KR20070058205A - Apparatus and method for home network devices management - Google Patents

Abstract

A home network apparatus management device and a method thereof are provided to remotely manage states of home network apparatuses, thereby offering a faster service when a defect is generated from the home network apparatuses. The first RFID(Radio Frequency Identification) reader(240) receives information about states of plural home network apparatuses from the first RFID tag(210) included in each home network apparatus. A transmitter transmits the received state information to a service center. A receiver receives service information related to the state information from the service center. The second RFID tag transmits the received service information to the second RFID reader included in the home network apparatus.

Description

Apparatus and method for home network devices management}

1 is a block diagram showing a home network device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a home network device in the home network device management system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating in detail the configuration of the RFID tag in the home network device shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating in detail the configuration of the RFID reader in the home network device shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a relay device in the home network device management system shown in FIG. 1.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a home network device management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a home network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a relay apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

200: home network device 210: first RFID tag

211: memory section 212: power section

213: control unit 214: data transmission unit

215: data receiving unit 220: status diagnosis unit

240: first RFID reader 242: RF signal generator

243: RF signal receiver

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for managing home network devices, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for managing home network devices in a home more efficiently.

As the demand for PCs in the home increases and the provision of various multimedia contents through internet access and data sharing becomes active, the home network related market regarding the combination between home multimedia terminals and the PC is emerging. A home network means that two or more devices in a home communicate with each other.

Home networks currently used in homes include PCs that connect peripheral devices around PCs and share Internet usage, and AV networks, washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners for multimedia data transmission between AV products such as video and TV. There is a living network to automatically control energy such as white goods and power and water.

The technologies used in home networks include wireless network technologies including Bluetooth, HomeRF, and wired network technologies including interfaces such as telephone lines, power lines, and IEEE 1394. Home networks such as Internet refrigerators, digital TVs, and washing machines are being studied. Digital information devices aimed at the market are being released.

However, the conventional home network system has a problem in that it does not provide sufficient management and services for the home network devices. For example, whenever a failure occurs in a home network device, the user has to contact the service center directly.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an apparatus and a method for efficiently managing home network devices.

However, the objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the home network device management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a first RFID reader for receiving status information on a plurality of home network devices from a first RFID tag included in the home network device, A transmitter for transmitting the received state information to a service center, a receiver for receiving service information related to the state information from the service center, and a second unit for transmitting the received service information to a second RFID reader included in the home network device. Includes 2 RFID tags.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing a home network device comprises: receiving state information about a plurality of home network devices from an RFID tag included in the home network device, the received state information Transmitting to the service center, receiving service information related to the status information from the service center, and transmitting the received service information to an RFID reader included in the home network device.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings, and the advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be embodied in various different forms, and the present embodiments merely make the disclosure of the present invention complete and common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to a block diagram or a flowchart illustrating a process and apparatus for managing a home network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. At this point, it will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and combinations of flowchart illustrations may be performed by computer program instructions. Since these computer program instructions may be mounted on a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, those instructions executed through the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment may be described in flow chart block (s). It will create means to perform the functions. These computer program instructions may be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory that can be directed to a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement functionality in a particular manner, and thus the computer usable or computer readable memory. It is also possible for the instructions stored in to produce an article of manufacture containing instruction means for performing the functions described in the flowchart block (s). Computer program instructions It is also possible to mount on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, so that a series of operating steps are performed on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer-implemented process to perform the computer or other programmable data processing equipment. It is also possible for the instructions to provide steps for performing the functions described in the flowchart block (s).

In addition, each block may represent a portion of a module, segment, or code that includes one or more executable instructions for executing a specified logical function (s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of order. For example, the two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending on the corresponding function.

1 illustrates a structure of a home network device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a home network device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of home network devices 200, a relay device 300, and a service center 400 existing in a home.

The home network device 200 collects state information of the home network device 200, for example, error information, and provides the collected information to the relay device 300. To this end, the home network device 200 may include an RFID tag (hereinafter referred to as a 'first RFID tag') and an RFID reader (hereinafter referred to as a 'first RFID reader'). A more detailed description will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C.

The relay device 300 serves as a bridge between the home network device 200 and the service center 400. More specifically, the relay device 300 receives the state information from the home network device 200 and transmits the state information to the external service center 400 through the Internet network 700 or the wide area service network, and the service center 400. It serves to provide the provided service information to the home network device 200. For this purpose, the relay device 300 may include an RFID tag (hereinafter referred to as a “second RFID tag”) and an RFID reader (hereinafter referred to as a “second RFID reader”). Examples of such a relay device 300 may be a home server, a home gateway, or the like. A more detailed description of the relay device 300 will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

The service center 400 receives the state information on the home network device 200 from the relay device 300, and provides the necessary service to the home network device 200 based on the received state information. For example, when receiving the error information for the predetermined home network device 200, the service center 400 provides a control code for removing the error of the home network device 200.

2A is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a home network device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The home network device 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be configured as a digital device. Here, a digital device is a device having a digital circuit for processing digital data, such as a computer, a printer, a scanner, a pager, a digital camera, a fax, a digital copier, a digital home appliance, a digital telephone, a digital project, a home server, a digital video recorder, Examples include digital TV broadcast receivers, digital satellite broadcast receivers, set-top boxes, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and cellular phones.

More specifically, the home network device 200 illustrated in FIG. 2A may include a state diagnosis unit 220, a storage unit 250, a main control unit 230, a first RFID tag 210, and a first RFID reader 240. ).

The storage unit 250 stores information about an error that may occur in the home network device 200 and an algorithm required to check the state of the home network device 200. The storage unit 250 may include a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (EPROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), and a flash memory. It may be implemented as at least one of a nonvolatile memory device such as, or a volatile memory device such as a random access memory (RAM) or a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD).

The state diagnosis unit 220 diagnoses a state of the home network device 200 according to an algorithm stored in the storage unit 250 and determines whether an error occurs. As a result of the determination, when an error occurs, the state diagnosis unit 220 checks whether the detected error information is information included in the information stored in the storage 250. As a result of the check, when the detected error information corresponds to the error information previously stored in the storage unit 250, the status diagnosis unit 220 may allow the corresponding error information to be recorded in the first RFID tag 210. As a result of the check, if the detected error information does not correspond to the error information previously stored in the storage unit 250, the status diagnosis unit 220 may record the information indicating the unknown error in the first RFID tag 210. do.

The first RFID tag 210 exchanges data with the second RFID reader 320 included in the relay device 300. Refer to FIG. 2B for a more detailed description.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the first RFID tag 210 illustrated in FIG. 2A in more detail. The illustrated first RFID tag 210 includes a memory unit 211, a data transmitter 214, a data receiver 215, a controller 213, and a power supply 212.

The memory unit 211 stores error information detected by the state diagnosis unit 220 of the home network device 200. The memory unit 211 may be read-only, read / write, write once or many times (WORM) according to a method of writing data. And the like. The memory unit 211 may be implemented with, for example, a memory device such as a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), but is not limited thereto.

The data transmitter 214 stores data stored in the memory 211, that is, error information about the home network device 200, in a predetermined frequency band, for example, a low frequency band of 100 to 500 KHz and an intermediate frequency band of 10 to 15 MHz. , 860 to 960MHz or 2.45GHz to 5.8GHz high frequency band corresponding to the RF signal is transmitted to the second RFID reader 320 included in the relay device 300. In this case, the data transmitter 214 may modulate using a predetermined modulation scheme, for example, an amplitude shift keying (ASK) scheme.

The data receiver 215 receives and demodulates an RF signal transmitted from the second RFID reader 320 of the relay device 300, and detects a command signal therefrom. The detected command signal is provided to the controller 213 which will be described later.

The controller 213 connects components in the first RFID tag 210 and controls the components in the first RFID tag 210 according to the type of the command signal detected by the data receiver 215. For example, when a read command is detected through the data receiver 215, the controller 213 reads data stored in the memory 211, that is, error information, and provides the read data to the data transmitter 214. In addition, the data transmitter 214 may be controlled so that error information may be modulated into an analog signal and transmitted to the second RFID reader 320. As another example, when an end command is detected through the data receiver 215, the controller 213 ends the data transmission to the second RFID reader 320.

The power supply unit 212 generates power and supplies the power to the first RFID tag 210 so that the information stored in the memory unit 211 of the first RFID tag 210 is transmitted to the second RFID reader of the relay device 300. To be sent to 320. The power supply unit 212 may be implemented as a separate battery or an LC circuit according to the type of tag. For example, when the first RFID tag 210 is an active tag, the power supply unit 212 may be implemented as a separate battery and included in the first RFID tag 210. If the first RFID tag 210 is a passive tag, the power supply unit 212 may be implemented as an LC circuit. In this case, the power supply unit 212 rectifies the induced voltage generated by the magnetic field generated by the second RFID reader 320 of the relay device 300 into a DC voltage of a predetermined magnitude, for example, a DC voltage of 3V, to thereby firstly generate the first RFID. It supplies to the tag 210 overall.

The first RFID reader 240 transmits and receives data with the second RFID tag 310 included in the relay device 300. Refer to FIG. 2C for a more detailed description.

FIG. 2C is a block diagram illustrating in detail the configuration of the first RFID reader 240 shown in FIG. 2A.

The illustrated first RFID reader 240 includes an RF signal transmitter 242, an RF signal receiver 243, and a controller 241.

The RF signal transmitter 242 of the first RFID reader 240 includes an antenna unit (not shown), a tuning circuit (not shown), and an RF carrier generator (not shown). The antenna unit continuously radiates radio waves to form an electromagnetic field, and the tuning circuit tunes the antenna unit to achieve the best performance. The RF signal transmitter 242 may use a predetermined modulation scheme, for example, amplitude shift keying (ASK), frequency shift keying (FSK), phase shift keying (PSK), or frequency spreading (Spread). Spectrum (SS) method converts the base signal into a high frequency signal and transmits it according to any one of modulation methods.

The RF signal receiver 243 receives service information modulated by a wireless signal from the second RFID tag 310, demodulates the received signal, and provides the demodulated signal to the controller 241.

The control unit 241 of the first RFID reader 240 may be implemented as a microcontroller, in which a firmware algorithm is stored. The first RFID reader 240 transmits an RF signal using this algorithm and demodulates the signal received through the RF signal receiver 243 into a data signal. Thereafter, the first RFID reader 240 provides the converted data signal to the main controller 230 of the home network device 200.

The main controller 230 of the home network device 200 processes an error of the home network device 200 by using service information provided through the first RFID reader 240, for example, a control code.

Next, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a relay device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated relay device 300 includes a storage unit 340, a second RFID reader 320, a transmitter 350, a receiver 360, a main controller 330, and a second RFID tag 310.

The storage unit 340 of the relay device 300 may store information about the service center 400, for example, an IP address, a phone number, or a web page address of the service center 400. Information about the service center 400 may be predefined or changed, added or deleted by a user.

The second RFID reader 320 transmits and receives data to and from the first RFID tag 210 of the home network device 200 described above. For example, the error information of the home network device 200 is received from the first RFID tag 210. More specifically, the second RFID reader 320 generates a read command and transmits the read command to the first RFID tag 210. Thereafter, when the first RFDI tag 210 receives the read command, the first RFDI tag 210 transmits error information stored in the memory unit 211 of the first RFID tag 210 to the second RFID reader 320. After receiving the error information, the second RFID reader 320 generates an end command and transmits it to the first RFID tag 210, thereby notifying the end of data reception. Components and functions of the second RFID reader 320 are similar to the RFID reader of the home network device 200 described above with reference to FIG. 2C, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

The transmitter 350 transmits the error information received by the second RFID reader 320 to the service center 400 through the internet network 700. The transmitter 350 and the internet network 700 may be connected by, for example, a wired or wireless communication method such as an ADSL, a cable, and a LAN.

The receiver 360 serves to receive service information, for example, a control code, necessary to remove an error of the home network device 200 from the service center 400 through the Internet network 700.

The main controller 330 of the relay device 300 allows the service information received through the receiver 360 to be recorded in the second RFID tag 310.

The second RFID tag 310 transmits service information recorded in the second RFID tag 310 to the first RFID reader 240 of the home network device 200. More specifically, when the second RFID tag 310 receives a read command from the first RFID reader 240, the second RFID tag 310 stores service information recorded in a memory unit (not shown) of the second RFID tag 310. Transmit to the reader 240. Since the configuration and operation of the second RFID tag 310 are similar to the configuration and operation of the first RFID tag 210 described above with reference to FIG. 2B, description thereof will be omitted.

4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for managing a home network device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the state diagnosis unit 220 of the home network device 200 diagnoses the state of the home network device 200 to collect state information, for example, error information (S110), and collects the collected state information as the first RFID. Write to the tag 210 (S120).

The error information recorded in the first RFID tag 210 is transmitted to the second RFID reader 320 of the relay device 300 (S130).

Meanwhile, the relay device 300 transmits the error information of the home network device 200 received through the second RFID reader 320 to the service center 400. At this time, the relay device 300 transmits the customer information along with the error information to the service center 400 through the Internet 700 network 700 (S140).

The service center 400 analyzes state information and customer information received from the relay device 300 (S150), and processes service information required for the home network device 200, for example, an error of the home network device 200. It provides a control code to the corresponding relay device 300 (S160).

On the other hand, when service information is received from the service center 400, the relay device 300 allows the received service information to be recorded in the second RFID tag 310 (S170).

When the service information received from the service center 400 is recorded in the second RFID tag 310, the second RFID tag 310 transmits the recorded service information to the first RFID reader 240 of the home network device. (S180).

The first RFID reader 240 provides service information received from the second RFID tag 310 to the main controller 230 of the home network device 200. The main controller 230 of the home network device 200 removes an error of the home network device 200 by using the received service information, for example, a control code.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a job processing process performed by the home network device 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, the state diagnosis unit 220 of the home network device 200 checks the operation state of the home network device 200 (S510), and determines whether there is an error (S520). As a result of the determination, when error information is detected (S520, YES), the state diagnosis unit 220 allows the detected error information to be recorded in the memory unit 211 of the first RFID tag 210 (S550). In this case, if the detected error information does not correspond to the predetermined error information, the status diagnosis unit 220 indicates that the code indicating that the detected error information does not correspond to the predetermined error information includes the first RFID tag 210. It can be written to the memory unit 211 (S540).

Meanwhile, the data receiver 215 of the first RFID tag 210 detects a command signal by demodulating the RF signal transmitted from the second RFID reader 320. When the detected command signal is a read command signal, the control unit 231 of the first RFID tag 210 reads the error information recorded in the memory unit 211 and provides it to the data transmitter 214. The data transmitter 214 of the first RFID tag modulates the error information provided through the controller 231 into a radio signal. At this time, the data transmitter 214 modulates the state information into an analog signal according to a predetermined digital modulation scheme, for example, an amplitude shift keying (ASK) scheme. Next, the data transmitter 214 of the first RFID tag 210 transmits the modulated signal to the second RFID reader 320 (S560).

Thereafter, when the service information provided by the service center 400 is received from the second RFID tag 310 in the form of a wireless signal (S570), the first RFID reader 240 demodulates the received signal to provide service information. It provides to the main control unit 230.

The main controller 230 of the home network device 200 controls the operation of the home network device 200 using the service information received through the first RFID reader 240 (S580). For example, when the control code is received through the first RFID reader 240, the main controller 230 removes an error of the home network device 200 according to the received control code, and accordingly, the home network device ( To control the components within 200).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a job processing process performed by the relay apparatus 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The second RFID reader 320 receives a wireless signal including state information of the home network device 200 from the first RFID tag 210 (S610). The second RFID reader 320 demodulates the received signal and provides state information of the home network device 200 to the main controller 330 of the relay device 300.

Subsequently, the main controller 330 of the relay device 300 generates transmission data including the state information and the customer information of the home network device 200 provided by the second RFID reader 320, and then the transmitter 350. Through the transmission to the service center 400 (S620). At this time, the information on the service center 400 is preferably stored in advance in the storage unit 340 of the relay device 300.

Thereafter, when the service information for the home network device 200, for example, a control code for processing an error of the home network device 200 is received by the receiver 360 from the service center 400 (S630, yes) The main control unit 330 of the relay device 300 allows the service information to be recorded in the second RFID tag 310 (S640).

Meanwhile, the data receiver (not shown) of the second RFID tag 310 detects the command signal by demodulating the RF signal transmitted from the first RFID reader 240. The controller (not shown) of the second RFID tag 310 reads service information recorded in the memory unit (not shown) of the second RFID tag 310 when the detected command signal is a read command signal. Provided to a data transmitter (not shown) of the second RFID tag 310.

Next, the data transmitter (not shown) of the second RFID tag 310 modulates the service information into a radio signal and transmits the service information to the first RFID reader 240 (S650).

With reference to the drawings illustrated as above, the home network device management apparatus and method according to the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed herein, the scope of the technical spirit of the invention Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art.

As described above, the apparatus and method for managing a home network device according to the present invention has an advantage of providing a faster service when a failure occurs in the home network device by remotely managing the state of the home network device.

Claims (5)

A first RFID reader for receiving state information on a plurality of home network devices from a first RFID tag included in the home network device; A transmitter for transmitting the received status information to a service center; A receiver configured to receive service information related to the state information from the service center; And And a second RFID tag for transmitting the received service information to a second RFID reader included in the home network device. The method of claim 1, The home network device, And a state diagnosis unit for diagnosing a state of the home network device and detecting an error of the home network device. The method of claim 2, And the service information is a control code for removing an error detected in the home network device. Receiving status information on a plurality of home network devices from an RFID tag included in the home network device; Transmitting the received status information to a service center; Receiving service information related to the status information from the service center; And And transmitting the received service information to an RFID reader included in the home network device. The method of claim 4, wherein Receiving the status information on the home network device, diagnosing the status of the home network device includes detecting an error of the home network device.

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