Abstract:
A gateway apparatus connected to a first network and a second network and for controlling the operation of an apparatus or a plurality of apparatuses of control objective connected to the first network depending on the instructions directed to the second network by an instructing apparatus connected to the first network for the apparatuses of control objective, the gateway apparatus has  
     monitoring means of monitoring the flow of the instructions for controlling the operation of the apparatuses of control objective, directed to the second network by the instructing apparatus; and  
     control signal outputting means of outputting a control signal for controlling the operation of the apparatuses of control objective to the apparatuses of control objective depending on the instructions when the flow of the instructions is monitored by the monitoring means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a gateway apparatus providing the function of controlling a plurality of electronic devices connected to a network.  
           [0003]    2. Related Art of the Invention  
           [0004]    Progress has been made recently in the realization of in-home networking technology for interconnecting electronic devices, for example, AV devices such as a TV, a VTR, a CD player, and an MD player, in a house thereby to operate them in linkage. Such technology includes: the bus standard of IEEE Std 1394-1995 set by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); and AV/C Command Set standardized by 1394 Trade Association. These standards define the specification of a command set used for interconnecting various electronic devices into a network thereby to realize the mutual control.  
           [0005]    On the other hand, with the spread of the Internet and PC&#39;s into homes, devised are both a method in which the Internet technology is used in operating the devices within a home and a method in which the convenience is improved using the information on the Internet. As an apparatus used for this purpose, a gateway apparatus having the communication function both for the Internet and for an in-home network has been proposed.  
           [0006]    A known example of a prior art technology for controlling in-home electronic devices by using the information on the Internet is described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 10-191463. The entire discloure of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 10-191463 are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 shows the connection of an example of a prior art in-home network. This in-home network is a network including an electronic device which performs a predetermined action in response to a predetermined operation, and comprises: an electronic device having both the WWW server function of sending out HTML data including control codes for controlling the action and the interface function of communicating with external electronic devices connected to the network; and an electronic device for operating the above-mentioned another electronic device.  
           [0008]    In order to consider the technology for controlling the electronic devices connected to an in-home network by using the information provided by means of WWW on the Internet, FIG. 2 shows an example of the case of a video reservation by using a TV program table (EPG data) provided on the Internet.  
           [0009]    In FIG. 2, numeral  1301  indicates a gateway apparatus for interconnecting an in-home network and the Internet. Numeral  1302  indicates an HTTP server for providing EPG data. Numeral  1303  indicates EPG data described in HTML. Numeral  1304  indicates a video device of control objective. Numeral  1305  indicates a WWW browser capable of down-loading and displaying the HTML data  1303 . Numeral  1306  indicates a storage area for the HTML data  1303  down-loaded by the WWW browser  1305 . Numeral  1307  indicates a TV program recording reservation-dedicated application for sending out a control command to the video apparatus  1304  depending on the stored HTML data  1306 . Numeral  1308  indicates a PC comprising the WWW browser  1305  and an EPG controller.  
           [0010]    As shown in FIG. 2, the following two steps of procedure are necessary. 1) To access the HTTP server  1302  on the Internet using the WWW browser  1305  thereby to down-load the TV program table  1303  temporarily. And after down-loading it on the hard disk  1306  of the PC  1308 , 2) to start the video reservation-dedicated application  1307  thereby to make reservation.  
           [0011]    Since the WWW browser  1305  and the TV program recording reservation-dedicated application  1307  used at that time are different applications with each other, thereby causing inconvenience in operation for the user. Further, the necessity of the dedicated application  1307  causes a problem of limitation both in executable environment and in operable objective devices.  
           [0012]    In order to resolve this problem, a scheme has been proposed in which an HTTP server and HTML data including control codes for controlling itself are provided and in which an electronic device is operated by providing the HTML data on request. FIG. 3 shows this scheme.  
           [0013]    In FIG. 3, numeral  1401  indicates a gateway apparatus for interconnecting an in-home network and the Internet. Numeral  1402  indicates an HTTP server for providing EPG data. Numeral  1403  indicates EPG data described in HTML. Numeral  1404  indicates a video device of control objective. Numeral  1405  indicates a WWW browser capable of down-loading and displaying the HTML data  1403 . Numeral  1406  indicates a storage area for the HTML data  1403  down-loaded by the WWW browser  1405 . Numeral  1407  indicates a PC comprising the WWW browser  1405 .  
           [0014]    In this case, the video device  1404  is provided with the function of interpreting a user s recording instruction from the PC  1407  thereby to record the video depending on the interpretation. Accordingly, in this scheme, the browser can be used both for controlling an in-home electronic device such as the video device  1404  and for accessing the WWW on the Internet. That is, the user can operate the in-home electronic device such as the video device  1404  by the same method as that of accessing the Internet.  
           [0015]    Further, an electronic device having WWW browser function can easily control an electronic device such as the video device  1404  having HTTP server function. Furthermore, the device can be used even in the case that an electronic device of the same kind or of a completely new kind is added in the home.  
           [0016]    However, this scheme requires that an HTTP server is installed in each electronic device of control objective. That is, each electronic device needs to have the function of interpreting the instruction from the PC for controlling the electronic device. Further, since the HTML data for controlling each electronic device needs to be previously stored in the electronic device, it is difficult to add or change the function of the existing device, and it is also difficult to add or change an interface.  
           [0017]    Further, there has been a problem that it is difficult to control the device from the outside of the home, and that controllable electronic devices are limited to those which include an HTTP server. Furthermore, since the information provided from a network, such as the Internet, includes a vast amount of various information, there has been a difficulty in selecting desired information among the vast amount of various information.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0018]    The present invention provides means of resolving these problems simultaneously, that is, means of permitting the control of electronic devices, such as a TV, a VTR, and a CD player, connected to an in-home network by using an ordinary WWW browser alone and by using the information provided by the WWW on the Internet, wherein the control is achieved without installing an HTTP server in each electronic device of control objective, and wherein the devices can be controlled by the WWW browser directly without a user temporarily down-loading the information such as a program table and then starting a dedicated application. Further, the present invention provides the means not restricted by the control commands supported by the electronic devices to be controlled, wherein the control scheme can be freely set and easily enhanced at later stages.  
           [0019]    Considering the problem that in case of controlling a plurality of electronic devices connected to a network, in a prior art gateway apparatus, the method of setting and controlling is difficult for users, an object of the present invention is to provide a gateway apparatus permitting users to easily control the plurality of electronic devices connected to the network.  
           [0020]    The 1st invention of the present invention is a gateway apparatus connected to a first network and a second network and for controlling the operation of an apparatus or a plurality of apparatuses of control objective connected to said first network depending on the instructions directed to said second network by an instructing apparatus connected to said first network for said apparatuses of control objective, the gateway apparatus comprising:  
           [0021]    monitoring means of monitoring the flow of the instructions for controlling the operation of said apparatuses of control objective, directed to said second network by said instructing apparatus; and  
           [0022]    control signal outputting means of outputting a control signal for controlling the operation of said apparatuses of control objective to said apparatuses of control objective depending on the instructions when said flow of the instructions is monitored by said monitoring means.  
           [0023]    In accordance with a first present invention, without installing an HTTP server in each electronic device of control objective (apparatus of control objective) connected to a first network, each electronic device (apparatuses of control objective) connected to the first network can be controlled through an operation screen on which the string of data which has been down-loaded by a WWW browser of an instructing apparatus such as a PDA apparatus connected to the first network and is provided from an HTTP server connected to a second network.  
           [0024]    The 2nd invention of the present invention is a gateway apparatus according to 1st invention, further comprising control information setting means in which control information for controlling the operation of said apparatuses of control objective is set, wherein  
           [0025]    said control signal outputting means outputs said control signal by using said control information set in said control information setting means.  
           [0026]    The 3rd invention of the present invention is a gateway apparatus according to 2nd invention, wherein said control information is set in said control information setting means by an access from said instructing apparatus, by a user&#39;s input operation, or by an access from said apparatuses of control objective.  
           [0027]    The 4th invention of the present invention is a gateway apparatus according to 1st invention, further comprising identification information storing means of storing the identification information of each of said apparatuses of control objective, wherein  
           [0028]    said control signal outputting means outputs said control signal by using said identification information stored in said identification information storing means.  
           [0029]    The 5th invention of the present invention is a gateway apparatus according to 4th invention, wherein said identification information is stored in said identification information storing means by an access from said instructing apparatus, by a user&#39;s input operation, or by an access from said apparatuses of control objective.  
           [0030]    The 6th invention of the present invention is a gateway apparatus according to 4th invention, further comprising device identification information acquiring means of acquiring said identification information of each of said apparatuses of control objective from all or a part of said apparatuses of control objective, wherein  
           [0031]    said identification information storing means stores said identification information obtained by said device identification information acquiring means.  
           [0032]    In a sixth present invention, device identification information acquiring means can automatically acquire the identification information of each electronic device (apparatus of control objective) connected to a first network. Accordingly, even when the number of electronic devices connected to the first network changes dynamically or when the addresses thereof are changed, each electronic device connected to the first network can be controlled without a user resetting the electronic device identification information.  
           [0033]    The 7th invention of the present invention is a gateway apparatus according to any one of 1st to 6th invention, further comprising data converting means of converting the data from said second network into data available for said instructing apparatus.  
           [0034]    In a seventh present invention, the WWW browser of an instructing apparatus such as a PDA apparatus connected to a first network can be provided with means of selecting an electronic device of control objective connected to the first network. Accordingly, even when a plurality of electronic devices (apparatuses of control objective) are connected to the first network, each electronic device can be controlled.  
           [0035]    The 8th invention of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to serve as all or a part of:  
           [0036]    said monitoring means of monitoring the flow of the instructions for controlling the operation of said apparatuses of control objective, directed to said second network by said instructing apparatus; and  
           [0037]    said control signal outputting means of outputting a control signal for controlling the operation of said apparatuses of control objective to said apparatuses of control objective depending on the instructions when said flow of the instructions is monitored by said monitoring means; each in a gateway apparatus of 1st invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a gateway apparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a network of the prior art.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a network of the prior art.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 4 is a diagram of a configuration using a gateway apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a gateway apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 6 is a diagram used for the description of an electronic device identification information table of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the display of HTML data provided by an HTTP server in accordance with a first and a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 8 is a diagram of a configuration using a gateway apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a gateway apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 10 is a diagram used for the description of an electronic device identification information table of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the display of HTML data provided to an WWW server in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the display of HTML data provided to an WWW server in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 13 is a diagram of a configuration using a gateway apparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 14 is a diagram used for the description of an electronic device identification information table of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the display of HTML data provided to an HTTP server in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the display of HTML data provided to an WWW server in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the display of HTML data provided to an WWW server in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 18 is a diagram used for the description of an electronic device identification information table of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0056]    [Description of the Reference Numerals] 
         [0057]    [0057] 101  Gateway apparatus  
         [0058]    [0058] 102  WWW browser  
         [0059]    [0059] 103  PDA apparatus  
         [0060]    [0060] 104  Video apparatus  
         [0061]    [0061] 105  EPG data described in HTML  
         [0062]    [0062] 106  HTTP server  
         [0063]    [0063] 201  Communication controlling means to Internet  
         [0064]    [0064] 202  Communication controlling means to in-home network  
         [0065]    [0065] 203  Data monitoring means  
         [0066]    [0066] 204  Data replacing means  
         [0067]    [0067] 205  Electronic device identification information table  
         [0068]    [0068] 206  Electronic device identification information acquiring means  
         [0069]    [0069] 207  Control command issuing means  
         [0070]    [0070] 209  Electronic device identification information inputting means  
         [0071]    [0071] 302  Name of class of electronic device  
         [0072]    [0072] 303  Address of electronic device  
         [0073]    [0073] 304  Character string indicating device of recording objective  
         [0074]    [0074] 401  TV program selection button  
         [0075]    [0075] 402  Reservation button  
         [0076]    [0076] 403  Radio button for selecting electronic device of recording objective  
         [0077]    [0077] 404  Radio button for selecting electronic device of recording objective  
         [0078]    [0078] 405  Replaced HTML data  
         [0079]    [0079] 502  WWW browser  
         [0080]    [0080] 503  PDA apparatus  
         [0081]    [0081] 504  Video apparatus  
         [0082]    [0082] 505  EPG data described in HTML  
         [0083]    [0083] 506  HTTP server  
         [0084]    [0084] 507  Video apparatus  
         [0085]    [0085] 602  Name of class of electronic device  
         [0086]    [0086] 603  Address of electronic device  
         [0087]    [0087] 701  TV program selection button  
         [0088]    [0088] 702  Reservation button  
         [0089]    [0089] 703  Radio button for selecting electronic device of recording objective  
         [0090]    [0090] 704  Label indicating name of electronic device of recording objective  
         [0091]    [0091] 705  Radio button for selecting electronic device of recording objective  
         [0092]    [0092] 706  Label indicating name of electronic device of recording objective  
         [0093]    [0093] 707  Replaced HTML data  
         [0094]    [0094] 802  WWW browser  
         [0095]    [0095] 803  PDA apparatus  
         [0096]    [0096] 804  Oven range apparatus  
         [0097]    [0097] 805  Cooking data described in HTML  
         [0098]    [0098] 806  HTTP server  
         [0099]    [0099] 807  Oven range apparatus  
         [0100]    [0100] 1101  Menu selection button  
         [0101]    [0101] 1102  Cooking start button  
         [0102]    [0102] 1103  Radio button for selecting electronic device of recording objective  
         [0103]    [0103] 1104  Radio button for selecting electronic device of recording objective  
         [0104]    [0104] 1105  EPG data described in HTML  
         [0105]    [0105] 1201  Menu selection button  
         [0106]    [0106] 1202  Cooking start button  
         [0107]    [0107] 1203  Radio button for selecting electronic device of cooking objective  
         [0108]    [0108] 1204  Label indicating name of electronic device of cooking objective  
         [0109]    [0109] 1205  Radio button for selecting electronic device of cooking objective  
         [0110]    [0110] 1206  Label indicating name of electronic device of cooking objective  
         [0111]    [0111] 1207  EPG data described in HTML  
         [0112]    [0112] 1301  Gateway apparatus  
         [0113]    [0113] 1302  HTTP server providing EPG data  
         [0114]    [0114] 1303  EPG data described in HTML  
         [0115]    [0115] 1304  video device of control objective  
         [0116]    [0116] 1305  WWW browser  
         [0117]    [0117] 1306  Storage area for HTML data  1303   
         [0118]    [0118] 1307  TV program recording reservation-dedicated application  
         [0119]    [0119] 1308  PC  
         [0120]    [0120] 1401  Gateway apparatus  
         [0121]    [0121] 1402  HTTP server providing EPG data  
         [0122]    [0122] 1403  EPG data described in HTML  
         [0123]    [0123] 1404  video device of control objective  
         [0124]    [0124] 1405  WWW browser  
         [0125]    [0125] 1406  Storage area for HTML data  1403   
         [0126]    [0126] 1407  PC 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0127]    (First Embodiment)  
         [0128]    A first embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.  
         [0129]    [0129]FIG. 4 is a diagram of a configuration using a gateway apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention. The description of the first embodiment is made for an exemplary configuration in which a first network is an in-home network, a second network is the Internet, and a gateway apparatus  101  of the first embodiment interconnects the Internet and the in-home network.  
         [0130]    In FIG. 4, numeral  101  indicates a gateway apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention. Numeral  102  indicates a WWW browser for permitting the browsing of HTML data. Numeral  103  indicates a PDA (personal digital assistant) apparatus comprising the WWW browser  102 . Numeral  104  indicates a video apparatus which is an electronic device of control objective. Numeral  105  indicates HTML data which is described in HTML and includes EPG data and a control screen for controlling the video apparatus  104 . Numeral  106  indicates an HTTP server for providing the HTML data  105 . The PDA apparatus  103  and the video apparatus  104  are connected to the gateway apparatus  101 , and the gateway apparatus  101  is in turn connected to the Internet.  
         [0131]    [0131]FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the gateway apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, numeral  201  indicates communication controlling means to the Internet. Numeral  202  indicates communication controlling means to the PDA apparatus  103  connected to the in-home network. Numeral  208  indicates communication controlling means to the video apparatus  104  connected to the in-home network. Numeral  203  indicates data monitoring means of monitoring the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  201  to the communication controlling means  202 . Numeral  205  indicates an electronic device identification information table for storing both the identification information of an electronic device connected through the communication controlling means  208  and the information for controlling the electronic device. Numeral  209  indicates means of registering a user input to the electronic device identification information table  205 . Numeral  207  indicates control command issuing means of issuing a control command to an electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 .  
         [0132]    [0132]FIG. 6 illustrates the electronic device identification information which is input from the electronic device identification information inputting means  209  and then stored in the electronic device identification information table  205  in this embodiment. In FIG. 6, numeral  302  indicates the name of class of each electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 . Numeral  303  indicates the address of each electronic device registered in the name  302  of class of electronic device. The registered name  302  of class of an electronic device is a name of category such as a TV, a video player, and a CD player. The address  303  is sufficient to uniquely specify an electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 .  
         [0133]    The first embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration is described below for an example of the case of making a recording reservation in the video apparatus  104  connected to the in-home network both by using TV program information which is described in HTML and provided by the HTTP server  106  connected to the Internet and by using an operation on the display screen of the WWW browser  102  having down-loaded a reservation screen (HTML data  105 ). This gives the description of the operation of the gateway apparatus  101  of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0134]    First, a user requests HTML data  105  to the HTTP server  106  for providing the HTML data  105  by using the WWW browser  102 .  
         [0135]    [0135]FIG. 7 shows an example of the display of the HTML data  105  provided by the HTTP server  106 . In FIG. 7, numeral  401  indicates a TV program selection button. Numeral  402  indicates a reservation button. Numeral  403  indicates a radio button for selecting an electronic device of recording objective.  
         [0136]    Next, the HTTP server  106  having received the request of HTML data  105  sends out the HTML data  105  to the WWW browser  102  via the gateway apparatus  101  of the first embodiment of the present invention. The WWW browser  102  then displays the down-loaded HTML data  105  onto the screen.  
         [0137]    Next, a user selects a TV program which he desires to record and push the determination button  402 . At this time, the WWW browser  102  adds, to the PUT instruction of HTTP, the information (TV program recording reservation information), such as the channel selected by the user, the recording start time, the recording stop time, and the device of recording objective, which is necessary to record the TV program, thereby sending it out to the HTTP server  106  via the gateway apparatus  101  of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0138]    The operation of the gateway apparatus  101  of the first embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to FIG. 5. In the gateway apparatus  101  of the first embodiment of the present invention, the data monitoring means  203  monitors the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  202  for the in-home network to the communication controlling means  201  for the Internet. When detecting a PUT instruction of HTTP in the data string, the data monitoring means  203  sends out the TV program recording reservation information attached to the PUT instruction, to the control command issuing means  207 .  
         [0139]    The control command issuing means  207  having received the TV program recording reservation information from the data monitoring means  203  first acquires the address information of the electronic device of destination of the control command from the TV program recording reservation information. When the acquired information is a name of class, an address is specified by referring the electronic device identification information table  205  for the address.  
         [0140]    The control command issuing means  207  then acquires a device-proper control code from the control command-control code correspondence table registered in the electronic device identification information table  205  by using both the address information and the control command of the device of control objective, thereby issuing the control command such as an AV/C command to the communication controlling means  208  depending on the received TV program recording reservation information. The communication controlling means  208  then outputs the control command from the control command issuing means  207  to the video apparatus  104 .  
         [0141]    The control command output from the control command issuing means  207  is a command using the control information stored in the table  205  shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a diagram used for describing the control command-control code correspondence table indicating the correspondence relation between the control command and the device-proper control code. It should be noted that the control command-control code correspondence table is prepared for each command system of the devices of control objective, and input from the electronic device identification information inputting means  209 .  
         [0142]    The present embodiment has been described for a method of monitoring the HTML request by using the HTTP server as the server. However, the present invention is not restricted to this combination. That is, it is sufficient that a specific data pattern is monitored in the data string and that the replacement is carried out as described above. Accordingly, the kind of network and protocol is not a problem, and hence for example, XML may be used in place of HTML.  
         [0143]    Further, the present embodiment has been described for an example of the case that the first network is an in-home network and that the second network is the Internet. However, the present invention is not restricted to this combination. That is, it is sufficient that the networks can be interconnected by a gateway apparatus of the present invention. Accordingly, the configuration of connection is not restricted to any specific configuration, and hence for example, the first network may be identical to the second network.  
         [0144]    Further, the above-mentioned first embodiment has been described for an example of the case that the information for controlling the video apparatus  104  is stored in the electronic device identification information table  205 . However, it is also possible that the information for controlling the video apparatus  104  is included in the data transmitted by the PDA apparatus  103  through the gateway apparatus  101  to the Internet and that the control command issuing means  207  issues the control command by using the information within the data.  
         [0145]    Furthermore, the above-mentioned first embodiment has been described for an example of the case that the information registered in the electronic device identification information table  205  is input from the electronic device identification information inputting means  209 . However, the information may be registered in the electronic device identification information table  205  by directly inputting to the gateway apparatus  101  by the user, by accessing from the PDA apparatus  103 , or by accessing from the video apparatus  104 .  
         [0146]    (Second Embodiment)  
         [0147]    A second embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.  
         [0148]    [0148]FIG. 8 is a diagram of a configuration using a gateway apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention. The description of the second embodiment is made for an exemplary configuration in which a first network is an in-home network, a second network is the Internet, and a gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment interconnects the Internet and the in-home network.  
         [0149]    In FIG. 8, numeral  101  indicates a gateway apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention. Numeral  502  indicates a WWW browser for permitting the browsing of HTML data. Numeral  503  indicates a PDA apparatus comprising the WWW browser  502 . Numeral  504  indicates a video apparatus which is an electronic device of control objective. Numeral  505  indicates HTML data which is described in HTML and includes EPG data and a control screen for controlling the video apparatus  504 . Numeral  506  indicates an HTTP server for providing the HTML data  505 . Numeral  507  is a video apparatus having the same function as that of the video apparatus  504 .  
         [0150]    The PDA apparatus  503 , the video apparatus  504 , and the video apparatus  507  are connected to the gateway apparatus  101 , and the gateway apparatus  101  is in turn connected to the Internet.  
         [0151]    [0151]FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of the gateway apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, numeral  201  indicates communication controlling means to the Internet. Numeral  202  indicates communication controlling means to the PDA apparatus  503  connected to the in-home network. Numeral  208  indicates communication controlling means to the video apparatuses  504 ,  507  connected to the in-home network. Numeral  203  indicates data monitoring means of monitoring the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  201  to the communication controlling means  202 . Numeral  205  indicates an electronic device identification information table for storing both the identification information of each electronic device connected through the communication controlling means  208  and the information for controlling the electronic device. Numeral  209  indicates means of registering a user input to the electronic device identification information table  205 . Numeral  204  indicates data replacing means of replacing a data string received from the data monitoring means  203  depending on the address information obtained from the electronic device identification information table  205 . Numeral  207  indicates control command issuing means of issuing a control command to an electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 .  
         [0152]    [0152]FIG. 10 illustrates the electronic device identification information which is input from the electronic device identification information inputting means  209  and then stored in the electronic device identification information table  205  in this embodiment. In FIG. 10, numeral  602  indicates the name of class of each electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 . Numeral  603  indicates the address of each electronic device registered in the name  602  of class of electronic device. The registered name  602  of class of an electronic device is a name of category such as a TV, a video player, and a CD player. The address  603  is sufficient to uniquely specify an electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 . In the configuration of FIG. 8, two video apparatuses are connected, and hence the names of class and the addresses of the two video apparatuses are registered in the electronic device identification information table  205 .  
         [0153]    The second embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration is described below for an example of the case of making a recording reservation in the video apparatus  504  or  507  connected to the in-home network both by using TV program information which is described in HTML and provided by the HTTP server  506  connected to the Internet and by using an operation on the display screen of the WWW browser  502  having down-loaded a reservation screen (HTML data  505 ). This gives the description of the operation of the gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0154]    First, a user requests HTML data  505  to the HTTP server  506  for providing the HTML data  505  by using the WWW browser  502 .  
         [0155]    [0155]FIG. 7 shows an example of the display of the HTML data  505  provided by the HTTP server  506 . In FIG. 7, numeral  401  indicates a TV program selection button. Numeral  402  indicates a reservation button. Numerals  403 ,  404  indicate radio buttons for selecting an electronic device of recording objective.  
         [0156]    Next, the HTTP server  506  having received the request of HTML data  505  sends out the HTML data  505  to the WWW browser  502  via the gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment of the present invention. The WWW browser  502  then displays the down-loaded HTML data  505  onto the screen.  
         [0157]    The operation when the HTML data  505  sent out from the HTTP server  506  passes through the gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to FIG. 9. In the gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment of the present invention, the data monitoring means  203  monitors the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  201  for the Internet to the communication controlling means  202  for the in-home network. When detecting a specific character string in the data string, the data monitoring means  203  sends out the detected character string to the data replacing means  204 .  
         [0158]    The data replacing means  204  then replaces the received data string depending on the referred electronic device identification information table  205  thereby to send it out to the communication controlling means  202 . For example, the case in which the gateway apparatus  101  receives the HTML data  505  shown in FIG. 7 is considered below. Here, it is assumed that a previously defined character string not displayed on the WWW browser is described in the radio button  403  of the HTML data  505 . At that time, the data monitoring means  203  detects the defined character string described in the HTML data  505  thereby to send out the HTML data  505  to the data replacing means  204 .  
         [0159]    The data replacing means  204  having received the HTML data  505  refers the electronic device identification information table  205  thereby to perform the address resolution of the name of class of the electronic device of control objective described in the HTML data  505 , and then replace the contents of the HTML data  505  depending on the information. In this example, since two video apparatuses are registered in the electronic device identification information table  205 , another radio button is added so as to permit the selection of the video apparatus of recording objective. FIG. 11 shows an example of the HTML data sent out to the WWW browser  502  after the replacement.  
         [0160]    When the electronic device identification information table  205  contains further detailed electronic device identification information such as the maker, the icon image, and the name of the device, the data replacing means  204  can use such information in the replacement. For example, in case of an input HTML data shown in FIG. 7, the gateway apparatus  101  can perform the replacement using the icon image illustrating the video apparatus and the name of the video apparatus in place of the radio button for video apparatus selection.  
         [0161]    [0161]FIG. 12 shows an example of the display of the HTML data provided to the WWW browser. In FIG. 12, numeral  701  indicates a TV program selection button. Numeral  702  indicates a reservation button. Numeral  703  indicates an icon image indicating a first video apparatus, while numeral  704  indicates the name of the first video apparatus. Numeral  705  indicates an icon image indicating a second video apparatus, while numeral  706  indicates the name of the second video apparatus. The icon images  703 ,  705  can be selected by using an inputting apparatus such as a mouse instead of the radio button. The following description is made by using the HTML data  707  shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0162]    Next, a user selects a TV program which he desires to record, and selects an video apparatus of recording objective by pushing an icon  703  or  705  and by pushing the determination button  702 . At this time, the WWW browser adds, to the PUT instruction of HTTP, the information (TV program recording reservation information) , such as the channel selected by the user, the recording start time, the recording stop time, and the device of recording objective, which is necessary to record the TV program, thereby sending it out to the HTTP server  506  via the gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0163]    The operation of the gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail. In the gateway apparatus  101  of the second embodiment of the present invention, the data monitoring means  203  monitors the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  202  for the in-home network to the communication controlling means  201  for the Internet. When detecting a PUT instruction of HTTP, the data monitoring means  203  sends out the TV program recording reservation information attached to the PUT instruction, to the control command issuing means  207 .  
         [0164]    The control command issuing means  207  having received the TV program recording reservation information from the data monitoring means  203  first acquires the address information of the electronic device of destination of the control command from the TV program recording reservation information. Since the acquired address information is already address-resolved, the control command issuing means  207  issues the control command such as an AV/C command to the communication controlling means  208  depending on the intact received TV program recording reservation information. Here, the issuing of the control command is carried out in the same manner as that described in the first embodiment.  
         [0165]    The present embodiment has been described for a method of monitoring the HTML request by using the HTTP server as the server. However, the present invention is not restricted to this combination. That is, it is sufficient that a specific data pattern is monitored in the data string and that the replacement is carried out as described above. Accordingly, the kind of network and protocol is not a problem, and hence for example, XML may be used in place of HTML.  
         [0166]    Further, the present embodiment has been described for an example of the case that the first network is an in-home network and that the second network is the Internet. However, the present invention is not restricted to this combination. That is, it is sufficient that the networks can be interconnected by a gateway apparatus of the present invention. Accordingly, the configuration of connection is not restricted to any specific configuration, and hence for example, the first network may be identical to the second network. Further, for example, in case that both of the first and the second networks of the present embodiment are the Internet, the same effect as described in the above-mentioned embodiment is obviously obtained also when an in-home network device is controlled through the public line and the Internet by using a portable PDA apparatus.  
         [0167]    (Third Embodiment)  
         [0168]    A third embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.  
         [0169]    [0169]FIG. 13 is a diagram of a configuration using a gateway apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention. The description of the third embodiment is made for an exemplary configuration in which a first network is an in-home network, a second network is the Internet, and a gateway apparatus  101  of the third embodiment interconnects the Internet and the in-home network.  
         [0170]    In FIG. 13, numeral  101  indicates a gateway apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention. Numeral  802  indicates a WWW browser for permitting the browsing of HTML data. Numeral  803  indicates a PDA apparatus comprising the WWW browser  802 . Numeral  804  indicates an oven range apparatus which is an electronic device of control objective. Numeral  805  indicates HTML data which is described in HTML and includes cooking data and a control screen for controlling the oven range apparatus  804 . Numeral  806  indicates an HTTP server for providing the HTML data  805 . Numeral  807  is an oven range apparatus having the same function as that of the oven range apparatus  804 .  
         [0171]    The PDA apparatus  803 , the oven range apparatus  804 , and the oven range apparatus  807  are connected to the gateway apparatus  101 , and the gateway apparatus  101  is in turn connected to the Internet.  
         [0172]    [0172]FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the gateway apparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, numeral  201  indicates communication controlling means to the Internet. Numeral  202  indicates communication controlling means to the PDA apparatus  803  connected to the in-home network. Numeral  208  indicates communication controlling means to the oven range apparatus  804  and the oven range apparatus  807  connected to the in-home network. Numeral  203  indicates data monitoring means of monitoring the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  201  to the communication controlling means  202 . Numeral  205  indicates an electronic device identification information table for storing the identification information of each electronic device connected through the communication controlling means  208 . Numeral  206  indicates means of acquiring the electronic device identification information from the communication controlling means  201 , the communication controlling means  202  or communication controlling means  208  thereby to register it to the electronic device identification information table  205 . Numeral  209  indicates means of registering a user input to the electronic device identification information table  205 . Numeral  204  indicates data replacing means of replacing a data string received from the data monitoring means  203  depending on the address information obtained from the electronic device identification information table  205 . Numeral  207  indicates control command issuing means of issuing a control command to an electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 .  
         [0173]    [0173]FIG. 14 illustrates the electronic device identification information table  205  containing the result of the electronic device identification information of each electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208  automatically obtained by the electronic device identification information acquiring means  206 . The electronic device identification information acquiring means  206  can treat also the electronic device identification information sent both from the Internet via the communication controlling means  201  and from the PDA apparatus  802  connected to the in-home network via the communication controlling means  202 .  
         [0174]    For example, when the network connected via the communication controlling means  208  is an IEEE 1394 network, the electronic device identification information acquiring means  206  monitors the state of the network connected to the communication controlling means  208 , via the communication controlling means  208 .  
         [0175]    In case of the occurrence of a change in the state of the network, for example, when a new device is added to the network connected to the communication controlling means  208 , the electronic device identification information acquiring means  206  detects the change in the state thereby to inquire the electronic device identification information, such as the device name, the device address, the icon, and the control command, to every device connected to the network.  
         [0176]    On receiving the reply from each device, the electronic device identification information acquiring means  206  registers the acquired electronic device identification information into the electronic device identification information table. As such, the electronic device identification information shown in FIG. 14 is registered in the electronic device identification information table  205 .  
         [0177]    When a device connected to the network connected to the communication controlling means  208  comprises HAVi, the device can reply to the inquiry from the electronic device identification information acquiring means  206 . That is, those devices which comprise HAVi can provide the electronic device identification information thereof.  
         [0178]    In FIG. 14, numeral  902  indicates the name of class of each electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 . Numeral  903  indicates the address of each electronic device registered in the name  902  of class of electronic device. The registered name  902  of class of an electronic device is a name of category such as a TV, a video player, and a CD player. The address  903  is sufficient to uniquely specify an electronic device connected to the communication controlling means  208 .  
         [0179]    In the configuration of FIG. 13, two oven range apparatuses are connected, and hence the names of class and the addresses of the oven range apparatuses are registered in the electronic device identification information table  205 .  
         [0180]    The third embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration is described below for an example of the case of cooking with an oven range apparatus connected to the in-home network both by using cooking information which is described in HTML and provided by the HTTP server connected to the Internet and by using an operation on the display screen of the WWW browser  802  having down-loaded a cooking selection screen (HTML data  805 ). This gives the description of the operation of the gateway apparatus  101  of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0181]    First, a user requests HTML data  805  to the HTTP server  806  for providing both the cooking information and the cooking selection screen (HTML data  805 ) described in HTML by using the WWW browser  802 . FIG. 15 shows an example of the display of the HTML data  805  provided by the HTTP server  806 . In the figure, numeral  1101  indicates a menu selection button. Numeral  1102  indicates a cooking start button. Numeral  1103  indicates a radio button for selecting an electronic device of cooking objective.  
         [0182]    Next, the HTTP server  806  having received the request of HTML data  805  sends out the HTML data  805  to the WWW browser  802  via the gateway apparatus  101  of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0183]    The operation when the HTML data  805  sent out from the HTTP server  806  passes through the gateway apparatus  101  of the third embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to FIG. 1. In the gateway apparatus  101  of the present invention, the data monitoring means  203  monitors the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  201  for the Internet to the communication controlling means  202  for the in-home network. When detecting a specific character string in the data string, the data monitoring means  203  sends out the detected character string to the data replacing means  204 .  
         [0184]    The data replacing means  204  then refers the electronic device identification information table  205  thereby to replace the received data string depending on the result, thereby sending it out to the communication controlling means  202 . For example, the case in which the gateway apparatus  101  receives the HTML data  1105  shown in FIG. 15 is considered below. Here, it is assumed that a previously defined character string not displayed on the WWW browser is described in the radio button  1103  of the HTML data  1105 .  
         [0185]    At that time, the data monitoring means  203  detects the defined character string described in the HTML data  1105  thereby to send out the HTML data  1105  to the data replacing means  204 . The data replacing means  204  having received the HTML data  1105  refers the electronic device identification information table  205  thereby to perform the address resolution of the name of class of the electronic device of control objective described in the HTML data  1105 , and then replace the contents of the HTML data  1105  depending on the information.  
         [0186]    In this example, since two oven range apparatuses are registered in the electronic device identification information table  205 , another radio button is added so as to permit the selection of the oven range apparatus of cooking objective. FIG. 16 shows an example of the HTML data after the replacement.  
         [0187]    When the electronic device identification information table  205  contains further detailed electronic device identification information such as the maker, the icon image, and the name of the device, the data replacing means  204  can use such information in the replacement. For example, in case of an input HTML data shown in FIG. 15, the gateway apparatus  101  can perform the replacement using the icon image illustrating the oven range apparatus and the name of the oven range apparatus in place of the radio button for oven range apparatus selection.  
         [0188]    [0188]FIG. 17 shows an example of the display of the HTML data provided to the WWW browser. In the figure, numeral  1201  indicates a menu selection button. Numeral  1202  indicates a cooking start button. Numeral  1203  indicates an icon image indicating an oven range apparatus, while numeral  1204  indicates the name of the oven range apparatus. Numeral  1205  indicates an icon image indicating a second oven range apparatus, while numeral  1206  indicates the name of the second oven range apparatus. The icon images  1203 ,  1205  can be selected by using an inputting apparatus such as a mouse instead of the radio button. The following description is made by using the HTML data  1207  shown in FIG.  17 .  
         [0189]    Next, a user selects a menu which he desires to cook, and selects an oven range apparatus of cooking objective by pushing an icon  1203  or  1205  and by pushing the cooking start button  1202 . At this time, the WWW browser  802  adds, to the PUT instruction of HTTP, the information (cooking information), such as cooking temperature, cooking time, cooking method, and the device of cooking objective, which is necessary to cook, thereby sending it out to the HTTP server  806  via the gateway apparatus  101  of the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0190]    The operation of the gateway apparatus  101  of the third embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail. In the gateway apparatus  101  of the third embodiment of the present invention, the data monitoring means  203  monitors the data string which flows from the communication controlling means  202  for the in-home network to the communication controlling means  201  for the Internet. When detecting a PUT instruction of HTTP, the data monitoring means  203  sends out the cooking information attached to the PUT instruction, to the control command issuing means  207 .  
         [0191]    The control command issuing means  207  having received the cooking information from the data monitoring means  203  first acquires the address information of the electronic device of destination of the control command from the cooking information. Since the acquired address information is already address-resolved, the control command issuing means  207  issues the control command to the communication controlling means  208  depending on the intact received cooking information.  
         [0192]    The present embodiment has been described for a method of monitoring the HTML request by using the HTTP server as the server. However, the present invention is not restricted to this combination. That is, it is sufficient that a specific data pattern is monitored in the data string and that the replacement is carried out as described above. Accordingly, the kind of network and protocol is not a problem, and hence for example, XML may be used in place of HTML.  
         [0193]    Further, the present embodiment has been described for an example of the case that the first network is an in-home network and that the second network is the Internet. However, the present invention is not restricted to this combination. That is, it is sufficient that the networks can be interconnected by a gateway apparatus of the present invention. Accordingly, the configuration of connection is not restricted to any specific configuration, and hence for example, the first network may be identical to the second network.  
         [0194]    Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to perform the function of all or a part of the means of the above-mentioned the gateway apparatus of the present invention, and hence a program working in cooperation with the computer.  
         [0195]    Here, “a part of the means of the present invention” indicates either a certain number of pieces of the plural pieces of the means thereof or a part of the function of a piece of means.  
         [0196]    Further, a computer readable recording medium having recorded a program of the present invention is included within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0197]    In an embodiment of the use of a program of the present invention, the program may be recorded on a computer readable recording medium thereby to work in cooperation with a computer.  
         [0198]    Further, in an embodiment of the use of a program of the present invention, the program may be transferred through a transferring medium, and read by a computer thereby to work in cooperation with the computer.  
         [0199]    The media include a ROM, while the transferring media include a transferring medium such as the Internet, light, radio waves, and sound waves.  
         [0200]    Further, the computer of the present invention referred above is not limited pure hardware such as CPU or the like, and it may include firmware, operating system, I/O devices and peripheral devices.  
         [0201]    Further, as described above, the configuration of the present invention may be implemented by a software or a hardware.  
         [0202]    As described above, the present invention permits the control of electronic devices, such as a TV, a VTR, and a CD player, in an in-home network by using information provided on the WWW of the Internet by using an ordinary WWW browser without preparing any dedicated application for the control.  
         [0203]    At that time, each electronic device can be controlled without installing an HTTP server in each electronic device of control objective. Further, a user can instruct each electronic device directly without temporarily down-loading the information such as a program table.  
         [0204]    Further, the present invention provides a notable effect that the system is not restricted by the control commands supported by the electronic devices to be controlled and that the control scheme can be freely set and easily enhanced at later stages.