KR100520705B1 - Method for preventing clash of bridge function in home network - Google Patents

Abstract

Among the plurality of bridge digital devices provided between the first home network and the second home network, one bridge digital device performs a bridge function, and the other bridge digital devices do not perform a bridge function.

The first digital device for bridge generates a packet including its own priority and transmits the packet to the second digital device for bridge which currently performs the bridge function, and then waits for input of a response packet, and when the response packet is inputted, Compared with the priority of the second bridge digital device included in the response packet and the priority of the first digital device for the bridge, a bridge failure notification packet is generated to notify the bridge when the priority is not high. The digital device for the second bridge after generating a bridge down request packet which transmits to the digital device for the second bridge, stops the bridge function, and requests the bridge down when the digital device for the first bridge has a high priority. To disable the bridge and enable the digital device for the first bridge. It performs a bridge function.

Description

Method for preventing clash of bridge function in home network}

The present invention provides a bridge digital device having a bridge function for converting predetermined data of each of the first home network and the second home network into protocols of the second home network and the first home network. In the case where a plurality of second digital devices are provided between the second home networks, one bridge digital device having a high priority among the plurality of bridge digital devices performs a bridge function and the other bridge digital devices are bridged. The present invention relates to a collision prevention method of a bridge function in a home network in which a bridge function does not collide by not performing a function.

With the development of digital technology, household appliances such as digital refrigerators, digital air conditioners and digital washing machines, and digital video / audio devices such as digital television receivers, digital video home systems (DVHS) and digital versatile disc (DVD) players, Various digital devices are emerging.

In addition, with the advent of the digital devices, in order to enable the user to control the operation of the digital devices more conveniently, the digital devices are connected with a predetermined interface cable, and a digital television receiver or a computer system having a display screen is used as the control device. Therefore, various home network technologies have been proposed to control the operation of other digital devices.

As a home network technology for connecting the digital devices, a living network control protocol (LnCP) and a universal plug and play (UPnP) are known.

The home network based on the LnCP uses a power line communication (PLC) that performs data communication using a power line as an interface cable. It is to connect various digital home appliances including ranges and the like, and to allow digital devices to control each other while transmitting predetermined data through the power line.

The UPnP-based home network is based on HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) and XML (Extensible Markup Language), which are widely used on the Internet, and a plurality of digital devices are connected to each other through a predetermined interface cable. It is to control while transferring data.

In addition to the LnCP and UPnP described above, various home network technologies have been proposed, including HNCP (Home Network Control Protocol) and HAVi (Home Audio / Video interoperability), and these various home network technologies use different protocols. Doing.

Even though the digital devices of the home network using the different protocols are connected to each other with a predetermined interface cable, the predetermined data transmitted through the interface cable are not recognized, and thus the digital devices cannot control the operation of each other. .

Therefore, Korean Patent Application No. 2001-36614 (Publication No. 2003-579) proposes a bridge function for converting data of a first home network and a second home network. The digital device having the bridge function converts data input through the first interface cable of the first home network to the second home network according to a protocol, and then outputs the data to the second interface cable of the second home network. The first home network and the second home network are provided by converting predetermined data input through the second interface cable of the home network according to a protocol of the first home network and then outputting the data to the first interface cable of the first home network. A plurality of digital devices may control the operation while transmitting predetermined data to each other.

However, when a plurality of bridge digital devices having the bridge function are provided between the first home network and the second home network, the bridge functions performed by the plurality of bridge digital devices collide with each other. A collision occurs in a bridge function of a plurality of bridge digital devices, and as a result, a plurality of digital devices respectively provided in the first home network and the second home network do not control the operation of each other.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bridge between a first home network and a second home network using different protocols, and when one of the plurality of bridge digital devices is provided. A bridge digital device performs a bridge function, and a plurality of other bridge digital devices provide a method of preventing collision of a bridge function in a home network.

According to the collision avoidance method of the bridge function in the home network of the present invention having the above object, a predetermined priority is given to a plurality of bridge digital devices having a bridge function in advance, and the priority given to each other is determined and prioritized. The bridge device with the highest ranking digital device is bridged.

To this end, the collision prevention method of the bridge function in the home network of the present invention has its own priority when a first bridge digital device having a bridge function is connected between the first and second home networks using different protocols. Generate a packet including the rank, and transmit the generated packet to the second bridge digital device that currently performs the bridge function by selecting the first interface cable of the first home network or the second interface cable of the second home network. Wait for input of the response packet, and when the response packet is input, the priority of the first digital device for the first bridge is compared with the priority in the response packet and the priority of the first digital device for the first bridge. Digital device for the first bridge if it is not higher than the priority in the packet. When a bridge downtime notification packet is generated to inform the bridge downtime of the bridge and transmitted to the second digital device for bridge and the bridge function is stopped, and the priority of the first digital device for the first bridge is higher than the priority in the response packet. The first bridge digital device generates a bridge shutdown request packet requesting the bridge shutdown and transmits the packet to the second bridge digital device and performs a bridge function.

And when a packet including a priority is input while the first digital device for a bridge performs a bridge function, the priority is determined in the packet, and the first digital device for the bridge includes its priority. Bridge function when a packet is generated and transmitted to another bridge digital device connected between the first and second home networks, and the result of the determination is that the priority of the digital device for the first bridge is higher than the priority in the input packet. It is determined whether the stop notification packet is input, and when the bridge down notification packet is input, the digital device for the first bridge continues to bridge, and the priority of the digital device for the first bridge is higher than the priority in the input packet. If it is not high, it is determined whether a bridge down request packet is input. When a bridge function stop request packet is input for a digital device, the first bridge is characterized in that stops the bridge features.

Priority of the digital devices for the bridge is pre-assigned according to the operation time and the performance of the digital devices for the bridge itself, and the selection of the interface cable is based on the data transmitted through the first interface cable and the second interface cable, respectively. The quantity is determined, and an interface cable having a small amount of the determined data is selected.

When the response packet is not received even after the preset time has elapsed, the packet including the priority is repeatedly transmitted for a predetermined number of times, waiting for input of the response packet, and the response packet is transmitted even if the packet is repeatedly transmitted for the set number of times. If the packet is not input, the second interface cable of the second home network or the first interface cable of the first home network that is not selected in the second process is selected, and the packet including the priority is repeated for a set number of times. The first bridge digital device performs a bridge function when the response packet is waited to be input while waiting for input of the response packet and the response packet is not input even if the other interface cable is selected and the packet is transmitted.

Hereinafter, a method of preventing a collision of a bridge function in a home network of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a home network to which the collision avoidance method of the present invention is applied. Here, reference numeral 100 denotes a first home network using a predetermined protocol, for example, LnCP, and reference numeral 200 denotes a second home network using a protocol different from the first home network 100, for example, UPnP. to be.

For example, the first home network 100 may include, for example, a plurality of first digital devices 110 including a washing machine, a microwave oven, and an air conditioner using LnCP as a protocol through a power line in which the first interface cable 120 is used. The second home network 200 may be connected to each other, and the second home network 200 may include a plurality of second digital devices 210 including a protocol different from the first home network 100, for example, a DVHS and a DVD player using UPnP, and the like. The second interface cable 220 is connected to each other.

Reference numeral 300 (300-1. 300-1, ...) is provided between the first interface cable 120 of the first home network 100 and the second interface cable 220 of the second home network 200. A plurality of bridge digital devices such as a television receiver and a refrigerator. The plurality of bridge digital devices 300; 300-1, 300-1,..., And the second home network 200 receive predetermined data input through the first interface cable 120 of the first home network 100. After converting according to the protocol) and outputs to the interface cable 220 of the second home network 200, and also the predetermined data input through the interface cable 220 of the second home network 200 to the first home The signal is converted according to the protocol of the network 100 and output to the first interface cable 120 of the first home network 100.

In the home network having such a configuration, since the first digital devices 110 of the first home network 100 all use the same protocol, the operation of the home network may be controlled while transmitting predetermined data through the first interface cable 120. In addition, since the second digital devices 210 of the second home network 200 all use the same protocol, the operation can be controlled to each other while transmitting predetermined data through the second interface cable 220. .

However, since the protocols used by the first digital device 110 and the second digital device 210 are different from each other, even when the first digital device 110 and the second digital device 210 are connected with a predetermined interface cable. It is not possible to interpret the data sent to each other, so the operation can be controlled.

Therefore, between the first home network 100 and the second home network 200, a digital device for bridges 300 (300-1, 300-2,...) Is provided to provide the first home network 100 and the second home. By converting the data of the network 200, the first digital device 110 and the second digital device 210 may control operations while transmitting data to each other. That is, the digital device for bridges 300; 300-1 transmits data transmitted by the first digital device 110 of the first home network 100 to the second digital device 220 through the first interface cable 120. , 300-2,..., 300, and the like are converted into protocols used in the second home network 200, and then output to the second interface cable 220 to be transmitted to the second digital device 220. The digital device for the bridge 300 (300; 300-1, 300-2, ...) transmitted by the second digital device 210 of the 200 to the first digital device 120 through the second interface cable 220. Converts to a protocol used in the first home network 100 and then outputs the first interface cable 120 to the first digital device 120 to transmit the first digital device 110 and the second digital device 210. ) Transfer data between each other It is possible to control the operation between.

FIG. 2 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an exemplary operation performed initially when a bridge digital device is connected between a first and a second home network in the collision avoidance method of the present invention. As shown therein, a predetermined bridge digital device, for example a bridge digital device 300-1, is connected between the first and second home networks 100, 200 in step 400, ie, the first. And when connected to the second interface cable 120, 220, the bridge digital device 300-1 generates a packet that includes the priority assigned to it in step 402. The priority is given in advance to the plurality of bridge digital devices 300 (300-1, 300-2,...), For example, the bridge digital devices 300; 300 which are continuously driven for 24 hours and whose control operation is simple. -1, 300-2,…) For example, a refrigerator that operates continuously for 24 hours and performs only temperature control has a high priority, does not continue to operate for 24 hours, and has complicated control operations such as volume control and channel control. The television receiver is given a low priority.

In the next step 404, one interface cable 120 or interface cable 220 is selected to output the packet. Here, the selection of the interface cable is, for example, the bridge digital device 300-1 determines the amount of data transmitted through the first interface cable 120 and the second interface cable 220, respectively, One interface cable 120 or interface cable 220 having a small amount of data is selected.

When the interface cable 120 or the interface cable 220 is selected, the bridge digital device 300-1 selects the packet generated in step 406, that is, a packet including its priority, from the selected interface cable. Another bridge digital device 300-2 or bridge digital that is connected to the first interface cable 120 and the second interface cable 220, and outputs through the 120 or interface cable 220 to perform a bridge function. Transmit to device 300-3,... And determine whether a response packet is received in step 408.

When the response packet is not received in step 408, the bridge digital device 300-1 determines whether the preset time has elapsed in step 410, and when the preset time has not elapsed, Returning to step 408, the operation of determining whether or not a response packet is received is repeatedly performed. If the response packet is not received even after the preset time passes in step 410, the selected interface cable 120 or the interface cable selects a packet including the priority of the packet more than the preset number of times in step 412. It is determined whether or not the output to (220).

If it is not more than a predetermined number of times in step 412, the bridge digital device 300-1 returns to step 406 to select the packet including the priority of the selected interface cable 120 or Output to the interface cable 220, and repeats the operation of determining whether or not the response packet is received in step 408, and if the digital device for the bridge 300-1 when more than a predetermined number of times in step 412 ) Determines that there are no other bridge digital devices 300-2, 300-3,... In the first interface cable 120 and the second interface cable 220. Perform.

When the response packet is received in step 408, the bridge digital device 300-1 determines in step 416 whether its priority is higher than the priority in the response packet.

If the determination of step 416 indicates that the priority of the bridge digital device 300-1 is not higher than the priority in the response packet, the bridge digital device 300-1 bridges itself in step 418. A bridge function stop notification packet is generated to indicate that the function is stopped, and the generated bridge function stop notification packet is output to the selected first interface cable 120 or the second interface cable 220 to perform the current bridge function. After transferring to another bridge digital device 300-2 or bridge digital device 300-3,...

When the bridge digital device 300-1 has a higher priority than the priority in the response packet as a result of the determination in step 416, the bridge digital device 300-1 performs the bridge function in step 422. A digital device for another bridge that generates a packet requesting a stop and outputs the generated bridge function stop request packet to the selected first interface cable 120 or the second interface cable 220 to perform a current bridge function. 300-2) or after the bridge digital device 300-3, ... stops the bridge function, in step 424, the bridge digital device 300-1 itself performs the bridge function.

FIG. 3 is a signal flow diagram illustrating another exemplary operation performed initially when a bridge digital device is connected between a first and a second home network in the collision avoidance method of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, when the bridge digital device 300-1 does not receive a response packet even though the bridge digital device 300-1 repeatedly outputs a predetermined number or more packets in step 412, the bridge digital device 300-1 does not receive the response packet. In step 500 another interface cable is selected. That is, when the first interface cable 120 is selected in step 404, the second interface cable 220 is selected in step 500, and the second interface cable 220 is disconnected in step 404. If yes, the first interface cable 120 is selected in step 500.

In a next step 502, the bridged digital device 300-1 includes a packet containing its priority generated in the step 402 with the selected second interface cable 220 or the first interface cable 120. Outputs the signal to the bridge digital device 300-2 or bridge digital device 300-3,... Which is currently performing the bridge function, and in step 504 the bridge digital device 300-2 or It is determined whether a response packet is received from the bridge digital device 300-3, ....

When the response packet is not received in step 504, the bridge digital device 300-1 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed in step 506, and when the preset time has not elapsed, Returning to step 504, the operation of determining whether or not a response packet is received is repeatedly performed. When the response packet is not received even after the preset time elapses in step 506, it is determined whether the packet has been output for a predetermined number of times or more in step 508.

If it is not more than a predetermined number of times in step 508, the bridge digital device 300-1 returns to step 502, outputs a packet including its own priority, and in step 504 The operation of determining whether or not the response packet is received is repeatedly performed, and when the number of times the preset digital device 300-1 is greater than or equal to the preset number in step 508, the bridge digital device 300-1 performs the first interface cable 120 and the second interface cable. It is determined that there are no other bridge digital devices 300-2, 300-3,... In step 220, and in step 510, the bridge device itself performs a bridge function.

4 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an operation of a digital device for a bridge that performs a bridge function between the first and second home networks in the collision avoidance method of the present invention. As shown therein, the bridge digital device for performing a bridge function between the first and second home networks, for example, the bridge digital device 300-1 may include another bridge digital device 300 in step 600. -2) or determine whether a packet including a priority is input from the digital device for bridge 300-3 through the first interface cable 120 or the second interface cable 220, and When the packet including the digital signal 300-1 is not input, the bridge digital device 300-1 continues to perform the bridge function currently being performed in step 602.

When the packet including the priority is input in step 600, the bridge digital device 300-1 determines the priority included in the packet in step 604, and in step 606. The bridge digital device 300-1 generates a packet including its own priority and outputs the packet to the first interface cable 120 or the second interface cable 220. That is, the generated packet is output to the first interface cable 120 or the second interface cable 220 to which the packet including the priority is input in the step 600, so that another bridge digital device 300-2 is output. Or transmit to the bridge digital device 300-3,...

In the next step 608, the bridge digital device 300-1 determines whether or not the priority given to the bridge is higher than the priority in the packet input in the step 600. 300-1) The bridge notifying itself from the other bridge digital device 300-2 or the bridge digital device 300-3,. It is determined whether the function stop notification packet is input, and when the bridge function notification packet is input, in step 612, the bridge digital device 300-1 continues to perform the bridge function currently being performed.

When the bridge digital device 300-1 itself does not have a high priority as a result of the determination of step 608, the other bridge digital device 300-2 or the bridge digital device 300-300 is removed in step 614. 3, ... determines whether or not a bridge down request packet for which the user requests to stop the bridge function is input, and if a bridge down request packet is input, in step 616 the digital device for bridge 300-; 1) stops the current bridge function.

On the other hand, while the present invention has been shown and described with respect to specific preferred embodiments, various modifications and changes of the present invention without departing from the spirit or field of the invention provided by the claims below It can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

As described above, the present invention provides a plurality of bridge digital devices when a bridge digital device for performing a bridge function is provided between a first home network and a second home network using different protocols. According to a predetermined priority, one bridge digital device performs the bridge function, and the other bridge digital devices do not perform the bridge function, so that there is no conflict in the performance of the bridge function. The first digital device included in the second home network can smoothly control the operation of the second digital device provided in the second home network, as well as the second digital device provided in the second home network. 1 You can smoothly control the operation of digital devices.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a home network to which the collision avoidance method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an exemplary operation performed initially when a bridge digital device is connected between a first and a second home network in the collision avoidance method of the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a signal flow diagram illustrating another exemplary operation performed initially when a bridge digital device is connected between a first and a second home network in the collision avoidance method of the present invention. FIG.

Figure 4 is a signal flow diagram showing the operation of the digital device for the bridge to perform the bridge function between the first and second home network in the collision avoidance method of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: first home network 110: a plurality of first digital devices

120: first interface cable 200: second home network

210: a plurality of second digital devices 220: a second interface cable

300-1, 300-2,... : Digital Device for Multiple Bridges

Claims (5)

The first bridge digital device generates a packet including its priority when the first bridge digital device having a bridge function is connected between the first and second home networks using different protocols. 1 course; Select the first interface cable of the first home network or the second interface cable of the second home network and transmit the packet generated in the first process to the digital device for the second bridge that currently performs the bridge function and the second bridge. A second process of waiting for an input of a response packet including a priority of the second digital device for the bridge from the digital device for use; A third step of comparing the priority in the response packet with the priority of the first bridge digital device when the response packet is input in the second step; If the priority of the first bridge digital device is not higher than the priority of the second bridge digital device as a result of the comparison of the third process, a bridge failure notification packet indicating a bridge failure of the digital device for the first bridge itself; A fourth step of generating and transmitting to the second bridge digital device and stopping the bridge function; And As a result of the comparison of the third process, when the priority of the first digital device for the bridge is higher than the priority of the digital device for the second bridge, the first digital bridge device requests a bridge failure request packet for requesting the bridge shutdown. The collision prevention method of the bridge function in the home network comprising a fifth process of generating and transmitting to the second bridge digital device and performing a bridge function. The method of claim 1, In the fifth process, when a packet including a priority is input while the first digital device for a bridge performs a bridge function, the priority is determined in the packet and the first digital device for the bridge determines its priority. A sixth step of generating a response packet including and transmitting the generated response packet to another bridge digital device connected between the first and second home networks; As a result of the sixth step, when the priority of the first digital device for the bridge is higher than the priority in the input packet, it is determined whether the bridge down notification packet is input, and when the bridge down notification packet is input, the first step is determined. A seventh step in which the bridge digital device continues to perform a bridge function; And If the priority of the first digital device for the bridge is not higher than the priority in the input packet as a result of the determination of the sixth step, it is determined whether the bridge down request packet is input, and when the bridge down request packet is input, 1. The method of preventing collision of a bridge function in a home network, wherein the bridge digital device further comprises an eighth step of stopping the bridge function. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the priority of the digital devices for the bridge is: Method for preventing the collision of the bridge function in the home network, characterized in that it is given in advance according to the operating time and performance of the digital devices for the bridge itself. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the interface cable of the second process; And determining an amount of data transmitted through each of the first and second interface cables, and selecting an interface cable having a small amount of the determined data. The method of claim 1, further comprising: between the second process and the third process; An eleventh step of waiting for input of a response packet while repeatedly transmitting a packet including the priority for a predetermined number of times when a response packet is not received even if a preset time elapses; If the response packet is not input in the eleventh process, a packet including the priority by selecting a second interface cable of the second home network or a first interface cable of the first home network that is not selected in the second process. A twelfth step of waiting for input of a response packet while repeatedly transmitting a predetermined number of times; And And a thirteenth step in which the first digital device for bridges performs a bridge function when the response packet is not input in the twelfth step.