Patent Publication Number: US-2004052347-A1

Title: Gateway card, gateway device, gateway control method, and computer product

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1) Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a gateway card for adjusting communication protocols between different networks using remote control.  
       [0003] 2) Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Recently, not only personal computers, but also home appliances such as the televisions and telephones, have been equipped with the Internet connection function that makes it possible to connect these home appliances to the Internet.  
       [0005] When a user purchases such an apparatus, it is required to do settings so that the apparatus can be connected to an access point of the Internet. These settings generally take lot of time and are tedious. Moreover, it is necessary to connect these apparatuses to telephone lines, to computers etc. These connections are generally complex and troublesome.  
       [0006] A gateway device called a home gateway or the like has attracted attention in recent years. What this device does is that it adjusts differences in communication protocols between the network at home and external networks including the Internet.  
       [0007] Precisely, all the devices in the home that have the Internet connection function are connected to this gateway device and the gateway device is connected to the public telephone line or other network. All the devices connected to the gateway device can be connected to the Internet so that tedious settings or complex wiring is not required.  
       [0008] A remote control system that remote controls home appliances such as a video recorder via the Internet and the gateway apparatus, has been proposed.  
       [0009] This type of remote control system has been disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-78036, 2001-95067, 2002-77274, and 2001-53779.  
       [0010] When such gateway devices are to be used in the offices, reliability of the gateway device is given priority over its power consumption. However, when such gateway devices are to be used at homes, the power consumption is given priority over the reliability.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] It is an object of the invention to at least solve the problems in the conventional technology.  
       [0012] A gateway card according to one aspect of the present invention is connected to an information processor and receives and transmits data between different networks. This gateway card includes a receiving unit that receives from a remote control device remote control data to be set to an apparatus to be remote controlled and a remote control request; a data setting unit that makes the information processor set the remote control data to the apparatus to be remote controlled; and a power control unit that changes a power mode of the information processor from a power-saving mode to a normal power mode when the receiving unit receives the remote control request, and changes the power mode from the normal power mode to the power-saving mode when the setting of in the remote control data to apparatus to be remote controlled is complete.  
       [0013] A gateway control method according to another aspect of the present invention is applied to a gateway card that is connected to an information processor and that receives and transmits data between different networks. This gateway control method includes receiving from a remote control device remote control data to be set to an apparatus to be remote controlled and a remote control request; shifting a power mode of the information processor from a power-saving mode to a normal power mode upon reception of the remote control request; making the information processor set the remote control data to the apparatus to be remote controlled; and shifting the power mode of the information processor from the normal power mode to the power-saving mode, when the setting of in the remote control data to apparatus to be remote controlled is complete.  
       [0014] A gateway apparatus according to still another aspect of the present invention has an information processor and a gateway section that is connected to the information processor and that receives and transmits data between different networks. The gateway section includes a receiving unit that receives from a remote control device remote control data to be set to an apparatus to be remote controlled and a remote control request; a returning unit that issues a return notification to return a power mode of the information processor from a power-saving mode to a normal power mode when the receiving unit receives the remote control request; a data setting unit that makes the information processor set the remote control data to the apparatus to be remote controlled; and a changing unit that issues a shift notification to change the power mode of the information processor from the normal power mode to the power-saving mode when the setting of in the remote control data to apparatus to be remote controlled is complete. The information processor includes a power control unit that returns the power mode of the information processor from the power-saving mode to the normal power mode based on the return notification, and changes the power mode of the information processor from the normal power mode to the power-saving mode based on the shift notification.  
       [0015] A gateway control method according to still another aspect of the present invention is applied to a gateway apparatus that has an information processor and a gateway section that is connected to the information processor and that receives and transmits data between different networks. The gateway section executes receiving from a remote control device remote control data to be set to an apparatus to be remote controlled and a remote control request; issuing a return notification to return a power mode of the information processor from a power-saving mode to a normal power mode when the remote control request is received; making the information processor set the remote control data to the apparatus to be remote controlled; and issuing a shift notification to change the power mode of the information processor from the normal power mode to the power-saving mode, when the setting of in the remote control data to apparatus to be remote controlled is complete. The information processor executes returning the power mode of the information processor from the power-saving mode to the normal power mode based on the return notification, and changing the power mode of the information processor from the normal power mode to the power-saving mode based on the shift notification.  
       [0016] Computer programs according to still other aspects of the present invention execute the methods according to the present invention on a computer.  
       [0017] The other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are specifically set forth in or will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a structure of a remote control system according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a detailed structure of a switching section  517  shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of power mode shift operation.  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of a remote control operation according to the embodiment;  
     [0022]FIGS. 5A to  5 C show various kinds of screens according to the embodiment; and  
     [0023]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a structure of a modification of the embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0024] Exemplary embodiments of the gateway card, the gateway apparatus, the gateway control method, and the computer program relating to the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0025]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a structure of a remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a remote control system in which a Wide Area Network (WAN)  200  and a Local Area Network (LAN)  400 , having mutually different communication protocols and different standards, are connected to each other via a gateway personal computer  500 . The remote control system enables a remote client  100  or a local client  300  to remote control a video recorder  310  or an air conditioner  320 .  
     [0026] The WAN  200  is a network such as the Internet, a public line network, a radio communication network, a CATV (CAble TeleVision) network, and the like. The WAN  200  interconnects remote computers to each other according to predetermined, mutually different communication protocols. The WAN  200  will be explained by taking the Internet as an example.  
     [0027] The remote client  100  is a computer (such as a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a portable terminal) that is connected to the WAN  200 . The remote client  100  works as a remote control apparatus that remote controls apparatus such as the video recorder  310  and the air conditioner  320 , as described later.  
     [0028] The remote client  100  records a television program and the like into the video recorder  310 , as set in advance. The remote client  100  also sets a mode of operation and conditions such as air temperature and wind level, in the air conditioner  320 .  
     [0029] Servers  100   1  to  100   n  are connected to the WAN  200 . The servers  100   1  to  100   n  are, for example, mail servers, WWW (World Wide Web) servers, and the like. The servers  100   1  to  100   n  provide mail services and WWW site services, and the like to the local client  300  and the like via the WAN  200 , the gateway personal computer  500 , and the LAN  400 .  
     [0030] The local client  300  (such as a desktop personal computer, and a notebook personal computer) is connected to the LAN  400  laid down at home. Like the remote client  100 , the local client  300  works as a remote control apparatus that remote controls apparatuses such as the video recorder  310  and the air conditioner  320 .  
     [0031] In other words, the remote client  100  and the local client  300  can remotely control home apparatuses.  
     [0032] The local client  300  also has a function of receiving various kinds of services by accessing the servers  1001  to  100   n  via the LAN  400 , a gateway card  510 , and the WAN  200 .  
     [0033] The video recorder  310  is connected to the LAN  400 , and records television programs and the like. The remote client  100  or the local client  300  remote controls the setting of the programs to be recorded in this video recorder  310  as one of the apparatuses to be remote controlled.  
     [0034] The air conditioner  320  is also connected to the LAN  400  like the video recorder  310 , and carries out room air conditioning. The remote client  100  or the local client  300  remote controls the settings in this air conditioner  320  as one of the apparatuses to be remote controlled.  
     [0035] The gateway personal computer  500  is installed at home and is exclusively used to provide functions of a gateway such as a router function and a bridge function, and, additionally, a remote control function. The gateway is a general term of hardware and software that make it possible to interconnect between the WAN  200  and the LAN  400  by adjusting a difference between the communication protocols of these networks. The remote control function is the function of remote controlling the apparatuses such as the video recorder  310  and the air conditioner  320 .  
     [0036] The gateway personal computer  500  includes the gateway card  510 , a personal computer  520 , a power supply unit  530 , and a common HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  540 .  
     [0037] The gateway card  510  is a card-type gateway device that can be detachably inserted into an inserting section  521  of the personal computer  520 . This gateway card  510  provides the functions of the gateway and the remote control function.  
     [0038] The personal computer  520  is a general personal computer and a remote control unit. The power supply unit  530  supplies power to each section of the gateway card  510  and the personal computer  520 .  
     [0039] The common HDD  540  is a large-capacity memory that is shared by the gateway card  510  and the personal computer  520 . This common HDD  540  stores, for example, the operating systems and the application programs that are used in the gateway card  510  and the personal computer  520  respectively. A switching section  517  executes a switching of the common HDD  540 .  
     [0040] Various kinds of application programs are stored in the common HDD  540 . Of these, the application programs used in the personal computer  520  include a resident application program, a power control program, a video-recording control program, an air-conditioning control program, and an e-mail control program.  
     [0041] The resident application program is a computer program that implements functions of a main controller  522  to be described later. The power control program is a computer program that implements functions of a power controller  523 .  
     [0042] The recording control program is a computer program that implements functions of a video-recording controller  524 . The air-conditioning control program is a computer program that implements functions of an air-conditioning controller  525 . The e-mail control program is a computer program that implements functions of an e-mail controller  526 .  
     [0043] The gateway card  510  has a WAN interface section  511  that is connected to the WAN  200 . The WAN interface section  511  functions as a communication interface with the WAN  200 . Similarly, the gateway card  510  has a LAN interface section  512  that is connected to the LAN  400 . The LAN interface section  512  functions as a communication interface with the LAN  400 .  
     [0044] The gateway card  510  has an input/output interface section  513  that is detachably inserted into the insertion section  521  of the personal computer  520 . The input/output interface section  513  functions as an interface with the personal computer  520 .  
     [0045] The gateway card  510  has a communication protocol controller  514  that carries out a control to adjust a difference between the communication protocols of the WAN  200  and the LAN  400 . That is, the communication protocol controller  514  performs the analysis of communication protocols of the WAN  200  and the LAN  400  to make the interconnection possible.  
     [0046] The gateway card  510  has a remote control receiver  515  that receives a remote control instructions from the remote client  100  or the local client  300  based on various kinds of screens (see FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C).  
     [0047] A menu screen illustrated in FIG. 5A is used to select any one of the apparatuses to be remote controlled, that is, either the video recorder  310  or the air conditioner  320 . A recording setting screen illustrated in FIG. 5B is used to set data corresponding to the video recorder  310 , such as a video recording channel, and a video recording time zone.  
     [0048] An air-conditioning setting screen illustrated in FIG. 5C is used to set data corresponding to the air conditioner  320 , such as an operation mode, a wind level, and a temperature.  
     [0049] Referring back to FIG. 1, the gateway card  510  has a memory  516  that is a rewritable read-only memory that requires no back-up power supply and can electrically erase stored data. This memory  516  is a flash EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or the like. This memory  516  stores system data and other data. When the gateway card  510  provides functions of a router, for example, the system data includes an IP (Internet Protocol) address, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) data, line data, filtering data, and firmware.  
     [0050]FIG. 2 shows the detail structure of the switching section  517 . This switching section  517  can connect the common HDD  540  to the gateway card  510  or to the personal computer  520 . When the switching section  517  connects the gateway card  510  to the common HDD  540 , the gateway card  510  can access the common HDD  540 . On the other hand, when the switching section  517  connects the gateway card  510  to the personal computer  520 , the personal computer  520  can access the common HDD  540 .  
     [0051] The gateway card  510  assigns specific addresses to be able to distinguish between the remote client  100  and the local client  300 .  
     [0052] Referring back to FIG. 1, the personal computer  520  has an inserting section  521 , into which the input/output interface  513  of the gateway card  510  is inserted. The personal computer  520  has a main controller  522  that controls operation of every section of the personal computer  520 . The personal computer  520  has a power controller  523  that can set the operation of the personal computer  520  in a normal operation mode or a power-saving operation mode. A power supply unit  530  supplies power to every section of the personal computer  520  based on the mode set by the power controller  523 .  
     [0053] The normal operation mode means that a rated power is supplied to each section of the personal computer  520 . The power-saving operation mode means that a minimum necessary power (which is lower than the rated power) is supplied to every section of the personal computer  520 . Since low power is supplied in the power-saving operation mode, it is possible to save power and reduce the electric bill in the power-saving operation mode.  
     [0054] The power-saving operation mode is classified into a standby mode and a suspension mode. In the standby mode, a memory  527  in the personal computer  520  stores the work data and, therefore, it is necessary to keep supplying power to this memory  527 . On the other hand, in the suspension mode, the common HDD  540  stores the work data, and power supply to this common HDD  540  is set off. Thus, in the standby mode there is no need to supply power to the personal computer  520 . As a result, power consumption in the suspension mode is much smaller than that in the standby mode.  
     [0055] The power controller  523  carries out a control of shifting the power mode from a normal operation mode to a power-saving operation mode when a shift factor occurred, and returning the power mode from the power-saving operation mode to the normal operation mode when a return factor occurred.  
     [0056] The shift factor includes an end of a remote-control operation in the personal computer  520 . On the other hand, the return factor includes a return request from the gateway card  510 .  
     [0057] The personal computer  520  has a video-recording controller  524  that sets the remote control data input in the recording setting screen (see FIG. 5B), to the video recorder  310 . The air-conditioning controller  525  sets the remote control data input in the air-conditioning setting screen (see FIG. 5C), to the air conditioner  320 .  
     [0058] The e-mail controller  526  prepares a completion e-mail to indicate that the video-recording controller  524  or the air-conditioning controller  525  has completed the remote control settings, and hands over this completion e-mail to the gateway card  510 .  
     [0059] The memory  527  stores various kinds of data. An input/display section  528  includes a keyboard and a mouse used to input various kinds of data. The input/display section  528  further includes a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays screens and data.  
     [0060] Power mode shift operation and power control operation according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to sequence diagrams illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram that explains power mode shift operation according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is sequence diagrams that explain remote control operation in the embodiment.  
     [0061] When the power mode of the personal computer  520  is the normal operation mode and the power mode shift factor occurs at step SA 1  (see FIG. 3), the main controller  522  of the personal computer  520  notifies the gateway card  510  of a shift from the normal operation mode to a power-saving operation mode at step SA 2 .  
     [0062] At step SA 3 , the communication protocol controller  514  of the gateway card  510  notifies a response to the main controller  522  of the personal computer  520  to confirm the shift notice.  
     [0063] At step SA 4 , the main controller  522  instructs the power controller  523  to shift the power mode from the normal operation mode to the power-saving operation mode. At step SA 5 , the power controller  523  shifts the power mode from the normal operation mode to the power-saving operation mode. As a result, the personal computer  520  can decrease power consumption.  
     [0064] Assume that the power mode of the personal computer  520  is the power-saving operation mode. In this state, at step SB 1  illustrated in FIG. 4, the remote client  100  or the local client  300  accesses the gateway card  510  via the WAN  200  or the LAN  400 , in order to execute a remote control.  
     [0065] At step SB 2 , the remote control receiver  515  of the gateway card  510  instructs the display section of the remote client  100  to display the menu screen (see FIG. 5A).  
     [0066] At step SB 3 , the user at the remote client  100  selects an apparatus to be remote controlled from the menu screen A, and inputs remote control data on the recording setting screen B or the air-conditioning setting screen C. As an example, assume that the user selects the video recorder  310  as the apparatus to be remote controlled, and inputs the remote control data on the recording setting screen B.  
     [0067] At step SB 4 , the remote control receiver  515  analyzes the protocol relating to the input remote control data (see FIG. 5B). The input remote control data includes specific address that are assigned in advance, and that corresponds to the apparatus to be remote controlled. By analyzing the protocol, the remote control receiver  515  determines the apparatus to be remote controlled, that is, the video recorder  310 , in this example.  
     [0068] At step SB 5 , the remote control receiver  515  notifies the power controller  523  of the personal computer  520  of a request to return the power mode of the personal computer  520  from the power-saving operation mode to the normal operation mode.  
     [0069] At step SB 6 , the power controller  523  returns the power mode from the power-saving operation mode to the normal operation mode. As a result, rated power is supplied to each section of the personal computer  520 , so that the personal computer  520  wakes up.  
     [0070] At step SB 7 , the power controller  523  notifies the gateway card  510  of the return to normal operation mode. At step SB 8 , the remote control receiver  515  hands over to the main controller  522  of the personal computer  520 , the remote control data (refer to FIG. 5B) input at step SB 3  together with the result of the protocol analysis at step SB 4 .  
     [0071] At step SB 9 , the main controller  522  starts the video-recording controller  524  corresponding to the the video recorder  310  (the apparatus to be remote controlled in this example) based on the remote control data, and hands over the remote control data to the video-recording controller  524 . Similarly, if the air conditioner  320  is the apparatus to be remote controlled, the main controller  522  starts the air-conditioning controller  525 , and hands over the remote control data to the air-conditioning controller  525 .  
     [0072] At step SB 10 , the video-recording controller  524  accesses the video recorder  310  (the apparatus to be remote controlled in this example) via the gateway card  510  and the LAN  400 , to verify that the same remote control data has not already been set. If the same remote control data has already been set to the video recorder  310 , the series of remote control operation is interrupted, and an error occurs.  
     [0073] At step SB 11 , the video-recording controller  524  accesses the video recorder  310  (the apparatus to be remote controlled in this example) via the gateway card  510  and the LAN  400 , and sets the remote control data (refer to FIG. 5B). As a result, the required recording settings in the video recorder  310  are done based on the remote control data.  
     [0074] At step SB 12 , The e-mail controller  526  prepares the completion e-mail to indicate that the video recorder  310  (the apparatus to be remote controlled in this example) has completed the setting of the remote control data. At step SB 13 , The e-mail controller  526  hands over the prepared completion e-mail to the gateway card  510  via the inserting section  521  and the input/output interface  513 .  
     [0075] At step SB 14 , the communication protocol controller  514  of the gateway card  510  transmits the completion e-mail to the remote client  100  via the WAN  200 .  
     [0076] After the transmission of the completion e-mail, at step SB 15 , the remote control receiver  515  notifies the personal computer  520  of a shift factor (end of the access) to shift the power mode from the normal operation mode to the power-saving operation mode.  
     [0077] As a result, at step SA 1  illustrated in FIG. 3, the shift factor of the power mode in the personal computer  520  occurs. The processing at steps SA 2  to SA 5  is executed subsequently, and the power mode of the personal computer  520  is shifted from the normal operation mode to the power-saving operation mode.  
     [0078] As explained above, according to the present embodiment, the remote client  100  or the local client  300  as the remote-control device issues a remote control request. In response to this request, the gateway card  510  instructs the personal computer  520  to return the power mode from the power-saving operation mode to the normal operation mode, and sets the remote control data to the apparatus to be remote controlled (i.e., the video recorder  310  or the air conditioner  320 ). After completion of the setting, the gateway card  510  shifts the power mode from the normal operation mode to the power-saving operation mode. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption when there is a plurality of apparatuses that can be remote controlled.  
     [0079] When the setting of the remote control data is completed, the completion e-mail is prepared by the personal computer  520 . This completion mail is transmitted to the remote client  100  or the local client  300 . Therefore, it is possible to notify the user of the completion of the setting, which increases the convenience of the user.  
     [0080] The remote control receiver  515  of the gateway card  510  determines one of a plurality of apparatuses to be remote controlled (the video recorder  310  and the air conditioner  320 ), by analyzing the remote control data. The remote control receiver  515  sets the remote control data to the apparatus to be remote controlled. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption when there is a plurality of apparatuses that can be remote controlled.  
     [0081] A computer program for realizing the functions of the gateway personal computer (the gateway card  510 , and the personal computer  520 ) may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium  700  illustrated in FIG. 6. A computer  600  illustrated in this drawing may read the program recorded on the recording medium  700 , and execute the program to realize the functions.  
     [0082] The computer  600  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  610  that executes the program, an input device  620  such as a keyboard and a mouse, a ROM (Read Only Memory)  630  that stores various kinds of data, a RAM (Random Access Memory)  640  that stores operation parameters, a reading device  650  that reads the program from the recording medium  700 , an output device  660  such as a display and a printer, and a bus  670  that connects between the devices.  
     [0083] The CPU  610  reads the program recorded on the recording medium  700 , via the reading device  650 , and executes the program, thereby to realize the above functions. An optical disk, a flexible disk, and a hard disk may be used as the recording medium  700 .  
     [0084] As explained above, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the power consumption when there is a plurality of apparatuses that are to be remote controlled.  
     [0085] Moreover, it is possible to notify the user of the completion of the setting, which makes the apparatus convenient to use.  
     [0086] Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.