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  Method for exchanging information between devices in case of a change in network configuration and home network system thereforeUSPTO Application #: 20070242815Title: Method for exchanging information between devices in case of a change in network configuration and home network system therefore Abstract: A method for exchanging information between appliances to notify a home server of a network configuration change and a home network system therefore is disclosed. In the present invention, when an electronic appliance is connected to a network, the appliance first transmits a particular message to a home server N (>1) times at interval of a first period and then transmits the particular message periodically at interval of a second period which is longer than the first period, thereby letting the homer server know which appliances are connected to the network in real-time. (end of abstract)
Agent: Jonathan Y. Kang, Esq. Lee, Hong, Degerman, Kang & Schmadeka - Los Angeles, CA, US Inventors: Sang Kyun Lee, Jong Hoon Chung USPTO Applicaton #: 20070242815 - Class: 379102030 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Telephonic Communications, Telephone Line Or System Combined With Diverse Electrical System Or Signalling (e.g., Composite), Remote Control, Communication Device, Entertainmemt Appliance (e.g., Tv, Vcr, Radio, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070242815. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method for exchanging information between electronic appliances for notifying a managing appliance of network configuration changes and a home network system therefor. [0003] b 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] In a home network system as shown in FIG. 1 wherein a home server and a plurality of electronic appliances are connected through a network N, an arbitrary electronic appliance can be monitored and controlled through the network N. [0005] In the home network system, a plurality of electronic appliances C1 through C4 such as washing machines or microwave ovens are connected to a home server appliance such as a refrigerator having built-in home server functionality. The manager of the home network system can control and monitor the plurality of electronic appliances connected to the home network in a centralized way by transmitting control commands to the plurality of electronic appliances and receiving information about the execution results of the control commands through a different appliance connected to the network such as a PC or a PDA. [0006] When an electronic appliance is newly connected to the home network, the appliance is assigned a unique network address by the home server and becomes on-lined to the network. While an electronic appliance is on-lined to the network, the appliance can provide status information to the home server and respond to monitoring/control messages from the home server. [0007] The home server maintains the appliances that are in on-line as connected appliances. The power to an on-lined appliance may be turned off abruptly by a user or the physical connection between the appliance and the network may get broken. In this case, the home server should be able to detect such conditions. Otherwise, the home server may provide wrong information to the user of the network and therefore the user may issue wrong control commands based on the wrong information. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a home network system that is capable of monitoring the status of the devices connected to the network in real-time and thus allows reliable management of the devices and a method therefore. [0009] In the present invention, an electronic device transmits a particular message to a managing device periodically to inform that the device is on-lined or transmits a message for connection close according to user's request. [0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, when a device is connected to the network, the device transmits the particular message to the managing device N times at interval of a first period and then repeatedly at interval of a second period longer than the first period. [0011] In one embodiment, if the managing device does not receive the particular message during the interval of the second period, the managing device transmits a message requesting a reply to the device and determines the status thereof based on the result. [0012] In one embodiment, if it is determined that the device is off-lined, the managing device reduces management information for the device. [0013] In one embodiment, if it is determined that the device is off-line, the managing device moves the information about the device from the information area for on-lined devices to the information area for off-lined devices after deleting information about the operation of the device. [0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the managing device regards a device that transmitted a connection close message as being off-lined and reduces management information for the device. [0015] In another embodiment, if a command for monitoring or controlling the device regarded as off-lined is received, the command is not executed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The above features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical home network system established in a house; [0018] FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary components constituting a home network; [0019] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate home network systems in which the present invention may be advantageously embodied; [0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of the method for exchanging information between devices in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; and [0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of the method for exchanging information between devices in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading... 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