KR20110131035A - Apparatus and method for providing device description in home network - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device and a method thereof for providing device description information are provided to effectively supply device description information to a RUIC(Remote User Interface Client) in a RUIS(Remote User Interface Server). CONSTITUTION: A first RUIS(200) designates a second RUIS(204) to perform a CA(Cache Agent) operation. The first RUIS checks that the device description information of a third RUIS(205) must be cashed. The second RUIS cashes the device description information of the third RUIS according to the indication of the first RUIS. The second RUIS transmits the device description information of the cashed third RUIS to an RUIC(201). The third RUIS manages the device description information of the third RUIS.

Description

Apparatus and method for providing device description information in a home network {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DEVICE DESCRIPTION IN HOME NETWORK}

The present invention relates to a home network, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for providing device description information to a user in a home network.

Home network technology is being actively researched by many industry standards bodies such as Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), Home Audio-Video Interoperability (HAVi), and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP).

Remote user interface (RUI) technology may be used for one device to control the functions of another device in a home network. In short, RUI technology is based on a client-server architecture, where a Remote User Interface Client (RUIC) receives a UI from a Remote User Interface Server (RUIS), allowing the user to control the RUIS via the UI in the RUIC. It's a technology that makes it possible. Here, the RUIS is included in a device existing in the home.

1 illustrates a method for providing device description information in a conventional home network.

Referring to FIG. 1, one of the preliminary procedures for delivering the RUI page and the contents provided by each of the first RUIS 100 and the second RUIS 104 to the RUIC 101, the first RUIS 100 and the second RUIS 104. The RUIS 104 transmits corresponding device description information (Device Description) (102, 103) to the RUIC (101). In this case, the device description information 102 and 103 provided from the RUIC 101 of the user is device description information transmitted unilaterally from the first RUIS 100 and the second RUIS 104 that are powered on.

In this case, the device description information 102 and 103 provided from the RUIC 101 includes only the device description information of the first and second RUISs 100 and 104 that are powered on. In this case, the user is forced to search and use only a limited service provided only by devices that are currently powered on among the numerous devices existing in the home through the RUIC 101. For example, there may be many types of devices in the house, but it is difficult to expect that all devices will always be powered on for various reasons, such as power saving, and some of the devices are actually powered on.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method of providing device description information of the third RUIS 105 which is turned off so that the user can search for and use all devices existing in the home.

In addition, in the home network, there are many devices that repeatedly turn on and off according to the user's will, rather than devices that are constantly powered on. Therefore, there is a need for a method of flexibly updating and transferring device description information from time to time.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for efficiently providing device description information to RUIC in RUIS.

The present invention also provides an apparatus and method for providing device description information of a RUIS powered off in a RUIS powered on to a RUIC.

The present invention also provides an apparatus and method for efficiently providing device description information to another RUIS in a RUIS to be powered off.

An apparatus for providing device description information in a home network according to the present invention may compare a cache function of at least two devices, designate a second device to perform a cache agent (CA) operation, and provide device description information of the third device. A first device for ascertaining a cache; A second device that caches device description information of the third device according to the instruction of the first device, and transmits the device description information of the cached third device to a client; And a third device that manages device description information of the third device.

In addition, the method for providing device description information in any device constituting the home network according to the present invention, at least one target device having a cache function capable of operating as a cache agent in the arbitrary device and its own cache function Determining a device to operate as a cache agent, and if a cache request from at least one other device is received, device description information of the at least one other device from the device to the device to operate as the cache agent And instructing to cache.

The present invention can provide the user's RUIC with a device description of a home network device that is powered off in the home network. This allows the user to search for more and more types of devices and services that are potentially available, even though the device is currently powered off and difficult to use immediately. On the other hand various other effects will be disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention to be described later.

1 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing device description information in a conventional home network;
2 is a diagram illustrating a method for providing device description information in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for providing device description information in each device included in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a view showing the operation of the UICP 300 in the home network according to an embodiment of the present invention,
5 is a view showing the operation of the first RUIS 200 in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a view showing the operation of the second RUIS 204 in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the second RUIS 204 when the second RUIS 204 is performing CA operation in the home network according to the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. Is provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The main subject of the present invention is to provide the device description information of the second RUIS with the device description information of the second RUIS to the RUIC together with the device description information of the second RUIS that has received the device description information of the second RUIS that is powered off. .

To this end, a device for performing a caching agent (CA) operation capable of previously caching the device description information of the second RUIS is determined, and the determined device is a device of the second RUIS together with its device description information. Provide description information to the RUIC. Here, the CA is a logical entity that may exist physically in RUIS or RUIC, or may exist in User Interface Control Point (UICP).

Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for providing device description information according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 illustrates a method for providing device description information in a home network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the RUIC 201 is a device that controls the RUIS through a user input, and the first RUIS 200 and the second RUIS 204 are devices that can exist in the home and provide a service to the user. to be. In this case, it is assumed that the second RUIS 204 is a device that is preset to perform a CA operation. A method of setting the CA operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 below.

The first and second RUISs 200 and 204 that are powered on transmit their device description information 202 and 203 to the RUIC 201 of the user, respectively.

Here, when the second RUIS 204 preset to perform the CA operation receives the device description information from the third RUIS 205 (206), the second RUIS 204 caches the device description information of the third RUIS 205. When the second RUIS 204 transmits device description information to the RUIC 201 of the user, the RUIC 201 transmits its device description information together with the device description information of the cached third RUIS 205. To pass.

Based on this, the RUIC 201 is a device capable of providing a service to a user at present, as shown by reference numeral 207, and a first RUIS 200 and a second RUIS 204 exist and are currently turned off to provide a service. The third RUIS 205 is provided as a device that cannot be provided, and a list of services that the device can provide is provided.

Accordingly, the RUIC 201 can identify the service that can be provided by the third RUIS 205 that is powered off.

3 illustrates a procedure of providing device description information in each device included in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In general, device description information of a device which is normally powered on is provided to a user's RUIC 201 using a protocol defined in the existing UPnP or CEA-2014. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the second RUIS 204 is scheduled to be powered off or suddenly powered off, each of the devices included in the home network for caching the device description information of the second RUIS 204 to the first RUIS is used. In the devices the procedure shown in FIG. 3 is performed.

Referring to FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 2, the RUIC 201 is a device that controls the RUIS through a user input, and the first RUIS 200 and the second RUIS 204 exist in the home to provide services to the user. A device that can be provided, and the UICP 300 is a device that manages the first RUIS 200 and the second RUIS 204. Here, the physical location of the UICP 300 may vary depending on the implementation. That is, the present invention may be implemented to exist on the first RUIS 200 or the third RUIC (not shown in the drawings) in the home or to be located in a separate device, and the present invention is not limited to the specific case in accordance with the specific implementation.

Referring to the procedure for providing device description information in the home network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, first, the first RUIS 200 notifies the UICP 300 of the notification message indicating that the cache function may be performed in step 304. Then, the UICP 300 compares whether or not the cache function of the plurality of first RUIS 200 that transmitted the notification message and related details in step 305, when the cache function of the first RUIS 200 is large The first RUIS 200 is designated as a caching agent (CA).

Although not shown in FIG. 3, when the UICP 300 receives the notification message from at least two RUISs, the UICP 300 transmits a cache function and a notification message of the first RUIS 200. By comparing the cache function of one other RUIS (not shown) and the cache function of the UICP 300, a device most suitable for caching is designated as a CA. In addition, the UICP 300 may designate a CA by directly checking the cache function of the RUIS without receiving the notification message.

Referring back to FIG. 3, when the second RUIS 204 wishes to cache its device description information to another device in step 306, the second RUIS 204 transmits a cache request message to the UICP 300. Upon receiving the cache request message, the UIPC 300 checks the validity of the device description information of the second RUIS 204 that is stored in advance, and if it is valid, directly to the first RUIS 200 in step 307. The device description information and the cache trigger of the second RUIS 204 which it has are transmitted, and if it is not valid, the device description information of the second RUIS 204 is directly transmitted from the second RUIS to the first RUIS 200 in step 307. Pass only cache triggers to receive. The first RUIS 200 caches the device description information of the second RUIS 204 when the device description information and the cache trigger of the second RUIS 204 are simultaneously received from the UIPC 300. When only the cache trigger is received from the UIPC 300, in step 308, the device description information transmitted from the second RUIS 204 is separately received and cached. In this case, the first RUIS 200 may request to transmit device description information to the second RUIS 204.

Thereafter, the first RUIS 200 transmits device description information of the second RUIS 204 together with its device description information to the RUIC 201 in order to deliver device description information from the user's RUIC 201. To pass.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of the present invention, the device description of the first RUIS 200 that is powered on and the device description information of the second RUIS 204 that is powered off can be provided to the RUIC 201 of the user.

Hereinafter, an operation performed to provide device description information in each device included in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

4 illustrates the operation of the UICP 300 in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in order to designate a device to perform CA operation, the UICP 300 checks devices having a cache function in step 401, and not only its cache function but also between the identified devices in step 403. Compare cache functions. In step 405, the UICP 300 checks whether there is no device previously specified or whether there is a new optimal device according to the cache function comparison result. In step 411, the UICP 300 proceeds to step 411. . On the other hand, if there is no predetermined device or there is a new optimal device, the UICP 300 proceeds to step 407 and assumes that the new optimal device (hereinafter, referred to as the first RUIS 200 in FIG. 3) according to the cache function comparison result. It will be described as) to be a device to operate as a CA, and in step 409 to the first RUIS (200) using the following Table 1b to specify to operate as a CA. Here, the new optimal device may be a device previously changed from a power off state to a power on state.

 <Table 1a> is the information received from the CA in the UICP 300, <Table 1b> is the UICP 300 in operation 409 to the first RUIS 200 based on <Table 1a> in step 409 This table shows the necessary message information when specifying to do so.

TABLE 1a

TABLE 1b

Table 1a illustrates an example in which a field called IndicationCommandURL is newly defined as device description information of the first RUIS 200. In step 409, when the UICP 300 uses the <Table 1a>, a designation command is sent to the IndicationCommandURL address.

<Table 1b> is an embodiment when the format of the designated command is defined in the form of an HTTP GET message. In step 409, when the UICP 300 uses the <Table 1b>, the determined value of the newly defined StartCachingAgentService variable is set to True to operate the determined device as a CA, and set to False to perform the other device. You can also stop it.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the UICP 300 checks whether a cache request message has been received from another device (assuming that it is the second RUIS 204 in FIG. 3) in step 411. In one case, the process proceeds to step 413 and, if it does not receive, the process returns to step 411 again. In this case, the UICP 300 may periodically receive device description information from the second RUIS 204 without receiving the cache request message in step 411.

The UICP 300 checks the validity of the device description information of the second RUIS 204 previously stored in step 413, and if it is determined to be valid, the device description information of the second RUIS 204 stored in advance in step 417. To the first RUIS 200 performing CA operation, otherwise, in step 415, the first RUIS 200 directly transmits a device description information from the second RUIS 204. .

5 illustrates the operation of the first RUIS 200 in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first RUIS 200 examines whether it has a cache function in step 501, and proceeds to step 503 to perform an operation as a CA when there is a cache function, and when there is no cache function. In order to provide only device description information of the device, the process proceeds to step 517.

In step 503, the first RUIS 200 having the cache function periodically sends a notification message (<Table 2a> or <Table 2b>) indicating that the cache function is present or at the request of the UICP 300. (300).

Tables 2a and 2b below show the notification message. The notification message includes a flag and related information so that the UICP 300 knows that the first RUIS 200 has a cache function.

TABLE 2a

TABLE 2b

Table 2a defines another field called CachingAgentInfo to indicate whether the first RUIS 200 has the capability of a CA. Accordingly, in step 503, when using the <Table 2a>, the first RUIS 200 may inform the UICP 300 that it can perform a role as a caching agent while serving as a uiServer.

In Table 2b, the cache function is separately defined as one service type in the service list provided by the first RUIS 200. Accordingly, in step 503, when using the <Table 2b>, the first RUIS 200 may inform the UICP 300 that the CA function is possible.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the first RUIS 200 checks whether it is designated to operate as a CA from the UICP 300 in step 505, and if so, operates as a CA in step 507, and in step 509, the following < Table 3> is used to notify other devices that they (first RUIS 200) operate as a CA.

Table 3 below shows a notification message notifying other devices that the UE actually operates as a CA in step 509. For this, a new field called CachingAgent is defined in the device description information.

TABLE 3

In operation 511, the first RUIS 200 determines whether to receive the device description information directly from the second RUIS 204 according to the instruction of the UICP 303. When receiving the device description information, the first RUIS 200 proceeds to step 513. The device description information is requested to the second RUIS 204, and the device description information is received from the second RUIS 204 and cached in step 515.

On the other hand, if the first RUIS 200 does not need to directly receive the device description information as a result of the check in step 511, the first RUIS 200 proceeds to step 515 to determine the device description information of the second RUIS 204 received from the UICP 303. Cache Tables 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d below illustrate a method of transmitting device description information in steps 513 and 515.

<Table 4a> and <Table 4b> show the case in which the UICP 300 directly delivers the device description information to the first RUIS 200 through step 515. In Table 4a, URLs to which the device description should be delivered are shown. A new field called DDCachingURL has been added to announce the address. <Table 4b> shows the device description information via the HTTP POST command.

<Table 4c> and <Table 4d> show the case where the first RUIS 200 directly requests the device description information to the second RUIS 204 through step 513. <Table 4c> shows the UICP of the cache trigger command. URL information for receiving from 300 is included, and Table 4d includes a cache trigger delivered by the UICP 300 to the first RUIS 200. The cache trigger is transmitted to CachingCommandURL in the form of an HTTP GET message, and device description information is obtained from a URL address specified in DDURI.

TABLE 4a

TABLE 4b

TABLE 4c

TABLE 4d

Accordingly, when the first RUIS 200 receives the device description information from the RUIC 201 of the user, the first RUIS 200 sends the device description information of the second RUIS 204 cached together with its device description information to the RUIC 201 in step 517. To pass.

Tables 5a and 5b below illustrate a method of delivering the cached device description information to the RUIC 201 in step 517.

<Table 5a> is an embodiment in which a new field called CachedUIListURL is added so that the RUIC 201 can separately take cached device description information from a separate address, and <Table 5b> is a table of the first RUIS 200. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cached device description information is attached to the device description information and transmitted.

In Table 5b, cached device description information can be inserted in two ways. First, there may be a method of embedding and delivering cached device description information as it is. Secondly, information regarding the wake-up procedure may be added such that the RUIC 201 may power up the second powered RUIS 204 again and take device descriptions.

TABLE 5a

TABLE 5b

6 illustrates operation of the second RUIS 204 in a home network according to an embodiment of the present invention. The second RUIS 204 is a device that intends to cache its device description information in the first RUIS 200 in consideration of a power off or sudden power off.

Referring to FIG. 6, in operation 601, the second RUIS 204 provides a normal service. In operation 603 and 605, the second RUIS 204 periodically caches its device description information. Determines whether to cache, or a combination of both. That is, the second RUIS 204 determines whether to periodically cache its device description information in step 603, and proceeds to step 607 when periodically caching, and proceeds to step 605 when it is not periodically cached. do. In step 605, the second RUIS 204 checks whether a specific event occurs, proceeds to step 607 when a specific event occurs, and returns to step 601 when a specific event does not occur. In this case, an example of the specific event refers to an event scheduled for power off.

If the cache is determined, the second RUIS 204 transmits a cache request message to the UICP 300 in step 607 to request that its device description information be cached by another device. Meanwhile, even if the second RUIS 204 does not perform step 607, that is, the second RUIS 204 does not send a cache request message, the UICP 300 may trigger a cache.

Table 6a and Table 6b below show, in step 607 according to the present invention, that the second RUIS 204, which wishes to cache its device description information to another device, adds information for a cache request. It is shown.

<Table 6a> is an embodiment when a new field named CachingRequest is defined in the device description information itself, and <Table 6b> is an embodiment when a new field for making a corresponding request is added to the SSDP: NOTIFY message instead of the device description. to be.

TABLE 6a

TABLE 6b

Referring back to FIG. 6, the second RUIS 204 checks whether a request for device description information is received from the first RUIC 200 operating as a CA in step 609, and proceeds to step 613 when it is not received. In step 611, the device description information is transmitted to the first RUIS 200 and the process proceeds to step 613.

In step 613, the second RUIS 204 determines the validity of whether the power may be immediately turned off when the state in which there is no separate request message continues over a predetermined threshold value. That is, in step 613, the second RUIS 204 determines whether the cache procedure is completed or not, based on a preset timeout time or cache completion feedback information from the first RUIS 200, and then may be turned off. If so, switch to the power off state.

In this case, when the second RUIS 204 is performing CA operation, the second RUIS 204 should transmit all device description information managed by the second RUIS 204 to the first RUIS 200. . In this case, the second RUIS 204 operates as shown in FIG. 7 below.

7 illustrates the operation of the second RUIS 204 when the second RUIS 204 is performing CA operation in the home network according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 701, the second RUIS 204 determines whether it is operating as a CA and managing device description information of other devices. As a result of the determination, the second RUIS 204 proceeds to step 703 when managing device description information of other devices, and proceeds to step 707 when not managing device description information of other devices.

In operation 703, the second RUIS 204 configures a list by distinguishing device description information and device description information of other cached devices, and in operation 705, the second RUIS 204 may be configured based on the configured device description information. All device description information managed by the device is transmitted to the first RUIS 200.

In operation 707, the second RUIS 204 transmits its device description information to the first RUIS 200.

Through this, in the present invention, even when a situation in which the second RUIS 204 is turned off, the premises devices can flexibly perform the role of CA.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the illustrated drawings as described above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may realize the present invention in another specific form without changing its technical spirit or essential features. It will be appreciated that it may be practiced. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

Claims (16)

An apparatus for providing device description information in a home network, the apparatus comprising:
A first device for comparing a cache function of at least two devices, specifying a second device to perform a cache agent (CA) operation, and confirming that the device description information of the third device should be cached;
A second device that caches device description information of the third device according to the instruction of the first device, and transmits the device description information of the cached third device to a client; And
Device description information providing apparatus comprising a third device for managing device description information of the third device. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device,
And periodically monitoring the state of the third device to determine whether device description information of the third device should be cached. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device,
And receiving the cache request message from the third device to determine whether device description information of the third device should be cached. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device,
If it is confirmed that the device description information of the third device should be cached, if the device description information of the third device stored in advance is valid and valid, the cache trigger is sent to the second device together with the device description information of the third device. Device description information providing apparatus, characterized in that the transfer. The method of claim 4, wherein the first device,
If the check result is not valid, only the cache trigger is transmitted to the second device. The method of claim 5, wherein the second device,
And receiving only the cache trigger from the first device, and requesting device description information of the third device from the first device to cache the cache description. The method of claim 1,
If the third device is a device that has previously performed a CA operation,
The device description information of the third device may include device description information of at least one other device that is cached. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device,
Device description information providing apparatus, characterized in that known to the third device that the device performs a CA operation. A method for providing device description information in any device constituting a home network, the method comprising:
Determining a device to operate as a cache agent in consideration of cache functions of at least one target device having a cache function capable of operating as a cache agent in the arbitrary device;
And upon receiving a cache request from at least one other device, instructing the device to operate as the cache agent from the device to cache device description information of the at least one other device. Way. 10. The method of claim 9,
The device description information further comprises the step of caching the device description information of the at least one other device, if the device is determined to be a device to act as the cache agent, or from a peripheral device to operate as a cache agent; How to Provide. The method of claim 10,
The device may further include receiving device description information from the at least one other device if the device description information of the at least one other device is not provided when the device is instructed to operate as a cache agent from the peripheral device. Method for providing device description information. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein
The device may further include transmitting its device description information and device description information of the at least one other device being cached to a client. The method of claim 12,
The device description information providing method further comprises the step of notifying the peripheral devices that the device itself is to act as a cache agent. 10. The method of claim 9,
And requesting at least one peripheral device to cache its device description information when the device is to be powered off. 10. The method of claim 9,
And transmitting the device description information of the device to the device operating as the cache agent in response to a request from the device operating as the cache agent. 16. The method of claim 15,
And if the device is a device operating as a cache agent, transmitting the device description information of at least one other device previously cached together with its device description information.

Images