KR100442282B1 - Home Network System and Control Method of The Same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a home network system and a method of controlling the same, which further improves home network speed and enables home network control even when the main master becomes inoperable. A method of controlling a home network system connected to a home network system, the method comprising: by a home appliance that is the main master, databaseing an address system, various command codes, and a sub master target list for the plurality of connected home appliances; Designating any one of household appliances corresponding to the sub master target list of the database as a sub master; Backing up the database every predetermined period to the designated submaster; In addition, when the home appliance that becomes the main master becomes inoperable, the home appliance designated as the sub master is replaced with the main master to control the entire home network. By building, network speed can be improved, and even if the main master becomes inoperable, the home network can be restored immediately by the database backed up on the secondary master, and the network robustness against wiring failure can be maintained.

Description

Home Network System and Control Method of The Same

The present invention relates to a home network system, and more particularly, to a home network system and a method of controlling the same, whereby home network control can be normally maintained when the main master is inoperable.

In general, a home network system (Home Network System) is a home server, that is, a home automation control system built to centrally control various home appliances centering on home appliances corresponding to a main master. In addition, the user controls the operation of other home appliances, that is, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a washing machine, a microwave oven, a boiler, etc. through a home appliance corresponding to the master.

At this time, a system that can control a command is called a master, and a system that performs a task according to the command of the master is called a slave.

Most of the microcomputers applied to the home application have a serial communication function and are developed to communicate with other home appliances, and the size of resources that can be used for communication varies according to the characteristics of the product.

Network system consisting of PC and its peripherals or multimedia products including DTV (DigitalTelevision), PC, Internet refrigerator, etc., adopt high-performance hardware specifications to operate basic functions, and therefore, enable a large amount of data and high speed communication. For example, a communication standard such as a home network control protocol (HNCP) that defines a signal line connection method and a signal flow order for communication between products in a home network is required.

Referring to FIG. 1, a home network system according to the related art, which is mainly configured with a digital TV (master) that interoperates with the HNCP concept, will be described below.

As shown, the home TV system of the digital TV according to the related art uses a digital television 1 as a main master to which a plurality of home appliances 2a to 2n are connected, and a power line (Power-Line) It is configured to control a plurality of home appliances (slave 1 to slave n) 2a to 2n electrically connected to the digital TV 1 through 3).

At this time, the digital TV 1 and the plurality of home appliances (2a ~ 2n) is provided with an interface unit (not shown) for connecting to the power line (3), respectively. In addition, the interface unit is a PLC (Power Line Communication) modem.

The conventional home network system configured as described above executes a predetermined OSD menu for controlling a home network through a digital TV 1 as a main master, selects and selects a home appliance to be controlled on the OSD menu. Select the control command for the home appliance. In addition, the internal microcomputer (not shown) of the digital TV 1 transmits the selected control command to the corresponding home appliance electrically connected to each other via a power line.

Therefore, the home network system according to the related art is configured to control all of the plurality of home appliances 2a to 2n connected to the power line 3 from the digital TV 1 as the main master.

The above-described home network system of the related art has the following problems.

First, since the digital TV (1) as the main master controls all the electrically connected slaves (home appliances), the network speed loss due to the overload of the main master is large.

Second, when the main master is in an inoperable state, for example, when the connection with the power line is lost, the control of all slaves connected to the main master through the power line becomes impossible and the home network control becomes impossible.

Third, there is no database protection for home network interworking products due to the inoperability of the main master.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to further improve the home network speed and to control the home network even if the main master is inoperable; The control method is provided.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a home network system according to the prior art.

2 and 3 are views showing the configuration of a home network system according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a home network system according to the present invention.

5 illustrates a main OSD menu screen of a user interface.

6A and 6B show an OSD menu screen for executing product search / registration.

7 is a diagram illustrating an OSD menu screen for setting a database backup cycle in a network configuration.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: Main Master (Digital TV)

11: Selection 12: Display

13: Memory unit (first memory unit) 14: OSD processing unit

15: control unit (first control unit)

20: master interface unit

30a to 30n: first to nth slave interface units

40a-40n: first to nth slaves

41a to 41n: first to nth slave controllers

The home network system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a main master for directly / indirectly controlling the plurality of home appliances in a home network system in which a plurality of home appliances are electrically connected to each other, the control of the main master Accordingly, it is configured to include a sub master controlling the plurality of home appliances, or independently controlling the plurality of home appliances when the main master is inoperable.

In addition, the control method of the home network system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is the main master in the control method of the home network system and the plurality of home appliances are electrically connected to each other, the main master A step in which a home appliance makes a database of an address system, various command codes, and a sub master target list for the plurality of connected home appliances; Designating any one of household appliances corresponding to the sub master target list of the database as a sub master; Backing up the database every predetermined period to the designated submaster; In addition, when the home appliance that becomes the main master becomes inoperable, the home appliance designated as the sub master is replaced with the main master to control the entire home network.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, a home network system and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a block diagram of a home network system according to the present invention. First, the home network system according to the present invention will be described.

As shown, the home network system according to the present invention is a home network system in which a plurality of home appliances (first to nth slaves) 40a to 40n are electrically connected to each other, the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n. The first memory unit 13 stores a database composed of an address system, various command codes, and a sub master target list, and directly controls the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n, or the first memory unit ( A main master 10 having a first control unit 15 for indirectly controlling the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n through the home appliances corresponding to the sub master target list stored in 13); In addition, according to the control signal of the first control unit 15 and the second memory unit 42 receiving a backup of the database stored in the first memory unit 13 according to the control signal of the first control unit 15. A database backed up to the second memory unit 42 when the main master 10 is in an inoperable state by controlling the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n and checking an operating state of the first control unit 15. The sub master 40c is provided with the second control unit 41c for controlling the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n.

In the present invention, when the main master 10 is a digital TV (Digital TV), the digital TV 10 and the plurality of home appliances (40a ~ 40n) is the digital TV 10 and a plurality of home appliances Interface units 20 and 30a to 30n connected to an external power line (not shown) are provided respectively for the electrical connection between 40a to 40n or between home appliances and home appliances.

In addition, the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n represent a plurality of slaves for performing a corresponding operation according to a command of the digital TV 10 as the main master, and the interface unit 30a to perform a home network. Control units 41a to 41n each having a built-in serial port that can be connected to ˜30n).

Here, the interface units 20 and 30a to 30n connected to the digital TV 10 and the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n are PLC modems.

In addition, the digital TV 10 is an OSD processing unit 14 for processing menu data stored in the memory unit (referred to as the first memory unit) 13 to be displayed in the form of an OSD menu according to a user's request. Display unit 12 for displaying the OSD menu processed through the (14), the home appliance (40a ~ 40n) that the user wants to control with reference to the OSD menu displayed on the display unit 12 and the control of the home appliance It further comprises a selection unit 11 for selecting a command.

The memory unit 13 of the digital TV 10 includes an operating system (OS) for driving a system, a device driver for driving various small circuit blocks, a basic operation of the digital TV 10, and a home network. Various menu data for operation control, that is, a user interface (UI), an address system for a plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n electrically connected to each other, a database including various command codes and a sub master target list, etc. It can be divided into

In addition, the sub master target list stored in the memory unit 13 is a P2P (Peer to Peer) system list that performs a master function as well as a slave function among the plurality of home appliances 40a to 40n. The P2P system in FIG. 2 is a third home appliance (third slave) 40c.

The present invention is configured by adding the database, the HNCP module and the user interface to the unique area of the digital TV 10. The user interface includes a configuration setting for implementing HNCP, that is, home network control, product search / registration, in addition to a user interface for implementing settings of channels, video, voice, time, general, etc. of an existing digital TV. Predetermined modules for editing and executing network environment settings, command group settings, and the like are further configured.

In the home network system according to the present invention configured as described above, when the system power is turned on, the first control unit 15 of the digital TV 10 searches for home appliances 40a to 40n connected through a power line, and then controls the home network. Initialize all connected appliances (40a ~ 40n) to optimize the possible.

The first control unit 15 designates any home appliance corresponding to the sub master target list stored in the first memory unit 13, that is, any home appliance among the home appliance corresponding to the P2P system as the sub master.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 3, the digital TV 100 as the main master transmits a predetermined signal to P2P1 and P2P2 (200c, 300m) corresponding to the P2P system, and receives the received P2P1 and P2P2 (200c). , 300m) transmits a response signal to the digital TV 100. At this time, the digital TV 100 designates a P2P system having the fastest response speed as a sub master according to response signals transmitted from P2P1 and P2P2 (200c, 300m).

Then, the database 110 stored in the digital TV 100 is backed up to a memory unit of the home appliance designated as the sub master at a predetermined cycle.

For example, if the P2P1 200c among the P2P1 and P2P2 200c and 300m has the fastest response speed, the P2P1 200c designates it as a submaster and backs up the database 110 of the digital TV 100 to the P2P1 200c. .

At this time, the address system for a plurality of home appliances (200a ~ 200l, 300a ~ 300m, 400a ~ 400n) constituting the database 110 of the digital TV 100 is configured as shown in Table 1 below.

15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 One 0

Here, bits 0 to 8 are address information for indicating redundant installation and installation locations for a plurality of home appliances, i.e., each single product, and a logical address or installation for each single product installed in a single layer. It is a location address for each single product installed on multiple floors while indicating a location. In addition, the 9th to 12th bits are information for indicating a product type for each single product, and the 13th and 14th bits are information for distinguishing a product family for each single product, and the submaster independently identifies slaves of a subgroup. Address information that can be utilized as a distributed processing system to control. Finally, the fifteenth bit is information for indicating a flag for distinguishing the logical address or the location address.

In addition, the various command codes and the sub master target list form a database together with the address system for the plurality of home appliances 200a to 200l, 300a to 300m, and 400a to 400n described above in a predetermined data format.

As shown, the sub-group home appliances of the digital TV 100 are slave 1 (200a), slave 2 (200b), P2P1 (200c),. , Slave l (200l), and the subgroup household appliances of P2P1 (200c) are slave a (300a), slave b (300b), slave c (300c),. , P2P2 (300m), and the sub-group household appliances of P2P2 (300m) are slave A (400a), slave B (400b),. Slave n (400n).

Therefore, when the user selects a home appliance to be controlled and a control command of the home appliance through a predetermined OSD menu screen, the digital TV 100 as the main master belongs to its subgroup according to the selected home appliance and the control command. Directly control the home appliances (200a ~ 200l), home appliances (300a ~ 300m) belonging to the subgroup of P2P1 and home appliances (400a ~ 400n) belonging to the subgroup of P2P2 P2P1 (200c) and P2P2 (300m) Indirectly through control.

When the digital TV 100 designates the P2P1 200c as a sub master, the digital TV 100 backs up the database 110 of the digital TV 100 to the P2P1 200c at predetermined intervals.

The control unit of the P2P1 (200c) detects the operating state of the digital TV 100, if the digital TV 100 is inoperable state, the P2P1 (200c) designated as a sub master is replaced by the main master all home appliances (200a) At the same time as direct / indirect control of ˜200l, 300a to 300m, and 400a to 400n, the P2P1 200c also repeats the above-described operation to designate its own submaster to back up its database.

In addition, with reference to Figure 3 described another embodiment of a home network system according to the present invention.

First, the digital TV 100 as the main master backs up its database 110 every predetermined period to all home appliances corresponding to the sub-master target list stored in the database 110, that is, the P2P system. .

In other words, as shown, the P2P1 (200c) and P2P2 (300m) is the digital TV by sequentially backing up the database 110 of the digital TV 100 to the P2P1 (200c) and P2P2 (300m) It is set as a submaster of 100 so that one or more submaster settings are possible.

In this case, each of the databases 210 and 310 of the P2P1 and the P2P2 200c and 300m has the same information as the database 110 of the digital TV 100.

Accordingly, not only the main master 100 but also the P2P1 and P2P2 (200c, 300m) can directly control all the plurality of home appliances (200a ~ 200l, 300a ~ 300m, 400a ~ 400n).

For example, if the user wants to control the slave A 400a using the P2P2 300m, since the database 310 of the P2P2 300m is building the same database as the digital TV 100, P2P2 ( When the control command is input through 300m), the P2P2 300m directly controls the slave A 400a.

In this case, the home network control speed is higher than when the digital TV 100 indirectly controls the slave A 400a via the P2P2 300m by inputting a control command from the digital TV 100 that is the main master. It's fast.

Like the first embodiment described above, when the main master 100 is inoperable state, the sub master P2P1 (200c) or P2P2 (300m) is replaced by the main master to all home appliances (200a ~ 200l, 300a ~ 300m) , 400a to 400n) directly or indirectly.

Referring to the control method of the home network system according to the present invention operating as described above are as follows.

In the home network control method according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, when the system power of the digital TV 10 is turned on (S10), the home appliance is electrically connected to the digital TV 10 through a power line. Search (S11).

Then, it is determined whether a new home appliance registration command is input from the user (S12). In detail, when the user executes the main OSD menu of the digital TV and selects the 'Home Network' item among various menus, a submenu corresponding thereto is displayed as shown in FIG. 6A. When a user wants to register a new home appliance, he selects a 'product search / registration' item through the OSD menu shown in FIG. 6A. At this time, the OSD menu corresponding to 'product search / registration' displays a list of home appliances currently registered in the digital TV 10, that is, the home network system as shown in FIG. Provide the item.

As a result of the determination (S12), when the user selects a 'registration' item in the 'product search / registration' menu, the user registers a home appliance to be added to the home network system (S13).

On the other hand, if the additional registration process of the home appliances is completed or if there is no registration of the additional home appliances from the user (S12), the initialization of all connected home appliances and at the same time the address system, various command codes and subs for the connected home appliances Create a database consisting of the master target list (S14).

At this time, the sub master target list is a list of home appliances corresponding to the P2P system among all the connected home appliances.

Subsequently, the digital TV designates the home appliance having the fastest response speed among the home appliances corresponding to the sub master target list as the sub master, that is, the secondary master (S15).

The digital TV 10 attempts to communicate with the home appliance designated as the secondary master to determine whether the database of the digital TV 10 can currently be backed up to the secondary master (S16). If the determination result (S16) is not possible to back up to the secondary master at present, for example, if data communication between the digital TV 10 and the secondary master is not made, the feedback is returned to the step S15 to designate the secondary master. Rerun

On the other hand, if it is possible to back up the database of the digital TV 10 to the secondary master, the determination result (S16) determines whether or not the backup period of the database is set by the user (S17).

As a result of the determination (S17), if the backup cycle of the database is not set by the user, the database of the digital TV 10 is backed up to the secondary master every default period (S18).

On the other hand, if the backup cycle of the database is set by the user in the determination result (S17), it is backed up to the secondary master every cycle set by the user (S19).

At this time, as for the backup cycle setting of the database, when the user selects the 'network environment setting' item from the 'home network' OSD menu as shown in FIG.

If you want to set the backup period of the database to the preset default period by selecting the 'Database Backup Period Setting' item on the displayed 'Network Configuration' OSD menu, select the 'Default setting (10 minutes)' item, If the user wants to set the backup cycle manually, select 'User setup' item and select the cycle.

The home network control is normally performed by controlling the plurality of connected home appliances through the digital TV 10 while backing up the database at predetermined default periods or at intervals set by the user (S20).

Subsequently, the secondary master detects an operation state of the digital TV 10 that becomes the main master and determines whether the digital TV 10 is in an inoperable state (S21).

As a result of the determination (S21), if the digital TV 10 is in a normal state, home network control is continued.

On the other hand, when the determination result (S21), when the digital TV 10 is in an inoperable state, the home appliance specified as the secondary master is replaced with the main master (S22) to control the home network through the home appliance replaced with the main master. In step S15, the home appliance replaced with the main master designates its own secondary master and backs up the database as described above.

Therefore, the present invention builds a distributed processing system through not only a main master but also a home appliance corresponding to a P2P system to distribute and control all home appliances constituting the home network system, and back up the database of the main master to the secondary master. In other words, even if the main master becomes inoperable by the external environment, the home network can be immediately controlled.

The home network system and its control method according to the present invention described above have the following effects.

First, the network speed can be improved by constructing a structure of a distributed processing system in which multi-masters (main masters, home appliances corresponding to P2P systems) are installed.

Second, even if the main master becomes inoperable, the home network can be immediately restored by the database periodically backed up to the secondary master, and the network robustness against wiring failure can be maintained.

Third, a slave that can be electrically connected to the master can be further expanded through a P2P system.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the embodiments, but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (7)

In a home network system where multiple appliances are electrically connected to each other, Main master for directly or indirectly controlling the plurality of home appliances, And a sub master for controlling the plurality of home appliances under the control of the main master, or independently controlling the plurality of home appliances when the main master is inoperable. The method of claim 1, The main master may include a first memory unit configured to store a database including an address system for the plurality of household appliances, various command codes, and a sub master target list, and directly control the plurality of household appliances or the first memory unit. And a first control unit indirectly controlling the plurality of home appliances through the home appliances corresponding to the sub master target list stored in the sub master, wherein the sub master is stored in the first memory unit according to a control signal of the first control unit. A second memory unit which backs up a database, and controls the plurality of home appliances according to a control signal of the first control unit and checks an operation state of the first control unit so that the second master is inoperable state Controlling the plurality of home appliances according to a database backed up in the A home network system comprising a second control unit. The method of claim 2, The submaster target list is Home network system, characterized in that the list of peer to peer (P2P) system performing a master function as well as a slave function of the plurality of home appliances. The method of claim 2, The second memory unit And backing up the database stored in the first memory unit at predetermined intervals according to a control signal of the first controller of the main master. In the control method of the home network system that is the main master and a plurality of home appliances electrically connected to each other, The home appliance, which is the main master, databaseing an address system, various command codes, and a sub master target list for the plurality of connected home appliances; Designating any one of household appliances corresponding to the sub master target list of the database as a sub master; Backing up the database every predetermined period to the designated submaster; And, And when the home appliance that becomes the main master becomes inoperable, the home appliance designated as the sub master is replaced with the main master to control the entire home network according to the backed up database. system. The method of claim 5, wherein Designating, by the home appliance replaced by the main master, any one home appliance corresponding to the sub master target list of the backed up database as its own sub master; And backing up the database every predetermined period to the designated sub-master. The method of claim 5, wherein The step of designating any one of the home appliances corresponding to the sub master target list of the database as the sub master The main master transmitting a predetermined signal to each home appliance corresponding to the sub master target list of the database and designating the home appliance having the fastest response signal as the sub master; Way.