JP3353010B1 - Routing method in home network - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a unique identification code (I) for each device in each sub-network in a home network (HBS).
D). SOLUTION: One router is set as a parent router, and only that router manages an identification code. The ID is the ID of the sub-network and the ID of the device in the sub-network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called home network, and in particular, to assigning identification codes to individual devices,
Regarding communication rules and processing for acquisition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various and many devices have been used in each home, each building, and the floors and sections of each building. For this reason, attempts are being made to obtain better living environment, work environment, energy saving and work efficiency by integrating and managing these devices by a home network (or home bus system).

[0003] Specifically, for example, in each home, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, a fan, a heater for bath water using solar heat, a microwave oven, a water heater, an electric appliance, a hot air heater, an electric clock, a television receiver, Lighting equipment and the like are used, and the time and time when these equipment are used have a considerable relationship to each other. It is intended to lead to improvement and energy saving.

More specifically, hot water from a bath water heater using solar heat can often be used in summer, so there is no need to raise the automatic temperature setting of the water heater during bathing hours. Set it lower than in winter, use the microwave oven for a very short period of time, even in summer, reduce the operation of air conditioning equipment to reduce the amount of electricity used at one time at home, and detect the presence or absence of people indoors with sensors For example, the operation output and transmission of the air conditioner in the room are controlled.

As another example, in an office, the operating state of a device as a heat source that is being operated (used) is sensed to control the output of an air conditioner.
Unnecessary lighting in the room is stopped based on the position of the equipment being used, and lighting and air-conditioning equipment in the classroom where lessons are not given at the university are stopped.

[0006] Further, it has been studied and attempted not only to control the start / stop according to the season or time, but also to detect the use condition, and particularly to provide care and monitoring of an infant only when the home or parents of the elderly alone are absent. Is being made. Specifically, abnormalities are detected when the opening and closing of the toilet door is not performed for a certain time interval or more, the volume of the television is too large, or the operation of various devices such as an air conditioner and a heater is unnatural,
Use a telephone line to contact a helper, or if the mobile phone that is being carried by the child goes out of range of the office that manages the area around their homes, informs the parents of the fact through the screen or sound of the television receiver. Warning, etc.

FIG. 1 shows the connection state of various devices for them.
Is shown conceptually.

In FIG. 1, an electric refrigerator 1, an air conditioner 2, a home scallop 3, a fluorescent lamp 4, a microwave oven 5, and an electric washing machine 6 are connected to a CPU 10 by a power line 11, thereby forming one sub-network. I have. The television receiver 7 and the clock 8 are connected to the CPU 10 by infrared rays 12, thereby forming one sub-network. The telephone 9 is connected to the CPU 10 by radio 13, thereby forming one sub-network.

[0009] In addition to the above, other means such as an ultrasonic wave may be used for connection of each device, or may be connected by a plurality of means.

Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a network is not connected to a large number of devices and sub-networks radially around a single CPU 10, but a controller (not shown) as shown in FIG. ) And a router (located between a plurality of sub-networks and realizes communication between the sub-networks. In Fig. 1, the CPU plays this role. 2) are connected by a router at the end of each component and a device that plays the role, or as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Each device or sub-network is connected in a hierarchical manner like a tree.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a sub-network or a device which substantially becomes a sub-network, and reference numeral 30 denotes a router or a device which plays a role of the router.

Also, even if the television receiver is not so large, when the television receiver is connected to the VTR, the VTR reads out the time signal in the broadcast wave received by the television receiver for the correct display of the time. It is also used for simple combinations such as making various corrections.

In addition, various standards and proposals have been established or published by the Japan Electronics and Machinery Manufacturers Association and the Japan Electrical Manufacturers Association for the purpose of effectively exhibiting the functions of these networks (for example, , ET-2101, JEM-143
9 etc.).

A protocol (communication standard) for that purpose
Etc. are being defined or being developed.

[0015] For this reason, each device (including sensors) may be provided with necessary equipment and functions, for example, a communication processing function, in order to perform appropriate functions in a home network from the time of manufacture. It is, of course, done or considered.

[0016]

However, in a home network, when a component such as a device or a sub-network is newly added, the identification code (identification number, ID, address) is given or obtained. It becomes a problem.

That is, in order for the home network to function properly, the system side (side) knows exactly what devices are connected, and then assigns an identification code to each device. It is essential.

It is also essential for each device to recognize its own identification code on the system. However, this is not so easy.

That is, for example, if the subscriber is a new subscriber of the telephone, the communication content, whether an analog signal or a digital signal, is merely a voice or an image. The available numbers may be allocated in order based on the location and the station that manages the location.

However, in the home network, what kind of equipment is currently equipped and what kind of equipment is newly equipped in the future differs for each home.
It is unknown to the system. When a new home network is established, a specialized worker may teach the currently equipped equipment to the system.However, every time a new equipment is installed or, in other words, purchased, the system engineer goes on a business trip. It is not practical to teach the system.

Further, it is not preferable that the sales clerk teaches the system when the refrigerator and the air conditioner are newly installed and carried in and installed.

In the first place, in each home, there are many cases where the person himself / herself does not know exactly what kind of electric appliance and how many electric appliances are present. Furthermore, it is usual that the identification numbers of the respective devices are not accurately grasped.

In a nursing home, each room (elderly family) has the same household electric appliance, but the contents are not completely the same. Therefore, it is even more difficult.

As a countermeasure, it is not inconceivable that a manufacturer of each device stores an identification code such as a serial number for each device at the time of manufacturing. But,
In this case, it is necessary to electronically assign and store the identification numbers of ICs and the like of a large number of devices which are mass-produced, which is quite difficult. In addition, under the globalization of the world market, it is virtually impossible to unify and adjust internationally and assign individual identification codes to each device.

As a result, there may be duplicate identification codes. In particular, in a home equipped with a home network, it is common to equip one home with many devices of the same type, but in this case, duplicate identification codes may occur.

Further, in this case, since it is considered that there will be a large number of homes adopting a home network in the future, for example, when each electric equipment maker announces a new product, a duplicate identification code is scattered everywhere in the nation every time. May occur and the inconvenience may increase.

In the office, when a number of new employees enter the office or when an old device is replaced with a new one, many identical devices are newly installed. In these cases, duplicate identification codes are more likely to occur.

As a countermeasure, increasing the information amount of the identification code, that is, the number of bits, has many problems in terms of cost, memory capacity, information amount required for transmission and reception, and the like.

Therefore, in the home network,
If a network component such as a new device or sub-network is newly installed, the system reliably recognizes the added device and assigns an identification code, while the device with this identification code is also securely assigned. The development of a technology that recognizes this has been desired.

[0030]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a home network, a newly added device or the like is provided on the system side of the home network. It is required to uniquely determine an identification code of a device or the like, and the system and the device have functions of requesting and obtaining such an identification code. Specifically, the configuration is as follows.

In the present invention, devices (including sub-networks and sensors) after the home network is started
When the device is started for the first time, the device side (including the router to which the device belongs) requests the home network to provide its own or the device with an identification code or address within the home network, and directly or indirectly The home network side directly or indirectly determines the identification code of the device by a predetermined procedure such as assigning a number to each device and its type in the order of billing, or attaching the identification code of the subnetwork to the router to which it belongs, and sending it to the billing source Send.

Thereafter, by using the identification code, appropriate functions of the respective devices cooperating in the home network and optimum functions of the entire home network are performed.

In the present invention, the identification code of each device in the home network has a two-stage configuration of the identification code of the subnetwork to which the device belongs and the identification code of the device in the subnetwork. The former can be obtained first by the router or the like. Then the latter is obtained.

In the present invention, the router of the sub-network obtains an identification code as one device of the router in the sub-network, and then, the device connected to the sub-network connects to the device in the sub-network. May be provided. Furthermore,
When an identification code is requested from a device to be newly installed in the system, an identification code in the sub-network may be eventually added to the identification code in the home network.

In the present invention, the request for the identification code may include a notification of the type of each device (including sensors). With this configuration, the home network recognizes the type of newly subscribed device and performs appropriate and optimal functions according to a program in advance.

In the present invention, an unused value may be sequentially assigned from a predetermined order based on information on the type of device included in the request for the identification code. As a result, the identification code is determined as a simple and short value for a device that is unlikely to be included in a large number in a home network, such as a horigotatsu and an electric washing machine.

In the present invention, a specific parent router among a plurality of routers in the home network may assign an identification code to each device.
This prevents the occurrence of duplicate identification codes, and at the same time necessitates the need of routers with devices to obtain the identification codes considering the entire network, routers for each sub-network, and the cost of each device. You can hold up.

In the present invention, when installed in a home or the like where a home network is not provided, the device alone exhibits its own functions such as refrigeration and air conditioning,
If a home network is provided later, or if the home network is already installed in a home or the like, an identification code is automatically assigned from the home network. Then, a configuration that exerts an appropriate function as a member of the home network can be achieved.

According to the present invention, since it is possible to make a request for giving the desired identification code from the device side to the home network side at an appropriate time, it is possible to realize the proper functioning of the device in the home network. The time can be advanced.

In the present invention, the identification code given by the device to the home network side uses information on the month, day, hour, minute, and second at the time of the request, so that duplicate identification codes are not generated. Can also.

In the present invention, it is also possible to provide a configuration in which an identification code is given by assigning an order to each device type so that the processing is simple and no duplicate identification code is generated.

In the present invention, one of a plurality of routers in the home network may be used as a parent router, and the assignment of the identification code to each device may be integrated. The burden can be reduced, and the occurrence of duplicate identification codes can be eliminated.

[0043]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on its embodiments.

(First Embodiment) In this embodiment, each device requests the control unit of the home network to give its own identification code, and the home network generates and assigns the identification code. Things.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes an identification code assignment requesting unit having a transmission unit 211 therein. 22 is a clock. 23 is a means for receiving a start signal of the home network. 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes an activation detection unit of the device main body. Reference numeral 25 denotes a receiving control unit for receiving the identification code of the device transmitted from the home network 10, and includes a receiving unit 251. 26 is a device main body. Reference numeral 27 denotes a home network compatible device main unit control unit having an identification code storage unit 271 built-in.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a home network incorporating the control unit 101, more precisely, a parent router and a CPU in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram on the home network side. In the figure, reference numeral 300 denotes a receiving unit for receiving an identification code assignment request transmitted from the device side. 31 is an identification code collation generation unit. 32 is an identification code storage unit. 3
Reference numeral 3 denotes a new identification code processing control unit. 34 is an identification code transmission unit. Reference numeral 35 is a control adjustment unit for each device.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a device for making a request for transmitting an identification code. First, the operation of the device will be described.

The means for requesting the identification code is periodically provided by a timer or based on a home network start-up signal, specifically a detection of a power supply of a predetermined wavelength or a start-up signal of the equipment body, specifically, a power-on signal. Requesting the main body or control unit of the home network to add its own identification code.

In response to the request, if the identification code is transmitted within a predetermined time, for example, within 500 milliseconds, the identification code reception control means 25 determines the identification of the home network compatible device main body control unit 27 of the device. Code storage unit 2
The identification code is written into 71, and the identification code assignment requesting means 21 is disabled thereafter. Therefore, if the identification code is not transmitted, the identification code adding request means 2 will be continued thereafter.
No. 1 keeps requesting the home network 10 to provide the identification according to a predetermined program.

Home network compatible device main unit control unit 2
Reference numeral 7 refers to the identification code in the identification code storage unit 271 therein, detects control information addressed to itself transmitted from the home network 10, and stores the information in the device main unit 26.
Pour into For this reason, the device main body 26 exerts an appropriate action based on the control information from the home network.

More specifically, for example, when displaying the time on the VTR or when starting or stopping recording, the time information transmitted from the home network, that is, the television connected to the home network, instead of the clock built in the main body of the VTR. Even if you use accurate time information from the broadcast station received by the receiver or radio receiver, or if you use the built-in clock, always adjust this correctly and indirectly from the broadcast station Or time information. Note that, just in case, the control unit of each device starts from the time of manufacture of the device so that control information transmitted from the home network and addressed to the user is prioritized over control information contained therein. It goes without saying that a program or a circuit to that effect is incorporated in advance.

Next, the operation on the home network side will be described.

Upon receiving the request for assigning the identification code from each device, the identification code assignment request receiving unit 300 notifies the identification code collation generation unit 31 of the fact. Identification code collation generator 3
1 refers to the identification code storage unit 32, generates a new identification code without duplication, and notifies the new identification code processing control unit 33. The new identification code processing control unit 33 newly writes the notified identification code in a predetermined position of the identification code storage unit 32, and causes the identification code transmitting unit 34 to transmit the identification code to the requesting device.

When transmitting control information to each device, each device control adjustment unit 35 transmits predetermined control information in order with reference to the identification code in the identification code storage unit 32. For this reason, control information and the like for the device with the newly written identification code is also transmitted and received, and, as a result, the device newly subscribed to the home network is also controlled by the entire home network.

Specifically, the lighting and air conditioning of the classroom during the time when it is not used for the lesson are turned off unless a cleaning person inserts a special card into the switch after the home network is set.

It should be noted that a class timetable in each classroom is input in advance to each device control and adjustment unit, and that a request for identification codes of lighting equipment and air conditioning equipment in each classroom is made. Contains information about the classroom in which the device is located, and the identification code assigned contains information about the classroom to which the device belongs, and the home network recognizes this. Of course they do.

Alternatively, upon receiving a fire detection from a newly installed fire alarm, the user is notified of the fact via a portable telephone.

(Second Embodiment) This embodiment relates to assigning an identification code to each type of device.

Now, in a home network for each home, unlike an office, etc., the number of many devices has an upper limit. For example, it is rare that each family member has a dedicated washing machine, and even less that one person owns many washing machines.

For this reason, depending on the device, the classification (identification) symbol of the type of the device and 1 to 8, and in some cases, 16
You can prepare the numbers up to and select from them. It should be noted that it is not particularly difficult to classify the equipment according to the type of equipment in Japan as well as internationally, and to assign the classification (identification) symbols in a unified manner. is there. For example, in one object class code, the coffee maker is B
0, B1 for coffee mill, BB for rice cooker, C for washing machine
5. As the gas meter, CE or the like has been proposed.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, a device generates an identification code in which a number indicating the order in which devices are installed is added to a classification symbol for the type in advance, and requests the home network side to assign the identification number. In FIG. 5, (a1) First, the device takes 1 (01) as i.

(A2) An identification code is generated by adding i to a device type classification symbol that has been input in advance. For example, in the case of a washing machine, an identification code C501 is generated.

(A3) This identification code is transmitted to the home network side.

(A4) If a home network is provided in the home where the device is installed, a response is made within a predetermined time.

(A5) Since no response is received unless a home network is provided, the device waits for a predetermined time and transmits again.

(A6) If there is an acknowledge response, the device recognizes the transmitted identification code as its own identification code and stores it. Thereafter, the mobile station starts and stops according to the control information transmitted with the identification code from the home network, or conversely, transmits the start and stop information to the home network with the identification code. .

(A7) If there is a rejection response, i = i + 1 is set to generate a new identification code.

(A8) However, if i is 17 or more and 9 or more depending on the device, a warning to that effect is given to the user, and the like.

(A9) If i is equal to or less than the upper limit, the above-mentioned a-
A new identification code is generated in the same procedure as in 2). Therefore, specifically, the above C501 is changed to C502.

(A10) Under this condition, the new identification code is transmitted to the network side. The identification code is assigned by repeating the above procedure.

(Third Embodiment) This embodiment is basically the same as the second embodiment. However, the difference is that it is generated on the network side. Hereinafter, this procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

When the parent router holds a list of the order of the identification codes for each device section in advance and requests each device to assign an identification code together with information on the device section (b1), An identification code is generated by combining the symbol of the device classification and the numerical value in the empty order (b2), and a flag indicating the order is given to the identification code (b3). Based on the above, the home network function is exhibited by adding the device.

(Fourth Embodiment) In this embodiment, when each device requests the home network to assign a desired identification code as shown in FIG. When generating an identification code that combines a classification code of the type and a numeral, the numeral portion is not a predetermined order but is a combination of calendar information and clock information (C2).

This prevents the occurrence of duplicate identification codes when there are many devices of the same type in the same home network, such as word processors and personal computers in offices and home appliances in retirement homes.

The procedure of this embodiment is basically the same as that shown in FIG. It should be noted that a calendar or a clock is not always built in depending on the type of each device such as various centers and lighting fixtures. For this reason, as in the third embodiment, the home network reads a built-in calendar or the like at the time of arrival of a request for giving an identification code from each device and generates a numerical value including information on the date and time. It may be.

(Fifth Embodiment) The present embodiment relates to the activation of a child router of each subnetwork.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the procedure diagram of FIG.

(D1) The child router sets a temporary subnetwork identification code (hereinafter referred to as a subnetwork ID), for example, 0X00. If it is set in hardware, the value is used as its own temporary subnetwork ID.
Under this circumstance, a message requesting the identification code of all the connected sub-networks is simultaneously reported to all the connected systems (the entire subnet). Here, the simultaneous notification is performed because the identification code of the existing router is not known, so that a request for specifying the other party cannot be made.

(D2) Wait for a response.

(D3) If there is no response, it determines that there is no other router (there is no parent router) and stops the function as a router.

(D4) At least one responds (at least one router exists), and at least one
If there is no response from at least one router (at least one router does not exist), the processing shifts to the startup processing as a router.

(D5) If there is a response from all the sub-networks to which it is connected, it stops the function as a router because it causes an infinite loop configuration.

(D6) Request the parent router information from any one of the routers that have communicated the subnet identification code.

(D7) Based on the parent router information, obtain from the parent router the subnetwork identification code to which the subnetwork identification code has not been assigned yet and the all-router information. Based on the above, it will play a role as a child router. Under this condition, an appropriate function is exhibited when exchanging a telegram (including an ultrasonic or infrared signal) in a home network having a configuration as shown in FIG.

Although the present invention has been described based on some embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. That is, for example, the following may be performed.

1) The parent router only assigns an identification code.

2) The parent router is specified by the user when the system starts up.

3) Assignment, billing, and acquisition of identification codes are hierarchical just like telephone numbers. For this reason, each subnetwork also has a large number of devices and the like, and a specific router in the subnetwork plays the role of a parent router in the subnetwork.

4) There is no central CPU in the network, but each device has a controller.

5) The ID of a device or the like whose response is lost in units of weeks and months is deleted in consideration of its type, time and season.

6) In a hierarchical network system, one parent router is provided in each layer to which the layer belongs.

[0094]

As can be seen from the above description, according to the present invention, in the home network, each device is assigned a unique identification code without difficulty and naturally, so that the operation and effect of the home network can be improved. Be demonstrated. Specifically, the ventilation fan is turned on after a certain period of time has elapsed after the ignition of the heating device that also uses kerosene, and the sensor detects that the indoor temperature has risen and the carbon gas concentration in the room has also risen to some extent.
And so on.

Further, since each device does not need to have a portion (a circuit, a memory, and the like) that independently functions as a parent router,
Cost increases can be avoided.

Further, since sensors do not require an ID dip switch or the like, the cost is reduced accordingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a home network.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of another form of a home network.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram centering on a portion that requests identification code assignment centering on each device (including a sub-network) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram centering on a portion for providing an identification code on the home network side (parent router side) according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for acquiring an identification code of each device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for assigning a unique identification code to each device in a home network according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for acquiring an identification code of each device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart at the time of starting a child router according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a telegram in the home network system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Air conditioner 3 Horigotatsu 4 Lighting equipment 5 Microwave oven 6 Electric washing machine 7 Television receiver and VTR 8 Clock 9 Telephone 10 CPU, parent router, home network 101 Control part 11 Electric wire 12 Infrared 13 Wireless 20 Subnetwork (each 21) Identification Code Assignment Requesting Unit 211 Transmission Unit of Identification Code Assignment Requesting Unit 22 Timer 23 Startup Signal Receiving Unit 24 Startup Detecting Unit 25 Identification Code Receiving Control Unit 251 Receiving Unit of Identification Code Receiving Control Unit 26 Device Main Unit 27 Home Network-compatible device main body control unit 271 Identification code storage unit 30 Router 300 Identification code assignment request receiving unit 31 Identification code reference generation unit 32 Identification code storage unit 33 New identification code processing control unit 34 Identification code transmission unit 35 Control adjustment unit for each device

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-9-18519 (JP, A) JP-A-10-308763 (JP, A) JP-A 2001-28601 (JP, A) JP-A 2001-28592 ( JP, A) JP-A-8-97835 (JP, A) JP-A-60-112336 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04L 12/28-12/46 H04L 12/56 H04L 12/66

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A routing method for a router connected to a plurality of sub-networks, wherein the router uses a temporary sub-network identification code to identify the sub-network connected to the router. A request for a code, and among the plurality of sub-networks connected to the router, the sub-network identification code is responded based on the request from one or more of the sub-networks, and connected to the router. If the subnetwork identification code is not responded based on the request from at least one of the plurality of subnetworks, the router performs a startup process as a router. A routing method, characterized in that: 2. A routing method for a router connected to a plurality of sub-networks, wherein the router uses a temporary sub-network identification code to identify the sub-network connected to the router. When a request for a code is made and all the sub-networks connected to the router respond to the sub-network identification code based on the request, the router stops functioning as a router. A routing method, characterized in that: 3. The router for realizing the routing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the router has a holding unit that holds the temporary sub-network identification code; Requesting means for requesting the subnetwork identification code for identifying the subnetwork connected to the router using a network identification code; and the subnetwork identification responded based on the request from the requesting means. A router, comprising: receiving means for receiving a code.