Method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable record medium for controlling internet of things (IoT) device using messenger bot

Provided is a method of controlling an Internet of Things (IoT) device using a messenger bot, the method including adding a chatroom with a bot for interaction between an IoT server and a user of a messenger; and instructing the IoT server to transmit a control signal to the IoT device in response to a control input that is input from the user to the bot through the chatroom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This U.S. non-provisional application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0118215 filed on Oct. 4, 2018, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field

One or more example embodiments relate to technology for controlling an Internet of Things (IoT) device.

Description of Related Art

Internet of Things (IoT) refers to performing inter-communication by connecting a variety of communicable things to a network. All of the systematically recognizable objects may be classified into things or objects, and may include things or persons capable of including a near field communication (NFC) function and a far field communication function and producing and using data, such as a sensor.

IoT may be an infrastructure to implement a ubiquitous space. The ubiquitous space is initiated in such a manner that an environment or a thing itself becomes proficient, or “smart,” by providing computing devices equipped with specific functions in the environment.

An IoT service refers to technology for providing a safer and more secure life to persons. Accordingly, various mobile communication companies and terminal manufacturing companies are focusing on the development of a terminal and a service for supporting an IoT service that is a next generation mobile service.

SUMMARY

One or more example embodiments provide a method and system that may add a bot for interaction with an Internet of Things (IoT) server to a messenger and may register and control an IoT device through the corresponding bot.

One or more example embodiments provide a method and system that may control various types of IoT devices under a corresponding IoT server by interacting with the IoT server through a bot in a chatroom via a messenger without using a separate application.

One or more example embodiments provide a method and system that may record and manage control content about an IoT device through an IoT bot in a form of a chat message of a messenger chatroom.

One or more example embodiments provide a method and system that may use a control history of an IoT device through a chatroom with an IoT bot as data for maintaining and/or repairing the IoT device.

One or more example embodiments provide a method and system that may use a chatroom with an IoT bot as an interface for controlling an IoT device and a counselling interface with the IoT device.

One or more example embodiments provide a method and system that may invite a friend to a chatroom with an IoT bot and may provide a right of the friend to control an IoT device.

According to an aspect of at least one example embodiment, there is provided an IoT control method implemented by a computer system including processing circuitry configured to execute computer-readable instructions included in a memory, the method including adding, by the processing circuitry, a chatroom with a bot for interaction between an IoT server and a user of a messenger installed on the computer system; and instructing the IoT server to transmit a control signal to the IoT device in response to a control input that is input from the user to the bot through the chatroom.

In some example embodiments, the adding may include adding the chatroom with the bot to a chatroom list of the messenger in response to an input from the user adding an account of the IoT server.

In some example embodiments, the adding may include providing a user interface to the user, receiving user information from the user through the user interface, and adding the chatroom with the bot after verifying whether the user registered with the IoT server based on the user information.

In some example embodiments, the adding may include transmitting the user information about the user and registered with the messenger to the IoT server to enable the IoT server to newly register the user information and/or match the user information to existing user information about the user that has been registered with the IoT server.

In some example embodiments, the adding may include retrieving information about the IoT device through a device search as a device to be controlled through the chatroom with the bot, and registering the IoT device based on the information. In some example embodiments, the device search may involve wireless technology, such as near-field communication (NFC) and/or WiFi.

In some example embodiments, the adding may include transmitting, to the IoT device, IoT device identification information for the IoT device and/or a (for example, unique) classifier that is matched to the IoT device identification information for the IoT device.

In some example embodiments, the adding may include adding a friend user selected by the user of the messenger from a friend list of the messenger to the chatroom with the bot.

In some example embodiments, the adding may include causing the friend user to be granted a right capable of controlling the IoT device during a period of time relative to a point in time at which the friend user is added to the chatroom with the bot.

In some example embodiments, the instructing may include transmitting, to the IoT server, the control signal including information about the IoT device corresponding to the control input and a control instruction in association with the user.

In some example embodiments, the instructing may include providing an IoT device list controllable through the chatroom with the bot and a menu list including a function of the IoT device; receiving the control input from the user based on the IoT device list and the menu list; and specifying the IoT device to be controlled in response to the control input and the control instruction.

In some example embodiments, the instructing may include specifying the IoT device and the control instruction by analyzing a sentence input from the user as a chat message through the chatroom with the bot.

In some example embodiments, the IoT control method may further include recording, by the processing circuitry, control content about the IoT device by storing at least one message transmitted and received through the chatroom with the bot.

According to an aspect of at least one example embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable record medium storing instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the IoT control method on a computer.

According to an aspect of at least one example embodiment, there is provided a computer system including processing circuitry configured to execute computer-readable instructions included in a memory. The processing circuitry includes an IoT register configured to add a chatroom with a bot for interaction between an IoT server and a user of a messenger installed on the computer system, and to register an IoT device controllable by the IoT server; and an IoT controller configured to control the IoT device by transmitting a control signal for the IoT device to the IoT server in response to a control input that is input from the user to the bot through the chatroom.

It should be noted that these figures are intended to illustrate the general characteristics of methods and/or structure utilized in certain example embodiments and to supplement the written description provided below. These drawings are not, however, to scale and may not precisely reflect the precise structural or performance characteristics of any given example embodiment, and should not be interpreted as defining or limiting the range of values or properties encompassed by example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Units and/or devices according to one or more example embodiments may be implemented using processing circuitry. For example, processing circuitry may include hardware such as logic circuits; a hardware/software combination, such as a processor executing software; or a combination thereof. For example, a processor may include, but is not limited to, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a System-on-Chip (SoC), a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or any other device capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner.

Software and/or data may be embodied permanently or temporarily in any type of machine, component, physical or virtual equipment, or computer record medium or device, capable of providing instructions or data to, or being interpreted by, a hardware device. The software also may be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the software is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. In particular, for example, software and data may be stored by one or more computer readable record mediums, including the tangible or non-transitory computer-readable record media discussed herein.

Hereinafter, some example embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Some example embodiments relate to technology for controlling an Internet of Things (IoT) device using a messenger bot.

Some example embodiments including the detailed disclosures may relate to adding a bot for interaction with an IoT server to a messenger and controlling an IoT device under the IoT server through the corresponding bot, which may lead to achieving many advantages in terms of availability, efficiency, convenience, efficiency, and/or cost reduction.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an example of a network environment according to at least one example embodiment. Referring toFIG. 1, the network environment includes a plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and140, a plurality of servers150and160, and a network170.FIG. 1is provided as an example only and thus, a number of electronic devices and/or a number of servers are not limited thereto.

In the example ofFIG. 1, each of the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and140may be a fixed terminal or a mobile terminal configured as a computer system. For example, the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and140may be a smartphone, a mobile phone, a navigation device, a computer, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a tablet personal computer (PC), a game console, a wearable device, an IoT device, a virtual reality (VR) device, and an augmented reality (AR) device. For example, althoughFIG. 1illustrates a shape of a smartphone as an example of the electronic device110, the electronic device110may refer to one of various physical computer systems capable of communicating with other electronic devices120,130, and140, and/or the servers150and160over the network170in a wired communication manner or in a wireless communication manner.

The communication scheme is not particularly limited and may include a communication method using a near field communication between devices as well as a communication method using a communication network, for example, a mobile communication network, the wired Internet, the wireless Internet, a broadcasting network, and a satellite network, which may be included in the network170. For example, the network170may include at least one of network topologies that include, for example, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a campus area network (CAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a broadband network (BBN), and/or the Internet. Also, the network170may include at least one of network topologies that include a bus network, a star network, a ring network, a mesh network, a star-bus network, a tree or hierarchical network, and the like. However, such are only examples, and some example embodiments are not limited thereto.

Each of the servers150and160may be configured as a computer apparatus or a plurality of computer apparatuses that provides instructions, codes, files, contents, services, and the like through communication with the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and140over the network170. For example, the server150may be a system that provides a first service to the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and/or140over the network170, and the server160may be a system that provides a second service to the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and/or140over the network170. In detail, the server150may provide a service, for example, a messenger service, desired by a corresponding application as the first service to the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and/or140through the application of the computer program installed and executed on the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and/or140. As another example, the server160may provide a service for distributing a file for installing and executing the application to the plurality of electronic devices110,120,130, and/or140as the second service.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronic device and a server according to at least one example embodiment.FIG. 2illustrates a configuration of the electronic device110as an example for a single electronic device and illustrates a configuration of the server150as an example for a single server. The same or similar components may be applicable to other electronic devices120,130, and/or140, or the server160, and also to still other electronic devices or still other servers, including a plurality of electronic devices and/or a plurality of servers.

Referring toFIG. 2, the electronic device110may include a memory211, a processor212, a communication module213, and an input/output (I/O) interface214, and the server150may include a memory221, a processor222, a communication module223, and an I/O interface224. The memory211,221may include a permanent mass storage device, such as random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a disk drive, a solid state drive (SSD), and a flash memory, such as a non-transitory computer-readable record medium. The permanent and/or non-transitory mass storage device, such as ROM, SSD, flash memory, and disk drive, may be included in the electronic device110or the server150as a permanent and/or non-transitory storage device separate from the memory211,221. Also, an OS or at least one program code, for example, a code for a browser installed and executed on the electronic device110or an application installed and executed on the electronic device110to provide a specific service, may be stored in the memory211,221. Such software components may be loaded from another non-transitory computer-readable record medium separate from the memory211,221. The other non-transitory computer-readable record medium may include a non-transitory computer-readable record medium, for example, a floppy drive, a disk, a tape, a DVD/CD-ROM drive, a memory card, etc. According to some other example embodiments, software components may be loaded to the memory211,221through the communication module213,223, instead of, or in addition to, the non-transitory computer-readable record medium. For example, at least one program may be loaded to the memory211,221based on a computer program, for example, the application, installed by files provided over the network170from developers or a file distribution system, for example, the server160, which provides an installation file of the application.

The processor212,222may be configured to process computer-readable instructions of a computer program by performing basic arithmetic operations, logic operations, and I/O operations. The computer-readable instructions may be provided from the memory211,221or the communication module213,223to the processor212,222. For example, the processor212,222may be configured to execute received instructions in response to the program code stored in the storage device, such as the memory211,221.

The communication module213,223may provide a function for communication between the electronic device110and the server150over the network170, and/or may provide a function for communication with another electronic device, for example, the electronic device120or another server, for example, the server160. For example, the processor212of the electronic device110may transfer a request created based on a program code stored in a storage device, such as the memory211, to the server150over the network170under control of the communication module213. Inversely, a control signal, an instruction, content, a file, etc., provided under control of the processor222of the server150may be received at the electronic device110through the communication module213of the electronic device110by going through the communication module223and the network170. For example, a control signal, an instruction, content, a file, etc., of the server150received through the communication module213may be transferred to the processor212or the memory211, and content, a file, etc., may be stored in a record medium further includable in the electronic device110.

The I/O interface214may be a device used for interface with an I/O device215. For example, an input device may include a device, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and a camera, and an output device may include a device, such as a display, a speaker, and a haptic feedback device. As another example, the I/O interface214may be a device for interface with an apparatus in which an input function and an output function are integrated into a single function, such as a touchscreen. The I/O device215may be configured as a single device with the electronic device110. Also, the I/O interface224of the server150may be a device for interface with an apparatus (not shown) for input or output that may be connected to the server150or included in the server150. In detail, when processing instructions of the computer program loaded to the memory211, the processor212of the electronic device110may display a service screen configured using data provided from the server150or the electronic device120, or may display content on a display through the I/O interface214.

According to other example embodiments, the electronic device110and the server150may include a number of components that may be greater or less than a number of components shown inFIG. 2. For example, the electronic device110may include at least a portion of the I/O device215, or may further include other components, for example, a transceiver, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a camera, a variety of sensors, a database (DB), and the like. In detail, if the electronic device110is a smartphone, the electronic device110may be configured to further include a variety of components, for example, an accelerometer sensor, a gyro sensor, a camera module, various physical buttons, a button using a touch panel, an I/O port, a vibrator for vibration, etc., which are generally included in the smartphone.

Hereinafter, some example embodiments of a method and system for controlling an IoT device are described.

Here, the term “IoT device” may inclusively indicate any type of smart devices or sensors, for example, a smart grid system that manages energy including electricity/gas or water and sewage, a home network system that integrally manages air-conditioning and heating in a house, and a smart key capable of automatically unlocking a locking device of a vehicle door or starting a vehicle without inserting the key.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating an example of a component includable in a processor of an electronic device according to at least one example embodiment, andFIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method performed by an electronic device according to at least one example embodiment.

An IoT control system implemented as a computer may be configured in the electronic device110. For example, the IoT control system may be configured in a form of an independently operating program or in an in-app form of a specific application to be operable on the specific application. In particular, the IoT control system may provide a function of adding a bot for interaction with an IoT server, for example, the server160, to a messenger installed on the electronic device110and registering and controlling an IoT device under the IoT server through the corresponding bot.

The IoT control system configured in the electronic device110may perform an IoT control method ofFIG. 4in response to an instruction provided from an application installed on the electronic device110.

To perform the IoT control method ofFIG. 4, the processor212of the electronic device110may include an IoT register310, an IoT controller320, and an IoT manager330as shown inFIG. 3, as components. Also, in some example embodiments, components of the processor212may be separated and/or merged for functional representation of the processor212.

The processor212and the components of the processor212may control the electronic device110to perform operations S410to S440included in the IoT control method ofFIG. 4. For example, the processor212and the components of the processor212may be configured to execute an instruction according to a code of at least one program and a code of an OS included in the memory211.

Here, the components of the processor212may be representations of different functions of the processor212that are performed by the processor212in response to an instruction provided from a program code stored in the electronic device110, for example, an instruction provided from the application executed on the electronic device110. For example, the IoT register310may be used as a functional representation of the processor212that controls the electronic device110to register the IoT device in response to the instruction.

In some scenarios, each IoT device may be controlled by a per-device application that is installed on the electronic device110, wherein each individual application installed in the electronic device110controls one IoT device. However, it may be inconvenient to manipulate an IoT device by installing an individual application for each IoT device.

Accordingly, herein, proposed is a function that, in some example embodiments, may be capable of controlling various types of IoT devices with a single application, for example, a messenger installed on the electronic device110. In some example embodiments, a set of IoT devices may be controlled without installing a separate application for controlling an IoT device.

Referring toFIG. 4, in operation S410, the processor212may read an instruction from the memory211to which instructions associated with control of the electronic device110are loaded. In this case, the read instruction may include one or more instructions for controlling the processor212to perform operations S420to S440.

In operation S420, the IoT register310may add a bot for interaction with an IoT server to a messenger installed on the electronic device110and/or may register at least one IoT device controllable by the IoT server through a bot. In some example embodiments, the IoT register310may interact with an IoT server by adding an account that is a bot-typed account of the IoT server as a friend on the messenger. That is, in some example embodiments, the IoT register310may add a chatroom with the bot to a chatroom list on the messenger in response to an input from a user adding the account of the IoT server. The account may be, for example, a registered and/or official account of the IoT server. In some example embodiments, the account of the IoT server may be opened and/or operated in response to a request from an entity, for example, a provider of an IoT service, a manufacturer of the IoT device, and/or a supplier of the IoT device, associated with the IoT server, which may be one of a plurality of accounts on the messenger that are associated with the IoT server. For example, the IoT register310may add the chatroom with the bot after receiving user information, for example, information used to identify the user, such as an ID, registered with the IoT server from the user of the electronic device110during a process of adding the user as a friend of the messenger through the account of the IoT server and processing a user authentication. The IoT register310may provide a user interface for receiving user information of the user of the electronic device110and, accordingly, may add the chatroom with the bot after verifying whether the corresponding user is registered with the IoT server based on user information received from the user. As another example, the IoT register310may add the chatroom with the bot through a method of newly registering user information about the user and registered with the messenger to the IoT server in association with the user of the electronic device110by sharing the user information with the IoT server, and/or by matching the user information to existing user information about the user and registered with the IoT server. That is, the IoT register310may transmit the user information about the user and registered with the messenger to the IoT server to enable the IoT server to newly register the user information input from the user of the electronic device110. As another example, the IoT register310and/or the IoT server may match the user information to the existing user information about the user that has been registered with the IoT server.

When a chatroom with a bot, or a bot provided to enable interaction with the IoT server is added to the messenger installed on the electronic device110, the IoT register310may selectively register an IoT device to be controlled through the bot. When a bot is provided for each manufacturer or supplier of an IoT device and is added to the messenger, the user of the electronic device110may register an IoT device desired to be used by the user of the electronic device110as a device to be controlled through a chatroom with the bot added to the messenger. For example, the IoT register310may receive, from the IoT server, a list of IoT devices that are registered to the IoT server and used by the user, and may register at least one IoT device included in the IoT device list as a target device. As another example, the IoT register310may retrieve information about an IoT device that is adjacent to the electronic device110through a device search using a near field communication, for example, WiFi, and may register the IoT device as the target device based on the information. The IoT register310may store, for example in the messenger, information about an IoT device to be controlled through a bot added to the messenger in association with the messenger. In some example embodiments, instead of storing IoT device information, IoT device identification information and/or a classifier (such as an identifier) that is matched to the IoT device identification information may be stored in association with the user of the electronic device110. Only and/or at least information required to identify a device in the IoT server may maintain only information required to identify a device, and which may be required for control using the bot. In some example embodiments, the IoT device identification information and/or the classifier may be distinctive for the IoT device, for example, may uniquely identify and/or uniquely describe the IoT device.

When the bot for interaction with the IoT server is added to the messenger installed on the electronic device110, the IoT register310may generate a chatroom in which an account of the user of the electronic device110and the account of the IoT server are matched. For example, the IoT register310may provide a friend add function in the chatroom with the bot, and/or may add a friend user selected by the user of the electronic device110from a friend list on the messenger, that is, another list of users capable of transmitting and/or receiving one or more messages through the messenger, to and/or from the chatroom with the bot. Such messages may be published to the chatroom and/or may be exchanged, directly or indirectly, between the account of the user and the bot. Here, in the chatroom with the bot, the IoT register310may designate the user of the electronic device110as a host user and may designate the added friend user as a guest user. A right to control the IoT device during a period of time from a point in time at which the friend user is added to the chatroom may be granted to the friend user added to the chatroom with the bot. Some example embodiments may include causing the friend user to be granted the right capable of controlling the IoT device. In some example embodiments, the period of time may be preset. The guest user may be added to the chatroom with the bot that includes the host user, and a chatroom in which an account of the guest user and the account of the IoT server are matched may be newly generated. The guest user and/or the host user may be granted a right to control the IoT device through the chatroom with the bot. When a period of time (such as a desired and/or predetermined period of time) is elapsed, and/or when a separate instruction is received from the host user, the guest user designated by the host user may leave the chatroom with the bot and, optionally, may automatically lose a right to control the IoT device. A period of time during which the IoT device control right is granted to the guest user may be set as default, and/or may be directly set by the host user at a point in time at which the guest user is added.

In operation S430, the IoT controller320may control the IoT device through the bot by transmitting, to the IoT server, a control signal for the IoT device specified in response to the control input that is input from the user of the electronic device110through the chatroom with the bot. For example, the IoT controller320may transmit, to the IoT server, a control signal including a control instruction and/or information about the IoT device specified in response to the control input that is input through the chatroom with the bot, in association with the user of the electronic device110. That is, the IoT controller320may transmit a control signal for the specific IoT device to the IoT server through a communication session established between the account of the user and the account of the IoT server on the messenger. The user of the electronic device110may specify an IoT device to be controlled through the chatroom with the bot and/or may specify the control instruction for the IoT device. The chatroom with the bot may include an interface, for example, an IoT device list controllable through the bot and a menu list including a function of each IoT device included in the IoT device list. That is, the control input may be received from the user of the electronic device using the IoT device list and the menu list provided through the chatroom with the bot, and the IoT device to be controlled in response to the received control input and the control instruction may be specified, for example, by selection of the IoT device in the menu list provided in the interface. As another example, the IoT controller320may specify the IoT device to be controlled and/or the control instruction by analyzing chat content input from the user to the bot through the chatroom. Such input may be directed by the user to the bot within the chatroom as a public or provide message, and/or may be received by the bot within the chatroom, for example, as a message from the user to another user or account within the chatroom, or as a broadcast by the user to all members of the chatroom including the bot. The IoT controller320may verify the IoT device to be controlled and/or the control instruction from a sentence input as a chat message in the chatroom, for example, using syntax analysis using natural language processing or artificial intelligence (AI)-based conversation analysis technology. Here, the IoT controller320may transmit, to the IoT server, a control signal that includes the IoT device identification information of the IoT device specified by the user of the electronic device110through the chatroom with the bot or an identifier that is matched to the IoT device identification information and a control instruction for a portion of functions of the IoT device. Accordingly, when the IoT server receives the control signal from the electronic device110through a messenger server, the IoT server may control an IoT device by identifying the IoT device based on identification information or the identifier included in the control signal and/or by transmitting the control instruction included in the control signal to the identified IoT device.

In operation S440, the IoT manager330may record and/or manage control content about the IoT device through the bot in a form of a chat message of the chatroom that includes the bot. The IoT manager330may record the control content about the IoT device by storing at least one message transmitted and/or received through the chatroom with the bot. That is, the IoT manager330may store, in the memory221, the control content about the IoT device through the bot as the chat message of the chatroom that includes the corresponding bot, and may manage the control content, for example, delete, correct the stored message, and/or link the stored message with another user. The IoT manager330may record and/or display an IoT device specified as a control signal for the IoT device and/or a control instruction as the chatroom message of the chatroom with the bot, through the chatroom with the bot. In response thereto, the user may verify a control history of the IoT device from the chat message displayed on the chatroom with the bot. Here, the control history of the IoT device may be recorded by identifying a chatroom based on chatroom identification information, for example, a chatroom ID. Also, the IoT manager330may record/or and manage the control history of the IoT device through the chatroom with the bot by classifying an IoT device based on IoT device identification information or classifier, and/or may use the control history as data for maintaining and repairing the IoT device. The IoT server may also record and/or manage the control history of the IoT device as data, for example, to maintain and/or repair the IoT device.

In some example embodiments, the chatroom with the bot may provide an interface for controlling an IoT device, such as a user interface or an application programming interface (API). For example, the interface may include a counselling interface, for example, an after-sales (AS) service, in association with the IoT device. For example, the IoT manager330may provide a chat environment with a counsellor using a communication session established between an account of the user and the account of the IoT server in response to an input of a counselling request for the specified IoT device through the chatroom with the bot. Accordingly, control and/or counselling for the IoT device may be performed in the same and/or similar space using the chatroom with the bot.

According to some example embodiments, various types of IoT devices under an IoT server may be controlled through a bot, for example, by adding the bot for interaction with the IoT server to a messenger without using a separate application for controlling the IoT device.

FIG. 5illustrates an example of a process of adding a bot for interaction with an IoT server to a messenger according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 5, a user may call an account add screen from a messenger installed on the electronic device110in operation S51and may input account information of an IoT server to be added through the account add screen in operation S52.

In operation S53, the electronic device110may add, to the messenger, a bot of the IoT server corresponding to account information that is input through the account add screen.

In operation S54, the electronic device110may interact with the IoT server (IoT_Server) through the bot added to the messenger.

Here, the electronic device110may add the bot for interaction with the IoT server by receiving user information about the user and registered with the IoT server from the user and by processing a user authentication. Alternatively, the electronic device110may add the bot for interaction with the IoT server associated with the corresponding user through a method of newly registering user information about the user and registered on the messenger with the IoT server by sharing the user information with the IoT server and/or matching the user information to existing user information about the user and registered with the IoT server.

FIG. 6illustrates an example of a process of registering an IoT device controllable through a bot according to at least one example embodiment.

When a bot for interaction with an IoT server is added to the messenger, the electronic device110may register a device to be controlled through the bot.

Referring toFIG. 6, in operation S61, the electronic device110may conduct a nearby device search for the IoT device using wireless communication technology, such as near-field communication (NFC) and/or WiFi.

In operation S62, the electronic device110may transmit a registration signal for at least one IoT device retrieved through the device search to the IoT server through the bot added to the messenger. Here, the registration signal may include information for identifying the user of the electronic device110and/or IoT device identification information.

In operation S63, the IoT server may register the IoT device with an IoT device list used by the user of the electronic device110in response to the registration signal of the electronic device110, and/or may transmit a registration complete signal to the electronic device110when device registration is completed.

Accordingly, the electronic device110may register, with the messenger, the IoT device to be controlled through the added bot by performing a device search using wireless technology such as near-field communication (NFC) and/or WiFi.

FIG. 7illustrates an example of a process of controlling an IoT device through a bot according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 7, in operation S71, a user may specify an IoT device to be controlled through a chatroom with a bot through a messenger installed on the electronic device110and/or may specify a control instruction for the corresponding IoT device.

In operation S72, the electronic device110may transmit, to the IoT server, a control signal that includes IoT device identification information specified by the user through the chatroom with the bot, an identifier matched to the IoT device identification information, and/or a control instruction for a portion of functions of the IoT device.

In operation S73, in response to receiving the control signal from the electronic device110through the bot, the IoT server may control the IoT device by identifying the IoT device to be controlled based on the identification information or the unique identifier included in the control signal and by transmitting the control instruction included in the control signal to the identified IoT device.

The electronic device110may provide an interface, which may enable a user or an application to select and/or specify an IoT device of the IoT device list to be controlled through the chatroom with the bot and the control instruction. Referring toFIG. 8, a chatroom800with a bot may include an IoT device list810of one or more IoT devices that may be controllable through the bot and a menu list820including a function of a corresponding IoT device for each IoT device included in the IoT device list810. As shown inFIG. 8, the menu list820may provide a menu that includes at least one depth, such as at least one hierarchical level of the menu, based on an IoT device, such as the controls or functionality by which the IoT device may be controlled. That is, the user may specify the IoT device to be controlled and the control instruction based on the IoT device list810and the menu list820provided through the chatroom800with the bot.

When the IoT device and the control instruction are specified through the chatroom800with the bot, the electronic device110may transmit, to the IoT server, the control signal that includes information about the IoT device and/or the control instruction through the bot. Here, referring toFIG. 9, the IoT device and the control instruction specified as the control signal for the IoT device may be displayed as a chat message930of the chatroom800. That is, the electronic device110may record and/or manage control content about the IoT device through the bot as the chat message930of the chatroom800. Accordingly, the user may verify a control history of the IoT device through the chat message930displayed on the chatroom800with the bot.

As an alternative or in addition to using the IoT device list810and the menu list820provided from the chatroom800with the bot to specify the IoT device and the control instruction, the electronic device110may specify the IoT device to be controlled and/or the control instruction by analyzing a sentence input from the user. Referring toFIG. 10, the user may readily input, to a chatroom1000with a bot, an input sentence1010representing the intent of controlling an IoT device in a colloquial style. Here, through syntax analysis for the input sentence1010, the electronic device110may verify and/or specify an IoT device1001to be controlled and a control instruction1002from the input sentence1010.

In some example embodiments, the chatroom800,1000with the bot may include a friend add menu850,1050for adding a friend selected by the user of the electronic device110. The user of the electronic device110may add, to the chatroom800,1000, a friend that is selected from a friend list on the messenger using the friend add menu850,1050in the chatroom800,1000with the bot. Here, the user of the electronic device110may be designated as a host user and/or the added friend may be designated as a guest user. The guest user and/or the host user may be granted with a right to control an IoT device through the chatroom800,1000with the bot. When a period of time (for example, a predetermined period of time) is elapsed, and/or when a leave instruction is received from the host user, the guest user may leave the chatroom800,1000with the bot and, optionally, may automatically lose a right to control the IoT device.

In some example embodiments, the chatroom800,1000with the bot may include a counselling menu860,1060for a counseling request for the IoT device. When the user of the electronic device110requests counselling for the IoT device using the counselling menu860,1060in the chatroom800,1000with the bot, a chat function with a counsellor may be provided using a communication session established between an account of the user and an account of the IoT server.

Although it is described that the electronic device110performs the IoT control method in response to an instruction provided from the application installed on the electronic device110, it is provided as an example only. However, depending on some example embodiments, a messenger server, for example, the server150, and/or the IoT server, for example, the server160, may directly perform at least a portion of the aforementioned IoT control method through interaction with the application installed on the electronic device110. Also, although it is described that the messenger server and the IoT server are separate independent server systems, such separate independent server systems are provided as an example embodiment only. Depending on some example embodiments, the messenger server may be integrated with the IoT server. Alternatively or additionally, the messenger server may include at least a portion of functions of the IoT server, or vice versa.

In some example embodiments, the processor222of the server150may include an IoT register, an IoT controller, and/or an IoT manager such that the server150may perform the entire or a portion of the IoT control method ofFIG. 4. Depending on some example embodiments, the IoT register, the IoT controller, and/or the IoT manager may be selectively included in or excluded from the processor222. Also, depending on some example embodiments, the components of the processor222may be separated and/or merged for functional representation of the processor222.

The processor222and the components of the processor222may control the server150to perform operations S420to S440ofFIG. 4. For example, the processor222and the components of the processor222may be configured to execute an instruction according to a code of at least one program and a code of an OS included in the memory221.

The IoT register, the IoT controller, and/or the IoT manager included in the processor222of the server150may be identical or similar to the IoT register310, the IoT controller320, and the IoT manager330ofFIG. 3or may correspondingly perform operations S420to S440ofFIG. 4. Accordingly, further description related thereto is omitted here.

According to some example embodiments, various types of IoT devices under an IoT server may be controlled by interaction with the IoT server through a bot added to a messenger, and/or by recording and/or managing control content about an IoT device through an IoT bot in a form of a chat message of a messenger chatroom. Also, according to some example embodiments, a friend may be invited to a chatroom with an IoT bot and/or provided a right to control an IoT device to the invited friend. Further, according to some example embodiments, a control history of an IoT device through a chatroom with an IoT bot may be used as data for maintaining and/or repairing the IoT device, and/or to use the chatroom with the IoT bot as an interface for controlling the IoT device and/or an inquiry and/or counselling interface for the IoT device.