JP5592302B2 - Home gateway, network system, and device linkage method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a home gateway, a network system, and a device cooperation method for controlling a cooperation operation of devices arranged in a home.

  The conventional home appliance control service is realized by transmitting a predetermined control signal to a predetermined target device by a user operating a predetermined operation device. That is, it is designed to send a predetermined control signal to a device determined by a predetermined method for each service. For example, in a service for making a recording reservation from a mobile phone to a hard disk recorder, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, it is designed to send a predetermined control signal from a mobile phone to a predetermined hard disk recorder. ing.

  In addition, in the conventional home device cooperation service, service target devices that meet the same standard (for example, HDMI) are clearly defined, and a predetermined cooperative operation (controllable on HDMI is possible) between the determined target devices. Only possible). In addition, it can only perform the cooperative operation according to the cooperation scenario prepared in advance. For example, in the cooperation service between a TV and a hard disk recorder, as described in Non-Patent Document 2, when the TV and the hard disk recorder that are the devices to be connected are connected via HDMI, and the contents of the cooperative operation are also turned off. You can only perform certain cooperative actions such as turning off the power of the hard disk recorder.

“Q & A Support / Inquiries (Tell me about preparations and procedures for remote recording reservation (cell phone recording reservation)”), SONY, [online], [Search March 1, 2011], Internet <http: //www.faq.sonydrive.jp/faq/1040/app/servlet/qadoc?21681> “Instruction Manual: Blu-ray Disc Recorder Part Number DMR-BZT900 / DMR-BZT800 (Operation)”, p.115-117, Panasonic, [online], [Search March 1, 2011], Internet <http: // dl-ctlg.panasonic.jp/manual/dm/dmr_bzt900_800.pdf>

  As described above, conventionally, in order to perform the cooperative operation of home devices, the devices to be linked must be mounted according to the same standard. For this reason, the cooperative operation can be performed only with respect to limited compatible devices between the same manufacturers, or with devices of other companies determined by forming an alliance.

  Further, since the cooperative operation of the existing cooperative service is limited to the device operation according to the standard for cooperation, the user cannot set a cooperation scenario by freely combining various operations of the device. In addition, since a device that supports the cooperation service has a device cooperation function, it is more expensive than a device that does not support the cooperation service.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a home gateway, a network system, and a device that can perform a cooperative operation between devices even when the devices do not meet the standards of the cooperative service. And providing a device linkage method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a home gateway to which a plurality of devices are connected, accepts an instruction from a user or a service operator, and registers a cooperative operation between desired devices in a cooperative operation scenario storage unit. The status information of each device is stored using the registration unit, the device control unit provided for each of the plurality of devices, and the device status information acquired by each device control unit. When the status information of the first device is updated, and the update unit that updates the device information storage unit that is updated, the cooperative operation corresponding to the updated status information of the first device is identified from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit Then, a control command for causing the second device designated by the specified cooperative operation to execute the operation designated by the cooperative operation is sent to the second device via the device control means of the second device. It possesses a control means for transmitting to said registration means, receives an instruction of a user or service operator, a device cooperation policy cooperation destination device is set to allow cooperative operation with the device for each device Registering in the device cooperation policy storage means, the control means determines whether or not the second device specified by the specified cooperation operation is a device permitted to cooperate with the first device. The control instruction is transmitted to the second device when the second device is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the first device.

The present invention also detects a home gateway having a plurality of devices are connected, a network system including a center server, the home gateway, each of said plurality of devices are connected to the home gateway to the device control program for each apparatus, the obtaining means for obtaining from each of the center server, receives an instruction of a user or service operator, registration means for registering the linked operation scenario storage means cooperative operation between desired device And update means for updating the device information storage means for storing the status information of each device using the device status information acquired by each device control program, and when the status information of the first device is updated, A cooperative operation corresponding to the updated state information of the first device is specified from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit, and the specified continuous operation is identified. Control means for transmitting, to the second device specified by the operation, a control command for executing the operation specified by the cooperative operation to the second device via the device control program of the second device; , have a, the registration means receives an instruction of a user or service operator, the device cooperation policy storage means device cooperation policy cooperation destination device is set to allow cooperative operation with the device for each device The control unit refers to the device cooperation policy storage unit to determine whether or not the second device specified by the identified cooperation operation is a device permitted to cooperate with the first device. If the second device is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the first device, the control command is transmitted to the second device.

The present invention is also a device cooperation method performed by a home gateway to which a plurality of devices are connected, and receives instructions from a user or a service operator and registers a cooperation operation between desired devices in a cooperation operation scenario storage unit. A registration step, an acquisition step of acquiring state information of each of the plurality of devices, and an update step of updating a device information storage unit that stores the state information of each device using the state information acquired in the acquisition step; When the state information of the first device is updated, the cooperative operation corresponding to the updated state information of the first device is identified from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit, and the first operation specified by the identified cooperative operation is performed. for two devices, a control command to perform the operation specified in the cooperative operation, have rows and control step, the to be transmitted to the second device, said registration step, Receiving a user or service operator instruction, registering in the device cooperation policy storage unit a device cooperation policy in which a cooperation destination device that permits cooperation operation with the device is set for each device, and the control step includes: Whether or not the second device specified by the identified cooperative operation is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the first device is determined with reference to the device cooperation policy storage unit, and the second device If the device is permitted to cooperate with the first device, the control command is transmitted to the second device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a home gateway, a network system, and a device cooperation method capable of performing a cooperation operation between devices even when the devices do not meet the standard of the cooperation service.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of an apparatus cooperation policy. It is a figure which shows an example of a cooperation operation | movement scenario. It is a figure which shows an example of apparatus information. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of this embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network system according to the present embodiment. The illustrated network system includes a plurality of devices 8, 9, 10 arranged in a house such as a house, an HGW (home gateway) 3, and a center server 1. The HGW 3 and the center server 1 can be connected via the network 2. In addition, the network system includes a terminal 12 that can be connected to the HGW 3, and the terminal 12 may be disposed outside the house or connected to the HGW 3 via the network 2. .

  The devices 8, 9, and 10 are home devices owned by the user. In the illustrated example, three devices are illustrated, but the number is not limited to three. In the present embodiment, the device A8 is described as a human sensor, the device B9 is a television, and the device C10 is an illumination. However, the devices are not limited to these.

  The devices 8, 9, and 10 are devices that do not conform to the same standard, and are devices that do not support a cooperation service that does not have a predetermined cooperation service cooperation function.

  The HGW 3 is a gateway device that terminates the devices 8, 9, and 10 and connects the home network and the external network 2. The illustrated HGW 3 includes device control programs (device control means) 5, 6, 7 provided for each device connected to the HGW 3, and a cooperation control program 4.

  Each device control program 5, 6, 7 acquires information on the corresponding device 8, 9, 10 (for example, device status information, operation information, etc.), and each device 8, The control signal for controlling 9,10 is transmitted.

  The cooperation control program 4 executes the cooperation control program 4 to thereby execute a program acquisition unit 41, a registration unit 42, an update unit 43, a control unit 44, a device cooperation policy storage unit 45, and a cooperation operation scenario storage. Unit 46 and device information storage unit 47.

  The program acquisition unit 41 detects that each of the devices 8, 9, 10 is connected to the HGW 3, and acquires (downloads) the device control programs 5, 6, 7 of the connected devices from the center server 1. , Install on HGW3.

  The registration unit 42 registers the cooperation operation between desired devices input by the user or the service operator using the terminal 12 in the cooperation operation scenario storage unit 46. The registration unit 42 registers a desired device cooperation policy input by the user or service operator using the terminal 12 in the device cooperation policy storage unit 45.

  The update unit 43 updates the device information storage unit 47 using the state information of the devices 8, 9, and 10 acquired by the device control programs 5, 6, and 7.

  When the state information of the first device is updated, the control unit 44 specifies a cooperative operation corresponding to the updated state information of the first device from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit 46, and uses the specified cooperative operation. A control command for causing the designated second device to execute the operation designated in the cooperative operation is transmitted to the second device via the device control program of the second device.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a device cooperation policy stored in the device cooperation policy storage unit 45. In the device cooperation policy, a cooperation destination device that permits cooperation operation with the device is set for each device. In the device cooperation policy shown in the drawing, for each device (cooperation source device), permission information indicating whether to permit cooperation between the device and another device (cooperation destination device) is set.

  For example, when the cooperation source device is the device A (human sensor) 8, cooperation with the device B (television) 9 is not permitted (NG), and cooperation with the device C (lighting) 10 is permitted (OK). is there. In the case of the device B (television) 9, cooperation with the device A (human sensor) 8 is permitted (OK), and cooperation with the device C (lighting) 10 is not permitted (NG). In the case of the device C (lighting) 10, the cooperation with the device A (human sensor) 8 is permitted (OK), and the cooperation with the device B (television) 9 is also permitted (OK).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cooperative operation scenario stored in the cooperative operation scenario storage unit 46. The illustrated cooperative operation scenario has a cooperative condition and a cooperative operation. For example, in the case of a cooperative condition in which the device A (human sensor) 8 has reacted, a cooperative operation of lighting the device C (lighting) 10 is performed. In addition, in the cooperation condition in which the device C (lighting) 10 is turned on, it is set to perform a cooperative operation for turning off the device A (human sensor) 8 and turning on the device B (television) 9. .

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of device information stored in the device information storage unit 47. In the device information shown in the drawing, each device and state information of the device are stored in association with each other.

  The terminal 12 is a terminal for the user to set the device cooperation policy (see FIG. 2) and the cooperation operation scenario (see FIG. 3) in the HGW 3. In addition, the service operator who operates the center server 1 may use the terminal 12 instead of the user to set the device cooperation policy and the cooperation operation scenario desired by the user in the HGW 3.

  The center server 1 is, for example, an OSAP (OSGi Service Aggregation Platform) center server or the like, and provides various programs (device control programs 5, 6, 7, cooperation control program 4, etc.) to the HGW 3.

  As the HGW 3, the center server 1, and the terminal 12, for example, a general-purpose computer system including a CPU, a memory, and a storage device such as an HDD can be used. In this computer system, each function of each device is realized by the CPU executing a predetermined program loaded on the memory. In addition, the HGW 3 program, the center server 1 program, and the terminal 12 program can be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, or a DVD-ROM via a network. Can also be distributed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, when the device cooperation policy shown in FIG. 2 and the cooperation operation scenario shown in FIG. 3 are registered in the HGW 3, and the device A (human sensor) 8 reacts, the device C (lighting) 10 The following description will be made by taking an example of the cooperative operation that is turned on.

  The cooperation control program 4 is installed in the HGW 3 in advance, and each function shown in FIG. 1 is realized by executing the cooperation control program 4. However, if the cooperation control program 4 differs greatly depending on the types of connected devices 8, 9, 10 or if the storage capacity of the HGW 3 is small and a large capacity cooperation control program 4 cannot be installed, the connected device 8, According to 9, 10, the corresponding cooperative control program 4 may be downloaded from the center server 1 and installed (S10).

  The user connects each device 8, 9, 10 to the HGW 3. As a result, the program acquisition unit 41 of the cooperation control program 4 detects that the device A (human sensor) 8 is connected to the HGW 3, and transmits the device control program 5 of the device A for controlling the device A8 to the network. 2 is acquired (downloaded) from the center server 1 via 2 and installed in the HGW 3 (S11).

  Similarly, the program acquisition unit 41 detects that the device B (television) 9 and the device C (lighting) 10 are connected to the HGW 3, and stores the device control program 6 for the device B and the device control program 7 for the device C. And obtained from the center server 1 and installed in the HGW 3 (S12, S13).

  Then, the terminal 12 transmits the device cooperation policy (see FIG. 2) input by the user or the service operator to the HGW 3 (S14), and the registration unit 42 of the cooperation control program 4 stores the device cooperation policy in the device cooperation policy storage unit. 45 is registered and stored (S15).

  Further, the terminal 12 transmits the cooperative operation scenario (see FIG. 3) input by the user or the service operator to the HGW 3 (S16), and the registration unit 42 registers and stores the cooperative operation scenario in the cooperative operation scenario storage unit 46. (S17).

  Then, the device A (human sensor) 8 detects a person (S18). Thereby, the device control program 5 of the device A acquires a state change of the device A8 (a state change from a no-response state where no person is detected to a state where there is a reaction where a person is detected) (S19, S20). ), Notifies the cooperation control program 4 of the status information (with reaction) of the device A (S21).

  The device control program 5 may acquire a change in the state of the device A8 depending on the device A8 and the device control program 5, and the device A8 may transmit the sensor reaction information to the device control program 5. A method in which the device control program 5 inquires of the device A8 about the state may be used.

  The update unit 43 of the cooperation control program 4 sets the status information of the device A8 notified in S21 in the device information storage unit 47, and thus the status information of the device A8 of the device information storage unit 47 changes from “no response”. It is updated to “with reaction” (S22).

  Then, the control unit 44 of the cooperation control program 4 refers to the cooperation operation scenario storage unit 46 when any state information in the device information storage unit 47 is updated, and updates the updated device. The cooperative operation corresponding to the status information is identified (S23). Here, the cooperative operation corresponding to the updated state information (with reaction) of the updated device A8 is specified from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit 46. In the case of the cooperative operation scenario illustrated in FIG. 3, the cooperative operation “turn on the device C (lighting)” is specified.

  Then, the control unit 44 refers to the device cooperation policy storage unit 45 to determine whether or not the device C10 specified by the identified cooperation operation is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the updated device A8. (S24). In the device cooperation policy shown in FIG. 3, since “OK” is set for the device C10 (cooperation destination device) corresponding to the device A8 (cooperation source device), it is determined that the device is permitted.

  When the device C10 is a permitted device, the control unit 44 executes the identified cooperative operation (S25). That is, the control unit 44 transmits a control command for turning on the illumination of the device C10 to the device control program 7 of the device C (S26). The device control program 7 converts the control command into a control signal (operation signal) for the device C10 (S27) and transmits it to the device C10 (S28). The device C10 performs an operation (illumination lighting) controlled by the control signal (S29).

  Note that the transmission of the control command in S26 depends on the cooperation control program 4 and the device control program 7, and a method in which the cooperation control program 4 transmits a control command to the device control program 7 may be used. A method of inquiring to the program 4 may be used. Similarly, the transmission of the control signal in S28 depends on the device control program 7 and the device C10, and the device control program 7 may transmit the control signal to the device C10. The device C10 may transmit the control signal. It may be possible to inquire about the presence or absence of a control signal and the control signal.

  When it is determined in S24 that the device C10 is not permitted to cooperate with the device A8, the subsequent cooperation operation is not performed.

  With the above operation, the cooperative operation of turning on the device C (illumination) 10 when the device A (human sensor) 8 is in a state of detecting a person is performed.

  In the present embodiment described above, the difference in protocol implemented by each device is absorbed by each device control program on the HGW 3 side, and the state of each device is managed and stored on the HGW 3 side. Thereby, in this embodiment, even if each apparatus arrange | positioned in a house is not an apparatus suitable for the standard for cooperation services, it can operate each apparatus in cooperation.

  In this embodiment, the user (or service operator) registers a desired device cooperation policy and cooperation operation scenario in the HGW 3. Accordingly, the user can freely set and use how to move any of the devices by using any operation of any of the devices as a trigger. That is, since the user can freely set the control content of the device owned by the user, the user can freely perform cooperative operation on the device owned by the user.

  Moreover, since a cooperation service non-corresponding | compatible apparatus can be used for the apparatus of this embodiment, a system can be constructed | assembled at lower cost.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Many deformation | transformation are possible within the range of the summary. For example, the HGW 3 of the above-described embodiment includes the device cooperation policy storage unit and performs the cooperation permission check with reference to the device cooperation policy storage unit in S24 of FIG. 5, but includes the device cooperation policy storage unit. Alternatively, the process may be simplified without performing the permission check in S24.

1: Center server 11: Home network 12: Command terminal 2: Network 3: HGW (home gateway)
4: Coordination control program 41: Program acquisition unit 42: Registration unit 43: Update unit 44: Control unit 45: Device cooperation policy storage unit 46: Cooperation operation scenario storage unit 47: Device information storage unit 5, 6, 7: Device control Program 8, 9, 10: Equipment

Claims (3)

A home gateway to which multiple devices are connected,
A registration unit that accepts an instruction from a user or a service operator and registers a cooperative operation between desired devices in the cooperative operation scenario storage unit;
Provided for each of the plurality of devices, device control means for acquiring status information of the device;
Update means for updating the device information storage means in which the status information of each device is stored using the device status information acquired by each device control means;
When the state information of the first device is updated, the cooperative operation corresponding to the updated state information of the first device is specified from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit, and the second specified by the specified cooperative operation is specified. against equipment, a control command to perform the operation specified in the cooperative operation, via the device control means of the second device, possess control means for transmitting to the second device, and
The registration unit accepts an instruction from a user or a service operator, registers a device cooperation policy in which a cooperation destination device that permits a cooperation operation with the device is set for each device in the device cooperation policy storage unit,
The control means determines whether or not the second device designated by the identified cooperation operation is a device permitted to cooperate with the first device, with reference to the device cooperation policy storage means. When the second device is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the first device, the home gateway transmits the control command to the second device . A network system having a home gateway to which a plurality of devices are connected and a center server,
The home gateway is
An acquisition unit that detects that each of the plurality of devices is connected to the home gateway and acquires a device control program of each device from the center server, and
A registration unit that accepts an instruction from a user or a service operator and registers a cooperative operation between desired devices in the cooperative operation scenario storage unit;
Update means for updating the device information storage means for storing the status information of each device, using the device status information acquired by each device control program,
When the state information of the first device is updated, the cooperative operation corresponding to the updated state information of the first device is identified from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit, and the second specified by the identified cooperative operation is specified. against equipment, a control command to perform the operation specified in the cooperative operation, via the device control program of the second device, possess control means for transmitting to the second device, and
The registration unit accepts an instruction from a user or a service operator, registers a device cooperation policy in which a cooperation destination device that permits a cooperation operation with the device is set for each device in the device cooperation policy storage unit,
The control means determines whether or not the second device designated by the identified cooperation operation is a device permitted to cooperate with the first device, with reference to the device cooperation policy storage means. When the second device is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the first device, the control system transmits the control command to the second device . A device linkage method performed by a home gateway to which a plurality of devices are connected,
A registration step for accepting a user or service operator instruction and registering a cooperative operation between desired devices in the cooperative operation scenario storage unit;
An acquisition step of acquiring status information of each of the plurality of devices;
Using the status information acquired in the acquisition step, an update step for updating a device information storage unit that stores status information of each device;
When the state information of the first device is updated, the cooperative operation corresponding to the updated state information of the first device is identified from the cooperative operation scenario storage unit, and the second specified by the identified cooperative operation is specified. against equipment, a control command to perform the operation specified in the cooperative operation, have rows and control step, the to be transmitted to the second device,
The registration step accepts an instruction from a user or a service operator, registers a device cooperation policy in which a cooperation destination device that permits cooperation operation with the device is set for each device in the device cooperation policy storage unit,
The control step determines whether or not the second device specified by the identified cooperation operation is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the first device, with reference to the device cooperation policy storage unit. When the second device is a device that is permitted to cooperate with the first device, the control command is transmitted to the second device .

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