KR100783222B1 - Variable setting method for network device - Google Patents

Abstract

A variable setting method of a network device is provided to enable a user to conduct efficient controlling and monitoring functions by using minimum resources even when different variables exist by product and model, while the user can conduct control of each product even though the user does not practice a variable setting method. A network device receives a request message including setup variables from another network device through a network(S51-S53). The network device confirms whether the setup variables are settable variables(S54,S56). If so, the network device performs setup in accordance with the setup variables, and if the setup variables are not the settable variables, the network device performs setup in accordance with settable variables approximate to the setup variables(S57,S58).

Description

How to set variable of network device {VARIABLE SETTING METHOD FOR NETWORK DEVICE}

1 is a conceptual diagram of a general network system.

2 is a configuration diagram of a network system according to the present invention.

3 is a first embodiment of a variable setting method of a network device according to the present invention.

4 is a second embodiment of a variable setting method of a network device according to the present invention.

5 is a flow chart of another embodiment of step S58 of FIG.

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

10: network server 20: network device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to network devices, and more particularly, to a variable setting method of a network device that enables a user to easily set a variable that is differently set according to a manufacturer and a model.

With the spread of the Internet, technology development, and home appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, computers, PDAs, mobile phones, etc., all home appliances have been communicated with each other, and the world of wireless home networking has opened. In particular, the wireless home network refers to a personalized network for smooth communication between peripheral devices along with home and short-range data transmission ranging from tens of centimeters to tens of meters, and aims to make daily life more productive and efficient. .

1 is a conceptual diagram of a general network system. As shown in FIG. 1, the network system includes a master device (MD) 1 that controls and monitors an entire network system, and a slave device SD controlled by the master device (MD) 1 and performing individual functions. ) 2a, 2b.

The master device (MD) 1 grasps the product characteristics of the slave devices (SD) 2a and 2b and performs the control accordingly to control and monitor the slave devices (SD) 2a and 2b. Should be done. That is, the master device (MD) 1 executes a control command (this command that the slave device (SD) 2a, 2b can perform for control and monitoring of the slave device (SD) 2a, 2b. To control, including controllable variables) must be created and transmitted.

For example, when the slave device (SD) 2a is a boiler, it has a temperature range that can be set according to the product and a temperature setting step. This example is disclosed in Table 1 below.

Temperature settable range Setup step A company 4 ~ 30 ℃ continuity B company 5 ~ 35 ℃ continuity C company 5 ~ 20 ℃ Discontinuous (5 ℃, 10 ℃, 11 ℃, 12 ℃, 13 ℃, 17 ℃, 20 ℃)

As shown in Table 1, boilers also have these characteristics.

For these products, the master device (MD) 1 performs the control and monitoring of the slave devices (SD) 2a, 2b (e.g., variables of the slave devices SD 2a, 2b, for example). , How to obtain a settable range for the reservation time, laundry dehydration rate, air conditioning set temperature, boiler heating set temperature, hot water set temperature, etc., or for all slave devices (SD) 2a, 2b. There is a problem with having the technology to update and store the information. That is, in order for the master device (MD) 1 to control and monitor each product by manufacturer and model, there is a difficulty related to product development and maintenance, in which information on a plurality of products must be added at all times.

In order to solve this problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for setting a variable of a network device that can perform efficient control and monitoring using a minimum of resources even if there are different variables according to products and models. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a variable setting method of a network device that enables each product to perform control according to a product even if a user does not learn a method of setting a variable according to a product and a model.

The method of setting a variable of a network device according to the present invention comprises the steps of receiving a request message including a setting variable from another network device, checking whether the setting variable is a configurable variable, and according to the checking result, A first performing step of performing the setting, or a second performing step of performing the setting according to the settable variable close to the setting variable.

In this case, the performing of the second step may include comparing the setting variable with the current setting variable, and when the setting variable is large according to the comparison, selecting a settable variable that is larger than the current setting variable, and wherein the setting variable is small. In this case, the method may further include selecting a settable variable smaller than the current set variable.

The variable setting method may further include transmitting a NAK response message to the other network device when there is no selectable variable in the selecting step.

The variable setting method may further include transmitting a response message including the current setting variable set according to the first performing step or the second performing step to the other network device.

In addition, preferably, the variable setting method further includes transmitting a configurable variable range or a current setting variable to the other network device before the receiving step.

In addition, the present invention provides a method for managing a variable of a network device, the method comprising: receiving a current setting variable from another network device, receiving a setting variable increased or decreased from the current setting variable by a user, and requesting a variable setting including the setting variable Transmitting a message to the other network device, and receiving a variable setting response message including a current setting variable set by the other network device, and confirming a configurable variable of the other network device.

In the following, the invention has been described in detail based on the embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

2 is a configuration diagram of a network system according to the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram of a network system to which a network device according to the present invention is applied. The network system includes a network server 10 that controls and monitors devices in a predetermined area, and a network device 20 that communicates with the network server 10 by a non-independent transmission medium. Of course, the network system can also communicate by a standalone transmission medium (for example, LAN).

The network server 10 includes an input means 11 for obtaining input from a user, and a network adapter 12 for communicating according to a protocol (eg, PLC, ZigBee, RF, etc.) according to a non-independent transmission medium. If the network server 10 is a refrigerator or a DTV, the driver 13 performs an independent function other than networking, the display means 14 for displaying at least a network state to the user, and the network adapter according to the user's input. It consists of the microcomputer 15 which controls (12), comprises a predetermined network, and performs control and monitoring with respect to a network device.

In addition, the input means 21, the network adapter 22, the driver 23, the display means 24, and the microcomputer 25 which are respective components of the network device 20 are inputted by the network server 10. It performs the basic functions corresponding to the means 11, the network adapter 12, the driver 13, the display means 14 and the microcomputer 15. In particular, the network device 20 receives and executes a control command from the network server 10. The control command may be controlled in a different degree, start time, and the like according to a configuration variable included therein. The network device 20 disclosed herein is a product of Company C of Table 1 described above, and the variable range is 5 to 20 ° C., and the setting step is discontinuous (5 ° C., 10 ° C., 11 ° C., 12 ° C., 13 ° C.). , 17 ° C., 20 ° C.). Since the setting step is a settable variable, and the variable settable range is determined by the settable variable, the setting step, the settable variable range and the settable variable are used in a related concept. In the present embodiment, the settable variable is discontinuous, but can be applied in the same concept even in a continuous case (a range of integers or a range of decimals).

3 is a first embodiment of a variable setting method of a network device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of a variable setting method of a network device according to the present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 3 is a process performed in the network server 10, and the embodiment of FIG. 4 is a process performed in the network device 20.

In detail, in step S31 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 15 of the network server 10 checks the current state of the network device 20 according to a user input from the input means 11 or in accordance with an automatic setting. In order to generate a status check command for transmission through the network adapter 12.

In step S51 of FIG. 4, the microcomputer 25 of the network device 20 receives a status check command from the network server 10 via the network adapter 22.

In step S52, the microcomputer 25 generates a status confirmation response including 13 ° C as a value of the current setting variable in response to the status confirmation command and transmits it through the network adapter 22. In addition, the microcomputer 25 includes not only the current setting variable but also a settable variable range (5 to 20 ° C in this embodiment) in the status confirmation response, so that the minimum value is 5 ° C, the maximum value is 20 ° C, and the present value. The setting variable may be transmitted to the network server 10.

In step S32 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 15 receives the status check response through the network adapter 12 and stores only the current setting variable, or stores the current setting variable and the settable variable range together.

In step S33 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 15 waits through the input means 11 until receiving an input for a setting variable in which a current setting variable of the network device 20 is increased or decreased. If input to the setting variable is made, the process proceeds to step S34.

In step S34 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 15 determines whether the inputted setting variable is within the range of the settable variable of the network device 20. This step S34 is performed when the microcomputer 15 has previously received and stored the settable variable range of the network device 20, but if there is no stored settable variable range, the process proceeds to step S36. If the inputted setting variable is within the range of the stored settable variable, the process proceeds to step S34, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 15 includes text indicating that the setting variable input to the display means 14 does not belong to the settable variable range of the network device 20, and thus needs to be input again. Display an error message.

In step S36 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 15 transmits a variable setting request message including the input setting variable to the network device 20 through the network adapter 12.

In step S53 of FIG. 4, the microcomputer 25 of the network device 20 waits until the variable setting request message is received from the network server 10. If the variable setting request message is received from the network server 10, the flow proceeds to step S54.

In step S53 of FIG. 4, the microcomputer 25 determines whether the setting variable included in the variable setting request message is within a settable variable range. If it is within the settable variable range, setting and control are possible accordingly, and the flow proceeds to step S56. If it is not within the settable variable range, the flow advances to step S55. Proceeding to step S55 may occur when the network server 10 fails to store the settable variable range of the network device 20.

In step S55, the microcomputer 25 generates a variable setting response message, which is NAK, to the network server 10 in response to the received variable setting request message. At this time, the microcomputer 25 may additionally transmit a settable variable range.

In step S56, the microcomputer 25 determines whether the received setting variable is a settable variable. In detail, if the setting step of the network device 20 is continuous, step S56 is not required, but if the setting step of the network device 20 is discontinuous as in this embodiment, it is required. Check if it corresponds to a discontinuous setup step. For example, when the setting variable is 17 ° C, it is a settable variable, and when the setting variable is 14 ° C, it is not a settable variable. If the setting variable is a settable variable, the flow proceeds to step S57, otherwise, the flow goes to step S58.

In step S57, the microcomputer 25 sets the configurable variable corresponding to the received setting variable as the current setting variable, and controls the driving unit 23 to perform the control accordingly.

In step S58, the microcomputer 25 selects the configurable variable closest to the received setting variable, sets the selected configurable variable as the current setting variable, and controls the driving unit 23 to perform the control accordingly. do. For example, when the setting variable is 14 ° C, the closest 13 ° C of the settable variables may be used as the current setting variable.

In step S59, since the current setting variable is set according to the received variable setting request message, the microcomputer 25 generates and transmits a variable setting response message corresponding to the ACK. At this time, when the process proceeds from step S58, the microcomputer 25 is different from the received setting variable and the set current setting variable, so that the variable setting response message includes the set current setting variable.

In step S37 of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 15 receives the variable setting response message through the network adapter 12.

In step S38, the microcomputer 15 checks whether the received variable setting response message is an ACK message. If an ACK message, go to step S39, otherwise, go to step S40.

In step S39, the microcomputer 15 displays and stores the current setting variable included in the variable setting response message through the display means 14. This current setting variable may or may not be the same as the previously sent setting variable. If the current setting variable and the setting variable are not the same, the microcomputer 15 determines that the current setting variable is a setting variable of the network device 20 and stores it. Through this confirmation, the microcomputer 15 may sequentially check the configurable variables of the network device 20.

In step S40, the microcomputer 15 indicates that the setting according to the setting variable input by the user has failed. This setting failure means that the setting variable input by the user is outside the range of the settable variable of the network device 20.

In step S41, the microcomputer 15 confirms that the setting variable input by the user is out of the settable variable range of the network device 20, and sets the range of the settable variable of the network device 20 confirmed by this failure. Save it. For example, when the setting variable is 21 ° C., in step S41, the microcomputer 15 may store the highest value of the settable variable range of the network device 920 to be less than 21 ° C.

Step S41 of FIG. 3 is selectively performed according to the performance of the microcomputer 15.

5 is a flow chart of another embodiment of step S58 of FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a process of selecting a configurable variable from the setting step when the received setting variable is not a configurable variable in step S58 of FIG. 4.

In step S61, the microcomputer 25 compares the received setting variable with the current setting variable. If the current setting variable is larger than the setting variable, the process proceeds to step S62. If the current setting variable is smaller than the setting variable, the process proceeds to step S63.

In step S62, the microcomputer 25 sets the current setting variable to a settable variable that is smaller than the current setting variable and is close to the setting variable. For example, if the current setting variable is 17 ° C. and the setting variable is 15 ° C., the microcomputer 25 has a setting variable among 5 ° C., 10 ° C., 11 ° C., 12 ° C., and 13 ° C. Set the closest 13 ° C to the current setting variable. This determines that the microcomputer 25 wants to be controlled to be lower than the current setting variable that the user can perceive, and selects a small settable variable.

In step S63, the microcomputer 25 sets the current setting variable as a settable variable that is larger than the current setting variable and is close to the setting variable. For example, if the current setting variable is 13 ° C. and the setting variable is 15 ° C., the microcomputer 25 sets 17 ° C., which is the closest setting variable among the settable variables larger than 13 ° C., to 17 ° C. as the current setting variable. Set it. This determines that the microcomputer 25 wants to be controlled to be higher than the current settable variable that the user can recognize, and selects a small settable variable.

The present invention having such a configuration has an effect that efficient control and monitoring can be performed using minimum resources even when having different variables according to products and models.

In addition, the present invention has the effect that each product can perform the control, even if the user does not learn how to set the parameters according to the product and model.

In addition, the present invention has an effect of optimizing and processing according to the performance of the network device when receiving and processing the setting variable.

Claims (9)

Receiving, by the network device, a request message including a configuration variable from another network device through the network; The network device checking whether the configuration variable is a configurable variable; In the confirming step, if the setting variable is a settable variable, the network device includes a first performing step of performing a setting according to the setting variable, and if the setting variable is not a settable variable, the network device And performing a setting according to a configurable variable close to the setting variable. The method of claim 1, In the second performing step, the network device compares the configuration variable with the current configuration variable, and when the configuration variable is large according to the comparison, the network device selects a configuration variable greater than the current configuration variable. And when the setting variable is small, selecting a setting variable smaller than the current setting variable. The method of claim 2, The variable setting method may further include transmitting, by the network device, a NAK response message to the other network device through the network if there is no selectable variable in the selecting step. How to set up. The method of claim 1, The variable setting method may further include the step of the network device transmitting a response message including the current setting variable set according to the first performing step or the second performing step to the other network device through the network. Variable setting method of network device. The method of claim 1, The variable setting method further includes the step of the network device transmitting a settable variable range or current setting variable to the other network device through the network before the receiving step. . The network device receiving a current configuration variable from another network device via a network; Receiving, by the network device, a setting variable increased or decreased from the current setting variable by a user; Sending, by the network device, a variable setting request message including the setting variable to the other network device through the network; Receiving, by the network device, a variable setting response message including a current setting variable set by the other network device through the network, and identifying a settable variable of the other network device. How variables are managed. The method of claim 6, The checking step includes the network device comparing the setting variable with the current setting variable, wherein the network device checks the settable variable according to the comparison result. The method of claim 6, The checking step, wherein the network device checks the settable variable range of the other network device. The method of claim 6, The variable management method may include receiving, by the network device, a configurable variable range of the other network device from the other network device through the network, and inputting within the configurable variable range is performed in the input step. Variable management method of a network device, characterized in that.

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