KR100600410B1 - How to Perform Parallel Functions Through Networking - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of performing parallel functions through networking, and detects a predetermined shared usable device that can share and use a specific function among a plurality of network devices connected to a local network, and registers a predetermined usable device in a built-in registration table. If it is not possible to directly perform a specific function upon request, it is possible to perform the parallel function through networking through the shared usable network device registered in the registration table. Provide user with more convenient and efficient network environment in room environment.

Parallel, function, network, PVR, shared

Description

{Method for parallel processing functions using networking technology}

1 is a view showing a system to which the present invention is applied,

2 is a view for explaining the present invention with reference to FIG.

3 is a view showing an example of a registration table used in the present invention;

4 is a view showing an example of obtaining device information in the present invention;

5 illustrates a device registration system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system to which the present invention is applied;

7 is a diagram illustrating a method of performing parallel functions according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating FIG. 7 as an example. FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100-1, 100-2, 100-3, ..., 100-n: Local network device

The present invention relates to a method for performing parallel functions through networking, which provides a more convenient network environment to users by allowing devices capable of performing the same function in a multi-room environment to share information with each other to operate in an interoperable manner. will be.

Recently, due to the development of information technology, various devices such as mobile phones, digital television receivers, PDAs, game consoles, etc. are connected to a predetermined local network, and these technologies are spotlighted as the local network environment spreads into the home. .

      This local network technology connects home devices in a home with a single topology, allowing them to share each other's digital data and use broadband communications. To do this, various home devices can interface with each other. In addition, the home gateway has been connected to an Internet service provider (ISP) to provide various Internet services.

On the other hand, as the residential living environment develops, more and more devices that use the same function in a multi-room environment are increasingly used, and these devices are also connected to a local network in the home and are connected to each other. It is possible to share data.

However, by interoperating devices that can perform the same functions more actively than simply sharing digital data with each other, it is possible to provide a user with a very convenient and effective network environment.

For example, if a user assigns multiple scheduled recordings to a specific device at the same time, or if another user is performing other operations such as recording other broadcasts at the same time, the scheduled recording cannot be performed. If the scheduled recording can be performed by another device that can perform a function, it can provide a very convenient network environment for the user.

Accordingly, the present invention was developed to satisfy the above needs, and in particular, devices that can perform the same function in a multi-room environment share information with each other to operate in a more convenient network environment for the user. The purpose is to provide a method of performing parallel functions through networking.

In accordance with this object, the present invention detects and registers a shared usable device having a predetermined function among a plurality of network devices connected to a local network, and executes the same in parallel through networking with a shareable network device that has registered a predetermined function according to a user's request. By effectively doing so, we want to effectively extend and apply network functions in multi-room environments.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

In the system according to the present invention, a plurality of local network devices 100-1, 100-2, 100-3,..., 100-n intersect certain local network protocols such as IEEE1394 or Ethernet, or UPnP. (Universal Plug and Play) Among the various home network protocols such as home network protocol, the most suitable protocol suitable for the use environment is selected and applied.

Each local network device (100-1, 100-2, 100-3, ..., 100-n) dynamically obtains a private IP (Internet Protocol) address from a predetermined Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. The DHCP server is embedded in a specific local network device or operated separately to dynamically allocate a private IP address when the device is plugged in. This aspect belongs to a general technology and a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

On the other hand, the local network device (100-1, 100-2, 100-3, ..., 100-n) is a device unique identification ID (DID) and itself using its dynamically allocated private IP address. Multicast a kind of description file that contains device information, that is, various device details and service information.

At this time, the DID which is the local network device identification ID is different depending on the local network protocol to be applied. For example, when using UPnP middleware, UUID (Universally Unique IDentifier) data can be applied as the DID according to the present invention. If there is no application of unique ID in the network, it is desirable to define and set separately for each device type.

Meanwhile, a predetermined local network device parses a multicasted description file and extracts a list of functions included therein, and the plurality of local network devices 100-1, 100-2, 100-3,. .., 100-n) can know the information on what function can be performed, at this time, according to the present invention, a local network device that can be shared to perform a specific function of their own, such as a table provided separately The registration information includes identification DID, private IP address, and shared function information of the corresponding local network device. Preferably, the description file is provided in xml (Extensible Markup Language) specification. .

As a result, first, information on device lists in which each of the local network devices 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, ..., 100-n can perform their predetermined functions in parallel In the following description, a basic mechanism for a parallel function sharing method performed between devices capable of sharing a predetermined function according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

First, when a specific function cannot be performed due to an error or the like in order to perform a specific function according to a user request, the first local network device 100-1 may register its own table according to the above-described sequence. If the device information that can perform the corresponding function is not detected by the UE, an error message is displayed or defaulted to terminate the user command. The detected device is referred to as the third local network device 100-3.

Next, the first local network device 100-1 queries the third local network device 100-3 with reference to the detected device information as to whether a predetermined function can be performed instead, and in response to the query, the first local network device 100-1. When the 3 local network device 100-3 sends an approval message, the first local network device 100-1 transmits the user setting information and the function execution command required to perform the corresponding function, to the third local network device 100. 3), the third local network device 100-3 performs a function requested by the user on behalf of the first local network device 100-1 according to the transmitted information and command.

At this time, 192.168.x.1 and 192.168.x.3 are the first local network device 100-1 and the third local network device (dynamically allocated from a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server not shown when plugging). 100-3) is a private Internet Protocol (IP) address, and is applied as a source and destination address for data transmission / reception.

As described above, the system to which the present invention is applied detects and registers a shared usable device having a predetermined function among a plurality of network devices connected to a local network, and network the shared function with the registered shareable network device according to a user's request. By being able to run in parallel, network functions can be effectively extended, especially in multi-room environments.

Next, a registration table according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The registration table according to the present invention is provided separately to register information about a local network device that can be shared for a specific function. The registration information includes a device identifier (DID) and a private IP address of the corresponding local network device. , And shared functional information. For example, the above-described device identification identifier (DID) information, a private IP address of a corresponding device dynamically allocated from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, and function sharing performance confirmation information (Fun_EB) may be included. Such information is only an example and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, an aspect of obtaining specific function sharing performance information from a predetermined local network device connected according to the present invention will be described as an example.

According to the present invention, a local network device uses a dynamically assigned private IP address, and a device description includes a device identifier (DID), which is a device unique identification ID, and its own device information, that is, various device details and service information. (Description) The file is multicasted. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the description file to be multicasted is turned on in the xml specification for sharing availability of DID information, which is its own identification ID, and the specific function. ON / OFF (OFF) information is included, and notation format, status and access information is additionally included. Such a description file can be used in a UPnP environment, and various applications are possible depending on the network system to which the present invention is applied. .

Next, an example of registration according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, a local network device is set as a PVR.

In the present invention, first, a plurality of PVRs (A, B, C, D) are dynamically assigned a private IP (Internet Protocol) address from a predetermined DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, which is not shown. Is built into a specific local network device or operated separately to dynamically assign a private IP address when the device is plugged in.

On the other hand, using the dynamically allocated private IP address, PVRs (A, B, C, D) are device IDs (Device Identifeier) and their own device information, that is, various device details and service information. Multicast a kind of description file that contains.

Then, each of the plurality of PVRs (A, B, C, D) parses the multicasted description file and extracts the function information contained therein and registers them in a table provided therein separately, as described above. It includes the identification DID of the connected PVR, private IP address, and shared available function information. As a result, each PVR connected to the local network can perform a predetermined function such as a reservation recording function. It is possible to have the information, hereinafter will be described with reference to Figure 6 with respect to the parallel functional sharing between the PVRs having such registration information according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, when a user reserved recording command is input, the PVR-A detects a series of device information registered as a device capable of performing the reserved recording function in parallel in the registration table and performs the reserved recording function on the corresponding device. Send inquiry message about.

In this case, as shown in the drawing, when there are a plurality of programs to be reserved and a plurality of registered devices, for example, whether or not a reservation recording function of the program "A" which has a fast reservation recording time can be performed sequentially according to a preset order. When the inquiry message is transmitted from the PVR-B and the approval message is received from the PVR-C, as shown in the drawing, the next time the scheduled message recording function is performed, the inquiry message about whether or not the reserved recording function of the program “I” which is the fastest in the scheduled recording time can be performed. It is preferable to send the PVR-D to the PVR-D according to the response result and transmit the information about the program “I” to the PVR-D. Many variations are possible without departing.

On the other hand, if the sequence is made as described above, the PVR-A transmits the user setting information and the function execution command necessary for performing the reserved recording functions for the programs "a" and "me" to the PVR-C and the PVR-D. The PVR-C and the PVR-D perform the functions requested by the user in parallel on behalf of the PVR-A according to the transmitted user setting information and the function execution command.

Subsequently, a method of performing parallel functions through networking according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

As described above, the method for performing a parallel function through networking according to the present invention detects a shared usable network device having a predetermined function among a plurality of network devices connected to a local network, and identifies an ID DID, a private IP address, Then, when the function of sharing available function is registered in the predetermined registration table, and the "A" function execution request is inputted to a specific local network device, the user can request the function "A" through networking with the registered shareable network device. Try to run in parallel.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the "A" function execution request is input to the first local network device (S801), the first local network device determines whether its A function can be performed. (S802). If it is determined that the function A can be performed for the function A, the device directly performs the function A (S803). If it is determined that the function A cannot be executed, the device A can perform the function A in parallel. The set / registered series of device information is detected in the registration table (S804), and predetermined user setting information for using the "A" function is transmitted to the corresponding device to the second local network device (S805).

Thereafter, when the second local network device transmits a response message indicating that the second local network device can be performed or not in place of the "A" function according to the user setting information (S806), the first local network device issues a function execution command according to the response result. In other words, when the second local network device determines that the second local network device can perform the function "A" according to the user setting information and transmits a response message corresponding thereto, the command "A" function execution is transmitted. If it is determined that it is not executable on behalf of the "A" function according to the user setting information and transmits a response message corresponding thereto, the default message is displayed (S808) and an error message is displayed on the screen (S809). With reference to 8, the present invention will be described by way of example.

8, when a reservation recording function execution request is input to the first PVR (S801), a timer is set according to the reservation recording time (S802), and then a reservation recording event is generated. In operation S804, the first PVR determines whether it is possible to perform its reserved recording function.

As a result of the determination in step S804, when it is determined that the reservation recording function can be performed, the reserved recording function is directly performed (S805). In contrast, when it is determined that it is not possible to perform the reservation recording function, the reservation recording function is performed. Device information capable of performing parallel operation, for example, other PVR information is detected from the registration table in which other PVR information is set / registered (S806), and predetermined user setting information for using the "reserved recording" function with the corresponding device. Transmit to the corresponding device (S807).

Then, if another PVR transmits a response message that can be performed or not in place of the "reservation recording" function according to the user setting information, the first PVR sends a function execution command according to the response result, that is, the other PVR If it is determined that it can be performed in place of the "Reserved Recording" function according to the user setting information and transmits a response message corresponding thereto, the command for the execution of the "Reservation Recording" function is transmitted and the "Reservation Recording" function is executed according to the user setting information. If instead it is determined that it is not feasible and transmits a response message corresponding thereto (S810) and the error message is displayed on the screen (S811), the present invention ends.

As described in detail above, the method for performing parallel functions through networking according to the present invention detects and registers a shared usable device having a predetermined function among a plurality of network devices connected to a local network, and performs a predetermined function according to a user's request. By performing parallel operation through registered shareable network devices and networking, it is possible to provide users with a more convenient network environment, especially in a multi-room environment.

Although the invention has been described in detail only with respect to the specific examples described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit of the invention, and such modifications and variations belong to the appended claims.

Claims (6)

Each of the first and second local network devices connected to the local network selects the second and first local network devices that can share a specific function, and includes information on the selected second and first local network devices. Registering in a registration table; And When a command for executing a specific function is generated in the first local network device, a second network device that can share the specific function is searched using information registered in the registration table to parallel the specific function through networking. How to perform parallel functions via networking, including the steps performed by the server. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering of the registration table comprises: a; Multicasting the first and second local network devices by classifying the predetermined specific function shareable flag information according to functions; And And selecting the second and first local network devices that can share a specific function by referring to the multicasted information, and registering the information in a registration table. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the specific function in parallel; Determining, by the first local network device, whether a specific function can be performed; Searching for a second network device capable of sharing the specific function in the registration table when the first local network device is unable to perform the specific function; And And instructing, through networking, that the searched second network device performs a specific function. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: prior to instructing the second network device to perform a particular function; And determining whether the second local network device is currently capable of performing the specific function. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining step; And transmitting user setting information for performing the specific function to the second local network device to determine. The method of claim 1, wherein the information of the first and second local network devices; A method for performing parallel functions through networking, comprising device identification ID, private IP address information, and specific function shareable flag information.

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