KR100653464B1 - Life cycle management method and service distribution/management apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A life cycle management method of a home network service application and a service distribution management device using the method are provided to offer a necessary application to a home gateway in a remote place. Web service units(231-234) provide web-based portal services to user groups which contain service providers, managers, and service users. A bundle management module(235) stores and manages a home network service application whose registration is requested through the web service units(231-234), in a storage(239). A service package management module(236) generates and manages a service package by binding individual home network service applications into one accounting unit or management unit, according to a service package setup request through the web service units(231-234). A life cycle management module(238) downloads the designated service package to a home gateway(210) in push or pull type. The storage(239) stores the service package and the home network service application managed by the modules(235,236).

Description

Life cycle management method for home network service application and service distribution management device using same {Life cycle management method and service distribution / management apparatus using the same}

1 is a block diagram of a general home network.

2 is a block diagram of a service network to which a service distribution management apparatus for managing a life cycle of a home network service is applied according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of a service distribution management apparatus according to the present invention.

4A and 4B are flowcharts illustrating a life cycle management procedure of a home network service according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

210: home gateway 211: service bundle

212: OSGi Framework 213: Management Agent Module

230: service distribution management device 231 to 234: web service unit

235: bundle management module 236: service package management module

237: reservation management module 238: life cycle management module

239: storage

The present invention provides a lifecycle management method for home network services that can provide various types of lifecycle management modes while improving convenience of both home network service users and providers and reducing maintenance / management costs, and service distribution management using the same. Relates to a device.

With the recent development of electronic and communication technology, electronic / communication products commonly used in general homes are becoming more diverse and complicated. Recently, home appliances used in general households include information devices such as personal computers, fax machines, scanners, printers, A / V devices such as TVs, set-top boxes, DVDs, VCRs, audio, camcorders, home game machines, cuff makers, and rice cookers. , A control device such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave oven, a camera, and a dummy device such as a remote controller, an interphone, a sensor, a light, etc., these devices may be classified into a telephone line, a wireless LAN or a Bluetooth, a USB, It is connected to a sub network such as IEEE1394, power line and the like.

The home network integrates various electronic / communication devices used in homes by applying various wired / wireless technologies for home automation, home security, and the like, and is used for remote control of a control system device or emergency situation detection.

1 illustrates a general home network structure. Referring to this, a telephone line 120 is connected to a telephone 120a, a notebook computer 120b, a fax 120c, and a computer 120d to form an independent network. The notebook computer 130a and the PDA 130b are connected to the wireless network 130 such as a wireless LAN or Bluetooth, and the computer 140a, the printer 140b, and the scanner 140c are connected to the USB network 140. , IEEE1394 (150) is connected to TV (150a), camcorder (150b) and audio (150c) AV equipment, power line 160, coffee maker (160a), rice cooker (160b), refrigerator 160c as a control device And the washing machine 160d are connected to each other, and the telephone line 120, the wireless network 130, the IEEE1394 150, and the power line 160 are connected to each other by a connection device 170 such as a bridge. Network 100, wherein a user of a home network service is connected to the home network to receive a home network service. It is provided with a home gateway 110 connecting the devices and the external network (for example, the Internet).

In order to use the configured home network more efficiently, an application (hereinafter, referred to as a home network service application) for controlling, managing, and using each device connected to the home network is required, which is provided by a home network service provider. .

As a method of installing such a home network service application in a home gateway 110 provided in each home, there is a method of installing all necessary service applications in advance when installing a home gateway in the home, but in developing and modifying a service application. Therefore, when a new service application is installed or an existing service application needs to be upgraded, an enormous maintenance cost is incurred because it needs to be visited in-house.

In addition, in installing a home network service application, the service user may select and install a specific service according to his / her desire, while the service provider may relate to the service user's will for various purposes such as supplementation or upgrade. In some cases, it may be necessary to provide a home network service application.

Therefore, there is a need for a technology that enables both home network service users and providers to provide home network service applications to their home gateways easily, as needed, while reducing maintenance and management costs. In addition, there is a need for a system that can provide openness and scalability for continuous delivery and upgrade of various services.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned conventional needs, and an object thereof is to provide a service life user by providing various life cycle management modes while providing convenience for both home network service users and providers, and reducing maintenance and management costs. It is another object of the present invention to provide a life cycle management method of a home network service application and a service distribution management apparatus using the same, in which a service provider can provide a home network service application appropriately as needed.

As a construction means for achieving the above object, the present invention provides a web-based portal that can request the registration of a home network service application, the setting of a service package, and the download for a user group including a service provider, an administrator, and a service user. A web service unit providing a service; A bundle management module configured to store and manage a home network service application, which is requested to be registered through the web service unit, in a storage unit; A service package management module configured to generate and manage a service package by grouping individual home network service applications into one charging unit or a management unit according to a service package setting request through the web service unit; A life cycle management module for downloading a designated service package to a designated home gateway by a push method or a pull method according to a download request of a system administrator and a service user received through the web service unit; And a storage unit for storing a home network service application and a service package managed by the bundle management module and the service package management module.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for managing a life cycle of a home network service application running at home gateways through a service distribution management device, the method comprising: a) a home network service application for a user group including a service provider, an administrator, and a service user; Providing a web-based portal that can register the registration, the setting of the service package, and request the download; b) when a user accesses the web-based portal service, performing login and user authentication; c) receiving and registering a home network service application through an upload from a service provider and an administrator who have successfully authenticated the user; d) generating and registering a service package by binding individual home network service applications according to a request of a service provider and an administrator who have successfully authenticated the user; And e) transmitting the selected home network service application and service package to a designated home gateway according to a request of an administrator and a service user who have successfully authenticated the user.

Hereinafter, a life cycle management method of a home network service and a service distribution management apparatus using the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a home network service network to which the present invention is applied, and reference numeral 210 denotes a home gateway that manages / controls each device connected to a home network configured in a home and is in charge of connecting to an external network. Internet is an external network connecting the home gateway 210 to another external network, and 230 manages the status of each home gateway 210 provided in the home and requests a home network service application according to a request of a service user or service provider. Service distribution management device provided to each home gateway 210, 240 is a user terminal using the service distribution management device 230, a user including a service user or provider, service distribution management through the user terminal 240 The device 230 accesses the device 230 to register a home network service application or to request a download. The user terminal 240 is implemented as a general PC.

The present invention provides a service distribution management apparatus and a life cycle management method applied to the home gateway 210 for providing a home network service application by a service user or a service provider, respectively, as needed. will be.

3 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the service distribution management apparatus 230 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the service distribution management apparatus 230 according to the present invention includes a web service unit that provides a web-based portal service for a user group to register a home network service application and request a distribution to a home network. 231, a bundle management module 235 for storing and managing a home network service application registered through the web service unit 231 in the storage unit 239, and an individual home network stored in the storage unit 239. A service package management module 236 for generating and managing a service package by binding a service application into one charging unit or a management unit, and inputs a download reservation request for a specific home network service application and a service package through the web service unit 231. A reservation that calls the lifecycle management module 238 to receive, register, and download to the home gateway when the reservation time is reached. A management module 237, a life cycle management module 238 for downloading a designated service package from the reservation management module 237 or the web service unit 231 to a home gateway designated by a call, and the bundle management module 235 And a storage unit 239 storing a home network service application managed by the service package management module 236 and a service package which is a bundle thereof.

In FIG. 3, a user group that is in contact with the service distribution management apparatus 230 through the user terminal 240 includes a service provider 241 that greatly develops and provides a home network service application, and the service distribution management apparatus 230. System administrator 242, which manages registration and distribution of home network service applications, and a service user who configures a home network in the home and receives the home network service application and uses home network services. ). The service provider 241 and the system manager 242 may have a right to register and distribute a home network service application, while the service user 243 has a right to download a home network service application to its home gateway 210. Have only.

Accordingly, the web service unit 231 provides a web page for a service provider for registration and distribution request of a home network service application, and provides the web page for the service provider so as to provide a service environment suitable for each authority for each user. A web page for a service provider for processing a request and a connection through the service provider 232, a web page for an administrator providing a registration and distribution request of a home network service application and a management function of the service distribution management device 23, Web service unit 232 for the administrator to access and process the request through the web page, Web for service providers that can query the home network service applications and service packages, and select and download specific home network service applications and service packages Web service for service users who provide a page and process a request or access through the web page. It consists of a scoop 234.

In addition, the web service unit 232 for the service provider and the web service unit 232 for the administrator may manage the bundle management module 235 and the service package management module 236 to request the upload of the home network service application and the generation of the service package. Are simultaneously connected to, and in addition, the web service unit 232 for the manager may enable the reservation management module 237 and the life cycle management module 238 to enable the download of a home network service application / service package by a push method. ) In addition, the service user web service unit 234 is connected to the life cycle management module 238 to enable the download request of a specific home network service application / service package by a pull method.

In addition, the home gateway 210 of the home which receives the home network service application through the service distribution management device 230 may interwork with the life cycle management module 238 of the service distribution management device 230. The home network service application downloaded by the management agent module 213 is installed by the Open Service Gateway initiative (OSGi) framework 212 of the home gateway 210. And it works. Reference numeral 211, not described above, refers to a home network service application installed and operated on the home gateway 210 as a service bundle.

The service providing procedure by the service distribution management apparatus 230 configured as described above may be classified into registration of a home network service application, generation and registration of a service package in which home network service applications are bundled, and service download.

The registration of the home network service application and the service package generation and registration process are initiated at the request of a service provider 241 or a system administrator 242, whereby the service provider 241 or the system administrator 242 is configured to perform a web service. When contacting the service unit 232,233, requesting registration of the service application, the web service unit 232,233 provides an upload page of the service application, and uploads a home network service application input through the upload page to manage bundles. The bundle management module 235 stores the uploaded home network service application in the storage unit 239.

In addition, the service provider or the system administrator may bundle the registered home network service application into a service package, which is related to the home network service through the service package generation and registration pages of the web service unit 232,233 for the service provider and the administrator. After querying the application, if the applications to be bundled are selected, the service package management module 236 binds the selected application to create and register a service package.

The home network service application and the service package managed as described above are downloaded to the home gateway 210 at the request of an administrator or a service user. At the request of the administrator, it is a one-way push method regardless of the will of the service user.When the service user requests, the home network service application selected as the home gateway of the service user and the pull method of downloading the service package are all used. Is implemented.

More specifically, in the push method, the home network service application / service package is inquired through the administrator web service unit 232 to select a required service application / package and designate a target home gateway 210. The cycle management module 238 transmits the selected service application / package to the management agent module 213 of the designated home gateway 210 and receives the fact that the management agent module 213 receives the application / package from the OSGi frame. The work 212 is notified and installed on the home gateway 210 through the OSGi framework 212.

In addition, the download by the push method may be made by a reservation method, which may include a service package to be downloaded through the administrator web service unit 232, a target home gateway, a job start time, and a job retry time at failure. When the reservation task is input by inputting information, the reservation management module 237 manages the input information to check whether the task start time is reached, and as a result, when the task time arrives, the life cycle management module 238 is entered. Send the relevant information (home network service application and service package to be downloaded, target home gateway) to instruct the start of the operation, and thus the life cycle management module 238 to the management agent module 213 of the designated home gateway 210. Download the selected service package. At this time, the download is performed regardless of the will of the service user.

On the contrary, in the pull method, when a service package is selected through the service user web service unit 234, a desired service package is selected, and a download request is made, the life cycle management module 238 selects the service package corresponding to the service user. Download to your home gateway 210. At this time, the download is made through the interworking with the management agent module 213 as before. In this case, the download is a service application and a package that a service user wants to receive in a home gateway.

4A and 4B are flowcharts illustrating a life cycle management method according to the present invention applied to the service distribution management apparatus 230 described above.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a service provider or a system administrator accesses a portal provided through the web service units 232 and 233 of the service distribution management apparatus 230 and logs in through a user authentication procedure (S410). At this time, if it is determined that the person requesting the access is an authorized service provider or an administrator, the process proceeds to the next page, and otherwise, blocks.

As described above, the service provider or system administrator accessing the service distribution management apparatus 230 registers a predetermined home network service application to be newly serviced through his user terminal 240 to the service distribution management apparatus 230 through upload. Then, the registered individual home network service applications are generated and registered in the form of a service package by binding them to a charging unit or a management purpose (S420). Registration of the home network service application is performed by the bundle management module 235 and stored in the storage unit 239, and service package generation and registration is performed by the service package management module 236 and stored in the storage unit 239. Stored.

In addition, the system administrator may inquire the service package information through the logged in web service units 232 and 233, respectively. More specifically, when the service package information inquiry is selected through the pages provided by the web service unit 232 or 233, the service package management module 236 provides the registered service package information through the web service unit 232 or 233. (S430).

Thereafter, the system administrator may request a push for a predetermined service package. When the push service is requested as described above (S440), the service distribution managing device 230 selects a home network service application and a service package to be distributed and a target home gateway. The system provides an input screen, through which the system administrator selects a desired home network service application and a service package and inputs a target home gateway (S450).

In addition, the system administrator may request a reservation to be downloaded at a desired time. In this case, if the reservation is not selected, the service distribution management apparatus 230 may transfer the service package selected through the life cycle management module 238 to the corresponding home gateway ( 2210) (S490).

On the contrary, when a system administrator selects a scheduled task, the service distribution management apparatus 230 provides a reservation screen, and further information for scheduling from the system administrator (task start time, target home gateway, task retry time upon failure, etc.). ) Is registered and registered in the reservation management module 237 (S470).

When the scheduled task is registered as described above, the reservation management module 237 checks the registered reservation information, and when the scheduled task start time arrives (S480), the corresponding service package through the life cycle management module 238. Download to the designated home gateway 210 (S490).

According to the above-described procedure, life cycle management for a home network service application may be performed in a push mode that the system administrator unilaterally downloads to the home gateway.

In addition, the service distribution management device 230 of the present invention can perform the life cycle management of the home network service application in the pull mode by the service user, the procedure is shown in Figure 4b.

Referring to FIG. 4B, when a service user configuring a home network in the home accesses the web service unit 234 for a service user, a login process and user authentication are performed (S510). As a result of the authentication, if a legitimate user provides a service screen, otherwise, access is blocked.

As a result of the authentication, if the user is a legitimate user, the service distribution management device 230 provides a service package inquiry and download request page to the user through the web service unit 234 for the service user, through which the service user inquires the service package. If is selected, the service package information stored in the storage unit 239 is provided to the service user, and after the service user applies for a specific service package (S530), the life cycle management module of the service distribution management device 230 The terminal 238 transmits the service package applied for to the home gateway 210 of the corresponding service user (S540).

According to the above, the service distribution management apparatus according to the present invention can provide an application required as a home gateway at a remote location in managing a life cycle of a home network service application operated at a home gateway provided in a home. It is easy to manage network service applications and reduces maintenance costs. In addition, flexible management is provided by downloading to a corresponding home gateway in a push method by an administrator's request or providing a selective download according to a service user's request. There is an excellent effect of providing a mechanism, and as a result, it is possible to meet the various needs of service providers, thereby increasing the usability of home network services.

Claims (10)

A web service unit for providing a web-based portal service for requesting registration of a home network service application, setting of a service package, and downloading for a user group including a service provider and an administrator and a service user; A bundle management module configured to store and manage a home network service application, which is requested to be registered through the web service unit, in a storage unit; A service package management module configured to generate and manage a service package by grouping individual home network service applications into one charging unit or a management unit according to a service package setting request through the web service unit; A life cycle management module for downloading a designated service package to a designated home gateway by a push method or a pull method according to a download request of a system administrator and a service user received through the web service unit; And And a storage unit for storing the home network service application and the service package managed by the bundle management module and the service package management module. The method of claim 1, Receiving a reservation of the download from the system administrator via the web service unit, and further includes a reservation management module for registering a reservation task, and instructs the download to be made through the life cycle management module when the start time of the registered reservation task; Service distribution management device for life cycle management of a home network service application, characterized in that. According to claim 1 or 2, wherein the web service unit A service provider that provides a web page for a service provider for registration and distribution request of a home network service application, and delivers a service provider's input through the web page for the service provider to a corresponding module of a bundle management module and a service package management module. Web service unit for; It provides a web page for the administrator that provides the registration and distribution request of the home network service application and the management function of the service distribution management device, and inputs the administrator through the web page to the bundle management module, service package management module, reservation management module. And a web service unit for the administrator to deliver to the corresponding module of the life cycle management module. And Providing a web page for a service provider that can query home network service applications and service packages and select and request a specific home network service application and service package, and send a request of a service user through the web page to the life cycle management module. Service distribution management device for the life cycle management of the home network service application, characterized in that it comprises a Web service unit for the service user to deliver. The method of claim 2, wherein the reservation management module And registering a target home network service application or service package, a target home gateway, a task start time, and a task retry time information upon failure when registering a scheduled task. In the life cycle management method of the home network service application running in the home gateways through the service distribution management device, a) providing a web-based portal for requesting registration of home network service applications, setting up service packages, and downloading for user groups including service providers and administrators and service users; b) when a user accesses the web-based portal service, performing login and user authentication; c) receiving and registering a home network service application through an upload from a service provider and an administrator who have successfully authenticated the user; d) generating and registering a service package by binding individual home network service applications according to a request of a service provider and an administrator who have successfully authenticated the user; And e) transmitting a selected home network service application and a service package to a designated home gateway according to a request of an administrator and a service user who have successfully authenticated the user. The method of claim 5, Step a) includes a portal for a service provider for registration and distribution request of a home network service application, an administrator portal for providing a registration and distribution request for a home network service application and a management function of a service distribution management device, and a home network. A method of managing a life cycle of a home network service application, comprising: providing a portal for a service provider that can query a service application and a service package and select and download a specific home network service application and a service package. The method of claim 5, In step e), a target home network service application, a service package, and target home gateways are designated by an administrator, and the selected home network service application and a service package are transmitted to the designated target home gateway. Life cycle management method. The method of claim 5, In step e), a target home network service application and a service package are designated by a service user, and the specified home network service application and service package are transmitted to a home gateway of a service user. How to manage. The method of claim 5, f) providing a download reservation page to the user authenticated administrator, registering a reservation job according to the reservation information input through the page, and transmitting the reservation job to a designated home gateway when the reservation time arrives. Life cycle management method of home network service application. The method of claim 9, The reservation information includes a target home network service application or service package, a target home gateway, a task start time, and a task retry time information on failure.

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