KR20030048990A - Method for initializing home network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An initializing method of a home network is provided to register simply plural PLC modems and plural digital electronic devices to the home network without inputting physical IDs of PLC modems one by one. CONSTITUTION: A user connects a home network manager to a power line through a first PLC(Power Line Communication) modem(300), inputs and stores a house code to the home network(302). In a case that the first PLC modem is connected to the power line, the first PLC modem transmits its serial number to the home network manager(304). The home network manager inputs the serial number transmitted from the first PLC modem(306) and discriminates whether the inputted serial number is the serial number stored to its database(308). When the inputted serial number is the serial number stored to its database, since the first PLC modem is already registered, a second PLC modem registration process is performed.

Description

Initialization method for home network {Method for initializing home network system}

According to the present invention, a home network manager registers a plurality of power line communication (PLC) modems and a plurality of digital home appliances respectively connected to the PLC modem in a home network based on a living network control protocol (LnCP). It relates to a home network initialization method.

In general, home networks based on LnCP use a power line as a data transmission medium to connect various digital home appliances including digital refrigerators, digital air conditioners and digital washing machines, and transmit predetermined data through PLC (Power Line Communication). To control the behavior.

Since the power line is shared by all generations, the communication content of one generation may be transferred to another neighboring generation. Therefore, LnCP introduces a house code to distinguish each generation in order to prevent the communication of each generation from passing over to the neighboring generation.

In addition, the home network is pursuing Plug and Play (PnP), so when the user connects the digital home appliance to the home network, the user can automatically set the physical ID (IDentification) of the digital home appliance without additional installation work. However, due to the nature of the power lines shared by all households, if the physical ID of the digital home appliance is automatically assigned, the physical ID may be incorrectly assigned by another neighboring household.

Therefore, in the home network based on the conventional LnCP, a home network manager for managing PLC modems and digital home appliances is assigned and physical IDs of the digital home appliances are assigned. The home network manager assigns a house code and a physical ID input by the user to the PLC modem and digital home appliances, manages the assigned physical ID, inputs a user's operation command, and informs the user of the setting status through the screen. As a user interface function, the home network manager stores a house code in a PLC modem and sets logical addresses of digital home appliances during initialization.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a typical LnCP-based home network.

Here, reference numeral 100 denotes a power line for supplying AC power to each home from the outside, and reference numeral 110 denotes a home network manager, which performs an initialization operation of registering an LnCP-based PLC modem and digital home appliances in a home network, and manages the user. And a user interface for inputting an operation command to notify the user through a screen of the execution status of the initialization operation.

A first PLC modem 120 is provided between the power line 100 and the home network manager 110 to allow the home network manager 110 to transmit and receive predetermined data through the power line 100. do.

Reference numeral 130 denotes a plurality of digital home appliances such as an air conditioner, a refrigerator or a washing machine. A plurality of second PLC modems for allowing the digital home appliance 130 to transmit and receive predetermined data through the power line 100 between the plurality of digital home appliances 130 and the power line 100. 140 are provided respectively.

In the conventional initialization method for initializing the home network having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the user connects the home network manager 100 to the power line 100 through the first PLC modem 120 in step 200. In step 202, the house code is stored in the home network manager 110.

The house code is a unique code assigned to distinguish each family, and the user acquires a house code given to his household through a telephone or the like to the house code management station, and the remote control transmitter of the home network manager 100 The acquired house code may be input and stored in the home network manager 100 using a key on the front panel.

In addition, the home network manager 100 may be connected to the server of the house code management station through the Internet as the home network manager 100, and may acquire the house code and automatically store it in the home network manager 100.

When the storing of the house code is completed in step 202, the user manipulates the remote control transmitter of the home network manager 100, the key of the front panel, etc. in step 204 to physically store the first PLC modem 120. Enter ID. That is, the user inputs the physical ID of the first PLC modem connected between the home network manager 100 and the power line 100 to the home network manager 100.

Then, the home network manager 100 communicates with the first PLC modem 120 using the physical ID input by the user, and in step 206 the home network manager 100 transmits the first PLC modem 120. By transmitting the house code, the first PLC modem 120 stores the house code and completes the initialization of the first PLC modem 120.

In this way, after the initialization of the first PLC modem 120 provided between the home network manager 100 and the power line 100 is completed, the home network manager 100 is connected to the digital home appliance 130 and the digital home appliance. Initializing the second PLC modem 140 connected between the home appliance 130 and the power line 100. First, in step 208, the user performs a remote control transmitter or front panel of the home network manager 100. Key and the like to input a physical ID of the second PLC modem 140.

When the input of the physical ID of the second PLC modem 140 is completed, the home network manager 100 communicates with the second PLC modem 140 by using the physical ID in step 210 while the house code is transmitted. By transmitting the second PLC modem 140 is stored, and completes the initialization operation of the second PLC modem 140.

When the initialization of the second PLC modem 140 is completed, the home network manager 100 assigns a predetermined address to the digital home appliance 130 connected to the second PLC modem 140 in step 212. In operation 214, the home network manager 100 and the digital home appliance 130 perform data communication with the assigned address, and the home network manager 100 inputs the product information of the digital home appliance 130. To store and complete the initialization process of the digital home appliance 130.

In this manner, when the initialization operation of one second PLC modem 140 and one digital home appliance 130 connected to the second PLC modem 140 is completed, the home network manager 100 performs the step ( By repeating the operation of step 208, the initialization operation is also performed on the other second PLC modem 140 and the digital home appliances 130 connected to the other second PLC modem 140.

However, in the above-described conventional initialization method, a user must input a physical ID of a PLC modem by operating a remote control transmitter of the home network manager 100 or a key of a front panel. The physical ID should distinguish between the number of households, the number of digital home appliances 130 held per household, and the number of replacement demands, and the user must provide a physical ID every time the digital home appliance 130 is registered in the home network. The input process of the physical ID is very cumbersome and takes a lot of time.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for initializing a home network in which a user simply registers a plurality of PLC modems and a plurality of digital home appliances in a home network without inputting a physical ID of a PLC modem.

The home network initialization method of the present invention having such a purpose stores a serial number unique to the PLC modem when the PLC modem is produced, and registers the PLC modem to the home network using the serial number as a physical ID. .

In addition, the logical address is stored in the digital home appliance during the production process. After the home network registration of the PLC modem is completed, the home network manager and the digital home appliance communicate with the logical address. Assign a new logical address and register the digital appliance with the home network.

Therefore, according to the initialization method of the home network of the present invention, the home network manager inputs a unique serial number from the first PLC (Power Line Communication) modem, registers with the home network with the physical ID of the first PLC modem, 1 Send and save the house code to the PLC modem, and after the home network registration of the first PLC modem is completed, the home network manager inputs the unique serial number of the second PLC modem to the home network with the physical ID of the second PLC modem. Register and transmit the house code to the second PLC modem and store it.After the home network registration of the second PLC modem is completed, the home network manager receives the logical address of the digital home appliance and transmits the new logical address to the digital home appliance. The new logical address to the logical address of the digital appliance Characterized in that the register.

In the home network registration of the first PLC modem, a home network manager inputs a serial number transmitted by the first PLC modem, and determines whether the first PLC modem is registered in the home network using the input serial number. When the first PLC modem is not registered in the home network, the home network manager transmits and stores a house code to the first PLC modem, and homes the serial number of the first PLC modem to the physical ID of the first PLC modem. By registering in the network, the home network manager and the first PLC modem communicate with each other by the serial number of the first PLC modem to determine whether the serial number of the first PLC modem is correct and determine the serial number of the first PLC modem. If is correct, the home network manager sends the house code to the first PLC modem and sends the serial number of the first PLC modem. It is characterized by registering in a home network by ID.

In the home network registration of the second PLC modem, a home network manager inputs a serial number transmitted by the second PLC modem, and determines whether or not the second PLC modem is registered in the home network using the input serial number. When the second PLC modem is not registered in the home network, the home network manager transmits and stores a house code to the second PLC modem and stores the serial number of the second PLC modem as the physical ID of the second PLC modem. The home network manager and the second PLC modem communicate with each other using the serial number of the second PLC modem to determine whether the serial number of the second PLC modem is correct. If correct, the home network manager sends the house code to the second PLC modem and provides the physical ID of the second PLC modem's serial number. Characterized in that the registration to the home network.

In the home network registration of the digital home appliance, the home network manager inputs the logical address of the digital home appliance, determines whether the digital home appliance is registered in the home network using the input logical address, and the digital home appliance is home. If not registered on the network, the home network manager selects a new logical address, sends the new logical address to the digital home appliance via the first PLC modem and the second PLC modem, and stores the product information of the digital home appliance. The home network manager registers and stores digital home appliances in the home network. The home network manager and the digital home appliance communicate with each other using the logical address of the digital home appliance. To determine the logical If the cow is accurate to the home network manager sends a new logical address to the digital consumer electronics and features to enter the product information in the digital consumer electronics.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a typical LnCP-based home network,

2 is a signal flow diagram showing a conventional initialization method,

3 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an initialization method of the present invention.

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

100: power line 110: home network manager

120: first PLC modem 130: a plurality of digital home appliances

140: a plurality of second PLC modem

Hereinafter, a method of initializing a home network of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of FIG. 3, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts as in the related art.

3 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an initialization method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 300, the user connects the home network manager 110 to the power line 100 through the first PLC modem 120, and in step 302, the house code is assigned to the home network manager 110. Enter to save.

The house code is inputted to the home network manager using a remote control transmitter of the home network manager or a key on the front panel of the home network manager. Or obtain a house code by connecting to a server of a house code management station via the Internet as a home network manager.

When the first PLC modem 120 is connected to the power line 100, the first PLC modem 120 periodically transmits its serial number to the home network manager 110 in step 304. The serial number is inputted and stored in advance as a unique number while the first PLC modem 120 is produced by the manufacturer of the first PLC modem 120.

Then, the home network manager 110 inputs the serial number transmitted by the first PLC modem 120 in step 306, and the input serial number is stored in its database in step 308. Determine if the serial number.

In the case of the serial number stored in the database as a result of the determination in step 308, the first PLC modem 120 is already registered in the home network and proceeds to step 316, which will be described later, to the second PLC modem 140. The registration process.

If the serial number of the first PLC modem 120 is not stored in the database, the first PLC modem 120 is not registered in the home network. 110 performs data communication with the first PLC modem 120 in step 310 to confirm whether the serial number is correct. For example, the home network manager 110 transmits a confirmation message to the first PLC modem 120 using the serial number, and the first PLC modem 120 transmits a confirmation message to the home network manager 110 using the serial number. By sending a response message, the home network manager 110 checks whether the input serial number is the correct serial number of the first PLC modem 120.

When the serial number checking process in the step 310 is completed, the home network manager 110 displays the serial number of the first PLC modem 120 on the screen in step 312 by the user to confirm. In step 314, the home network manager 110 transmits and stores a house code to the first PLC modem 120, and stores the serial number of the first PLC modem 120 in the database. Save the physical ID of 120, and complete the initialization of the first PLC modem 120, the first PLC modem 120 is no longer the serial number of the home network manager 110 in accordance with the completion of the initialization operation Do not send to).

As described above, when the initialization operation of the first PLC modem 120 is completed, when the user wants to register the digital home appliance 130 in the home network, the user needs to register the digital home appliance 130 to the second PLC modem. The power line 100 is connected to the power line 100 through 140.

The user inputs an additional command to add the digital home appliance 130 to the home network through the user interface of the home network manager 110.

Then, the home network manager 110 determines the input of the additional command of the digital home appliance 130 in step 316, and the second PLC modem 140 transmits the power line 100 through the power line 100 in step 318. The serial number of the second PLC modem 140 itself is input through the first PLC modem 120. That is, when the second PLC modem 140 is connected to the power line 100, the second PLC modem 140 periodically transmits a serial number stored in advance to the home network manager 110 through the power line 100. The second PLC modem 140 inputs a serial number transmitted through the power line 100 through the first PLC modem 120.

In the next step 320, the home network manager 110 determines whether the input serial number is stored in the database, and if the serial number is stored in the database, the second PLC modem 140 Is already registered in the home network to proceed to step 328 to be described later to perform the registration process of the digital home appliance (130).

The registration process of the second PLC modem 140 is not performed in steps 322, 324, and 326.

When the serial number of the second PLC modem 140 is not stored in the database as a result of the determination of step 320, the second PLC modem 140 is not registered in the home network. In step 322, a predetermined communication with the second PLC modem 140 is performed to confirm the serial number. For example, the home network manager 110 transmits a confirmation message to the second PLC modem 140 at the serial number of the second PLC modem 140 via the first PLC modem 120, and the second PLC modem. 140 checks whether the serial number is correct by transmitting a response message to the home network manager 110 with its serial number.

When the step of checking the serial number is completed in step 322, the home network manager 110 displays the serial number of the second PLC modem 140 through the user interface in step 324 so that the user can check it. In step 326, the house code is transmitted to and stored in the second PLC modem 140, and the serial number of the second PLC modem 140 is stored as the physical ID of the second PLC modem 140. After the initialization of the PLC modem 140 is completed, the second PLC modem 140 no longer transmits its serial number to the home network manager 110 upon completion of the initialization.

When the initialization operation of the second PLC modem 140 is completed, in step 328, the logical line (logical address) assigned to the digital home appliance 130 is assigned to the power line (2) through the second PLC modem (140). 100). That is, when the initialization operation is completed, the second PLC modem 140 inputs a logical address assigned to the digital home appliance 130 from the digital home appliance 130 connected to the second PLC modem 140, and inputs the input logical address. By using the stored house code is transmitted to the home network manager 110 through the power line (100).

Then, the home network manager 110 inputs the house code and the logical address transmitted by the second PLC modem 140 in step 330, and the input logical address is already stored in the database in step 332. Determine if it is.

If the logical address of the digital home appliance 130 is stored in the database in step 332, the digital home appliance 130 is already registered and the home network manager 110 returns to step 316. By repeating the initialization operation of the second PLC modem 140 and the digital home appliance 130 according to the additional command input by the user.

If the logical address of the digital home appliance 130 is not stored in the database in step 332, the digital home appliance 130 is not registered and is assigned to the house code and the logical address in step 334. The home network manager 110 and the digital home appliance 130 perform data communication with each other through the first PLC modem 120 and the second PLC modem 140 to confirm whether the logical address is correct, and confirm the logical address. When the process is completed, the home network manager 110 reads the new logical address in the database, which the home network manager 110 assigns to the digital home appliance 140 in the database, in step 336. The sent logical address is transmitted to the digital home appliance 130 through the first PLC modem 120 and the second PLC modem 140 to determine the logical address of the digital home appliance 130, and the digital home appliance. The device 130 is no longer stored in itself and does not transmit the logical address to the home network manager 110. In step 338, the product information of the digital home appliance 130 is entered and stored and displayed through the user interface. So that the user can check it.

When the initialization of one digital home appliance 140 is completed in this way, the home network manager 110 returns to step 316 and the first PLC modem 140 and the digital home appliance ( Repeat the initialization of step 140).

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

As described above, the present invention stores the house code after the user connects the home network manager to the power line through the PLC modem, and also inputs only an additional command to the home network manager while connecting the digital home appliances to the power line through the PLC modem one by one. By automatically storing house codes in each PLC modem and registering them in the home network, and registering the home network by giving a logical address to the digital home appliances, the user can easily operate the PLC modem and multiple digital home appliances. You can register with your home network.

Claims (8)

The home network manager receives a unique serial number from the first PLC (Power Line Communication) modem provided between the home network manager and the power line, registers the ID number with the physical ID of the first PLC modem, and sends it to the first PLC modem. A first process of transmitting a house code; After the registration of the first PLC modem is completed in the first process, the home network manager receives a unique serial number of the second PLC modem provided between the digital home appliance and the power line, and registers it as a physical ID of the second PLC modem. A second step of transmitting a house code to a second PLC modem; And After the home network registration of the second PLC modem is completed in the second process, the home network manager receives a logical address of the digital home appliance, transmits a new logical address to the digital home appliance, and sends the new logical address to the logical home appliance. And a third step of registering with the home network manager by the address. The method of claim 1, wherein the first process comprises; An eleventh step of receiving, by a home network manager, a serial number transmitted by the first PLC modem; A twelfth step of determining whether the first PLC modem is registered in the home network using the serial number input in the eleventh step; And In the twelfth step, when the first PLC modem is not registered in the home network, the home network manager transmits and stores a house code to the first PLC modem and stores the serial number of the first PLC modem in the first PLC modem. And a thirteenth step of registering the home network with a physical ID of the home network. The method of claim 2, wherein the thirteenth process comprises: Determining whether the home network manager and the first PLC modem communicate with each other by the serial number of the first PLC modem to determine whether the serial number of the first PLC modem is correct; And If the serial number of the first PLC modem is correct in the determination process, the home network manager transmits a house code to the first PLC modem and registers the first PLC modem in the home network with the physical number of the first PLC modem as a physical ID. Initialization method of the home network, characterized in that consisting of a process. The method of claim 1, wherein the second process and the third process; Repeatingly performing when an additional command of a digital home appliance is input, registers a plurality of second PLC modems and a plurality of digital home appliances in a home network one by one. The method of claim 1, wherein the second process comprises: A twenty-first step of receiving, by a home network manager, a serial number transmitted by the second PLC modem; A twenty-second step of determining whether a second PLC modem is registered in a home network using the serial number input in the twenty-first step; And If the second PLC modem is not registered in the home network in step 22, the home network manager transmits and stores a house code to the second PLC modem and sets the serial number of the second PLC modem to the second PLC modem. And a twenty-third step of registering in the home network with a physical ID of the home network. The method of claim 2, wherein the twenty-third process comprises: Determining whether the home network manager and the second PLC modem communicate with each other using the serial number of the second PLC modem to determine whether the serial number of the second PLC modem is correct; And If the serial number of the second PLC modem is correct in the determination process, the home network manager transmits a house code to the second PLC modem and registers the second PLC modem in the home network with the physical number of the second PLC modem as a physical ID. Initialization method of the home network, characterized in that consisting of a process. The method of claim 1, wherein the third process comprises: A thirty-first process of receiving, by the home network manager, a logical address of the digital home appliance; A thirty-second step of determining whether the digital home appliance is registered in the home network using the logical address input in the thirty-first step; And If the digital home appliance is not registered in the home network in step 32, the home network manager selects a new logical address and transmits and stores it to the digital home appliance through the first PLC modem and the second PLC modem. And a thirty-third step of registering and storing the product information of the device by the home network manager to register the digital home appliance with the home network. The method of claim 7, wherein the thirty-third process comprises: Determining whether the home network manager and the digital home appliance communicate with each other by the logical address of the digital home appliance to determine whether the logical address of the digital home appliance is correct; And When the logical address of the digital home appliance is correct in the determination process, the home network manager comprises a digital home appliance registration process of transmitting a new logical address to the digital home appliance and inputting product information of the digital home appliance. How to initialize.