WO2009127998A1

WO2009127998A1 - Method and device for forming a group of devices in a network

Info

Publication number: WO2009127998A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/051495
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jun Shi
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2008-04-15
Filing date: 2009-04-09
Publication date: 2009-10-22
Also published as: TW201001974A

Abstract

This invention proposes a method and device for forming a group from a plurality of devices connected to a network, which group is set up by a creator in the network. The method comprises a step of sending, by at least one of said devices, a message informing whether it permits said creator to add the device to the group; a step of accessing, by said creator, a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to the group, said message being derived from a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to a group; and a step of adding, by said creator, a device selected from said list to said group.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FORMINGA GROUP OF DEVICES IN A NETWORK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a network management technology, more particularly to a method and device for forming a group of devices in a network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, some architectures and methods are known to realize device interconnection. For example, Intelligent Grouping and Resource Sharing (IGRS) is one of the Chinese home network standards focused on device connection and content sharing among home electronic systems. In IGRS, grouping is one of the key steps for device interaction. A device group is formed by multiple devices connected to a network through the device group management mechanism.

However, in known solutions, creation of the group is indicated by means of an advertisement message containing the group identification which is continuously present in the network. The advertisement message may be sent by the device creating the group, i.e. the device functions as the creator of the group. Thus, other devices may determine whether to join the group after receiving the group advertisement message.

Joining the group identified by the advertisement message comprises a step of the device sending a request to join the group, a joining request to the master of the group; a step of the master determining, on the basis of preset information, whether the device initiating the current request is allowed to join in, and a step of returning a response message carrying an authorization result to the device initiating the current request. Currently, the master of the group is responsible for managing the joining request of other devices. In such a way, the device can only join a group by sending the joining request. This means that the device intending to join the group should take the initiative in joining a group. If the master of the group wants to add a device to the group, the creator has to wait for the joining request sent from the device to be added to the group. This is quite restrictive.

OBJECTAND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of forming a group from a plurality of devices connected to a network, said group being set up by a creator in the network.

The method comprises a step of sending, by at least one of said devices, a message informing whether it permits said creator to add the device to the group.

The method also comprises a step of accessing, by said creator, a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to the group, said list being derived from said messages.

The method also comprises a step of adding, by said creator, a device selected from said list to said group.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device intended to be added to a group formed from a plurality of devices connected to a network, said group being set up by a creator in the network. Said device comprises a module for sending a message informing whether it permits said creator to add the device to the group, in view of deriving a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to the group, said list being intended to be used by said creator for selecting a device to be added to said group.

It is another object of the invention to provide a creator of a group for forming said group from a plurality of devices connected to the network.

Said creator comprises a module for accessing, by said creator, a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to the group.

Said creator also comprises a module for adding, by said creator, a device selected from said list to said group.

The proposed method and device provide a solution for forming a group allowing the creator to initiate the joining request. In such a way, the creator does not need to wait for the joining request from the other device.

Other objects of the invention will be elucidated with reference to the descriptions and drawings below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. IA is a flowchart of the method according to the present invention;

FIG. IB is a second flowchart of the method according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment for forming a group in a network according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a device to be added to a group according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a creator of a group according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the present invention, a group represents a set of devices (i.e. a plurality of devices). The devices in a group can provide some functions based on different cooperative rules of interaction, and advertise the functions cooperatively provided by the grouped devices to the network through a description of the group. A user may thus obtain a desired function by searching a corresponding group. For example, a group for sharing video/audio data may include a video player, a stereo audio player associated with speakers, a video camera, a displayer, etc.

The creator of a group according to the invention corresponds to a device in charge of setting up the group and being responsible for controlling the joining request from other devices and for dismissing the group.

For example, let it be assumed that a computer, a washing machine, a cooker, and some air-conditioners are present in different rooms of a dwelling. The computer (instructed by its user) sets up a group for controlling the time of cooking and the temperature of the cooker when different types of food are being cooked, and also for controlling the actions of the washing machine and the air-conditioners. In this example, the computer is referred to as creator.

FIG. IA is a flow chart of the method according to the present invention, of forming a group from a plurality of devices connected to a network. Said group is set up by a creator in the network.

The method comprises a step 110 of sending, by at least one of said devices, a message informing whether it permits said creator to add the device to the group. The method also comprises a step 120 of accessing, by said creator, a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to the group, said list being derived from said messages.

The method also comprises a step 130 of adding, by said creator, a device selected from said list to said group.

Detailed descriptions of these steps performed by the creator of a group and by the devices to be added to a group are given below.

When a creator sets up a group in the network, for the devices potentially to be added to a group, the step 110 of sending a message is performed to derive a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to the group, said list being intended to be used by said creator for selecting a device to be added to said group.

The message is sent to the network as public information. For example, the content of the message can be packed in an IP packet. By including an item of "destination IP address" in the header of the IP packet, each target device in the network can receive the data by filtering the "destination IP address". Normally, a given "IP address" is allocated for public information. If the "destination IP address" in the header of an IP packet is the given IP address allocated for public information, all devices in the network will receive this IP packet as public information.

The message may be sent at the time the device connects to the network or at any time in accordance with input from a user.

Advantageously, the message may be sent periodically. For example, every second, the device in the network sends this message to the network. As a result, the list is updated in accordance with the updated message.

The content of the message may include different fields. For example, the message may include (but is not limited to) the following fields:

"device ID" corresponding to an identifier of the device,

"IP address" corresponding to the IP address of the device.

The fact that the device sends this message means that it permits a creator of a group to add it to the group. If, in contrast, the device does not send the message, it will not permit the creator to add it to the group.

Any suitable device identifier "device ID" can be used in the list to identify the devices, including name, serial number, or any other suitable identifying information.

Table 1 illustrates an example of the message. This message includes the field of "Device ID" and "IP address" of the device.

Device ID: 12345

IP Address: 123.12.1.123

Table 1

By "listening" (e.g. detecting) and gathering such a message (in the format of Table 1), each device can derive a list of devices permitting a creator to add them to its group dynamically. As a consequence, no server is needed to create and maintain said list.

The message sent by the device may also carry an opposite meaning: "it does not give permission to any creator of a group in the network". In this situation, the device in the network can create a list of devices not permitting any creator of a group to add it to its group dynamically. By excluding the devices sending such a message from a list of all online devices, a list of devices giving permission to a creator can be derived. The list of all online devices can be created in accordance with the messages of an online advertisement which is sent by each device when it is connected to the network.

Table 2 shows another example of the message.

Alternatively, the message may also include a third field "Permission" containing explicit content about permitting or not permitting a creator of a group to add a device to the group. According to Table 2, if the field "Permission" in the message indicates "N", the device sending the message does not permit any creator to add it to its group. If, in contrast, the field "Permission" in the message indicates "Y", the device sending the message will give permission to a creator.

Device ID: 54321

IP Address: 111.222 12. 123

Permission : Y/N

Table

It is to be understood that the format of the message is intended to illustrate the principle of the invention. It may have any suitable format with any suitable items. It is also to be understood that the names of the items, such as "Permission", are given by way of example and can be replaced by any suitable names.

The list according to the present invention may be derived and maintained by a server by "listening" to the messages sent to the network, or by the creator of a group intending to use the list, or by any device in the network. Copies of the list (or portions of the list) may be stored on multiple devices.

It is to be understood that the "list" may be a real form maintained by a server or by the creator or any other device. It may not be a real form but dynamic information derived from messages sent by different devices, in this situation, the "list" means the information updating along the time dynamically.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention for forming a group. In this example, four devices in the network are considered: devices 21, 22, 23, and 24. The elliptical blocks represent devices and the rectangular blocks represent steps.

The solid lines without arrows link the steps to the devices.

The arrow-headed solid lines represent signals sent by a device. The signal includes, but is not limited to, a message or data. For example, it may be any data carrying information output from one step to the next step.

The arrow-headed broken line represents the sequence of the steps performed by each device as a function of time.

The network is denoted by the reference numeral 20. It may be any local area network (LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN) or any other type of network.

Step 110 of sending the message may be performed at the time when devices 21, 22, 23, and 24 get connected to the network. Alternatively, it may also be triggered by the user of the devices 21, 22, 23, or 24 at any time in accordance with the user input. In this example, each device 21, 23, and 24 separately sends a message to the network as public information, indicating whether or not to permit the creator of a group to add them to the group. For instance, the messages from device 21 and device 23 indicate that they permit the creator of a group to add the devices to the group. The message from device 24 indicates that it does not give permission to any creator of a group in the network. A list is created on the basis of these messages. This list includes device 21 and device 23 and can be used by the creator of a group.

In this example, device 22 is considered as the creator of a group (i.e. the user of device 22 would like to add other devices to form a group). According to the present invention, as the creator of a group, the method of forming a group comprises an accessing step 120. The creator also comprises an adding step 130.

If the creator 22 wants to add some devices to its group, a step 120 is first performed by the creator 22 so as to access a list from a server or the creator itself or from any device in the network. If there are no real list stored in the network, to access a list means to "listen" (detect) the messages sent from different devices and derive the information from the messages.

Subsequently, a step 130 is performed by the creator 22 so as to select the device from the list and add it to the group. In this example, the creator can select device 21 and device 23. After the device selected from the list has been added to the group, the creator sends a message of notification informing the device that it has been added to the group.

In such a way, the creator of a group does not have to wait for the joining request sent by devices 21 and 23. The creator 22 can directly add the device mentioned in the list. The creator 22 can thus form a group quickly and efficiently.

FIG. IB is a second flow chart according to the method of the invention. Optionally (illustrated by a dot-and-dash line), the method of the invention further comprises a step 140 of updating the number of groups to which the device has been added.

This step is useful if the device is dismissed by the creator of a group (i.e. excluded from the group), or if it leaves a group by itself. In this case, the number of groups to which the device has been added changes at any moment. Step 140 allows the device to update this number.

Optionally, the result of updating step 140 (the updated number) can be used in a step 150 of comparing, by the device sending the message in step 110, the maximum number of groups it can be added to with the number of groups to which it has been added, so as to determine whether the device permits the creator of a group to add it to the group.

The result of the comparing step 150 is used in step 110 so as to determine the content of the message to be sent.

Whether the device gives permission to the creator of a group may be determined on the basis of a predefined rule set by the manufacturer or the user of the device, or in accordance with the real time input by the user of the device.

For example, the predefined rule may be: "the number of groups to which the device has already been added cannot exceed the maximum number of groups to which it can be added". As a consequence, the number of groups to which the device has already been added should be considered when determining whether it permits the creator of a group to add it to the group. If the number of groups it has already been added to has reached the maximum number of groups it can be added to, the device cannot permit any creator of a group to add it to the group. For example, device 21 is allowed to be added to at most five groups. Before sending the message, device 21 compares the number of groups it has already been added to with this maximum number of five. If the number of groups to which device 21 has already been added is five, it will not send the message (in case the message is in the format of Table 1 and not sending the message means not permitting), or it will send a message in the format of Table 2 indicating that it does not permit any creator of a group to add it to the group. As a result, it will not be taken up in the list mentioned above.

If device 21 leaves a group, the number of groups it has been added to is now updated from five to four. This updated number can be used for the comparing step 150. As a result, the content of the message is changed from not permitting to permitting (For example, the field "Permission" of the message is changed from "N" to "Y").

It is to be understood that the predefined rule may be described by means of any suitable parameter. For example, the rule may be the period of time during which the device permits the creator of a group to add the device to the group. For example, if the period of time is from 9:00 to 17:00 hrs, the creator of a group is allowed to add this device to the group during this period.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functional modules of device 30. According to the invention, device 30 is intended to be added to a group formed from a plurality of devices connected to a network. The group is set up by a creator in the network. Device 30 comprises a module 300 for carrying out step 110 which has been described hereinbefore.

Module 300 may be implemented by a microprocessor 301 connected to a memory 302 having code instructions. The microprocessor 301 is used for creating and sending the message in accordance with the instructions stored in the memory 302. Module 300 is linked to a user interface 305 for receiving user inputs. For example, a user may instruct module 300 to send a message indicating that it does not permit to be added by any creator of a group. The message is sent to the network via a network interface 303 (connected to the network, not shown).

Module 304 is used for providing service (i.e. main function) of the device. For example, as a monitor, the service provided is to display the video based on received data. Module 304 is linked to the network via network interface 303 for sharing data and providing service to other devices, or asking service from other devices in the network. Module 304 is also linked to user interface 305 for receiving user input.

Optionally, device 30 further comprises a module 306 for implementing step 150 described above. Module 306 is connected with user interface 305 for receiving user input (i.e. the maximum number of groups to which device 30 is allowed to be added), and it is also linked to module 300 so as to inform it of the comparison result.

Optionally, device 30 may also comprise a module 307 for implementing step 140 described above. Module 307 is linked to network interface 303 for receiving the message of notification from the creator of a group, informing that device 30 is added to the group. Module 307 updates the number of groups it is added to in accordance with the received messages. Module 307 is also linked to module 306 for informing module 306 of the updated number of groups to which device 30 has been added.

It is to be understood that each module 304, 306, 307 may also be implemented by a microprocessor connected to a memory having code instructions. These microprocessors for different function modules may be integrated in one unit, and the memories for storing different code instructions may also be integrated in one unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional modules of a creator 40 according to the present invention. The creator 40 intends to form a group. The creator 40 first sets up a group and then selects the device to be the member of the group from a plurality of devices connected to the network. The creator 40 comprises a module 402 for carrying out the accessing step 120 and a module 403 for carrying out the adding step 130 as described above.

Modules 402 and 403 are linked to a user interface 401 for receiving the user input. Via the user interface 401, a user can designate device 40 as the creator of a group and select the member of this group from the list provided by module 402.

Modules 402 and 403 are both linked to a network interface 404 so as to exchange information with other network devices for performing step 120 and step 130.

Device 40 also includes a module 405 for providing service (i.e. main function) to the other devices in the network. Module 405 is linked to the user interface 401 for receiving user requests for the service, and also linked to the network interface 404 for sharing data with other devices in the network.

It is to be understood that each module 402, 403, 405 may be implemented by a microprocessor connected to a memory having code instructions. The microprocessors for implementing different functions of module 402, 403 or 405 may be integrated in one unit. The multiple memories may also be integrated in one unit.

According to the present invention, a system for forming a group is proposed. The system comprises a plurality of devices connected to a network. The system includes at least one device comprising a module 300 for carrying out the sending step 110.

The system also includes a creator to set up the group. The creator comprises a module 402 for carrying out the accessing step 120, and a module 403 for carrying out the adding step 130.

For example, in FIG. 2, the system includes devices 21, 22, 23, 24. Let it be assumed that the system intends to form a home theater group for sharing audio/video data. The creator 22 is a computer, device 21 is a video player, device 23 is an amplifier with some speakers, and device 24 is a digital TV. Devices 21, 23, 24, acting as the devices to be added to a group, have a module 300 for performing sending step 110. Device 22, acting as the creator of a group, has a module 402 for performing accessing step 120 and a module 403 for performing adding step 130. The method of forming a group according to this invention can be carried out with such devices in the system.

Optionally, the device in the network may be the creator of one group and the member of another group at the same time. In this case, one device comprises all modules 300/402/403. This device may work either as the creator of a group or as the member of a group, dependent upon the user's requirement.

It is to be understood that the system with four devices is shown in FIG. 2 by way of illustration only. The system may include multiple devices for forming a group.

There are numerous ways of implementing functions by means of items of hardware or software, or both. In this respect, the drawings are very illustrative, each representing only one possible embodiment of the invention. Thus, although a drawing shows different functions as different blocks, this by no means excludes that a single item of hardware or software carries out several functions, nor does it exclude that an assembly of items of hardware or software or both carries out a function.

The remarks made hereinbefore demonstrate that the detailed description with reference to the drawings illustrates rather than limits the invention. There are numerous alternatives which fall within the scope of the appended claims. Any reference sign in a claim should not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. Use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" preceding an element or step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps.

Claims

1. A method of forming a group from a plurality of devices connected to a network, said group being set up by a creator in the network, the method comprising a step (110) of sending, by at least one of said devices, a message informing whether it permits said creator to add the device to the group, in view of deriving a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to said group, said list being intended to be used by said creator for selecting a device to be added to said group.

2. A method of forming a group from a plurality of devices connected to a network, said group being set up by a creator in the network, the method comprising the steps of:

- accessing (120), by said creator, a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to said group;

- adding (130), by said creator, a device selected from said list to said group.

3. A method of forming a group from a plurality of devices connected to a network, said group being set up by a creator in the network, the method comprising the steps of:

- sending (110), by at least one of said devices, a message informing whether it permits said creator to add the device to said group;

- accessing (120), by said creator, a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to said group, said list being derived from said message;

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step (150) of comparing, by at least one of said devices, the maximum number of groups it can be added to with the number of groups to which it has been added, so as to determine whether it permits said creator to add it to said group.

5. A method according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising a step (140) of updating, by at least one of said devices, the number of groups to which it has been added.

6. A device (30) intended to be added to a group formed from a plurality of devices connected to a network, said group being set up by a creator (40) in the network, said device (30) comprising a module (300) for sending a message informing whether it permits said creator (40) to add the device to the group, in view of deriving a list of devices permitting said creator (40) to add them to the group, said list being intended to be used by said creator (40) for selecting a device to be added to said group.

7. A creator (40) for forming a group from a plurality of devices connected to a network, said group being set up by said creator in the network, said creator (40) comprising:

- a module (402) for accessing, by said creator, a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to said group;

- a module (403) for adding, by said creator, a device selected from said list to said group.

8. A system comprising a plurality of devices connected to a network for forming a group, said system comprising:

- at least one device comprising a module (300) for sending a message informing whether it permits said creator to add the device to said group; and

- a creator (40) for setting up said group, said creator comprising a module (402) for accessing a list of devices permitting said creator to add them to said group, said list being derived from said message, and a module (403) for adding a device selected from said list to said group.

9. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a module (306) for comparing, by at least one of said devices, the maximum number of groups it can be added to with the number of groups to which it has been added, so as to determine whether it permits said creator to add it to the group.

10. A device according to claim 6 or 9, further comprising a module (307) for updating, by at least one of said devices, the number of groups to which it has been added.