KR20060016649A - Home network system using programmable remote controller repeater and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A home gateway for inputting an infrared signal for controlling a function of each of the home appliances from a remote controller of the home appliances to generate a learning signal, and for generating a control signal for reading the learned infrared signal; According to the learning signal, an infrared signal is learned and stored, and a home network system using a learning type remote control repeater including a plurality of remote control repeaters for reproducing and outputting an infrared signal by input of the control signal is provided.

Home Network, Infrared, Repeater, Remote Control, Home Appliance, Remote Control, Learning

Description

Home network system using a learning type remote control repeater and method thereof

1 is a schematic diagram showing a home network system using a learning type remote control repeater according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the learning type remote control repeater in the home network system of FIG.

3 is an exemplary diagram showing index information displayed on a display unit of a home gateway to facilitate infrared signal learning from a remote controller in the home network system of FIG. 1;

4 is an exemplary view showing a web page of a home gateway for generating a control signal for controlling a home appliance from a user terminal in the home network system of FIG.

 5 is a schematic diagram showing an application state of a home network system using the learning type remote control repeater of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart illustrating a method of learning an infrared signal of a remote controller in a remote control repeater in the home network system using the learning type remote controller repeater of FIG. 1; And

7 is a control flowchart illustrating a control method of a home appliance in a home network system using the learning type remote control repeater of FIG. 1.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: home appliance 20: user terminal

30: home gateway 31: display unit

32: infrared receiver 33: protocol generator

34: web server 40: remote control repeater

41: RS-485 interface 42: infrared signal storage unit

43: control signal receiver 44: infrared signal playback unit

45: infrared signal output unit 46: control unit

The present invention relates to a home network system and a method thereof, and more particularly, using a learning type remote control repeater capable of remotely controlling home appliances from a remote place through the Internet through learning of remote control infrared signals of home appliances used in a home. Home network system and method thereof.

In general, a home network system for automatically controlling home appliances in each household from each home or a remote place has been commercialized. Recently, a home network system for controlling the home appliances from a remote place using the Internet has been developed. have.

However, the conventional home network system focuses on the home appliances being connected by a communication bus so that only the home appliances are turned on / off from a remote place, for example, to operate a boiler or an air conditioner to maintain a constant temperature. There is no control over the function.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, when a remote control signal for controlling the home appliances is learned and stored in a plurality of remote control repeaters and a control signal for controlling the home appliances from a remote user terminal is transmitted to the home gateway, the home gateway Home network systems using a remote control repeater for transmitting the control signal to the remote control repeater having an address corresponding to the control signal to control home appliances have emerged.

However, in the home network systems using the remote control repeater, the addresses of the home appliances and the plurality of remote control repeaters installed in the plurality of spaces are controlled so that the home appliances corresponding to the control signal are controlled when the home network system is installed. There is a need to compare and install each other to correspond with each other.

In addition, home network systems using a conventional infrared repeater, when the remote control signal output from the remote control of the home appliances is input to the control signal to control the home appliances from the outside during the learning of the remote control repeater noise in the learning remote control signal This causes a problem that the remote control signal with noise generated in the remote control repeater is learned and malfunctions with the remote control command.

 Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a home network system and method using a learning type remote control repeater that can simultaneously transmit the control signals for controlling the home appliances to each of a plurality of remote control repeaters.

In addition, another object of the present invention is a home network system using a learning type remote control repeater that can prevent the external control signal that can be generated when the remote control signal from the remote control of the home appliances is input to the remote control repeater and its To provide a way.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to learn the infrared signal of the remote control of the home appliances in use in the home network using a learning type remote control repeater that can be controlled in the same way as the remote control the home appliance from the remote place over the Internet It is to provide a system and a method thereof.

According to the present invention, in the home network system, an infrared signal for controlling the function of each of the home appliances is input from a remote controller of the home appliances to generate a learning signal, and generate a control signal for reading the learned infrared signal. A home gateway; According to the learning signal, an infrared signal is learned and stored, and a home network system using a learning type remote control repeater including a plurality of remote control repeaters for reproducing and outputting an infrared signal by input of the control signal is provided.

In addition, the home gateway and the remote control repeater is preferably connected to the RS-485 communication line.

The home gateway may further include: a display unit for displaying index information corresponding to remote control signal learning to facilitate learning of an infrared signal from the remote control; An infrared receiver for receiving an infrared signal from the remote controller to correspond to the index information; A protocol generator for generating a protocol corresponding to the infrared signal; A web server having a web page for representing the protocol by a corresponding icon or menu; And a control unit electrically connected to the display unit, the infrared receiver, the protocol generator, and the web server to control the components.

In addition, it is preferable to block the input of the control signal while the learning signal is input and the infrared signal of the remote controller required for learning is input to the infrared receiver of the home gateway.

The remote control repeater may include an interface unit connected to the home gateway through a communication line to perform data communication with the home gateway; An infrared signal storage unit for receiving and storing an electrical signal for an infrared signal input to the infrared receiver of the home gateway through the interface unit; A control signal receiver for receiving the control signal; An infrared signal reproducing unit for reproducing the corresponding infrared signal of the infrared signal storing unit by the control signal of the control signal receiving unit; An infrared output unit for outputting an infrared signal reproduced by the infrared signal reproducing unit; And a control unit electrically connected to the interface, the infrared signal storing unit, the control signal receiving unit, the infrared signal reproducing unit, and the infrared signal output unit to control the respective components.

In addition, the display unit is preferably a touch screen.

On the other hand, in the home network method according to the present invention, an infrared signal for controlling the function of each of the home appliances is input from a remote controller of the home appliances to generate a learning signal, and to control the signal to read the learned infrared signal A home gateway for creating; A plurality of remote control repeaters for learning and storing an infrared signal according to the learning signal and reproducing and outputting an infrared signal by input of the control signal, and a user interface function corresponding to learning of a remote control infrared signal of the home gateway; The first step is selected and the index information corresponding to the remote control infrared signal learning is selected and displayed on the output of the home gateway; A second step of receiving an infrared signal corresponding to the selected index information from a remote controller of the home appliance; And a third step of generating a protocol having the input infrared signal stored in the remote control repeater through an RS-485 communication line connecting the home gateway and the remote control repeater and having index information on the infrared signal. desirable.

In addition, when the index information corresponding to the learning is selected by the first step and the infrared signal according to the second step is input, it is preferable to block the input of the control signal for reading the previously learned infrared signal. .

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and effect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a home network system using a learning type remote control repeater according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a learning type remote control repeater in the home network system of FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing index information displayed on a display unit of a home gateway to facilitate infrared signal learning from a remote control in the home network system of FIG. 1, and FIG. Exemplary diagram illustrating a web page of a home gateway for generating a control signal for controlling a home appliance.

1 and 2, the home network system using the learning type remote control repeater according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a user terminal 20, a home appliance for controlling home appliances 10 in a home from a remote location Infrared signals for controlling the functions of each of the home appliances 10 are learned in advance from a remote controller of the devices 10 so that the user terminal 20 generates a control signal for the home appliances 10. A plurality of remote control repeaters connected to the gateway 30 and the home gateway 30 by an RS-485 line for controlling the home appliance 10 such as a TV, an air conditioner and an audio with respect to the control signal of the user terminal 20 ( 40).

As shown in FIG. 1, the user terminal 20 generates a control signal for controlling home appliances 10 in a home at a remote location and is connected to the home gateway 30 through the Internet. Or a mobile communication terminal such as a cellular phone or PDA capable of wireless transmission and reception. Here, the user terminal 20 is preferably provided with an internet browser that can display a web page to enable wired and wireless Internet communication with the outside through a wired or wireless interface.

The Internet includes an Internet network using a TCP / IP protocol that can be wired and a WAP protocol that can be wirelessly connected.

1 and 4, the home gateway 30, the user interface (User) to facilitate the learning of the infrared signal for controlling each function of the home appliances 10 from the remote control of the home appliances 10 in the home (User) Interface (UI) function to display the index information corresponding to the remote control infrared signal learning through the display unit 31, the home appliance 10 from the remote control of the home appliances 10 in the home to correspond to the index information selected by the user Infrared receiver 32 for receiving an infrared signal for controlling each function of the), a protocol generator 33 for generating a protocol corresponding to the infrared signal, a web for representing the protocol by a corresponding icon or menu A web server 34 having a page and a controller 35 electrically connected to the components, for electrically controlling the components. It includes.

Here, the display unit 31 is preferably a touch screen panel for selecting the index information from an external user.

In addition, the index information displayed on the display unit 31, as shown in Figure 3, the upper structure shows the type of home appliances 10 in the house, and the lower structure shows each function of the home appliance 10. .

Therefore, when learning the remote control infrared signal, the type of home appliance 10 to be learned from the index information displayed on the display unit 31 and each function of the selected home appliance 10 is selected and then the selected home appliance 10 Infrared signals for respective functions of the selected home appliance 10 are input to the infrared receiver 32 from the remote controller.

The protocol generated by the protocol generator 33 is configured to correspond only to index information to which the infrared signal is input.

In addition, the web page displayed by the user interface function in the web server 34, as shown in Figure 4, is configured to only correspond to the protocol, the home appliance in the home where the infrared signal is input to the upper structure ( 10 shows an icon or menu for a protocol indicating a type of the information, and a substructure shows an icon or a menu for a protocol representing each function of the home appliances 10 to which the infrared signal is input.

Accordingly, the icon or menu for the type of home appliance 10 and its functions to be controlled by the user terminal 20 connected to the web page of the web server 34 by the Internet is selected, and the selected corresponding A control signal having index information of a protocol corresponding to an icon or a menu is generated.

In addition, the infrared receiver 32 includes an optical diode, an amplifier, a band pass filter, a detector amplifier, and a waveform shaper, and outputs an infrared signal received from a remote controller of the home appliances 10 through a photodiode with a corresponding current. Amplifies the signal output from the photodiode through an amplifier, filters the amplified signal through a bandpass filter to remove high frequency noise, and amplifies the detected signal with respect to the frequency modulated signal from the bandpass filter through a detector amplifier The waveform of the signal detected and amplified by the waveform shaper may be shaped and output.

In addition, the home gateway 30 is a communication point serving as an entrance to different networks, and converts data transmitted between the Internet network and the home network system network using different data communication protocols into data suitable for each communication network. It provides integrated services of voice, video, and data to fulfill its role, and provides intelligent protocol conversion and dynamic priority between heterogeneous devices connected to the bandwidth and quality of service (QoS) and home network system networks from the access network. It is recommended to have an integrated service gateway (ISG) that has a function to designate a network, transfer content, manage, diagnose, and upgrade remotely, and has remote control capability and high-speed WAN and LAN access.

1, 2, and 4, the remote control repeater 40 is connected to the home gateway 30 by an RS-485 line and has an RS-485 interface for data communication with the home gateway 30. (41), through the RS-485 interface 41 through the infrared signal storage unit 42, RS-485 interface 41 for receiving and storing electrical signals from the infrared receiver 32 of the home gateway 30 through the RS-485 interface 41 Control signal receiving unit 43, control signal for receiving a control signal (index information for the protocol corresponding to the icon or menu of the web server 34 selected by the user terminal 20) transmitted from the user terminal 20, Analyze and check the control signal of the receiving unit 43 and compare it with the electrical signal stored in the infrared signal storage unit 42 in advance to input the electrical signal corresponding to the control signal to the infrared receiving unit 32 of the home gateway 30. Same as infrared signal Infrared signal reproducing section 44 for reproducing line signals and infrared signal reproducing section 45 and RS-485 interface 41 for outputting infrared signals reproduced by the infrared signal reproducing section 44, infrared signal storage And a control section 46 which is electrically connected to the section 42, the control signal receiving section 43, the infrared signal reproducing section 44, and the infrared signal output section 45 to control the respective components.

In addition, the remote control repeater 40 can learn about the remote control of the home appliances 10 using all the carrier frequencies (Carrier Frequency), it is preferable to be able to learn the infrared signal of the remote control for up to 1024 functions.

Here, the RS-485 line performs a function of an interface for transmitting data received from the home gateway 30 to the remote control repeater 40. In addition, the RS-485 line is designed to replace RS-232, a standard for conventional serial communication interfaces, and upgrades RS-400, a standard interface for connecting serial devices approved by the EIA, to between 32 and 32 points. It should be a standard that can transmit data.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an application state of a home network system using the learning type remote control repeater of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an infrared signal of the remote control learned in the remote control repeater in the home network system using the learning type remote control repeater of FIG. 1. 7 is a control flowchart illustrating a method, and FIG. 7 is a control flowchart illustrating a control method of a home appliance in a home network system using the learning type remote control repeater of FIG. 1.

First, an infrared signal from a remote controller of home appliances will be described in the home gateway to learn how to learn the remote controller.

5 and 6, when a user interface (UI) function corresponding to the remote control signal learning of the home gateway 30 is selected by the user, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit of the home gateway 30. Index information corresponding to the remote control signal learning is displayed at step 31.

Thereafter, index information to be learned is selected from the index information displayed on the display unit 33 by the user (step 51).

Thereafter, an infrared signal for controlling a function of the home appliance 10 is input from the remote controller of the home appliance 10 to the infrared receiver 32 of the home gateway 30 so as to correspond to the selected index information (step 52). ).

Thereafter, the infrared signal is converted into an electrical signal by the infrared receiver 32 of the home gateway 30 and stored in the infrared signal storage unit 42 of the remote control repeater 40 through the RS-485 line (step 53). .

Subsequently, a protocol having index information with respect to the infrared signal is generated by the protocol generation unit 33 of the home gateway 30, and as shown in FIG. 4, a corresponding icon is displayed on the web page of the web server 34. Or a menu is displayed (step 54).

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, 'air conditioner' among the home appliances 10 is selected from the user on the index information displayed on the display unit 31 of the home gateway 30. Thereafter, an infrared signal for controlling functions such as 'on', 'off', and 'appropriate temperature maintenance' for controlling the 'air conditioner' from the remote controller of the 'air conditioner' is transmitted to the infrared receiver 32 of the home gateway 30. It is sequentially input and converted into a corresponding electrical signal is stored in the infrared signal storage unit 42 of the remote control repeater 40 through the RS-485 line. Subsequently, a protocol corresponding to the infrared signal is generated by the protocol generation unit 33 of the home gateway 30, and as shown in FIG. 4, the 'air conditioner' is placed on the web page of the web server 34. The icon or menu is displayed.

Here, the home gateway 30 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention blocks external noise that may be generated when the remote control repeater 40 is learned. That is, when a signal for progressing learning of the remote control repeater 40 is input to the home gateway 30, the home gateway 30 is a remote controller of the home appliances 10 that may be input from the outside of the user terminal 20. Block the gate to which the control signal can be input.

As such, the home gateway 30 blocks external control signals that may be generated during the learning of the remote control repeater 40, thereby preventing noise caused by overlapping of the external control signals and the learning signals.

In addition, the home gateway 30 simultaneously inputs the same learning signal to the plurality of remote control repeaters 40 respectively installed in a plurality of places when the remote control repeater 40 is learning, and thus the infrared signal storage unit 42 of the remote control repeater 40 is provided. Each input is stored in).

Therefore, the remote control repeater 40 using the home gateway 30 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention simultaneously transmits the control signal learned by each remote control repeater 40 to the infrared signal generator of each remote control repeater 40 ( 45), it is not necessary to specify separate addresses for the plurality of remote control repeaters 40, respectively.

As such, by not designating an address for the plurality of remote control repeaters 40, a contractor of the remote control repeater 40 may reduce the time and cost required for installing the remote control repeater 40.

Hereinafter, the home network method using the learning type remote control repeater according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a user interface corresponding to home appliance control of the home gateway 30 from the user terminal 20 connected to the web server 34 of the home gateway 30 by the Internet. If the (UI) function is selected, the web page corresponding to the home appliance control is displayed on the web server 34 of the home gateway 30 as shown in FIG. 4 (step 60).

Thereafter, the icon or menu of the web page is selected by the user terminal 20 connected to the web server 34 of the home gateway 30 to control the home appliance 10 (the icon or the control signal). Index information of the protocol corresponding to the menu) is generated (step 61).

Thereafter, the control signal input to the web server 34 of the home gateway 30 is received by the control signal receiver 43 of the remote control repeater 40 through the RS-485 line (step 62).

Thereafter, the infrared signal reproducing unit 44 of the remote control repeater 40 detects an electrical signal of the infrared signal storing unit 42 corresponding to the index information of the control signal, and the infrared rays of the home gateway 30 during the remote control signal learning. The infrared signal inputted to the receiver 32 is reproduced with the same infrared signal (step 63).

Thereafter, the infrared signal output unit 45 of the remote control repeater 40 outputs the infrared signal of the infrared signal reproduction unit 44 to the infrared receiver (not shown) of the home appliance 10 (step 64).

Thereafter, the infrared signal is received by the infrared receiver (not shown) of the home appliance 10 to control the home appliance (step 65).

That is, as shown in Figure 4, the home terminal 30 is located in the living room in the home on the web page corresponding to the home appliance control of the web server 34 from the user terminal 20 connected to the web server 34 of the home gateway (30) If a control signal for 'ON' is generated in the menu of 'control selection' after the selected 'air conditioner' is selected, index information of the control signal is received by the remote control repeater 40 through the RS-485 line and the control is performed. The infrared signal corresponding to the signal is reproduced and output to the 'air conditioner' as an infrared signal.

Therefore, the 'air conditioner' is turned on, and the operating state of the 'air conditioner' is recognized by the user terminal 20 through the galvanizing device which detects a small current in a power line input to the home gateway 30.

In addition, in order to maintain a constant temperature of the 'air conditioner' to generate a control signal for the 'maintain constant temperature' in the menu of 'control selection' may maintain a constant indoor temperature. Therefore, it is possible to control not only the operating state of the 'air conditioner' but also to control the operation state of all functions of the 'air conditioner' with the remote controller.

In addition, the same control signal is transmitted to each of the plurality of remote control repeaters 40 connected to the home gateway 30 through an RS-485 line, thereby providing an address for controlling each of the plurality of remote control repeaters 40. Easy to install and control as it is not needed.

On the other hand, the home network system according to the present invention, the galvanic device for detecting a small current in the power line input to the home appliance to the home gateway 30 to determine whether the operation state of the home appliance is properly It is further installed to output an AC voltage corresponding to the current flowing in the power supply line when the home appliances in the home on / off, and the on-off of the home appliances in the home by a voltage comparator through a threshold that converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage On the basis of the voltage value that can be identified / off, it is preferable to recognize that the DC voltage is turned on when the DC voltage is greater than or equal to the reference voltage value and turned off when the DC voltage is lower than the reference voltage value.

In the above-described invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should not be defined by the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims and their equivalents.

As described above, according to the present invention, a control signal for controlling the home appliances is simultaneously transmitted to each of the plurality of remote control repeaters for controlling the home appliances, so that the remote control repeater is installed to correspond to the address of the home appliances. There is no need to save time and money when installing the remote control repeater.                     

In addition, the home gateway blocks the external control signal that may be generated during the learning of the remote control repeater to prevent noise that can be input to the remote control repeater, so that the more accurate learning signal can be stored and reproduced by the remote control repeater. have.

In addition, by learning the remote control function of the home appliances used in the home and generating a control signal for it through the Internet from a remote place, it is convenient to control the home appliances with a remote control anytime and anywhere without being constrained by time and space. It can be controlled in the same way and can automatically adjust various home appliances in the home to maximize user convenience.

Claims (8)

In a home network system, A home gateway for inputting an infrared signal for controlling a function of each of the home appliances from a remote controller of the home appliances to generate a learning signal, and for generating a control signal for reading the learned infrared signal; And a plurality of remote control repeaters for learning and storing an infrared signal according to the learning signal and for reproducing and outputting an infrared signal by input of the control signal. The home network system using a learning type remote control repeater according to claim 1, wherein the home gateway and the remote control repeater are connected by an RS-485 communication line. The method of claim 1, wherein the home gateway, A display unit for displaying index information corresponding to remote control signal learning to facilitate learning of an infrared signal from the remote control; An infrared receiver for receiving an infrared signal from the remote controller to correspond to the index information; A protocol generator for generating a protocol corresponding to the infrared signal; A web server having a web page for representing the protocol by a corresponding icon or menu; And And a control unit electrically connected to the display unit, the infrared receiver unit, the protocol generator unit, and the web server to control the respective units. The home network using a learning type remote control repeater according to claim 3, wherein the learning signal is input to block input of the control signal while the infrared signal of the remote controller required for learning is input to the infrared receiver of the home gateway. system. The method of claim 3, wherein the remote control repeater, An interface unit connected to the home gateway by a communication line to perform data communication with the home gateway; An infrared signal storage unit for receiving and storing an electrical signal for an infrared signal input to the infrared receiver of the home gateway through the interface unit; A control signal receiver for receiving the control signal; An infrared signal reproducing unit for reproducing the corresponding infrared signal of the infrared signal storing unit by the control signal of the control signal receiving unit; An infrared output unit for outputting an infrared signal reproduced by the infrared signal reproducing unit; And A home network system using a learning type remote control repeater, which is electrically connected to the interface, the infrared signal storing unit, the control signal receiving unit, the infrared signal reproducing unit, and the infrared signal output unit. . The home network system using a learning type remote control repeater according to claim 3, wherein the display unit is a touch screen. In the home network method, A home gateway for inputting an infrared signal for controlling a function of each of the home appliances from a remote controller of the home appliances to generate a learning signal, and for generating a control signal for reading the learned infrared signal; And a plurality of remote control repeaters for learning and storing an infrared signal according to the learning signal and for reproducing and outputting an infrared signal by input of the control signal, A first step of selecting a user interface function corresponding to the remote control IR signal learning of the home gateway and selecting and displaying index information corresponding to the remote control infrared signal learning on an output of the home gateway; A second step of receiving an infrared signal corresponding to the selected index information from a remote controller of the home appliance; And And a third step of generating a protocol having the input infrared signal stored in the remote control repeater through an RS-485 communication line connecting the home gateway and the remote control repeater and having index information for the infrared signal. Home network method using a learning type remote control repeater. The method of claim 7, wherein when the index information corresponding to the learning is selected by the first step and the infrared signal according to the second step is input, the input of the control signal for reading out the previously learned infrared signal is blocked. Home network method using a learning type remote control repeater, characterized in that.

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