UPnP Control Point Extraction via Web Browser
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UPnP home network systems face challenges in adding new functions that are not defined in standards, as they require firmware upgrades, which are complex and pose security and stability issues, limiting compatibility and ease of use for users.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that provides a web page with a control point function, using a UPnP device with a web browser to discover and control other UPnP devices without firmware upgrades, employing XML and HTTP Client functions via JavaScript and Ajax to manage and control services, allowing users to interact with devices through a user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If firmware upgrade is performed to add new functions to UPnP devices, then functionality is improved, but device complexity and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the control point functionality from the firmware and implements it as a web page that runs in the web browser of a UPnP device. This separates the control logic from the device firmware, allowing new functions to be added simply by updating the web page without performing complex firmware upgrades, thus resolving the contradiction between functionality and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a web server as an intermediary between the user and the UPnP control point. The web server hosts the control point web page, which is then accessed through the web browser of a UPnP device. This intermediary layer enables flexible function updates through web page delivery without requiring firmware modification, reducing upgrade complexity while maintaining adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If firmware upgrade is performed to add new functions to UPnP devices, then functionality is improved, but security and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting control point functionality from the firmware and implementing it as a web page executed in the web browser, the invention eliminates security risks associated with firmware vulnerabilities. The web browser's sandboxed environment provides inherent security, and web page updates do not compromise device stability, thus resolving the contradiction between functionality and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the web browser's existing rendering and execution capabilities as a copy of the control point environment. Instead of modifying firmware, the control point is replicated as a web page that leverages the browser's built-in security and stability mechanisms, allowing function updates without affecting device reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard UPnP control point is used, then compatibility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex firmware update processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the web browser universal by enabling it to function as a control point through web page execution. The web browser, already present in most UPnP devices, gains additional control functionality without requiring separate firmware updates or specialized software installation, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining compatibility through standardized web protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The UPnP device's existing web browser is made self-sufficient by enabling it to execute control point web pages directly. The device uses its own built-in browser to access and execute the control functionality, eliminating the need for external firmware updates or additional software installation, thereby simplifying the operation for users
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing a web page having a home network function and a method of controlling home network devices, the system including: a plurality of universal plug and play (UPnP) devices forming a UPnP network, wherein a first UPnP device from among the plurality of UPnP devices includes a web browser having a control point used to control one or more other UPnP devices. Accordingly, the web page including the control point is provided, so that home network devices in various standards can be conveniently used without a firmware upgrade.