KR100675402B1 - Switch hub for home network and home network system using thereof and method for transmitting data using thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a switch hub for a home network used in a home network system including a home gateway and wired / wireless information appliances, a system interface unit for performing a data transmission interface for interworking with the home gateway, and the wired / wireless network in a home network. The wired / wireless extension interface unit which performs a data transmission interface with information appliances, and the wired / wireless extension interface unit connected to the wired / wireless extension interface unit and the system interface unit and including a control function for a switch port and a switch port therein. And a switch port and a control unit for mediating data transmission between the system interface unit and a switch hub for a home network.

According to the present invention, in order to implement a basic home network service, an IP-based home gateway can be distributed to each home to promote the dissemination of home network services, and further with the improvement of service requirements and the development of ubiquitous-oriented network technologies. In order to accommodate home network services, a switch hub based on additional network protocols can be used in conjunction with a home gateway to provide next-generation home network services linked to wired / wireless information appliances based on various protocols.

Home Network, Home Gateway, Switch Hub, Information Appliance, Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, IEEE 1394, Lontalk, UWB, Sensor Network, Home PNA

Description

Switch hub for home network, home network system using same, and data transmission method using same {SWITCH HUB FOR HOME NETWORK AND HOME NETWORK SYSTEM USING THEREOF AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING DATA USING THEREOF}

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

2 is a block diagram of a home gateway according to the prior art;

3 is a block diagram of a home network system using a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention;

4 is a block diagram of a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention;

5 is a flowchart of a data transmission method using a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention;

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: Internet 110: ISP

120: home gateway 122: external network interface

124: home network interface 125: IP address translation unit

126: public IP layer 128: private IP layer

130: home network 140, 150: information appliances

220: home service station 230: home gateway / home server

240: switch hub 250: wireless information appliance

260: wired information appliance 270: sensor network

310: system interface unit 320: switch port and control unit

330: wired and wireless expansion interface unit

The present invention relates to a switch hub for a home network, a home network system using the same, and a data transmission method using the same. More specifically, to implement a basic home network service, an IP-based home gateway is distributed to each home to provide a home network service. In order to facilitate the dissemination of network services, and to accommodate additional home network services in accordance with the improvement of service demands and the development of ubiquitous-oriented network technologies, switch hubs based on additional network protocols can be used in conjunction with home gateways. The present invention relates to a switch hub for a home network, a home network system using the same, and a data transmission method using the same.

Recently, as the necessity of the use of the Internet has emerged, the use population is rapidly increasing, and high-speed communication networks are rapidly spreading in each home. In line with this trend, companies are launching a variety of digital information appliances that add network communication functions to access the Internet through home appliances.

As home appliances used in a home are provided with communication functions and terminalized as information terminals, a network configured to enable communication between home appliances and between home appliances and information terminals in a home may be defined as a home network. Another name may be referred to as a home area network.

In other words, the home network refers to the central control by interconnecting all the electrical and electronic devices in the home. Such electronic and electronic devices include both televisions and CD players or various entertainment devices, as well as communication equipment such as modems and computer peripherals such as telephones, fax machines, PCs or printers. It may also include various home appliances. Hereinafter, these electrical and electronic devices are referred to as information appliances, and in particular, the wired information appliance refers to an information appliance connected to a home network through a wire, and the information appliance connected to a home network using wireless communication. Means home appliance.

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

Referring to FIG. 1, the wired information appliances 140 and 150 connected to the home network 130 are connected to the Internet 100 through the home gateway 120. The home gateway 120 has a limited public IP address and mediates the wired information appliances 140 and 150 with private IP addresses to access sites connected to the Internet 100. At this time, the home gateway 120 is assigned only one public IP address, and the wired information appliances (140, 150) connected to the home network 130 are assigned a private IP that is not recognized externally. Accordingly, when the wired information appliances (140, 150) connected to the home network (130) want to receive information from the outside, the home gateway (120) is wired information appliances (140, 150) by NAT (Network Address Translation). ) 'S private IP address to its own public IP address. ISP 110 provides an Internet access service to home gateway 120.

2 is a block diagram of a home gateway according to the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 2, the home gateway 120 may include an external network interface 122 for forming a communication channel for connecting to the external Internet, and a home network interface for forming a communication channel for connecting with the home network 130 ( 124 and a public IP layer 126 and a private IP layer 128 corresponding to the external network interface 122 and the home network interface 124. Dual public IP layer 126 uses a dynamic public IP address, and private IP layer 128 uses a private IP address. The IP address translator 125 converts the public and private IP addresses inputted from the public IP layer 126 and the private IP layer 128 to relay packets.

These home network technologies are currently configured using their own unique models and protocols due to the lack of formal standardization, and thus, the compatibility between products is emerging as a problem.

For example, information appliances used in a home network may be connected to a home gateway using various communication standards. Basically, information appliances using the IP protocol can be connected to the home network, but due to the development of technology and consumer demand for various functions, Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, IEEE 1394, LonTalk Information appliances supporting various network technologies, such as ultra wideband (UWB), sensor networks, and home phoneline networking alliance (PNA), can be connected to a home network system.

The control and communication of the home network requires high-speed data exchange between various network technologies such as IP, Bluetooth, WLAN, IEEE 1394, LonTalk, UWB, sensor network, Home PNA, and devices using the technology.

However, most home gateways do not support all of the various network technologies. Instead, most home gateways are used frequently by users, and only stable network technologies are installed in the gateways. Only home gateways can control and communicate with information appliances using the network. There is no scalability for unimplemented networks. As a result, home gateways are mainly focused on connecting via IP, and are being installed and tested mainly in cyber apartments as pilot projects rather than commercial products.

In addition, data exchange between heterogeneous networks is currently handled in software using proxy technology, and data exchange between heterogeneous networks is not a practical stage but a research stage. In addition, when high-speed, high-capacity multimedia data exchange between heterogeneous networks is required, there are many problems in multimedia data transmission.

In other words, in order to mount various home network technologies in the home gateway, the price of the home gateway becomes expensive and there is a problem in promoting the dissemination of the home gateway because of limitation in network scalability according to the implementation.

Therefore, by separating the home gateway and the network interface part, and equipped with only basic IP module to promote the low-cost entry-level home gateway to promote the home network, if necessary, by attaching a switch-based home gateway network subsystem There is a need for a system configuration method that can add a large amount of data and add various network modules. In addition, there is a demand for a network interface method capable of easily and conveniently replacing the home network technology required by the user.

An object of the present invention can promote the dissemination of home network services by distributing an IP-based home gateway in each home for the implementation of basic home network services, and further increases with the improvement of service requirements and the development of ubiquitous-oriented network technologies. Switch hub for home network, which can provide next-generation home network service linked with wired / wireless information appliances based on various protocols by using switch hub based on additional network protocol to accommodate home network service. It is to provide a home network system and a data transmission method using the same.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention is a switch hub for a home network used in a home network system composed of a home gateway and wired and wireless information appliances, a system for performing a data transmission interface for interworking with the home gateway An interface unit, a wired / wireless extension interface unit that performs a data transmission interface with the wired / wireless information appliances in a home network, and connected to the wired / wireless extension interface unit and the system interface unit, and controls a switch port and a switch port therein. It provides a switch hub for a home network including a function and a switch port for relaying data transmission between the wired / wireless extension interface unit and the system interface unit including a function.

In the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the system interface unit is preferably connected to the home gateway through a docking interface.

In addition, in the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the wired / wireless extension interface unit may include Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, IEEE 1394, LonTalk, UWB (ultra wideband), sensor network, and home. It is preferable to perform a data transmission interface with the wired / wireless information appliances by supporting one or more standards selected from a group including a home phoneline networking alliance (PNA).

In the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the wired / wireless extension interface unit may perform tunneling-like connection between the wired / wireless information appliances using a common signaling protocol. It is preferable.

In the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the wired / wireless extension interface unit may be connected to an application interface unit that performs an interface for data transmission with the wired / wireless information appliances and the application interface unit. It is preferable to include a switch interface for performing communication and control between wired and wireless information appliances and the switch port and the control unit.

In addition, in the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the switch port and the control unit, it is preferable to mediate data transmission between the wired and wireless extension interface unit and the system interface unit using an Advanced High-performance Switch (AHS). Do.

In addition, in the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, it is preferable that the switch port and the control unit poll each switch port in order to confirm whether data is transmitted through the wired / wireless extension interface unit.

In addition, in the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the switch port and the control unit transmits to another port in the switch hub for the home network when the data transmission is confirmed through the polling or in the switch hub for the home network. Check whether the transmission is to an address other than a port, and if the transmission is to another port in the switch hub for the home network, the data is transmitted to the corresponding port, and if the transmission is to an address other than a port in the switch hub for the home network, the system is It is preferable to transmit the data to the interface unit.

In the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, it is preferable that the system interface unit transmits the data to the home gateway to transmit the data from the home gateway.

In addition, in the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, it is preferable that the switch port and the controller switch the data transmitted through the port at high speed by using port matching and scheduling scheme.

In addition, the present invention is a home network system, wired and wireless information appliances connected to the home network system using a wired or wireless network protocol, the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the Internet service provider (ISP) connection The present invention provides a home network system including a home gateway performing data transmission with the wired / wireless information appliances using the switch hub for the home network.

The present invention also provides wired and wireless information appliances connected to a home network system using a wired or wireless network protocol, a switch hub for a home network, and an ISP. A data transmission method using a switch hub for a home network in a home network system including a home gateway for performing data transmission with home appliances, the method comprising: performing a network connection with a wired / wireless information appliance in the home network; Receiving data from the wired / wireless information appliance and transmitting the data to a switch port in the switch hub, checking a destination address of the transmitted data, and checking an address table in the switch hub to determine whether it is another port in the switch hub. Steps, And transmitting the data to a corresponding port when the verified address is transmitting to another port in the switch hub, and when the confirmed address is not transmitting to another port in the switch hub: Transmitting the data to a home gateway, identifying an address table in the home gateway to identify a device to which the data is to be transmitted, and transmitting the data to the device using a switch hub for a home network. Provide a data transmission method.

In the data transmission method using a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the network connection with the wired / wireless information appliances in the home network may include Bluetooth, WLAN, IEEE 1394, Rontalk, UWB, and sensor network. The method may include at least one standard selected from a group including a home PNA to perform a network connection with the wired / wireless information appliance.

In the data transmission method using a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the step of receiving data from the wired / wireless information appliance and transmitting the data to the switch port in the switch hub comprises using a common signaling protocol. Preferably, the method comprises performing a tunneling-like connection between the devices.

The present invention also provides wired and wireless information appliances connected to a home network system using a wired or wireless network protocol, a switch hub for a home network, and an ISP, and the wired and wireless information using the switch hub for the home network. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing a function of mediating data transmission in a home network system including a home gateway that performs data transmission with home appliances, the wired / wireless information appliance in the home network; A function of performing a network connection, a function of receiving data from the wired / wireless information appliance, transmitting the data to a switch port in the switch hub, confirming a destination address of the transmitted data, and confirming an address table in the switch hub The switch huh A function of checking whether another port is in a port, transmitting the data to a corresponding port when the identified address is transmitted to another port in the switch hub, and transmitting the checked address to another port in the switch hub. If not, a program for realizing the function of transmitting the data to the home gateway, the address table in the home gateway to identify the device to transmit the data, and the function of transmitting the data to the device are recorded. Provide a computer readable recording medium.

Hereinafter, a switch hub for a home network, a home network system using the same, and a data transmission method using the same will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram of a home network system using a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention.

The ISP 110 transmits various multimedia data such as MPEG, DVD, VOD, etc. to the home network system through Ethernet, xDSL, cable network, optical communication network, and the like.

The home service station 220 is responsible for the communication and control of the data supplied through the ISP 110 with wired and wireless information appliances devices 250, 260, and 270 connected to various networks in the home.

The home service station 220 includes a home gateway / home server 230 equipped with a basic home network, and a switch hub 240 used for processing data requiring high performance.

The home gateway 230 supports the IP standard and is made of a low-end type to configure a basic home network environment in each home.

The switch hub 240 supports the processing of data requiring high performance or the increase of home network technology requirements according to the needs of more various kinds of information appliances.

The wired / wireless information appliances 250, 260, and 270 may include, for example, wireless information appliances 250 such as PDAs and mobile phones, and wired information appliances 260 such as computers, digital TVs, washing machines, and refrigerators. And a sensor network 270 that includes various sensing devices.

4 is a block diagram of a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention.

As shown, the switch hub 240 for a home network according to the present invention includes a system interface unit 310, a switch port and a controller 320, and a wired / wireless extension interface unit 330.

The system interface unit 210 performs a data transmission interface for interworking with the home gateway / home server 230. In addition, the switch hub 240 for the home network may be connected to the home gateway / home server 230 through the docking interface through the system interface 210 for convenience of use.

The switch port and the control unit 320 are connected to the wired / wireless extension interface unit 330, and switch to 6 ports, 8 ports, 24 ports, and the like so that various configurations are possible according to the type of home network used in the home. Port matching and scheduling techniques can also be used to quickly switch the data transmitted through the switch port.

In addition, the switch port and the control unit 320 performs functions such as bandwidth management, switch port control, and protocol control.

The switch port and the controller 320 poll each switch port to check whether data is transmitted through the wired / wireless expansion interface unit 330, and when checking the data transmission through polling, the switch hub for the home network ( Check whether the transmission is to another port in the 240 or to a different address than the port in the switch hub 240 for the home network, and the data is transmitted to the other port in the switch hub 240 for the home network. If it is to transmit and to the address other than the port in the switch hub 240 for the home network transmits the corresponding data to the system interface unit (310). In this case, the system interface 310 transmits the received data to the home gateway 230 to transmit the data from the home gateway 230.

The switch port and the controller 320 mediate data transmission between the wired / wireless extension interface unit 330 and the system interface unit 310 using, for example, an advanced high-performance switch (AHS).

The wired / wireless extension interface unit 330 supports data communication using various types of next generation home network standards such as IEEE 1394, UWB, WLAN, sensor network, Bluetooth, RonTalk, home PNA, and the like. These various next generation home network standards can be inserted and supported in a card module form, for example.

The wired / wireless expansion interface unit 330 includes an application interface unit (not shown) for connecting to home appliances existing in the home, and a switch interface unit (not shown) connected to the switch port and the control unit 320. do.

The application interface unit is connected to various information appliances in the home network. That is, the application interface unit performs tunneling-like connection between information appliances connected to heterogeneous home networks using a common signaling protocol.

The switch interface unit is responsible for communication and control between various information appliances using a heterogeneous home network connected through an application interface unit, the switch port, and the controller 320.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a data transmission method using a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention.

First, network connection with information appliances in various home network systems is performed (S110). The connection with the information appliances is performed, for example, in the wired / wireless extension interface unit 330. That is, the connection with the information appliance is performed by the wired / wireless extension interface unit 330 using various standards such as IEEE 1394, UWB, WLAN, sensor, and Zigbee.

Thereafter, the wired / wireless expansion interface unit 330 receives data from the connected information appliances and transmits the data to the switch port and the switch port in the control unit 320 (S120). In such data transmission, a common signaling protocol may be used.

The switch port and the control unit 320 polls each port to check whether data is transmitted, and checks the destination address of the data when the data is transmitted to each port through the wired / wireless expansion interface unit 330. In step 320, the address table stored in operation S130 is checked.

If the identified address is an address to be transmitted to another port in the switch hub for the home network according to the present invention, a channel is transmitted to the corresponding port to transmit data (S140). If it is not the address to be transmitted, the data is transmitted to the home gateway 230 through the system interface 210 (S150).

The data transmitted to the system interface 210 is considered to be transmitted through the network interface of the home gateway 230.

The home gateway 230 identifies a device to transmit data through its own address table (S160), and transmits data to the corresponding device (S170).

In the case of using the switch hub for the home network according to the present invention, especially when a device using a network protocol such as UWB, Zigbee, or sensor network is connected to the home network, it is useful.

That is, the conventional home network system does not support protocols such as UWB, ZigBee, sensor network, and so on. For example, data collected from sensor nodes in the home network may not be used in digital home appliances such as digital TVs or computers. In addition, in order to use, there is a disadvantage in that the cost of the home network configuration is increased by implementing a protocol to support a protocol such as UWB, Zigbee, or sensor network in a conventional home gateway or home server.

However, when using a switch hub for a home network according to the present invention, the switch hub supports protocols such as UWB, Zigbee, and sensor networks, and separates the home gateway and the switch hub, and the home gateway is responsible for basic IP connection. It is implemented to provide additional services on the home network by in charge of interfacing with the information gateway and the home gateway using protocols such as UWB, Zigbee, and sensor network.

Therefore, it is possible to promote the distribution of home network services by inexpensive home gateway for basic services, and to implement additional services, the switch hub according to the present invention is connected to the home gateway, and the UWB, Zigbee, and sensor networks in the switch hub are provided. It is configured to interface with a wireless application, a wired application, a sensor node device, and the like using a protocol such as.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, this is for illustrative purposes only, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the protection scope of the present invention is defined through the description of the claims. For example, in the present specification, a switch hub for a home network is basically designed to connect with a home gateway / home server, but may also be connected to a home network system such as a digital TV or a set-top box having a system interface that can be connected to the switch hub. For example, when connected to a digital TV, the digital TV and the switch hub for a home network according to the present invention can support communication and control with all the information appliances in the home in a graphic interface environment provided by the digital TV.

As described above, according to the present invention, in order to implement a basic home network service, an IP-based home gateway can be distributed to each home to promote the dissemination of home network services, improving service demands, and providing ubiquitous-oriented network technologies. In order to accommodate the additional home network service according to the development, the switch hub based on the additional network protocol is used in connection with the home gateway to provide the next generation home network service linked to the wired / wireless information appliances based on various protocols.

Claims (15)

A switch hub for a home network used in a home network system consisting of a home gateway and wired or wireless information appliances. A system interface unit performing a data transmission interface for interworking with the home gateway; A wired / wireless extension interface unit for performing a data transmission interface with the wired / wireless information appliances in a home network; A switch port and a control unit connected to the wired / wireless extension interface unit and the system interface unit to intervene data transmission between the wired / wireless extension interface unit and the system interface unit including a control function for a switch port and a switch port therein. Including, The wired / wireless extension interface unit is a switch hub for a home network to perform a tunneling-like connection between the wired and wireless information appliances using a common signaling protocol. The method of claim 1, wherein the system interface unit, And a home hub connected to the home gateway through a docking interface. The wired / wireless expansion interface unit according to claim 1, Supports one or more specifications selected from the group including Bluetooth, Wireless LAN, IEEE 1394, LonTalk, Ultra Wideband (UWB), Sensor Network, and Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (PNA) Switch hub for a home network to perform a data transmission interface with the wired and wireless information appliances. delete The wired / wireless expansion interface unit according to claim 1, An application interface unit performing an interface for data transmission with the wired / wireless information appliances; A switch interface unit for performing communication and control between the wired / wireless information appliances connected to the application interface unit and the switch port and the control unit. Switch hub for home network comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch port and the control unit, A switch hub for a home network, which uses an AHS (Advanced High-performance Switch) to mediate data transmission between the wired / wireless expansion interface unit and the system interface unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch port and the control unit, And polling each switch port to confirm whether data is transmitted through the wired / wireless extension interface unit. The method of claim 7, wherein the switch port and the control unit, When the data transmission is confirmed through the polling, it is determined whether to transmit to another port in the switch hub for the home network or to an address other than a port in the switch hub for the home network. And transmitting the data to the corresponding port if the transmission is to a port, and transmitting the data to the system interface unit if the transmission is to an address other than a port in the switch hub for the home network. The method of claim 8, wherein the system interface unit, And transmit the data to the home gateway so that the data is transmitted from the home gateway. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch port and the control unit, Switch hub for a home network, which uses port matching and scheduling techniques to rapidly switch data transmitted over a port. As a home network system, Wired and wireless information appliances connected to the home network system using a wired or wireless network protocol, The switch hub for home networks in any one of Claims 1-10, A home network system including a home gateway that connects to an Internet service provider (ISP) and performs data transmission with the wired and wireless information appliances using the switch hub for the home network. Wired and wireless information appliances connected to a home network system using a wired or wireless network protocol, a switch hub for a home network, and an ISP, and connected to the wired and wireless information appliances using the switch hub for a home network. A data transmission method using the switch hub for a home network in a home network system including a home gateway for performing data transmission, Performing a network connection with the wired / wireless information appliance in the home network; Receiving data from the wired / wireless information appliance and transmitting the data to a switch port in the switch hub; Checking a destination address of the transmitted data and checking an address table in the switch hub to determine whether the port is another port in the switch hub; Transmitting the data to a corresponding port when the identified address is transmitting to another port in the switch hub, If the verified address is not transmitting to another port in the switch hub: transmitting the data to the home gateway; Checking an address table in the home gateway to identify a device to which the data is to be transmitted; Sending the data to the device Data transmission method using a switch hub for a home network comprising a. The method of claim 12, The network connection with the wired / wireless information appliance in the home network may include at least one standard selected from a group including Bluetooth, WLAN, IEEE 1394, RonTalk, UWB, sensor network, and home PNA. A data transmission method using a switch hub for a home network comprising the step of performing a network connection with a wired or wireless information appliance. The method of claim 12, Receiving data from the wired / wireless information appliance and transmitting the data to the switch port in the switch hub, Tunneling-like between the wired / wireless information appliances using a common signaling protocol, comprising performing a tunneling-like connection between the wired / wireless information appliances using a common signaling protocol. and performing a tunneling-like connection. Wired and wireless information appliances connected to a home network system using a wired or wireless network protocol, a switch hub for a home network, and an ISP, and connected to the wired and wireless information appliances using the switch hub for a home network. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing a function of mediating data transmission in a home network system including a home gateway for performing data transmission of A function of performing a network connection with the wired / wireless information appliance in the home network; Receiving data from the wired / wireless information appliance and transmitting the data to a switch port in the switch hub; Confirming a destination address of the transmitted data and checking an address table in the switch hub to determine whether another port is in the switch hub; Transmitting the data to a corresponding port when the identified address is transmitted to another port in the switch hub; A function of transmitting the data to the home gateway, a function of confirming an address table in the home gateway when the determined address is not transmitted to another port in the switch hub, and a function of confirming a device to which the data is transmitted. The function of transmitting the data A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for realizing this.

Images