KR101453205B1 - A context service discovery Method and apparatus based on UPnP - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for discovering a universal plug and play (UPnP)-based service and a device thereof are provided. A method for searching and providing a UPnP service to a UPnP terminal supporting UPnP, wherein a UPnP service directory device includes composite/preference profiles (CC/PP) framework includes: a step (a) of collecting and registering state variables of UPnP context service from all the UPnP terminals within a UPnP network; and a step (b) of receiving a service request including a service type of UPnP terminal which requests for a specific service, searching state variables of candidate service instance according to the service type and returning a service instance which corresponds to a state variable of the UPnP terminal among the searched state variables.

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for discovering a service based on a duffy-

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for discovering a service based on a dynepia based on UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) based environment in which an optimal service can be discovered and provided in consideration of a state and a situation of a terminal.

UPnP is a middleware that enables users who have different hardware and operating systems to participate in the networking configuration automatically and use and control the services (functions) of other terminals.

While UPnP provides easy interworking between heterogeneous terminals, it provides minimal functionality for services that match and find services. That is, the conventional UPnP does not provide a method of automatically selecting the most suitable service considering the resource status of the terminal requesting the service or the profile of the user.

Accordingly, when there are a plurality of the same services, the terminal requesting the service has a disadvantage in that all the service instances are checked one by one to find a service that satisfies the capability of the device and the requirement of the user.

In addition, the conventional UPnP is accompanied by the inconvenience that a user must select any one of the services after providing all possible types of services similar to the service requested by the terminal.

The present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for discovering a service based on a dummy entity that can determine an optimal service in consideration of functions, resources, and user's requirements (profiles) possessed by the terminal.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and a system capable of determining an optimal service in consideration of a function, a resource, and a user's requirement (profile).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a UPnP context service unit for mapping attributes of a CC / PP (Composite Capability / Preference Profiles) component to state variables of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) context service and registering the attributes; And a control point for registering status information of the UPnP context service registered with the status variable in a service directory through a UPnP network. Here, the UPnP terminal may provide a UPnP service or request a UPnP service.

The component may include at least one of hardware resources and functions of the UPnP terminal, and at least one of software resources and functions.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a control point for collecting and registering UPnP state variables of all UPnP terminals included in a UPnP network; And a search unit for searching for and retrieving a service instance satisfying the service type by searching the collected UPnP status variable according to a service request including a service type of a UPnP terminal requesting a specific service, .

The UPnP state variable may be a value obtained by mapping an attribute of the CC / PP component of the UPnP terminal to a state variable of the UPnP context service.

The UPnP terminal requesting the specific service calls the lookup service according to the SSDP and UPnP description procedure, calls a lookup function provided by the search unit, and transmits the service type as a parameter , The search unit may search for a UPnP state variable for a service or terminal attribute information other than the service type transferred as an argument of the search function and return the UPnP terminal to the UPnP terminal requesting the specific service.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a UPnP terminal for mapping a property of a CC / PP (Composite Capability / Preference Profiles) component to a state variable of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) A service terminal for mapping an attribute of a CC / PP (Composite Capability / Preference Profiles) component to a state variable of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) context service and registering the attribute, and executing a UPnP service; And a service directory apparatus for storing the state variables of the UPnP terminal and the service terminal, and searching for and returning a state variable including the service type according to a service request including the service type of the UPnP terminal, Can be provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining an optimal service in consideration of a function, a resource, and a user's requirement (profile).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of registering a UPnP context service in a UPnP terminal equipped with a Composite Capability / Preference Profiles (CC / PP) framework and supporting UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) Matching the attribute of the CC / PP component that defines the function, resource, and state with UPnP state variables and registering it; And a step of advertising the UPnP state variable via a UPnP network.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a UPnP service directory device includes a Composite Capability / Preference Profiles (CC / PP) framework and a method for searching and providing a UPnP service to a UPnP terminal supporting Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) (A) collecting and registering status variables of a UPnP context service from all UPnP terminals in the UPnP network; And (b) receiving a service request including a service type of a UPnP terminal requesting a specific service, searching for a state variable of a UPnP context service corresponding to the service type, and returning a service instance corresponding to the searched state variable A UPnP-based service discovery method may be provided.

Wherein the step (b) comprises: calling a lookup service according to the SSDP and the UPnP description procedure by the control point installed in the UPnP terminal requesting the specific service; Receiving a service type as a parameter by calling a lookup function supported by the search instance by a control point mounted on a UPnP terminal requesting the specific service; Retrieving a UPnP state variable including the received service type; And returning the service instance mapped to the searched UPnP state variable to the UPnP terminal requesting the specific service.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for discovering a dyepy-based service according to an embodiment of the present invention so that an optimum service can be found by taking into consideration the situation (e.g., function, resource) can do.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a UPnP-based service discovery system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a UPnP terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a UPnP state variable by a UPnP terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a UPnP service discovery method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is capable of various modifications and various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprises" or "having" and the like are used to specify that there is a feature, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component or a combination thereof described in the specification, But do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to a CC / PP (Composite Capabilities / Preference Profiles) framework for a UPnP terminal, which uses a CC / PP profile, which is a main function of a CC / PP framework, The present invention relates to an invention capable of finding an optimal UPnP service considering a situation of a UPnP terminal by mapping an attribute of a PP component to UPnP state variables and registering the attribute in a UPnP context service.

In this specification, the UPnP service should be understood as a resource and a function of the UPnP terminal providing the service in the UPnP network.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a UPnP-based service discovery system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a UPnP-based service providing system includes a plurality of UPnP terminals 110 and a service directory apparatus 130.

Among the plurality of UPnP terminals 110, a terminal providing a service is referred to as a service terminal, and a terminal requesting a service is referred to as a UPnP terminal.

The UPnP terminal 110 may be a service requesting entity or a service providing entity.

Further, it is assumed that the UPnP terminal 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention is equipped with CC / PP components in a terminal that supports a CC / PP (Composite Capabilities / Preference Profiles) framework, respectively. Although not shown in detail in FIG. 1, the CC / PP framework may include a CC / PP client proxy, a client profile manager API, a server profile repository, and a server content customization module.

The UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120 respectively store the attributes of the CC / PP component for the functions and preferences of the UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120 into UPnP state variables And registers it.

Here, the CC / PP component may be a manufacturer, a model, a CPU, a memory size, and a screen size, for example, the hardware functions of the UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120. The CC / PP component may include an operating system, a Java platform, an XML terminology, a video encoder, and the like when the CC / PP component is a software function of the UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120.

As such, the CC / PP component may include various situations for describing the functions and preferences of each UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120.

The CC / PP component is a known technology through the CC / PP framework, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120 support the CC / PP framework, respectively, and that a CC / PP component is also installed.

The UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120 map the attributes of the CC / PP component to state variables of the UPnP context service and advertise it through the UPnP network.

Accordingly, the service directory device 130 searches the state variables of the UPnP context service of the UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120 and registers them in the internal table.

The service directory device 130 registers a UPnP state variable for each UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120 and then transmits a candidate service instance according to the service type according to a service request including the service type from the UPnP terminal 110 And return a service instance having a state variable corresponding to the UPnP state variable of the UPnP terminal among the searched candidate service instances to the UPnP terminal 110 that requested the service.

This will be described in more detail below with reference to the related drawings.

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a UPnP terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the UPnP terminal 110 includes a control point 210 and a UPnP context service unit 220.

The control point 210 performs a function of searching for another UPnP terminal in the UPnP network or subscribing to the terminal so that the terminal can retrieve the event notification.

That is, the control point 210 configures and maintains the UPnP network, and performs various interactive functions for providing and supporting the UPnP service with the other UPnP terminals 110.

For example, the control point 210 can advertise a message or a service to be received from other UPnP terminals in the UPnP network using a simple service discovery protocol (SSDP) Various actions can be performed or various interactions can be performed to notify the state change of the terminal through the generic event notification architecture (GENA).

In addition, the control point 210 may search another UPnP terminal or search for a service directory apparatus in the UPnP network according to the UPnP description procedure. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that a separate explanation will be omitted.

The UPnP context service unit 220 is a means for mapping attributes of the CC / PP component of the UPnP terminal 110 supporting the CC / PP framework to state variables of the UPnP context service and registering them.

In order to facilitate understanding and explanation, it is assumed that the UPnP terminal 110 is equipped with a CC / PP framework. It is assumed that the attributes of the CC / PP components are predefined according to the CC / PP framework .

As already mentioned above, the CC / PP component may include hardware capabilities of the terminal, e.g., manufacturer, model, CPU, memory size, screen size, The device context information may include software functions such as an operating system, a Java platform, XML terminology, a video encoder, and the like.

The CC / PP component includes attributes for each hardware or software function, resource, and status described above.

(E.g., function, resource and status) of the UPnP terminal in order to receive the UPnP service in consideration of the situation (e.g., function, resource and status) of the UPnP terminal 110 in the UPnP terminal 110, The UPnP context service can be registered by mapping the attribute of the CC / PP component defining the UPnP context service to the state variable of the UPnP context service.

When the status variable of the UPnP context service is registered in the attribute of the CC / PP component through the UPnP context service unit 220, the control point 210 receives the state of the UPnP context service of the UPnP terminal 110 through the UPnP network You can advertise variables.

In addition, the control point 210 recognizes the service directory device 130 according to the SSDP and UPnP technology procedures. Accordingly, the control point 210 can call a lookup service of the service directory device 130 and transmit a service type as a parameter to request a specific service search.

Accordingly, the service directory device 130 searches a table storing therein a state variable and returns a service instance having an appropriate status variable value to the UPnP terminal 110 according to the service type .

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a UPnP state variable by a UPnP terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method of registering the UPnP state variable described in FIG. 3 can be performed not only in the UPnP terminal 110 but also in the service terminal.

 In step 310, the UPnP terminal 110 maps attributes of the CC / PP component describing the functions, resources, and status of the UPnP terminal 110 to state variables of the UPnP context service.

Although not shown in detail in FIG. 3, the description of the functions, resources, and status of the UPnP terminal 110 includes a process of mapping attributes of the CC / PP component to state variables of the UPnP context service, Or by a CC / PP client proxy included in the CC / PP framework. Since each configuration included in the CC / PP framework is already known to those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In step 315, the UPnP terminal 110 advertises the state variable of the UPnP context service through the UPnP network. Accordingly, the service directory apparatus 130 included in the UPnP network can retrieve the state variables of the UPnP terminal 110 and store the state variables in the service directory apparatus 130.

As shown in FIG. 3, the process of mapping attributes of the CC / PP component describing the functions, resources, and states of the terminal to state variables of the UPnP context service and registering them is also performed in the terminal (i.e., service terminal) .

In the case of the terminal providing the service (i.e., the service terminal 120), the UPnP context service unit may further include a UPnP service unit. Accordingly, the service directory device 130 may search for a state variable corresponding to the service type of the UPnP terminal 110 requesting the service, and return the service instance corresponding to the searched state variable.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a UPnP service discovery method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described above, it is assumed that the UPnP terminal 110 recognizes the service directory apparatus according to the UPnP technology procedure.

In step 410, the service directory device 130 searches and registers the state variables of all the UPnP terminals 110 existing in the UPnP network.

As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the UPnP terminal 110 and the service terminal 120 in the UPnP network map attributes of the CC / PP component to state variables of the UPnP context service, and then advertise the attributes. Accordingly, the service directory device 130 can search for and register the state variables of all terminals (UPnP terminal and service terminal) existing in the UPnP network.

In step 415, the service directory device 130 receives a service request including the service type from the UPnP terminal 110 requesting the service.

As described above, each UPnP terminal 110 includes a control point 210. The control point 210 recognizes a service directory device 130 existing in the UPnP network according to the UPnP technology procedure .

Accordingly, the UPnP terminal 110 may call a search instance (lookup service) provided in the service directory device 130 and transmit a service request including the service type to the service directory device 130.

Accordingly, in step 420, the service directory device 130 searches for the state variable including the service type included in the service request through the internal table. Then, the service directory device 130 returns a service instance having a status variable corresponding to the status variable value of the UPnP terminal among the service instances according to the service type requested to be searched, and transmits the service instance to the UPnP terminal 110.

In more detail, the service directory device 130 calls a lookup function provided in a search instance and transmits a service type as a parameter to a search function to search for an appropriate service instance based on a state variable other than the service type have.

The service directory device 130 may then return the service instance corresponding to the retrieved state variable to the UPnP terminal 110. [

Meanwhile, the method of discovering a dyed-based service according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in a form of a program command that can be executed through a variety of means for processing information electronically and recorded in a storage medium. The storage medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination.

Program instructions to be recorded on the storage medium may be those specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be available to those skilled in the art of software. Examples of storage media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, magneto-optical media and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as devices for processing information electronically using an interpreter or the like, for example, a high-level language code that can be executed by a computer.

The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be understood that the invention may be varied and varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

110: UPnP terminal
120: service terminal
130: Service directory device

Claims (10)

In a UPnP terminal equipped with a CC / PP (Composite Capabilities / Preference Profiles) framework,
The attributes of the CC / PP Composite Capability / Preference Profiles (CC / PP) components described in terms of hardware and software resources, functions, and preferences of the UPnP terminal and the service terminal using the CC / PP profile of the CC / A Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) context service unit for mapping to a state variable of a context service and registering the UPnP service in the UPnP service; And
And a control point for advertising the UPnP context service in which the status variable is registered through a UPnP network. delete A control point for collecting and registering UPnP status variables of all UPnP terminals included in the UPnP network; And
A UPnP state variable including a service type included in the specific service request is searched according to a specific service request of the UPnP terminal, and the UPnP state variable corresponding to the state variable of the UPnP terminal, And returning a service instance having a state variable to be executed,
The UPnP status variable includes a CC / PP (Composite) description about the hardware and software resources, functions and preferences of the UPnP terminal and the service terminal using the CC / PP profile of the CC / PP framework installed in the UPnP terminal Capability / Preference Profiles) is mapped to state variables of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) context service. delete The method of claim 3,
The UPnP terminal requesting the specific service calls the lookup service according to the SSDP and the UPnP description procedure to transmit the service type as a parameter,
Wherein the search unit searches the UPnP state variable including the service type transferred as the factor and returns a service instance corresponding to the retrieved UPnP state variable to the UPnP terminal requesting the specific service. delete A method of searching for and providing a UPnP service to a UPnP terminal equipped with a Composite Capability / Preference Profiles (CC / PP) framework and supporting Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
(a) collecting and registering state variables of UPnP context service from all UPnP terminals in the UPnP network; And
(b) a lookup service is called according to a SSDP and a UPnP description procedure by a control point mounted on a UPnP terminal requesting a specific service including a service type, and a lookup service supported by the search instance ), Receives the service type as a parameter, searches a UPnP state variable including the service type through the received factor, and searches for a UPnP state variable corresponding to the UPnP state variable satisfying the service type, Returning a service instance having a state variable matching the state variable of the service instance,
The UPnP status variable includes a CC / PP (Composite) description about the hardware and software resources, functions and preferences of the UPnP terminal and the service terminal using the CC / PP profile of the CC / PP framework installed in the UPnP terminal. Capability / Preference Profiles) is mapped to state variables of a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) context service. delete delete delete

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