JP2004509400A - Internet services for consumer electronics - Google Patents

Abstract

The service application searches for functional elements that can be used in the user network, searches for the availability of an application that uses a combination of these functional elements, and implements a function that cannot be realized by an individual device. Each device in the user network has one or more functional elements that can be used with the functional elements of other devices in the user network. The service application identifies an application that utilizes a plurality of functional elements in the user network. The user has the option of selecting one or more of these applications for the installation. The service application downloads the required applications, drivers and other utility programs to one or more devices in the user's system and provides the desired devices to operate with the application. Optionally, the service application also checks for missing functional elements in addition to available applications.

Description

[0001]
[Background of the Invention]
1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the technical field of consumer electronic devices, and more particularly, to a system that forms a home network using services on the Internet and distributes appropriate applications to the consumer electronic devices in the home network.
2. Description of related technology
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Increasingly complex electronic audio / visual (A / V) and home automation equipment are being introduced to the consumer electronics (CE) market. In general, equipment may be formed by end users to adapt various functions and settings to their preferences and to work with other equipment in the user's home. The HAVi architecture, the Home API Initiative, the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), the Universal Plug and Play, the Home RF Lite, and the Bluetooth standard are available from Philips Electronics, Electronics and Electronics, respectively. . Jini technology and others have been developed to enhance the interoperation between multiple devices in a home network.
[0002]
Generally, each device in the home network is individually programmable or configurable, but by integrating control of multiple devices through the services provided by the home automation network or protocol described above. , It is possible to achieve a synergistic action. However, these interdependent effects depend on the degree of other knowledge that each device has, or the ability of the application program to know about the capabilities of multiple devices. For example, to watch a broadcast television program, a user needs a tuner, a display device, and an audio device. In a multimedia environment, such configurations include a channel tuner typically provided in a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), a display typically provided in a television console, and generally an AM / FM stereo receiver. It is provided using an audio amplifier provided in the device. In a non-networked environment, the user physically couples these devices together through appropriate connection terminals and sets one or more switches to allow each device to properly deliver signals. In a networked environment, each device is connected to the network and each device is configured to extract signals appropriate to the user from the network for subsequent processing or changes. Each device is configured independently, and applications can be provided to support the appropriate configuration of each device. The addition of other devices to the network, such as a DVD player, generally requires some modification to the configuration of each affected device, such as a display device, to support the added device. When devices are added to the network, or when applications are introduced to the network, the complexity of the building operation is due to a lack of ability or reluctance to handle such complexities. It can be daunting and lose the inherent benefits of the home network. Also, the user may not know the applications available to combine the functions of the devices available on the user network.
[0003]
[Summary of the Invention]
An object of the present invention is to support a configuration of a plurality of devices in a home network. Further, the present invention aims at optimizing the interaction between devices in the home network. It is a further object of the present invention to assist in the selection and introduction of applications using multiple devices in a home network.
[0004]
Systems and service applications provided to achieve these objectives and others search for functional elements available in the user network, explore the availability of applications that utilize combinations of these functional elements, and It realizes a function that cannot be realized by the device. In order to optimize the achievable effect, the service application will utilize the Internet, and a virtual global application for potentially available applications to enhance the user's inventory capability. Provide search. Each device in the user network has one or more functional elements that can be used with the functional elements of other devices in the user network. A service application identifies applications that are within the user network or available from other sources and that utilize multiple functional elements in the user network. The user has the option of selecting one or more of these applications for the installation. Once the verified application is selected, the service application downloads the required applications, drivers and other utility programs to one or more devices in the user's system and runs on the application. To provide a desired device. Optionally, the service application further checks for missing functional elements in addition to available applications.
[0005]
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0006]
Throughout the figures, identical reference numbers indicate similar or corresponding features or functions.
[0007]
[Detailed description of the invention]
FIG. 1 shows an example of a home network 100 and an Internet service application 400 according to the present invention. Home network 100 includes various devices and elements 110-150, which communicate with one another through one or more communication paths. Preferably, the communication between the devices conforms to one or more standards or protocols, allowing data transfer between devices of different vendors. If required, the home network includes a reformatter or translator that facilitates communication between devices utilizing different protocols according to different standards. Home network 100 is also depicted as including a sub-network 160 through other devices 161-163. For simplicity of reference and understanding, devices and elements in any or all sub-networks are similarly depicted herein as devices and elements coupled directly through the home network.
[0008]
Each device or element in the network 100 includes one or more functional elements. For example, the television 120 includes a tuner 121 for performing tuning, a display 122 for performing channel selection, functions, and display changing functions, an image processor 123, an audio processor 124 for performing demodulation or decoding functions, and the like. The VCR 130 includes a tuner 131, an encoder 132, an image recording function 133, an image reproducing function 134, an audio recording function 135, and an audio reproducing function 136.
[0009]
The camera 140 includes an encoder 141, a viewer 142, an image recording function 143, an image reproducing function 144, an audio recording function 145, and an audio reproducing function 146. Another device 110, commonly referred to as "appliance", includes a control module 111 that performs device control functions and a status module 112 that performs reporting functions. In the context of the present application, a functional element is any element having at least one port accessible by a network to perform a predetermined function in response to an input to that port or to provide an output from that port.
[0010]
In the preferred embodiment, one or more standards have been developed or evolved to assist in identifying the functionality provided by each functional element, and the standards or protocols available or required at each port. Help with confirmation. For efficient coding, it is possible to characterize various functions using a hierarchical approach. For example, television 120 and VCR 130 each include tuners 121, 131, and other devices may also have tuners each having similar or different capabilities. The hierarchical classification may include “tuner” at the highest level, “frequency band” at the next level, “channel type” at the next level (eg, CDMA), and so on. Techniques for classifying functions and capabilities are common in the art.
[0011]
The service application 400 provided by the present invention adapts the functions available on the home network 100 to the application 180 that utilizes these functions. Preferably, the service application 400 is there or accesses the Internet 170 and provides access to a broad source 191 of the application program 180 and a source 192 of the device 181. The application may also be located in a home network, such as application 180 'on a home network server 150, such as a personal computer (PC). As described below, in the preferred embodiment, the service application 400 assists in downloading the application 180 to the home network, typically as the application 180 'on the server 150, but other applications in the home network. The device may also be configured to execute a downloadable application. One of the specific goals of HAVi is to distribute software across multiple devices. For example, in a security application that uses actions in images to determine the presence of an intruder, motion detection software can operate directly on the camera 140 to minimize network traffic. If motion is detected, camera 140 sends a message to the piece of software running on television 120. The software in the television 120 selects the appropriate "connection" between the camera 140 and the television 120, and brings up a Picture-In-Picture (PIP) window on the display 122; The camera 140 is set as a source for PIP. The service application 400, when accessed, may simply provide the application with a web address, which is executed by an Internet location rather than from within the user's home network. Things.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows an operation example of the service application 400 according to the present invention. As described above, each device 210, 220 in the home network includes one or more functional components 211-213, 221-222, respectively. For example, device 210 may be a video cassette tape recorder (VCR) having an optical MPEG input or output. VCR-MPEG device 210 may include, for example, an MPEG image functional element FB1 211, a recorder element FB2 212, and an image MPEG element FB3 213. Device 2 220 can be a conventional multimedia display device having an audio playback element FB4 and an image display element FB5.
[0013]
Each of the applications 281, 282, and 283 has a set of functional elements (241, 245), (242, 243, 246), and (2241 ', 243', 244, 245). For example, the application 281 requires the MEPG image function element FB1 241 as a source of the input material and the display function element FB5 245 for presenting an output. Application 2 can be a security monitoring application that requires a camera function element FB6 246, an image MPEG output element FB3 243 for transmission to a security station, and a recording function element FB2. The application 3 can be an MPEG editing application that requires an MPEG image element FB1 241 ′ as a source of the input material and a display element FB5 245 ′ for presenting the output, for example, an image MPEG output element FB3 243 ′ And an audio playback functional element FB4 244 may also be required. Although each application 281-283 is depicted as having a single set of required functional elements S (set), the configurable applications are those where each set provides a particular function of the application. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there may be multiple sets of functional elements. That is, the application may request functional block A and block B or blocks C and D (not shown). An exhaustive set can be prepared for each application, and various combinations of functional elements can be provided to the application using any available grammar or specification language. It is possible to associate.
[0014]
The service application 400 compares the list 230 of name functional elements available in the home network with the required functional elements 240 of each of the plurality of available applications. These applications are available on the Internet, such as freeware and shareware, or are available as purchaseable or licensable applications. FIG. 3 shows an example of a comparison result of available functional modules and required functional modules of an application in a home network according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the necessary functional blocks (FB1, FB5) and (FB1, FB3, FB4, FB5) of application 1 281 and application 3 283 is available in the home network of FIG. is there. However, the list 230 of home network functional elements does not include the functional element FB6 which is a functional element required for the application 2 282 (the camera functional block in the above example). The service application 400 notifies the user of the comparison results, and in a preferred embodiment, facilitates the purchase and / or download of the application program selected by the user based on the reported comparison results.
[0015]
In a direct embodiment, the provider of the application 281-283 or the provider of the service application provides confirmation of the required functional elements for each application. The application provider includes the specification of the required set of functional elements and takes advantage of the potential sales opportunities offered by presenting the application to the user. Similarly, the provider of the device 210, 220 preferably checks the available functions and associated I / O specifications and enhances the detected utility for the product. The provider of the service application 400 checks the functional elements required for the reputable application and the functions available from the reputable device, promotes its utility, and promotes its use of the service application 400. Strengthen. To facilitate the task of ascertaining the functional elements of a required application, it is common to utilize an automated method to analyze the application or to create a "load table" associated with the application. By performing the analysis, it is possible to automatically derive the functional elements used for the application.
[0016]
The provider of the service application 400 may also be a vendor of the application program, and may enable a user to directly or indirectly purchase the application in connection with the home network. These and other commercial uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this application.
[0017]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a block diagram for a service application 400 according to the present invention. The example service application 400 includes a comparator 410 that compares the functions available on the home network with the applications available on the Internet 170, and a reporter 420 that reports the comparison results to the user of the service provider 400. Optionally, the service application 400 includes a function identifier 430 that determines the functions available on the home network 100, an application search engine 440 that finds applications available on the Internet, and a download of the selected application program. Includes a download device 450 facilitated and driven by the Internet.
[0018]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a flowchart of the service application 400 according to the present invention. The flow of FIG. 5 is presented in connection with elements of an exemplary service application 400 as shown in FIG. For convenience, reference items beginning with the numeral 4 relate to items in FIG. 4 and items beginning with 5 relate to items in FIG.
[0019]
At 510, service application 400 determines available features. In a preferred embodiment, the service application 400 utilizes the function identifier 430 to assist in creating a list of items in the home network. The creation of the list can be fully automated, or it can require the user to confirm the available functional elements, preferably through a checklist or similar input mechanism. Facilitates the user's task of checking the available functions in the network.
[0020]
At 520, the service application 400 checks for available applications, preferably those that are on the Internet. In a direct embodiment, service application 400 includes a manually created database of selected applications and a collection of necessary functional elements associated therewith. In a more complex embodiment, service application 400 includes an application search engine 440 that supports an Internet search for available applications. It is possible to utilize a filter means common in the art to assist in an efficient search for the appropriate application, for example, based on the content in the list of users, their respective classification of the application. A weighting technique is used to determine likelihood. As described above, the service application 400 may provide an automatic determination of the request for an available application, but manually, an alternative subset of the required functionality used in that application ( For example, functions A and (B or C) can be confirmed more accurately.
[0021]
Loops 530,590 evaluate, for each application, compatibility with the list of users' networks. At 540, a set of required functions for each application is determined. As described above, the required functions are encoded in the specification language (eg, "A and (B or C)"), and block 540 provides one or more different sets of functions required for each application. Including the processing required for. At 550, the required set of functions is compared to the available functions. At 560, if the required feature set is a subset of the available features, the application is reported to the user.
[0022]
In a preferred embodiment, one or more databases are maintained in relation to available and / or required functional elements to assist in efficient comparisons, a list of available elements and each of the available applications. Creating or updating the set of required elements of Adrian Turner et al., Entitled "CUSTOMIZED UPGRADING OF INTERNET-ENABLED DEVICES BASED ON USERPROFILE". No. 09 / 160,490 (Attorney Docket No. PHA23,500), filed on Sep. 25, 98, filed Sep. 25, 1993, discloses a server system for the end user of a consumer electronics network enable device. Maintain a database of profiles (attributes) and technical characteristics of such devices. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 189,535 (Attorney Docket No. PHA23,527), filed on Oct. 98 by Eugen Shstein, entitled "UPGRADING OF SYNERGETIC ASPECTS OF HOME NETWORKS," describes devices and devices in a user's home network. Disclose a server that utilizes access to a list of capabilities. For example, the list is a lookup service provided by the HAVi or Jini architecture. The server accesses a database having information on the characteristics of the network. The server determines whether the interdependencies of devices in the user's network can be enhanced based on the list and based on the user's profile.
[0023]
In accordance with the present invention, the server application 400 advises users of the home network of available applications that are compatible with the current list of home networks via the reporter 420 at 570. These available applications may be applications that are perceived by the user, or, advantageously, applications that the user did not previously consider deploying on the home network. In this way, the user can take advantage of previously unknown functions of the existing device and functions in the home network.
[0024]
Utilizing the techniques set forth in the above-referenced application, the search and reporting process of blocks 520-590 is customized to perform a search for available applications that match the user profile. In this way, application recommendations that the user is not interested in at all are not overwhelmed by the user, and highly focused recommendations are provided based on the preferences expressed or suggested by the user. Similarly, the user's selection of a particular application can be used to update the user profile used in the above-mentioned application. Combining other interdependency searching techniques and processes with features of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0025]
Optionally, at 580, the service application 400 provides the user with a list of required functional blocks for the application, which are not currently satisfied by the list of functional block users. At 590, if there are more applications to be evaluated, service application 400 returns to 530, otherwise exits.
[0026]
Optionally, at 595, the service application facilitates the purchase and / or download of the selected application to the user's home network, in addition to any necessary devices or other utility programs. Commercial handling and downloading techniques are common in the art. The user is also provided with an option to purchase the device, which includes functional blocks not shown identified at block 580. The service application 400 or ancillary applications may support any required reconfiguration of the home network or individual devices that are compatible with the selected application.
[0027]
While the examples presented above deal with applications and functions each associated with an image processing technique, the advantages of the present invention are particularly suitable for seemingly unrelated applications and functions. For example, a user may have a motion sensor, a television, and a computer. Although the motion sensor and the television look irrelevant, it is possible to use an application that detects motion using the motion sensor and displays it on the television to notify the home owner of such motion. Similarly, it is possible to utilize an application that displays a message on the television in response to a status report provided to devices in the home network. These applications are generally available, but by advising the user which applications are compatible with the current user's list of functional elements, the service application can increase its likelihood of availability. To improve.
[0028]
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention provides tremendous sales and marketing opportunities for equipment and application vendors used in a home network environment. By identifying available and compatible applications, the vendors of these applications are offered a sales opportunity that would have been lost without using the present invention. This is because the user will not be aware of the application, or will not be aware that the application may utilize elements residing on the user's home network.
[0029]
Other marketing opportunities and advantages will become apparent with the present application. For example, comparing a user's list to an application that is incompatible with the list provides a marketing opportunity for the user to purchase the missing device and application. The vendor of application 2 282 in the above example may offer a special purchase price to the camera (FB6 in the above example) in return for the purchase of application 2. Alternatively, a vendor of one of the items of FB6 or Application 2 may provide the user with a complimentary item, Application 2 or FB6, free of charge in return for the purchase of that vendor's item. In the above example, the camera (FB6) vendor provides security monitor software (application 2) free of charge to the camera purchaser having the recording element (FB2) and the image MPEG element (FB3). However, it is also possible to provide a different application to a purchaser who does not have these additional elements FB2 and FB3. Similarly, service applications can facilitate focused marketing and sales for future applications or devices based on the user's knowledge of the home network listing. Preferably, the user is given the option of not receiving such directed marketing material.
[0030]
The principle of the present invention has been described above. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, although not explicitly described or shown herein, that embody the principles of the invention and make various forms of design within the spirit and scope of the invention. Is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a home network and Internet service application according to the present invention.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2 shows an operation example of the service application according to the present invention.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3 shows an example of a comparison result of available functional modules and required functional modules of an application in a home network according to the present invention.
FIG. 4
FIG. 4 shows an example of a block diagram of a service application according to the invention.
FIG. 5
FIG. 5 shows an example of a flowchart of a service application according to the present invention.

Claims (13)

A service application,
A comparator configured to compare an existing functional element of a device in a home network with a required set of functional elements of one or more available applications, and the comparator operatively coupled to the comparator; A reporter configured to report results to a user of said service application. The service application according to claim 1, further comprising:
A service application having a function identifier configured to assist in creating a list of functional elements residing on a home network. The service application according to claim 1, further comprising:
A service application having an application search engine configured to assist in determining one or more available applications. The service application according to claim 1, further comprising:
A service application having a function identifier configured to support an identifier of a required set of functional elements of one or more available applications. The service application according to claim 1, further comprising:
Having a download device configured to assist in downloading one or more selected applications of the one or more available applications to one or more devices in a home network Service application characterized by: The service application according to claim 5,
A service application, wherein the download device is configured to assist in downloading a driver that makes one or more selected applications available in a home network. The service application according to claim 1, wherein the service application is located at an Internet site. The service application according to claim 1,
A service application wherein the comparator is configured to compare the list with a required set of functional elements based on the attributes of the user. A method for enhancing the usefulness of a device in a home network, comprising:
Identify multiple functional elements of devices in the home network,
A method comprising comparing the plurality of functional elements with a required set of functional elements of one or more available applications and reporting a comparison result to a user associated with the home network. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
Identifying the one or more available applications. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
Identifying a required set of functional elements of the one or more available applications. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more available applications are confirmed based on attributes associated with a user. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
A method comprising: purchasing or downloading one or more selected applications of one or more applications.