KR20080022370A - Communication relay apparatus and method using wireless communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication repeater using a wireless communication network and a method are provided to use an AV(Audio Video) apparatus at home as a server of a short-range wireless communication network, thus a user can confirm information received in a mobile communication terminal without missing the information even when the user enjoys multimedia contents through the AV apparatus. An AV apparatus(104) has a server function for short-range wireless communication with a mobile communication terminal(106) having a short-range wireless communication function. A storage device(206) stores information received through the mobile communication terminal(106). When the AV apparatus(104) is powered on, communication is maintained by automatically searching the peripheral mobile communication terminal(106).

Description

Communication relay device and method using wireless communication network {COMMUNICATION RELAY APPARATUS AND METHOD USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK}

1 is a view showing the configuration of a communication relay apparatus using a wireless communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of an AV device as a server shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is a flow chart illustrating a communication relay method using a wireless communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

102: TV (display)

102a: Windows

102b: Camera

104: AV equipment

106: mobile communication terminal

110: remote control

110a: microphone

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a communication relay apparatus and method using a wireless network.

With the development of wireless communication technology, the penetration rate of portable mobile communication terminals using wireless communication such as mobile phones, PDAs and smart phones has increased significantly. When using a mobile communication terminal using a wireless communication technology such as a mobile phone, PDA, or smart phone, it is common to always carry the terminal while traveling outdoors, but indoors (especially at home) rather than carrying the terminal. It is often left in an arbitrary place.

For reference, more video devices such as TVs are used in homes than mobile phones, and TV viewing times in homes are very long. In particular, recently, a digital signal converter that connects a set top box to a TV to watch digital broadcasts or performs a function of a set top box is often embedded in the TV.

Recently, not only TVs but also home theater systems are widely used in homes. Therefore, the viewing time of multimedia contents using the home theater is also increasing considerably.

While watching multimedia content through a TV or home theater in such a home environment, even if information (or a call) is received through a mobile communication terminal placed at a relatively long distance from an indoor user, it is output from the TV or home theater. Due to the concentration of sound and multimedia content of the user, it is difficult to recognize information (call) received through the mobile communication terminal. If this information (call) is very important but one-time information that is not stored in the mobile communication terminal, the user may be in a difficult situation due to missing important information.

It is an object of the present invention to use a AV device in a home as a server of a short-range wireless communication network so that a user can check information received by a mobile communication terminal without missing information while viewing multimedia content through the AV device.

In addition, by storing the received information in a separate storage device is another object to facilitate recycling such as editing of the stored information in the future.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication relay device including: an AV device having a server function for short-range wireless communication with a mobile communication terminal having a short-range wireless communication function; And a storage device for storing information received through the mobile communication terminal.

In addition, when the above-described AV device is powered on, it automatically searches for nearby mobile communication terminals to maintain communication.

In addition, it recognizes each other using the encrypted unique identification channel between the above-described AV device and mobile communication terminals.

In addition, the above-described communication interface between the AV device and the mobile communication terminals includes at least one of Wi-Fi and VoIP.

A communication relay method according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the AV device having a server function for short-range wireless communication with a mobile communication terminal having a short-range wireless communication function, and stores the information received through the mobile communication terminal A communication relay method of a communication relay device including a storage device, the method comprising: automatically searching for a mobile communication terminal in a vicinity when the AV device is powered on to maintain communication; When an event occurs in the mobile communication terminal, indicating that the event has occurred on a display connected to the AV device; The received information is stored in the storage device.

In addition, even if an event occurs in the mobile communication terminal while viewing the multimedia content through the above-described AV device, an AV priority mode for displaying information received in the window by forming a window on a portion of the screen of the display, and the multimedia content through the AV device. If an event occurs in the mobile communication terminal while watching the video, the multimedia content is interrupted to play and selectively performs any one of communication priority modes for displaying information received on the entire screen of the display.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 a preferred embodiment of the present invention made as described above are as follows. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication relay apparatus using a wireless communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the display 102 (e.g., TV) and the AV device 104 (e.g., set-top box or home theater) are electrically connected to each other to enable communication with the user 108. The multimedia content is viewed using the display 102 and the AV device 104. The remote controller 110 may be used to operate the AV device 104.

The AV device 104 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a wireless communication network interface, and the AV device 104 is connected to a mobile communication terminal 106 such as a mobile phone, a PDA or a smart phone through the wireless communication network interface. The received information is relayed and displayed on the display 102 and stored in an internal / external storage device (not shown).

Even if the mobile communication terminal 106 is far from the user 108, the AV device 104 displays the received information on the display 102 and stores the information in the storage device, so that the user 108 can check the AV device 104. Even if the user is immersed in the multimedia content to be played through, the information received by the mobile communication terminal 106 is not missed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of an AV device as a server shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, an input unit 204 and a communication interface 206 are electrically connected to the input side of the control unit 202 that controls the overall operation of the AV device 104 so as to be able to communicate with the control unit 202. The display 102 is connected to the output side of 202. The control unit 202 of the AV device 104 corresponds to a codec chip capable of processing digital signals, not just a microcomputer.

When the AV device 104 is powered on, the control unit 202 generates a signal previously promised with the mobile communication terminal 106 through the communication interface 206 and confirms the response of the mobile communication terminal 106 thereto. Search for the mobile communication terminal 106 around 104. When the search is completed, the mobile communication terminal 106 maintains communication while periodically transmitting and receiving a signal.

The input unit 204 receives a control signal generated through the remote controller 110 and transmits the control signal to the controller 202. The user can set the AV priority mode and the communication priority mode to the AV device 104 through the remote controller 110. In the AV priority mode, even when information is received by the mobile communication terminal 106 while viewing multimedia content through the AV device 104, a small window 102a is formed on a portion of the screen of the display 102 to thereby display the window 102a. By displaying the received information, the user can check whether the information is received without being greatly disturbed by the viewing of the multimedia contents. In contrast, in the communication priority mode, when the mobile communication terminal 106 receives information while watching the multimedia content through the AV device 104, the user stops the multimedia content and displays the received information on the entire display 102. Is a mode to confirm whether or not to receive information more reliably. The setting of this mode can be freely set by the user 108.

The control unit 202 is connected to a large-capacity storage device 206, which stores information received by the mobile communication terminal 106 and relayed through the communication interface 206. As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the storage device 206 built in the AV device 104, a separate external storage device may be connected and used.

The communication interface 206 may use a Wi-Fi scheme or a VoIP scheme. In the case of the Wi-Fi method, the IEEE 802.11b standard according to the Wi-Fi standard is applied. In order for the AV device 104 to recognize and distinguish each mobile communication terminal 106, it is preferable to generate and exchange a unique ID. In this case, the exchange of IDs should use an encrypted channel.

In the case of a VoIP scheme, the communication interface 206 enables video calls.

The video communication may collect an image through the camera 102b provided on the display 102 and collect a user's voice through the microphone 110a provided on the remote controller 110.

To this end, the mobile communication terminal 106 should also be able to perform wireless short-range communication through the Wi-Fi standard.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a communication relay method using a wireless communication network according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the user 108 may turn on the AV device 104 for viewing multimedia content, or the mobile communication terminal 106 through the AV device 104 even if the user 108 does not intend to enjoy the multimedia content. The AV device 104 is powered on to confirm the received information (at 302).

When the AV device 104 is powered on, the control unit 202 controls the communication interface 206 to generate a signal predetermined in advance with the mobile communication terminal 106 to confirm the response of the mobile communication terminal 106 thereto. The mobile communication terminal 106 in the vicinity of the AV device 104 is searched (304). When the search is completed, the mobile communication terminal 106 maintains communication while periodically transmitting and receiving a signal.

In this state, when an event occurs in the mobile communication terminal 106 (306), that is, when a situation such as information is received, the user 108 determines which mode is set among the communication priority mode and the AV priority mode. (308) In the case of the communication priority mode, the AV device 104 in operation is paused and information is displayed through the entire screen of the display 102 (310). In contrast, in the AV priority mode, while the AV device 104 is operating, a small window 102a is formed on the screen of the display 102 to display information in the window 102a (312). The received information is displayed on the display 102 and stored in the storage device 206 of the AV device 104, thereby enabling future playback, editing, copying, and the like (314).

When the communication is complete (YES at 316), the AV device 104 is operated normally so that the user 108 can continue to watch the multimedia content through the AV device 104 (318).

The present invention uses an AV device in a home as a server of a short-range wireless communication network so that a user can check information received by a mobile communication terminal without missing information while viewing multimedia content through the AV device.

Also, by storing the received information in a separate storage device, it is easy to recycle such as editing the stored information in the future.

Claims (6)

An AV device having a server function for short-range wireless communication with a mobile communication terminal having a short-range wireless communication function; And a storage device for storing information received through the mobile communication terminal. The method of claim 1, And automatically searching for a mobile communication terminal in the vicinity when the AV device is powered on to maintain communication. The method of claim 1, And a communication relay device that recognizes each other using an encrypted unique identification channel between the AV device and the mobile communication terminals. The method of claim 1, And a communication interface between the AV device and the mobile communication terminals includes at least one of Wi-Fi and VoIP. An AV device having a server function for short-range wireless communication with a mobile communication terminal having a short range wireless communication function, and a storage device for storing information received through the mobile communication terminal. To When the AV device is powered on, automatically searching for nearby mobile communication terminals to maintain communication; When an event occurs in the mobile communication terminal, indicating that an event has occurred on a display connected to the AV device; A communication relay method for storing the received information in the storage device. The method of claim 5, wherein AV priority mode for displaying information received in the window by forming a window on a part of the screen of the display even if an event occurs in the mobile communication terminal while viewing the multimedia content through the AV device, and the multimedia through the AV device. If an event occurs in the mobile communication terminal while viewing the content, the communication relay method selectively performs any one of the communication priority mode to stop the playback of the multimedia content and to display the information received on the entire screen of the display.

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