# US 2019/0319818 A1 · Device control apparatus, device control system, device control method, and recording medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0319818 A1 - Document ID: US20190319818A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/175,771 - Filed: 2018-10-30 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-12 - Assignees: International Laboratory Corporation - Applicants: International Laboratory Corporation - Inventors: Kosuke KONOMI; Yasunori YAMASAKI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190319818A1 ## CPC - H04L 12/2816: {Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00)} - H04L 12/2838: {Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths (adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24)} - H04L 12/56: {Packet switching systems} - H04L 2012/5614: {User Network Interface} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A control apparatus is connected to another control apparatus that is connected to a network. The control apparatus acquires control information of another device controlled by the other control apparatus. The control apparatus, during control of the other device connected to the other control apparatus, executes a predetermined command having a format that is a same as that of an interface in the control apparatus and to which an identifier other than that of the control apparatus is appended, the control apparatus using a response from the other control apparatus as a result for the executed command. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device control apparatus comprising: an object creating unit that creates an object to control a device connected to a control apparatus, or another device connected to another control device through a network; a communication processing unit that refers to a communication parameter of the device or the other device included in information related to the network and acquires information to access the object; a packet processing unit that converts the object into a predetermined packet, selects a port supporting a communication scheme, and outputs the packet; and a communicating unit that transmits the packet to the device or the other control apparatus to which the other device connected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object creating unit creates an object constituted by a name, a function name, and argument information to control the device or the other device to be controlled, the communication processing unit refers to the communication scheme and the communication parameter of the device or the other device included in the information related to the network set in advance and acquires the information to access the object, and the packet processing unit converts the object name, the function name, and the argument information into a predetermined packet, selects a port that supports the communication scheme, and outputs the packet to the communicating unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communicating unit distributes on the network, the object name of the communicating unit when the control apparatus of the communicating unit participates on the network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communicating unit, when the object desired by the control apparatus of the communicating unit is created, makes an inquiry to the other control apparatus about the object name through the network and acquires information related to the network from the other control apparatus that has the object name. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communicating unit distributes a name of a new object on the network when the control apparatus of the communicating unit adds the new object. ### Claim 6 A device control system that controls a device connected to a control apparatus, or another device connected to another control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus comprises: an object creating unit that creates an object constituting a name, a function name, and argument information to control the device or the other device to be controlled; a communication processing unit that refers to a communication scheme and a communication parameter of the device or the other device included in information that is preset and related to the network, the communication processing unit acquiring information to access the object; a packet processing unit that converts the object name, the function name, and the argument information into a predetermined packet, selects a port that supports the communication scheme, and delivers the packet; and a communicating unit that transmits the packet to the device or the other control apparatus to which the other device is connected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device control system according to claim 6, wherein the control apparatus is connected to the other control apparatus through a network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The device control system according to claim 6, wherein the control apparatus and the other control apparatus are connected between CPUs in a single apparatus. ### Claim 9 A device control system in which a control apparatus controls another device connected by communication to another control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus comprises: an acquiring unit that is connected to the other control apparatus and that acquires control information of the other device controlled by the other control apparatus; an executing unit that, during predetermined control for the other device connected to the other control apparatus, executes a predetermined command having a format same as that of an interface in the control apparatus and an identifier other than that of the control apparatus attached thereto, the executing unit referring to the control information and transmitting to the other control apparatus, a request corresponding to the predetermined command, the executing unit using a response from the other control apparatus as a result for the executed command; and a communicating unit that transmits the request and receives a response to the request. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device control system according to claim 9, wherein the control apparatus is connected to the other control apparatus through a network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The device control system according to claim 9, wherein the control apparatus and the other control apparatus are connected between CPUs in a single apparatus. ### Claim 12 A device control method executed by a computer and comprising: creating an object constituted by a name, a function name, and argument information to control a device connected to a control apparatus, or another device connected to another control apparatus through a network; referring to a communication scheme and a communication parameter of the device or the other device included in information related to the network and acquiring information to access the object; converting the object name, the function name, and the argument information into a predetermined packet, selecting a port that supports the communication scheme, and delivering the packet; and transmitting the packet to the device or the other control apparatus to which the other device is connected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device control method according to claim 12, wherein the other control apparatus: recovers the object name, the function name, and the argument information from the received packet, executes a control process, and converts a return value of an execution result into a predetermined packet, and transmits the predetermined packet to the control apparatus, and the control apparatus receives the return value transmitted by the other control apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device control method according to claim 12, wherein a server is disposed between the control apparatus and the other control apparatus, the control apparatus or the other control apparatus registers into the server, information related to a position of the object on the network, and the control apparatus or the other control apparatus accessing the object makes an inquiry to the server about information related to a position of a control apparatus to be an access destination on the network and uses the information related to the position on the network to access the object of the desired control apparatus based on the information related to the position on the network acquired by the inquiry. ### Claim 15 A device control method in which a control apparatus controls another device connected to another control apparatus, the device control method being executed by a computer of the control apparatus and comprising: connecting to the other control apparatus and acquiring control information of the other device controlled by the other control apparatus; executing, during predetermined control for the other device connected to the other control apparatus, a predetermined command having a format same as that of an interface in the control apparatus and an identifier other than that of the control apparatus attached thereto; referring to the control information and transmitting to the other control apparatus, a request corresponding to the predetermined command; and using a response from the other control apparatus as a result for the executed command. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device control method according to claim 15, wherein control of the device connected to the control apparatus includes designating a connection port of the control apparatus, and control of the other device connected to the other control apparatus includes setting a port of a predetermined command corresponding to the control, as a port other than that of the control apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The device control method according to claim 15, wherein the control information includes functions of the other device and identifiers of the functions, and the control apparatus refers to the control information and transmits to the other control apparatus, information of an identifier corresponding to control of a desired function. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The device control method according to claim 15, wherein the control apparatus acquires in advance control information related to the other device and stores and retains therein the control information. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The device control method according to claim 15, wherein the control apparatus acquires control information related to the other device from the other control apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The device control method according to claim 15, further comprising collecting control information of the other control apparatus by a server to which the other control apparatus is connected, wherein the control apparatus acquires the control information of the other device from the server. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The device control method according to claim 15, wherein the other control apparatus, when a request is issued from the control apparatus, designates a connection port to which the other device is connected, the other control apparatus designating the connection port based on the control information of the other device and controlling the other device. ### Claim 22 A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium storing therein a device control program that causes a computer to execute a process comprising: creating an object constituted by a name, a function name, and argument information to control a device connected to a control apparatus, or another device connected to another control apparatus through a network; referring to a communication scheme and a communication parameter of the device or the other device included in information that is preset and related to the network, and acquiring information to access the object; converting the object name, the function name, and the argument information into a predetermined packet, selecting a port that supports the communication scheme, and delivering the packet; and transmitting the packet to the device connected to the control apparatus or to the other control apparatus to which the other device is connected.