library, a character output library or an output library which performs no processing is installed in a communication program storage part 221 from a communication program library part 223, to display the status of a device that is connected to a home network and the menus and commands, etc., necessary for operating other devices on an output device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication module for a network, and an electric device provided with the communication module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called home network environment in which home electric appliances are connected to each other and can be operated mutually is being formed. The technology related to the home network environment is described in "NIKKEI ELECTRONICS 1998.11.16 P140-P145".

[0003] According to this, there are many home network standards, each of which presupposes connection using a different communication medium. For example, “Echonet” is a network using a power line, “HomePNA” is a network using a telephone line, and “HomeRF” is 2.4G.
Network using wireless in the Hz band, and HAVi
Has proposed a network using a metal wire or an optical fiber.

On the other hand, home electric appliances corresponding to a home network (hereinafter, referred to as “network electric home appliances”).
Stores (built-in) a communication control procedure for connecting to a network and a communication program in a storage unit in the network-type home appliance in advance.

[0005]

However, it is physically and electrically difficult for conventional network-type home appliances to be physically and electrically connected to a network constituted by a communication medium different from that provided by the network-type home appliances. Met.

Further, even if it becomes physically connectable, communication protocols and applications are different.
Since a problem that communication with other network-type home appliances cannot be performed occurs, it is necessary to replace a communication program built in the network-type home appliances.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network-type home electric appliance which can be easily shifted to a home network having a different communication medium. Yes, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a network-type home appliance that automatically sets up a different communication program for each network-type home appliance.

[0008]

A network communication module according to the present invention includes a communication program storage unit for storing a communication program used for network communication with an electric device, and a main device for controlling operation of the electric device. A dynamic update program storage unit that stores a plurality of input / output programs corresponding to the input / output display forms of the input / output unit, an input / output unit that is a connector for connection to a network, and a connection socket for the main device. A communication unit for a network comprising an interface unit, when the main device is connected to the network via the communication module for the network, the input / output program stored in the dynamic update program storage unit An input / output program corresponding to an input / output display mode of an input / output unit of the main device is transmitted to the main device. The main device controls the input / output unit using the input / output program, and performs data communication between the electric device and the main device using the communication program stored in the communication program storage unit. It is characterized by the following.

Further, the electric equipment to which the network communication module of the present invention can be connected is connectable to a network and performs data communication via the network.
In an electrical device to which a network communication module can be connected, via the network communication module,
When a main device that controls the operation of the electric device is connected to the network, an input / output unit of the main device is included in an input / output program stored in a dynamic update program storage unit in the network communication module. An input / output program corresponding to the input / output display mode is transmitted to the main device, the main device controls the input / output unit using the input / output program, and the main device communicates with the network communication device. Data communication with the electric device is performed using a communication program stored in a communication program storage unit of the module.

[0010]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electric apparatus having a (detachable) communication module according to the present invention.

The main equipment (1) and the communication module (2) are connected via an I / F part (14) on the main equipment (1) side and an I / F part (24) on the communication module (2) side. Have been.

First, the configuration of the main device (1) will be described.

The main device (1) comprises a control unit (11), a storage unit (12), an input / output unit (13), and an I / F unit (14). The storage unit (12) includes a ROM (Read Onl
y Memory) or RAM (Random Access Memory), and is composed of a device control program storage unit (121) and a device information storage unit (122).

The device control program storage section (121)
Stores an application program (API) for operating a device from an external program, and a program describing a method of controlling the device itself in a stand-alone mode.

The device information storage unit (122) includes a type of home electric appliance, the presence or absence of an input device and an output device, an output type,
Stores various information of the device such as the performance of a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

An input / output unit (13) is an input device such as a touch panel or a button for inputting an interactive program, and a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub) for displaying internal information of the device.
e) and an output device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

The I / F section (14) is composed of a socket,
It is connected to an I / F section (24) of a communication module (2) described later.

The control unit (11) is composed of a CPU. The input / output unit (13) on the main device (1) side, the input / output unit (23) on the communication module (2) side, and the device control program storage unit ( 121) and a communication program storage unit (22
1) The execution of the dynamic update program storage unit (222) is controlled.

Next, the configuration of the communication module (2) will be described.

The communication control section (21) comprises a communication control circuit necessary for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external network. The storage unit (22) includes a ROM or a RAM, and includes a communication program storage unit (221), a dynamic update program storage unit (222), and a communication program archive unit (2).
23).

The communication program storage unit (221) stores a communication program conforming to the standard of the home network.

The dynamic update program storage unit (222) stores the communication program storage unit (221) in the main device (1) based on the information in the device information storage unit (122) on the main device (1) side.
A dynamic update program for updating to the most suitable one is stored.

The communication program archive unit (223) stores all the modules of the communication program conforming to the standard of the home network in a compressed or uncompressed state.

Further, the input / output unit (23) comprises a connector for coupling a communication medium when the form of communication with the network is wired, and a wireless unit for transmitting and receiving radio waves when the form of communication is wireless, and has a function of connecting to an external network. Have.

The I / F unit (24) is composed of a socket,
It is connected to the I / F section (14) on the main device (1) side.

Next, the processing procedure of the above-described device will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 shows a procedure for dynamically updating a communication program.

A procedure for dynamically changing a communication program according to the type of the input / output unit (13) on the main device (1) side or presence or absence will be described.

When the communication module (2) is connected to the main device (1), the control unit (11) activates the dynamic update program stored in the dynamic update program storage unit (222).

A basic program used for all devices, such as a basic program for realizing power control from an external device, setting of an internal clock, transmission of status, and the like, is stored in a communication program storage unit (223) and a communication program storage unit (22).
Install in 1) (S101).

Next, the device information storage unit (1) of the main device (1)
The device information stored in (22) is read (S10).
2). The device information is composed of, for example, a table as shown in FIG.

The output type of the input / output unit (13) provided in the main device (1) is checked from the device information read in S102 (S103). That is, if an output device capable of graphic display is provided, the process proceeds to S104, if character-based output is possible, the process proceeds to S105, and if no output device is provided, the process proceeds to S106.

A graphic library for displaying the status of devices connected to the home network, menus / commands for operating other devices, etc. on the graphic output device from the communication program archive unit (223) to the communication program storage unit (221). ) To install (S
104).

A character output library for displaying the status of devices connected to the home network, menus / commands for operating other devices, etc. on the character output device from the communication program archive unit (223) to the communication program storage unit ( 221) to install (S
105).

The output function is suppressed. Specifically, an output library that does not perform any processing is stored in the communication program archive unit (2
From 23), it is installed in the communication program storage unit (221) (S106).

It is checked from the device information read in S102 whether the main device (1) is equipped with an input device (S102).
107). If the input device is provided, the process proceeds to S108, and if not, the process proceeds to S109.

An input library for instructing the operation of another device is installed from the communication program archive unit (223) to the communication program storage unit (221) (S10).
8).

In a device without an input device, the input function is suppressed (S109).

In this embodiment, the procedure for dynamically changing the communication program according to the type or presence or absence of the input / output unit (13) on the main device (1) side has been described. Dynamic change to a server communication program or a client communication program according to the device type of the device information and the performance of the CPU can be realized by the same procedure.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily shift to a home network having a different communication medium simply by connecting a communication module to an electric device, and to use a different communication program for each home appliance. Can be automatically set up, and the communication function can be flexibly changed and the network-type home electric appliance which can be expanded is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main device and a communication module.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for dynamically changing a communication program.

FIG. 3 is a table structure diagram for storing device information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Main device 11: Control unit 12: Storage unit 121: Device control program storage unit 122: Device information storage unit 13: Input / output unit 14: I / F unit 2: Communication module 21: Communication control unit 22: Storage unit 221 : Communication program storage unit 222: Dynamic update program storage unit 223: Communication program archive unit 23: Input / output unit 24: I / F unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] A communication program storage unit for storing a communication program used for network communication with an electric device; and an input / output display mode of an input / output unit of a main device for controlling operation of the electric device. In a network communication module comprising: a dynamic update program storage unit that stores a plurality of output programs; an input / output unit that is a connector for connecting to a network; and an interface unit that is a connection socket for connecting to the main device. When the main device is connected to the network via the network communication module, among the input / output programs stored in the dynamic update program storage unit,
An input / output program corresponding to the input / output display mode of the input / output unit of the main device is transmitted to the main device, and the main device controls the input / output unit using the input / output program, and A communication module for a network, wherein a device and a main device perform data communication using a communication program stored in the communication program storage unit. 2. An electrical device connectable to a network and performing data communication via the network and connectable to a network communication module, wherein the operation control of the electrical device is performed via the network communication module. Is connected to the network, when the input / output program stored in the dynamic update program storage unit in the network communication module, the input / output display form of the input / output unit of the main device A corresponding input / output program is transmitted to the main device, the main device controls the input / output unit using the input / output program, and the main device is a communication program storage unit of the network communication module. A network for performing data communication with the electrical device using a communication program stored in the network. Communication module electrical device connectable for over click.