Apparatus and method of storing user information in home network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9516135-B2
Application number	US-201313910337-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2013
Priority date	Jun 7, 2012
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

Apparatus and method of storing user information in a home network. Mapping information is generated by mapping at least one terminal connected to the home network onto a pre-stored house schematic. Based on the mapping information, information associated with at least one adjacent terminal to a particular terminal is generated, where the adjacent terminal is capable of recognizing a user of the particular terminal. User information is generated based on the user-related information transmitted from the adjacent terminal to recognize the user of the particular terminal when a certain function is executed in the particular terminal. The user information is stored in association with usage history information for the certain function.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for storing user information in a home network, the apparatus comprising:
a memory to store a house schematic; and
a controller to:
determine whether an user recognition function is requested,
generate mapping information by mapping a plurality of terminals connected to the home network onto the house schematic corresponding to the determination,
generate, based on the mapping information, information associated with at least one adjacent terminal to a particular terminal, the adjacent terminal capable of recognizing a user of the particular terminal,
check whether the particular terminal provides the user recognition function when a certain function of the particular terminal is executed,
generate user information based on user-related information transmitted from the adjacent terminal to recognize the user of the particular terminal, and
store the user information in association with usage history information for the certain function,

wherein the controller identifies a location information of the terminals, and identifies the adjacent terminals capable of performing the user recognition function by using the location information of the at least one terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mapping information comprises the location information of the plurality of terminals on the house schematic.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with at least one adjacent terminal comprises an identifier of the particular terminal and an identifier of the adjacent terminal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user information comprises an identifier of a user who requests the certain function to be executed.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein if another terminal provides a direct recognition function for recognizing a user in a direct manner, the controller receives from the another terminal usage history information and user-related information of the another terminal; and uses the user-related information of the another terminal to generate user information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein if another terminal provides an indirect recognition function for recognizing a user in an indirect manner, the controller receives from the another terminal usage history information and user-related information of the another terminal, and uses the user-related information of the another terminal to generate user information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein if the particular terminal does not provide any user recognition function, the controller uses the information associated with at least one adjacent terminal to search for an adjacent terminal capable of recognizing the particular terminal, transmits a user recognition function execution request message to a searched adjacent terminal and receives the usage history information from the particular terminal.

8. A method of storing user information in a home network, the method comprising:
determining whether an user recognition function is requested;
generating mapping information by mapping at least one terminal connected to the home network onto a pre-stored house schematic corresponding to the determination;
generating, based on the mapping information, information associated with at least one adjacent terminal to a particular terminal, the adjacent terminal capable of recognizing a user of a particular terminal;
checking whether the particular terminal provides the user recognition function when a certain function of the particular terminal is executed;
generating user information based on user-related information transmitted from the adjacent terminal to recognize the user of the particular terminal; and
storing the user information in correspondence with usage history information for the certain function,
wherein the method further comprises identifying a location information of the terminals, and identifying the adjacent terminals capable of performing the user recognition function by using the location information of the at least one terminal.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the mapping information comprises the location information of the at least one terminal on the house schematic.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the recognition information regarding adjacent terminals comprises an identifier of the at least one terminal and an identifier of the adjacent terminal, correspondingly.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the user information comprises an identifier of a user who requests the certain function to be executed.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
if another terminal provides a direct recognition function for recognizing a user in a direct manner, receiving from the another terminal usage history information and user-related information of the another terminal; and
generating user information based on the user-related information of the another terminal.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising
if another terminal provides an indirect recognition function for recognizing a user in an indirect manner, receiving from the another terminal usage history information and user-related information of the another terminal, and
generating user information based on the user-related information of the another terminal.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the generating of the user information comprises,
if the particular terminal does not provide any user recognition function, searching for an adjacent terminal capable of recognizing the particular terminal based on the information associated with at least one adjacent terminal;
transmitting a user recognition function execution request message to the searched adjacent terminal; and
receiving user-related information including information related to the user from the searched adjacent terminal, and the usage history information from the particular terminal.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Sang-Min

Classifications

• H04L12/2829 Primary

  involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered · CPC title

• H04L67/306 Primary

  User profiles · CPC title

• H04L12/12

  Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof · CPC title

• H04L12/16 Primary

  Arrangements for providing special services to substations · CPC title