JP2006325271A - Network apparatus, network controller and control method for network apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control apparatuses connected to networks of both AV and information systems from a controller of an AV system while connecting the network of the AV system and the network of the information system, without distinguishing the apparatuses and further without necessity for a user to perform work such as address setting. <P>SOLUTION: A network control device for controlling the network apparatuses connected to the network of AV and home electric appliance system are connected to an IP network, the network controller comprises a control relay means for controlling the apparatuses connected to the network of the AV and the home electric appliance system from the IP network, and the network controller on the IP network makes control by acquiring function information of the network apparatuses including the control relay means, thereby controlling apparatuses connected to all the networks. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a control method between devices connected to a network, a device for the same, and a control device, and more particularly to a user on a device on a network constructed by connecting two or more different networks to each other at home. It can be controlled by a simple operation.

With the development of digitization of information home appliances and the widespread use of the Internet, it has become possible to construct networks in ordinary households.
One form of network at home is an information network that aims to share Internet access and printers, etc. by multiple PCs, such as PCs for individual families or desktop PCs and notebook PCs. Among them, there are an Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN using a twisted pair line such as 100BASE-TX and a wireless LAN based on the IEEE802.11b standard, and the protocol on the network is generally TCP / IP widely used in computer networks such as the Internet. It is used for. Hereinafter, such an information network using TCP / IP is referred to as an IP network.

On the other hand, the digitalization of AV devices represented by TVs, VTRs, etc. has progressed, and digital satellite broadcast receivers and TVs incorporating the same, digital recording VTRs, video cameras, and hard disks that use hard disks as recording media ( Recording devices using optical disks such as HD) recorders and DVD-RAMs have appeared. In order to take advantage of the characteristics of the digital system that signal quality deterioration during transmission and storage hardly occurs in these digital AV devices, an increasing number of devices adopting a high-speed serial interface (hereinafter referred to as 1394 IF) based on the IEEE 1394 standard for connection between the devices. . 1394IF was originally designed as a bus for PC peripheral layer devices, but it is an isochronous transfer mode suitable for transmitting video and audio data handled by AV devices without interruption, with a data transfer rate of up to 400 Mbps. Has been attracting attention as a standard interface for digital AV devices, because it has the advantage of reducing the user's operation by automatically assigning device IDs by detecting cable insertion and removal. For this reason, a protocol for transmitting MPEG2-TS (Transport Stream) widely used in digital AV devices, a data format, and a command transmission / reception protocol for controlling AV devices are defined as IEC61883 standards. Equipment, eg VT
The control command specifications for each R and tuner are also AV / C (Audio Video Co).
ntl) command as a spreading organization, 1394TA (Trade Ass
association). Furthermore, HAVi (Ho) is an AV network software specification for realizing compatibility for operating each other device by recognizing each other between the AV devices connected by the 1394 IF.
me Audio Video Interoperability) was established mainly by consumer electronics manufacturers. It is determined by. Thus, in an environment of 1394IF and HAVi, plug-and-play that can be used immediately without troublesome setting work can be realized if the user connects the AV apparatus.

In addition, ECHONET standards have been established mainly by home appliance manufacturers as network standards for so-called white goods such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. ECH
ONET controls home appliances using physical media such as power lines and radio, and uses a unique format as a protocol.

Until now, the information network, AV product network, and white product network have different objectives and requirements, and each has been independently developed.
However, recently ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Sub
The development of a high-speed access network using a cable line) and a cable TV network has been rapidly progressing for general Internet users, and the broadband network including services using optical fibers is becoming widespread. If broadband Internet access is provided at a constant and flat rate due to such broadbandization, it is expected that it will affect the home network. For example, widening by broadband enables high-quality AV content that has been provided to homes only by conventional broadcasting or package media to be supplied via the Internet. In addition, if regular fixed-price connections can be obtained in general, dial-up access via telephone lines, such as conventional digital satellite broadcast receivers, was used, and upstream access from home devices to service providers Even the Internet can be used easily. Therefore, by providing closer links between the information network, which is the access port to the Internet, and AV and white goods networks, new services that have never existed and new products that have improved user convenience Is possible.

For example, in JP-A-11-187061, JP-A-2000-224207, and JP-A-2001-202317, a 1394IF network and an information network connected outside the home are connected and connected to the 1394IF. Describes a method of controlling a connected device via an information network.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-187061 JP 2000-224207 A JP 2001-202317 A

The technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-187061 described above connects an AV device, an information device such as a PC, a white network control device, and a connection device to a public network on a network using 1394 IF. Thus, a technology for controlling a control device on the 1394 IF and further a white product device connected to an AV device or a white product network from outside such as another home is disclosed. According to the above-described technology, since an information system device such as a PC is operated as a control device by a method based on 1394IF, the information system device needs to have 1394IF and processing software. Further, coexistence with a conventional information network device is not considered.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-224207 discloses a technique for controlling a device connected to a network using 1394 IF from a controller provided on an information network. However, it is described to control a device on another AV network or a device on the information network via the information network from the controller on the AV network as originally realized in the AV network. Not.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-202317, a technique is disclosed in which an AV apparatus is controlled from inside and outside the home by a control apparatus connected to both the AV network and the information network. However, a method for controlling a device connected to an information network from an AV device is not described.

An object of the present invention is to control each AV device connected to an AV network from the AV control device by using a control method in the conventional AV network when connecting the AV network and the information network. A device connected to the information system network at the same time or another AV connected through the information system network
Network control device, network device, and network device that provide a control method for a network device that can control devices connected to a local network or a white product network, and that do not require troublesome address setting for the user It is to realize the control method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a network control device comprising a first network interface and first control means for controlling a network device connected to the network via the first network interface. A second network interface, a second control means for controlling a network device connected to the network via the second network interface, and a network connected via the second network interface. Control relay means for receiving control information from another network control apparatus and sending it to the first control means based on the control information is provided to control apparatuses connected to both the first network and the second network. As well as the second network It is obtained by allowing control network system from another network control device connected to the workpiece interface is connected to the first network.

Further, the network device connected to the second network transmits function information related to its own controllable function to the network control device, and the network control device transmits the function information based on the function information transmitted from the network device. By issuing a control command for controlling the network device to control the network device, the network control device connected to the second network transmits the first device via all the network devices and the control relay means. The network device connected to the network can be controlled.

  According to the present invention, an AV network and an information system network are connected, and each AV device connected to the AV system network is controlled from the AV system control device, and at the same time, via the device connected to the information system network or the information system network Control of a network device that can control a device connected to another AV network or white network that is connected can be realized without requiring troublesome settings by the user.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration method for a home network using a network control device and a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a digital TV 10
Reference numeral 1 denotes a network control apparatus according to the present invention.
102, HD recorder 103, and video camera 104. Further, it is connected to the gateway device 111 by a LAN using Ethernet, and is thereby coupled to the IP network to which the PC 112 and the white object controller 121 are connected. The gateway 111 has a router function for connecting a home network and a wide area network, and an ADSL modem or cable modem function.
00 is connected. Note that the gateway 111 does not have to be an integrated router and modem, and these may be provided as separate devices. For example, the white goods controller 121 is connected to the refrigerator 1 via ECHONET using a power line as a medium.
22, connected to white goods devices such as an air conditioner 123 and a washing machine 124, and controls these white goods devices.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the digital TV 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A CPU 301 that performs overall control via a system bus 302, a tuner 303, a decoder 304, a graphics processing unit 305, a memory 3
07, 1394 IF unit 308, network IF unit 309, remote control IF 310
Are connected to each other. A program received from the antenna is selected by the tuner 302, restored to a video signal by the decoder 304, and sent to the display unit 306 via the graphics processing unit 305. A display unit 306 is a monitor display such as a CRT or a liquid crystal panel, and displays the video restored by the decoder 304 on the screen. Note that the display unit 306 is not necessarily integrated with the digital TV 101, and may be an external monitor display. 1394IF308
Is connected to AV equipment such as VTR120 via 1394IF,
In response to a command from the CPU 301, a control command is transmitted to each AV device and an operation state of each device is received. Also, video / audio data sent from each AV device is received and sent to the decoder 303, and the video signal is restored and displayed on the display unit 306. Also, the video / audio data output from the tuner 302 is sent to the 1394 IF for recording. The network IF 309 receives control data sent from the IP network, or sends out control data for controlling a network device connected to the IP network. The remote control IF 310 receives a code representing the user operation sent from the infrared remote control 311 and sends it to the CPU 301 to control the operation of the digital TV 101 or 1394I.
The CPU 301 performs necessary processing such as generation of control data necessary for controlling the network device connected to the F or IP network.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of software operating on the CPU 301 of the digital TV 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Digital TV function application (
401 (hereinafter abbreviated as AP) 401 controls functions inherent to the receiver such as broadcast reception. An operation input from the user is received from the remote control driver 411 and an operation screen is displayed using the graphics driver 410. Network device operation A
P controls the IP network and other devices connected to the 1394 IF, implements a user interface using the remote control driver 411 and the graphics driver 410, and operates the IP device operation client module 403.
API for controlling devices connected to the IP network provided by
In addition, the network device is operated using a service API for controlling a device connected to the network by the 1394 IF provided by the AV device control module 405. The IP device operation client 403 receives the network device operation AP 402 via the TCP / IP stack 406 and the network driver.
The control data corresponding to the request from the network device is transmitted to the network device to be controlled, and the response from the network device is notified to the device operation AP 402. The AV device control module 405 is prepared for each AV device connected to the 1394 IF.
In response to a request from the network device operation AP 402 via the four network control unit 407 and the 1394 driver 409, control data is transmitted to the AV device that is the control target, and a response from the AV device is notified to the network device operation AP 402.

As one configuration method of the 1394 network control unit 407, network middleware according to the HAVi specification is used. At this time, the AV apparatus control module 405
Is the Device Control Module (DCM) in the HAVi specification.
When the AV device is connected to the 1394 IF, the RO in the AV device
A DCM that matches the control specifications of the AV device is uploaded from M or the website of the manufacturer that manufactured the AV device, and this allows the AV device to be operated from the network device operation AP.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the control relationship of the IP network portion in the network shown in FIG. The digital TV 101 is a VTR 10 connected to the 1394 IF.
2. It has an IP device operation target 404 for acting as a gateway for controlling AV devices such as the HD recorder 103 and the video camera 104 from the IP network. When a new AV device is connected to the 1394 IF and the AV device control module 405 is uploaded, the IP device operation target 404 is set to this AV.
The ID on the device's 1394 IF is acquired by the AV device control module 405,
A multicast message indicating that a new device has been added to the IP network side is issued, an IP address is newly acquired, and this is associated with the ID of the newly connected AV device, and held from the IP network side. The ID on the 1394 IF of the corresponding AV device in response to the control command to the AV device specified using the address
And a control command is transmitted to the AV device control module 405 that matches this. The digital TV 101 is the IP device operation target 5 of the white object controller 121.
Refrigerator 122 connected to ECHONET via 02, air conditioner 123,
IP device operation client 403 for controlling a white goods device such as the washing machine 124
And functions as a controller having a user interface for the user to operate the white goods device. The PC 112 includes an IP device operation client 501 for operating the AV device using the IP device operation target 404 of the digital TV 101, and functions as a controller having a user interface for controlling the AV device. The white object controller 121 includes a white object device control module 503 for controlling a white object device connected to ECHONET, and an IP device operation for using a service API provided by the white object device control module 503 from an IP network. Provide a target. As described above, the device connected to the network is controlled by the combination of the IP device operation client and the IP device operation target on the IP network.

The control procedure between the IP device operation client 501 and the IP device operation target 404 for controlling the AV device may be as follows. That is, 139
In order to distinguish each AV device connected on 4IF, a virtual IP address is assigned to each, and when trying to operate the AV device from the IP network side, the device is designated by the IP address. Actually, all packets having the virtual IP address given to each AV device are sent to the digital TV 101, and the IP device operation target converts the virtual IP address into a 1394 IF node ID. Next, in order to control individual functions of each AV device, it is necessary to specify the type of device, the classification of functions, and the operation parameters. Although these pieces of information can be defined independently, Ope indicates the distinction between VTR and Tuner defined in the HAVi specification.
relation ID, classification of operation of each model, for example, PLAY, S for VTR
If the API code indicating the distinction such as TOP is used and the operation parameter is also set to the value determined by HAVi, it is not necessary to newly determine the function of the AV device that is normally used because it is defined. Vendors can also extend their own.

Similarly, a procedure for controlling a white product may be distinguished by giving a virtual IP address to each white product. The specification of the type of each device, the function for each device, and the operation parameter need not be determined anew if the one defined as the service API in the ECHONET standard is used.

When a network control device having an IP device operation client or a network device having an IP device operation target is newly connected to an IP network, as described in detail below, a multicast message issued by the newly connected device is used as a trigger. The IP device operation client includes, as information related to the target function of the IP device operation target, a virtual IP address, a list of device types of the network device identified by the virtual IP address, a list of controllable functions for each device type, and A list of operation parameters necessary for control of each function is collected and stored. The network device operation AP collects information regarding these target functions from the IP device operation client, and displays a GUI for operating the target device based on these information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the IP device operation target in the network device according to the embodiment of the present invention. A network device connected to the network acquires an IP address. (S001) Network is IPv4
In the case of the well-known DHCP (Dynamic Host Configurator
ion Protocol) to obtain an address. Usually, in the case of a network as shown in FIG. 1, the gateway 111 often has a DHCP server function. In the case of an IPv6 network, a prefix (64 bits) is acquired from a router (gateway 111 in the case of FIG. 1), and 128 bits constructed by a 64-bit interface ID generated from its own MAC address or the like.
Get the IPv6 address of t.

Next, multicast transmission that the user is connected to the network. (S
002) The multicast method may be such that it can be recognized only between the network control device and the network device according to the present invention by a method such as transmitting to a predetermined port number. Waiting for a response from the client for multicast transmission (S003). If there is no response, it is determined that there is no device having an IP device operation client on the network, and a new IP device operation client is connected to the network. It waits to announce itself (S004). When a response is obtained from the client, information on the target function of the client is transmitted to the client that has sent the response. (S005) The function information of the target is data indicating a list of devices that can be controlled as targets and a list of functions that can be controlled, and the format is not limited to a specific object in the present invention. As an example, XML (eXtended Markup Language) can be used.

After transmitting the function information, the target waits for a control command from the client (S006). If a control command is sent from the client, this is executed (S007) and the control command is waited again. If the control command from the client has not been received for a long time, it is determined that the client has left the network or timed out for other reasons (S008), and the process waits for an announcement of a new client.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the IP device operation client in the network control device according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, the IP address is acquired (S101), and the fact that it is connected to the network is multicast transmitted (S102). Waiting for the transmission of the function information from the target for the multicast transmission (S103), if the function information has been transmitted, it is registered and held by itself. Thereafter, the presence / absence of multicast announcement by a new target connected to the network is determined (S105), and when the announcement is made, the target is requested to transmit function information. (S106) When there is no new target announcement, the control request from the AP is waited (S107), and when there is a control request from the AP, a control command corresponding to this is transmitted to the target (S108). ) New target determination (S1)
Return to 05). If there is no command request from the AP, it is determined whether the target registration needs to be continued (S109). If necessary, a control command is transmitted to the target (S110), and the target does not time out. Like that. The control command at this time may be, for example, a target status check command. When there is no response from the client to the command for checking the status (S111)
Alternatively, if it is determined in S109 that there is a target that does not require any AP, the function information of this target is deleted from the client. (S112)
Regardless of whether the network device on the client side or the target side is connected to the network as described above, the client side recognizes the target and always performs control while maintaining information on the controllable functions of the target. Can do. At this time, the user can use the necessary functions of the device at any time after the connection without simply performing the installation / removal of the device and performing troublesome setting work. In the present invention, it is determined on the client side whether or not it is necessary to hold the target function information. This is because, for example, it is determined whether the target is required in the client closer to the AP or the user than the target periodically updates information as employed in the technology such as Jini. Since management is performed by sending a control command only when necessary, there is an advantage that unnecessary traffic is not generated in the network.

FIG. 7 shows a network configured using a network control device and a network device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the network of FIG. 7, a set top box (STB) 105 connected to the IP network.
To the second VTR 106 and the second HD recorder 10 through the second 1394 IF.
7 is connected, and the TV 109 is connected to the STB 105 by analog IF. The STB 113 that decodes streaming content received from the Internet and displays it on the DTV 101a connected by the analog IF is IP
Connected to the network. In such a configuration, the STBs 105 and 113 each have the function of an IP device operation target, and the DTV 101a has an IP device operation client corresponding to these IP device operation targets. The connected second VTR 106 and second HD recorder 107 can be operated from the digital TV 101a.

As described above, according to the present invention, an AV network and an information network are connected, and each AV device connected to the AV network from the AV control device is controlled, and at the same time, a device or information connected to the information network. Control of a network device that can control another AV network or a device connected to a white object network connected via a system network can be realized without requiring troublesome user settings.

1 is a configuration diagram of a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of digital TV which is a network control apparatus by one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of digital TV which is a network control apparatus by one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control non-control relationship of the network control apparatus and network apparatus by one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the network apparatus by one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the network control apparatus by one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram of the home network by another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 ... Digital TV (network control device)
112 ... PC (network control device)
121 ... White article controller (network device)
403, 501 ... IP device operation client 404, 502 ... IP device operation target

Claims (6)

In a network control device capable of controlling other network devices via a network,
After connecting to the network, it acquires a network address, sends a message notifying other network devices and other network control devices that it is connected to the network, and responds to the message from the other network devices. When the function information related to the controllable function of the network device is received, the function information is stored, and a control command for controlling the network device is transmitted based on the information to control the network device. The network control apparatus is characterized in that the stored function information is discarded when the control of the network apparatus is terminated. When a message notifying that the network device is connected to the network is received from another network device connected to the network, a function information transmission request regarding the controllable function of the network device is sent to the network device. 2. The network according to claim 1, wherein when the function information related to the controllable function of the network device transmitted from the network device in response to the transmission request is received, the function information is stored. Control device. 3. The network control device according to claim 2, wherein a control command is issued to the network device within a predetermined interval while the network device is being controlled. In a network device controlled from another network control device via a network,
After being connected to the network, the network acquires a network address, sends a message notifying the other network control device that it is connected to the network, and is transmitted from the other network control device in response to the message A control command for transmitting the function information to the network control device and controlling the network device based on the function information when the function information transmission request regarding the controllable function of the device is received; The network apparatus is controlled by the network control apparatus by receiving After the network control device or network device newly connected to the network obtains the network address, a message notifying that it is connected to the network is sent over the network, and the newly connected device is the network device. In this case, the network control device already connected to the network requests the newly connected network device to transmit function information related to its own controllable function, and the network device sends the function information to the network control device. Or when the device newly connected to the network is a network control device, functions relating to functions that can be controlled from the network device already connected to the network to the newly connected network control device Send information Te method of controlling a network device the network controller which issues a control command for controlling the network device based on the transmitted said function information and controlling the network device. 6. The network device according to claim 5, wherein a control command is issued to the network device within a predetermined interval while holding the function information transmitted from the network device in the network control device. Control method.

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