WO2005050460A1

WO2005050460A1 - Interactive communication protocol install system in home network

Info

Publication number: WO2005050460A1
Application number: PCT/JP2003/014852
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masashi Kan; Yuji Nagai
Original assignee: Nissin Inc.; Mars Technology Institute Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-11-20
Filing date: 2003-11-20
Publication date: 2005-06-02
Also published as: AU2003284607A1

Abstract

Devices connected to a home network includes an air conditioner, illumination devices, home electric appliances, security equipment, an operation device, and the like. When a new device is additionally connected to the home network, a system installs a protocol according to the following processes. 1) Product information on the new device is sent to a connection selector (71). 2) A user of the home network uses a man-machine interface of the connection selector (71) to decide a virtual transmission path to be arranged between the new device and the existing devices. 3) The connection selector (71) transmits real device product information on the virtual transmission path to be arranged to a manufacturer server (80) via a gateway (72). 4) The manufacture server (80) transmits an optimal program for building the virtual transmission path and the real device installs the corresponding program.

Description

Technical field of intercommunication protocol in home network

The present invention is based on a maker server that stores software that implements an intercommunication protocol between various devices when adding or replacing housing equipment, electrical appliances, security devices, controllers, etc. connected to a home network. It relates to a system that downloads the appropriate program and installs it on the appropriate equipment. Background art

Conventional networks have evolved by solving two main issues. The first is the construction of network media. The second is the creation of an intercommunication protocol between various devices connected to the network medium.

The communication protocol between devices in one home network mainly depends on the relationship between equipment and controllers, and many limited communication protocols are created. Examples include TVs and remote controls for TVs, air-conditioning equipment and operation panels, lighting and dimming controls, security sensors and alarms, nursing care products and medical monitors. At present, network media that implement the intercommunication protocols between various types of equipment are constructed by type and connected to each other. Conversely, equipment that implements an intercommunication protocol using a versatile network medium required uniformity, such as being limited to personal computers. The present invention relates to an existing network when a general-purpose home network medium as a first problem exists and an inter-communication protocol between various types of devices as a second problem is created. The purpose is to provide a way to use the equipment to install programs that implement intercommunication protocols between many types of equipment.

Corrected form (Rule 91) The OSI reference model is given as the concept of the network and intercommunication protocol, and the existing network equipment and prior art required for the system of the present invention are described. Figure 1 shows the OSI reference model. The specifications of each layer are as follows: Layer 1 is physical, Layer 2 is a data link, Layer 3 is a network, Layer 4 is a transport, Layer 5 is a session, Layer 6 is a presentation, and Layer 7 is a presentation. Is an application.

The general-purpose home network medium is equivalent to the OSI reference model layer 3 (network layer) and below, and the communication between various types of equipment is via virtual transmission lines above the OSI reference model layer 4 (transport layer). To help understanding. In order to construct a network medium at the third layer or lower in the OSI reference model in the home network, it is necessary to have a reverter function, a bridge function, and a router function. Network media in the third and lower layers are collectively referred to as node material 30.

The home network using the node material 30 is PCTZ JP 95/00653 (International Publication WO96 / 31968) a computer network having a transfer identification and arbitration mechanism) and PCT / JP 99/04284 (International Publication It is realized by PCTZJ P 02/04 1 86 (International Publication W〇03 / 0 9222 1 Network security mechanism) using WO 0 1/1 1 8 29 network with a mediation mechanism using tokens). ing.

The OSI reference model in the home network, the fourth layer or higher, includes housing equipment, air conditioners, lighting equipment, household appliances, refrigerators, TVs, VTRs, security devices, operation panels, remote controls, etc. Called device 40. Therefore, the node material 30 is always directly attached to the device 40 '. According to the mutual communication protocol, a virtual transmission path indicated by a broken line is laid between the devices 40, and information communication can be performed. The actual information communication route is transmitted through the actual transmission path through the node material 30 and transmitted to the other device 40 through the other node material 30 by the function of the program installed in the device 40. The transmission program for the device 40 and the node material 30 is generally called a dryino / API function / application software.

2

Corrected form (Rule 91) -One home network is illustrated in Fig. 2 to clarify the relationship between the actual transmission path and the virtual transmission path created by the intercommunication protocol, and to deepen the understanding of the prior art.

The devices 40 are individually named remote control 41, housing equipment 42, operation panel 43, electric appliances 44, and operation device 45, and are directly attached to the individual numbers 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 of the node material 30. The network is configured. Starting and stopping of the housing equipment 42: It is easily controlled through the virtual transmission line 61 by the remote controller 41, and the control including automatic start and stop by time is performed through the virtual transmission line 62 by the operation panel 43. Similarly, the start / stop of the electric appliance 44 is easily controlled by the remote controller 41 through the virtual transmission line 65, and the control including the automatic start / stop and dimming of the time is controlled by the virtual transmission line 63. Through the operation panel 43, and start / stop and quantitative change are performed by the operation device 45 through the virtual transmission line 64. Furthermore, the operation panel 43 and the operation unit 45 is so connected with the virtual transmission path 66, Note _c state of housing facilities 42 makes it possible to grasp through the operation panel 43, is laid on the node member 31 to 35 The actual transmission line 50 is classified into various types such as a bus type and a star type, but is equivalent to the laying of the virtual transmission lines 61 to 66. The present invention requires not only the home network but also a wide area communication network. The equipment that connects the home network and the wide area communication network is generally called a gateway. A gateway is a device that allows access to a server owned by a manufacturer via the Internet.

Japanese Patent No. 3193363 (Publication 2002-078034) is an example of information communication between home appliances and personal computers and servers outside the home.

Further, as a prior art of program download which realizes a communication protocol, PCTZJP00Z05898 (software download system for international publication WO 02 Z 19103 transmission device) and the like can be mentioned. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention is based on a maker server that stores software that implements an intercommunication protocol between various devices when adding or replacing housing equipment, electrical appliances, security devices, controllers, etc. connected to a home network. It is a system that downloads an appropriate program and installs it on the appropriate equipment.

The software used in this specification is an entity transmission path for implementing the communication protocol between different layers of OSI Reference Model Layer 4 or higher, which is an entity necessary for laying a virtual transmission path between equipment. This is the entire program to be installed on the equipment that is responsible for the third and higher layers that make up the system. Therefore, this program is generally called a driver, API function, application software, etc., but it does not include content. List the hardware for configuring the system.

1. OSI Reference Model Layer 3 (Network Layer) The following communication media is node material. Determine the maximum number of nodes that can be connected and clarify the range of one home network. Residential equipment · Electric appliances · Operators and other equipment to which node materials are directly attached will be referred to as equipment in this specification and described.

2. At least one of the devices that make up one home network is a connection selector. The memory in the connection selector has a “connection device list” and a “virtual communication list”. The “List of connected devices” is repeatedly described as “Address / Manufacturer name / Product name”. The “virtual communication list” is repeatedly described as “addrless address”.

3. At least one of the devices that make up one home network is a gateway. GOTOWAY has a function to access a maker server that stores software that constructs a virtual transmission line to be installed in any device through a wide area communication network and download programs. The installation system of the present invention is disclosed.

The following (1), (2) and (3) indicate the order of the means, and the format of the transfer data

Expressed as [data code; data 1. data 2 · data 3 ····].

①: When one new device such as housing equipment, electrical appliances, operation device, etc. is connected to one home network, the equipment that constitutes the new equipment is directly attached to the node material [Equipment information; manufacturer name, product Name].

②: The node material of ① obtains a unique new address within one home network, and notifies the address: 'manufacturer name / product name] to all connection selectors connected to the home network.

③: All the connection selectors receive the setting; address · manufacturer name · product name], know that a new device has been installed on the home network, and

Record “Address / Manufacturer's Product Name” in “Device / PLC List”. Therefore, it should be emphasized that the “Connected device list” in the memory of the connection selector records all devices connected to the home network.

④: One of the connection selectors can send [Request for equipment list; manufacturer name, product name] of the newly installed device to any gateway, and can connect to the new device by virtual transmission path. Request download of the device list.

⑤: Gotuyui receives the data string of [equipment correspondence list request; maker name / product name] and transfers the data string of the equipment correspondence list request to the maker server connected to the wide area communication network by the maker name I do.

⑥: The maker server receives the data string of [Request for equipment list; maker name, product name], and the data string of the equipment that has the software necessary to install the virtual transmission path for the product. Correspondence list; Manufacturer name · Product name Z manufacturer name · Product name… Notify manufacturer name · Product name].

⑦: The gateway transfers the device correspondence list to the connection selector in ④.

⑧: The connection selector is “Address / Manufacturer name / Product name” and “Received device list” and received data string [Equipment correspondence list; Manufacturer name · Product name Manufacturer name · Product name Z manufacturer name / product name], extract new equipment and existing equipment that can construct a virtual transmission line, and notify the user through the man-machine interface. The user obtains the information of << new equipment / existing equipment existing equipment >> and determines the virtual transmission line to be laid from the new equipment. The connection selector creates a “virtual communication list” that describes one or more << new address / existing address >>.

⑨: The connection selector searches the “connection device list” by the address described in the “virtual communication list”, and requests the gateway to download the program for laying the virtual transmission path. . The data string requested is the product information of [program request; new address · maker name · product name / existing address · manufacturer name · product name ... Z existing address · manufacturer name · product name].

The addresses are generally indicated by numbers, and there is no distinction between new and existing addresses. However, in the format of [Program request;… product name], it is clearly stated that if it is listed at the beginning, it is the address described, and if it is described elsewhere, it is the address obtained in step ②. New and existing qualifiers were used for this purpose.

⑩: The gateway transfers the data string of the program request described in ⑨ to the maker server. It should be emphasized that although the data string contains multiple manufacturer names, it is only transferred to the manufacturer server of the new addressless product listed at the top.

⑪: The maker server receives the program request described in ⑩, creates a program necessary for laying the virtual transmission line using its own software, and responds to the program download request [Installation request Address, program, ... Z address, program] to the gateway.

⑬: The gateway receives the data string of [installation request; address' program Z address · 'program / ... z address' program]' and [program transfer; address' program] [program transfer; address · program] ... The program is divided into [Program transfer; Address.Program] data strings, and each is transferred to the node material corresponding to the address.

⑬: The node material that receives [Program transfer; Transfer the program to the attached equipment and prompt for installation. Therefore, necessary and sufficient programs will be installed not only on the new equipment described in 1) but also on the existing equipment described in 2), and an intercommunication protocol will be established. Table 1 summarizes the information communication performed by the connection selector in the order of [1] to [2]. Each item of ABCD in Table 1 is explained. Table 1: Information communication performed by the connection selector (partner ■ Purpose, direction, content)

According to section A., the connection selector creates a “list of connected devices” that can keep track of all devices connected to the home network.

According to paragraph B., for all new equipment, all other virtual transmission lines can be laid. Know the equipment.

According to Section C., only devices that can be laid in a virtual transmission path existing in one home network are presented, and the user selects an appropriate device.

Section D. prompts you to download the appropriate program for the appropriate device selected. In the system of the present invention, a case where a user of a home network installs an additional virtual transmission line is disclosed.

Since item A in Table 1 is an overview of all devices connected to the home network, it is not necessary to create a “list of connected devices”. However, paragraph A. instructs B.1 on one device that wishes to lay a virtual transmission line. Therefore, in order for a user to wish to install an additional virtual transmission line, the user of the home network must select any one device.

Item B in Table 1 is a download of a device list that enables the installation of a virtual transmission line together with the device selected in Item A. Since the [Device List] passes through the gateway when the device selected in A. is newly installed, if there is a large amount of cache memory in the gateway, the saved [Device List] will be saved. It can be used. Therefore, if the user wants to install additional virtual transmission lines, it is possible to change the maker server described in Section B in Table 1 to a gateway. New equipment described in section C of Table 1 is the equipment selected in section A. Therefore, the new address is the address of the device selected in section A.

Item D in Table 1 is information that prompts the maker server to download, and is the same whether the user adds a virtual transmission line or a new device. The gateway in the system of the present invention is a device having a role of transferring data between a device constituting a home network and a maker server. Therefore, the gateway according to the present invention includes the following devices. 1) Digital telephone or computer with Internet connection terminal Digital telephone or computer can access the maker server through the public telephone network which is one of the wide area communication networks. For example, as a form of enabling access, use of PHS (Personal Handyphone System) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) devices can be cited.

2) Household appliances with connection selector function

Household appliances include telephones with display and terrestrial digital TV. Not only does it have an image'keyboard, which is the man-machine interface required to operate the connection selector manually, but it also has access to the manufacturer server. Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 is a diagram comparing node materials and equipment with the OSI reference model.

Figure 2 shows an example of a home network.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of downloading a program from a manufacturer server. Figure 4 is an information transmission system diagram from the addition of a device to the installation.

Explanation of symbols

00, 01, 02,…, 14, 15, 30, 31, · · ·, 35: Node materials that compose the network

40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45: Equipment with node material directly attached

50, 51, 52, 53: Actual transmission lines connecting node materials

61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66: Virtual transmission line for connecting devices

71: Connection selector

72: Gateway

73: Telephone with connection selector and gateway functions

80: Manufacturer server

91, 92: Existing equipment connected to the home network

99: New equipment connected to the home network BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram in which a wide area communication network is connected to a home network. The home network is composed of node materials that carry the third and lower layers of the OSI reference model, and devices that carry the fourth and higher layers.

The node materials in Fig. 3 are distinguished by unique addresses 00, 01, 02, ..., 15, and have a reverter function, a bridge function, and a router function. The bus transmission lines 51 and 52 are connected to the node materials by the two-point transmission lines 53 and 54, and the backbone of the home network is constructed. Many types of equipment, such as air conditioners, lighting equipment, home appliances, security devices, and operation devices, are directly attached to node materials to form a home network. In particular, in the system of the present invention, the devices constituting the home network that must be provided are the connection selector 71 and the gateway 72.

The connection selector 71 has a “connection device list” that records information on all devices constituting the home network to which the connection selector 71 belongs, that is, “address / manufacturer name / product name”. When multiple connection selectors are connected to one home network, information exchange of “address' manufacturer name / product name” is performed in each other's “connected device list” to prepare for loss of information. The user of the home network lays a virtual transmission path between specific devices using the man-machine interface of the connection selector 71. The virtual transmission path is determined by writing “address” in the “virtual communication list” in the memory of the connection selector 71.

Gateway 72 is responsible for exchanging information between the home network and the wide area communication network. The wide area network is connected to the device maker server 80. The maker server 80 can create a program that can execute at least a protocol for intercommunication between devices including its own products.

The telephone 73 is a device in which the functions of both the connection selector 71 and the gateway 72 are incorporated. Therefore, the user of the home network uses the connection selector 71 or the man-machine interface of the telephone 73 to lay a virtual transmission line between specific devices. In addition, the maker server 80 downloads data from the gateway 72. The download request from the telephone ₇₃ is returned to the telephone ₇₃ in the same manner as the return to the gateway 72 in response to the download request. The form of the installation system of the present invention includes two types of information transmission systems: “device-one connection selector 71—gateway 72—maker server 80” or “device-phone ⁷³ —maker server 80”. Each of these will be explained. As the best mode, Fig. 4 shows the information transmission system for the former “device-one connection selector 71—gateway 72—manufacturer server 80”, and the order of the means is set to ①③… ⑬. The format of the transfer data is represented as [data code; data 1. data 2 · data 3 ·····].

①: One way to connect new equipment, such as housing equipment, electrical appliances, and operating devices, to one home network is to insert it into a transmission line between node materials or to lay a new transmission line. is there. For example, the former is to insert the node material 05 into the transmission line 54 between the node materials 04 and 06 in Fig. 3, and the latter is to lay the new transmission line 52 on the bus transmission line 51 and connect the node material 10 It is to be. The new equipment 99 is a house equipment, an electric appliance, an operation device, and the like, and is directly attached to the node material 05 or the node material 10.

When the new equipment 99 is connected to the home network, the power is turned on and the [Material information; manufacturer name / product name] is notified to the node material 05 or the node material 10. The manufacturer name includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or a public telephone line number that specifies the program storage location on the manufacturer server. The product name is information necessary for the manufacturer to identify the product. For example, a product number that is distinguished by a bar code and does not need to include a serial number.

②: It was stated that the new equipment 99 was connected to node material 05 or node material 10 in ①.

However, the node material number is not only determined before connecting to the home network, but also sometimes after power-on. The latter can be determined after power-on, for example, by a method in which node materials determine each other through mutual communication, a method in which a node inquires a network server, or a method specified by a network server. No Even in the case of the deviation method, the connection selector 71 is notified of the number of node materials; address' manufacturer name. Product name]. In FIG. 3, the notification is also sent to the telephone 73 having the function of the connection selector 71 connected to the home network.

③: The connection selector 71 receives the data string from the node material directly attached to the new equipment 99; the dress, manufacturer name, and product name], and the new equipment is installed on the home network. Know that. The connection selector 71 additionally records "address 'manufacturer name. Product name'" in the "connected device list" in its own memory. Similarly, in FIG. 3, the telephone ⁷³ is also set up from the node material; it receives a data string of [address, manufacturer name, product name], knows that a new device has been installed on the home network, and stores the data in its own memory. Record 《Address / Manufacturer / Product name》 in the “Connected device list”. Therefore, all the devices connected to the home network are recorded in the “connection device list” in the memory of the connection selector 71 and the telephone 73.

④: If there is only one connection selector 71 and one gateway 72 in the home network, the connection selector 71 sends [Request for equipment list; manufacturer name and product name] of the new equipment 99 to the gateway 72. Requests download of a list of devices that can be connected via a virtual transmission path in response to the newly established device 99.

In FIG. 3, the telephone 73 has the same function as the connection selector 71. In this case, the user of the home network can select 73 or 71 by using the man-machine interface of the telephone 73 and the connection selector 71. For example, the devices 73 and 71 both display “Do you want to install a virtual transmission line on the new device 99?”. If the user selects "Yes" for telephone 73, 73 sends a message to 71, "Stop further processing". If the user selects “Yes” for the connection selector 71, the 71 sends a message “Stop further processing” to 73.

Since the download request is made to the maker server 80, the request may be made through the gateway 72 or through the telephone 73. The maker name is the maker server Contains a URL or public telephone line number to identify. If only the URL is used as the maker name, it is downloaded from the maker server 80 through the gateway 72, and if the maker name is only the public telephone line number, it is downloaded through the telephone 73. If the URL and public telephone line number are described in the main name, the maker server 80 can be accessed through the gateway 72 and the telephone 73, and the network user determines the access route in advance. This allows the automatic selection of one of the 72 or 73, without the need for the user to decide each time through the man-machine interface.

The installation of a new virtual transmission line is performed by connecting one new device, such as housing equipment, electrical appliances, and a controller, to one home network as in means (1) and (3), and connecting devices already connected to the network. ' Means (1) is to send and request the [equipment correspondence list; manufacturer name / product name] to 72 or 73. Therefore, in order to add only a virtual transmission line without network connection of a new device, the connection selector 71 holds the `` address / maker name / product name '' The "list" is presented to the user through the man 'machine' interface, and the user selects an arbitrary device from the "list of connected devices", which is equivalent to the addition of the new device 99.

⑤: In the case of the information transmission system of Fig. 4 “New equipment 99-Connection selector 71—Gateway 72—Manufacturer server 80,” the gateway 72 connects the data strings of [Request for equipment list; Manufacturer name / Product name]. The data string received from the selector 71 and transmitted to the maker server 80 connected to the wide area communication network by the maker name is transferred to the device correspondence list request.

In addition, in the case of the information transmission system of Fig. 3 “Equipment-telephone 73—Manufacturer server 80”, the telephone 73 itself creates the data string of [Request for equipment list; manufacturer name / product name]. Then, the data string of the device correspondence list request is transferred to the maker server 80.

⑥: The maker server 80 indicates the new equipment 99 [Request for equipment list; maker name · Product Name] data string. Create a list of equipment that enables the construction of a virtual transmission path for the new equipment 99, which is an in-house product, and return it to 72 or 73 that requested notification. The functions of the maker server 80 will be clarified by giving examples of equipment that can be used to lay virtual transmission lines.

If the newly installed equipment 99 is the housing equipment 42 shown in FIG. 2, the equipment linked to the equipment list is the remote controller 41 and the operation panel 43, and does not include the electrical appliances 44. It is not necessary that the maker of the housing equipment 42 be the maker of the remote controller 41 or the operation panel 43. However, it is necessary to establish an optimal intercommunication protocol with the company's own product 42, remote controller 41 and operation panel 43. If the manufacturer of the housing equipment 42 has established an intercommunication protocol with the environmental sensor, the maker server 80 of the housing equipment 42 receives the data string of [device list request; manufacturer name, housing equipment 42]. Then, the returned data column is [Equipment list; maker name, housing equipment 42Z maker name, remote control / maker name, operation panel / maker name, environmental sensor].

: The request for notification 72 sends the [equipment correspondence list; manufacturer name · product name Z manufacturer name · product name Z ... / manufacturer name · product name] to the connection selector 71.

If it is the telephone 73 having the function of the connection selector 71 that has requested the notification, there is no need to transfer, and the procedure 1 is performed.

Procedure (2) is a procedure for obtaining a list of equipment that can be installed with virtual transmission lines for the equipment actually connected to one home network. Therefore, if the telephone 73 has the functions of the connection selector 71 and the gateway 72, the procedure can be omitted. Also, if the gateway 72 has a large-capacity cache memory and the new device 99 is not a new device connection to the home network but an additional laying of only a virtual transmission line, download the list to the maker server 80 again. Since the data string of the equipment correspondence list can be retrieved from the cache memory without request, it is possible to omit step (2). Therefore, in the case of additional installation using the telephone 73, it is possible to omit the procedure (1). ⑧: The connection selector 71 is composed of a “connected device list”, “address, manufacturer name, product name” and a received data string [device compatible list; manufacturer name, product name, Z manufacturer name, product name, and so on. [Product Name], extract new equipment and existing equipment for which a virtual transmission path can be constructed, and notify the user through a man-machine interface. The new equipment 99 is exemplified as the housing equipment 42 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the connection of the connection selector 71, the gateway 72, and the telephone 3 is omitted. The contents of the “connected device list” of the connection selector 71 are as follows.

《Adress 11 · Best name • 'Gateway 72》

《Adress 13

《Adress 14 · Memories • Telephone 14》

《Adress 31 · Name of name • Remote control 41》

《Adress 32 · Home name • Housing equipment 42》

《Adress 33 · Name of name • Operation panel 43》

《Adress 34 · Name of name • Electric appliances 44》

《Adress 35 ′

The device correspondence list transmitted and received from the maker server 80 is as follows.

[Equipment list;

Manufacturer nameHousing equipment 42 /

Name · Remote control

Manufacturer nameOperation panel /

Manufacturer name · Environmental sensor]

In the above “Connected device list” and the received device list, search for the matching product name and present it to the user.

<< Residential equipment at Adress 32 42

Remote control 31 for address 31 41

Operation panel 43 at address 33

The user obtains the information of «new equipment, existing equipment,-existing equipment» To determine the virtual transmission line to be laid. The connection selector creates a “virtual communication list” that describes one or more “new addresses” “existing addresses”.

As an example, the creation of a “virtual communication list” from the information presented by the user is shown.

Information presented: << Residential equipment in 32 dresses 42 ·

Remote control for address 31 41

Address 33 Operation Panel 43 >>

"Virtual communication list" when all are selected:

《Address 32 · Address 31》 Remarks: It is desired to lay virtual transmission line 61. << Adress 32 'Adress 33 >> Remarks: I want to lay a virtual transmission line 62. In Fig. 2, many virtual transmission lines 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 can be laid. However, as shown in the example, if the new equipment 99 is the housing equipment 42, the mutual communication protocol is established even if the user of the home network selects all the virtual transmission lines that can be laid. Virtual transmission lines 61 and 62 can be laid only between devices that are actually connected.

If the same product name exists in one home network, for example, even if there are multiple TVs, the location where the user installs it to determine the virtual transmission path to be laid by the user is indicated. A unique address unique to the device is obtained.

: The connection selector 71 uses the address described in the “virtual communication list”.

Search the “Connected device list” and request the gateway 72 to download the program for laying the virtual transmission path. The requested data string is the product information of [Program request; new address · maker name · product name Z existing address · manufacturer name · product name… / existing address · manufacturer name · product name].

As an example, the "Connected device list" is searched using the "Virtual communication list", and the data string requested is shown below.

Virtual communication list:

《Adress 32 · Adress 31》《Adress 32 ・ Adress 33》 List of connected devices: 《Adress 11. Manufacturer name ・ Gateway 72》

《Adress 31 ・ Manufacturer name ・ Remote control 41》

<< Adress 32

《Adress 33 ・ Manufacturer name ・ Operation panel 43》…

By searching for the address common to the above “virtual communication list”, the address 32 of the newly installed device is known, and is entered at the beginning of the requested data string.

[Program request; Address 32 · Manufacturer · Housing equipment 42 /

Hereafter, information excluding address 32 is described in the “virtual communication list”.

Ryo dress 31

Address 33. Name of name · Operation panel 43]

In the format of [Program request;… product name], the new qualifier is described because the address of the new device is obtained by searching for the address common to the “virtual communication list”. This is convenient for explanation to clarify that it is described at the head of the column.

⑩: The gateway 72 transfers the data sequence of the program request described in ⑨ to the maker server 80. It should be emphasized that although the data string contains multiple maker names, it is only transferred to the maker server 80 of the new address product listed at the top. In the case of the information transmission system shown in Fig. 3 “Equipment-telephone 73—Manufacturer server 80”, the telephone 73 itself creates the data sequence of [Program request;… product name]. Ask 80 to download the program directly.

⑪: The maker server 80 receives the program request described in ⑩, creates a program necessary for laying the virtual transmission line by using its own software, and responds to the program download request [Installation request; Address / program Z… address / program] to gateway 80.

The data string of the program request described in ⑩ received by the maker server 80 is fe The operation of the maker server 80 will be described.

Data column [Program request; Address 32 · Manufacturer name · Housing equipment 42Z

Address 31 · Manufacturer name · Remote control 41 /

Address 33 · Member name · Operation panel 43]

In step (1), an environmental sensor is listed as a device that can be laid by the mutual communication protocol of the housing equipment 42 held by the main server 80. Therefore, if the manufacturer server 80 is simply requested to download software that can be installed in the housing equipment 42, the software for the environmental sensor is downloaded in the corresponding home network. If the housing equipment 42 is an air conditioner or heater, there is a risk that the home network system will be stiffened because it tries to obtain information from the environmental sensor even though the environmental sensor is not connected to Fig. 2. Therefore, the optimal program to be installed in the housing equipment 42 in FIG. 2 needs to build an intercommunication protocol that does not use environmental sensors.

Therefore, the maker server 80 receives the program request data string in which the housing equipment 42 / remote control 41 / operation panel 43Z is described, and transmits a plurality of control devices corresponding to the housing equipment 42 and the virtual transmission path without including the environmental sensor. Create an optimal program for construction, specify the address corresponding to each device, and send the program to the gateway 72. This shows a transmission data string.

Data string [Installation request; Address 32 · Housing equipment 42 Program Z

Address 31 · Remote control 41 program /

Dress 33 · operation panel 43 program]

: Gateway 72 receives the data string of [installation request; address' program / address. Program Z ... no address. Program], and [program transfer; address' program] [program transfer; address' program] ... [ Program transfer; Divides the data string into the address 'program' and transfers each to the node material corresponding to the address.

The data stream received by the gateway 72 is used to construct a virtual transmission path. Gram. Therefore, in the OSI reference model of FIG. 1, since the virtual transmission path indicated by the broken line has not been laid yet, the program is transferred using the actual transmission path between the node materials 30. Therefore, a series of programs transmitted from the maker server 80 is divided for each node material, and an appropriate program is transferred to an appropriate node material.

To transfer the appropriate program to the appropriate node material, if the home network is a client / server configuration, transfer the program once to the server on the home network and then to each node material. However, in the case of the home network shown in [Background Art], which does not require a management server, the program is directly transferred from the gateway 72 to the node material 99 and the existing node materials 91 and 92.

⑬: The node materials 99, 91, and 92 that receive [Program transfer; address' program] transfer the program to the directly attached device and prompt for installation. Therefore, necessary and sufficient programs will be installed not only on the new equipment described in ① but also on the existing equipment described in ⑧, and an intercommunication protocol will be established.

As an example of the new equipment 99, the housing equipment 42 is mentioned, and as examples of the existing equipment 91, 92, the remote control 41 and the operation panel 43 are mentioned. In addition, as an example of the housing equipment 42, a cooling / heating machine was used. General air conditioners are divided into control units and mechanical units. Since the recent control unit is built around an embedded computer, it is described as installation on equipment rather than installation on equipment. By the above procedure ①③… ⑬, for the new equipment and existing equipment in the home network, download the necessary programs to install new and virtual transmission lines to the corresponding equipment, and install each equipment. Is realized.

It should be emphasized that the new device is a device newly connected to the home network or a device already connected to the home network and selected by the user to lay a new virtual transmission line. Industrial applicability

The present invention is a system in which a program for implementing an intercommunication protocol for laying a virtual transmission path between various devices connected to a home network is installed in the devices.

Most of the current communication protocols between personal computers and peripheral devices involve installing the necessary programs in the personal computer when the peripheral devices are connected. However, because of the progress of peripheral devices, it is not possible to change the internal program, so the program was downloaded from the Internet. Generally, a method of downloading to a computer and installing it by a user is common.

Home networks are built in ordinary households and small business establishments, and connect many types of equipment. If the ability to download programs to every single device is added, the cost will increase. If, at the time of equipment shipment, a program capable of constructing all virtual transmission paths is built in and installed as required by the user, a huge number of programs must be included. The greatest effect of the present invention is that a manufacturer does not need to have a program for laying a virtual transmission line in a device when the device is shipped. This means that there is no need for a memory to store a huge number of programs in the device, and there is no need for the process of making the programs internal in manufacturing. In addition, manufacturers who have developed new equipment can expand their sales channels by developing hardware equipment in their specialty fields by establishing an intercommunication protocol with existing equipment that matches the new equipment. Moreover, the software is only distributed to the server of the equipment maker related to its own server, and the technician of the maker visits ordinary homes and small business establishments where home networks are built, It is not necessary to investigate devices that can establish an intercommunication protocol and install an appropriate program.

Reducing the service costs of equipment manufacturers leads to lower equipment prices, which has a large economic effect as a whole.

Claims

Claims. In a system that installs a program necessary for laying a virtual transmission line in an arbitrary device that constitutes one home network on a corresponding device,

A. As devices that make up a home network,

At least one connection selector

With at least one gateway,

B. As a new device that lays a virtual transmission path on the home network,

New devices are connected to the home network,

Or

Home network users select any device,

By

If the connection selector knows that one of the new devices has been selected to lay one or more new virtual transmission lines,

C said connection selector to said gateway,

Requesting a download of a device support list that can be connected to the new device via a virtual transmission path,

D. from the devices listed in the device correspondence list the connection selector,

Selecting one or more existing devices that construct a virtual transmission line to be laid for the new device;

E. The connection selector communicates to the manufacturer server of the new equipment through the gateway.

By transmitting the product information of the new equipment and the product information of the existing equipment,

When it is necessary to download a program necessary for laying the virtual transmission path,

F. The maker server communicates with the gateway Transmitting a program to be installed on the new device and a program to be installed on the existing device;

G. The gateway executes a different program as described in

Transferring the relevant new equipment and the existing equipment,

H-1. The new device installs the receiving program on its own device; H2. The existing device installs the receiving program on its own device.

Regarding new equipment and existing equipment in the home network,

A system for performing a series of operations of C.D.E.F.G. described above for down-loading a program necessary for laying a new virtual transmission path to a corresponding device, and installing the plurality of devices described in H-LH-2 above. —In an arbitrary connection selector, which is one of many devices constituting one home network,

A. It must have a “Connected device list” in which the <address / medium name / product name> of many devices that make up one home network is described.

B. If you download the “device list” with <manufacturer name and product name> that can be connected via one or more virtual transmission lines from one manufacturer server,

B-1. Search “Connected device list” by the phrase “Manufacturer's product name” in the downloaded “Device list”.

B-2. If the phrase matches, extract it as << address >> address,

A connection selector having a mechanism for extracting a device for requesting a maker server to download a program of a virtual transmission path in the above B.B-1.B-2.