Gateway Device Protocol Conversion for Home Network Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face difficulties in interconnecting appliances across different communication protocols, such as ECHONET and UPnP, due to non-standardized gateway functions and differing definitions, making it challenging to control devices across networks with varying protocols.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device that includes a template holding unit, obtainment unit, protocol conversion table, and communication unit to standardize and convert information between different protocols, enabling seamless interconnection of terminal appliances across networks with different communication protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gateway functions are standardized and template-based protocol conversion is implemented, then interoperability between different protocols is improved, but device complexity increases due to template holding units and protocol conversion tables
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary between terminal appliances on different networks. It includes a template holding unit that stores conversion templates and a protocol conversion unit that performs actual protocol conversion, mediating communication between ECHONET and UPnP networks without requiring direct integration between endpoint devices
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol conversion unit changes protocol parameters by converting data between ECHONET and UPnP protocols according to stored templates. This includes transforming data formats, communication protocols, and service descriptions to enable interoperability while maintaining standardized conversion processes
2Adaptability or versatility
If appliance information is released to networks with different protocols, then network integration and device discoverability are improved, but enormous operations are required and definitions may differ
Solution Approach 1:
Conversion templates are prepared and stored in advance in the template holding unit before actual protocol conversion occurs. These templates pre-define the conversion rules, data formats, and service descriptions needed for protocol translation, eliminating the need for complex runtime operations and ensuring consistent definitions across protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates service descriptions and device information copies that conform to different protocol standards. The template holding unit stores template service descriptions that can be instantiated and converted to match target network protocols, allowing appliance information to be released to multiple networks without requiring custom conversion logic for each case
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a gateway device releasing information and service information of an appliance to an appliance connected to a network having a different protocol. The gateway device includes a device description creation processing unit, a device description template holding unit, a service description creation processing unit, and a service description template holding unit. The service description creation processing unit categorizes services and attributes that each appliance can provide into property types, which are control models, and based on a rule defined for each property type, a service information description, which is information to be released, is automatically created.