# US 9,438,442 B2 · System and method of controlling surrounding devices, based on topology

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- Number: US 9,438,442 B2
- Document ID: US9438442B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/109,312
- Filed: 2013-12-17
- Published: 2014-06-19
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-17
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hee-seok Jeong; Yong-jin Choi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438442B2

## CPC

- H04L 12/2809: {indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network (monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51)}
- 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 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)}
- H04L 12/2827: {Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality}
- H04L 41/08: Configuration management of networks or network elements (address allocation H04L61/50)
- H04L 41/0803: Configuration setting
- H04L 41/082: the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
- H04L 67/1091: {Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems}
- G05B 15/00: Systems controlled by a computer (G05B13/00, G05B19/00 take precedence; automatic controllers with particular characteristics G05B11/00)
- H04L 12/2814: {Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network (arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08)}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

A system and method of controlling surrounding devices, based on a topology are provided. The method of controlling sub surrounding devices, which is performed by a main surrounding device, includes receiving a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information about the sub surrounding devices from a host device; receiving context information about a context of the host device from the host device; obtaining topology setting information about topology configuration standards; determining a sub surrounding device to be comprised in a topology from among the sub surrounding devices, based on the context information and the topology setting information; connecting the main surrounding device with the host device and the sub surrounding device; and controlling the sub surrounding device, based on control information received from the host device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of controlling sub surrounding devices, the method performed by a main surrounding device and comprising:
receiving a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding the sub surrounding devices from a host device;
receiving context information regarding a context of the host device from the host device;
obtaining topology setting information regarding topology configuration standards;
determining at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in a topology from among the sub surrounding devices, based on the plurality of pieces of the surrounding device information, the context information and the topology setting information;
connecting the main surrounding device with the host device and the at least one sub surrounding device; and
controlling the at least one sub surrounding device, based on control information received from the host device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the context information comprises information about a type of content that is executed in the host device, and
wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the content.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the context information comprises information about a type of a service to be provided by the host device, and
wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the service.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the context information comprises information about a user of the host device, and
wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the topology setting information comprises information about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and information about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to an attribute of the main surrounding device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving application information about an application to control the at least one sub surrounding device from the host device; and
installing the application in the main surrounding device, based on the application information,
wherein the controlling of the at least one sub surrounding device comprises controlling the at least one sub surrounding device, based on the application.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the topology setting information comprises information regarding the topology configuration standards configuring the topology, according to functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device, and
the determining of the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology comprises determining the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology, according to the functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in response to the at least one sub surrounding device connected to the host device being changed, checking a topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device;
connecting the main surrounding device with the changed sub surrounding device, based on the topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device; and
controlling the changed sub surrounding device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving firmware of the at least one sub surrounding device corresponding to a function of the at least one sub surrounding device from a server via the host device; and
providing the firmware to the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the function of the at least one sub surrounding device is determined based on connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 1, by using a computer.

### Claim 12

A method of controlling surrounding devices, the method performed by a host device and comprising:
scanning the surrounding devices;
determining a main surrounding device and at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in a topology from among the surrounding devices, based on topology configuration standards matching a context of the host device;
transmitting a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding the sub surrounding devices to the main surrounding device;
transmitting context information regarding the context of the host device to the main surrounding device;
connecting the main surrounding device, the at least one sub surrounding device, and the host device, based on the topology configuration standards; and
controlling the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the context of the host device comprises a type of content that is executed in the host device, and
wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the content.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the context of the host device comprises a type of a service to be provided by the host device, and
wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the service.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the context of the host device comprises a user of the host device, and
wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards regarding connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to an attribute of the main surrounding device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
receiving an application to control the main surrounding device from a server; and
installing the application to control the main surrounding device in the host device,
wherein the main surrounding device is controlled by the host device, based on the received application.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising providing application information about an application to control the at least one sub surrounding device to the main surrounding device,
wherein the application to control the at least one sub surrounding device is installed in the main surrounding device, based on the application information.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the topology configuration standards configure the topology, according to functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device, and
the determining of the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology comprises determining the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology, according to the functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
in response to the at least one sub surrounding device connected to the host device being changed, checking a topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device; and
connecting the main surrounding device and the changed sub surrounding device, based on the topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
receiving firmware of the at least one sub surrounding device corresponding to a function of the at least one sub surrounding device from a server; and
providing the firmware to the main surrounding device,
wherein the firmware is provided from the main surrounding device to the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the function of the at least one sub surrounding device is determined based on connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 23 (depends on 12)

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 12, by using a computer.

### Claim 24

A method of controlling a surrounding device, the method performed by a host device and comprising:
transmitting a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding sub surrounding devices to the surrounding device;
transmitting context information about a context of the host device to the surrounding device;
in response to a connection request from the surrounding device, connecting the surrounding device and the host device; and
controlling the surrounding device,
wherein the surrounding device determines whether to transmit the connection request to the host device, based on the plurality of pieces of surrounding device information, the context information of the host device, and topology configuration standards that are provided to the surrounding device from a server, and
the surrounding device is determined as at least one of a main surrounding device and a sub surrounding device, based on the context information and the topology configuration standards.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 24, by using a computer.

### Claim 26

A method of controlling a surrounding device, the method performed by a host device and comprising:
requesting a server for firmware of at least one sub surrounding device connected to a main surrounding device connected to the host device according to a topology;
receiving the firmware from the server;
providing the firmware to the at least one sub surrounding device;
transmitting a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding sub surrounding devices to the main surrounding device; and
transmitting context information regarding the context of the host device to the main surrounding device,
wherein the requesting of the server comprises providing to the server at least one among information about a connection relationship of the at least one sub surrounding device and information about a function of the at least one sub surrounding device connected to the main surrounding device, and
the firmware provided to the at least one sub surrounding device controls an operation of the at least one sub surrounding device, in response to a control command received from the host device or the main surrounding device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 26, by using a computer.

### Claim 28

A surrounding device control system comprising:
a host device implemented by a hardware processor, the host device being configured to:
scan surrounding devices;
determine a main surrounding device and sub surrounding devices from among the scanned surrounding devices;
provide a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding the sub surrounding devices to the main surrounding device; and
providing context information regarding a context of the host device to the main surrounding device;
a server implemented by a hardware processor, the server being configured to provide topology setting information about topology configuration standards to the main surrounding device;
the main surrounding device implemented by a hardware processor, the main surrounding device being configured to:
select at least one sub surrounding device from among the sub surrounding devices, based on the plurality of pieces of surrounding device information, the context information, and the topology setting information;
connect the main surrounding device and the selected at least one sub surrounding device; and
control the selected at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 29

A host device comprising:
a memory configured to store at least one program; and
a processor configured to configure a topology with surrounding devices and control the surrounding devices by executing the at least one program,
wherein the at least one program comprises commands for:
scanning the surrounding devices;
determining a main surrounding device and at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in a topology from among the surrounding devices, based on topology configuration standards matching a context of the host device;
transmitting a plurality of pieces of surrounding device information regarding the sub surrounding devices to the main surrounding device;
transmitting context information regarding the context of the host device to the main surrounding device;
connecting the main surrounding device, the at least one sub surrounding device, and the host device, based on the topology configuration standards; and
controlling the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the context of the host device comprises a type of content that is executed in the host device, and
wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards regarding a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards regarding connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the content.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the context of the host device comprises a type of a service to be provided by the host device, and
wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be comprised in the topology, and standards regarding connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the type of the service.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the context of the host device comprises a user of the host device, and
wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to the user.

### Claim 33 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the topology configuration standards comprise standards about a type of a surrounding device to be configured in the topology, and standards about connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device, according to an attribute of the main surrounding device.

### Claim 34 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the at least one program further comprises the commands for:
receiving an application to control the main surrounding device from a server; and
installing the application in the host device to control the main surrounding device,
wherein the main surrounding device is controlled by the host device based on the application.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The host device of claim 34, wherein the at least one program further comprises the commands for providing application information about an application to the main surrounding device to control the at least one sub surrounding device, and
the application to control the sub surrounding device is installed in the main surrounding device based on the application information.

### Claim 36 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the topology configuration standards configure the topology, according to functions of the main surrounding device and the sub surrounding device, and
the determining of the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology comprises determining the at least one sub surrounding device to be configured in the topology, according to the functions of the main surrounding device and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the at least one program further comprises the commands for:
in response to the at least one sub surrounding device around the host device changed, checking a topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device; and
connecting the main surrounding device and the changed sub surrounding device, based on the topology comprising the changed sub surrounding device.

### Claim 38 (depends on 29)

The host device of claim 29, wherein the at least one program further comprises the commands for:
receiving firmware of the at least one sub surrounding device corresponding to a function of the at least one sub surrounding device from a server; and
providing the firmware to the main surrounding device,
wherein the firmware is provided from the main surrounding device to the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The host device of claim 38, wherein the function of the at least one sub surrounding device is determined based on connection relationships among the host device, the main surrounding device, and the at least one sub surrounding device.

### Claim 40

A method of controlling surrounding devices of a host device, the method comprising:
determining a context of the host device;
scanning the surrounding devices to obtain surrounding device information;
determining a function of the surrounding devices based on the surrounding device information;
determining a main surrounding device and at least one sub-surrounding device from the scanned surrounding devices, based on the context of the host device;
transmitting the surrounding device information regarding the at least one sub-surrounding device to the main surrounding device; and
transmitting context information regarding the context of the host device to the main surrounding device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The method of claim 40, wherein the context comprises at least one among an operation of the host device, a user of the host device, a surrounding environment of the host device, and an attribute of the host device.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

The method of claim 40, wherein the host device defines a topology, and determines the surrounding devices to be included in the topology, based on the context of the host device and the surrounding device information.