KR20110041966A - Method and apparatus for providing service using personal network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and device of providing a service using PN(Personal Network) are provided to supply CPNS(Converged Personal Network Service) by considering various characteristic values which is available for change related to communication performance in the PN. CONSTITUTION: A PN management unit(101) collects and updates PN information including the information about the resource of a PN. The PN includes one or more entities connected through a local communication. When providing a service to the entity through the PN in an external network, the PN management unit determines network service environment and whether to provide a service by referring the PN information. The resource has a attribute value which can be change according to time related to the configuration of the PN and a service providing environment.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SERVICE USING PERSONAL NETWORK}

The present invention relates to a device capable of short-range communication, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for receiving a service from an external network by using a communication function of a device that is capable of short-range communication with an external network.

As consumer electronics (CE) devices capable of short-range communication, such as MP3 players, portable multimedia players (PMPs), game consoles, netbooks, etc., have increased exponentially, users have a convenient way of downloading content. It was pursued.

In general, a user searches for playable content on a home appliance device through the Internet using a personal computer (PC) and downloads the searched content. Then, when the household appliance device and the PC are connected by using a dedicated cable, the household appliance device downloads the contents from the PC. Only after this process can the consumer device play the content. It is now possible to replace these cables so that content can be shared between devices using wireless local area communications such as Bluetooth.

However, there are still very limited ways for home appliances themselves to connect directly to external networks. For example, some home appliances may use the Internet in an area where there is an access point (AP) using WiFi, but cannot access the Internet where there is no AP. Accordingly, a need arises for a method for enabling wireless short-range communication but not directly accessing an external network to access an external network through a gateway to use a desired service such as content download. In response to these needs, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), which is responsible for application standards, proposed the Converged Personal Network Service (hereinafter referred to as "CPNS").

CPNS constitutes a personal network consisting of a combination of a device serving as a gateway that communicates with an external network and a device that plays actual services and content, and the device that plays actual services and content serves as a gateway. It is a service that enables a corresponding service or content to be provided by accessing a service / content providing unit that exists in an external network through a device that performs the service. A device acting as a gateway in such CPNS is called a PN gateway, and a device connected to the PN gateway through local area communication and connected to an external network through the PN gateway is called a personal network entity (PNE).

The number of devices that make up a private network can change dynamically. For example, after one PN gateway and one PNE form the first private network, a new PNE may join the private network.

However, the PN gateway and the PNEs are connected through wireless local area communication. Therefore, depending on the number of PNEs connected to the PN gateway, the radio resources available to each PNE may vary. In addition, due to the influence of the communication environment, the entire available radio resource may be changed, and in addition, many attribute values related to the performance of the communication in the private network may be changed according to the communication environment or various situations.

For example, when the PNE is a portable device, the battery remaining amount of the terminal may be changed. As another example, there may be a PNE included in the private network but not receiving any content or service through the PN gateway depending on the time point. In this case, the PNE consumes unnecessary power just to stay connected to the private network. Therefore, separate management of idle PNEs that do not receive content or services that exist at random times is necessary.

For this reason, when providing a CPNS, various variable attribute values related to performing communication in a private network need to be considered.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method and apparatus that can provide a CPNS in consideration of the various variable attribute values associated with performing communication in the private network.

And the present invention provides a method and apparatus that can provide a more efficient CPNS.

The present invention also provides a method and apparatus capable of providing a CPNS optimized for a wireless environment.

Meanwhile, the present invention provides a method for providing a service of an external network to a device entity constituting the private network by using a private network, wherein the private network gateway includes a personal network including one or more entities connected through short-range communication. Collecting and updating personal network information including information about resources of the private network, and when providing services to the entity through the private network in the external network, the personal network information is referenced. To determine whether to provide the service and the network service environment.

The resource may have an attribute value that may change with time in relation to the configuration of the private network and a service providing environment.

The present invention can provide a CPNS more efficiently in consideration of various variable attribute values related to performing communication in a private network. In addition, the present invention can provide a CPNS optimized for a wireless environment. Accordingly, the user may be provided with an optimized service suitable for the user environment. Through this, it is possible to improve the service satisfaction of the user, reduce the power consumption of the unused devices, and can use the CPNS service at low power, thereby increasing the number of CPNS subscribers can be expected.

1 is a diagram showing an example of a CPNS system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a PNE according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a PN gateway according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a CPNS according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a diagram illustrating a process of forming a private network according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
6 and 7 illustrate a CPNS content delivery process according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a view showing an operation of a PN gateway according to an embodiment of the present invention;
9 illustrates a sleep mode section according to an embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a view showing an example of a CPNS system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a PN gateway according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
12 is a diagram illustrating a CPNS content delivery process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same components in the drawings are represented by the same reference numerals and symbols as much as possible even though they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

In the following description will be presented a representative embodiment in the present invention for achieving the above technical problem. Also, for convenience of description of the present invention, names of entities defined in the Converged Personal Network Service (CPNS) of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), which is an application standard organization of a mobile terminal, will be used. However, these standards and names are used in the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not limited thereto, and is applicable to systems having a similar technical background.

According to the present invention, when providing a service of an external network to a corresponding private network entity through a private network including at least one private network entity and a private network gateway, the service to be provided and the optimal service are considered in consideration of variable resources of the private network. The environment is determined. According to the present invention, the personal network gateway collects and updates information on variable resources related to the private network periodically or as needed. The collected information about the variable resources may be used by a personal network gateway or by a personal network service server in providing a service.

The variable resource is a resource having an attribute value that may change with time in relation to the configuration and service environment of the private network, for example, the available bandwidth of the private network, the number of private network entities included in the private network, Each PNE may have a battery level and remaining storage space of each private network entity, an idle entity that is not currently receiving a service through the private network, the number of PNEs currently forming the private network, or the number of idle PNEs. Variable bandwidth, and so forth.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, when providing a service of an external network to a private network entity through a private network, a first embodiment in which a private network service server determines a service to be provided using variable resource information; A second embodiment in which a private network gateway determines a service environment using variable resource information will be described as an example.

First, an example of a system for providing a private network service according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a Converged Personal Network Service (CPNS) system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. CPNS is an example of a service that can form a private network between devices capable of short-range communication and deliver a service provided in an external network through the private network.

CPNS system according to the present invention is largely one or more Personal Network Entity (PNE), for example, the first PNE (110), the second PNE (120), the first personal network gateway (PN Gateway) 100, The first CPNS server 140 and a service / content provider 150 serving as an application server role may be provided.

The service / content providing unit 150 exists in an external network and is a server that provides various services and contents.

PNEs 110 and 120 are devices that directly provide services. For example, an MP3 player, a PMP, and the like, which provide a service to a user by playing content stored in the device. Since the PNEs 110 and 120 have a built-in short range communication module, a short range communication with another nearby device, that is, a PNE is possible, but there is no communication module that can be connected to a wide area network to provide a service. It has a common feature of not being able to access the service provider directly. External networks may be, for example, the Internet, cellular telephone networks, and the like. Such a PNE is also called a device entity of a private network.

The PNEs 110 and 120 form a private network 130 by performing pairing with the first PN gateway 100 through short-range communication. Forming a private network here means checking the presence of private network services, such as CPNS support, between two devices, verifying the availability of CPNS through authentication / authorization, and verifying the role between devices. This means forming a network in terms of an application for providing CPNS.

The formed private network 130 may be composed of a plurality of PNEs 110 and 120 connected to one first PN gateway 100, and the PNEs 110 and 120 are connected to an external network through the private network 130. A function of the first PN gateway 100 that can access the network can be used.

The first PN gateway 100 has a function of connecting to a first CPNS server 140 existing in an external network, that is, a provider network. In addition, the private network 130 may be formed with the PNEs 110 and 120, and a function of relaying CPNS system messages and service or content transmission between the first CPNS server 140 and the PNEs 110 and 120 may be performed. That is, when the PNEs 110 and 120 included in the private network 130 request a service, the first PN gateway 100 relays the service to the first CPNS server 140. In addition, when the service content provider 150 provides the requested service, the first PN gateway 100 performs a role of delivering the service from the PNEs 110 and 120. In addition, the first PN gateway 100 also plays a role of allowing a personal network to be exchanged with other private networks in a one-to-one scenario. The first PN gateway 100 may be, for example, a mobile phone, a PDA, a set top box, or the like.

The first CPNS server 140 registers and manages the first PN gateway 100, the PNEs 110 and 120, and the private network 130 according to a registration request of the first PN gateway 100, and the PNEs 110 and 120 register the first PN gateway 100. It handles the service and content request delivered through 100). If the service or content corresponding to the request can be provided by the first CPNS server 140, the first CPNS server 140 provides the requested service and content to the PNEs 110 and 120 through the first PN gateway 100. If the service cannot be provided, the service / content provider 150 transmits the request to the PNE 110 or 120 through the first PN gateway.

The configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention of the PNE (110, 120), the first PN gateway 100, and the first CPNS server 140 is shown in Figures 2 and 4, respectively.

2 is a configuration of the first PNE 110 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the second PNE 120 may be similarly configured. Referring to FIG. 2, the first PNE 110 includes a PN connection controller 111, a first local area communication module 112, and a first memory 113.

The first local area communication module 112 may be a module that performs near field communication. For example, the first local area communication module 112 may be a module that performs Bluetooth communication, Zigbee communication, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), or visible light communication.

The first memory 113 may be used as a working memory of the PN connection control unit 111, stores various program data necessary for forming a private network, and stores device description information about the first PNE 110. do. The device information is information about various functions and capabilities that the first PNE 110 can provide and may be provided by the PNE producer. An example of device information when the first PNE 110 is a PMP is shown in Table 1 below.

PNE 1 dev. info parameter value Network interface WLAN Max bandwidth 1 Mbps Storage 2048 MB I / O Interface Display, microphone, speaker Video codec H.264 Audio codec AC3 Display size 6 x 4 inch resolution 1024 x 768 Battery capacity 30 W ...

The first memory 113 stores a PNE identifier assigned by the first PN gateway 100 when a private network is formed. In addition, in response to the service and content request, and stores the data received from the first PN gateway 100.

The PN connection control unit 111 controls all operations of the first PNE 110 related to the formation and release of the private network, and controls operations related to requesting and receiving a service or content through the formed private network. Accordingly, the PN connection control unit 111 controls the first short-range communication module 112 to form a personal network, and physically pairs with peripheral devices to form a communication link. The PN connection control unit 111 performs a search for finding a PN gateway among physically paired devices and requests a private network connection when the PN gateway is detected. In this case, the device information of the first PNE 110 may be transmitted together.

Alternatively, the PN connection control unit 111 may receive a private network configuration request from a PN gateway, which is one of the peripheral devices, without performing a search for finding a PN gateway in a state in which a communication link is formed with surrounding devices. Upon receiving the private network configuration request, the PN connection control unit 111 includes the device information in response to the private network configuration request and transmits it to the corresponding PN gateway.

Subsequently, when the PN identifier is received together with a notification indicating that the PN gateway is connected to the private network, the PN connection control unit 111 stores the PNE identifier in the first memory 113. In addition, the PN connection control unit 111 requests and receives a service or content, for example, a music file or a video file, to the first CPNS server 140 through the connected PN gateway and stores the service or content according to a user request in the first memory 113. do.

3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first PN gateway 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the first PN gateway 100 includes a PN management unit 101, a second short-range communication module 102, a second memory 103, and a communication unit 104.

The second short-range communication module 102 may be a module for performing near field communication. For example, the second local area communication module 102 may be a module for performing Bluetooth communication, Zigbee communication, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), or visible light communication.

The communication unit 104 communicates with entities in an external network and transmits and receives messages and data with a CPNS server and a service / content provider.

The second memory 103 may be used as a working memory of the PN connection control unit 111 and stores various program data necessary for forming a private network. The second memory 103 stores a PNE list for PNEs connected to a private network and device information corresponding to each PNE. At this time, the PNE list and the device information may be classified and managed by corresponding private networks.

In addition, the second memory 103 stores personal network information (PN Inventory) corresponding to each private network formed around the first PN gateway 100. The personal network information is information on a personal network formed around the first PN gateway 100. The personal network information may affect the configuration of the personal network and the provision of services through the personal network and may have an attribute value that may change according to a situation or time. Contains information about variable resources. For example, the personal network information may include, as variable resource information, the total number of PNEs constituting the private network, and idle PNE information not currently receiving a service or content. In addition, the variable resource information includes variable information related to each PNE. For example, the remaining battery capacity or remaining storage space of each PNE included in the private network, the variable bandwidth that each PNE can have according to the number of PNEs currently forming the private network or the number of idle PNEs, etc. There may be.

 The PN manager 101 controls the overall operation of the first PN gateway 100 related to the private network. In other words, the PN manager 101 controls the second short-range communication module 102 to form a private network, and physically pairs with peripheral devices to form a communication link. When the mode search message is received from the physically paired device, the PN manager 101 transmits a response message indicating that it is a PN gateway to the corresponding device. Upon receiving a private network connection request from the paired device, the PN manager 101 performs authentication and approval on the device, assigns a PNE identifier, constructs a new PNE list, or updates an existing PNE list. do. In addition, the PN management unit 101 stores the device information received with the private network connection request in the second memory 103 in correspondence with the corresponding PNE. If a PNE to be excluded from the private network occurs, the PN management unit 101 updates the PNE list and device information.

Alternatively, the PN management unit 101 may induce participation in a private network by multicasting a network configuration request message to a peripheral device having a communication link. When the PN management unit 101 receives the network configuration request response message in response to the network configuration request message, the PN manager 101 performs a process of authenticating and approving the corresponding device, allocating a PNE identifier, and generating or updating a PNE list. do.

When the PN manager 101 constructs a new private network, the PN manager 101 constructs a PN list and registers the same in the first CPNS server 140. In this case, the PN list may include only a PNE list according to an embodiment of the present invention, or may include a PNE list and related device information according to another embodiment. After registering the PN list, the PN list may also be updated whenever the PNE list is updated.

When registration of the PN list is completed, the PN management unit 101 collects personal network information about the corresponding private network periodically, whenever the CPNS service provision state changes, or every time the PNE is added or excluded, and the second memory ( 103). The private network information is transmitted to the first CPNS server 140 at the request of the first CPNS server 140. Each time the first CPNS server 140 delivers an arbitrary service or content to a specific PNE, the first CPNS server 140 may request related PN information from the first PN gateway 100.

In addition, the PN manager 101 transmits the service request received from the PNE to the first CPNS server 140, and transfers the data transmitted from the first CPNS server 140 or the service / content provider 150 to the corresponding PNE.

5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first CPNS server 140 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the first CPNS server 140 includes a controller 141, a transceiver 142, and a third memory 143.

The transceiver 142 communicates with the PN gateway and the service content provider.

The third memory 143 registers and stores a PN list transmitted from the PN gateway. The third memory 143 stores various contents and services to be provided to the PNE, and stores a service matching table corresponding to each contents and services. The service matching table is information about the minimum device capabilities and capabilities required of the PNE to receive and process the corresponding content or service. An example of a service matching table for video content is shown in Table 2.

Service matching table parameter value title Titanic Service type video Video codec  H.264 Audio codec  AC3 resolution  QVGA Data rate 384 Kbps language  English Subtitle  Korean, English Play time  1800s ... ...

In addition, the third memory 143 may receive and store device information about a PNE list corresponding to each private network included in the PN list from the first PN gateway 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to another embodiment, only the PNE list may be stored.

The control unit 141 controls the overall operation of the first CPNS server 140, performs CPNS use authentication and approval for the PNE included in the PN list according to the PN list registration request of the first PN gateway, and performs a third PN list. It stores in the memory 143. If the PN identifier is not allocated to the private network included in the PN list, the PN identifier is allocated, or if the PN identifier is already assigned, the duplicate network is checked.

The controller 141 acquires device information of the PNE and personal network information corresponding to the private network including the PNE according to a request of a service or content of the PNE delivered by the first PN gateway 100. The controller 141 checks whether the service or content requested by the PNE is available to the PNE by using the acquired device information and the personal network information, adjusts to the available form, and adjusts the available form through the first PN gateway 100. Deliver to PNE.

5 to 7 illustrate an operation process according to the first embodiment of the present invention of the first PNE 110, the first PN gateway 100, and the first CPNS server 140 configured as described above.

5 illustrates a process of forming a private network and registering with the first CPNS server 140 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first PNE 110 and the first PN gateway 100 are physically paired through the respective short range communication modules 102 and 112 in step 201. In operation 203, the first PNE 110 transmits a mode discovery message to all devices paired with the first near field communication device to find a neighboring PN gateway or to determine which mode the neighboring device operates in relation to CPNS. Transmit via module 102.

Accordingly, when the first PN gateway 100 receives the mode search message in step 203, the first PN gateway 100 includes information indicating that the first PN gateway is included in the response message and transmits the information to the first PNE 110 in step 205. Such a mode search message may also be sent from the first PN gateway 100.

After receiving the response message in step 205, the first PNE 110 transmits a personal network connection request message including its device information to the first PN gateway 100 in step 207. When the first PN gateway 100 receives the private network connection request message, in step 209, the first PN gateway 100 authenticates the CPNS user with respect to the first PNE 110, and confirms that the first PN gateway 100 is allowed to form a private network with the first PN gateway 10. Perform authentication / approval

If authentication is normally completed, the first PN gateway 100 allocates the PNE identifier to the first PNE 110 in step 211, constructs and stores a PNE list including the PNE identifier allocated in step 215, and stores device information. do. At this time, the PNE list is configured and managed for each corresponding private network, and each private network is assigned a PN identifier.

In step 217, the PN list is configured to transmit the PN list registration request message to the first CPNS server 140. The PN list includes identification information of the first PN gateway 100, a PN identifier, and a PNE list. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the PNE list included in the PN list may be configured to include only a list of PNEs. It may be configured to include the device information for each PNE. Accordingly, in the following description, embodiments of the case where the device information is not included in the PN list and the case where the device information is included in the PN list will be described.

Upon receiving the PN list registration request message, the first CPNS server 140 performs CPNS use authentication and approval for the PNE included in the PN list in step 217, and registers the PN list in step 219. In this case, only the PNE list may be stored according to the information included in the PN list, or device information for each of the PNE list and the PNE may be stored together.

In operation 221, the first CPNS server 140 transmits a response message indicating that the PN list registration is completed to the first PN gateway 100. Accordingly, in step 223, the first PN gateway 100 transmits a response message indicating that the private network connection is completed to the first PNE 110.

The above process is an example of personal network formation and registration, and the personal network may be formed by other processes.

After the formation and registration of the personal network is completed, the process of providing the actual CPNS service will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step 301, a private network is formed between the first PNE 110, the first PN gateway 100, and the first CPNS server 140, and is registered. In the state where a private network is formed and registered, the first PN gateway 100 collects and updates personal network information for each private network formed in relation to itself. The personal network information is state information of the personal network, and includes information about a variable resource having an attribute value that may change according to an environment or time with respect to the configuration of the personal network and provision of CPNS service. For example, the personal network information may include the current available bandwidth of the private network, the remaining battery capacity of each PNE connected to the private network, or the remaining storage space of each PNE, and idle PNE information not currently receiving a service or content.

Such personal network information is referenced when providing various services and contents, or used to improve a personal network service providing environment. That is, the optimal content may be selected by referring to the personal network information, and the PN gateway may adjust the use state of the related item so that the related information item has a specific attribute value in order to improve the service providing environment of the personal network.

For example, when collecting and managing information on bandwidth of a private network, the first PN gateway 100 may allocate the current service operation information of the PNE, the bandwidth available in the current private network, and the specific PNE. Collect bandwidth information. This is because the actual available bandwidth may be different if the first PN gateway 100 uses some bandwidth for another PNE, that is, the device, among the total bandwidth managed by the first PN gateway 100. When the first PN gateway 100 knows the end time of a specific service, the first PN gateway 100 may derive available bandwidth considering the number of allocated bandwidths. In addition, the first available bandwidth may be adjusted by adjusting the bandwidth currently used by the first PN gateway 100 through data scheduling.

As such, since the personal network information may be changed randomly according to time or service provision state, it is preferable that the personal network information is appropriately collected when the related event occurs as well as the periodic collection. For example, when the CPNS server requests PN information or whenever an event such as the withdrawal of a PNE occurs in a private network, it is preferably updated. The personal network information may be collected by the first PN gateway 100 while managing the private network, or, if necessary, may be collected by querying the connected PNEs for necessary information.

In operation 303, the first CPNS server 140 may transmit a service guide message to the first PNE 110 through the first PN gateway 100. The service guide message includes a service or content list that can be provided by the first CPNS server 140. Upon receiving this, the first PNE 110 selects a service according to a user input in step 307. For example, if the first PNE 110 is a PMP, a movie file may be selected. The first PNE 110 transfers the selected service to the first CPNS server 1140 through the first PN gateway 100 in step 308. Before providing the requested service, the first CPNS server 140 should check whether the corresponding service is playable in the first PNE 110. Accordingly, the device information of the first PNE 110 should be checked, and the personal network information of the present time should be checked. Accordingly, in step 309, the first CPNS server 140 requests the first PN gateway 100 for private network information on the private network to which the first PNE 110 belongs. In this case, if the device information of the first PNE 110 is stored only in the first PN gateway 100, the first CPNS server 140 also requests the device information of the first PNE 110 together. However, if device information of the first PNE 110 is stored in the first CPNS server 140, only private network information may be requested.

In response to the request for the personal network information of the first CPNS server 140, the first PN gateway 100 detects the entire personal network information corresponding to the private network to which the first PNE 110 belongs, and in step 311, the first CPNS server 140. To pass. At this time, in another embodiment according to the present invention, the personal network information may be updated and transmitted at the time point of requesting the personal network information of the first CPNS server 140.

When the first CPNS server 140 receives the personal network information, the first CPNS server 140 determines whether the service requested by the first PNE 110 is a service suitable for the first PNE 110 and the received personal network information of the first PNE 110. Judging by referring to the information. The first PNE 110 determines the format of the corresponding service in a playable form. For example, if the first PNE 110 having device information as shown in Table 1 requests a specific movie having a service matching table as shown in Table 2, the first CPNS server 140 may compare the device information with the matching table to play back. Determine whether it is content. If the codec information does not match, playback is impossible. In this case, the first CPNS server 140 may change the format of the corresponding content to match the codec of the first PNE 110.

In addition, referring to the personal network information of the first PNE 110 at this time, the corresponding service or content may be changed into a form that can be provided. If the bandwidth currently allocated to the first PNE 110 is not the bandwidth enough to receive the content as it is, the content may be adjusted to reduce the capacity of the content.

In addition, the first CPNS server 140 may change the format to low power consumption content if the remaining battery capacity of the first PNE 110 is not sufficient for service reproduction. For example, when the first PNE 110 requests game content for a federated game with other PNEs belonging to the same private network, the first CPNS server 140 may not only charge remaining battery of the first PNE 110 but also other PNEs. You can check their battery level. The first CPNS server 140 may select a game format in consideration of power consumption during game play of all PNEs. For example, 2D games may be transmitted instead of 3D games.

As described above, the first CPNS server 140 determines not only the device information of the first PNE 110 but also the personal network information, thereby determining an optimal service or content by referring to the entire variable information of the corresponding personal network. The service response including the service or the content determined by the first PNE 110 is transmitted through the first PN gateway 100.

7 illustrates a process of providing a CPNS service according to another embodiment of the present invention. Steps 401 to 411 of FIG. 7 are similar to steps 301 to 311 of FIG. However, in step 413, the first PN gateway 100 may directly correspond with the first PNE 110 in the personal network information of the private network to which the first PNE 110 belongs, in response to the request of the personal network information of the first CPNS server 140. Only relevant information is transmitted to the first CPNS server 140. For example, current available bandwidth information of the first PNE 110, remaining battery capacity of the first PNE 110, and remaining storage area information of the first PNE 110 are transmitted to the first CPNS server 140.

In the example of FIG. 6, since the entire private network information has been transmitted, the first CPNS server 140 searches for and uses the entire private network information that has received the necessary information. However, in the example of FIG. 7, since only the personal network information of the first PNE 110 is transmitted, the first CPNS server 140 may use the received personal network information as it is. If there is other necessary private network information, the first PN gateway 100 may request and receive the entire private network information again.

Thereafter, steps 415 and 417 are similar to steps 315 and 317 of FIG. 6.

In another embodiment according to the present invention, PNE device information may be included in personal network information. For example, as shown in Table 3 below, the personal network information may include not only device information but also battery information that may indicate bandwidth or remaining amount of battery, which are variable information.

Table 3 is an example of such private network information. Referring to Table 3, the personal network information may include PN gateway information included in the corresponding private network, device information of each PNE, and variable information of each PNE for each private network.

The personal network information is transferred from the first PN gateway 100 to the first CPNS server 140 at the request of the first CPNS server 140. In addition, the personal network information as shown in Table 3 may be prepared in one document and transmitted to the first CPNS server 140. The format of the document may be, for example, XML or HTML format, or may be another format document. When the personal network information is created in one document format as described above, the first CPNS server 140 requests the personal network information from the first PN gateway 100 whenever necessary, and responds to the request as shown in Table 3 below. The entire document corresponding to the network information may be received from the first PN gateway 100, used, and stored.

Private network information Personal Netwok # 1-Identity PN GW Info. PNE # 1 Device information parameter value Device name Portable Media Player (PMP) Network interface Bluetooth Bandwidth 1 Mbps Storage capacity 2048 MB I / O Interface Display, microphone, speaker Video codec H.264 Audio codec AC3 Display size 6 X 4 inch resolution 1024 x 768 Battery 30 W ... ... content Info. music Michael Jackson # 8 movie Terminator # 4 ... ... PNE # 2 PNE # 3 Personal Netwok # 2-Identity PN GW Info. Device # 1 ...

8 and 9 illustrate an example in which the first PN gateway 100 controls the operation of the PNE in the process of collecting and managing personal network information. Since the PNE belonging to the private network does not always receive CPNS content, it is not necessary to continuously maintain the network connection state through short-range communication during the period of not receiving CPNS content. In this case, unnecessary power consumption may occur if PNEs not used for the actual service maintain the network connection.

Accordingly, when collecting the PN information, the first PN gateway 100 also grasps an idle PNE, that is, a device that is not currently receiving CPNS content. By operating the idle PNE in sleep mode, power consumption of unused devices can be reduced.

To this end, the first PN gateway 100 may configure a PN command message for controlling the PNE and use a SOAP protocol as a method for delivering the PN command message. Of course, the command message can be delivered using a protocol other than SOAP, but the present invention uses a message delivery method based on HTTP. Table 4 below shows an example of a sleep command message according to an embodiment of the present invention.

PN Command Message SOAP header Action Code: Sleep Mode Total sleep period Active period Inactivity period

The PN command message is configured in XML format and can define an action according to the action code. In the present invention, the action code is set to "Connection teardown" to operate the PNE in sleep mode, and the parameters of the sleep mode are defined. The total sleep period is a period in which the sleep mode is maintained. The sleep mode maintenance period may be determined by several factors. For example, if any PNE currently capable of playing a video is provided with a service, other PNEs capable of playing a video are likely not to be provided until the service of any PNE is terminated. Accordingly, the sleep period of other PNEs may be determined in consideration of the service usage period of any PNE.

As an example of this, if it is assumed that the current playback time of the content requested by a certain PNE is 20 minutes, since the first PN gateway 100 knows the end time of the service, other idle PNEs other than the PNE on which the content is being played are present. To set the sleep period to 20 minutes. The Listing duration is a period of switching to an awake mode to confirm receipt of a message even during a sleep mode operation. The active period is a period in which the active mode is maintained. After this time, the active period is switched back to the inactive mode. Even though the device operates in the sleep mode, the activation duration and the inactivity duration are set so that other services can be used when necessary.

An example of a process of configuring and transmitting the sleep command message is shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8, when the first PN gateway 100 generates a personal network in step 501, the first PN gateway 100 collects and updates personal network information in step 503. In step 505, if an idle PNE is found, a sleep command message as shown in Table 4 is configured and transmitted to the corresponding PNE.

Accordingly, the PNE receiving the sleep command message controls the private network connection in the cycle shown in FIG. That is, during the entire sleep period t, the inactive section t1 and the active section t2 are periodically repeated, stopping the private network connection during the inactive section, and resuming the private network connection during the active section.

Next, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when providing a service of an external network to a private network entity through a private network, whether the private network gateway provides a service environment and a service using variable resource information of the private network Explain the process of determining.

In the first embodiment described above, the first CPNS server 140 determines a format of a service or content to be provided using personal network information. However, in the second embodiment below, the CPNS server includes a service including information on the network service environment required in response to the service and the content to be provided or information on the functions and capabilities of the device required to execute the service and the content to be provided. Pass the requirements to the PN gateway. The PN gateway uses the service requirements and the personal network information to determine whether the relevant PNE is executed for the service or content, and sets a service environment necessary for providing the service or content so as to satisfy the service requirement. In the second embodiment, it is assumed that personal network information includes device information of each PNE.

This configuration of the personal network system according to the second embodiment is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 10, a personal network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention may include one or more personal network entities (PNEs), for example, a first PNE 110 and a second PNE 120. It includes two PN gateways 160 and a second CPNS server 170.

The configuration and operation of the PNEs 110 and 120 are similar to those of the first embodiment.

The second CPNS server 170 is configured and operates similarly to the first CPNS server 140. However, when a service request of a private network according to the second embodiment of the present invention does not appropriately select or change a corresponding service in a related PNE, the device includes information about a function and capability of a device required for executing a requested service and a network service environment. Pass service requirements to the PN gateway. The service requirement may be configured through the information included in the service matching table as shown in Table 2, and may include information related to variable resources of the private network such as transmission bandwidth and minimum battery capacity required for content delivery. .

The second PN gateway 160 also processes a configuration of the personal network or a process of collecting and updating personal network information similarly to the first PN gateway 140. However, according to the second embodiment, with reference to the service requirements received from the second CPNS server 170, whether or not to execute the relevant PNE for a specific service or content of the external network and the service environment required for providing the service or content Perform the operation for setting.

The service providing process according to the second embodiment of the present invention in the personal network system configured as shown in FIG. 10 is as follows. The second PN gateway 160 transmits a service request message for a specific content or service to the second CPNS server 170 in step 610. In this case, the user may request a service through the PNEs 110 and 120 (step 160-a), and may request a service through the second PN gateway 160 (160-b).

Upon receiving the service request message, the second CPNS server 170 transmits a service requirement corresponding to the requested specific content or service to the second PN gateway 160 in step 160.

The second PN gateway 160 compares the service requirements with the personal network information collected so far. In this case, the personal network information includes device information of each PNE (110, 120), and includes variable resource information associated with each PNE (110, 120).

Accordingly, the second PN gateway 160 compares the service requirement with device information of the corresponding PNE to determine whether the service of the corresponding PNE is feasible. For example, if a specific content is a video, the video codec and the audio codec must match.

When the service can be executed, the second PN gateway 160 determines an optimal service environment for providing a service by using variable resource information of a private network. For example, the second PN gateway 160 may determine a network bandwidth among various resources that can be changed. The second PN gateway 160 may flexibly allocate bandwidth to a specific PNE according to a service usage situation of the PNEs, the number of connected PNEs, and a network condition. Accordingly, the second PN gateway 160 allocates an optimal bandwidth by comparing the bandwidth requirements specified in the service requirements with the bandwidth information that can be allocated to a specific PNE. If the bandwidth requirement is not specified in the service requirement, the second PN gateway 160 may allocate the optimal bandwidth in consideration of the capacity of the related content.

The configuration of the second PN gateway 160 according to this is shown in FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the second PN gateway 160 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, the second PN gateway 160 may include a service request receiver 161, a personal network information manager 162, a service requirement manager 163, a service requirement determiner 164, and a bandwidth allocator 162. ), Similar to the first PN gateway 100, may include a memory, a short-range communication module, an external network communication unit, and the like.

The service request receiver 121 transmits a service request message received from the PNE or generated by the user on the second PN gateway 160 to the second CPNS server 140. The personal network information manager 162 generates and updates personal network information including device information received from the PNE and information on the private network collected by the second PN gateway 160. The service requirement manager 162 requests, receives, and manages service requirement information from the second CPNS server 170. The service requirement determination unit 164 compares the personal network information with the service requirement information, determines whether the service can be performed by the corresponding PNE, and determines an appropriate network service environment. In other words, the service requirement determination unit 164 may compare the service requirement information with the personal network information and determine the value of the related resource to satisfy the required network service environment. For example, the bandwidth required for the PNE can be determined. The bandwidth allocator 165 actually allocates the determined bandwidth to the PNE.

In the second PN gateway 160 configured as described above, the service request receiving unit 161 receiving the service request receives the service requirement from the second CPNS server 170 through the service requirement management unit 163. The service requirement management unit 163 forwards the received service requirement to the service requirement determination unit 164, and also transmits the personal network information to the service requirement determination unit 164 to the personal network information management unit 163. request. The service requirement determination unit 164 determines the required bandwidth by using the personal network information and the service requirement information, and transfers the bandwidth to the bandwidth allocator 165, and the bandwidth allocator 165 provides the bandwidth to the PNE to use the service. Assign.

In another embodiment, when the service requirement management unit 163 transmits a request for service determination to the service requirement determination unit 164, the service requirement determination unit 164 may transmit a private network from the personal network information management unit 162. Information can also be taken to determine the required bandwidth. The service request receiver 161, the personal network information manager 162, the service requirement manager 163, the service requirement determiner 164, and the bandwidth allocator 162 may be configured to be included in one personal network manager. It may be.

Next, an operation process of the personal network system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a process of determining a bandwidth of a related PNE according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 illustrates a case where the second PN gateway 160 predominantly configures a private network.

Referring to FIG. 12, in a state in which a mobile phone serving as a PN gateway, that is, a second PN gateway 160 and a peripheral device is physically paired as in step 701, the user uses the second PN gateway 160. You can activate the CPNS service. For example, run the CPNS application installed on the mobile phone or installed separately.

When the CPNS application is running, the second PN gateway 160 automatically multicasts the private network configuration request message to devices in its vicinity in step 703.

Accordingly, in step 703, the first PNE 110 receives a private network configuration request message. In response, the first PNE 110 receives a private network response message including device information including its function and capability information in step 705. Transfer to 2PN gateway 160.

When the second PN gateway 160 receives the personal network configuration response message, in step 707, the second PN gateway 160 forms a private network by performing the procedure of approval and authentication as shown in FIG. 5, and receives the received device information and the second PN gateway 160. Creates private network information using information from other PNEs managed by If private network information already exists, update the existing private network information.

In operation 709, the PN gateway 160 transmits a service request message for requesting a CPNS service to the second CPNS server 170. At this time, according to the user's selection, the second PN gateway 160 may receive a service request message from the first PNE 110 and transmit the service request message to the second CPNS server 170.

The second CPNS server 170 configures service requirement information corresponding to the service requested by the user and transmits the service requirement information to the second PN gateway 160 in step 711.

In operation 713, the second PN gateway 160 compares the personal network information with the service requirement information to determine the bandwidth to be allocated to the first PNE 110. The bandwidth determined in step 715 is allocated to the first PNE 110. In operation 717, the service reception completion message is transmitted to the second CPNS server.

The second CPNS server 170 delivers the service requested in step 709 to the first PNE 110 through the PN gateway 160. As described above, the present invention provides various variable property values related to communication in a private network. In consideration of this, it is possible to provide CPNS more efficiently. In addition, the present invention can provide a CPNS optimized for a wireless environment. Accordingly, the user may be provided with an optimized service suitable for the user environment. Through this, it is possible to improve the service satisfaction of the user, reduce the power consumption of the unused devices, and can use the CPNS service at low power, thereby increasing the number of CPNS subscribers can be expected.

In the above description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the PNE selects and requests a service has been described as an example. However, the first CPNS server 140 may select and transmit arbitrary content without requesting the PNE. In this case, the first CPNS server 140 may request the personal network information of the current time point of the corresponding personal network to the first PN gateway 100 and may select an appropriate service in consideration of this. That is, the personal network information can be accessed and used at any time at the time of service provision. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be defined by the described embodiments, but should be defined by the equivalent of claims and claims.

Claims (22)

A method for providing a service of an external network to a device entity constituting the private network through a private network by a private network gateway, the method comprising:
Forming a private network including one or more entities connected through short-range communication;
An update process of collecting and updating private network information including information about variable resources of the private network;
When the external network provides a service to the entity through the private network, the external network service, characterized in that the personal network information is referenced to determine whether to provide the service and determine the network service environment How to Provide. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource has an attribute value that may change over time with respect to the configuration of the private network and a service providing environment. The method of claim 2, wherein the information on the private network is to be possessed by each entity according to at least one of the number of entities currently forming the private network and the number of idle entities not currently receiving a service through the private network. Method for providing a service of an external network, characterized in that it comprises a variable bandwidth information. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining process,
Requesting a server providing a service of the external network to a specific service to be provided to the entity;
Receiving service requirement information from the server, the service requirement information including information on a network service environment required for the specific service;
And comparing the service requirement information with the private network information and determining a value of a related resource so as to satisfy the required network service environment. The method of claim 4, wherein the service requirement information includes information about a required transmission bandwidth required to deliver the specific service to the entity,
Determining the value of the resource
Comparing the required transmission bandwidth with variable bandwidth information that each entity may have;
Determining a transmission bandwidth corresponding to the entity according to the comparison result. The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining whether the entity is executable for the specific service by referring to information on a function and capability of a device required to execute the specific service included in the service requirement information. External network service providing method characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining of the personal network information is performed by a server providing a service of the external network so that the personal network information is used in determining a service to be provided to the entity. Characterized in that the service providing method of the external network. The personal network information of claim 6, wherein the personal network information includes a number of all entities included in the personal network, a battery level of each of all entities, a remaining storage space of each of all entities, and a service through the private network. The service providing method of the external network, characterized in that it further comprises one or more of information about the idle entity that is not receiving. The method of claim 8, wherein the entire network is provided when the private network information is provided to the server. The method of claim 8, wherein the private network information associated with a specific entity is provided to the server when the private network information is provided. The idle entity of claim 3, wherein if there is an idle entity that is not currently receiving a service through the private network at the time of collecting the personal network information, the idle entity receives a sleep command message for stopping a connection with the personal entity for a period of time. Method for providing an external network service, characterized in that it further comprises the step of transmitting to. A private network gateway device for providing a service of an external network to a device entity constituting the private network through a private network,
A near field communication module,
When collecting and updating personal network information including information on a resource of a private network formed by including one or more entities connected through local area communication, and providing a service to the entity through the private network in the external network, And a personal network manager to determine whether to provide the service and a network service environment by referring to the personal network information. The personal network gateway device according to claim 12, wherein the resource has an attribute value that may change with time in relation to the configuration of the private network and a service providing environment. The method of claim 13, wherein the information of the private network is to be possessed by each entity according to at least one of the number of entities currently forming the private network and the number of idle entities not currently receiving a service through the private network. Personal network gateway device comprising a variable bandwidth information. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the personal network management unit
A service request receiver for requesting a specific service to be provided to the entity from a server providing a service of the external network;
A service requirement management unit for receiving service requirement information including information on a network service environment required for the specific service from the server;
And a service requirement determination unit which compares the service requirement information with the private network information and determines a value of a related resource so as to satisfy the required network service environment. The method of claim 15, wherein the service requirement information includes information about a required transmission bandwidth required to deliver the specific service to the entity,
And a service requirement determination unit comparing the required transmission bandwidth with variable bandwidth information that each entity may have, and determining a transmission bandwidth corresponding to the entity according to the comparison result. The method of claim 15, wherein the service requirement determination unit refers to information about a function and capability of a device required to execute the specific service included in the service requirement information, and executes the specific service of the entity. Personal network gateway device characterized in that it determines the availability. The personal network manager of claim 14, wherein the personal network manager provides the personal network information to the server such that the personal network information is used by a server providing a service of the external network when determining a service to be provided to the entity. Private network gateway device. 19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the personal network information includes the number of all entities included in the private network, the battery level of each of the all entities, the remaining storage space of each of all the entities, and the current service through the private network. Personal network gateway device further comprises one or more of information about the idle entity that is not receiving. The personal network gateway device of claim 19, wherein the personal network manager provides the entire personal network information when the personal network information is provided. The personal network gateway device of claim 19, wherein the personal network manager provides personal network information related to a specific entity when providing the personal network information. The sleep command of claim 14, wherein the private network manager stops the connection with the personal entity for a period of time when there is an idle entity that is not currently receiving a service through the private network when collecting the personal network information. And sending a message to the idle entity.

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