JP2003308264A - Network device and network device control method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] Even if a new device is added to a sub-network, even if a user does not register a device list or function information of the new device with a communication device, a new device can be added from the main network. To be able to control it. SOLUTION: In accordance with a request of a first network device, at least a function type and control of function information of a new device, information for controlling the network device, and control information having control function call information are used. The presence or absence of the parameter is generated in a data format that can be interpreted by the first network device connected to the first network, and is provided in a message format common to the first network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network device and a method for controlling the network device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a network device suitable for constructing a control system in which network devices connected to the same network and network devices connected to different networks via gateways coexist, and a device control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional method for acquiring information of a device connected to a sub-network when a plurality of networks coexist, there is JP-A-11-187061. There
Information of 1394 devices connected to the sub-network is registered using a communication device that registers a service with a directory agent of a home network.

[0003]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-187061

[0004]

However, in the above conventional technique, since the communication device registers the function information and the like of the 1394 device in the directory agent, a new 13
When 94 devices join the sub-network, it is necessary for the user to newly register using the communication device.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to add a new device from the main network even if a new device is added to the sub-network, even if the user does not register the device list or function information of the new device with the communication device. To be able to control the device.

[0006]

The above problems can be solved by the inventions described in the claims.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an example of a network device control system including network devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 100 is an IP network to which network devices are connected, 110 is a network device (hereinafter, controller) having a function of controlling other network devices connected to the IP network 100, and 120 is an example of an AV network device. The digital video camera (D-CAM) 130 is a washing machine as an example of a white goods network device. Reference numeral 140 is a network device having a gateway function to a network of AV equipment systems, such as a digital television (D-TV) 141 and a digital video recorder (D-V).
TR) 142, etc., an AV device gateway (hereinafter, AV device GW) having the ability to control digital AV devices connected by 1394IF 143, 150 is a network device having a gateway function to a network of white goods, such as a microwave oven. This is a white goods household appliance GW having the ability to control white goods household appliances connected by ECHONET 153 such as 151 and refrigerator 152.

In the present embodiment, the controller 10
0 is a network device on the network (120, 13
0, 140, 150) and the network device (140, 150) having a gateway function include program modules that can operate in cooperation by exchanging messages. The controller can acquire the information necessary to control the network device by exchanging messages, and controls the network device and the devices under it with a common protocol including the devices connected under the network device having the gateway function. It becomes possible.

The configuration of the control method and network device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an example of a software configuration of the controller and the network device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, components having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. 100
Is an IP network to which network devices are connected, 1
Reference numeral 10 is a controller having a function of controlling the network device, and 120 is one of the network devices to be controlled, which is a digital video camera, and is hereinafter referred to as a target device.

The controller 110 generates a message according to an information processing protocol at the request of a controller application (hereinafter, controller AP) 230 for controlling a network device and a controller AP,
A message generation / interpretation processing unit 221 that interprets a received message and passes it to the controller AP. An information exchange protocol processing unit 220 that exchanges messages according to a protocol common to network devices, and a network driver that transmits and receives data to and from the network physical layer. Constitute. The target device 120 provides an interface for calling a function for controlling the target device itself, and is necessary for controlling the target device such as a device control service 241 that controls the target device itself according to the called function and a function of the target device. Interface of function call to provide various information,
A target service 240 that provides a controller with a service for controlling the target device itself, which includes a device information providing service 242 that provides requested information according to a called function, and a protocol processing unit that should interpret and pass the received message. Judge the message, sort the message, receive the return value and return it to the message sender. Interpret the message received from the message generation / interpretation processing unit 221 and the message generation / interpretation processing unit 221, give parameters to the corresponding function, and process the result. Device control protocol processing unit 222 for returning to received message generation / interpretation processing unit 221, and device information provision protocol 2
It is composed of an information exchange professional consisting of 23, a tocol processing 220, and a network driver 210.

The behaviors of the controller 110 and the target device 120 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
FIG. 3 is an example of information of a target service 240 provided by the target device to the controller 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an example of messages exchanged between the controller 110 and the target device 120. The example which controls the zoom of a camera function is shown.

When the controller 110 detects the target device 120 on the network, it sends a message to the target device (FIG. 4 (1)) and acquires the information of the target service 240 as an example shown in FIG.
As an example of a method for the controller to detect a target device, the controller uses the UDP (Us
er Datagram Protocol) multicast message is used to send a message inquiring a target device having a desired function to the network, the network device that responded to the inquiry is determined to be the target device, and the IP address of the target device is determined from the response message. Can be obtained. However, the present invention does not limit the detection method of the target device. FIG. 3 shows that the target device 120 has a target service, and the device control service has a device control service 241 having a VCR control function and a camera control function, and a device information providing service 242. The function name of each function and the parameter used. And information such as a URL for accessing. The controller, which has obtained the format information such as the function of the service provided by the target device and the access function, sends a message including a function for controlling the target device according to the user's operation or the request of another application to the access URL of the target device. Control the target device. In the example of FIG. 4, a device list acquisition request is transmitted (FIG. 4 (3)), and it is known from the response that the target device 120 has a camera function and a VCR function. Further, in order to obtain the function name of the camera function, a function function name acquisition request is sent with CAMERA as a parameter (FIG. 4 (5)), and the zoom function Z is sent.
get oom. Then, the zoom function Zoom is transmitted with the zoom magnification of 10 as a parameter, and the target device 120
The zoom magnification of is set to 10 and the zoom magnification of 10 designated as the return value is obtained.

As described above, the controller 110
Exchanges a message with the target device 120 to enable the UR to access the function of the target device and the function.
The target device is controlled by obtaining information such as L, function name, and parameter. Therefore, according to this method, the controller does not need to know the information for controlling the target device in advance, and only the protocol for message exchange and the data expression format need to be shared between the controller and the target device. Therefore, increase / decrease of network equipment and A
A flexible network device control system can be constructed for different types of devices such as V appliances and white goods.

In this embodiment, the case where there is one target device having a camera function has been described.
When there are more than one camera, the controller can select the most suitable camera for the purpose. That is, there are cameras with a maximum zoom magnification of 3 times and a camera with a maximum zoom magnification of 20 times.
When the magnification is requested, the camera with the maximum zoom magnification of 20 can be selected by acquiring the maximum zoom magnification information from the detailed information of the function of each camera. That is, instead of individually selecting and operating each device operated by the user, a device having a function satisfying the user's request is searched for on the network, or a device having the function A and a device having the function B are selected. It is possible to perform control such as building a system that operates in cooperation with each other to meet the user's request. As an example of application components that configure the controller AP 230 of the controller and the target service 240 of the target device, there are web services accessible using various web protocols of the Internet standard. In Web services,
The data representation format is XML (Extensible M
arkup Language) format is used, and SOAP (Simple Object) is used for exchanging messages.
Access Protocol) is used. Also,
WSDL for describing the functions provided by Web services
(Web Service Description L
The language specification based on XML is used. Although it is possible to construct the network control device and control method according to the present invention with a unique message protocol or data format, a system with higher versatility can be constructed by applying the Internet standard technology.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a software configuration of a network device having a controller and a gateway function according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same function is indicated by the same number. 100 is a controller, 14
0 is one of the network devices having a GW function to be controlled, STB, and is hereinafter referred to as a target GW device. The function of the controller is the same as in FIG. Target GW
The device 140 is a device control service 241 that provides an interface for controlling the target GW device itself and the devices (141 and 142 in FIG. 1) under the control of the gateway.
And a device information service 242 that provides information necessary for device control such as functions of devices (141 and 142 in FIG. 1) under the control of the target GW device itself and the gateway, and under the control of the target GW device and the gateway. Service 240 for providing a service for controlling the device of the above, message generation / interpretation processing unit 221 message generation / message generation / message generation / message generation / interpretation of the message according to the information processing protocol, and interpreting the received message and passing it to the corresponding object. According to the device control protocol processing 222 that accesses the corresponding device control service according to the control message received from the interpretation processing unit 221, and according to the information request message received from the message generation / interpretation processing unit 221, access the device information acquisition service and acquire the device information. Return In the information exchange professional and protocol processing 220 and the network driver 210 configured by the device information protocol processing unit 223, the network 2 driver 520 and the second network that transmit and receive data to and from the device under gateway management and the second network 143. It is configured by the network 2 middleware 510 used.

The target GW apparatus uses the network 2 middleware 510 to detect an increase / decrease in the number of devices connected to the second network, and uses the function of the network 2 middleware 510 to switch the devices under the gateway from the device control service 241. The device 2 control 531 and the device 3 control 532 which are applications for controlling, and the device 2 information 541 and the device 3 information 542 which are applications for acquiring device information under the gateway from the device information providing service are acquired or generated. To do.

Here, the procedure for the controller in one embodiment of the present invention to collect and control the information of the equipment to be controlled will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. FIG. 6 shows an example of the device list information, which is represented by an XML data structure. Devices (141, 142) connected to the network device itself (140) and the second network (143)
Device information is included. In the figure, the notation enclosed by “<” and “>” indicates the meaning of information described by what is called a tag. In this example, <target_list> indicates the target device managed by the target GW device 140, and <d
device> separates physical devices, <target>
t> indicates an operable function of each device.
<Device_name> is a name for identifying the device, and <device_display_name> is a display name used to show the user. The device list information is obtained by connecting the device information providing service 240 to the device 2 (141) and the device 3 (1) connected to the second network (143).
42) device information, device 2 information 541 and device 3 information 54
2 is obtained or generated using 2 and each piece of device information is connected.

FIG. 7 is an example of a device function list. In the present embodiment, the device function list is provided in the unit of <target> in FIG. 6, and detailed information of each function is listed under the <function_list> by the <function> tag. As an example of the detailed information of the function, <function_name> indicating the name of the function is shown in FIG. 7, and <function is indicating whether the operation of the function is control or status inquiry.
_Type>, indicating the name of the parameter to be used <pa
parameter_name>, <parameter_directio indicating the input parameter, the output parameter, or the input / output parameter as the detailed information of the parameter
n>, <parameter_t indicating the parameter type
type> is shown. Regarding the device function list, similarly to the device list information, the device 2 information 541 and the device 3 information 542 of the device 2 (141) and the device 3 (142) to which the device information providing service 240 is connected to the second network (143).
To obtain or generate and manage.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a procedure in which the controller 110 acquires information on the target device 140 and operates a desired target function. Controller 11
0 detects the target device 140 on the network, and sends a message to the target device (see FIG. 8).
(1)) As a response, information for accessing the device information providing service is acquired. If the target device 140 publishes the device information providing service as a Web service, the response is the address of the WSDL for using the device information providing service ((2) in FIG. 8). The controller acquires the service provided by the device information providing service 242 and its interface information from the WSDL. The service provided here is the same as the service shown in FIG. 3 (242). Using the device information providing service, the controller 110 transmits a device list list acquisition request ((3) in FIG. 8). The device information providing service 242 of the target device refers to the generated device list information (FIG. 6), generates a device list including the information of the devices connected to the second network, and returns a response (FIG. 8).
(4)).

Next, the controller sends a device function list acquisition request to acquire the function of the desired device ((5) in FIG. 8). In the example of FIG. 8, a list of TV functions is requested.
The device information providing service 242 refers to the device list information (FIG. 6) and refers to the tuner function (tuner) and the clock function (cl).
ock) is returned to the function list (FIG. 8 (6)). Furthermore, a function function acquisition request is transmitted to obtain the function name of the desired function ((7) in FIG. 8). In this example, no parameters are specified, and a list of functions related to general device operations is requested. The device information providing service 242 refers to the device function list (FIG. 7) and returns a list of functions related to general device operations and access destination information (FIG. 8 (8)).

Then, the getP that refers to the power state is referred to the access destination obtained from the controller in FIG. 8 (8).
It is possible to know from the response that the TV is powered on by transmitting the powerState (Fig. 8 (9)) (Fig. 8).
(10)). The function getPow sent by the controller according to the protocol common to the first network
The erState is interpreted by the device control protocol 222 and passed to the corresponding control object device 2 control 531 of the device control service 241. Equipment 2 Control is Equipment 2
(141) is converted into a protocol that can be interpreted and transmitted to the device 2 (141) via the second network. The response from the device 2 (141) is received by the device 2 control 531, converted into a protocol common to the first network, and returned to the controller via the information exchange protocol 220. That is, the controller can acquire and control the information of the device connected to the second network in the same procedure as the device connected to the second network.

According to the present invention, the controller is directly connected to the IP network so that the target GW device 140 manages the devices under the gateway and manages the device information and the device control service in a format accessible by the controller. Both the network device and the devices connected under the gateway can be controlled using a common method.

The access URL of the device managed by the target GW device may be in a format 620 in which the directory structure is followed from the IP address 610 of the target GW device as shown in FIG. Set a virtual IP address for the device (63
0), a format (640) of calling from the set virtual IP address may be adopted.

[0024]

According to the present invention, even when a new device is added to the sub-network, the network device of the main network can be used even if the user does not register the device list or function information of the new device with the communication device. You will be able to control a new device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network device control system including network devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a controller and a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing target service information provided by a target device to a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing messages exchanged between a controller and a target device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a network device having a controller and a gateway function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing device list information of a target service provided to a controller by a target device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing device function list information of a target service provided to a controller by a target device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing messages exchanged between a controller and a target device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an access URL of a device managed by a target GW device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 IP network 110 controller 120 Digital Video Camera (D-CAM) 130 washing machine 140 AV device gateway STB 141 Digital Television (D-TV) 142 Digital Video Recorder (D-VTR) 143 IEEE1394 150 white goods appliances gateway 151 microwave oven 152 refrigerator 153 ECHINET 210 network driver 220 Information Exchange Protocol Processing Unit 221 Message generation / interpretation processing unit 222 Equipment control protocol processing unit 223 Device information protocol processing unit 230 Controller AP 240 Target Service 241 Equipment control service 242 Equipment information provision service 510 network 2 middleware 520 Network 2 driver 531 Device 2 control 532 Device 3 control 541 Device 2 information 542 Device 3 information

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshimichi Kudo             292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             Ceremony Hitachi Digital Media Development Book             Department (72) Inventor Ojo Adult             292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             Ceremony Hitachi Digital Media Development Book             Department (72) Inventor Teiji Kuwahara             292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa             Ceremony Hitachi Digital Media Development Book             Department F-term (reference) 5B089 GA11 GA23 GA31 GB02 HB02                       JA35 JB10 KA01 KF05                 5K033 BA01 CB02 CB08 DA05 EC02

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A first for connecting to a first network.
And a second communication interface for connecting to a second network.
A network device having a function of managing and controlling a second network device connected to another network, function information of the network device and the second network device, and information and a control function for controlling the network device The control information having the call information is in a data format in which the first network device connected to the first network can interpret at least the type of function and the presence or absence of a parameter used for control according to the request of the first network device. The function information and the control information are generated and provided to the first network in a message format common to the first network without making a distinction between the network apparatus and the second network apparatus managed by the network apparatus. Of the second network device transmitted in a message format common to the network of Target service means for converting a control function into a command format known in the second network, and the first network that has generated and transmitted a message according to a message format common to the first network, and has received the message. And an information exchange protocol processing means for interpreting a message generated according to a message format common to the above and passing it to the target service means. 2. A first for connecting to a first network
In a network device having a communication interface of the above, a message in a message format common to the first network is transmitted to another network device to acquire the function information of the other network device, and the purpose is to be based on the function information. Searching for a network device having the above function, obtaining control information for operating the network device having the desired function, constructing a message for controlling the other network device based on the control information, and transmitting the message. And a control means for controlling the other network device, and, in accordance with a request from the control means, generate a message according to a message format common to the first network, and send or receive the message to the other network device. Generated according to a message format common to the first network Network device characterized by comprising an information exchange protocol processing means to pass to the control unit interprets. 3. A first for connecting to a first network
In a network device having a communication interface of the above, data capable of accessing the control information having the function information of the network device, the information for controlling the network device and the control function call information in a message format common to the first network. Command, which is generated in a format, provides the function information and the control information in accordance with a request of another network device, and further, a control function called in a message format common to the first network is a command unique to the network device. Target service means for converting to a format, and generating and transmitting a message according to a message format common to the first network, and interpreting a received message generated according to a message format common to the first network Information exchanged to the target service means Network device, characterized in that it comprises a protocol processing unit. 4. The network device according to claim 1, wherein a message is exchanged between the network devices to call a function provided by the network device or information held by the network device. A network device that enables you to obtain 5. The network device according to claim 1, wherein a description format of information of a message exchanged between the network devices is XML (Extensible Markup).
A network device using the Language format. 6. The network device according to claim 1, wherein SOAP (Simple Object A) is used as a communication protocol of a message exchanged between the network devices.
access protocol) is used. 7. The network device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a function of a message exchanged between the network devices and a format of an argument are set to WSDL (Web Service Decode).
A network device characterized in that it is described by using a description language. 8. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is used.
A network device for searching a network device capable of exchanging messages according to a message format common to the first network by using the inquiry message transmission and response by the multicast message of l). 9. The network device according to claim 1, further comprising: function information of the second network device; information for controlling the second network device; and control information having control function call information. , A UR hierarchically configured by the name or function of the second network device with the IP address of the network device as a route
L (Uniform Resource Locato
A network device characterized by being configured so that it can be called up in r). 10. The network device according to claim 1, further comprising: function information of the second network device, information for controlling the second network device, and control information having control function call information. , I virtually assigned by the network device to the second network device
A network device characterized in that it can be called by using a P address. 11. A network device control method used in a network system in which a plurality of network devices are connected to a first network, wherein at least one network device in the network system has a gateway function and a second network. Is a network device that has a function of managing and controlling a second network device that is connectable to the second network device and that is connected to the second network. The network device has the network device and the second network device. Function information, control information for controlling the network device, and control information having control function call information are generated in a data format that can be accessed in a message format common to the first network, and according to a request from the other network device. The network device and the second Providing the function information and the control information without making a distinction from the network device of the second network device, and further providing the control function of the second network device called in a message format common to the first network. Two
A method for controlling a network device, comprising: transmitting a control command converted into a known command format in the above network to the corresponding second network device to control the second network device. 12. A network device control method used in a network system in which a plurality of network devices are connected to a first network, wherein the network device exchanges messages according to a message format common to the first network, The other network device has a function of controlling another network device connected to a network other than the first network, and the other network device has a message in a message format common to the first network. Acquiring function information and information for controlling the other network device and control information having control function call information, and controlling the other network device based on the acquired function information and the control information. A message common to the first network. Network device control method for controlling the said other network devices by generating and transmitting a message according to the message format said other network devices. 13. A network device control method used in a network system to which a plurality of network devices are connected, the network device having a function of exchanging messages according to a common message format, Control information having information for controlling the network device and control function call information is generated in a data format that can be accessed in a message format common to the first network, and is connected to a network other than the first network. The function information and the control information are provided according to the request of the network device, and the control function called in the message format common to the first network is converted into a command format unique to the other network device. Control the other network device. Method of controlling network device.