Abstract:
The present invention is to provide a method enabling a first electronic device to execute steps of: connecting to a cloud server; establishing connection with a second electronic device to obtain a second device parameter stored in the second electronic device; transmitting a first device parameter stored therein and the second device parameter to the cloud server; receiving and storing a token generated by the cloud server, wherein the token is associated with management data stored in the cloud server when the cloud server determines that the first and second device parameters correspond to the management data; and transmitting the token to the second electronic device; such that the first and second electronic devices are stored with the same token, and the cloud server transmits a control instruction to the first and second electronic devices according to the tokens when the second electronic device is connected to the cloud server.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to a method of managing electronic devices, more particularly, to a method of utilizing token to enable a plurality of electronic devices to act simultaneously with each other. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Recently, as various portable electronic devices become popular, people&#39;s lifestyles and habits have obvious change gradually. Currently, people can handle office routines without staying at office, buy movie ticket without going to movie theater, or watch pet at home by using internet camera even if being outdoors. It is obvious that an application area of the portable electronic device is very widely, so the portable electronic device is also called a smart device. In order to make the smart devices further go to people&#39;s life deeply and dig out more potential business opportunity, many device providers further make efforts in integrating the smart device with existing various electrical apparatuses, and expect to establish a comfortable life with remote control technology, such technology is called           smart family          . 
         [0003]    According to investigations and analyses of the marketing research companies, a market of the smart family technology is estimated to have 17.74% in compound annual growth rate from year 2013 to year 2020, and the market scope in year 2020 will rise to 517.7 hundred million U.S. dollar. Therefore, the smart family is a mainstream development in the industry in the future. In order to implement ideal functions of the smart family,           wireless network           and           cloud management           are necessary basic technologies, it means that various electrical apparatuses must be provided with function of getting on the Internet, so that the user can remotely operate and manage the electrical apparatuses conveniently. 
         [0004]    In order to enable the existing electrical apparatuses to link with the network for management, some companies developed a device called           smart power switch          . Please refer to  FIG. 1 , an exterior appearance of the smart power switch looks like a small adapter, and the smart power switch  1  has a male plug  11  and a female socket  12 , and is further equipped with a network module for connecting to a network apparatus (such as a router) and further linking with the Internet. Therefore, the user just needs to plug the male plug  11  to a power source socket and connect the female socket  12  with the electrical apparatus (such as air conditioner, television or lamp), so that the user can remotely control the turning-on/off of the electrical apparatus by using the smart device (such as smart phone) to transmit a control signal via the Internet. In addition, smart power switch  1  can be installed other assistant function (such as a display screen  13  for displaying power consumption). 
         [0005]    However, not every user has experience and knowledge about network configuration, so it is not easy to popularize the smart family if the configuration method is too inextricable and complicated. In addition, even if the user can control or manage all electrical apparatuses at home anytime and anywhere by the smart device carried with the user, but the operating actions which the user is required to do are not reduced, so the management is insufficiently convenient. For example, when the user wants to turn on the television, the lamp and the air conditioner at the same time, the user can remotely control by using the smart device without going to the front of the three electrical apparatuses, but the user still has to perform the operating actions for these three electrical apparatuses respectively. The user cannot turn on all electrical apparatuses by one-time operations. 
         [0006]    In conclusion, there is a lack of a management method to provide the user to transmit corresponding instructions to all electrical apparatuses according to current demand or life habit. Therefore, what is need is a method which can be managed and operated more easily, and such method can provide the user to configure based upon his or her life habit and demand for facilitating to manage various electrical apparatuses in ambience. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Because the existing service of smart family lacks a method to provide the user to configure and control various electrical apparatuses according to user&#39;s life habit and demand, the inventor bases many years research knowledge and industry experience, and performs test improvement for many times, to design a method of utilizing token to enable a plurality of electronic devices to act simultaneously with each other, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. 
         [0008]    Objective of the present disclosure is to provide a method of utilizing token to enable a plurality of electronic devices to act simultaneously with each other. The method is adapted in a management system which includes a cloud server, a network apparatus (such as a router), a first electronic device (such as a smart phone) and a second electronic device (such as a smart power switch). The cloud server is stored with a plurality of management data, and the first electronic device and the second electronic device are stored a first device parameter and a second device parameter (such as machine code during manufacturing), respectively. In the method, the first electronic device executes following steps of: connecting to the cloud server; establishing connection with the second electronic device to obtain the second device parameter stored in the second electronic device; transmitting the first device parameter and the second device parameter to the cloud server; on the cloud server, generating a token and associating the token with the management data when the cloud server determines that the first device parameter and the second device parameter correspond to the management data, respectively; receiving and storing the token returned by the cloud server, and transmitting the token to the second electronic device to enable the first electronic device and the second electronic device to store the same token, so that the cloud server respectively transmits a control instruction to the first electronic device and the second electronic device respectively according to the tokens when the second electronic device is connected to the cloud server. 
         [0009]    Other objective of the present disclosure is that the first electronic device still stores a set of configuration data, so that the first electronic device can be linked to the network apparatus according to the configuration data. In addition, in the method, the first electronic device can transmit the configuration data to the second electronic device when the first electronic device determines that a connection between the second electronic device and the network apparatus is not established yet, so that the second electronic device can establish connection with the network apparatus according to the configuration data. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The detailed structure, operating principle and effects of the present disclosure will now be described in more details hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the present disclosure as follows. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a smart power switch in the prior art; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a management system in which the present disclosure is applied; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a flow of the present disclosure; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of other flow of the present disclosure; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of exemplary embodiments and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, as well as other exemplary embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. The relative proportions and ratios of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated or diminished in size for the sake of clarity and convenience in the drawings, and such arbitrary proportions are only illustrative and not limiting in any way. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0016]    It will be understood that, although the terms ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of embodiments. As used herein, the term “or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0017]    The present disclosure illustrates a method of utilizing a token to enable a plurality of electronic devices to act simultaneously with each other. Please refer to  FIG. 2  which is a schematic view of the management system  2  in which the present disclosure is applied. The management system  2  includes a first electronic device  21  (such as a smart phone), a second electronic device  22  (such as a smart power switch), a network apparatus  23  (such as a router) and a cloud server  24 . The first electronic device  21  and the second electronic device  22  are stored a first device parameter  211  and a second device parameter  221 , respectively. The first device parameter  211  and the second device parameter  221  are machine codes preset in the electronic device  21  and  22  during manufacture; however, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
         [0018]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 , the cloud server  24  is stored with a plurality of management data  241 , and each of management data  241  and each of the device parameters  211  and  221  are the same type of the parameter data. In this exemplary embodiment, the device parameters  211  and  221  are the machine codes, so the manufacturer can store the machine codes in the cloud server  24  during manufacture for use as the management data, whereby the cloud server  24  can identify the electronic devices  21  and  22  according to the management data  241 . In addition, in other exemplary embodiment, the device parameters  211  and  221 , and the management data  241  can also be generated while the user registers the cloud server  24 . 
         [0019]    Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . The method of the present disclosure mainly can store the same token in the electronic devices  21  and  22  both to facilitate managing operation, and the first electronic device  21  is operated to execute following steps. 
         [0020]    In step ( 301 ), the first electronic device  21  is connected to the network apparatus  23 , for linking with the Internet  20  via the network apparatus  23 , so that the first electronic device  21  can further be linked with the cloud server  24 . In other embodiment of the present disclosure, if the first electronic device  21  is the smart phone, the first electronic device  21  can also be linked to the cloud server  24  via its 2G/3G/4G communication networks. 
         [0021]    In step ( 302 ), a connection is established between the first electronic device  21  and the second electronic device  22 . The way of connection can utilize the local area network built by the network apparatus  23 , functions of Bluetooth/infrared of the electronic devices  21  and  22 , or a dedicated cell phone program APP installed in the electronic devices  21  and  22 . After the connection is established, the first electronic device  21  can get the second device parameter  221  contained in the second electronic device  22 . 
         [0022]    In step ( 303 ), via the Internet  20  the first device parameter  211  and the second device parameter  221  are transmitted to the cloud server  24 . The cloud server can search the management data  241  corresponding to the device parameters  211  and  221  to identify the electronic devices  21  and  22 . Next, the cloud server  24  can generate a token T and associate the token T with each of the management data  241 , and then return the token T to the first electronic device  21 . 
         [0023]    In step ( 304 ), the first electronic device  21  receives and stores the token T returned from the cloud server  24 , and transmits the token T to the second electronic device  22 , whereby the same token T is stored in the first electronic device  21  and the second electronic device  22  both. 
         [0024]    In step ( 305 ), in the condition of the second electronic device  22  also linked with the cloud server  24  later, the cloud server  24  can transmit a control instruction to the first electronic device  21  and the second electronic device  22  according to the token, whereby each of the electronic devices  21  and  22  can execute the action corresponding to the control instruction received, for example, the action of turning on or turning off, or other function. 
         [0025]    Therefore, according to the token T stored in the electronic devices  21  and  22 , the cloud server  24  can transmit a control instruction to all of the electronic devices  21  and  22  having the same token T, so as to achieve the effect of acting simultaneously. Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . The method of controlling simultaneous action is described in following paragraph, in view of the cloud server  24 . 
         [0026]    First, in step ( 401 ), the cloud server  24  receives a trigger message and the first device parameter  211  transmitted from the first electronic device  21  via the Internet  20 . 
         [0027]    In step ( 402 ), the cloud server  24  identifies the first electronic device  21  according to the first device parameter  211 . 
         [0028]    Similarly, in step ( 403 ), the cloud server  24  bases the token T to find the management data  241  corresponding to the token T, so as to identify the second electronic device  22 . 
         [0029]    In step ( 404 ), the cloud server  24  generates the control instruction according to the trigger message. 
         [0030]    In step ( 405 ), the cloud server  24  transmits the control instruction to the second electronic device  22 , to enable the second electronic device  22  to execute the corresponding action. 
         [0031]    In the management system  2  shown in  FIG. 2 , only one second electronic device  22  is involved, however, the management system  2  can has a plurality of second electronic devices  22  in practical implementation. For example, the first electronic device  21  is the smart phone, and the second electronic device  22  can be multiple in number and are the television, the lamp and the air conditioner respectively. Therefore, the user just needs to transmit a trigger message for controlling all of the second electronic devices  22  to act simultaneously. Similarly, the first electronic device  21  can be the television, and the second electronic device  22  can be multiple in number and are the audio equipment and the air conditioner. The user can configure that the trigger message is generated actively while the first electronic device  21            television           is turned on. Therefore, the user just needs to turn on the television, and then the cloud server  24  will automatically manage the audio equipment and the air conditioner to be turned on simultaneously. 
         [0032]    However, the operation method of the management system  2  is not limited to the above-mentioned content. Please refer to  FIG. 2 . The cloud server  24  is still stored check data  242  which can include a time condition (such as five o&#39;clock pm everyday), a weather condition (such as raining day), an electrical equipment condition (such as a determination whether           television           is at ON status) or an electric power condition (such as a determination whether a battery power of certain electrical equipment is too low), and correspond to the token T, so that the cloud server  24  generates the control instruction immediately when the cloud server  24  determines the current condition (i.e. time, weather or a status of electrical equipment) matching with the check data  242 , and then transmits the control instruction to all of the electronic devices  21  and  22  having the same token T for further control. 
         [0033]    When the check data is the time condition, the electrical equipment condition or the electric power condition, the electronic devices  21  and  22  can periodically transmit a check message to the cloud server  24  for determination of the cloud server  24 . If the check data is the weather condition and the cloud server  24  cannot determine by itself, the cloud server  24  can periodically transmit the check data to a third party server  25  (such as a weather data server of Google), to enable the third party server  25  to determine whether the current condition matches the check data  242 . 
         [0034]    Moreover, the present disclosure further has a function of simplifying the network configuration. Please refer to  FIG. 2 . In this exemplary embodiment, the first electronic device  21  is still stored a set of configuration data  212 , and the configuration data  212  at least include a service set identifier (SSID) and a password of the network apparatus  23 . Therefore, the first electronic device  21  can be linked to the network apparatus  23  according to the configuration data  212 . After the first electronic device  21  and the second electronic device  22  are linked with each other, if the first electronic device  21  determines that the second electronic device  22  does not correctly establish connection with the network apparatus  23 , the first electronic device  21  can transmit the configuration data  212  to the second electronic device  22  in advance, to enable the second electronic device  22  to establish connection with the network apparatus  23  according to the configuration data  212 . Therefore, the time and steps for user to set up the network configuration can be efficiently saved. 
         [0035]    The way of the second electronic device  22  to link with the network apparatus  23  is not limited to the above-mentioned way, the user can also utilize the Wi-Fi protected setup-push button configuration (WPS) of the network apparatus  23  and the second electronic device  22 , to enable the second electronic device  22  to link with the network apparatus  23 . 
         [0036]    In this exemplary embodiment, the cloud server  24  transmits the token T generated to the first electronic device  21 , and the token T is then transmitted to the second electronic device  22  by the first electronic device  21 . The cloud server  24  does not directly transmit the token T to the second electronic device  22  via the Internet  20  in consideration of the following situation. As the smart devices become popular, many countries pay more attention to protections for personal privacy and information security. The management system  2  shown in  FIG. 2  is taken as example, before the second electronic device  22  is not linked with the Internet  20  yet, the user may not read and agree the terms of service provided by the cloud server  24  provider. In this case, it is easy to cause the data security of doubt and dispute if the data is directly transmitted between the second electronic device  22  and the cloud server  24 . 
         [0037]    In the present disclosure, apart from the consideration of data security, the method of utilizing the first electronic device  21  to transmit the token T to the second electronic device  22  can also simplify the configuration procedure for the user. In the management system  2 , the user usually operate the smart phone carried for use as the first electronic devices  21 , and utilizes the 2G/3G/4G communication networks to link with the cloud server  24  for registering a user account, or activating service, etc. In this case, the way of integrating the receipt and transmission of the token T in the first electronic device  21  is more convenient and more straightforward, so the user need not frequently operate the first electronic device  21  and the second electronic device  22 , respectively. 
         [0038]    The above-mentioned descriptions represent merely the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, without any intention to limit the scope of the present disclosure thereto. Various equivalent changes, alternations or modifications based on the claims of present disclosure are all consequently viewed as being embraced by the scope of the present disclosure.