KR20180054157A - New IOT(Internet Of Things) device management apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new internet of things (IoT) terminal management method and apparatus. An IoT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a communication unit for receiving profile information corresponding to each of at least one IoT terminal from an IoT server; a memory for storing the profile information; and a control unit for controlling the communication unit to request the profile information from the IoT server if there is no profile information of a newly identified IoT terminal in the memory. Accordingly, the present invention can omit a firmware upgrade of the IoT hub.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device management method and apparatus for an Internet Of Things (IOT)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet of Things (IOT) system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for managing a newly added Internet (IOT) terminal.

The Internet is evolving into an Internet of Things (IOT) network that exchanges information among distributed components such as objects in a human-centered connection network where humans generate and consume information.

IOT (Internet of Things) is a concept that enables communication with all objects that can communicate with each other through a network. All objects that can be systematically recognized, such as things (IOT devices or IOT terminals), can be equipped with local and remote communication functions and can produce data through sensors and the like.

In order to implement IOT, technology elements such as sensing technology, wired / wireless communication, network infrastructure, service interface technology and security technology are required. In recent years, sensor network, object to machine communication, M2M), and MTC (Machine Type Communication).

The home network is a network of IOT terminals used in the home. For example, the IOT terminals that may be included in the home network include lighting devices, HVAC devices (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) A security door lock, a fire extinguishing equipment, a security device (for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) camera), a healthcare device (for example, , Advanced medical service devices, and other systems. IOT terminals connected in the home network can exchange signals and information with each other through a home gateway (IOT hub).

On the home network, the user is provided with one or more control applications that can be run on traditional computers such as handheld devices such as smart phones or tablets, In Home Display (IHD) devices and personal computers (PCs). The control application can identify the device by discovering the IOT terminal within the home network and listing the discovered devices. For the identified device, the user can control one of the devices from the IOT terminal list via the control application.

There is a real difficulty for users to control all of these various IOT terminals, and a home gateway (IOT hub) for managing the operation and state of each IOT terminal is needed. The IOT hub can play a role of controlling and managing each of the IOT terminals performing various functions in the home network system.

This IOT hub should be able to identify and control the new IOT terminal capable of performing the newly released IOT service. Subsequently, IOT terminals included in the home network and performing a new IOT service can be added, and the IOT hub has to perform management for newly added IOT terminals. In other words, IOT hubs should be able to identify, manage and control IOT terminals produced from manufacturers with various standards.

If new IOT terminals are added, the development of the IOT hub itself can be done to manage and control the new IOT terminals. However, the types of newly added IOT terminals can be diversified. A significant amount of time and money may be required to develop and authenticate the IOT hub whenever new IOT terminals are added.

Therefore, there is a need for a concrete method for managing newly launched IOT terminals in order to provide IOT services that are becoming increasingly diverse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for managing an Internet Of Things (IOT) terminal.

The present invention provides a novel object Internet terminal management method and apparatus that does not require the development of additional software for upgrading the Firmware of the IOT hub in order to cope with addition of a new IOT terminal.

Specifically, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for managing a new IOT terminal by transferring a device profile of a new IOT terminal to an IOT hub without performing a firmware upgrade of the IOT hub.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, unless further departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be possible.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an IOT hub comprising: a communication unit for receiving profile information corresponding to at least one IOT terminal from an IOT server; A memory for storing the profile information; And a control unit for controlling the communication unit to request the profile information to the IOT server when profile information of the newly identified IOT terminal is not present in the memory. . ≪ / RTI >

According to the embodiment, the communication unit may receive the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal and request the profile information corresponding to the received identification information to the IOT server.

According to an embodiment, the IOT server may search profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal, and transmit the retrieved profile to the communication unit.

According to an embodiment, the profile information includes at least one attribute and registration information corresponding to the attribute, and the registration information may include control information of the IOT terminal.

According to an embodiment, the attribute includes at least one of a model, a communication protocol, a remote control state, and an operation period of the IOT terminal, and the communication unit receives the initial value of the registration information corresponding to the attribute from the IOT server can do.

According to an embodiment, the IOT server may receive and store profile information of a new IOT terminal.

According to an embodiment, the IOT server may receive profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal, and may transmit the inputted profile information to the communication unit.

According to an embodiment, the communication unit may receive status information of the IOT terminal matching the profile information from the IOT terminal.

According to an embodiment, the control unit can control the IOT terminal using the received profile information.

Also, a method of managing a new IOT terminal of an IOT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: receiving identification information of a newly identified IOT terminal; Requesting the profile information to the IOT server if the profile information corresponding to the identification information is not stored in the memory; And receiving the profile information from the IOT server and controlling the IOT terminal using the profile information; . ≪ / RTI >

According to an embodiment, the IOT server retrieves profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal and transmits the retrieved profile; As shown in FIG.

According to an embodiment, the profile information includes at least one attribute and registration information corresponding to the attribute, and the registration information may include control information of the IOT terminal.

According to an embodiment, the attribute includes at least one of a model, a communication protocol, a remote control state, and an operation period of the IOT terminal, and receives an initial value of the registration information corresponding to the attribute from the IOT server step; As shown in FIG.

According to an embodiment, the IOT server may receive and store profile information of a new IOT terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the IOT server receives profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal and transmits the inputted profile information; As shown in FIG.

Receiving status information of the IOT terminal matching the profile information from the IOT terminal according to an embodiment; As shown in FIG.

According to the embodiment, the present invention can provide a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the above-described method is recorded.

Effects of the new IOT terminal management method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described as follows.

First, the present invention can omit the firmware upgrade of the IOT hub for managing a new IOT terminal requiring a reboot of the IOT hub.

Second, the present invention can reduce the cost and time for unnecessary development of the IOT hub by omitting the firmware upgrade of the IOT hub.

Third, the present invention manages a profile of a new IOT terminal through an IOT server from the viewpoint of a manager, thereby facilitating management more easily than firmware management.

The effects obtained by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description will be.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the technical features of the present invention are not limited to the specific drawings, and the features disclosed in the drawings may be combined with each other to constitute a new embodiment.
1 is a block diagram illustrating an IOT system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating firmware upgrading of an IOT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram illustrating a process of transmitting an IOT device profile to an IOT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart for explaining a method of managing a new IOT terminal, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a block diagram illustrating an IOT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an apparatus and various methods to which embodiments of the present invention are applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role.

In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 briefly explains each configuration for explaining a general IOT system, and FIG. 2 illustrates firmware upgrading of the IOT hub. Hereinafter, a method of using the profile information of the new IOT terminal from the IOT server in Figs. 3 to 5 will be described.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an IOT system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, the IOT system includes at least one type of IOT terminal 110, an IOT hub 120 capable of controlling and managing the IOT terminal 110, information of the IOT terminal 110 from the IOT hub 120, An IOT server 130 that can manage the IOT system as a whole, and a user interface that can be included in the user's handheld device to allow the user to control the IOT terminal 110 An IOT application 140 may be included.

In the present invention, the IOT system may be a home network system, and the IOT terminal 110 may be, for example, lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), smart home appliances , Security door locks, fire extinguishing equipment, security devices (for example, IP (Internet Protocol) cameras), healthcare, advanced medical service devices and the like System. The IOT terminals connected in the home network system can be connected to the IOT hub 120 (home gateway) by wire or wirelessly.

In general, the IOT terminal 110 may include identification information of each device-specific information such as a class or model name or a media access control (MAC) address or an IP address. The identification information and other unique information of each IOT terminal 110 is part of the IOT terminal 110 itself information maintained by each IOT terminal 110. [ For example, the IOT terminal 110 may have its own name or alias, commonly defined as a generic name device manufacturer.

The IOT hub 120 can be connected to the IOT server 130 by exchanging signals with at least one IOT terminal 110. [ The IOT hub 120 can be connected to the IOT server 130 connected to the Internet network and consequently the IOT hub 120 serves as an IOT gateway capable of connecting the IOT terminal 110 to the Internet network Can be performed.

The IOT hub 120 may incorporate different communication protocols depending on each of the various types of IOT terminals 110. [ In other words, the IOT hub 120 may include an integrated standard for coupling a variety of different IOT terminals 110 to the IOT server 130, and may transform the information and command signals into the integrated standard .

In one embodiment, the IOT hub 120 may support various wireless interfaces (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz WiFi, 3G / GPRS, Bluetooth and XBee) and may use the IOT standard messaging protocol MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport) Can be used.

In addition, the IOT hub 120 can perform the role of discovering, identifying, and authenticating the IOT terminal 110.

The IOT hub 120 may function as an Access Point (AP) capable of connecting the IOT terminal 110 and the IOT server 130 through wireless LAN communication.

The IOT server 130 may connect the IOT application 140 and the IOT terminal 110, which can directly provide a user interface for controlling the user's IOT terminal 110, through the Internet.

The IOT server 130 may include a cloud server associated with the IOT terminal 110 and the IOT application 140 and may include a database associated with the IOT system and may utilize the database to utilize the Big Data Analysis can also be performed. The database may include subscription information for the user ' s IOT service.

The IOT application 140 may provide a user interface for controlling the user's direct IOT terminal 110.

Through the IOT terminal 110, the user can manually identify the IOT terminal 110 (typically using a smart phone) through the IOT application 140 and remotely control all operations associated with the selected IOT terminal 110 .

2 is a block diagram illustrating firmware upgrading of an IOT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, when the new IOT terminal 210 is found by the IOT hub 220, the IOT hub 220 receives software information for controlling and managing the new IOT terminal 210 from the IOT server 230 And receive the software information.

The software for controlling the IOT terminal 1 210 may be firmware, and the IOT hub 220 may perform a firmware upgrade.

The IOT hub 220 needs information for performing new business logic according to the operation of the newly added IOT terminal 1 210. For example, .

The IOT hub 220 may perform a firmware upgrade to the new IOT terminal 1 210 for business logic to perform the new IOT service.

The business logic processing unit 221 of the IOT hub 220 may control each of the IOT terminals according to the setting information included in the firmware upgrade information using the profile information of each of the IOT terminals.

The IOT terminal 210 may use an application communication protocol to provide various IoT services based on the TCP / IP protocol. An IOT terminal manufacturer that manufactures various types of IOT terminals can define and use each application communication protocol.

For example, the IOT terminal 210 may use a communication protocol such as Zigbee, Z-wave, Alljoyn, SUN, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, TRS, 3G / 4G, 222 may each control various signals by interpreting the signals of the IOT terminals that accept different wireless communication protocols and use different protocols.

The IOT hub 220 may request the IOT server 230 for information about the IOT terminal 210. [

The IOT server 230 may newly update the firmware including the control and status information for the IOT terminal 1 210 to the IOT hub 220.

Firmware can be used to create a storage space in the control part of the hardware, to reinforce the function of the logic circuit there, or to replace it, instead of making hardware with logic circuits with the corresponding functions whenever new software appears It refers to a program.

The development for upgrading the firmware every time a new IOT terminal is added may be wasteful in terms of time and cost and malfunction may occur when the power of the IOT hub 220 is turned off during the firmware update, Sometimes it becomes impossible. Generally, the firmware upgrade requires a reboot of the IOT hub 220. In the case of the IOT terminal which is to be continuously managed and controlled, a problem may arise because the IOT hub for a predetermined time does not operate.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a process of transmitting an IOT device profile to an IOT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the IOT server 330 may receive profile information regarding the new IOT terminal 1 310 from an administrator.

The IOT server 330 may include a database containing profile information for each of the devices of various types of IOT terminals.

The administrator can substitute the unnecessary development for the firmware upgrade for the additional IOT hub 320 by inputting the profile information for the new IOT terminal 1 310 to the server.

The IOT hub 320 may be connected to a new new IOT terminal 1 310 by wire or wirelessly. For example, the IOT hub 320 may discover the IOT terminal 1 310 through the wireless communication technology (for example, Zigbee, Zwave) preset in the IOT terminal 1 310.

The IOT hub 320 that has discovered the IOT terminal 1 310 can perform the authentication process for the IOT terminal 1 310.

In the authentication process, the IOT hub 320 can receive the identification information for the IOT terminal 1 310 and search for the profile information corresponding to the identification information stored in the memory of the IOT hub 320 .

The IOT hub 320 can recognize the IOT terminal 1 (310) as a new IOT terminal when the profile information for the IOT terminal 1 (310) is not stored in the internal memory.

The IOT hub 320 may request the IOT server 330 for profile information for the new IOT terminal 310.

The IOT server 320 may include a database. The IOT service is basically characterized by data generation by sensing in everyday life, so it is important to analyze and process accumulated data.

A large number of IOT terminals are connected to the Internet, and the amount of data to be processed is gradually increased. A database capable of storing such data may be included in the IOT server 320, or may be interlocked with an external database.

The database may store profile information for each of various types of IOT terminals, and may store profile information further input by an administrator.

The IOT server 330, which has requested the profile information of the new IOT terminal from the IOT hub 320, can search the database to see if the profile information is stored. The IOT server 330 may then send the retrieved profile information to the IOT hub 320. Before the IOT server 330 retrieves the database, the administrator may enter profile information for the new IOT terminal 310. [

As a result, the IOT hub 320 can skip the firmware upgrade by receiving the profile information of the new IOT terminal from the IOT server 330. [

The IOT hub 320 receives the profile information for the new IOT terminal 1 310 from the IOT server 330 and can control the IOT terminal 1 310 based on the profile information.

The IOT hub 320 may receive status information corresponding to each profile information from the IOT terminal and the IOT hub 320 may transmit the status information to the IOT server 330 as it is. The status information may be raw data without processing or translation of the IOT hub 320. [ On the contrary, the IOT hub 320 can transmit the signal (command) to / from the IOT server 330 without conversion to the IOT terminal.

That is, the status information received from the IOT terminal may correspond to the profile information stored in the IOT hub 320, and the control signal from the IOT server 330 may also be matched with the profile information.

4 is a flowchart for explaining a method of managing a new IOT terminal, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the IOT hub may perform a bootstrap with the IOT server (S410, S415).

The bootstrap is a process of exchanging IP addresses and the like through a network established between the IOT hub and the IOT server, and can be performed through a predetermined bootstrap protocol.

When the IOT hub transmits a request signal for bootstrapping (S410), the IOT server identifies the IOT hub that transmitted the request signal, transmits a response signal including the inquiry result (S415) .

On the other hand, the IOT hub discovers a new IOT terminal and performs an authentication process for the IOT terminal, and searches whether the profile information corresponding to the identification information of the new IOT terminal is stored in the memory inside the IOT hub.

If the profile information is not stored in the internal memory, the IOT hub may request the IOT server for the profile of the new IOT terminal (S420).

The profile information of the IOT terminal may include at least one attribute and registration information corresponding to each attribute.

For example, the attributes included in the profile information include a class of an IOT terminal, a model name, a communication protocol applied to the IOT terminal, concrete information on an initial state value at the time of initial operation of the IOT terminal, A remote control from the IOT application, a monitoring cycle of the IOT terminal, an identification ID of the IOT itself, and the like.

For example, if the new IOT terminal is an open sensor of the security device, the profile information may include a monitoring period as an attribute, and the registration information corresponding to the monitoring period may be 10 minutes.

As another example, if the new IOT terminal is a kitchen gas safety device, the profile information may include a monitoring period as a property and a criterion for the amount of gas leaked into the air.

The IOT server may send a response signal to the request for the profile information from the IOT hub (S425).

The IOT server can inquire or retrieve profile information corresponding to the identification information in a database that accumulates internal IOT related information or a database linked to a separate external device.

Prior to retrieval of the IOT server, the IOT server may receive profile information for the new IOT terminal from the administrator.

The manager can easily manage the new IOT terminal by inputting only the profile information of the new IOT terminal to the IOT server without developing the software for the firmware upgrade to the IOT hub.

The IOT server may transmit the profile information corresponding to the identification information of the new IOT terminal retrieved from the database to the IOT hub (S425).

Then, the IOT hub transmits a request signal for registering the new IOT terminal to the IOT server (S430), and the IOT server performs registration for the new IOT terminal, and then transmits a response signal indicating that the registration is completed (S435).

The IOT hub may request an initial value of the profile of the new IOT terminal, and the IOT server may transmit the initial value considering the status information of the IOT terminal (S445)

Thereafter, when the registration to the new IOT terminal is completed, the IOT hub can control the IOT terminal according to the received profile, and can transmit status information about the IOT terminal to the IOT server at regular intervals.

The IOT server may receive a control signal from the IOT application and forward the control signal to the IOT hub (S450, S455).

5 is a block diagram illustrating an IOT hub according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the IOT hub 500 may include a communication unit 510, a control unit 520, and a memory 530.

5 are not essential, an IOT hub 500 having more or fewer components can be implemented.

The communication unit 510 can receive status information from the IOT terminal and can transmit a control signal for controlling the operation of the IOT terminal.

The control unit 520 may perform data processing and calculation to control the IOT hub 500. [

The control unit 520 determines whether the profile information corresponding to the identification information of the new IOT terminal is stored in the memory 530. If the profile is not found in the memory 530, And request the profile information to the server.

The memory 530 is a generic name of a space and / or a storage area where predetermined program codes for controlling the overall operation of the IOT hub 500 and data to be input / output when the program code is operated are stored , An EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an FM (Flash Memory), a hard disk drive, and the like.

In one embodiment, the memory 530 may store profile information of each of the at least one IOT terminal.

The method according to the above-described embodiments may be implemented as a program to be executed by a computer and stored in a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD- , A floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like, and may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet).

The computer readable recording medium may be distributed over networked computer servers so that computer readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner. And, functional program, code, and code segments for implementing the above-described method can be easily inferred by programmers in the technical field to which the embodiment belongs.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Accordingly, the above description should not be construed in a limiting sense in all respects and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the scope of equivalents of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (17)

A communication unit for receiving profile information corresponding to each of at least one IOT terminal from the IOT server;
A memory for storing the profile information; And
A control unit for controlling the communication unit to request the profile information to the IOT server when profile information of the newly identified IOT terminal is not present in the memory;
/ RTI >
IOT hub. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
Receiving the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal and requesting the IOT server for profile information corresponding to the received identification information,
IOT hub. The method according to claim 1,
The IOT server,
Retrieving profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal, and transmitting the retrieved profile to the communication unit,
IOT hub. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the profile information includes at least one attribute and registration information corresponding to the attribute,
Wherein the registration information includes control information of the IOT terminal,
IOT hub. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the attribute includes at least one of a model, a communication protocol, a remote control state, and an operation period of the IOT terminal,
Wherein,
And an initial value of the registration information corresponding to the attribute from the IOT server,
IOT hub. The method according to claim 1,
The IOT server,
Receiving and storing profile information of the new IOT terminal,
IOT hub. The method according to claim 1,
The IOT server,
Receiving the profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal and transmitting the input profile information to the communication unit,
IOT hub. The method according to claim 1,
The communication unit
Receiving status information of the IOT terminal matching the profile information from the IOT terminal,
IOT hub. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein,
And controls the IOT terminal using the received profile information
IOT hub. Receiving identification information of a newly identified IOT terminal;
Requesting the profile information to the IOT server if the profile information corresponding to the identification information is not stored in the memory; And
Receiving the profile information from the IOT server and controlling the IOT terminal using the profile information;
/ RTI >
A method for managing a new IOT terminal in an IOT hub. 11. The method of claim 10,
The IOT server retrieving profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal and transmitting the retrieved profile;
≪ / RTI >
A method for managing a new IOT terminal in an IOT hub. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the profile information includes at least one attribute and registration information corresponding to the attribute,
Wherein the registration information includes control information of the IOT terminal,
A method for managing a new IOT terminal in an IOT hub. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the attribute includes at least one of a model, a communication protocol, a remote control state, and an operation period of the IOT terminal,
Receiving an initial value of an initial value of the registration information corresponding to the attribute from the IOT server;
≪ / RTI >
A method for managing a new IOT terminal in an IOT hub. 13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the IOT server receives and stores profile information of a new IOT terminal,
A method for managing a new IOT terminal in an IOT hub. 11. The method of claim 10,
The IOT server receiving profile information corresponding to the identification information of the newly identified IOT terminal and transmitting the inputted profile information;
≪ / RTI >
A method for managing a new IOT terminal in an IOT hub. 11. The method of claim 10,
Receiving status information of the IOT terminal matching the profile information from the IOT terminal;
≪ / RTI >
A method for managing a new IOT terminal in an IOT hub. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method according to any one of claims 10 to 16.

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