Method and apparatus for controlling devices for smart home service

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9686094-B2
Application number	US-201414484729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2014
Priority date	Sep 23, 2013
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling devices for a smart home service are provided. The method includes grouping devices to receive at least one command simultaneously from among devices registered to the smart home service into a group for one mode, generating mode configuration information for each mode including grouped devices for the mode and at least one command for the mode, transmitting the mode configuration information for each mode to the registered devices, selecting one of each mode for which the mode configuration information has been generated, and transmitting a mode activation request for activating the selected mode to the registered devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to control devices for a home service by a controller device, the method comprising:
generating configuration information of a mode based on information on devices selected to operate in the mode;
transmitting, to the selected devices, the configuration information comprising information identifying the selected devices and information indicating at least one action intended to be operated by the selected devices in the mode; and
transmitting an activation request for activating the mode to the selected devices,
wherein the at least one action comprises an action which is intended to be commonly operated by at least two or more of the selected devices of different types in the mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is broadcasted.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is transmitted to the selected devices in relay based on a predetermined relay order.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information further comprises at least one of execution time information of the at least one action, path information indicating a relay order for relaying the configuration information, or information indicating whether the configuration information is to be reused.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration information further comprises information identifying the controller device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the configuration information comprises:
transmitting, to a gateway, the configuration information in order that the gateway transmits, to the selected devices, the configuration information comprising information identifying the controller device.

7. A method for executing a home service by a device, the method comprising:
receiving configuration information of a mode generated based on information on devices selected to operate in the mode;
obtaining, if an activation request for activating the mode is received, information identifying the selected devices and information indicating at least one action intended to be operated by the selected devices in the mode included in the configuration information;
executing an action of the device indicated by the information indicating the at least one action; and
transmitting a result of the execution to a controller device,
wherein the at least one action comprises an action which is intended to be commonly operated by at least two or more of the selected devices of different types in the mode.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is broadcasted from the controller device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is received in relay based on a predetermined relay order.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the configuration information further comprises at least one of execution time information of the at least one action, path information indicating a relay order of relaying the configuration information, or information indicating whether the configuration information is to be reused.

11. The method of claim 7 ,
wherein the configuration information is received from a gateway, and
wherein the configuration information is transmitted from the controller device to the gateway in order that the gateway transmits, to the selected devices, the configuration information comprising information identifying the controller device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving at least one configuration information from the gateway; and
storing each configuration information mapped to information identifying each controller device included in each of the at least one configuration information.

13. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
determining whether there is configuration information of a first mode among configuration information of each mode restored in the device if an activation request for activating the first mode is received;
executing, when there is the restored configuration information of the first mode, an action of the device indicated by information indicating at least one action included in the configuration information of the first mode; and
discarding, when there is not the restored configuration information of the first mode, the activation request for activating the first mode.

14. A control device to control devices for a home service, the control device comprising:
at least one processor configured to generate configuration information of a mode based on information on devices selected to operate in the mode; and
a transceiver configured to:
transmit, to the selected devices, the configuration information comprising information identifying the selected devices and information indicating at least one action intended to be operated by the selected devices in the mode, and
transmit an activation request for activating the mode to the selected devices,

wherein the at least one action comprises an action which is intended to be commonly operated by at least two or more of the selected devices of different types in the mode.

15. The control device of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is broadcasted.

16. The control device of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is transmitted to the selected devices in relay based on a predetermined relay order.

17. The control device of claim 14 , wherein the configuration information further comprises at least one of execution time information of the at least one action, path information indicating a relay order for relaying the configuration information, or information indicating whether the configuration information is to be reused.

18. The control device of claim 14 , wherein the configuration information further comprises information identifying the controller device.

19. The control device of claim 14 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit, to a gateway, the configuration information in order that the gateway transmits, to the selected devices, the configuration information comprising information identifying the controller device.

20. A device for executing a home service, the device comprising:
a receiver configured to receive configuration information of a mode generated based on information on devices selected to operate in the mode;
at least one processor configured to, if an activation request for activating the mode is received:
obtain information identifying the selected devices and information indicating at least one action intended to be operated by the selected devices in the mode included in the configuration information, and
execute an action of the device indicated by the information indicating the at least one action; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a result of the execution to a controller device,
wherein the at least one action comprises an action which is intended to be commonly operated by at least two or more of the selected devices of different types in the mode.

21. The device of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is broadcasted from the controller device.

22. The device of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the configuration information or the activation request is received in re

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jun-Hyung
• Kong Dong-Keon
• Kim Se-Hoon
• Bae Eun-Hui
• Chun Jai-Ick

Classifications

• G06F21/335 Primary

  for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets · CPC title

• H04L12/2838 Primary

  Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths (adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24) · CPC title

• H04L12/282

  based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204) · CPC title

• H04L12/2818 Primary

  from a device located outside both the home and the home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007) · CPC title

• H04L12/2834 Primary

  Switching of information between an external network and a home network (access arrangements H04L12/2856) · CPC title