KR20070036909A - An internet home-network management methode by using the computer installed with a power line controller - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a home power control method in the home network management system configuration using the Internet to remotely manage the operation or power status of the home appliances connected to the home network through the Internet using a computer, a mobile phone, or a PDA, etc. The present invention relates to a method for managing an Internet home network system using a computer having a power line control function in which a power line control device is configured inside a computer to implement power line control.

According to the present invention, when a user executes a login to access a server and clicks his home connection icon, the home appliance connected to the user's home computer registered in the database of the server can be controlled and managed. In this case, the present invention uses a power line control method as a method of controlling and controlling home appliances in the home.

The existing power line control method uses a method of connecting a control signal distribution device (called a power line control modem, or PLC (Power Line Control)) to a computer using an RS-232C serial communication method or an RJ45 connector using a LAN line. Although installed outside the computer, in the present invention, the control signal distribution device is configured in the computer, and the home appliance control information is transmitted and received through the power supply terminal to which the computer is connected. This makes it easy to develop software for controlling and managing various home appliances, and also makes it impossible for users to know the existence of a control signal distribution device (or power line control modem) at all.

In addition, the control signal distribution device (or power line control modem) may be configured by mounting a PCI card module inside a computer, such as a LAN card. In this case, the home appliance control information may also be connected to the power supply terminal of the computer. Send and receive via

Accordingly, the present invention enables a function of automatically finding and installing a device in a Windows OS when a home appliance having a new function is connected to a home power line. In addition, it supports Plug and Play (PnP) function regardless of the standard of various home appliances, and automatically registers the drive programs of various products to control and manage home appliances with unique functions. To help. In addition, when a patch file of a new function for each home appliance is provided, the upgrade may be automatically performed through the Internet.

The present invention allows users or home appliance manufacturers to develop home appliances having their own unique functions, and to install drive information of each product on a computer, as existing video cards or LAN cards are automatically recognized and used by computers. By doing so, the user can control and manage various home appliances. In addition, when a new function device of home appliances is recognized by the server computer, when the server and the computer are connected, the user can select the type of product added from the server, so that the control function of the new product is added to the server, To allow remote control.

Description

{An Internet Home-Network Management Methode by using the Computer installed with a Power Line Controller}

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a method for managing an Internet home network system using a computer having a power line control function;

2 is a flowchart of a user login program;

3 is a flowchart of a security device program;

4 is a flowchart of a home connection program;

5 is a home computer ip registration program flow chart,

6 is a server side home computer ip registration program flow chart,

7 is a flowchart of a control device selection program;

8 is a flowchart of a video camera control information storage program;

9 is a flowchart of a lighting control information storing program;

10 is a flowchart of an air conditioner control information storage program;

11 is a flowchart of a VCR control information storage program;

12A is an upper portion of a device management program flowchart;

12B is a bottom portion of a device management program flow diagram,

13A is an upper portion of a power line control transmit / receive module program flowchart;

13B is a bottom portion of a power line control transmit / receive module program flow diagram,

14 is an example of a protocol for controlling and managing home appliances;

15 is a circuit diagram of a power line control signal distribution device;

16 is a PCI partial circuit diagram of a power line control signal distribution device;

17 is a manufacturing circuit diagram of a power line control transmission and reception module attached to a home appliance;

18 is a flowchart of an end program;

19 is a flowchart of Plug and Play (PnP) program;

20 is a configuration diagram of a wireless home network system.

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

10: user computer 12: PDA

14: cell phone 20: server

30: DB (Database) 40: Home Computer

45: security device 50: TV

52: VCR 54: gas valve

60: video camera 62: air conditioning

64: lighting 64: lighting

70: refrigerator 80: lock

85: telephone line 90: communication line (or internet line)

92: telephone station 94: base station

95: power outlet 96: power line control transceiver module

97: control signal distribution device

The present invention corresponds to the home network configuration technology, the existing home network is a server is installed in the apartment complex, each home is connected to the server through the network line, the user is connected to the apartment server to connect the home appliances in the home The control management structure is used. In such a configuration, when a hacker breaks into the server, there is a risk of exposing home appliance control management of all homes, so that users are unstable and unreliable, and a management expensive structure in which a management server must be placed in an apartment complex. There is a problem that the network construction of the house is the reason that the home network market is not activated. Home appliances are used by using a power supply power line (power line control: PLC) or wirelessly connected to the gateway, the gateway is not capable of supporting a variety of software, and also has a problem that does not support a variety of communication protocols .

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the present invention in particular using a computer connected to the Internet as a home network management device, using a computer, mobile phone, PDA, etc. It allows you to manage the operation or power status of home appliances connected to the network. That is, when a user logs in and accesses a server and clicks his home connection icon, the home appliances connected to the home network can be used through the server. At this time, the home may be called by using the voice recognition function.

In addition, in order to solve the weak security problem of the existing home network configuration, the user can remotely control the operation of the control signal distribution device by using a phone number and a password. We want to control the devices. That is, while the control signal distribution device is operating, the home computer connects to the server and registers ip information of the home computer and status information of the home appliances, and retrieves control management information of devices connected to the home network input by the user from the server. I want to control and control home appliances.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by mounting the home appliance control module in the computer, it is possible to process a variety of software for controlling home appliances by using a PC-based powerful operating system, memory, CPU, and various home appliances each have a unique function and It is manufactured with features so that not only the unique functions of each home appliance can be realized by the drive of the product registered in the operating system, but also various communication protocols suitable for each home appliance can be implemented in the operating system. It enables the development of products with various functions.

In particular, by providing Plug and Play (PnP) function, a new home appliance is automatically recognized by a computer simply by plugging it into a home power supply. The control function has been added to provide the ability to control remotely.

In addition, the use of a computer connected to the Internet has the advantage that the program upgrade of each home appliance is easily performed automatically or manually through the Internet.

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

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a method for managing an Internet home network system using a computer having a power line control function according to the present invention, wherein a user uses a computer 10 outside the home to communicate with a telephone line switch through a communication line 90. To the base station 94 wirelessly using the PDA 12 or the mobile phone 14, and to the server 20 via the telephone station 92, The authentication process is performed using its information stored in the DB 30. The user dials his home and enters the password into the security device 45 connected to the telephone line 85, and if the correct password is entered to operate the control signal distribution device 97, at this time, the computer Selecting and managing home appliances through a power outlet 95 for supplying power to various home appliances connected to the computer 40 of their home by performing the home computer ip registration program of FIG. By transmitting and receiving control information, it controls and manages all home appliances connected to the home computer 40. The device management program installed in the computer 40 includes all home appliances equipped with the power line control transmission / reception module 96 in the home, that is, the TV 50, the VTR 52, the thru valve 54, the video camera 60, Operation commands such as air conditioning 62, lighting 64, refrigerator 70, letter lock 80, and the like can be transmitted and received through the control signal distribution device 97 so as to remotely control home appliances connected to the home power outlet. . At this time, the control signal distribution device 97 is manufactured to be integrated into the computer 40, or can be mounted in the form of a PCI card like a video card.

2 is a flowchart of the user login program of the present invention. When the user connects to the server 20 using the computer 10, the PDA 12, or the mobile phone 14, the server 20 executes the login program. Start (s204), receive the user id, user password, social security number, phone number, other information (s206), and search the information stored in the member management DB 30 of the server 20 using the input information In operation S212, the search result confirms that the user is registered as a member (S210). If the user is not registered, an error message is output to the user to request re-entry of user information or to register a member (S212). However, if the registration information matches, the user enters a login state and establishes a session in the user's computer 10 or PDA 12, or the mobile phone 14 and the server 20 (s215), and obtains an ip of the user terminal. The server 30 stores data in the DB 30 and data.txt of the server (s216), and executes the control device selection program of Fig. 7 (s224). When the user waits for a home connection request (s220), and if there is a connection request command, the user sets and stores connection_status = "false" in the DB 30 of the member information stored in the server 20, and FIG. Start the home connection program execution (s222) and then end the execution (s226).

3 is a flowchart of the security device 45 program for operating the control signal distribution device 97 of the user by the home connection program of the present invention. When the operation of the program starts (s302), the control signal distribution device ( A password for operating 97) is input, stored in a variable a (s304), and a state of waiting for a phone call (s306). When there is a telephone call, the user waits for input of a password (s308). When there is a password input, the input password is stored in a variable c (s309), and the input password c matches the number a set by the user. It is checked whether or not (s310). If the input password c does not match the number a set by the user, an error message is output (s311) and the password is re-entered (s308). If c and a coincide, the control signal distribution device 97 is operated (s312) and ends (s314).

4 is a flowchart of a home connection program of the present invention, when started by the login program (s402), the control signal distribution device 97 using the telephone number stored in the DB 30 of the server 20 stored by the user. A dial-up connection is executed at step s404. When the telephone connection is established, the password input by the user required for the operation of the control signal distribution apparatus 97 is transmitted (s406), and the program execution is terminated (s408).

5 is a flow chart of a home computer ip registration program of the present invention, when the control signal distribution device 97 is operated by the home connection program of FIG. 4, the user's home computer 40 attempts to connect to a server, and registers ip. Start the program execution (s502), home computer ip registration program using the user ID, user passwd, social security number ss, password, etc. stored in the home computer ip registration program in advance and the ip or url information (s504) of the server The server then connects to the server (s506) and terminates program execution (s508).

6 is a flowchart of a server-side home computer ip registration program of the present invention, which is started by a server connection of the home computer ip registration program (s602), and includes a user id, a user passwd, Receives the social security number ss, password, etc., finds the ip used by the user's home computer 40 from the server 20 access information of the home computer 40, sets it as home_ip (s604), and sets the server ( The user information stored in the DB 30 of 20) is compared with the information of the home computer ip registration program to determine whether they match (s608), and if they do not match, a process error message is output to the user (s620). However, if there is a match, the contents of home_ip are stored in the DB 30 of the server 20, respectively, in the DB with connetion_status = "true" (s610), and the execution of the program is terminated (s612).

7 is a flowchart of a control device selection program of the present invention, which is called by the login program of FIG. 2 and started (s702), and is stored in a user's computer 10, mobile phone 14, or PDA 12. Check the setting state (s704), if the session does not match, output a connection error message to the user (s708), save end = "true" in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s722), and The execution ends (s724). However, if the result of the session test matches, the user ID, user passwd, social security number ss, telephone number, etc. inputted to the user's computer are extracted from the login program of FIG. 2 (s710), and the user information of the DB 30. Read connection_status (s712) and check whether the status is "true" (s714), and if not "ture", the standby state (s713) for a predetermined time t, and continue to read connetion_status after t time (s712) Do this. If connection_status is "true", the user waits for a selection input of a home appliance to be controlled among the devices registered to the home computer 40 (s716), and if there is a selection of the home appliance, the selected value such as temperature value setting or time setting information is selected. In operation S718, the selected device control information storage program for controlling the home appliance is executed. If the user confirms whether to continue the operation (s720), and continues to perform the operation is a state waiting for the next control home appliance selection (s716). However, when end of work is selected, end = "true" is stored in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s722), and the execution of the program is terminated (s724).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a video camera control information storage program of the present invention, which is called by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 to start (s802), and if the video power control state is "on", the data of the server 20; Save cammera_request = "on" in the txt file (s806). 12A and 12B, the device management program checks the state of cammera_status stored in the server DB (s808), and if it is "off", it is in the standby state. However, if cammera_status = on ", the video program is executed using the user terminal ip and home_ip stored in the DB 30 (s810), and the user waits for the next control setting state (s804). When the power control setting state is "off", cammera_request = "off" is stored in the data.txt file of the server (s812), and the program execution is terminated (s816).

9 is a flowchart of a lighting control information storing program according to the present invention, which is called and started by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 (s902), checks the lighting power control setting state (s904), and the lighting power control state is "on". ", Light_request =" on "is stored in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s906), and the execution of the program is terminated (s910). However, when the lighting control setting state is "off", light_request = "off" is stored in the data.txt file of the server (s908), and the program execution is terminated (s910).

10 is a flow chart of the air conditioner control information storage program of the present invention, which is called and started by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 (s1002), checks the air conditioner power control setting state (s1004), and the air conditioner power control state is "on ", Store aircon_request =" on "in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s1006), check the temperature setting state (s1007), and if the temperature is set, the data.txt file of the server 20 The temperature setting information is stored in the Temperature variable, and the value of the setting temperature is stored (s1010), and program execution is terminated (s1009). However, when the air conditioner power control setting state becomes "off", aircon_request = "off" is stored in the data.txt file of the server (s1008), and the program execution is terminated (s1009).

11 is a flowchart of a VCR control information storage program of the present invention, which is called and started by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 (s1102), checks the VCR power control setting state (s1104), and the VCR power control state is " "on" stores vcr_request = "on" in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s1106), checks the recording / reservation status (s1108), and if the recording is selected, data.txt of the server 20 The recording channel information is stored in the file in the channel variable and the value of "recording" (s1110), and the program execution is terminated (s1114). However, if a reservation is selected, the reservation date and the reservation time are stored in the time variable, the recording channel setting information is stored in the channel variable, and the value of "reservation recording" is stored (s1112), and the program execution is terminated (s1114). However, when the VCR power control setting state becomes "off", vcr_request = "off" is stored in the data.txt file of the server (s1116), and the program execution is terminated (s1114).

12A is an upper portion of the device management program flow chart of the present invention, which is called and started when the home computer 40 connects to the server (s1202), and reads the data.txt file of the server 20 to display TV_request, aircon_request, light_request, The control state request information such as lock_request, gas_request, refreg_request, vcr_request, cammera_request, and end is read (s1204). check the value of end (s1205), and if this value is "false", check whether the state of TV_request is "null" (s1206); if not "null", examine the value of TV_request (s1208), and state of TV_request If the value is "off", the TV power is turned off (s1211). If the value is "on", the TV power is turned on (s1210), and a protocol suitable for the TV product is generated using the control management information as data.

Next, it is checked whether the state of aircon_request is "null" (s1212). If the state of aircon_request is "off", the aircon power is turned off (s1218). If the value is "on", the aircon power supply is turned on, the temperature is set to a value of "Temperature" (s1216), and the control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the aircon product.

Next, the light_request state is "null" (s1220). If it is not "null", the light_request value is checked (s1222). If the light_request state value is "off", the light is turned off (s1226). If the value is "on", the light power is turned on (s1224), and control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the light product.

Next, it is checked whether lock_request state is "null" (s1228). If it is not "null", the lock_request value is checked (s1230). If the lock_request state value is "off", the lock power is released (s1234). If the value is "on", the lock power supply is set to the locked state (s1232) and control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the Lock product.

Next, it is checked whether the state of gas_request is "null" (s1236). If it is not "null", the gas_request value is checked (s1238). If the state of gas_request is "off", the gas valve is opened (s1242). If the value is "on", the gas valve is in the closed state (s1240), and the control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the gas valve product.

12B is a lower portion of the device management program flow chart of the present invention, which will be described further with reference to FIG. 12A.

It is checked whether the state of refreg_request is "null" (s1244). If it is not "null", the value of refreg_request is checked (s1246). If the state value of refreg_request is "off", the power of refreg is changed to "off" state (s1250). If the value is "on", the refreg power supply is set to the "on" state (s1248), and a protocol suitable for a refrigerator product is generated using the control management information as data.

Next, check whether the state of the vcr_request is "null" (s1252). If not, check the value of vcr_request (s1254). If the state value of vcr_request is "off", the vcr power is "off" (s1264). If the value is "on", the vcr power supply is turned "on" (s1256). Reads "Recording" or "Scheduled Recording" value stored in the date.txt file of the server and checks whether it is in recording status (s1258). If it is "Recording", it reads the "channel" variable and records in vcr (s1260). do. However, in case of "reservation recording", the value of the "channel" variable and the reservation time "time" variable is read, and reservation recording is performed on vcr (s1262), and a protocol suitable for a VCR product is generated using the control management information as data.

Next, check whether the state of camera_request is "null" (s1266). If not "null", check the value of camera_request (s1268). If the state value of camera_request is "off", turn off the camera power (s1276). After reading the data.txt file of the server and proceeds to the state waiting for execution of the next operation (s1204). However, if the camera_request value is "on", the camera is turned on (s1270), and the home_ip and the user terminal ip are read from the server's data.txt (s1272), and camera_status = "on" to the DB (30) of the server. Save (s1274), run the video program connecting the user and the computer using these ip (s1274), and generates a protocol for the camera product using the control management information as data. The data.txt file of the server is read again, and the state proceeds to a state of waiting for execution of the next operation (s1104), and the control state request information such as end is read (s1204). If the value of end is checked (s1205), and this value is "true", it means that the user selects the end, and saves connection_status = "flase" in the DB 30 of the server 20 (s1278), and powers on the computer. Call the end program to turn off (s1280), and terminate the program execution (s1282).

13A is an upper portion of the power line control transmission / reception module program flow chart of the present invention, which is called and started by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 (s1302), checks whether the received information is a refrigerator selection protocol (s1304), and is a refrigerator protocol. If the included data is checked whether the power is on / off (s1306), if the refrigerator power is on, the refrigerator is turned on (s1308), if the refrigerator power is off, the refrigerator is powered off (s1310). However, if it is not the refrigerator protocol, it is checked whether it is a TV selection protocol (s1312). If it is a TV selection protocol, it is checked whether the included data is turned on / off (s1314). s1316), and the TV power is turned off (s1318) when the TV power is off. However, if it is not the TV selection protocol, it is checked whether it is an aircon selection protocol (s1322). If it is an aircon selection protocol, it is checked whether the included data is turned on / off (s1324). If the aircon power is on, the aircon power is turned on. Then, the temperature is set to a value stored in "Temperature" (s1326), and the aircon power is turned off (s1328) when the aircon power is off. However, if it is not the aircon selection protocol, it is checked whether it is a light selection protocol (s1332). If it is a light selection protocol, it is checked whether the included data is turned on / off (s1334). If the light power is on, the light is turned on. In operation S1336, when the light power is Off, the light power is turned off (s1338).

However, if it is not the light selection protocol, it is checked whether it is the lock selection protocol (s1342). If it is the lock selection protocol, it is checked whether the included data is on / off power (s1344). If the lock power is on, the lock power is turned on. If the lock power is Off, the lock power is turned off (s1348).

However, if it is not the lock selection protocol, it is checked whether it is a gas selection protocol (s1352). If it is a gas selection protocol, it is checked whether the data is turned on / off (s1354). If the gas power is on, the gas power is turned on. (s1356) If the gas power is Off state, turn off the gas power (s1358).

FIG. 13B is a lower portion of the power line control transmit / receive module program flow chart of the present invention.

If it is not the gas selection protocol, it is checked whether it is the VCR selection protocol (s1362). If it is the VCR selection protocol, it is checked whether the included data is turned on / off (s1364). If the VCR power is on, the VCR power is turned on (s1366). If the VCR power is Off, turn off the VCR power (s1368). However, if it is not the VCR selection protocol, it is checked whether it is a camera selection protocol (s1372). If it is a camera selection protocol, it is checked whether the included data is on / off the camera (s1374). s1376), if the camera is in the Off selection state, the camera is powered off (s1378), and program execution is terminated (s1382).

14 shows an example of a protocol for controlling and controlling home appliances. Home computers and home appliances receive frame start bytes to indicate the beginning of frames when sending and receiving data, user home addresses to prevent confusion with neighbors, source addresses to send frames, destination addresses to deliver frames, and home appliance control management information. Is composed of data, and a CRC check byte for transmission and reception error check, and a frame end byte indicating the end of the frame. Although various protocols are produced for each home appliance, if the same protocol is used only between the home computer 40 and the power line control transmission / reception module 96, the communication may not be a problem.

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram of a power line control signal distribution device according to the present invention and shows an example in which an ST7537 IC manufactured by SGS Thomson MicroElectronics is used.

FIG. 16 is a PCI partial circuit diagram of the power line control signal distribution device of the present invention, which allows the power line control signal distribution device of FIG. 15 to be attached to a computer as a PCI card.

Of course, the circuit of FIG. 15 may be manufactured by being integrally included in the computer main board.

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of a power line control transmission / reception module attached to a home appliance according to the present invention, which is used together with FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a termination program. When the call is started by the device management program of FIG. 12A (s1502), a telephone connection to the security device 45 is executed using the telephone number input by the user (s1504). When the telephone connection is established, the password of the DB necessary for stopping the operation of the control signal distribution device 97 is output to the security device 45 (s1506), and the program execution is terminated (s1508).

19 is a flowchart of a Plug and Play (PnP) program that is frequently executed to automatically register a home appliance when a new home appliance is connected to a power supply line in the computer 40. Start (S1902), and if there is a new home appliance connected to the power supply line (S1904), and if a new home appliance is found (S1906), and if a matching drive is found (S1908) If a drive is found, the drive is installed (S1910). If there is no drive, the user designates the drive for installation (S1912) and terminates the plug and play program (S1914).

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a wireless home network system in which a control signal distribution device 97 and a power line control transmission / reception module 96 are wirelessly connected.

Referring to the operation of the present invention configured as described above and the effect thereof is as follows.

Referring to each of the above figures, in FIG. 1, a user may use a terminal, that is, a computer station 92 or a base station 94, via a communication line 90 using a computer 10, a mobile phone 14, or a PDA 12. The telephone station 92 is in turn connected to the server 20 via a communication line 90. The connected user undergoes user authentication (s210) by the user login program of FIG. 2, and if the user authentication result is a registered member, waits for the user's control device selection (s716), and when the device selection is completed (s718), The control information is stored in the server (s806). Waiting for a home connection request (s220), when the user requests a home connection, executes a home connection program (s222), and at this time, the server executes a phone call to the security device 45 using the user's phone number information. When the control signal distribution device 97 is requested to operate, the security device 45 executes the security device program to execute the operation of the control signal distribution device 97 (s312). When the control signal distribution device 97 operates, the computer executes the home computer ip registration program of FIG. 5 and accesses the server-side home computer ip registration program (s506) to inform the server of the ip assigned to the home computer. . The server-side home computer ip registration program of FIG. 6 obtains the ip of the home computer from the server access information of the home computer and stores it in the server. When the user selects the home appliance by executing the control device selection program of FIG. 7 (s718), and stores the control information of the selected home appliance in the server (Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11), the home computer Each of the home appliances is controlled by executing the device management programs of Figs. 12A and 12B which read these control information from the server. When the home computer transmits a control signal to the power line control transmission / reception module 96 of each home appliance through a power outlet, the power line control transmission / reception module 96 executes the power line control transmission / reception module programs of FIGS. 13A and 13B to execute the corresponding home appliance. To manage the power and operating status (s1308, s1310). At this time, the home computer transmits the control information to the power line control transmission and reception module 96 through the power line of the home using the control signal distribution device 97, and after the transfer responds the result of the control information to the server, the server responds The information is stored in the DB, transmitted to the user terminal, and the operation of the control signal distribution device 97 is stopped by executing the termination program of FIG. 18 to block the home network function.

Therefore, the configuration of the present invention is as follows: the user terminal (10, 12, 14); A home computer 40 for controlling home appliances connected to a home network; And, it is composed of a server 20, the two devices are connected to the server 20 through a communication network 90, the server 20 is

A first step of executing a program for finding the ip of the user terminal when the user requests a connection to the server (Fig. 2);

A second step (Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11) of receiving information through a communication network from the user connected to the server to control and manage the devices connected to the home network;

 A third step (Fig. 5, Fig. 6) of executing a program for finding the ip of the home computer when the home computer managing the home network home appliance is connected to the server;

The second step executes the program of the fourth step (Fig. 12, Fig. 13) to enable the remote control by transmitting the information to control the home appliances connected to the home network input by the user to the home computer.

7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are programs for receiving home appliance control information from a user and storing them in a server using text or button format input of a flash or html document, or Receive information from the user graphically. At this time, the color or shape of the button reads the corresponding information from the DB of the server and displays the information on the user terminal, so that the user may request what work and the execution result of the home computer. Of course, the user control information and the home computer execution result are stored in the server.

As a method for the server to find the home computer ip, the present invention uses a method of executing the security device program of FIG. 3 and the home connection program of FIG. That is, when the user successfully logs in to the server, the program of FIG. 4 executes a telephone connection to the security device 45 using the telephone number input by the user (s404), and when the telephone connection is established, the control signal distribution device ( The password input by the user required for the operation of the 97) is output to the security device 45 (s406). Then, the security device 45 executes a security device program for operating the control signal distribution device 97, and the password and the control signal distribution device 97 for the operation of the control signal distribution device 97 previously operated by the user. In the state of receiving a password for stopping the password in advance (s304) and receiving a telephone call, waiting for input of a password from the server (s308), if a password is entered, the entered password is entered. The number is stored in the variable c (s309), and it is checked whether or not the input password c matches the number a set by the user (s310). If the input password c and the number a set by the user do not match, an error message is output (s311) and the password is re-entered (s308). If c and a coincide, an operation of operating the control signal distribution device 97 is performed (s312), so that the computer automatically executes the home computer ip registration program of FIG. In the home computer ip registration program of FIG. 5, when the control signal distribution device 97 is operated, the home computer starts executing the ip registration program (s502), and the user ID, user passwd, and resident stored in advance in the home computer ip registration program. Using the information such as the number ss and the password and the url information (s504) of the server ip registration program, the server-side home computer ip registration program is accessed (s506). When the home computer is connected to the server, the server side home computer ip registration program of FIG. 6 is connected, and the user ID, user passwd, social security number ss, password, and the like transmitted from the user's home computer 40 are inputted. Find the ip used by the user's home computer 40 from the server 20 access information of the 40, set it to home_ip (s604), and store the user information and home stored in the DB 30 of the server 20. Comparing the information of the computer ip registration program to determine whether the match (s608), and if it does not match, outputs a processing error message to the user (s620). However, if there is a match, the contents of home_ip are stored in data.txt and DB 30 of the server 20 and stored in the DB as connetion_status = "true" (s610) to find home_ip.

Information controlling the home appliances connected to the home network is stored in the server by the programs of FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, and the home computer stores the information stored in the server by the programs of FIGS. The control signal distribution device 97, the power line, and the power line control transmission / reception module 96 are transmitted to the home appliances connected to the home network and read from the server, and the control signals are transmitted to each home appliance. The power line control transmission / reception module 96 program controls the power supply of each home appliance, and enables remote control to execute operations of the vcr and the camera.

The following is an example of storing the user's control information in the server as follows based on the drawings.

First, when the user successfully logs in to the server through the user login program of FIG. 2, the control device selection program of FIG. 7 is executed, and the user's computer 10, the mobile phone 14, or the PDA 12 is executed. Check the stored session configuration state (s704), and if the session does not match, output a connection error message to the user (s708), store end = "true" in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s722), The execution of the program is terminated (s724). However, if the result of the session test matches, information such as user ID, user passwd, social security number ss, telephone number, etc. inputted to the user's computer is extracted from the user login program of FIG. 2 (s710), and the user of the DB 30 After reading connection_status among information (s712) and checking if the status is "true" (s714), if not "ture", the standby state (s713) for a fixed time t (s713), and continuously reading connetion_status after t time (s712) Do the work. If connection_status is "true", the user waits for a selection input of a home appliance to be controlled among the home appliances connected to the control signal distribution device 97 of the home computer 40 (s716), and when the home appliance is selected, the temperature value The selected device control information storage program for controlling the selected home appliance, such as setting or time setting information, is executed (s718). If the user confirms whether to continue the operation (s720), and continues to perform the operation is a state waiting for the next control home appliance selection (s716). However, when end of work is selected, end = "true" is stored in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s722), and the execution of the program is terminated (s724). When the user selects the video control device, the video camera control information storage program of FIG. 8 is executed, and when the video power control state is "on", cammera_request = "on" is stored in the data.txt file of the server 20. (s806). 12A and 12B, the device management program checks the state of cammera_status stored in the server DB (s808), and if it is "off", it is in the standby state. However, if cammera_status = on ", the video program is executed using the user terminal ip and home_ip stored in the DB 30 (s810), and the user waits for the next control setting state (s804). When the power control setting state is "off", cammera_request = "off" is stored in the data.txt file of the server (s812), and the program execution is terminated (s816).

When the user selects the lighting control device of FIG. 9 is a lighting control information storage program of FIG. 9, the control device selection program of FIG. 7 is executed, and when the program is executed, the lighting power control setting state is checked (s904), and the lighting power control state If "on", light_request = "on" is stored in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s906), and the program execution is terminated (s910). However, when the lighting control setting state is "off", light_request = "off" is stored in the data.txt file of the server (s908), and the program execution is terminated (s910).

When the user selects the air conditioner control device, the air conditioner control information storage program of FIG. 10 is executed, and when the program starts, the air conditioner power control setting state is checked (s104), and when the air conditioner power control state is “on”, the server 20 Aircon_request = "on" is stored in the data.txt file (s106), the temperature setting value is stored in "Temperature", and the program execution is terminated (s109). However, when the air conditioner power control setting state is "off". In operation S108, aircon_request = "off" is stored in the data.txt file of the server, and the execution of the program is terminated (s109).

As a last example, when the user selects the VCR device control, the VCR control information storage program of FIG. 11 is executed, and when the program is started, the VCR power control setting state is checked (s1104), and when the VCR power control state is "on", Save vcr_request = "on" in the data.txt file of the server 20 (s1106), check the recording / reservation status (s1108), and record in the data.txt file of the server 20 if recording is selected The channel information is stored in the channel variable, and the value of "recording" is stored (s1110), and program execution is terminated (s1114). However, if a reservation is selected, the reservation date and the reservation time are stored in the time variable, the recording channel setting information is stored in the channel variable, and the value of "reservation recording" is stored (s1112), and the program execution is terminated (s1114). However, when the VCR power control setting state becomes "off", the user's control information is stored in the server by storing vcr_request = "off" in the data.txt file of the server (s1116) and ending program execution (s1114). Will be saved.

Next, an example in which the home computer reads information stored in the server from the server and transmits a control signal to the devices connected to the home network through the control signal distribution device 97 is illustrated in the programs of FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B. The explanation is as follows. When the control signal distribution device 97 is operated and the home computer connects to the server, the device management programs of FIGS. 12A and 12B are automatically executed. When the program of FIG. 12A starts, data.txt of the server 20 is started. It reads the file and reads control status request information such as TV_request, aircon_request, light_request, lock_request, gas_request, refreg_request, vcr_request, cammera_request, and end (s1204). check the value of end (s1205), and if this value is "false", check whether the state of TV_request is "null" (s1206); if not "null", examine the value of TV_request (s1208), and state of TV_request If the value is "off", the TV power source is turned off (s1211). If the value is "on", the TV power source is turned on (s1210). The control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the TV product.

Next, it is checked whether the state of aircon_request is "null" (s1212). If the state of aircon_request is "off", the aircon power is turned off (s1218). If the value is "on", the aircon power is turned on, the temperature is set to the value set in "Temperature" (s1216), and the control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the air conditioner product.

Next, the light_request state is "null" (s1220). If it is not "null", the light_request value is checked (s1222). If the light_request state value is "off", the light is turned off (s1226). If the value is "on", the light power is turned on (s1224), and control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the Light product.

Next, it is checked whether lock_request state is "null" (s1228). If it is not "null", the lock_request value is checked (s1230). If the lock_request state value is "off", lock power is released (s1234). If the value is "on", the lock power supply is set to the locked state (s1232) and control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the Lock product.

Next, it is checked whether the state of gas_request is "null" (s1236). If it is not "null", the gas_request value is checked (s1238). If the state of gas_request is "off", the gas valve is opened (s1242). If the value is "on", the gas valve is in a closed state (s1240), and the control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for the gas valve product.

12B checks whether the state of refreg_request is "null" (s1244), checks the value of refreg_request (s1246) if not "null", and if the state value of refreg_request is "off", powers the refreg " In the "off" state (s1250), if the value is "on", the refreg power supply is in the "on" state (s1248), and the control management information is used as data to generate a protocol suitable for a refrigerator product.

Next, check whether the state of the vcr_request is "null" (s1252). If not, check the value of vcr_request (s1254). If the state value of vcr_request is "off", the vcr power is "off" (s1264). If the value is "on", the vcr power supply is turned "on" (s1256). Reads "Recording" or "Scheduled Recording" value stored in the date.txt file of the server and checks whether it is in recording status (s1258). If it is "Recording", it reads the "channel" variable and records in vcr (s1260). do. However, in case of "reservation recording", the value of the "channel" variable and the reservation time "time" variable is read, and reservation recording is performed on vcr (s1262), and a protocol suitable for a VCR product is generated using the control management information as data.

Next, check whether the state of camera_request is "null" (s1266). If not "null", check the value of camera_request (s1268). If the state value of camera_request is "off", turn off the camera power (s1276). After reading the data.txt file of the server and proceeds to the state waiting for the next operation execution (s1204). However, if the camera_request value is "on", the camera is turned on (s1270), and the home_ip and the user terminal ip are read from the server's data.txt (s1272), and camera_status = "on" to the DB (30) of the server. Save (s1274), run the video program connecting the user and the computer using these ip (s1274), and generates a protocol for the camera product using the control management information as data. The data.txt file of the server is read again, and the state proceeds to a state of waiting for execution of the next operation (s1104), and the control state request information such as end is read (s1204). If the value of end is checked (s1205), and this value is "true", it is a case where the user selects the end, and is stored in the DB 30 of the server 20 as connection_status = "flase" (s1278), and the control signal. The termination program for stopping the operation of the distribution apparatus 97 is called (s1280). Next, when the home computer 40 transmits the device management control information to the power line control transmission / reception module 96, the power line control transmission / reception module 96 executes the power line control transmission / reception module program of FIG. 13A, and when the program starts, the reception is performed. It is checked whether the destination address of the established protocol is the refrigerator (s1304). If the refrigerator is in the selected state, it is checked whether the included data turns on / off the power (s1306). If the refrigerator is on, the refrigerator is turned on (s1308). If the refrigerator is turned off, the refrigerator is turned off (s1310). However, if the refrigerator apparatus is not selected, the reception address of the received protocol is checked whether the TV is selected (s1312). If the TV is in the selected state, the power is turned on / off (s1314), and the TV power is on. In this case, the TV power is turned on (s1316). If the TV power is off, the TV power is turned off (s1318). However, when the TV device is not selected, it is checked whether aircon is selected (s1322), and if the aircon is selected, it is checked whether the power is turned on or off (s1324). Set the temperature to the value of "Temperature" (s1326). If the aircon power is Off, turn off the aircon power (s1328). However, when the aircon device is not selected, it is checked whether the light is selected (s1332). If the light is selected, it is checked whether the power is on or off (s1334). If the light is on, the light is turned on (s1336). If the light power is off, turn off the light power (s1338).

However, if the light device is not selected, it is checked whether the lock is selected (s1342), if the lock is selected, whether the power is on or off (s1344), and if the lock power is on, lock power is on (s1346). If the lock power is Off, the lock power is turned off (s1348).

However, if the lock device is not selected, it is checked whether gas is selected (s1352). If the gas is selected, it is checked whether the power is on or off (s1354). If the gas power is on, the gas power is on (s1356). If the gas power is off, turn off the gas power (s1358).

13B, if the gas device is not selected, it is checked whether the VCR is selected (s1362), if the VCR is selected, whether the power is turned on or off (s1364), and if the VCR power is on, the VCR power is On (s1366) and if the VCR power is Off, the VCR power is Off (s1368). However, if the VCR is not selected, it is checked whether the camera is selected (s1372), if the camera is selected, whether the camera is on or off (s1374), if the camera is on, the camera is turned on (s1376), If the camera is Off, the camera is turned off (s1378) and program execution is terminated (s1382).

When the new home appliance is connected to the power supply line, the home computer 40 automatically detects the new home appliance using the plug and play function as follows. When the control signal distribution device 97 is operated, the home computer 40 starts execution of the program (S1902) and searches for a new home appliance connected to the power supply line (S1904). Search for the drive (S1906), check if a matching drive is found (S1908), install the drive if it is found (S1910), or if the drive does not exist, specify the drive for installation (S1912) The plug and play program is terminated (S1914).

In another home network management method of the present invention, a home computer ip which stores home control information of a user in a server and manages home network home appliances without using the above method of directly managing a home network home appliance is managed by a home computer ip. There is a way to forwording. That is, instead of storing the management control information in the server in the programs of FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 12a, and 12b, the control management information is directly transmitted from the user terminal to the home computer as a global variable. Input method. For example, the information stored in the server data.txt or DB is transmitted to the programs FIGS. 12A and 12B as global variables of the home computer. The forwording method is described in FIG. 7 as follows. When the control device selection program of FIG. 7 is called by the user login program of FIG. 2 and started (s702), the session setting state stored in the user's computer 10, the mobile phone 14, or the PDA 12 is examined. (s704) If the session does not match, output a connection error message to the user (s708), store end = "true" as a global variable of the home computer 40 (s722), and terminate execution of the program (s724). )do. However, if the result of the session test matches, information such as user ID, user passwd, social security number ss, telephone number, etc. inputted to the user's computer is extracted from the user login program of FIG. 2 (s710), and the user of the DB 30 After reading connection_status among information (s712) and checking if the status is "true" (s714), if not "ture", the standby state (s713) for a fixed time t (s713), and continuously reading connetion_status after t time (s712) Do the work. If connection_status is "true", forwording is performed to the home computer ip, and the forwording page waits for a selection input of a home appliance to be controlled among devices connected to the control signal distribution device 97 of the home computer 40 from the user (s716). When the home appliance is selected, a selection device control information storage program for controlling the selected home appliance in detail is executed (s718). The programs of FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are all executed in the home computer. If the user confirms whether to continue the operation (s720), and continues to perform the operation is a state waiting for the next control home appliance selection (s716). However, in the case where end of work is selected, end = "true" is stored as a global variable of the home computer 40 (s722), and the program execution is terminated (s724).

The video camera control information storage program of FIG. 8 is called by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 and started (s802). When the video power control state is "on", the global variable cammera_request = "on of the home computer 40 is shown. "(S806). 12A and 12B, the cammera_status state stored as a global variable of the home computer 40 is checked (s808). If " off " However, if cammera_status = on ", the video program is executed using the user terminal ip and home_ip (s810), and the user waits for the next control setting state (s804). The video camera power control setting state is" off ", cammera_request =" off "is stored as a global variable of the home computer 40 (s812), and program execution is terminated (s816).

The lighting control information storage program of FIG. 9 is called by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 to be started (s902), checks the lighting power control setting state (s904), and if the lighting power control state is "on", the home Light_request = "on" is stored as a global variable of the computer 40 (s906), and the program execution is terminated (s910). However, when the lighting control setting state is "off", light_request = "off" is stored as a global variable of the home computer 40 (s908), and the program execution is terminated (s910).

As the air conditioner control information storage program of FIG. 10, the control device selection program of FIG. 7 checks the air conditioner power control setting state (s104), and if the air conditioner power control state is "on", the global variable of the home computer 40 is set. aircon_request = "on" is stored, a temperature value is set in "Temperature" (s106), and program execution is terminated (s109). However, when the air conditioner power control setting state becomes "off", aircon_request = "off" is stored as a global variable of the home computer 40 (s108), and the program execution is terminated (s109).

The VCR control information storage program of FIG. 11 is called and started by the control device selection program of FIG. 7 (s1102), checks the VCR power control setting state (s1104), and if the VCR power control state is "on", the home Save vcr_request = "on" as a global variable of the computer 40 (s1106), check the recording / reservation status (s1108), and if recording is selected, record channel information as a global variable of the server 20 as a channel variable. Then, the value of "recording" is stored (s1110), and program execution is terminated (s1114). However, if the reservation is selected, the reserved date and the reserved time are stored in the time variable as a global variable, the recording channel setting information is stored in the channel variable as a global variable, and the value of "reserved recording" as a global variable (s1112), The program execution ends (s1114). However, when the VCR power control setting state is "off", control information is sent to the server by storing vcr_request = "off" as a global variable of the home computer 40 (s1116) and ending program execution (s1114). It includes a method of controlling the devices connected to the home network by directly connecting the user terminal and the home computer without storing.

In addition, in FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B, the device control information is received from the data.txt of the server (s1204), and the variable values are received as global variables. That is, in FIG. 12A, all end, TV_request, aircon_request, light_request, lock_request, gas_request, refreg_request, vcr_request, camera_request, reservation / recording, recording cannel, vcr recording, reservation channel, reservation time, vcr recording reservation, etc. are global variables. If it is declared at home computer and input directly without saving in server, it is used as forwording method.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by mounting the home appliance control module in the computer, it is possible to process a variety of software for controlling home appliances by using a PC-based powerful operating system, memory, CPU, and various home appliances, each unique function and It is manufactured with features so that not only the unique functions of each product can be realized by the driver of the product registered in the operating system, but also various communication protocols that are most suitable for each product can be implemented in the operating system. Enable product development

In particular, by providing Plug and Play (PnP) function, a new home appliance is automatically recognized by a computer simply by plugging it into a home power supply. The control function has been added to provide the ability to control remotely.

In addition, the use of a computer connected to the Internet has the advantage that the program upgrade of each home appliance is easily performed automatically or manually through the Internet.

In addition, even in the weak security problem of the home network, using the telephone number and password entered by the user to control the operation of the control signal distribution device remotely, only while the control signal distribution device is operating at home We solved the security problem for Hecker by controlling them.

Accordingly, the present invention not only solves the existing security problem, but also provides a PnP function by using a powerful operating system of the computer, enabling remote control of all functions of various devices connected to the home network, and thus using the Internet using a high-speed information communication network. It will be convenient for users and will provide a new future lifestyle.

Claims (16)

The user terminal and the user through a remote user terminal, a home computer controlling home appliances connected to a home network, a security device for starting / stopping the operation of the control signal distribution device by a control command via a telephone line, and a wired / wireless communication network. A home network management service method performed by the server in a home network management service system comprising a server connected to a home computer to provide a home network management service, A first step of executing a program for finding an ip address of the user terminal when the user terminal is connected; A second step of receiving information for controlling and managing the home appliances from the user terminal through a communication network; A third step of executing a home computer ip registration program for registering an ip of the home computer to a server, which is called when the control signal distribution device is operated in response to a request from the user terminal; And And a fourth step of performing remote control by transmitting the control management information input by the user terminal to the home computer in the second step. The method of claim 1, wherein the second step comprises the step of inputting information for the user to control and manage the home appliances connected to the home network using a GUI function provided by the server, and storing the input management information in the server. Home network management service method characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth step comprises: information controlling the home appliances connected to a home network is stored in the server, and the home computer reads the information stored in the server from the server to remotely control the home appliances. Home network management service method, characterized in that enabled. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth step comprises inputting a video communication request using a camera device connected to a home network from the user terminal to the server, and the server using the camera device connected to a home network. Home network management service method characterized in that to execute the video communication with the user terminal. The home network management service method of claim 1, wherein the fourth step further comprises receiving information on an operation state of the home appliances connected to a home network from the home computer and storing the information on the server. . The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth step further comprises storing operating state information of the home appliances connected to a home network in the server, and outputting the information stored in the server to the user terminal. Home network management service method. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the home network is wired or wireless. A user terminal; Control signal distribution device; A home computer incorporating said control signal distribution device; A power line control transceiver module; A home appliance to which the power line control transceiver module is attached; Database;  And a server, wherein the terminal and the home computer are connected to the server through a communication network, wherein the server includes the database. A user login program, a control device selection program, a server-side home computer ip registration program, and various control information storage programs, The home computer stores a home computer ip registration program and a device management program. The power line control transmission and reception module stores a power line control transmission and reception module program, When a user connects to the server using the user terminal, executes the user login program and logs in through a user authentication process, the server starts the control device selection program to control and manage the home appliances connected to the home network. To set the status so that The home computer executes the home computer ip registration program, accesses the server-side home computer ip registration program, and informs the server of the ip assigned to the home computer. The server-side home computer ip registration program is the home computer. Get ip of home computer from server connection information of, save it on server,  The home computer reads various control information stored in the server, executes the device management program, generates a control protocol of each home appliance, and transmits the control protocol to the power line control transmission / reception module through a power supply line. Analyzes the received protocol by executing the power line control transmission / reception module program to determine whether its own protocol and the destination address are the same; and if it matches, it manages the power and operation of the corresponding home appliance according to the data contained in the protocol. When responding to the operation state of the controlled home appliance to the server, the server stores the response information in the DB, and further comprising a control signal distribution device that operates in a manner to deliver to the user terminal inside the computer Inn using computer with power line control How to manage your Internet home network system. A user terminal; Control signal distribution device; A home computer incorporating said control signal distribution device; Security device with stored password; A power line control transceiver module; A home appliance to which the power line control transceiver module is attached; Database;  And a server, wherein the terminal and the home computer are connected to the server through a communication network, wherein the server includes the database. Save user login program, control device selection program, home connection program, server side home computer ip registration program, various control information storage program, and exit program, The home computer stores a home computer ip registration program and a device management program. The secure device stores a secure device program, The power line control transmission and reception module stores a power line control transmission and reception module program, When a user connects to the server using the user terminal, executes the user login program and logs in through a user recognition process, the server starts the control device selection program to control and manage the home appliances connected to the home network. If the state is set to be enabled, the various control information storage programs can be executed and stored in the database. When the home connection program is executed and the telephone call is made to the security device, the security device is the security device program. To execute the operation of the control signal distribution device, and when the control signal distribution device is operated, the home computer executes the home computer ip registration program, and accesses the server side home computer ip registration program to access the home. Informs the server of the ip assigned to the computer. The home computer ip registration program on the server side obtains the ip of the home computer from the server access information of the home computer and stores it in the server, and the home computer reads various control information stored in the server to execute the device management program. By generating a control protocol of each home appliance and transmitting it to the power line control transmission / reception module through a power supply line, the power line control transmission / reception module executes the power line control transmission / reception module program to analyze the received protocol to determine its own protocol and destination. It is determined whether the addresses are the same, and if they match, it manages the power and operation state of the corresponding household appliance according to the data included in the protocol. If the server responds to the operating state of the controlled household appliance, the server returns the response information. Stored in, and also delivered to the user terminal, and the end A method of managing an internet home network system using a computer having a power line control function, characterized by executing a program to stop the operation of the control signal distribution device. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, 8 and 9, wherein the control signal distribution device A method of managing an Internet home network system using a computer having a power line control function, the method further comprising being mounted to a computer, which is made of a PCI card type. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, 8 and 9, wherein the control signal distribution device The Internet home network system management method using a computer with a power line control function, characterized in that it further comprises included in the computer mainboard. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, 8, and 9, wherein the home computer The apparatus further includes a plug and play program, and when the control signal distribution device is operated, the home computer executes the plug and play program to search for a new home appliance connected to a power supply line and discover a new home appliance. And installing a device drive, and terminating the plug and play program when using the computer having a power line control function. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the security device is And receiving a password from a user through a telephone line to control the operation of the control signal distribution device, and allowing various programs stored in the home computer to be executed only while the control signal distribution device is operating. A home network system management method using the Internet using a computer having a power line control function. The method of claim 1 and 9, wherein the security device program And powering off and on the home computer. The method of claim 1, further comprising: a computer having a power line control function. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, 8, and 9, wherein the device management program comprises: When a protocol suitable for the characteristics of various home appliances is generated and transmitted to the power line control transmission / reception module, the power line control transmission / reception module program analyzes the received protocol to determine whether its protocol type and the destination address are the same, and if they match, A method of managing an internet home network system using a computer having a power line control function, further comprising a function of managing a power supply and an operating state of a corresponding household appliance according to data included in a protocol. 10. The method of claim 1, 8, and 9, wherein the user terminal further comprises a voice recognition function for converting a user's voice command into a text.

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