KR20060014837A - Apparatus for controlling home network by means of user's biosignal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a home network control technology for controlling home appliances. The home network control apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of devices connected through a network according to an analysis result based on data measured by a biosignal measuring device. Control your home appliances.

Home networks, home appliances, bio-signals,

Description

Apparatus for controlling home network by means of user's biosignal}

1 schematically illustrates a conventional home network system.

2 schematically illustrates a home network system according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for controlling a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a home network control apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an operation flowchart of a home network control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Brief Description of Drawings>

10-1,10-2... , 10-n: Home appliances

20: home network controller

30: Network

40: biometric information measuring instrument

The present invention relates to a home network control technology for controlling home appliances, and more particularly, to a home network control technique for controlling home appliances automatically by using a biosignal of a user.

Recently, with the development of information and communication technology, there are many changes in the residential culture. That is, until recently, the interior of the building was the main concern, but the construction of home network system that can remotely control the lighting control device, gas control device, crime prevention device, air conditioner, boiler, washing machine, etc. has become a big issue. .

1 schematically illustrates a home network system that is conventionally presented. As shown, a conventional home network system includes home appliances 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-n, and home appliances 10-1, 10-2,. And a home network control device 20 connected via 30.

The home appliances 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-n mean lighting, gas, security devices, air conditioners, boilers, washing machines, microwave ovens, personal computers (PCs), and the like. The communication unit 11 supporting the wireless communication is mounted.

The home network controller 20 is a microprocessor-based device, and the communication unit 21 for transmitting and receiving a wired or wireless signal with the communication unit 11 of the home appliances 10-1, 10-2,. It includes. Accordingly, the user can remotely control the home appliances, thereby enabling a more convenient residential life.

However, since the conventional home network control device provides only a remote control function manually operated by a user, the user always has to inconvenience the home appliance directly.

On the other hand, in recent years, biotechnology has been developed to measure electrical phenomena generated from living organisms and to clarify these electrical phenomena engineeringly and to utilize them in diagnostic treatment in the medical field. Currently, the device for measuring the bio-signal includes ECG (ECG) measuring device that measures the electrical activity of the heart, EMG (Electromyogram) measuring device to measure the contraction strength and fatigue of body muscles, EEG (Electroencephalogram) Etc. As a result, various types of waveforms such as alpha, theta, and delta waveforms can be obtained by filtering the brain waves measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG) measuring instrument, and the respiration rate can be measured. In addition, electrocardiogram signals can be collected from ECG (Cardiology) measuring instruments to obtain heart rate variability (HRV). Furthermore, it is possible to determine whether the user is currently sleepy, exercising, in an emergency, tired or sleeping.

The present invention is derived from the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can automatically control home appliances using the user's bio-signals in the home network control device.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a technology for automatically controlling home appliances using a user's manipulation signal and a bio signal in a home network control device.                         

A further object of the present invention is to provide a home network control device capable of wired or wireless communication with a home appliance.

The home network control apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, controls a plurality of home appliances connected through the network according to the analysis result based on the data measured by the bio-signal measuring device.

According to this aspect, the home network control device is automatically implemented to automatically control the home appliance according to the user's state, so that the user can use a more convenient home network.

Specifically, a home network control apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention, the communication unit for transmitting and receiving data through the home appliance and the network; A memory unit for storing biometric information; An external device interface unit for exchanging data with the biosignal measuring unit; A biometric information collection unit configured to collect biometric information of a user measured by the biosignal measuring device through the external device interface unit; A biometric information comparison processing unit which compares the biometric information of the user input from the biometric information collecting unit with the biometric information stored in the memory unit and detects external or internal state information of the user according to the result; And a home network execution unit configured to output a control signal to the communication unit to operate the home appliance according to external or internal state information of the user inputted from the biometric information comparison processing unit.

In one embodiment, the biosignal means electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (EMG), respiration, body temperature, lung capacity, blood pressure, pulse rate, and the like, and should be interpreted to encompass them in the present invention. In one embodiment, the biometric information stored in the memory unit is typically biometric information indicating a normal state.

In one embodiment, the external or internal state information of the user means, for example, sleepy state, exercise state, emergency state, tired state, depressed state, happy state, etc., and should be interpreted to encompass them in the present invention. .

According to this aspect, the home network control device can automatically control the home appliances according to the user's biosignal, thereby providing a more suitable residential living environment for the user. In other words, when a user sleeps tired while watching television with the lights on, in one embodiment, the home network control device detects the user's condition via a biosignal to turn off the lights and the television, It may be implemented to perform an operation for switching the response mode to the automatic response mode.

According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the home network control device includes a display unit for displaying a menu and an operation state; An operation unit which receives a user operation command; The apparatus may further include a home network setting unit configured to output operation setting data of the home appliance to the home network executing unit.

According to this aspect, the home network control device can automatically control the home appliance using the user's operation signal and the biosignal.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce the present invention.

2 schematically illustrates a home network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the components corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown, the home network system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of home appliances 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-n, a biosignal measuring device 40, and the biosignal measuring device 40. In accordance with the analysis results based on the data measured in the, home network control device 20 for controlling a plurality of home appliances (10-1, 10-2 ..., 10-n) connected through the network 30 do.

Home appliances 10-1, 10-2…, 10-n mean lighting, gas, security devices, air conditioners, boilers, washing machines, microwave ovens, telephones, personal computers (PCs), audio, video, etc. And, they are equipped with a communication unit 11 for supporting wired or wireless communication. In one embodiment, the communication unit 11 may be implemented by wire or wireless communication.

In one embodiment, the wired communication method is already installed in a Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (PNA) or a building, which is a telephone line network solution for building a high-speed home network by utilizing an existing telephone wiring line. The power line may be implemented as a communication (PLC) using a power line that transmits a high frequency signal of several hundreds of kHz.

In one embodiment, the wireless communication scheme may be implemented in a wireless LAN standard or a Bluetooth (BlueTooth) or the like conforming to the IEEE 802.11b protocol (data transmission rate 11Mbps).

The home network control device 20 is a microprocessor-based device in which ROM, RAM, and peripheral devices are integrated, and a plurality of home appliances connected through the network 30 according to analysis results based on user biosignals. It is implemented to control the devices (10-1, 10-2 ..., 10-n). Means for mounting the home network control device 20 may be a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

In one embodiment, the home network control device 20 is a serial interface or USS according to a data communication method such as RS-232C or RS425 and RS485 to be interlocked with a separate biosignal measuring device for measuring a user's biosignal. Non-USB serial interface can be mounted.

In another embodiment, the home network control device 20 may be implemented as an integrated device that is integrally equipped with a biosignal measurement module. In this case, the home network control device 20 may be implemented to be detachable and used on a user's body part capable of measuring a user's biosignal.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the home network control device 20 will be described later.

The network 30 refers to an integrated device for physically connecting the home network control device 20 and home appliances 10-1, 10-2,. In one embodiment, the network 30 is connected to the home network control device 20 in a wireless LAN communication method, and connected to the home appliances 10-1, 10-2,. It may include an access point (AP) to which it is connected.

The biosignal measuring device 40 may be a biosignal such as a pulse 40-1, a body temperature 40-2, an electroencephalogram (EEG), an electrocardiogram (EMG), respiration, a lung capacity, a blood pressure, an electrocardiogram (ECG) 40-n. By measuring the back, in one embodiment, it may be implemented as an electrocardiogram (ECG) measuring instrument, an electrocardiogram (EMG :) measuring instrument or an electroencephalogram (EEG) measuring instrument. Such a biosignal measuring device 40 is well known prior to this application, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

Hereinafter, the home network control apparatus 20 will be described with reference to the drawings.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for controlling a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, in one embodiment, the home network controller 20 includes a communication unit 21, a memory unit 23, an external device interface unit 25, a biometric information collection unit 291, and a living body. An information comparison processing unit 293 and a home network execution unit 295 are included.

The communication unit 21 transmits and receives data through the home appliances 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-n and the network 30, and may include a wired communication unit 211 or a wireless communication unit 213. Can be.

In one embodiment, the wired communication unit 211 is already installed in a Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (PNA) or a building, which is a telephone line network solution for building a high-speed home network by utilizing an existing telephone wiring line. It can be implemented as a communication (PLC) using a power line that transmits a high frequency signal of several hundred kHz using a power line. In one embodiment, the wireless communication unit 213 may be implemented in a wireless LAN standard or Bluetooth (BlueTooth) or the like conforming to the IEEE 802.11b protocol (data transmission rate 11Mbps).

The memory unit 23 may be implemented as a single chip including a static random access memory (SRAM) having a capacity of several megabits and a flash memory having a capacity of several tens of megabits. In one embodiment, preferably, the memory unit 23 stores biometric information 231. In one embodiment, the biological signal means pulse, body temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (EMG), respiration, lung capacity, blood pressure, etc., and should be interpreted to encompass them in the present invention. In one embodiment, the biometric information stored in the memory unit 23 is typically biometric information indicating a normal state.

The external device interface unit 25 may be implemented as a serial interface unit or a USB serial interface unit using a data communication method such as RS-232C or RS425 and RS485. In an exemplary embodiment, the external device interface 25 may be directly connected to a biosignal measuring device to receive user biometric information from the biosignal measuring device. In another embodiment, the external device interface 25 may be linked with a separate adapter device that is interlocked with the biosignal measuring device.

The biometric information collection unit 291, the biometric information comparison processing unit 293, and the home network execution unit 295 may be implemented in the form of program code executed by a microprocessor constituting the control unit 29. have.

The biometric information collecting unit 291 collects biometric information of the user measured by the biosignal measuring device through the external device interface 25. In one embodiment, the biometric information collected by the biometric information collection unit 291 includes a user's pulse, body temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG), respiration, lung capacity, and blood pressure.

The biometric information comparison processing unit 293 compares the biometric information of the user input from the biometric information collection unit 291 with the biometric information stored in the memory unit 23 and compares the external or internal state information of the user according to the result. Detect. In one embodiment, the method for comparing the biometric information is well known before the filing date, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In one embodiment, the external or internal state information of the user means, for example, sleepy state, exercise state, emergency state, tired state, etc., and should be interpreted to encompass them in the present invention.

The home network execution unit 295 may operate the home appliances 10-1, 10-2,..., 10-n according to external or internal state information of the user input from the biometric information comparison processing unit 293. The control signal is output to the communication unit 21. In one embodiment, when the user is tired and sleeps, the home network execution unit 295 turns off the lights and the television, and sends an operation control signal for switching the answering mode of the phone to the answering machine. Output to the device. In this embodiment, but only to control the light, TV, telephone, the present invention is not limited to this, it should be construed to include controlling the digital home appliances such as boiler, air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, security device. .

According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the home network controller 20 further includes an operation unit 27 for receiving a user operation command, a display unit 28 for displaying a menu and an operation state, and a home network setting unit 297. It may include.

The operation unit 27 is implemented as a means for inputting a user's operation command, and may be a keypad, a side key, a touch panel, a handwriting input unit, a voice recognition unit, etc., which are composed of numeric keys and function keys. The display unit 28, which is usually a liquid crystal display, displays the progress of operation in the device, a menu selection screen of the user, and the like.

The home network setting unit 297 outputs operation setting data of the home appliance to the home network execution unit 295, which is input from the operation unit 27. In a preferred embodiment, the home network execution unit 295 is an external or internal state of the user's operation setting data input from the home network setting unit 297 and the user input from the biometric information comparison processing unit 293. The operation of the home appliance is controlled according to the information, but the external or internal state information of the user is prioritized and the operation of the home appliance is controlled.

4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a home network control apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Here, components corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The home network controller according to the present embodiment may further include a biosignal measuring unit 24 measuring a user biosignal. Accordingly, the home network control apparatus according to the present embodiment is implemented so that the biosignal measuring unit 24 is integrally integrated, thereby increasing the portability of the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the bio-signal measuring unit 24 is a heart rate measuring unit for measuring the heart rate with a change in the optical blood flow according to the change in blood vessel thickness due to the heart rate, and the skin with a change in resistance value according to the change in skin temperature It may include a skin temperature measuring unit for measuring the temperature. In one embodiment, the bio-signal measuring unit 24 is preferably installed in a position where the finger or palm is in contact with the user just by holding the home network control device.

5 is an operation flowchart of a home network control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, when power is applied, the home network controller outputs an operation control signal for a corresponding home appliance, for example, an air conditioner, a TV, or a lamp, according to the input operation setting data when the operation setting data of the home appliance is input from the user. do.

Thereafter, the home network controller receives biometric information of the user (S202). Here, the user's biometric information may be input from a separate biosignal measuring device and may be input from a biosignal measuring module integrally mounted in the device. In one embodiment, the user's biometric information may be input in real time and may be input at regular intervals.

Thereafter, the home network controller compares the input user's biometric information with previously stored biometric information, and detects external or internal state information of the user according to the result (S203 and S204). In one embodiment, the home network control device may detect whether the user is sleepy, exercising, emergency or tired.

Thereafter, the home network control device outputs a control signal to operate the home appliance according to the detected external or internal state information of the user (S205). In one embodiment, the home network control device outputs an operation control signal to the air conditioner when it is determined that the user is tired due to the hot weather.

As described in detail above, the home network control device according to the present invention can automatically control the home appliances according to the user's bio-signals, thereby providing a useful living environment for the user. .

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many various obvious modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention from this description. Therefore, it should be interpreted by the claims described to include many such variations.

Claims (15)

And controlling a plurality of home appliances connected through a network according to an analysis result based on the data measured by the biosignal measuring device. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the home network control device comprises: A communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with the home appliance via a network; A memory unit for storing biometric information; An external device interface unit for exchanging data with the biosignal measuring unit; A biometric information collection unit configured to collect biometric information of a user measured by the biosignal measuring device through the external device interface unit; A biometric information comparison processing unit which compares the biometric information of the user input from the biometric information collecting unit with the biometric information stored in the memory unit and detects external or internal state information of the user according to the result; A home network execution unit outputting a control signal to the communication unit to operate the home appliance according to external or internal state information of the user inputted from the biometric information comparison processing unit; Home network control device comprising a. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the home network control device comprises: A display unit for displaying a menu and an operation state; An operation unit which receives a user operation command; A home network setting unit which outputs operation setting data of the home household appliance inputted from the operation unit to the home network executing unit; The home network control device further comprising. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the communication unit: The home network control device, characterized in that the wired communication unit for transmitting and receiving data through the wired network with the home appliances. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the communication unit: And a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal to and from the home appliance. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication unit: The home network control device further comprises a wired communication unit for transmitting and receiving data through the wired network with the home appliances. 6. The home network control device according to claim 5, wherein the home network control device is implemented in a mobile phone. 6. The home network control device according to claim 5, wherein the home network control device is implemented in a personal digital assistant (PDA). A home network control device for controlling a plurality of home appliances connected via a network according to an analysis result based on a user biosignal, the device comprising: A communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with the home appliance via a network; A memory unit for storing biometric information; A biosignal measuring unit measuring a user biosignal; A biometric information collecting unit collecting biometric information of a user input from the biosignal measuring unit; A biometric information comparison processing unit which compares the biometric information of the user input from the biometric information collecting unit with the biometric information stored in the memory unit and detects external or internal state information of the user according to the result; A home network execution unit outputting a control signal to the communication unit to operate the home appliance according to external or internal state information of the user inputted from the biometric information comparison processing unit; Home network control device comprising a. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the home network control device comprises: A display unit for displaying a menu and an operation state; An operation unit which receives a user operation command; A home network setting unit which outputs operation setting data of the home household appliance inputted from the operation unit to the home network executing unit; The home network control device further comprising. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the communication unit: The home network control device, characterized in that the wired communication unit for transmitting and receiving data through the wired network with the home appliances. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the communication unit: And a wireless communication unit for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal to and from the home appliance. The method of claim 12, wherein the communication unit: The home network control device further comprises a wired communication unit for transmitting and receiving data through the wired network with the home appliances. The home network control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the home network control apparatus is implemented in a mobile phone. 13. The home network control device according to claim 12, wherein the home network control device is implemented in a personal digital assistant (PDA).

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