Server connection method for a browser-based network

0001The present invention relates to a home network, and more particularly, to a method for connecting to server devices through browsers in a browser-based home network.

0002Recently, various digital devices such as a digital television DTV, a digital video cassette DVC, a DVD player DVDP, and a digital set-top box have appeared. The IEEE 1394 approved by the IEEE committee is highlighted as the interface for such digital devices. Figure 1 shows a protocol stack that general IEEE 1394 devices have. A physical layer 100 which is the lowest layer receives a bit stream from a link layer 110 which is an upper layer during transmission and acquires the right to use a serial bus. The physical layer encodes the bit stream, converts the encoded bit stream into an electrical signal, and transmits data to the bus. During reception, the process is reversed. The link layer 110 manages data in units of a packet, integrates and disintegrates a packet, detects errors, and manages a bus cycle. A transaction layer 120 provides a transaction such as read, write, and lock and performs asynchronous communications with other nodes on a 1394 bus using services provided by lower layers.

0003When devices are connected using the IEEE 1394, it is not enough to perform data transmission between devices with only an IEEE 1394 specification. Namely, rules with respect to processes of securing a connection between devices for transmitting and receiving A/V data and an isochronous channel for transmitting the A/V data should be established between devices. For this, an IEC 61883 specification exists.

0004In the IEC 61883, a function control protocol FCP 130 and a connection management protocol CMP 130 are defined. The CMP defines the structure of software for managing the isochronous connection between devices. The FCP provides a framework for transmitting commands such as an A/V control command and transaction set AV/C CTS. Another characteristic of the IEC 61883 is to define a common isochronous packet CIP header structure. The CIP header has information on a source stream included in the isochronous packet.

0005A control command is used in order to control the devices in a conventional specification meeting the specification of the IEEE 1394 and the specification of the IEC 61883. The AV/C CTS is a representative control command. Every function of devices is defined by a code of a hexadecimal number system. For example, a play command of the VCR is defined as "0xC8".

0006In a digitized home device environment, one device may be used as a control center for controlling other devices. The following problems occur. Here, the device for controlling other devices is called a controller and the devices to be controlled are called target devices. First, the controller should include all the command sets with respect to the respective target devices, which is a considerable burden on the target devices in respect of software and hardware. Second, since the target devices do not know commands other than the commands included when products are brought to market, they cannot control new client devices. Therefore, it is not possible to easily conform to a digitized home device market which rapidly changes. Third, it is not easy to provide a graphical user interface. It is difficult to define a unified type of GUI which can be applied to all kinds of devices. Also, defining the type of GUI with respect to each group of products has its limitations. Such problems are due to inconsistency of architecture. The problems can be easily solved by selecting a client/server method as in the widely applied TCP/IP architecture.

0007Figure 2 shows a protocol stack to which the present invention is applied. Each device operates like a web server on the Internet. At this time, the IEEE 1394 is used as a network interface. A TCP/IP layer is put on the IEEE 1394. Every device operates as an HTTP server, i.e., a web server, and has an HTML document hierarchy which describes its own function. A device which has a display device such as a DTV or a PC includes the web server and operates as a web client. A user accesses the respective home pages from web server devices using web browsers built into the client device, thus controlling corresponding devices.

0008In a protocol stack environment having the structure shown in Figure 2, a server device which has a web browser accesses a web server device by the browsers thereof and controls the server device which operates as the web server. For this, connection to the server device should be made by the web browser. The method for contacting the server devices through web browsers should be convenient to the user. The server devices desired by the user should be distinguished from the server devices which are not desired by the user during the connection. The connection should be performed considering compatibility among the server devices with respect to data formats.

0009It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of connecting to server devices by browsers of a browser-based home network, by which a user can easily and rapidly connect with server devices.

0010According to the present invention there is provided a method for connecting to server devices of a browser-based network, the network having at least one server device for performing the function of a web server and at least one client device for performing the function of a web browser, the at least one server device being controllable through the web browser of the at least one client device, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a home page of the client device so as to display server device icons corresponding to each server device; selecting the server device to be connected to in the home page; reading from the selected server device a first register (OPCR) in which the operation state and the channel information of the selected server device are recorded; an performing connecting to the selected server device by recording the channel number of the server device in a second state register (IPCR) when the read operation state is active, or checking the operation state of the server device by reading the first register (OPCR) at predetermined time intervals when the read operation state is inactive.

0011Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of preparing the home page of the client device including an identification information storing unit of the server devices to be connected to; checking whether the server device selected in the step of selecting the server device is registered in the identification information storing portion; and reading the first register (OPCR) only when the selected server device is registered in the identification information storing unit and not connecting to the server device when the selected server device is not registered in the identification information storing unit.

0012For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 shows a protocol stack for general IEEE 1394 devices;</li><li>Figure 2 shows a protocol stack to which the present invention is applied;</li><li>Figure 3 shows an example of a home network using an IEEE 1394 bus to which the present invention is applied;</li><li>Figure 4 shows an example of the structure of a home page of a DTV 300 which has a web browser in a browser-based home network according to the present invention;</li><li>Figure 5 shows an example of displayed information with respect to the DTV when the DTV icon is clicked in the home page shown in Figure 4;</li><li>Figure 6 shows an example in which menus for turning on and off the power of a set-top box are displayed;</li><li>Figure 7 is an example of a screen displayed when power is turned on by pressing a power button in the screen shown in Figure 6;</li><li>Figure 8 is a flowchart for describing a method for connecting to server devices without pressing a SEL button;</li><li>Figure 9 shows an example of an identification information storing unit; and</li><li>Figure 10 shows an example of an output plug control register OPCR.</li></ul>

0013Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 3 shows an example of a home network to which the present invention is applied. A digital TV (DTV) 300, a DVCR 310, and a set-top box 320 are connected to each other through an IEEE 1394 bus, thus forming a home network system for use in a domestic environment or any other suitable environment.

0014The home network system has a protocol stack of the structure shown in Figure 2. The DTV 300 is a client device into which web browsers are loaded. Any digital device including a display device, into which a web browser is loaded, such as a personal computer (PC) can be used as the DTV 300. The DVCR 310 and the set-top box 320 into which web servers are loaded are the server device. A user can control the server device by accessing web pages provided by the web servers loaded into the server device such as the DVCR 310 and the set-top box 320 using the web browsers loaded into the client device such as the DTV.

0015Figure 4 shows an example of the architecture of the home page of the DTV 300 having a web browser in the browser-based home network according to the present invention. A DTV 410, a DVCR 420, and a set-top box (STB) 430 are displayed as icons on a web browser window 400. The above architecture of the screen is only an example and can vary.

0016When the DTV icon 410 is clicked in the home page shown in Figure 4, information on the DTV is displayed, an example of which is shown in Figure 5. The volume level 500, channel information 510, and source information 520 are displayed. 'Vol[100]' indicates that the volume level is set to 100. The volume can be increased by pressing the '+' button 502 and decreased by pressing the '-' button 504. 'CH[4]' indicates that the current channel is 4. The '+' button 512 is pressed to change the channel to a higher channel. The '-' button 514 is pressed to change the channel to a lower channel. Also, 'SRC[STB]' shows the server device which currently providing data. Here, it means that the server device is the set-top box. 'SRC' 522 is a button for selecting the server device to be displayed. The server device is changed by pressing the SRC button 522. For example, SRC[DVCR] is displayed in the source device 520 by pressing the SRC button 522 once more. The SEL button 524 is a button for confirming that the Vol[100], the CH[4], and the SRC[STB] are set as the user wishes. When the SEL button 524 is pressed, the above setting is performed and is displayed. Namely, under the conditions shown in Figure 5, connection to the set-top box is performed. The loudness of the volume becomes 100. The channel number 4 of the set-top box is displayed. The architecture of the screen shown in Figure 5 and the information on the STB when the STB 430 is clicked are examples only and many additions and alterations are envisaged. The displayed menu screen can be operated, for example, by using a mouse or by a touch screen. However, any suitable user interface may be employed.

0017In Figure 5, when the SEL button 524 is pressed after setting, in this example, the volume 500, the channel 510, and the source device 520 as the user wishes, the contents of channel 4 of the STB might not be displayed. This happens for example when data on channel 4 of the STB does not exist on the IEEE 1394 bus. One likely cause is that data is not output from the set-top box 320 which is the server device, for example due to the set-top box 320 being in a POWER OFF state. In this case, the STB icon is clicked by accessing the home page of the DTV 300 shown in Figure 4. Then, a menu for turning on and off the power of the set-top box is displayed, an example of which is shown in Figure 6. The power button 630 serves as a toggle switch. Namely, a power screen 600 is displayed in a way in which 'POWER ON' alternates with 'POWER OFF'. When the screen shown in Figure 6 is in the POWER ON state by pressing the POWER button, contents 700 corresponding to the currently set channel (here, CH 11) are displayed as shown in Figure 7.

0018An example of a method for connecting to the server device through the web browsers in the browser-based home network has been described so far. The contents of the channel set by the STB are displayed by changing the SRC into the STB in the home page on the DTV and pressing the SEL button 524.

0019Hereinafter, a further preferred method of connecting to the server devices through the browsers without pressing the SEL button 524 in the browser based home network will be described. Figure 8 is a flowchart describing a method of connecting to the server devices without pressing the SEL button 524.

0020The client device in which the web browsers are installed, i.e., the DTV 300 shown in Figure 3, include an identification information storing unit for storing the identification information of the server devices for identifying the server devices available for connection on the network. Figure 9 shows an example of the identification information storing unit. The identification information storing unit suitably stores the ID of the server device. The identification information storing unit is for limiting the device a user wishes to connect to when various servers exist and for connecting to only a compatible server device, considering the compatibility of the server devices.

0021Therefore, a user prepares an identification information storing unit on which the server device which the user wishes to connect to is registered in the web browser of the DTV 300. The web browser of the DTV 300 displays the icon of the server device. In this state, an icon corresponding to the server device to be connected to is selected (step 800). Then, it is checked whether the server device of the selected icon is registered in the identification information storing unit (step 810). When the server device is not registered in the identification information storing unit, the process is terminated (step 860). When the server device to be connected to is registered, the output plug control register OPCR of the server device is read from the web browser (step 820). The OPCR is a register located in the server device for storing information related to data output to the IEEE 1394 bus of the server device. Figure 10 shows an example of the OPCR. The OPCR includes information A/NA) showing whether the server device outputs data to the IEEE 1394 bus and a channel number (CH No.) when the server device outputs data to the IEEE 1394 bus. If it is noted from the information A/NA on the state of the server device that the state of the server device is active by reading the OPCR of the server device (step 830), the channel number (CH No.) of the server device is read out, the CH No. is recorded in IPCR, and the connection to the server device is performed (step 840). When the state of the server device is inactive, it is checked whether the selection of the server device to be connected to is cancelled (step 850). When the selection is cancelled, the process is terminated. When the selection is not cancelled, the step 820 is performed.

0022The architecture of the home network shown in Figure 3 shows only a small part of the home network. The DTV can be replaced by any suitable digital device that includes a user interface such as a display device, into which the web browsers are loaded. For example, the web browser may be operated via a PC. The architecture of the home network can vary considerably from that described herein.

0023The home device includes every digital device suitable for use in a domestic or other similar environment, including but not limited to a TV, a VCR, an audio device, a digital satellite service device, a sprinkler system, a lighting system, or conventional home appliances such as a refrigerator, oven, or range.

0024The above embodiment of the present invention can be written as a program which can be executed by a computer and can be realized in a generally used digital computer for operating the program from media used in a computer. The media includes storing media such as magnetic storing media, for example, ROM, a floppy disk, and a hard disk, optical reading media, for example, a CD-ROM and a DVD, and a carrier wave transmitted by Internet.

0025The recording media stores a program code for executing the steps of preparing the home page of the client device so as to display server device icons for selecting server devices to be connected to, selecting the server devices to be connected to from the home page, reading a state register OPCR for recording the operation state and the channel information of the selected server device from the server device, and completing connection to the server device by recording the channel number of the server device in the state register IPCR when the read operation state is active and checking the operation state of the server device by reading the state register OPCR at predetermined time intervals when the read operation state is inactive in a method for contacting the server device in the browser-based home network having server devices including the function of a web server and client devices into which the web browsers are loaded for controlling the server devices through the web browsers.

0026The program further includes a program code for executing the steps of preparing the home page of the client device including the identification information storing unit of the server devices to be connected to, checking whether the server device selected in the step of selecting the server device is registered in the identification information storing unit, and reading the state register OPCR only when the selected server device is registered in the identification information storing unit and not connecting to the server device when the server device is not registered in the identification information storing unit, in the computer.

0027Functional programs, codes, and code segments for performing the present invention can be easily implemented by the skilled person from the disclosure of the present invention given herein.

0028Advantageously, a user can easily and rapidly connect to the server devices through browsers in the browser-based home network.

0029The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

0030All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

0031Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

0032The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.