JP4729486B2 - Method for controlling a network station in a first type network from a network station in a second type network, and a connection unit for connection between a first type network and a second type network - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of home networks, in particular the connection of two home networks of different types via a gateway (14). The network devices in the network of the first type are also intended to be able to control the network devices in the network of the second type, and vice versa. In the context of realizing control message conversions, the problem has arisen that, although direct conversions into the format of the other network are possible for many control messages, in some cases there is no correspondence for a control message in the device to be controlled. In order to convert such control messages, it is proposed to provide means (60) in the network connection unit (14) which check whether a data connection to a further network device (19) is set up for the device (20) to be controlled and, if the further network device (19) has this device functionality, the conversion is effected such that the control message is converted into a corresponding control message for the further network device (19) and is forwarded to the further network device (19).

Description

    The present invention relates to the technical field of home networks. In particular, the invention relates to a region where a first type of network, for example a HAVi-based home network, is connected to a second type of network, for example a UPnP-based home network, via a gateway.

Background Art With regard to the home networking of devices, various home network standards can be used in the meantime. In particular, the bus standard IEEE 1394 has become established in the technology of entertainment electronics. This standard allows communication between entertainment electronics at very high data rates. Data rates of 100, 200 and 400 Mbit / s are supported (higher data rates will be supported in the future). This is sufficient for asynchronous data packet transmission for controlling network stations as well as for isochronous audio and video data stream transmission in parallel. However, the IEEE 1394 standard defines only a relatively low layer of the ISO / OSI reference model for data communication, namely the physical layer, data link layer, and network layer. However, a relatively high hierarchy, ie, transport layer, session layer, presentation layer, and application layer are not defined.

  An association of entertainment electronics companies has also begun to define a relatively high hierarchy for data exchange between entertainment electronics devices. This standard is known as the abbreviation HAVi, where HAVi stands for Home Audio / Video interoperability. This standard defines so-called interoperability middleware that ensures that different manufacturers' products understand each other, ie, collaborate to perform tasks together over a network.

  Unions of different companies, especially companies from the computer industry, led by Microsoft, have begun different initiatives to define network control software based on existing Internet Protocol (IP). This network system is known as the abbreviation UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). In this system, the standard does not primarily affect the entertainment electronics device, but rather other devices such as personal computers, home appliances such as white goods, such as refrigerators and microwave ovens. Washing machines and heating control devices, lighting control devices, alarm systems, etc. can be incorporated into the network.

  The two home network standards HAVi and UPnP are often considered competitive, but nevertheless at least some of these two standards are used for different purposes, and the two standards are used in the home. A scenario is expected where these networks exist adjacent to each other, but these networks are connected to each other via a gateway. It is desirable to be able to control devices in the UPnP network from HAVi, and conversely, to be able to control devices in the HAVi network from UPnP. A connection unit between two networks is hereinafter referred to as a “gateway”. The term gateway is often distinguished from "bridge", which is also usually different. The difference between a bridge and a gateway is the fact that a bridge transmits data packets to each of the other networks at the data link layer, whereas a gateway transmits data packets at a relatively high hierarchy within the ISO / OSI reference model. Can be seen.

  Previous studies of gateways on connections between HAVi networks and PNnP networks have always been based on the so-called “proxy-based gateway” approach. This approach includes the following: In order to make the UPnP network station visible to the HAVi device, the UPnP device is represented by a so-called HAVi-DCM code unit on the HAVi side in the gateway. Here, DCM represents a device control module and serves as an interface for controlling general functions of the device. These additional DCMs are logged on in the HAVi network and can be addressed from the HAVi device. In this case, a DCM code unit is required for each UPnP network station. If the network station provides different functions, such as a conventional television receiver having functions of a tuner, an amplifier or a display device, for example, if appropriate, a plurality of so-called FCMs are added to the DCM code unit in addition to DCM. Provided. Here, the FCM is a so-called Functional Component Module, and therefore this FCM is used to provide an interface for controlling a specific device function.

  On the other hand, the HAVi network station is also addressed from the UPnP side. On the UPnP side, the HAVi device is represented by a so-called UPnP device. Accordingly, the corresponding UPnP device is also kept operational at the gateway for each HAVi network station. A so-called XML device description exists for each UPnP device. Here, XML represents a description language extension markup language. A so-called “service” corresponds to the HAVi FCM on the UPnP side. Thus, multiple UPnP services can be described in a UPnP device. The conversion between HAVi DCM / FCM and UPnP devices / services is intended to be as complete as possible.

The present invention, however, comparing the two standards reveals that a complete conversion between HAVi control instructions and UPnP control instructions is not always possible. Assume that a HAVi television receiver is provided in the HAVi network. This is represented in a HAVi network by a “display” type FCM or by an “AV display” type FCM. The “AV display” FCM is a combination of a “display” FCM and an “amplifier” FCM.

  In order to be able to control this television receiver from the UPnP side, UPnP device representations need to be formed in the HAVi-UPnP gateway, and control commands are converted accordingly between the aforementioned representations and HAVi-FCM. There is a need. A UPnP device adapted to a HAVi display is a so-called “media render”. However, comparing the functions of the two devices reveals a number of differences. In the case of a HAVi display, the following attributes can be adjusted: contrast, color tone, color, brightness, sharpness. For UPnP devices, the following attributes can be adjusted: contrast, tone, color, brightness, program, volume. Therefore, UPnP functions for changing contrast, tone, color, and brightness can be mapped to related functions of HAVi “display” FCM without difficulty, but the functions for changing programs and volume are supported. There is nothing. This is due in particular to the fact that the program change function in the HAVi system is not included in the “tuner” FCM. However, this “tuner” FCM is not an essential part of the display DCM code unit.

  In other words, the idea of the present invention is to develop a UPnP function that cannot be directly mapped to the HAVi function for the HAVi device connected to each HAVi device. For example, when the HAVi display is connected to the HAVi tuner (that is, when a 1394 connection exists), a control command for changing the program can be directly transferred to the tuner. If there is also a connection from the tuner to the audio amplifier, a corresponding control command for changing the volume can be transferred to the audio amplifier.

Drawings Examples of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawing:
FIG. 1 shows two home networks connected to each other via a gateway,
Figure 2 shows the software components of the gateway,
FIG. 3 shows the HAVi display software components, and FIG. 4 shows the HAVi tuner software components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of two home networks connected to each other via a gateway (network connection unit). A UPnP-based home network is shown on the left side of FIG. Reference numeral 10 represents a monitor camera as an example of a UPnP apparatus. Reference numeral 11 represents a television receiver as another example of a UPnP network station. Reference numeral 12 additionally represents a personal computer that is also incorporated in the UPnP network. These UPnP devices are linked via a network connection 13. A well-known Ethernet bus that is in widespread use is a typical example of such a network connection 13.

  An example of a home network designed according to the HAVi standard is shown on the right side of FIG. Reference numeral 19 denotes a so-called set top box, which is a receiving device for digital television. Reference numeral 20 represents a HAVi display type digital television receiver. Such a digital television receiver no longer has a unique receiver and does not have a unique audio part. These digital television receivers obtain digital video data from other devices such as the set top box 19. However, in the illustrated case, video data is transmitted via a network cable to the digital television receiver 20. This video data can be configured to form an MPEG2 transport stream that includes audio data and video data in a form in which the set top box 19 is multiplexed. The digital television receiver 20 extracts video data from the transport stream, decodes the video data, and displays the transmitted video content on a display.

  Reference numeral 21 indicates a video recorder. Reference numeral 22 indicates an amplifier. The amplifier can be similarly supplied with an MPEG2 transport stream by a set top box. The amplifier extracts audio data from the transport stream, decodes the audio data, and reproduces audio content through the speaker.

  A network cable is represented by reference numeral 23. In the case assumed to be an example of the HAVi network, the network cable 23 is realized by a so-called IEEE 1394 bus.

  The gateway 14 is shown in the center of FIG. This gateway connects two networks to each other. For this purpose, a so-called IP and UPnP stack 15 is provided in the gateway 14 on the one hand, and a so-called HAVi stack 16 is provided on the other hand. The IP stack 15 and HAVi stack 16 each contain all the software components required for participation in the connected network. Additionally, the gateway 14 includes other software components that are not individually described. However, it is schematically shown in the figure that data is exchanged between the two software stacks 15 and 16. In this case, reference numeral 17 represents the data path for the stream of audio data and video data. In contrast, reference numeral 18 indicates the data path for control messages to be exchanged between the two software stacks.

  The HAVi standard and the UPnP standard are also published. The HAVi standard is currently version 1.1. The exact designation is: The HAVi Specification “Specification of the Home Audio / Video interoperability (HAVi) Architecture”, version 1.1, May 15, 2001. The UPnP standard can be obtained from Microsoft. Further, more detailed information is described on the official Internet page regarding the UPnP system. In this regard, points to be noted on the Internet page www.UPnP.org.

  Since not all components of the HAVi and UPnP systems are important for the description of the present invention, only the important components are described in detail below. For further details, reference is made in particular to the two aforementioned standards with respect to the present disclosure.

  In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals represent the components shown in FIG. The important software components of the gateway 14 are shown. As already described with respect to FIG. 1, the gateway 14 has an IP and UPnP stack 15 for communication in a UPnP network and a HAVi stack 16 for communication in a HAVi network. In this case, in the HAVi network, a gateway corresponding to a complete AV device is designed as a FAV device. The FAV device has the highest upgrade level of software components in the HAVi network.

  The IEEE 1394 interface 41 is shown at the bottom level of the HAVi stack 16. This interface is generally not implemented as a software component. Rather, the IEEE 1394 standard specifies that both the physical layer and the data link layer must be built into the hardware. Two separate ICs are typically used for this purpose. A so-called communication media manager 42 is provided on this interface as a software component. The communication media manager forms part of the network layer and the transport layer, and also forms an interface between other software elements and IEEE 1394.

  A so-called message communication system 43 is provided on the communication medium manager 42. This component is a very important component in the HAVi standard. This is because this messaging system is used whenever two separate software modules require data exchange between each other. The message communication system is independent of the network layer and transport layer in the ISO / OSI reference model.

  Another module of the HAVi stack is a so-called event manager 44. The task of the event manager 34 is to provide information about the changes / events that have occurred to the various software elements in the network. In particular, such an event occurs whenever a device is added to or disconnected from the network.

  Another software component of the HAVi stack 16 is a so-called registry 45. The registry lists the available software elements on the network. The registry provides a search service for specific software elements. Software elements that want to communicate with other software elements in the network need to be registered in the registry.

  Another software element of the HAVi stack 16 is a so-called DCM manager 46. This DCM manager 46 has the task of installing DCM code units for each network station in the FAV and IAV devices.

  The resource manager 47 has a task to monitor whether specific resources of the network are still available for each requested task or have already been allocated. Therefore, the resource manager 47 allocates a corresponding resource to the application program if the resource is not used.

  A so-called stream manager 48 is provided as another component in the HAVi stack. This stream manager 48 is responsible for preparing the connection between the network subscriber stations. The AV data stream can be transmitted through a prepared connection.

  Various DCM code units are also provided on the above-described HAVi stack software elements at the gateway. The DCM code unit is a software element used on the HAVi side to control the associated HAVi device. Therefore, in order to control the UPnP device, an associated HAVi DCM code unit is installed in each gateway for each UPnP device. For example, reference numeral 49 represents a DCM code unit for the monitor camera 10 in the UPnP network. The DCM code unit 50 is used to control the personal computer 12 in the UPnP network. Also for the television receiver 11, a related DCM code unit 51 is provided in the HAVi gateway 14. According to the HAVi standard, other DCM code units of the HAVi network can be installed in the HAVi gateway 14, but need not be introduced as shown in the embodiment of FIG. Additionally, reference numeral 60 represents the gateway 14 application program.

  Applications implemented in the HAVi network have access to a plurality of so-called FCMs (Functional Component Modules). Various types of functions of FCM are defined in the HAVi standard itself. These FCMs include tuner FCM, VCR FCM, clock FCM, camera FCM, AV disk FCM, amplifier FCM, display FCM, AV display FCM, modem FCM and web proxy FCM. It should be considered that a HAVi controller can generally install a DCM for controlling general functions of the HAVi device and a plurality of FCMs with respect to the HAVi device. DCM and FCM are combined into a so-called DCM code unit.

  An IP and UPnP stack 15 is similarly provided in the gateway 14, but not all of its components are shown. Such a stack configuration is known from the prior art. Accordingly, only one component is shown for ease of illustration. That is, it is a so-called HTTP web server 33. The HTTP server 33 includes various XML device descriptions relating to devices provided in the HAVi network. That is, an XML device description 34 related to the video recorder 21, an XML device description 35 related to the set top box 19, an XML device description 36 related to the digital television receiver 20, and an XML device description 37 related to the amplifier 22.

  An Ethernet interface 31 is additionally shown below the rest of the IP and UPnP stack 32. This Ethernet interface is used to connect the gateway to the UPnP network.

  In FIG. 3, individual software elements of the HAVi stack are also provided for the digital television receiver 20, respectively. Since these components are represented by the same ellipsis and reference numbers as in the HAVi stack 16 of the gateway 14, these parts need not be described again in detail.

  The digital television set 20 is similarly considered a FAV device in the preferred embodiment. As already mentioned, such a device is equipped with a number of HAVi software elements. A special feature is that the FAV device is also incorporated into a so-called Java virtual machine. Therefore, this apparatus can convert Java code into executable program code and execute the code accordingly. A FAV device can load a DCM code unit from another HAVi network device. The DCM code unit is installed in the FAV device next to the DCM code unit of the FAV device. Therefore, in FIG. 3, DCM code units 52 and 55 for controlling the video recorder 21 and the amplifier 22 are installed beside the DCM code unit 53 of the digital receiver 20. A user interface 56 is shown as well.

  FIG. 4 additionally shows the software elements of the set top box 19. This device is classified as an IAV device (intermediate AV device). This device therefore contains fewer software components than the FAV device. Since those software components have already been described above, most of the software components will not be described again in detail. Additionally, a DCM code unit 54 for controlling the set top box is provided as a separate software component, which is not mentioned above.

  The following describes how the various software elements interact when devices in the HAVi network are intended to be controlled from the UPnP side. Since the HAVi stack 16 does not receive certain UPnP messages, the gateway 60 needs to initiate / perform conversion of these messages into a format that the HAVi stack 15 can understand. The associated UPnP message formed by the UPnP stack 15 may be based on the so-called SOAP protocol (Simple Object Access Protocol). Therefore, it is necessary for the gateway software 60 to convert the SOAP message into the HAVi message format, or it is necessary to perform this conversion by the gateway software 60 itself. Because both systems are specified, this conversion is possible without the additional difficulty associated with many UPnP messages.

  In the following, it is assumed that the HAVi display device 20 is intended to be controlled by the UPnP media render 11. According to the UPnP standard, a TV device has a set of services that can be used to change the settings of the device. These settings are, for example, contrast, color tone, color, brightness, program, and volume. For contrast, tone, color and brightness services, corresponding services exist in the HAVi display FCM. That is, Display :: SetContrast, Display :: SetTint, Display :: SetColor, and Display :: Brightness. Accordingly, the corresponding SOAP instruction can be easily converted in the gateway software 60 into an appropriate HAVi display FCM instruction.

  However, since there is no corresponding program and volume setting in the HAVi display FCM, the procedure for conversion is as follows.

Volume setting The gateway software 60 checks whether the set up connection is registered for the HAVi display. For this purpose, the gateway software 60 issues an inquiry to the stream manager 48 via the message communication system 43. For example, when a connection with the set top box 19 is set up, an inspection is performed to check whether another connection between the set top box and the amplifier FCM is set up. In the case of affirmation, the conversion of the command regarding the volume setting is performed so that the command in the format of Amplifier :: SetVolume is instructed to the amplifier FCM in the gateway 14. The gateway 14 transmits the corresponding HAVi message to the amplifier 22 via the IEEE 1394 bus 23.

Program Setting When a command related to program switching, ie, prog + or prog− arrives from the UPnP television receiver 11, the gateway software 60 determines whether or not a connection with the tuner FCM is registered in the stream manager 48 for the HAVi display 20. inspect. If the result is affirmative, conversion of instructions for program setting is performed so that instructions in the format of Tuner :: SelectService are instructed to the tuner FCM in the set top box 19. The gateway 14 transmits the corresponding HAVi message to the set top box 19 via the IEEE 1394 bus 23.

  The invention can be used in particular in the case of gateways used to connect HAVi networks with UPnP networks. However, the possibility of use is to connect another network to another network, for example a HAVi network to an OSGi network, or a network based on power line data transmission, for example EHS, to an IP network such as UPnP or OSGi. It can also be considered for a gateway.

Two home networks connected to each other via a gateway. The software component of the gateway. HAVi display software component. HAVi tuner software component.

Claims (16)

A method for controlling a first network station in a first type network from a second network station in a second type network, comprising:
Network connection unit that connects the two networks is provided with, the network connection unit, said first network station in the first type of network, before Symbol control of the format of the second type of network a method of converting a command into corresponding control commands in formats of the first type of network,
When the first network station has a function corresponding to the control command, the network connection unit makes the corresponding control command so that the format of the corresponding control command is compatible with the first network station. Sending an instruction to the first network station;
When the first network station does not have a function corresponding to the control command, the network connection unit has a function corresponding to the first network station and the control command in the first type network. A third network station is determined by checking whether a connection setting is registered with another network station provided, and the format of the corresponding control command is adapted to the third network station In this way, the corresponding control command is transmitted to the third network station in the first type of network . When a connection with the first network station having a function corresponding to the control command is not registered for the other network station in the first type network, the network connection unit is:
Checking whether a connection setting is registered between one of the other network stations in the first type network and a further network station having a function corresponding to the control command; To determine the fourth network station so that the format of the corresponding control command is compatible with the fourth network station, and to send the corresponding control command to the fourth network station in the first type network. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that it is transmitted to a network station . Characterized in that said first network station in the first type of network is a display device, the second network station that serves as a control device in the second type of network is a television set The method according to claim 1. The third network station is a set top box including a tuner device;
In order to determine whether or not the display device maintains the data connection setting with the tuner device when a control command regarding the program setting is received from the second network station and arrives at the network connection unit. In addition, when the network connection is inspected and the connection setting is maintained, the control command is converted into a format suitable for the tuner device , and the corresponding control command is transmitted to the tuner device. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that The first network station is a display device, the second network station used as the control device is a television receiver, the third network station is a video data source device, and the fourth network The station is an audio device,
Whether or not the display device maintains the data connection setting with the video data device when a control command issued from the control device for controlling the display device with respect to volume setting arrives at the network connection unit In order to determine whether the network connection unit is inspected and maintaining connection settings, a data connection is further set up between the video data source and the audio device, and the volume setting 4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the control command is converted to a format suitable for the audio device and transmitted to the audio device . The first type of network is a network based upon HAVi standard, where HAVi The method of claim 1, wherein a representative of the Home Audio / Video interoperability. Method according to claim 6 , characterized in that said second type of network is a network based on IP, in particular UPnP standard, where UPnP stands for Universal Plug and Play. The second network station is UPnP TV or UPnP media renderer issuing control commands to a program set, the format of the corresponding control command is a HAVi command Tuner :: SelectService tuner FCM, where FCM Features the method of claim 7, wherein the representing the component modules. The second network station is a UPnP television or UPnP media renderer that issues a control command relating to volume setting, and the format of the corresponding control command is an HAVi command Amplifier :: SetVolume of an amplifier FCM. Item 8. The method according to Item 7 . In the connection unit for connection between the first type network and the second type network,
A first network station in the first type network is controlled by a second network station in the second type network;
The connection unit converts a control command issued by the second network station in the format of the second type network into a corresponding control command in the format of the first type network. And when the first network station has a function corresponding to the control command, the converting means adapts the format of the first type network to the first network station, and Sending a corresponding control command to the first network station;
The connection unit comprises another first conversion means for transmitting the corresponding control command to a third network station of the first type network, wherein the first network station When the first conversion unit is not provided with a function corresponding to the first network unit, the first conversion unit is activated, and the first conversion unit has the function corresponding to the control command. Adapted to determine the third network station by confirmation based on whether or not a data connection setting is registered with another network station, and the format of the corresponding control instruction is Adapted to 3rd network station
A connection unit characterized by that . And further comprising a second conversion means for transmitting the corresponding control command to a fourth network station of the first network, and a connection is registered with the first network station having a function corresponding to the control command. The second conversion means is activated when there is no other network station in the first type of network,
By confirming whether a connection setting is registered between one of the further network stations in the first network having a function corresponding to the control command and another network station, the fourth network station Adapted to determine a network station, and the format of the corresponding control instruction is adapted to the fourth network station
The connection unit according to claim 10. The first network station is a display device, the second network station is a television receiver, and the control command relates to program setting. When the control command arrives, the first conversion means Determines whether the display device maintains a data connection setting with the tuner device, and if the data connection setting is maintained, the control command is converted into a format adapted to the tuner device , and the corresponding control command Is sent to the tuner device
The connection unit according to claim 10 . The first network station is a display device, the second network station is a television receiver, the third network station is a video data source device, and the fourth network station is an audio device. ,
The network connection unit includes means for determining whether or not the display device maintains a data connection setting to the video data source device, and if the network connection unit determines to maintain the connection setting, the video data source device and the audio device And if a data connection is further set up, the control command is converted into a format adapted to the audio device, and the corresponding control command is sent to the audio device. Sent to device
The connection unit according to claim 11. The first type of network to the HAVi standard based, are designed to connect with the second type of network based upon IP including UPnP, where HAVi stands for Home Audio / Video Interoperability The connection unit according to claim 10 , wherein UPnP represents universal plug and play. The control command is issued by the UPnP TV or UPnP media renderer, and relates to a program setting, wherein the format of the corresponding control commands corresponds to the tuner FCM of HAVi commands Tuner :: SelectService, wherein the FCM 15. A connection unit according to claim 14 , characterized in that it represents a functional component module. The control command is issued by the UPnP TV or UPnP media renderer, and relates the volume setting, the format of the corresponding control instructions, characterized in that it corresponds to the amplifier FCM of HAVi commands Amplifier :: SetVolume The connection unit according to claim 14 or 15.

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