JP2005123686A - Seamless device control method and system thereof, gateway apparatus, terminal, and domain controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain the control, search and state acquisition of a terminal without being conscious of the unique protocol of the terminal in an environment wherein a plurality of unique protocols coexist and to minimize effects on existing apparatuses even when a domain with a new unique protocol is added to a network. <P>SOLUTION: This seamless device control method comprises: a unique protocol domain for finding out and controlling a device and a service using the device by means of particular unique protocols; a quasi-common protocol domain connected to the unique protocol domains via domain controller functions 105, 106; and an external protocol domain connected to the quasi-common protocol domain via a gateway function 115. Communication between the gateway function 115 and the domain controller functions 105, 106 is carried out on the basis of a quasi-common protocol including a part depending on the unique protocol and a part to be commonized. Communication between the gateway function 115 and a control function belonging to the external protocol domain is carried out on the basis of a common protocol. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a network server that governs a network based on a specific protocol, and a network system formed by including a plurality of these network servers.

  Protocols such as Universal Plug and P1ay (hereinafter UPnP), ECHONET, and Jini have been proposed as specific protocols for connecting the terminal function to the network and discovering and controlling the terminal function and the services provided in the terminal function. For the time being, it is unlikely that terminal functions connected to the home network are combined into one specific protocol.

  Therefore, for the time being, it can be easily imagined that a plurality of unique protocols are mixed in the home network. In such a situation, the user needs to be aware of a plurality of specific protocols, which is very inconvenient.

  Therefore, ITU-TSG9 (SG: Study Group) connects an existing unique protocol domain to a common protocol domain using IP (Internet Protocol) via the HomeClient function, and the common protocol domain is: An architecture that is connected to an external domain via a Home Access function is described in J. Org. Recommended as 190.

  However, in the above recommendation, only the basic functions are defined for the Home Client function and the Home Access function, and the Home Client function and the Home Access function necessary for device control, search, status acquisition, etc. There is no provision regarding the functions to be provided. Further, there is no detailed definition other than using IP (Internet Protocol) for the protocol used for communication between the Home Client function and the Home Access function.

  As a mechanism for providing an environment for seamlessly operating terminals belonging to different protocols, there are a network server and a network system disclosed in JP-A-2002-9807. In the system, servers are arranged in a network configured by each protocol, and each server is connected by a backbone network. When controlling a terminal belonging to a different network, the command is transmitted to the server of the network to which the terminal belongs, and the command is transmitted to the server of the network to which the target terminal belongs via the backbone network. Parses and converts the command and transmits the command to the target terminal.

As for the information format of the command for controlling the terminal, there are a format for controlling a terminal belonging to the same network and a format for controlling a terminal belonging to another network. When the server receives a command transmitted from another network, the server converts the command into a network command information format managed by the server, and transmits the command to the terminal. At this time, the server has a conversion rule between the information format used in all networks other than the network managed by the server and the information format used in the network managed by the server. Perform the conversion process. In other words, each server needs to convert the information format of the 1-to-N command for the existing network, so every time a new network is added, it is necessary to add conversion rules for that network to all servers. is there.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-9807 (paragraph numbers 0013 to 0032 and FIG. 1)

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a unique protocol included in a target terminal when a user performs control, search, and status acquisition of the terminal in an environment where a plurality of specific protocols are mixed. Seamless device control method and system, gateway device, and terminal capable of minimizing the influence on existing devices even if a new specific protocol domain is added to the network, without being conscious of the above And providing a domain controller device.

Therefore, the seamless device control method of the present invention includes a specific protocol domain for discovering and controlling a device and a service of the device by a specific specific protocol, a quasi-common protocol domain connected via a domain controller function, A common protocol domain and an external protocol domain connected via a gateway function;
Communication between the gateway function and the domain controller function based on a quasi-common protocol that has both a part depending on the specific protocol and a common part, and communication between the gateway function and the control function belonging to the external protocol domain Performing based on a common protocol.

  In this seamless device control method, the domain controller function converts a specific protocol and a quasi-common protocol, at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by the domain controller function, information about a service included in the device, and a specific It is good to have the process of performing the procedure which manages the classification of a protocol, and the procedure which searches and discovers a device and the service which this device has based on the request | requirement from the said gateway function. Further, the gateway function has a step of converting a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol, and at the time of protocol conversion in this step, the specific protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller function, and as a result A procedure for converting to a quasi-common protocol may be included.

Furthermore, the seamless device control system of the present invention
A unique protocol domain for discovering and controlling the device and the services possessed by the device by a specific unique protocol;
A quasi-common protocol domain connected via the domain controller function;
The quasi-common protocol domain and an external protocol domain connected via a gateway function,
Communication between the gateway function and the domain controller function is based on a quasi-common protocol that has both a part that depends on the specific protocol and a part that is shared,
Communication between the gateway function and the control function belonging to the external protocol domain is performed based on a common protocol.

  In the seamless device control system, the domain controller function includes a means for converting a unique protocol and a quasi-common protocol, at least a device belonging to a unique protocol domain managed by the device, information on services provided by the device, and It is preferable to include a unit that manages a type of the specific protocol and a unit that searches for and discovers a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol. At the time of protocol conversion, the specific protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller function, and based on the result. What converts to a quasi-common protocol may be provided.

Furthermore, the gateway device of the present invention includes a specific protocol domain for discovering and controlling a device and a service of the device by a specific specific protocol, a quasi-common protocol domain connected to the domain via a domain controller function, A gateway function having an external protocol domain with a control function to control the device;
Communication with the domain controller function performed by the gateway function is based on a quasi-common protocol having both a part depending on a specific protocol and a part shared.
Communication with the control function belonging to the external protocol domain performed by the gateway function is based on a common protocol.

  In this gateway apparatus, the domain controller function includes a means for converting a specific protocol and a quasi-common protocol, at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by itself, information on services provided by the device, and a specific protocol. It is also possible to employ a device comprising means for managing the type of the device and means for searching for and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol. At the time of protocol conversion, the specific protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller, and the quasi-common is based on the result. It is good to adopt what converts to a common protocol.

Furthermore, the terminal of the present invention has a seamless protocol having a specific protocol domain for discovering and controlling a device and a service of the device by a specific specific protocol, and a quasi-common protocol domain connected to the domain through a domain controller function. In the device control system, a terminal having a control function belonging to an external protocol domain connected to the quasi-common protocol domain via a gateway function,
The communication with the domain controller function performed by the gateway function is based on a quasi-common protocol having both a part depending on a specific protocol and a part shared.
Communication with the control function belonging to the external protocol domain performed by the gateway function is based on a common protocol.

  In this terminal, the domain controller function includes a means for converting a specific protocol and a quasi-common protocol, at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by itself, information about services provided by the device, and a specific protocol. It is preferable to employ a device that includes means for managing types and means for searching for and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol. At the time of protocol conversion, the specific protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller, and the quasi-common is based on the result. It is good to adopt what converts to a common protocol.

Furthermore, the domain controller device of the present invention includes a specific protocol domain for discovering and controlling a device and a service of the device by a specific specific protocol,
A quasi-common protocol domain connected via the domain controller function;
The quasi-common protocol domain and an external protocol domain connected via a gateway function,
Communication between the gateway function and the domain controller function is based on a quasi-common protocol that has both a part that depends on the specific protocol and a part that is shared,
Communication between the gateway function and the control function belonging to the external protocol domain is performed based on a common protocol.

  In the domain controller apparatus, the domain controller function includes a means for converting a unique protocol and a quasi-common protocol, at least a device belonging to a unique protocol domain managed by itself, information on services provided by the device, and a unique It is preferable to employ a means that manages a protocol type and a means for searching for and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol. At the time of protocol conversion, the specific protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller function, and based on the result. It is advisable to adopt a protocol that converts to a quasi-common protocol.

  In the seamless device control method and system, gateway device, terminal, and domain controller device described above, the semi-common protocol includes a common part and a specific part of the command to be sent to the domain controller function and the command sending means. There is a part that depends on the protocol, and the level to be shared should be the one agreed within the same quasi-common protocol domain. As the common protocol, a common command may be used for commands related to device search, control, and status acquisition belonging to a specific protocol domain and services of the device.

  According to the seamless device control method and system, gateway device, terminal, and domain controller device of the present invention described above, to which user and application service provider the specific protocol to which the device to be controlled / acquired belongs belongs. No need to be aware of In addition, by preparing an intermediate protocol between the common protocol and the specific protocol, the gateway function provides the conversion function from the common protocol to the quasi-common protocol, and the domain controller function provides the quasi-common protocol. In this method, the conversion processing is distributed to the gateway function and the domain controller function as compared with the case where the domain controller function performs direct conversion from the common protocol to the specific protocol. It is possible to reduce the load of conversion processing for each. While the gateway function may be implemented in a rich terminal such as a home gateway in general, the domain controller function is also considered to be implemented as a function of home appliances, so the processing load on the domain controller function is reduced. It is important to mitigate. By introducing the present invention, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the domain controller function. Furthermore, in the present invention, since the domain controller function only needs to perform a one-to-one conversion process between the quasi-common protocol and the unique protocol, a new unique protocol domain can be added without changing the existing domain controller function. Is possible.

  Therefore, according to the seamless device control method of the present invention and its system, gateway device, terminal, and domain controller device, when the user performs terminal control, search, and status acquisition in an environment where a plurality of unique protocols are mixed, The above-mentioned action can be performed without being aware of the specific protocol of the target terminal, and even if a new specific protocol domain is added to the network, the influence on the existing device can be minimized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the seamless device control system of the present invention.

  There is a domain composed of Echonet compliant terminals (Echonet domain) and a domain composed of UPnP compliant terminals (UPnP domain). The Echonet domain manages the air conditioner 101 equipped with Echonet and the domain. A domain controller function 105 is provided, and communication between the air conditioner 101 and the domain controller function 105 is performed according to a protocol defined by Echonet, and device / service information 110 of the air conditioner 101 is managed in the domain controller function 105.

  Information to be managed includes an item of “terminal type” indicating the type of terminal, an “air conditioner” is described in the value, and an item of “terminal ID” indicating an identifier for identifying the terminal is included, “Air conditioner # 0001” is described in the value, and there is an item of “protocol type” indicating the type of protocol that the terminal has, and “Echonet” is described in the value. There are items to be represented, and “temperature adjustment” and “dehumidification” services are described as values.

  The UPnP domain includes an air conditioner 102 equipped with UPnP and a domain controller function 106 for managing the domain. Communication between the air conditioner 102 and the domain controller function 106 is performed according to a protocol defined by UPnP. The controller function 106 manages device / service information 111 of the air conditioner 102.

  In the managed information, there is an item “terminal type” indicating the type of the terminal, the value “air conditioner” is described, and there is an item “terminal ID” indicating an identifier for specifying the terminal, “Air conditioner # 0002” is described in the value, and there is an item of “protocol type” indicating the type of protocol provided in the terminal. “UPnP” is described in the value, and the service provided in the terminal is described below. There is an item to represent, and the service of “temperature control” is described as a value.

  The domain controller function 105 and the domain controller function 106 are connected to the gateway function 115, the communication between the domain controller function 105 and the gateway function 115 is performed by a semi-common protocol, the gateway function 115 is connected to the external domain, and the gateway function 115 Communication between external domains is performed using a common protocol.

  Next, an operation example of this system will be described. Here, the setting temperature of the air conditioner 101 existing in the Echonet domain is set to 25 ° C. through the control terminal 120 existing in the external domain, and the setting temperature of the air conditioner 102 existing in the UPnP domain is set to 25 ° C. An operation example will be described.

  First, the operation of the air conditioner 101 will be described. In order to control the air conditioner 101 from the control terminal 120, the following procedure (steps 1 to 5) is performed.

  Step 1) Command 1 is transmitted from the control terminal 120 to the gateway 115 in accordance with the common protocol. The command 1 (201) shown in FIG. 2 is a part of the contents described in the command 1, and the item to be described has a “terminal ID” indicating information for identifying the target terminal, “Air Conditioner # 0001” representing the air conditioner 101 is described, “Command Type” representing the type of control is described, “Temperature Setting” is described as the value, and “Set Temperature” items indicating how many times to set are set And “25” is described as the value. The items described in the command 1, the values of each item, their notation, description language, command transmission method, etc. are made common without depending on the specific protocol. The description language is standardized in XML.

  Step 2) The gateway function 115 that has received the command 1 analyzes the command 1 and inquires of the domain controller function 105 about the protocol type of the operation target terminal.

  Step 3) According to the result of the check, the command 1 is converted into a quasi-common protocol rule compliant with Echonet which is the protocol type of the target terminal, and the command 2 is transmitted to the domain controller function (105).

  Step 4) The command 2 (203) shown in FIG. 2 is a part of the contents described in the command 2, and the item to be described is other than the item of “terminal ID” indicating information for identifying the terminal. In addition, there are “class group code” and “glass court” which are information indicating the type of terminal in Echonet, and “0x01” and “0x30” representing home air conditioners are described as values, respectively. Further, in Echonet, there is an item “EPC” indicating the type of instruction, the value is described as “0xB3” indicating the set temperature, and there is an item “Value” indicating the temperature set value, and the value indicates 25 ° C. “25” is described. The item described in the command, the value of the item, its notation, data type, and the like depend on the Echonet rule, but the description language is unified with XML.

  Step 5) The domain controller function (105) receives the command 2, converts the command in accordance with the Echonet rule, and transmits the command to the air conditioner (101), thereby setting the set temperature of the air conditioner (101) to 25 ° C.

  Next, a case where the air conditioner 102 is operated will be described. In order to control the air conditioner 102 from the control terminal 120, the following procedure (steps 6 to 10) is performed.

  Step 6) The command 3 is transmitted from the control terminal 120 to the gateway 115 in accordance with the common protocol. A command 3 (301) shown in FIG. 3 is a part of the contents described in the command 3, and the described contents include a value of “terminal ID” representing information for identifying a target terminal. Is the same as command 2 except that “air conditioner # 0002” is described.

  Step 7) Upon receiving the command 3, the gateway 115 analyzes the command 3 and checks the protocol type of the operation target terminal with the domain controller function 106.

  Step 8) According to the result of the check, the command 3 is converted into a quasi-common protocol rule compliant with UPnP, which is the protocol type of the target terminal, and is sent to the domain controller function 106 as the command 4.

  Step 9) The command 4 (303) shown in FIG. 3 is a part of the contents described in the command 4, and the described contents include the item of “terminal ID” indicating an identifier for identifying the terminal. Describes a part of the SOAP message defined by UPnP to be transmitted when the set temperature of the air conditioner is set to 25 ° C.

  Step 10) The domain controller function 106 receives the command 4, converts the command in accordance with the UPnP specification, and transmits the command to the air conditioner 102, thereby setting the set temperature of the air conditioner 102 to 25 ° C.

Embodiment 2
In the first embodiment, an example is described in which the common protocol is uniquely defined up to command items, values, their notation, description language, and the like. However, as the common protocol, an existing protocol such as UPnP is used. It is also possible to adopt a specific protocol. In this case, there are items that are not supported by the specific protocol, and for the items that are not supported, a common protocol is defined by adding a uniquely defined item to the specific protocol.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, an example in which the quasi-common protocol is different from the common protocol is shown. However, a case where the quasi-common protocol and the common protocol are the same protocol is considered as a third embodiment example. In this case, the domain controller function needs a function for performing direct conversion from the common protocol to the unique protocol. Compared to the first embodiment, the increase and conversion of information necessary for conversion that the domain controller function should possess This can increase the processing load on the domain controller function.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows a part of command defined by each protocol at the time of operating the air conditioner 101 in embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows a part of command defined by each protocol at the time of operating the air conditioner 102 in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 ... Air conditioner 102 ... Air conditioner 105 ... Domain controller function 106 ... Domain controller function 115 ... Gateway function 120 ... Control terminal

Claims (17)

A unique protocol domain for discovering and controlling a device and a service of the device by a specific unique protocol, a semi-common protocol domain connected via a domain controller function, and a semi-common protocol domain connected via the gateway function An external protocol domain,
A step of performing communication between the gateway function and the domain controller function based on a quasi-common protocol having both a part depending on a specific protocol and a common part;
A seamless device control method comprising a step of performing communication between a gateway function and a control function belonging to an external protocol domain based on a common protocol. The domain controller function is
A procedure for converting between a native protocol and a semi-common protocol;
A procedure for managing at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by itself, information about a service included in the device, and a type of the specific protocol;
The seamless device control method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of executing a procedure for searching and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function has a step of converting a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol, and at the time of protocol conversion in this step, the specific protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller function, and based on this result The seamless device control method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of converting into a quasi-common protocol. A unique protocol domain for discovering and controlling the device and the services possessed by the device by a specific unique protocol;
A quasi-common protocol domain connected via the domain controller function;
The quasi-common protocol domain and an external protocol domain connected via a gateway function,
Communication between the gateway function and the domain controller function is based on a quasi-common protocol that has both a part that depends on the specific protocol and a part that is shared,
A seamless device control system characterized in that communication between a gateway function and a control function belonging to an external protocol domain is performed based on a common protocol. The domain controller function is
A means for converting between a native protocol and a quasi-common protocol;
Means for managing at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by itself, information about a service included in the device, and a type of the specific protocol;
5. The seamless device control system according to claim 4, further comprising means for searching for and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting between a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol. At the time of protocol conversion, the unique protocol type of the target device is interrogated with the domain controller function, and the quasi-common protocol is based on the result. The seamless device control system according to claim 4, wherein the seamless device control system is converted into the following. A unique protocol domain for discovering and controlling a device and a service of the device by a specific unique protocol, a semi-common protocol domain connected to the domain through a domain controller function, and a control function for controlling the device A gateway function having an external protocol domain,
The communication with the domain controller function performed by the gateway function is based on a quasi-common protocol having both a part depending on a specific protocol and a part shared.
Communication with the control function belonging to the external protocol domain performed by the gateway function is based on a common protocol. The domain controller function is
A means for converting between a native protocol and a quasi-common protocol;
Means for managing at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by itself, information about a service included in the device, and a type of the specific protocol;
8. The gateway apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for searching for and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting between a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol, and at the time of protocol conversion, the unique protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller, and based on this result, the quasi-common protocol is converted. 9. The gateway device according to claim 7, wherein the gateway device is converted. A seamless device control system having a unique protocol domain for discovering and controlling a device and a service of the device by a specific unique protocol, and a semi-common protocol domain connected to the domain via a domain controller function. A terminal having a control function belonging to an external protocol domain connected via a protocol domain and a gateway function,
The communication with the domain controller function performed by the gateway function is based on a quasi-common protocol having both a part depending on a specific protocol and a part shared.
Communication with the control function belonging to the external protocol domain performed by the gateway function is based on a common protocol. The domain controller function is
A means for converting between a native protocol and a quasi-common protocol;
Means for managing at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by itself, information about a service included in the device, and a type of the specific protocol;
The terminal according to claim 10, further comprising means for searching for and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting between a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol, and at the time of protocol conversion, the unique protocol type of the target device is interrogated by the domain controller, and based on this result, the quasi-common protocol is converted. The terminal according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the terminal is converted. A unique protocol domain for discovering and controlling the device and the services possessed by the device by a specific unique protocol;
A quasi-common protocol domain connected via the domain controller function;
The quasi-common protocol domain and an external protocol domain connected via a gateway function,
Communication between the gateway function and the domain controller function is based on a quasi-common protocol that has both a part that depends on the specific protocol and a part that is shared,
A domain controller device characterized in that communication between a gateway function and a control function belonging to an external protocol domain is performed based on a common protocol. The domain controller function is
A means for converting between a native protocol and a quasi-common protocol;
Means for managing at least a device belonging to a specific protocol domain managed by itself, information about a service included in the device, and a type of the specific protocol;
14. The domain controller apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for searching for and discovering a device and a service of the device based on a request from the gateway function. The gateway function includes means for converting between a common protocol and a quasi-common protocol. At the time of protocol conversion, the unique protocol type of the target device is interrogated with the domain controller function, and the quasi-common protocol is based on the result. The domain controller device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the domain controller device is converted into: The semi-common protocol has a command to be sent to the domain controller function and a command transmission means, there are a common part and a part depending on a specific protocol, and the common level is agreed within the same semi-common protocol domain. The seamless device control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the seamless device control system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, and the seamless device control system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, The gateway device according to any one of claims 1, the terminal according to any one of claims 10 to 12, or the domain controller device according to any one of claims 13 to 15. The said common protocol is made common about the command which is related to the search which belongs to a peculiar protocol domain, and the service which a device has, control, and status acquisition, The one of Claim 1 to 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The seamless device control method, the seamless device control system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the gateway device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, and the any one of claims 10 to 12. The domain controller device according to claim 13 or any one of claims 13 to 15.

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