KR100385966B1 - Method and apparatus for granting the right of control command for digital device in home network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for investing a digital device control command right in a home network and an apparatus therefor are provided to smoothly invest a control command right to another client device when another client device wants to use a server device used by one client device. CONSTITUTION: A state storing unit(420) stores state information of a server device. An ID storing unit(440) stores an ID of the first client device which controls the server device. A packet decoder(400) decodes packet data, including a control command with respect to the server device, received from the first client device, and extracts the control command and the ID. The first processing unit(410) receives the extracted control command from the packet decoder(400), and reads state information of the server device from the state storing unit(420). If the state of the server device is in an idle state, the first processing unit(410) stores the ID of the first client device in the ID storing unit(440) and invests a control command right to the first client device. The second processing unit(430) receives the extracted control command from the packet decoder(400), and reads state information of the server device. If the state of the server is in a running state or a pausing state, the second processing unit(430) reads the ID from the ID storing unit(440) and compares the read ID with the ID of the first client device. If the read ID is identical to the ID of the first client device, the second processing unit(430) invests the control command right to the first client device. If the read ID is not identical to the ID of the first client device, the second processing unit(430) transmits a control right rejection message to the first client device.

Description

Method and apparatus for granting the right of control command for digital device in home network}

The present invention relates to a home network, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for granting digital device control commands in a home network.

Recently, various digital devices such as DTV, DVC, DVDP, and digital set-top box have appeared, and the IEEE 1394 approved by the IEEE committee has been spotlighted as their interface. FIG. 1 illustrates a protocol stack included in typical IEEE 1394 devices. The physical layer 100, which is the lowest layer, receives a bit string from the link layer 110, which is an upper layer, and acquires a right to use a serial bus. The bit string is then encoded and converted into an electrical signal to transmit data on the bus. In the case of reception, the reverse procedure in the transmission is followed. The link layer 110 handles data in units of packets, and plays a role of constructing and decomposing packets, detecting errors, and managing bus cycles. The transaction layer 120 provides transactions such as read / write / lock, and performs asynchronous communication with other nodes on the 1394 bus by using a service provided by a lower layer.

When a plurality of devices are connected using the IEEE 1394, the IEEE 1394 specification alone is not sufficient for the actual transmission of data between devices. That is, a process for establishing a connection between devices to send and receive A / V data and an isochronous channel to transmit A / V data should be made between devices. The IEEE 61883 standard exists for this purpose.

In IEEE 61883, it can be said that the function control protocol (FCP, 130) and the connection management protocol (CMP, 130) are largely defined. The CMP defines a structure of software for managing isochronous connections between devices, and the FCP provides a framework for transmitting commands such as AV / C CTS (A / V Control Command and Transation Set). Another feature of IEC 61883 is the definition of the Common Isochronous Packet (CIP) header structure. The CIP header contains information about the source stream contained in an isochronous packet.

In a conventional standard that satisfies the IEEE 1394 standard and the IEC 61883 standard, a control command is used to control devices. The most representative control command is AV / C CTS. This method defines a hexadecimal code for each device function. For example, the Play command for the VCR is defined as "0xC8" in hexadecimal.

In a digitized home environment, one device will be used as a control center to control another. At this time, for convenience of description, if the device that is the subject of the control action is a controller device and the device that is the control target is a target device, the following problem occurs. First, the controller device must have all of the command sets for each target device. This places a significant software and hardware burden on the controller device. Second, since the controller device does not know the instructions other than those provided at the time of product release, the controller device does not have a control method for the newly-targeted target device. This is a problem that cannot be easily adapted to the rapidly changing digital consumer market as it is today. Third, it is not easy to provide a user graphic interface (GUI). The unified GUI form, which can be applied to all kinds of devices, is inherently difficult to define. These problems are basically due to the irrationality of the architecture. This problem can be easily solved if the client / server method is used, such as the TCP / IP architecture of the Internet, which is widely applied.

2 illustrates a protocol stack to which the present invention is applied. Each device works like a web server on the Internet. IEEE 1394 is then used as a network interface. Above the IEEE 1394 is the TCP / IP layer. And every device acts as an HTTP server, or web server, with an HTML Document Hiearchy that describes its capabilities. Devices that have a display device, such as a DTV or a PC, have a built-in web server and operate as a web client. The user can retrieve each home page from the web server devices using a web browser built in the client device to control the corresponding device.

However, in the protocol stack environment having the structure as shown in FIG. 2, a client device having a web browser calls one web server device into its web browser to control a server device serving as the web server. At this time, there is a case where another client device wants to control the server device while the client device is operating the server device. That is, if the server device serving as the web server function is a VCR, and the two client devices are TV1 and TV2, the TV2 having a web browser while the TV1 is playing the VCR by first calling the VCR to the homepage When the VCR is brought to the homepage and a rewind command is issued, the VCR operates against the meaning of the TV1 300 that initially gave the command. This can cause confusion and inconvenience. Therefore, there is a need for a method of granting a control command right to the server device (VCR) in such a situation.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above problems, and comprises at least one home appliance (server device) to be controlled and at least two home appliances (client device) that can control the server device The present invention provides a method and apparatus for granting a control command right to a server device in a browser-based home network.

FIG. 1 illustrates a protocol stack included in typical IEEE 1394 devices.

2 illustrates a protocol stack to which the present invention is applied.

Figure 3 shows an example of a home network for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the home appliance control command granting device in the home network according to the present invention.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a more detailed configuration of the second processing unit.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for granting a control command of a home appliance in a home network according to the present invention.

7 is a flow diagram illustrating a more elaborate method for sending a control refusal message.

According to the present invention for solving the technical problem, the home appliance control command granting method in the home network, at least one home appliance (server device) to be controlled and at least two home appliances that can control the server device CLAIMS 1. A method for granting a control command right to a server device in a browser-based home network comprising a device (client device), the method comprising: receiving a control command for the server device from a first client device; A state checking step of checking a state of the server device; If the state of the server device is 'idle', storing a unique number (ID) of the first client device and granting a control command right to the first client device; If the state of the server device is 'running' or 'pausing', the unique number (ID) of the client device currently using the server device is compared with the unique number of the first client device. Making; Granting a control command right to the first client device if the unique numbers match as a result of the comparison; And transmitting a control right rejection message to the first client device if the unique numbers do not match.

According to the present invention for solving the above technical problem, the home appliance control command granting device in a home network, at least one home appliance (server device) to be controlled and at least two home appliances that can control the server device An apparatus for granting a control command to the server device in a browser-based home network comprising a device (client device), the device comprising: a state storage unit for storing state information of the server device; An ID storage unit for storing a unique number of a client device controlling the server device; A packet decoder for decoding a packet data including a control command for the server device received from a first client device and extracting a control command and a unique number (ID); Receiving the control command extracted from the packet decoder, reading the state information of the server device from the state storage unit to indicate that the 'idle', the ID number of the first client device to the ID A first processing unit storing the storage unit and granting a control command right to the first client device; And receiving the control command extracted from the packet decoder, reading the state information of the server device from the state storage unit, and if the state information indicates 'running' or 'pausing', the ID. Reads the ID from the storage unit and compares it with the unique number of the first client device to grant control command right to the first client device if the unique number matches, and transmits a control right rejection message to the first client device if it does not match. And a second processing unit.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 3 shows an example of a home network for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. The home network has a protocol stack with a structure as shown in FIG. The TV1 300 and TV2 310 are client devices each having a web browser. The VCR 320 is a server device serving as a web server. The server device is classified into three states. The first is 'running' when the server device is actually running, the second is 'idle' and the server device is not controlled by any client device. Is a 'pausing' state, where the client device temporarily stops the server device while operating, and is still under its control.

The TV1 300 first loads the VCR 320 which is a web server device as a homepage, and the TV2 310 having a web browser brings the VCR 320 back to the homepage while the VCR 320 is playing. Suppose you want to give a (REW) command. In this situation, a method and apparatus for granting a server device control command right in a home network that properly grants a control command right to the VCR 320 as a server device will be described.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a device for providing home appliance control commands in a home network according to the present invention. The packet decoder 400, the first processing unit 410, the state storage unit 420, and the second processing unit ( 430 and the ID storage unit 440.

The packet decoder 400 decodes packet data including the control command for the VCR 320 received from the TV2 310, which is a client device, and extracts a control command and a unique number (ID). The state storage unit 420 stores state information of the VCR 320 which is the server device. The ID storage unit 440 stores the unique number of the client device that controls the VCR (320).

When the first processing unit 410 receives the control command extracted from the packet decoder 400, it reads the state information of the VCR 320 from the state storage unit 420 to indicate that it is 'idle'. In addition, the ID number of the TV2 310 is stored in the ID storage unit 440, and the control command right is given to the TV2 310.

The second processor 430 receives the control command extracted from the packet decoder 400 and reads the state information of the VCR 320 from the state storage unit 420 to 'running' or ' If 'pausing', the ID stored in the ID storage unit 440 is read and compared with the unique number of the TV2 (310). If the unique numbers match, the control command right is given to the TV2 310, and if not, a message indicating that there is no control command right is transmitted to the TV2 310.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a more detailed configuration of the second processing unit 430, and includes an ID comparison unit 432, a control grant unit 434, and a control rejection unit 436.

The ID comparison unit 432 identifies a unique number (ID) stored in the ID storage unit 440 when the state information of the VCR 320 indicates 'running' or 'pausing'. ) And the unique number of the TV2 (310). The control granting unit 434 grants the control command right to the TV2 310 when the unique numbers match as a result of the comparison in the ID comparing unit 432, and the control right rejecting unit 436 supplies the ID comparing unit ( As a result of the comparison in step 432, if the unique number does not match, the control right rejection message indicating that there is no control command right is transmitted to the TV2 (310).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for granting home appliance control commands in a home network according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the method of the present invention will be described.

First, when the TV1 300 calls the VCR 320 through its web browser and issues a Play command, the VCR 320 receives the extracted command and extracts the Play command and ID through the packet decoder 400. Since the state of the user is IDLE, the ID of the TV1 300 is stored in the ID storage unit 440, and the running command is stored in the state storage unit 420 while executing the Play command. do. Then, the audio / video content of the VCR 320 is displayed through the TV1 300.

At this time, the TV2 310 issues a REW command to the VCR 320 through its web browser. Then, the packet decoder 400 receives this (step 600), extracts the REW command and the ID of the TV2 310, reads the state storage unit 420, and checks the state of the VCR 320. (610) step)

In the present embodiment, since the VCR 320 is currently playing, the state storage unit 420 displays the state of the VCR as 'running'. Therefore, the ID stored in the ID storage unit 440 is compared with the ID of the TV2 310 (step 640).

As a result of the comparison, the ID does not match, and therefore, a message indicating that there is no control command right is transmitted to the TV2 310 (step 650). If the ID is matched, the control command is granted to the TV2 310. (Step 630)

Meanwhile, when the state of the VCR 320 is checked to indicate 'Idle', the unique number (ID) of the TV2 310 is stored in the ID storage unit 440, and the TV2 310 is stored. The control command is granted to the user (step 630).

The control denied message transmission (step 650) may be performed in two ways. One is simply a method of transmitting a message informing the TV2 310 that the VCR 320 is currently in use by the TV1 300.

The other is a more intelligent way. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a more sophisticated method for transmitting the control right rejection message. If the ID of the TV2 is not the same as the stored ID in step 640, the TV1 300 having the control command right for the VCR 320 is notified that the TV2 310 is requesting the control command right (step 652). In step 654, when the TV1 300 grants the control command to the TV2 310, the ID of the TV2 310 is stored, and the TV2 310 stores the ID of the VCR 320. The control command right is granted (step 656). If the TV1 300 does not grant the control command right to the TV2 310, the VCR 320 is given to the TV2 310 without granting the control command right to the TV2 310. ) Transmits only a message indicating that the TV1 300 is currently in use (step 658).

Meanwhile, some cases in which the control command right is released will be described. First, a client device having a control command right can cause the server device to be in a 'pause' state. In this case, after a predetermined time elapses, the state of the server device is 'idle' and the stored ID is deleted to release the command control right of the client device.

In the second case, when it is detected that the client device having the control command right does not exist on the bus of the home network, the server device is set to 'idle' and the stored ID is deleted to delete the command control right of the client device. Release it.

In the third case, the control command right may be released even when the client device itself having the control command right releases the control command right. It is also possible for the server device to manually release the control command right through a button or the like. In this case, it would be convenient to have a means of informing the other users of the voice or LED.

Meanwhile, FIG. 3 illustrates only a part of a home network, and the TV1 and TV2 may be replaced by a digital device including a web browser including a display device, such as a PC. The configuration can be changed according to the situation.

The home device includes all the digital devices used in the home. For example, it can be any digital device such as a TV, a VCR, an audio device, a digital satellite service, a sprinkler system, a lighting system, or a stove.

On the other hand, the embodiments of the present invention described above can be written as a program that can be executed on a computer. And it can be implemented in a general-purpose digital computer for operating the program from a medium used in the computer. The media includes storage media such as magnetic storage media (e.g. ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), optical reading media (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD, etc.) and carrier waves (e.g., transmitted over the Internet). .

The recording medium is a browser-based home network consisting of at least one server device and at least two client devices, comprising: receiving a control command for the server device from a first client device; A state checking step of checking a state of the server device; If the state of the server device is 'idle', storing a unique number (ID) of the first client device and granting a control command right to the first client device; If the state of the server device is 'running' or 'pausing', the unique number (ID) of the client device currently using the server device is compared with the unique number of the first client device. Doing; Granting a control command right to the first client device if the unique numbers match as a result of the comparison; And if the unique number does not match, storing the program code for executing the step of transmitting a control permission rejection message to the first client device. And the program code for executing the control authority rejection message transmitting step notifies the client device having the control command right to the server device whether the first client device is requesting the control command right and asks whether to permit it. If the control command right is granted to the first client device, storing the unique number of the first client device and granting the control command right of the server device to the first client device; And program code for executing a step of not granting the control command right to the first client device if the control command right is not allowed to the first client device.

After the predetermined time has elapsed since the client device having the control command right puts the server device into the 'pause' state, the program state is set to 'idle' and the stored ID is deleted. And program code for releasing the command control right of the device.

When the program detects that the client device having the control command right does not exist on the bus of the home network, the server device is set to 'idle' and the stored ID is deleted to delete the stored ID. It further comprises a program code to perform the step of releasing.

And functional programs, codes and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily inferred by programmers in the art to which the present invention belongs.

According to the present invention, when another client device intends to use the server device with respect to one server device used by the client device, the user can smoothly grant the control command right to solve the user's confusion and inconvenience.

Claims (9)

In a network comprising a server device and a client device, the method for determining and granting the control command right for the server device in the server device, (a) receiving a control command for the server device from a first client device; (b) if the server device is in a controllable state, storing a unique number of the first client device and granting a control command right to the first client device; (c) if the server device is not in a controllable state, comparing a unique number of a client device having a control command right with respect to the server device with a unique number of the first client device; (d) granting a control command right to the first client device if the unique numbers match as a result of the comparison; And and (e) granting a control command right to the first client device if the unique numbers do not match, as a result of the comparison. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) And informing the first client device that the server device is under the control of another client device. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) And informing the client device having the control command right to the server device that the first client device requests the control command right. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) (e1) asking the client device having the control command right to the server device whether to grant the control command right to the first client device; (e2) if the control command right is granted to the first client device, storing the unique number of the first client device and granting the control command right of the server device to the first client device; And and (e3) if not granting the control command right to the first client device, not granting the control command right to the first client device. The method of claim 1, The controllable state of the server device of step (b) is a state in which the server device is idle. The server device control command granting method of the step (c) is characterized in that the state of the server device is running (running) or paused (pausing). The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) After a predetermined time has passed after the client device having the control command right makes the server device 'paused', the server device is set to 'idle' and the stored ID is deleted to delete the stored command ID. And releasing the step before determining whether or not the server device is in a controllable state. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) If it is detected that the client device having the control command right does not exist on the bus of the network, the server device is set to 'idle' and the stored ID is deleted to release the control command right of the client device. And before determining whether the server device is in a controllable state. In a network comprising a server device and a client device, the device for determining and granting the control command right for the server device in the server device, A state storage unit storing state information of the server device; An ID storage unit for storing a unique number of a client device controlling the server device; A packet decoder for decoding a packet data including a control command for the server device received from a first client device to extract a control command and a unique number (ID); When receiving the control command extracted from the packet decoder, and reads the state information of the server device from the state storage unit to indicate that the 'idle', the unique number (ID) of the first client device to the ID A first processing unit which stores in a storage unit and gives a control command right to the first client device; And Receiving the control command extracted from the packet decoder, reading the state information of the server device from the state storage unit, if the state information indicates 'running' or 'pausing', the ID storage Reads an ID from the unit and compares the ID with the unique number of the first client device to give the control right to the first client device if the unique number matches, and transmits a control right rejection message to the first client device if the ID is not identical. And a control command granting apparatus comprising: two processing units. The method of claim 8, wherein the second processing unit When the state of the server device is 'running' or 'pausing', an ID comparison comparing the unique number (ID) stored in the ID storage unit with the unique number of the first client device part; A control right granting unit for granting a control command right to the first client device when the unique numbers match as a result of the comparison in the ID comparing unit; And And a control right rejection unit for transmitting a control right rejection message to the first client device if a unique number does not match as a result of the comparison in the ID comparison unit.