JP2003140710A - Information home electrical appliance control system, database server, information home electrical appliance, and information home electrical appliance control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To impart variety to the action pattern of an autonomous information home electrical appliance by creating a new action pattern following the characteristics of the communicating party. SOLUTION: A database server 10 retrieves information associated with equipment from a database 20, and provides it. The database 20 is connected to the database server 10, and manages and stores the information associated with the equipment. Autonomous equipment 30 (robot, information home electrical appliance) receives information from the database server 10 or autonomous equipment 40 (robot, information home electrical appliance), and performs an operation corresponding to the autonomous equipment 40 based on an autonomous program. The autonomous equipment 40 receives the information from the database server 10 or the autonomous equipment 30, and performs an operation corresponding to the autonomous equipment 30 based on an autonomous program. A network 50 transmits the information or request information as an IPv6 packet. A short-range communicating means 60 confirms the existence of equipment existing in the neighborhood.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information home appliance control system and an information home appliance control method for controlling an autonomous information home appliance, and particularly to change its own characteristics according to the characteristics of other information home appliances. The present invention relates to an information home appliance control system and an information home appliance control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, robots have been mainly developed for industrial use or research use. However, in recent years, with the aging of society and the development of science and technology, the emergence of robots is expected as an information home appliance with entertainment for the purpose of contacting people.

In such a situation, an autonomous robot which processes information obtained from a sensor or the like to decide what to do next has been developed and put on the market.
Such a robot has a built-in biological function such as an emotion / instinct that a personality is formed depending on how each user contacts, a learning function, and a growth function. These functions determine the next operation by reacting to the information from the sensor or a specific color or shape, recognizing a voice, and processing the information. Therefore, the robot has become popular because it does not have the same behavior pattern for each user.

[0004]

However, such a robot creates an attachment like buying a pet by defining the behavior in the form of robot-to-person, but an autonomous program is only possible in the relationship of robot-to-person. Didn't work. There was robot-to-robot communication, and the results were not reflected in autonomous programs. When such autonomous robots increase in the future, it is conceivable that new entertainment will be created by exchanging information between the robots and using the information for further action determination.

For example, a plurality of robots of the same type can gather together to act, form a group, and the like, whereby new entertainment can be provided to the user. However, conventional autonomous robots recognize each other,
It did not have the function of incorporating it into an autonomous program to process information.

Here, as an example of exchanging information between a plurality of devices, in JP-A-3-282980, information is exchanged by connecting a cable, that is, manually. Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-200482, control between devices is selected, assigned, or adjusted. However, in the case of functioning as an autonomous device, in the example disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-2828080, information can be exchanged only manually. Further, in the example disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-200482, only a predetermined operation corresponding to selection, allocation, or adjustment is performed.

The object of the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and information that gives a change to one's own property by creating a new action pattern in accordance with the property of other information home appliances. An object is to provide a home electric appliance control system and an information home electric appliance control method.

Another object of the present invention is to wirelessly send different information and programs to peripheral partners even if the devices are of the same model, based on the personality and characteristics that the devices have formed so far. Accordingly, it is an object to provide an information home appliance control system and an information home appliance control method that increase the variety of devices.

Further, another object of the present invention is to make it possible to wirelessly access a database server on a network and download information and programs even if a new model, that is, a model having a new device ID appears. By doing so, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information home appliance control system and an information home appliance control method that produce similar diversity to existing autonomous robots or information home appliances.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, in an information home appliance control system for controlling an autonomous information home appliance, a plurality of peripheral information home appliances are communicated with each other. Between the communication means connected via the medium and the other information home electric appliance, the communication means sets and transmits and receives the identification information for identifying the communication partner, which is another information home electric equipment existing in the vicinity, in the packet. , Based on the information corresponding to the received identification information of the communication partner, manages information for the autonomous information home appliance that performs autonomous processing corresponding to the communication partner and the information home appliance connected via the network, A database server that receives a request for information to a communication partner from an autonomous information home appliance and provides information to the communication partner to the autonomous information home appliance. That information home appliance control system is provided.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide an information home appliance control system that creates a new action pattern in an autonomous program by recognizing an autonomous information home appliance that exists in the vicinity and obtaining information or a program from it. It is possible.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of an information home appliance control system according to the present invention.

The information home appliance control system 1 includes a database server 10 for retrieving / providing information about equipment, a database 20 for managing / storing information about equipment, an autonomous device 30 operating by an autonomous program (robot, information home appliance, etc.). ), An autonomous device 40 (indicating a robot, an information home appliance, etc.) that operates according to an autonomous program, and information and information requests for IPv6 (Internet Protocol).
Version 6) IPv6 packet (P
acket: a network 50 for transmitting information as a packetized data collection when transmitting information on the network, and a short-range communication means 60 for confirming peripheral devices using IPv6 packets. Here, in the IPv6 packet, for example, EUI-64 extension I
D (IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electron
ics Engineers) and sets an identifier for identifying a device: hereinafter referred to as a device ID) is set in the header section. The device ID is a non-rewritable non-volatile memory (not shown), such as a ROM (Read Onl
y Memory).

The database server 10 is an autonomous device 3
0 and the autonomous device 40 via the network 50, and provides information to the autonomous device 30 and the autonomous device 40 that have requested information on devices existing in the vicinity.
Here, the database server 10 uses the device I to be searched.
Upon receiving the information provision request together with D, the peripheral device information stored in the database 20 is searched. Then, the search result is transmitted to the autonomous device 30 or the autonomous device 40.

The database 20 centrally manages information corresponding to the device IDs of the autonomous devices 30 and 40. The autonomous device 30 is connected to the database server 10 via the network 50, and the autonomous device 40 is also connected.
Is connected via the short-range communication means 60. It also recognizes the autonomous devices 40 existing in the vicinity and requests information from the database server 10. Here, the autonomous device 30
Transmits an IPv6 packet to the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity via the short-range communication means 60. On the other hand, the same applies to IPv4 from the autonomous devices 40 existing in the vicinity.
Six packets are transmitted, and the autonomous device 40 is recognized based on the device ID in the received IPv6 packet. If the recognized autonomous device 40 is a known device, the processing corresponding to the autonomous device 40 is performed as it is. If the device is unknown, the database server 1
0 is requested for information, and processing corresponding to the autonomous device 40 is performed based on the received information.

The autonomous device 40 is the database server 1
0 through the network 50, and is also connected to the autonomous device 30 through the short-range communication means 60. It also recognizes the autonomous devices 30 existing in the vicinity and requests information from the database server 10. Here, the function of the autonomous device 40 is the same as that of the autonomous device 30, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

The network 50 transmits information on the basis of a predetermined protocol in a network having communication paths spread by a communication medium. The protocols include, for example, IPv6 and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol).
l), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), or P
PP (Point-to-point Protocol). The network 50 is, for example, a public line network, the Internet of IPv6, or the Internet 2 (hereinafter, both are IP
v6 network). Further, the communication medium is, for example, a physical medium such as a wired metal cable or optical fiber, or a wireless medium.

The short-distance communication means 60 communicates with a device existing within the communication allowable range of the communication medium through the communication medium based on a predetermined protocol. Here, the short-range communication means 60 is, for example, wired communication, wireless communication, or
Infrared communication or optical communication. The communication medium is, for example, a physical medium such as a wired metal cable or optical fiber, or a wireless medium.

According to the information home appliance control system 1 as described above, the database server 10 includes the autonomous device 30.
And the information request of the communication partner from the autonomous device 40, and provides the information. Then, the autonomous device 30 and the autonomous device 40
Can perform an operation corresponding to the communication partner based on the information of the communication partner. In addition, once the information of the communication partner is stored, without requesting the information to the database server 10,
It is also possible to perform an operation corresponding to the communication partner.

As a result, it is possible to recognize the autonomous devices existing in the vicinity and obtain information and programs.
It becomes possible to create new behavior patterns in autonomous programs.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below. In the embodiment of the present invention, in the system as shown in FIG. 1, the database server 10, the autonomous device 30, and the autonomous device 40 are connected via the network 50, and the autonomous device 30 and the autonomous device 40 are connected. And are connected via the short-range communication means 60. In this, message transmission is performed between the database server 10 and the autonomous device 30, between the database server 10 and the autonomous device 40, and between the autonomous device 30 and the autonomous device 40. Therefore, the function of each device in the present embodiment will be specifically described below by taking as an example the case where a message is transmitted to an opposite device or a message is received from an opposite device. Since the autonomous device 30 and the autonomous device 40 have the same processing function, the description of the processing function of the database server 10 is unified to the autonomous device 30.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the processing functions of the database server of the present invention. Note that the device ID in the description of FIG. 2 is a device ID transmitted from the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity, received by the autonomous device 30, set in the information request packet, and transmitted to the database server 10. is there.

The database server 10 is connected to a control unit 11 that controls the entire apparatus, a memory 12 that temporarily stores programs and information, a network interface 13 that communicates via the network 50, and an external database 20. Peripheral device interface 14, control unit 11, memory 12 and network interface 13
And a peripheral device interface 14 by a signal line. Also, the device ID
The database 20 that centrally manages the information corresponding to is connected to the outside. Here, the database server 10 faces the autonomous device 30 via the network 50.

The control unit 11 controls the memory 12 and the database 20 and manages the functions of the entire apparatus. Control unit 11
Is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). It implements the functions of the present invention by executing various computer programs stored in the memory 12. Here, the functions realized by the control unit 11 are roughly classified into a transmitting / receiving unit 11a, a processing unit 11b, and an information searching unit 11c.

The transmitting / receiving means 11a sends the information request packet from the autonomous device 30 to the network interface 13
Received from, extract the request data in the information request packet,
It is passed to the processing means 11b. On the other hand, the information or program received from the processing means 11b is set in the information packet,
Output to the network interface 13.

The processing means 11b receives the request data from the autonomous device 30 from the transmitting / receiving means 11a and extracts the device ID in the request data. Then, in order to search for the requested information based on the extracted device ID, the information searching means 1
Issue a search instruction to 1c. On the other hand, the retrieved information or program received from the information retrieval means 11c is passed to the transmission / reception means 11a in order to be returned to the autonomous device 30.

The information retrieving means 11c, based on the device ID received from the processing means 11b, retrieves the data from the database 20.
The information or program corresponding to the device ID is searched. Then, the search result is passed to the processing means 11b.

The memory 12 temporarily stores information transmitted and received by the control unit 11. In addition, a program that implements the functions of the present invention is temporarily stored. The memory 12 is a writable volatile storage medium, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

The network interface 13 is connected to the control unit 11 (transmission / reception means 11a) via the bus 15 and communicates with the autonomous device 30 via the network 50. Here, the network interface 13
Transmits the information packet received from the transmitting / receiving means 11a to the opposing autonomous device 30 via the network 50. On the other hand, when receiving the information request packet from the opposing autonomous device 30, the information request packet is output to the transmitting / receiving means 11a.
The network interface 13 connects the database server 10 to the communication medium and connects to the network 50 according to a predetermined data transfer rate, timing, and protocol. The communication medium is, for example, a physical medium such as a wired metal cable or optical fiber, or a wireless medium.

The peripheral device interface 14 is provided with a database 20 and a database server 1 installed outside.
0 is connected according to a predetermined data transfer rate, timing, and protocol to perform data transmission.

The bus 15 connects the control unit 11, the memory 12, the network interface 13 and the peripheral device interface 14 with a signal line. The database 20 centrally manages the information corresponding to the device ID. Further, the managed information is the information search means 11c.
The search request is received from and output to the memory 12.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing processing functions of the autonomous device of the present invention. The autonomous device 30 includes a control unit 31 that controls the entire device, a memory 32 that temporarily stores programs and information, a storage device 33 that stores an autonomous program, a database 34 that stores information corresponding to a device ID, a network. A network interface 35 for communication via 50, a short-range communication interface 36 for communication via a short-range communication means 60, an external environment data detector 38 for detecting external environment data such as video and audio, a robot arm, It is composed of a drive unit 39 for driving the legs. Here, the autonomous device 30 includes a network 5 in addition to the database server 10 and another autonomous device 40.
They face each other through 0. Note that the external environment data detection unit 38 and the drive unit 39 are unnecessary when the autonomous device 30 is not a robot. If the robot is not a robot, the external environment data detection unit 38 may be an input device that receives an input from the user. The drive unit 39
May be an output device that outputs the processing result in a form that can be confirmed by the user or the like.

The control unit 31 includes a memory 32 and a storage device 3.
3, the database 34, the external environment data detection unit 38, and the drive unit 39 are controlled to manage the functions of the entire apparatus.
The control unit 31 is, for example, a CPU. This is memory 3
The functions of the present invention are realized by executing various computer programs stored in the computer 2. Here, the functions realized by the control unit 31 are roughly classified into peripheral-existing device confirmation means 31a, information download means 31b, and robot control means 31c.

The peripheral existence device confirmation means 31a receives an IPv6 packet from another autonomous device 30 existing in the periphery from the network interface 35, extracts the device ID in the IPv6 packet, and downloads information 31b.
Hand over to. On the other hand, at a predetermined timing, the IPv6 packet to the autonomous device 30 existing in the periphery is output to the network interface 35. It should be noted that the predetermined timing is, for example, a start-up time, a lapse of a certain time, or a change in the external environment.

The information download means 31b outputs an information request packet to the database server 10 to the network interface 35 based on the equipment ID received from the peripheral existence equipment confirmation means 31a. On the other hand, the database server 1 received from the network interface 35
Information and programs of the communication partner in the information packet from 0 are stored in the database 34.

The robot control means 31c performs autonomous program processing corresponding to the communication partner based on the downloaded information and program of the communication partner. Here, the robot control means 31c determines the next action with respect to the information from the external environment data detection unit 38 by the autonomous program processing, and outputs a drive instruction to the drive unit 39.

The memory 32 temporarily stores information and the like transmitted and received by the control unit 31. In addition, a program that implements the functions of the present invention is temporarily stored. The memory 32 is a writable volatile storage medium, for example, a RAM.

The storage device 33 includes a control unit 31 and a memory 32.
It is connected to and and the autonomous program is stored in advance. Here, the storage device 33 transfers the autonomous program to the memory 32 at the start of the autonomous processing. The storage device 3
A storage medium 3 is, for example, a hard disk (Hard D
isk) or ROM (Read Only Memory).

The database 34 is connected to the controller 31 and the memory 32, and is a device ID for identifying the autonomous device 30.
The information corresponding to is stored. The database 34 is a rewritable storage medium, such as a hard disk.

The network interface 35 is connected to the control unit 31 via the bus 37, and is connected to the network 50.
The database server 10 and the autonomous device 30 communicate with each other via the. Here, the network interface 3
5 connects the autonomous device 30 to the communication medium according to a predetermined data transfer rate, timing, and protocol, and connects to the network 50. The communication medium is, for example, a physical medium such as a wired metal cable or optical fiber, or a wireless medium.

The short-range communication interface 36 is the bus 3
The short-range communication means 60 is connected to the control unit 31 via
The short-range communication with the other autonomous device 40 is performed via the.
Here, the short-range communication interface 36 is connected to the short-range communication means 60 via a communication medium according to a predetermined data transfer rate, timing, and protocol. The short-distance communication is communication within a communication range permitted by the communication medium, and is, for example, wired communication that does not require a relay station, wireless communication, or infrared communication or optical communication. The communication medium is, for example, a physical medium such as a wired metal cable or optical fiber, or a wireless medium.

The external environment data detecting section 38 includes a control section 31.
Connected to the memory 32 and detects external environment data such as video and audio. Here, the external environment data detection unit 38
Automatically detects the environmental data such as video and audio, or outputs the signal / data to the control unit 31 or the memory 32 by the instruction of the control unit 31. The external environment data detection unit 38 may be any device as long as it can detect the external environment, for example, a sensor (Senso
r), speaker (Speaker), or camera (Camera)
Etc.

The drive unit 39 is connected to the control unit 31 and drives the arms and legs if the autonomous device 30 is a robot or the like. Here, the drive unit 39 includes a drive control device, a power device,
And structural parts and the like, and the operation is controlled by the control unit 31.

The computer program described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 3 can be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include magnetic recording media, optical disks, magneto-optical recording media, semiconductor memories, and the like. The magnetic recording medium includes a hard disk, a flexible disk (FD), ZIP (Zip: a kind of magnetic disk), a magnetic tape and the like. DVD (Digital Vers)
atile Disc), DVD-RAM (DVD Random Access Me
mory), CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memor)
y), CD-R (CD Recordable), CD-RW (CD Rew
ritable) etc. MO (Mag
neto Optical Disk). In semiconductor memory,
There is flash memory.

When distributing the computer programs, portable recording media, such as DVDs and CD-ROMs, on which the respective computer programs are recorded are sold. Further, the computer program is stored in the storage device of the server, and the computer program is transferred from the server to the client (corresponding to the database server 10 and the autonomous device 30 in the description of the embodiment of the present invention) via the network. You can also do it.

Next, the processing flow of each device will be specifically described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the basic operation of the database server of the present invention. The description of this flowchart is based on the principle of the names of the respective devices in FIG. 1, and in the functional block diagram of the names of the respective parts of the devices in FIG.
Based on.

[S10] In the database server 10, the transmitting / receiving means 11a receives the information request packet transmitted from the autonomous device 30 via the network interface 13. Then, the request data in the received information request packet is passed to the processing means 11b.

[S11] The processing means 11b extracts the device ID of the autonomous device 40 in the request data. Then, the extracted device ID is passed to the information search means 11c.
Here, the device ID is the device ID transmitted from the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity, received by the autonomous device 30, set in the request data section in the information request packet, and transmitted to the database server 10. .

[S12] The information search means 11c searches the database 20 for information or a program corresponding to the autonomous device 40, based on the device ID. Then, the search result is passed to the processing means 11b.

[S13] The processing means 11b passes the retrieved information or program to the transmitting / receiving means 11a. Then, the transmitting / receiving unit 11a sets the retrieved information or program in the information packet and transmits it to the autonomous device 30 that is the request source.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the basic operation of the autonomous device of the present invention. The description of this flowchart will be given based on FIG. 1, which is a principle diagram of names of respective devices, and FIG. 3, which is a functional block diagram of names of respective parts of the devices.

[S30] In the autonomous device 30, the peripheral device confirmation means 31a receives the IPv6 packet transmitted from the other autonomous device 40 via the short-range communication interface 36.

[S31] Peripheral existing device confirmation means 31a
Transmits an IPv6 packet containing a device ID to another autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity. [S32] The peripheral presence device confirmation unit 31a extracts the device ID in the received IPv6 packet.

[S33] Peripheral presence device confirmation means 31a
Performs "device model corresponding processing" so that the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity can take a processing action corresponding to the device model. Details of the "device model correspondence process" will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the "device model correspondence process" of the present invention.
It is a flowchart explaining. Step S3 in FIG.
When step 3 is executed, processing is performed according to the following flow. By this processing, processing action corresponding to the device model is performed. The description of this flowchart will be given based on FIG. 1, which is a principle diagram of names of respective devices, and FIG. 3, which is a functional block diagram of names of respective parts of the devices.

[S330] In the autonomous device 30,
The peripheral-existing device confirmation unit 31a determines whether the autonomous devices 40 existing in the periphery are the same model based on the extracted device ID. Here, if the autonomous devices 40 are the same model, the process proceeds to step S331, and if they are not the same model, the process proceeds to step S334.

[S331] Peripheral existing device confirmation means 31
Based on the extracted device ID, a determines whether the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity has the same property as the autonomous device 30 or not. Here, if the sex of the autonomous device 40 is the same sex, the process proceeds to step S332, and if the sex is not the same, the process proceeds to step S333.

[S332] Robot control means 31c
Indicates that the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity is the same model as the autonomous device 30 and has the same property.
Processing is performed by an autonomous program that supports the same model and same sex. That is, the robot, which is the autonomous device 30, takes actions corresponding to the same model and same sex. Here, the processing of the autonomous program is performed by the database 34 or the memory 32.
The robot control means 31c newly performs autonomous processing based on a program and information corresponding to the known autonomous device 40 stored in the.

[S333] Robot control means 31c
, The autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity has the same model as the autonomous device 30, but since the characteristics are different, the process is performed by the autonomous program corresponding to the same model and opposite sex. That is, the robot that is the autonomous device 30 is
Take action corresponding to the opposite sex. Here, the processing of the autonomous program is performed by the robot control means 31c newly performing autonomous processing based on the program and information corresponding to the known autonomous device 40 stored in the database 34 or the memory 32.

[S334] Robot control means 31c
Since the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity is a model different from the autonomous device 30, the process is performed by the autonomous program corresponding to the different model. That is, the robot, which is the autonomous device 30, takes actions corresponding to different models. Here, the processing of the autonomous program is performed by the robot control means 31c newly performing autonomous processing based on the program and information corresponding to the known autonomous device 40 stored in the database 34 or the memory 32.

In the above description, the processing is different depending on the attribute such as homosexuality / heterosexuality, but the processing may be changed based on color, for example. As a processing method, for example, robots of the same model take action patterns of approaching each other, playing with each other, forming a flock, and leaving different types of robots. The autonomous program decides the next action so that the action pattern varies depending on the gender.

In addition, when the model of the robot is different, the information that the robot exists may be input to the autonomous program. For example, if you do not know the model, you may approach it with interest and express familiarity, or conversely, try to move away from it.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the basic operation of the autonomous device of the present invention. This figure shows processing for an unknown device, whereas the description of FIG. 6 corresponds to a known device. The description of this flowchart will be given based on FIG. 1, which is a principle diagram of names of respective devices, and FIG. 3, which is a functional block diagram of names of respective parts of the devices.

[S40] In the autonomous device 30, the peripheral device confirmation means 31a receives the IPv6 packet transmitted from another autonomous device 40 via the short-range communication interface 36.

[S41] Peripheral existing device confirmation means 31a
Transmits an IPv6 packet containing a device ID to another autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity. [S42] The peripheral presence device confirmation means 31a extracts the device ID in the received IPv6 packet.

[S43] Peripheral existing device confirmation means 31a
Determines whether the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity is a known device or an unknown device based on the extracted device ID. Here, if the autonomous device 40 is a known device, the process proceeds to step S44, and if it is not the known device, the process proceeds to step S45.

[S44] Peripheral existing device confirmation means 31a
Performs "device model corresponding processing" so that the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity can take a processing action corresponding to the device model. The details of the “device model correspondence process” have already been described with reference to FIG.

[S45] Peripheral existing device confirmation means 31a
Since the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity is not a known device (is an unknown device), the device ID of the autonomous device 40 is passed to the information download means 31b. And
The information download means 31b is the database server 1
An information request packet containing a device ID is transmitted to 0 to request information of the autonomous device 40 which is an unknown device.

[S46] Information downloading means 31b
Downloads the program and information corresponding to the device ID from the database server 10 to the database 34. That is, the programs and information transmitted from the database server 10 are received and stored in the database 34.

[S47] The robot control means 31c
Since the autonomous device 40 existing in the vicinity is an unknown model, processing is performed by the autonomous program corresponding to the unknown model. That is, the robot, which is the autonomous device 30, takes action corresponding to an unknown model. Here, the processing of the program corresponding to the unknown model is newly autonomously performed by the robot control means 31c based on the program and information corresponding to the unknown autonomous device 40 downloaded and stored in the database 34 or the memory 32. It is performed by processing.

Next, the overall structure, operation and flow of one embodiment will be described using a specific example. FIG. 8 is a first overall configuration diagram showing a specific example of the information home appliance control system of the present invention. In this example, the partner device actively works, that is, by sending a program that acts on information or an autonomous program, different action patterns can be created even for the same device, and more diverse autonomy can be expressed. Becomes It should be noted that the numbers shown in FIG. 8 (numbers 1 to 5 surrounded by circles) correspond to the following (1) to (5).

First, the overall structure will be described. The information home appliance control system 1 is a new white autonomous robot 3
0a, the old black autonomous robot 30b, and the old white autonomous robot 30c are configured in a network environment connected by the short-range communication unit 60.
Here, the autonomous robot 30b and the autonomous robot 30c
Are robots known to each other. On the other hand, the autonomous robot 30a includes the autonomous robot 30b and the autonomous robot 3
It is an unknown robot from 0c. The packet transmitted / received by the short-range communication means 60 is an IPv6 packet in which a device ID is set.

Next, the operation and flow (1) to (5) will be described. (1) Autonomous robot 30a and autonomous robot 30b
And the autonomous robot 30c transmit and receive an IPv6 packet by the short-range communication means 60 and confirm the device ID of each communication partner.

(2) When the autonomous robot 30b cannot identify the device ID of the autonomous robot 30a, the autonomous robot 30a is a new model, so the autonomous robot 3
I already know 0b. Therefore, the autonomous robot 30
In order to indicate that it is a different version, a transmits information or a program that works as an autonomous program of the autonomous robot 30b to the autonomous robot 30b.

(3) The autonomous robot 30a uses (1)
The information transmitted by the above is received, and the processing corresponding to each communication partner is performed by the autonomous program. (4) The autonomous robot 30b receives the information transmitted in (1) and (2), and performs processing corresponding to each communication partner by the autonomous program.

(5) The autonomous robot 30c has (1)
The information transmitted by the above is received, and the processing corresponding to each communication partner is performed by the autonomous program. The processes (3) to (5) are, for example, operations such as shaking the head of the autonomous robot 30a. Further, the autonomous robot 30b performs an action such as shaking its tail. Furthermore, the autonomous robot 30c is barking or the like.

Although a new device is taken as an example here, information and programs may be given to the same robots. For example, when you sneeze, it sends a sneeze program to peripheral devices and causes them to act as if they were infected. Here, it is not necessary to always send the same pattern for the program to be sent, and various behaviors can be expressed by reflecting the character of the autonomous robot or sending randomly random information.

FIG. 9 is a second overall block diagram showing a concrete example of the information home appliance control system of the present invention. In this example, even if a new type of device appears, writing in the database enables an old model robot to create an action pattern for the new robot. The numbers shown in FIG. 9 (numbers 1 to 3 enclosed in circles) correspond to the following (1) to (3).

First, the overall structure will be described. The information home appliance control system 1 includes a database server 10 and
The new white autonomous robot 30a and the old black autonomous robot 30b are configured in a network environment connected by the network 50 and the short-range communication means 60. Here, the database 20 is connected to the database server 10. The autonomous robot 30a is a robot unknown to the autonomous robot 30b. Also, the network 50 and the short-range communication means 6
The packet transmitted / received with 0 is an IPv6 packet in which the device ID is set.

Next, the operation and flow (1) to (5) will be described. (1) The autonomous robot 30b is the autonomous robot 30.
Since network device a was recognized as an unknown device, network 5
Connect to the database server 10 via 0.

(2) The database server 10 transmits information on the autonomous robot 30a to the autonomous robot 30b. On the other hand, the autonomous robot 30b receives information about the autonomous robot 30a from the database server 10.

(3) The autonomous robot 30b uses the received information about the autonomous robot 30a as the autonomous robot 30b.
Processing is performed as information for the autonomous program of b. With the above configuration, autonomous robots and home information appliances can
An autonomous program processes the result of autonomously exchanging information and programs for non-human devices. As a result, an action pattern of robot-to-robot or robot-to-autonomous device can be generated from an action pattern that has only had a relationship with a person in the past, and the action pattern of the robot can be given variety. Therefore, it is possible to create a new form of entertainment in which many robots are gathered and their actions are appreciated and enjoyed.

In the above description, the IPv6 packet has been described, but a data format using a protocol in which a globally unique device ID can be set can be applied.

[0084]

As described above, since the result of exchanging information and programs is processed by the autonomous program, it is possible to create a new action pattern according to the nature of the communication partner, and change to its own nature. It becomes possible to have.

Further, even if the devices are of the same model, different information and programs are wirelessly transmitted to the other party in the surroundings based on the personality and the characteristics formed by the devices so far, so that the devices can be diverse. It is possible to increase the sex.

Further, even if a new model, that is, a model having a new device ID, appears, the database server on the network can be accessed wirelessly so that information and programs can be downloaded. Similar diversity can be created for autonomous robots or home information appliances.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of an information home appliance control system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing processing functions of the database server of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing processing functions of the autonomous device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the basic operation of the database server of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of the autonomous device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating “apparatus model correspondence processing” of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a basic operation of the autonomous device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a first overall configuration diagram showing a specific example of the information home appliance control system of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a second overall configuration diagram showing a specific example of the information home appliance control system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information home appliance control system, 10 ... Database server, 11 ... Control part, 11a ... Transmission / reception means, 11b ... Processing means, 11c ... Information retrieval means, 12 ... Memory, 13 ... Network interface, 14 ... Peripheral device interface, 15.
..Bus, 20 ... database, 30 ... autonomous device, 31 ... control unit, 31a ... peripheral existing device confirmation means, 31b ... information download means, 31c
..Robot control means, 32 ... Memory, 33 ...
Storage device, 34 ... Database, 35 ... Network interface, 36 ... Short-range communication interface, 37 ... Bus, 40 ... Autonomous device, 50
... Network, 60 ... Short-range communication means

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An information home appliance control system for controlling an information home appliance, wherein an identification for identifying a communication partner, which is the other information home appliance in the vicinity, is made by a communication medium with another information home appliance. Information is set in packets and transmitted / received, and based on the received information corresponding to the identification information of the communication partner, an autonomous information home appliance that performs autonomous processing corresponding to the communication partner is connected via a network. Manages the information for the autonomous information home electric appliance and the other information home electric appliance, receives the request for the information for the communication partner from the autonomous information home electric appliance, and outputs the information for the communication partner. An information home appliance control system comprising: a database server that provides the autonomous information home appliance. 2. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the autonomous information home appliance is a robot. 3. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information uses a model generation of the information home appliance as a device ID. 4. The identification information distinguishes a difference in attributes of the same model by a device ID.
Information home appliance control system described. 5. The information home appliance control system according to claim 4, wherein the attribute is gender. 6. The information home appliance control system according to claim 4, wherein the attribute is color. 7. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the information is a program of the communication partner. 8. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the information is learning information of the communication partner. 9. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the packet contains the information. 10. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the packet is an IPv6 packet. 11. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the communication medium is a wireless medium using a frequency band of a wireless LAN. 12. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the communication medium is a wireless medium using a frequency band of Bluetooth. 13. The information home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet. 14. A database server for managing an autonomous type information home appliance, a transmitting / receiving means for receiving an information request packet, extracting an equipment ID, setting information or a program in the information packet, and outputting the information packet, and transmitting from the transmitting / receiving means. Processing means for issuing a search instruction for the information or the program corresponding to the device ID and passing the information or the program to the transmitting / receiving means, and searching the database for the information or the program corresponding to the device ID However, a control unit that has an information retrieval unit that passes the retrieval result to the processing unit and that controls the entire apparatus, a memory that temporarily stores the information and the program, and a network interface that communicates via a network. And a peripheral device interface for connecting to an external database, and the control Database server and having a a bus for connecting the signal line between the memory and the network interface and the peripheral interface with. 15. In an autonomous information home electric appliance that performs processing autonomously, a peripheral existing device confirmation means for transmitting and receiving a packet to and from other information home electric appliances existing in the vicinity to extract and confirm a device ID, and the peripheral. The device ID received from the existing device confirmation means
The information request packet is transmitted based on the
An information download means for storing in a built-in database and a robot control means for performing an autonomous program process corresponding to the communication partner based on the information or the program of the communication partner stored by the information download means are provided. Control unit that controls the entire device, a memory that temporarily stores the information and the program, a storage device that stores the autonomous program, a database that stores the device ID, and communication via a network A network interface, a short-range communication interface that communicates with the other information home appliances that exist in the vicinity, an external environment data detection unit that detects external environment data such as video and audio, and drives the robot arm and leg. An autonomous information home appliance, comprising: 16. An information home appliance control method for controlling an information home appliance, wherein an autonomously controlled information home appliance connects a plurality of other autonomous information home appliances in the vicinity via a communication medium. Then, with the other information home appliance, the identification information for identifying the communication partner that is the other information home appliance that exists in the vicinity is set in a packet and transmitted / received, and the identification information of the received communication partner is received. Based on the information or program corresponding to the above, performs autonomous processing corresponding to the communication partner, manages the information for the information home appliance and the other information home appliances connected via a network, and performs the communication. An information home appliance, characterized in that it receives a request for the information to a partner from the information home appliance and transmits and receives the information to the communication partner to the information home appliance. Vessel control method. 17. A program for causing a computer to perform a process of managing an autonomous information home appliance, the computer receiving and transmitting an information request packet, extracting a device ID, and setting and outputting information or a program in the information packet. Means, processing means for issuing a search instruction for the information or the program corresponding to the device ID passed from the transmitting / receiving means, and passing the information or the program to the transmitting / receiving means, the information corresponding to the device ID or the A program that functions as an information retrieval unit that retrieves a program from a database and passes the retrieval result to the processing unit. 18. In a program for causing a computer to perform a process that operates autonomously, a peripheral existing device confirmation means for transmitting and receiving a packet to and from other information home electric appliances existing in the vicinity of the computer to extract and confirm a device ID. An information download unit that transmits an information request packet based on the device ID received from the peripheral device confirmation unit and stores the information or program of the communication partner in the received information packet in a built-in database , A robot control means for performing autonomous program processing corresponding to the communication partner based on the information or the program of the communication partner stored by the information download means. 19. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded therein a program for causing a computer to perform a process of managing an autonomous information home appliance, the computer receiving the information request packet, extracting the device ID, and transmitting the information or the program. Transmitting / receiving means for setting and outputting in an information packet, processing means for issuing a search instruction for the information or the program corresponding to the device ID passed from the transmitting / receiving means, and passing the information or the program to the transmitting / receiving means, A computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded therein, which searches the database for the information or the program corresponding to the device ID and transfers the search result to the processing means. 20. In a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to perform a process that operates autonomously is recorded, the computer transmits / receives packets to / from other information home appliances that exist in the vicinity, and obtains the device ID. Peripheral presence device confirmation means for extracting and confirming, transmitting an information request packet based on the device ID received from the peripheral presence device confirmation means, and incorporating information or a program of the communication partner in the received information packet Downloading means for storing the information in a stored database, robot control means for performing autonomous program processing corresponding to the communication partner based on the information or the program of the communication partner stored by the information downloading means, A computer-readable record that records Body.