JP2002237829A - Composite service providing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a plurality of different networks are built in a house (home) and utilized, but it is difficult to provide a composite service, by cooperating operations of a plurality of equipments connected to the respective networks and combining with the services provided by the respective equipments. SOLUTION: A composite service providing apparatus provides the composite service by mutually connecting a plurality of different networks and controlling the equipments connected to the respective networks according to service description data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, IEEE 1
A service device that interconnects a plurality of different networks, such as a network conforming to the 394 standard or an IP network using Ethernet (registered trademark), and is connected to any one of the networks and has an application protocol that can be used on the network. And a composite service providing apparatus for providing a composite service in which the services provided by the respective services are combined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers have become widespread in homes due to the general use of LANs and the Internet for business purposes, and electronic mail communication and WWW information collection have been actively performed. Like shopping, it has been used as a part of daily life. DVD,
Digital information devices such as STBs and DVCs have also been widely used in homes, and these devices have been connected to one another via networks. Further, with the rapid spread of mobile phones and information services using mobile phones, information services using low-bandwidth wireless communication such as mobile phones are also becoming common in everyday life. That is, a situation in which a plurality of different networks coexist in a house is occurring.

[0003]

However, even if a plurality of different networks are built in the house, the operation of a plurality of devices connected to each network is linked to combine the services provided by each. It was difficult to provide services. The present invention has been made in view of such problems in the related art, and provides a composite service in which the services provided by each are combined by linking the operations of a plurality of devices connected to each network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite service providing apparatus capable of performing the above.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention interconnects a plurality of different networks and implements an application protocol which is connected to any one of the networks and can be used on the network. A composite service providing apparatus for providing a composite service in which each service provided by each of the service devices is provided, wherein the service obtains service description data in which the content of the composite service is described using a predetermined description element. Description data acquisition means, a command description element for describing a command, which is a kind of the description element and included in the contents of the composite service, in the service description data, an application protocol corresponding to the command description element, and the application protocol; Stores the specified command specified in the protocol A plurality of command correspondence storage means and a plurality of service means for transmitting the prescribed command to each service device using communication means for communicating with each service device through a network connected to each service device; An application protocol module, an application protocol corresponding to the command description element included in the service description data, and a service interpreting means for extracting the prescribed command based on the contents stored in the command correspondence storage means; Controlling the service device by transmitting the specified command extracted by the service interpreting means to the application protocol module corresponding to the application protocol extracted by the service interpreting means in accordance with the above. It is configured as a complex service providing device comprising comprising a service device control means for providing, to a.

In the complex service providing apparatus, a device designation element for describing the designation of the service device, which is one of the description elements and included in the contents of the complex service, in the service description data, and the device designation element Providing device identification information storage means for storing providing device identification information for identifying the complex service providing device to which the service device specified by using the element is connected, and providing another complex service connected to the own device Receiving information on the application protocol and the prescribed command from the device, and replacing the service device control means of the own device with:
A skeleton module for controlling the service device connected to the own device by causing the application protocol module of the own device corresponding to the application protocol specified by the information to transmit the prescribed command specified by the information; A proxy module for sending information on the application protocol and the prescribed command to another complex service providing apparatus connected to the own apparatus, wherein the service interpreting means is provided on the basis of the contents stored in the providing apparatus identification information storing means. The service device corresponding to the device designating element included in the service description data and the composite service providing device to which the service device is connected are also extracted, and the service device control means is extracted by the service interpretation means. Service machine When the complex service providing device to which is connected is another complex service providing device connected to the own device, the information relating to the application protocol and the prescribed command is sent to the other complex service providing device to the proxy module. It may be sent. Further, in the composite service providing apparatus, the service description data obtaining means may obtain the service description data through a communication line.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention.
The following embodiments are specific examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a composite service providing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 interconnects a plurality of different networks using the composite service providing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an application service relay unit of the composite service providing device, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a service execution control unit of the composite service providing device. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a composite service providing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a home controller) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a network 2 compliant with the IEEE 1394 standard, A plurality of different networks such as an IP network 3 using Ethernet are interconnected. The home controller 1 is connected to any one of the plurality of networks 2, 3,... And can use the STB on which an application protocol such as an AV / C command or HTTP is mounted. , DVRs, personal computers, printers and other service devices 201, 202,.
, 301 are combined with each other to provide each service device 201,.
…, Are provided in cooperation.

The configuration of the home controller 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it can be roughly divided into three: a network interconnection communication unit 110, an application service relay unit 120, and a service execution control unit 130. The network interconnection communication unit 110 includes data communication modules respectively corresponding to the physical layer and the data link layer of the networks 2, 3,... Interconnected by the home controller 1, for example, as shown in FIG.
An IEEE 1394 data communication module (specific example of communication means) 111 according to the 4 standards and a LAN data communication module (specific example of communication means) 112 according to the Ethernet standard and TCP / IP. The application service relay unit 120 includes an application service entry 121 as shown in FIG. In the application service entry 121, an application protocol module 122 for controlling the execution of each application service is stored in an entry format for all the application services available in the networks 2, 3,.
For example, an AV / C command (formally AV / C Digital) which is one of the IEEE 1394 application protocols
Interface Command Set, hereinafter simply referred to as AV / C)
Are composed of a client-side protocol that requests service execution control and a server-side protocol that performs actual service processing in response to a received request. The server-side protocol is implemented in each service device 201,. The protocol processing module is registered in the application service entry 121. Also,
The application service relay unit 120 is provided with a parameter data area 123 for each application protocol module 122 registered in the application service entry 121, and each parameter data area 122 has Is stored.

As shown in FIG. 4, the service execution control unit 130 includes a service description data input module (corresponding to a service description data acquisition unit) 131, a service registration table (corresponding to an instruction correspondence storage unit) 132, and a service description data interpretation module. Module (corresponding to service interpretation means) 1
33, a service control module (corresponding to service device control means) 134, and the like. The service description data input module 131 is a module for acquiring service description data in which the contents of the composite service are described using a predetermined description element, and uses an FD drive unit or the like. The service description data stored in the FD is obtained by the FD drive unit. The content of the composite service provided by the home controller 1 is, for example, “a satellite broadcast program is received by a STB at a designated time, the received video data is recorded in a DVR, and the received program data is displayed on a web page of a website of the received program. Access and display on a personal computer. " In this case,
FIG. 5 shows a specific example of the service description data acquired by the service description data input module 131. As the service description data, a text-based description format such as XML is used. As shown in FIG. 5, a tag (hereinafter, referred to as a command tag) is given corresponding to an instruction included in the content of the composite service. The tag <SEQ> indicates that the command tags between <SEQ> and </ SEQ> are sequentially processed, and is a type of control tag for controlling the execution order of the command tags between them. In the example of FIG. 5, tags <SEQ> and </ S
<GET>, <RECORD>, <W
There are three command tags, WW>. The command tag <GET> is an instruction for acquiring information, and in this example, “N =“ Tuner 1 ”CH =“ 3 ”T =” 2
000/12/10/10/10 "". As a result, an instruction to cause the STB to start receiving the program of channel number 3 at 10:00 on December 10, 2000 is represented. The command tag <RECORD> is an instruction for recording information. In this example, “N =“ video 1 ”ST =“ 200 ”
0/12/10/10/10 "ET =" 2000/1
2/10/11/30 "". As a result, a command to record video data broadcast on the network 2 on a medium set in the DVR from 10:00 to 11:30 on December 10, 2000 is displayed. The command tag <WWW> is an instruction to acquire a web page and display the acquired web page on a web browser. In this example, “N =“ PC 1 ”URL =“ www. kobelco. co. jp
/ ***. htm "". As a result, http: // www. kobel
co. co. jp / ****. htm and a command to display the obtained web page on a web browser running on a personal computer. Thus, the service description data is
It is described using a predetermined description element such as a control tag or a command tag. Among these tags, the command tag is a specific example of the instruction description element, and includes, for example, instruction content and parameters.

In the service registration table 132, specifications of the command tag, an application protocol corresponding to the command tag, and a prescribed command described in the application protocol are registered.
FIG. 6 shows a specific example of the registered contents registered in the service registration table 132. In FIG. 6, a command tag specification, a corresponding application protocol, and a specified command are given in relation to the three command contents of “program reception”, “program recording”, and “web page display”. The command tag specification corresponding to the instruction content “program reception” is <GET CH = program channel number T = reception start date and time>. The application protocol corresponding to the command tag specification is AV / C, and the specified command is a program reception command specified by AV / C. The command tag specification corresponding to the instruction content “program recording” is <RECORD ST = recording start date and time ET = recording end date and time>. The application protocol corresponding to the command tag specification is also AV / C, and the specified command is a video recording command specified by AV / C.
The command tag specification corresponding to the instruction content “display web page” is <WWW URL = URL of browse page.
Address>. The application protocol corresponding to the command tag specification is HTTP, and the specified command is a web page acquisition command specified by HTTP. The service description data interpretation module 133
When the service description data is supplied from the service description data input module 131, description elements such as the control tag and the command tag are cut out, and processing for each command tag is performed from the control tag included in the service description data. Determine the order. Then, the application protocol and the prescribed command corresponding to each command tag are extracted with reference to the service registration table 132 in the determined processing order, and information on the extracted application protocol and the prescribed command is sent to the service control module 134. Supply. If the specified command includes a parameter, the parameter is stored in the parameter data area 123 corresponding to the extracted application protocol. The service control module 134 transmits the application protocol module 122 corresponding to the application protocol supplied from the service description data interpretation module 133 to the application service relay unit 1.
20 and the specified command is passed, and the execution is awaited. When the completion of the execution is notified from the application service relay unit 120, the service control module 134 requests the service description data interpretation module 133 to perform an interpretation process for the next command tag.

In the example of FIG. 5, the service description data includes the control tag <SEQ>, and the service description data interpretation module 133 causes the control tag <SEQ></SEQ> to be included between the control tags <SEQ></SEQ>. It is defined that command tags are processed sequentially (in order from the top). Since the command tags are arranged in the order of <GET>, <RECORD>, and <WWW> between the control tags <SEQ></SEQ>, the service description data interpretation module 133 first executes the command tags. Tag <GET
>, Corresponding to AV as the application protocol
/ C is extracted, and an AV / C program reception command is extracted as the specified command. The extracted information on the application protocol and the specified command is stored in the service description data interpretation module 13.
3 to the service control module 134. Also, the parameter “N =“ Tuner 1 ”CH =“ 3 ”T =“ 200 ”of the command tag <GET>
"0/12/10/10/10""is set in the parameter data area 123 corresponding to the AV / C of the application service relay unit 120. Next, in response to a request from the service control module 134, the application protocol module 122 corresponding to the application protocol supplied from the service description data interpretation module 133 is started by the application service relay unit 120,
The prescribed command is passed to the application protocol module, and execution of the prescribed command is waited. In this case, the processing module of the AV / C client side protocol is activated, and the program reception command is passed.
Its execution will be awaited. And the started AV
By controlling the processing module of the client-side protocol of / C, the IEEE1394 data communication module 111 transmits the STB 20 specified by the parameter from the IEEE1394 data communication module 111.
1, an execution request of the program reception command specifying the program channel number and the reception start date and time is transmitted.

The STB 201 specified by the parameters
When the execution request is received, if the condition of the reception start date and time is satisfied, the program reception command is immediately executed, and the reception of the program of the program channel number 3 starts at 10:00 on December 10, 1999. After the start, the received video data is broadcast-transmitted on the network 2 and the completion of the execution request is determined by the IEEE 1
The above AV through the 394 data communication module 111
/ C client side protocol processing module. On the other hand, S
When the execution request is received by the TB 201, if the reception start date and time have not been reached, execution of the program reception command is reserved, and completion of the execution request is determined by the IEEE.
Via the E1394 data communication module 111, the AV / C client-side protocol processing module and the service control module 134 are notified. When the service control module 134 confirms that the execution of the program reception command has been completed, a processing request for the next command tag is made to the service description data interpretation module 133. In the service description data interpretation module 133, AV / C is extracted as an application protocol corresponding to the next command tag <RECORD>, and a video recording command of AV / C is extracted as the prescribed command. . Information on the extracted application protocol and the specified command is transmitted from the service description data interpretation module 133 to the service control module 134.
Supplied to In addition, the command tag <RECORD
> Parameter “N =“ video 1 ”ST =“ 2000 ”
/ 12/10/10/10 / ET = "2000/12
"/ 10/10/30""is set in the parameter data area 123 corresponding to the AV / C of the application service relay unit 120. Next, in response to a request from the service control module 134, a processing module of the AV / C client side protocol is activated, the video recording command is passed, and the execution is awaited. The IEEE 139 is controlled by the processing module of the started AV / C client side protocol.
The data communication module 111 for 4 sends an execution request of the video program command specifying the recording start date and time and the recording end date and time to the DVR 203 specified by the parameter.

The DVR 203 specified by the above parameters
When the execution request is received, the program reception command is immediately executed if the condition of the recording start date and time is satisfied, and the network reception command is executed from 10:00 to 11:30 on December 10, 2000. 2 is broadcast on the DVR 203
And the completion of the execution request is notified to the AV / C client side protocol processing module and the service control module 134 through the IEEE 1394 data communication module 111. On the other hand, when the execution request is received by the DVR 203 specified by the parameter, if the recording start date and time have not been reached, the execution of the video recording command is reserved, and the completion of the execution request is determined by the IEEE1394. Data communication module 11
1, the processing module of the client protocol of the AV / C and the service control module 134 are notified. The service control module 13
When the execution completion of the video recording command is confirmed by (4), a processing request for the next command tag is made to the service description data interpretation module 133.
In the service description data interpretation module 133, HTTP is extracted as an application protocol corresponding to the next command tag <WWW>, and an HTTP web page acquisition command is extracted as the prescribed command. The information on the extracted application protocol and the specified command is supplied from the service description data interpretation module 133 to the service control module 134. Also, the parameter “N =“ PC 1 ”UR of the command tag <WWW>
L = “www.kobelco.co.jp / ***.
htm "" is the application service relay unit 1
20 parameter data areas 12 corresponding to HTTP
Set to 3. Next, in response to a request from the service control module 134, a processing module of the HTTP protocol is activated, the web page acquisition command is passed, and the execution is awaited. Then, under the control of the activated HTTP protocol processing module, L
The URL from the AN data communication module 112 to the personal computer 301 specified by the parameter
An execution request of the web page acquisition command specifying the address is transmitted.

In the personal computer 301 specified by the parameters, a network application created in, for example, the JAVA (registered trademark) language is operating, and the execution request is received by the network application. When the execution request is received by the network application, a web browser is started by the network application, and a web page of a designated URL address is displayed on the web browser. When the web page is displayed on the web browser, the execution of the execution request is completed by the network application.
The HTTP through the AN data communication module 112
, And the service control module 134. The service control module 1
At 34, when the execution completion of the web page acquisition command is confirmed, a processing request for the next command tag is made to the service description data interpretation module 133, but there is no next command tag, and all processing is performed. Complete. As a result, the satellite broadcast program is received by the STB at the designated time, the received video data is recorded on the DVR, and the web page of the website of the received program is accessed and displayed on the personal computer. Is provided. In the embodiment, the control tag <S
Although each command tag is sequentially processed according to EQ>, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, conditional branching or parallel processing may be performed. Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a network conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard and an IP network using Ethernet. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to wireless networks such as Ericsson's trademark.

[0014]

[Embodiment] In the above embodiment, a complex network in which a plurality of different networks 2, 3,... Laid in one room in a house are interconnected by one home controller 1 is formed. Of course, a plurality of networks scattered in different rooms of the house may be interconnected by one home controller to form the composite network,
When interconnecting a plurality of networks that are relatively far from each other, a plurality of home controllers installed in the house are interconnected, and a composite network formed by one home controller and another home controller are formed. A plurality of composite networks may be interconnected to form a composite network in which the multiple composite networks are interconnected, thereby interconnecting a plurality of networks belonging to different composite networks. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the home controller 1A forming the composite network 4A in the living room in the house
And a home controller 1B forming a composite network 4B in the child's room to form a composite network 5 by mutually connecting them. As shown in FIG.
Both the living room home controller 1A and the child room home controller 1B interconnect the networks 2A and 2B according to the IEEE 1394 standard and the IP networks 2B and 3B using Ethernet. For example, STB 201A is connected as a service device to the living room side network 2A, and a personal computer 301A is connected to the living room side network 2B as a service device. A service device such as a DVR 203B is connected to the network 2B in the child room, and a service device is connected to the network 3B in the child room as a service device.
For example, a personal computer 301B is connected. The home controller 1A in the living room and the home controller 1B in the children's room combine the composite services obtained by combining the services provided by the above-described service devices connected to the plurality of networks, and link the respective service devices. provide.

The home controller 1A in the living room and the home controller 1B in the child's room are connected by a home backbone network 6. The home backbone network 6 is a network conforming to, for example, the IEEE 1394 standard. When connected to another home controller by the home backbone network 6,
The configuration of each home controller 1 (1A, 1B,...)
As shown in FIG.
(110A, 110B, ...), application service relay unit 120 (120A, 120B, ...), application service relay proxy unit 125 (125A, 125A,
125B, ...) and the service execution control unit 130 (13
0A, 130B,...). The configurations of the network interconnection communication unit 110 and the application service relay unit 120 are the same as those of the embodiment. The application service relay proxy unit 125 (125A, 125
, B) are proxy processing modules 126 (126A, 126B,...), Skeleton processing modules 127 (127A, 127B,...), Parameter data areas 128 (128A, 128B,.
129 (129A, 129B, ...). The proxy processing module (corresponding to the proxy module)
Reference numeral 126 denotes information relating to the application protocol and the prescribed command passed from the service control module 134 of the home controller 1 in place of each application protocol module 122 of the application service relay unit 120 of another home controller 1. , Said home backbone network 6
This is a module for performing a process of transmitting to another home controller 1 through the. When transmitting the information related to the application protocol and the prescribed command, a data communication module (not shown) for IEEE 1394 connected to the home backbone network 6 and separate from that of the network interconnection communication unit 110 is used. Is done. The parameter data area 128 stores input and return parameter data when the proxy processing module 126 operates.

The skeleton processing module (corresponding to the skeleton module) 127 receives information (including parameters) on the application protocol and the prescribed command received from the other home controller 1 through the home backbone network 6 and includes the home controller. 1 is a module for performing processing to be passed to the corresponding application protocol module 122 of the application service relay unit 120,
The parameter data area 129 stores input and return parameter data when the skeleton processing module 127 operates. The service execution control unit 1
30 (130A, 130B,...) As shown in FIG.
The service description data input module 131 (131A,
131B,...), Service registration table 132 (132
A, 132B, ...), the service description data interpretation module 133 (133A, 133B, ...), and the service control module 134 (134A, 134B, ...), and a name registration table 135 (135A, 135B, ...).
…)including. For example, the content of the composite service provided by the home controller 1A and the home controller 1B is such that "the STB in the living room on the first floor receives a satellite broadcast program at a designated time, and the received video data is transmitted to the child on the second floor. Record in the DCR in the room, then access the web page of the website of the program to receive,
It is displayed on a personal computer in a children's room on the floor. " In this case, a specific example of the service description data obtained by the service description data input module 131 is basically the same as that shown in FIG. That is, the service description data includes the control tag <SEQ>, and between the control tags <SEQ></SEQ>, the command tags are <GET>, <RECORD>, <WWW>. Are arranged in this order. The control tag <SEQ>, the command tags <GET>, <RECORD>, <WWW>
Means the same as described for the example of FIG. The difference is that the STB 20 corresponding to the service device “Tuner 1” specified by the parameter is different.
1A is in the living room, DVR 203B corresponding to "video 1", "PC 1", personal computer 301
B is in the children's room.

The name registration table (corresponding to the providing device identification information storage means) 135 includes a parameter (device designation element) for describing the designation of each service device connected to the complex network 5 in the service description data. And identification information (corresponding to providing device identification information) for identifying the home controller 1 to which each service device specified by the service description data is connected. For example, the home controllers 1A, 1
Assuming that B is represented as home controllers A and B in the identification information of the home controller 1, respectively, the designation of the service device “N =“ Tuner 1 ”” and the identification information of the home controller 1 “HN =” home controller A "" Is registered in association with the service device designation "N =" Video 1 "" and the identification information "HN =" Home controller B "" of the home controller 1 are registered in association with each other, and the service device is registered. The designation “N =“ PC 1 ”” and the identification information “HN =“ Home controller B ”” of the home controller 1 are registered in association with each other. The service description data interpretation module 133 includes:
When a parameter specifying a service device is extracted from the service description data supplied from the service description data input module 131, the service device specified by the parameter is connected with reference to the name registration table 135. Home controller 1
Also extract. If the extracted home controller 1 is another home controller, the extracted parameters and the identification information are stored in the parameter data area 128, and the extracted information on the application protocol and the prescribed command (by the other home controller 1). The proxy control information is supplied to the service control module 134 (including proxy specification information indicating that a parameter specifying a service device connected to the formed complex network (4A, 4B, ...) has been extracted). The service control module 134 includes the service description data interpretation module 13
In the case where the proxy specification information is included in the information on the prescribed command supplied from the third party, the application service relay proxy unit 125 activates the proxy processing module 126, and the proxy processing module 126 sends the application protocol and the prescribed Pass information about the instruction and wait for its execution to complete. Completion of execution is determined by the skeleton processing module 12 of the application service relay proxy unit 125.
7, the service control module 13
No. 4 requests the service description data interpretation module 133 to perform processing for the next command tag.

Similarly to the above embodiment, in this example, the service description data includes the control tag <SEQ>, and the service description data interpretation module 133
The command tags <GET>, <RECORD>, <RECORD> between the control tags <SEQ></SEQ>
WWW> in this order. The service description data interpretation module 133 first extracts AV / C as an application protocol corresponding to the command tag <GET>, and extracts an AV / C program reception command as the specified command. Become. Information about the extracted application protocol and the specified command is stored in the service description data interpretation module 133 of the home controller 1.
From the service control module 134.
Here, assuming that the service description data is acquired by the service description data input module 131A of the home controller 1A, the parameter “N =“ Tuner 1 ”CH of the command tag <GET>
= "3" T = "2000/12/10/10/10/0"
STB 201 which is a service device designated by "0""
A is interpreted as a device connected to the network 2A to which the home controller 1A is interconnected by referring to the name registration table 135A, so that the parameter is stored in the parameter data of the application service relay unit 120A. It is set in the area 123. Next, the service control module 134
In response to the request from A, the application protocol module 122 corresponding to the application protocol supplied from the service description data interpretation module 133A is started by the application service relay unit 120A, and the specified command is sent to the application protocol module 122. Passed
Execution of the prescribed instruction is awaited. In this case, the processing module of the AV / C client side protocol is activated, the program reception command is passed, and the execution is awaited.

Then, under the control of the processing module of the client side protocol of the started AV / C, the IE is controlled.
The EE1394 data communication module 111A sends an execution request of the program reception command specifying the program channel number and the reception start date and time to the STB 201A specified by the parameter. When the execution request is received by the STB 201A specified by the parameter, if the condition of the reception start date and time is satisfied, the program reception command is immediately executed, and the program channel is started from 10:00 on December 10, 2000. The reception of the program of the number 3 is started, the received video data is broadcast-transmitted on the network 2A, and the completion of the execution request is notified to the processing module of the client protocol of the AV / C. When the video data is broadcast, the same video data is transmitted to the home backbone network 6 by the home controller 1A through the proxy processing module 126A.
Is also broadcasted. Furthermore, the video data is broadcast-transmitted to the network 2B connected to the home controller 1B by another home controller 1B which has received the video data broadcast-transmitted through the home backbone network 6. On the other hand, the ST specified by the parameter
When the execution request is received by B201A, if the reception start date and time has not been reached, execution of the program reception command is reserved, and completion of the execution request is determined by the AV / AV.
C is notified to the processing module of the client side protocol and further to the service control module 134A. In the service control module 134A, when the execution completion of the program reception command is confirmed, a processing request for the next command tag is made to the service description data interpretation module 133A. In the service description data interpretation module 133A, corresponding to the command tag <RECORD> arranged next,
AV / C is extracted as an application protocol, and an AV / C video recording command is extracted as the prescribed command.

The parameter “N =“ video 1 ”ST =“ 2000/12 /
10/10/00 "ET =" 2000/12/10 //
DVR which is a service device specified by "1130""
203B is interpreted as a device connected to the network to which the other home controller 1B is interconnected by referring to the name registration table 135A. Therefore, the parameter and identification information for identifying the home controller 1B are stored. Is set in the parameter data area 128A. Next, in response to a request from the service control module 134A, the proxy processing module 126A is activated, and information (including the proxy information) relating to the application protocol and the specified command is passed, and execution of the specified command is executed. I will wait. The proxy processing module 126A
When the information on the application protocol and the prescribed command is passed to the
The identification information stored in the home application 1B is extracted from the proxy processing module 126A through the home backbone network 6 to the skeleton processing module 127B of another home controller 1B identified by the identification information. Information regarding the protocol and the prescribed command is transmitted. When the skeleton processing module 127B of the home controller 1B in the child's room receives the information on the extracted application protocol and the prescribed command, the application service relay unit 12 corresponding to the application protocol is received.
The prescribed command is passed to the application protocol module 123 of the OB, and the execution of the prescribed command is waited. In this case, the processing module of the AV / C client side protocol is activated, the program reception command is passed, and the execution is awaited. Then, under the control of the activated AV / C client-side protocol processing module, the video program command specifying the recording start date and time and the recording end date and time from the IEEE 1394 data communication module 110B to the DVR 203B specified by the parameter. Is sent.

The DVR 203 specified by the above parameters
B, when the execution request is received, if the condition of the recording start date and time is satisfied, the program reception command is executed immediately, and at 10:00 on December 10, 2000.
From 11 minutes to 11:30, the video data broadcast on the network 2B is transmitted to the DVR 2
The AV / C client-side protocol processing module and the skeleton processing module 127B are notified of the completion of the execution request, which is recorded on the medium set in the 03B. On the other hand, when the execution request is received by the DVR 203B specified by the parameter, if the recording start date and time have not been reached,
The execution of the video recording command is reserved, and the completion of the execution request is notified to the processing module of the AV / C client side protocol and further to the skeleton processing module 127B. When the completion of the execution of the video recording command is confirmed by the skeleton processing module 127B, the completion of the execution of the video recording command is notified to the proxy processing module 126A of the home controller 1A through the home backbone network 6. When the notification is received by the proxy processing module 126 of the home controller 1A through the home backbone network 6, the service control module 134A is further notified of the completion of the execution of the video recording command. When the completion of the execution of the video recording command is confirmed by the service control module 134A, a processing request for the next command tag is sent to the service description data interpretation module 133A.
Done for

The service description data interpretation module 1
In 33A, HTTP is extracted as an application protocol corresponding to the next command tag <WWW>, and an HTTP web page acquisition command is extracted as the prescribed command. The extracted information on the application protocol and the prescribed command is supplied from the service description data interpretation module 133A to the service control module 134A.
In addition, the parameter “N” of the command tag <WWW>
= "PC 1" URL = "www.kobelc"
o. co. jp / ****. The personal computer 301B, which is a service device designated by “htm” ”,
By referring to the name registration table 135A, the home controller 1B is interpreted as a device connected to the interconnected network 3B.
The parameters and the identification information of the home controller 1B are set in the parameter data area 128A of the application service relay unit 120A. Next, in response to a request from the service control module 134A, the proxy processing module 126A is activated, the application protocol and the information on the prescribed command are passed, and the execution of the prescribed command is awaited. When the information relating to the application protocol and the prescribed command is passed to the proxy processing module 126A, the identification information stored in the parameter data area 128A is extracted, and the information of the other home controller 1B identified by the identification information is extracted. The information related to the extracted application protocol and the prescribed command is transmitted from the proxy processing module 126A to the skeleton processing module 127B via the home backbone network 6. When the skeleton processing module 127B of the home controller 1B in the child's room receives the information on the extracted application protocol and the prescribed command, the application service relay unit 1
The HTTP protocol processing module suitable for 20B is activated, the web page acquisition command is passed, and its execution is awaited.

Under the control of the activated HTTP protocol processing module, the LAN data communication module 112B sends a request to execute the web page acquisition command specifying a URL address to the personal computer 301B specified by the parameter. You. In the personal computer 301B designated by the parameter, when the execution request is received by the network application, a web browser is started by the network application,
A web page of the specified URL address is displayed on the web browser. When the web page is displayed on the web browser, the execution request is completed by the network application on the personal computer 301B through the LAN data communication module 112B, the HTTP processing module, and the skeleton processing module. 127B is notified. When the completion of the execution of the web page acquisition command is confirmed by the skeleton processing module 127B, the completion of execution of the web page acquisition command is notified to the proxy processing module 126A of the home controller 1A via the home backbone network 6. You. When the notification is received by the proxy processing module 126A of the home controller 1A via the home backbone network 6, the service control module 134A is further notified of the completion of the execution of the web page acquisition command. When the completion of execution of the web page acquisition command is confirmed in the service control module 134A, a processing request for the next command tag is made to the service description data interpretation module 133A, but there is no next command tag. All processing is completed.
As a result, the satellite broadcast program is received by the STB in the living room on the first floor at the designated time, and the received video data is recorded in the DCR in the children's room on the second floor. Access the web page of the site and display it on the personal computer in the children's room on the second floor. "

In the above embodiment, the service description data input module 131 acquires the service description data using an FD drive unit.
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the service description data is transmitted by receiving the service description data transmitted from a remote place through a communication line such as a public line or a CATV cable using a modem or the like. You may do so. However, when the service description data is transmitted from a remote place to the home controller 1 through a communication line such as a public line, the service description data adopting the text-based description format leaks in the middle of the communication path. There is also a risk that it will. For this reason, when transmitting to the home controller 1 from a remote place via a public line or the like, the service description data may be encrypted so that the home controller 1 can decrypt the service description data. Further, when acquiring the service description data transmitted through a communication line such as a public line, there is a possibility that a service device in the house may be used illegally. For this reason, personal information such as a user ID and a password is registered in the home controller 1 in advance, and the personal information transmitted through a public line or the like matches the information registered in the home controller 1. Only in this case, the service description data may be obtained, and the composite service may be performed in accordance with the service description data. As a composite service provided in accordance with the service description data transmitted from a remote place through a communication line, for example, a distance education service can be considered. The educator writes the service description data in accordance with the progress of the learning on a DVD player or a personal computer used by the learner, in which the DVD teaching material provided in advance to the learner is set, and communicates through the communication line. Send it to the home controller in the house where the learner is. The home controller combines service devices such as DVD players and personal computers according to the progress of learning, etc., and the combined services provided by the learners allow learners to perform learning appropriate to their academic abilities using various information sources. Can be.

[0025]

As described above, in the composite service providing apparatus according to the present invention, even if there are a plurality of different networks, the composite service providing apparatus combines the services provided by the devices connected to the networks. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a composite service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of interconnection of a plurality of different networks by the composite service providing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an application service relay unit of the composite service providing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a service execution control unit of the composite service providing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of service description data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the relationship between command contents registered in a service registration table of the service execution control unit, command tag specifications, application protocols, and prescribed commands.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a composite service providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a configuration of an application service relay proxy unit of the composite service providing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a service execution control unit of the composite service providing apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Home controller 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B ... Network 110, 110A, 110B ... Network interconnection communication part 111 ... Data communication module for IEEE1394 112 ... LAN data communication module 120, 120A, 120B ... Application service relay Units 125, 125A, 125B ... application service relay proxy units 126, 126A, 126B ... proxy processing modules 127, 127A, 127B ... skeleton processing modules 130, 130A, 130B ... service execution control units 131, 131A, 131B ... service description data input Modules 132, 132A, 132B ... service registration tables 133, 133A, 133B ... service description data interpretation modules 134, 134 A, 134B: Service control module 135, 135A, 135B: Name registration table

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A system in which a plurality of different networks are interconnected to provide a composite service in which services provided by service devices connected to one of the networks and having an application protocol available on the network are provided. A composite service providing apparatus, comprising: service description data acquisition means for acquiring service description data in which the content of the composite service is described using a predetermined description element; A command description element for describing a command included in the content in the service description data, an application protocol corresponding to the command description element, and a command correspondence storage unit storing a specified command specified by the application protocol; Service equipment applications A plurality of application protocol modules for sending the prescribed command to each service device using communication means for communicating via a network to which each service device is connected, the plurality of application protocol modules each corresponding to a protocol; Service interpreting means for extracting the application protocol corresponding to the command description element included in the service description data and the prescribed command based on the storage content of the service description data, and the application protocol extracted by the service interpreting means in accordance with the service description data And a service device control unit that controls the service device to provide the composite service by sending the specified command extracted by the service interpretation unit to the application protocol module corresponding to the application protocol module. Service providing apparatus. 2. A device specifying element for describing the specification of the service device, which is a kind of the description element and included in the contents of the composite service, in the service description data, and is specified using the device specifying element. Providing device identification information storage means for storing providing device identification information for identifying the complex service providing device to which the service device is connected; and an application protocol and the specification from another complex service providing device connected to the own device. Receives the information related to the command and sends the specified command specified by the information to the application protocol module of the own device corresponding to the application protocol specified by the information on behalf of the service device control means of the own device. To control the service device connected to the own device. A skeleton module, and a proxy module for transmitting information related to an application protocol and the prescribed command to another complex service providing apparatus connected to the own apparatus, wherein the service interpreting means is provided in the providing apparatus identification information storing means. Based on the stored contents, the service device corresponding to the device designating element included in the service description data and the composite service providing device to which the service device is connected are also extracted. If the composite service providing device to which the service device extracted by the interpreting means is connected is another composite service providing device connected to the own device, the composite protocol providing device transmits the application protocol and the application protocol to the other composite service providing device. The information about the prescribed command is stored in the proxy module. Composite service providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein comprising by sent to Le. 3. The composite service providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said service description data acquiring means acquires said service description data through a communication line.