Method for exchanging information between devices in case of a change in network configuration and home network system therefore

Abstract

A method for exchanging information between appliances to notify a home server of a network configuration change and a home network system therefore is disclosed. In the present invention, when an electronic appliance is connected to a network, the appliance first transmits a particular message to a home server N (>1) times at interval of a first period and then transmits the particular message periodically at interval of a second period which is longer than the first period, thereby letting the homer server know which appliances are connected to the network in real-time.

1 . A method for exchanging information between devices in case of a change in network configuration, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) transmitting a message of a first type to a managing device N times at interval of a first period when connected to a network, N being greater than 1; and    (b) transmitting the message of the first type periodically to the managing device at interval of a second period after transmitting the message N times, the second period being longer than the first period.    
   
   
       2 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein N=2.  
   
   
       3 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting information about the second period to the managing device.  
   
   
       4 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining a network address by requesting network address assignment to the managing device before executing the step (a).  
   
   
       5 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein if the managing device fails to receive a message of the first type from a device within the second period, the managing device transmits a message of a second type to the device.  
   
   
       6 . The method set forth in  claim 5 , wherein if there is no acknowledgement to the message of the second type, the managing device considers the device off-lined and reduces information about the device.  
   
   
       7 . The method set forth in  claim 6 , wherein when reducing the information about the device, the managing device deletes information related to the operation of the device.  
   
   
       8 . The method set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the reduced information still contains network address information about the device.  
   
   
       9 . The method set forth in  claim 6 , wherein if a command for monitoring or controlling the device considered off-lined is received, the managing device provides information indicating that the device is off-lined, without executing the received command.  
   
   
       10 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first period is 5 seconds and the second period is 10 minutes.  
   
   
       11 . A method, performed by a managing device, for managing information about devices connected to a network, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving a connection closing message from a device; and    (b) considering the device off-lined and reducing information about the device.    
   
   
       12 . The method set forth in  claim 11 , wherein when reducing the information about the device, the managing device deletes information related to the operation of the device.  
   
   
       13 . The method set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the reduced information still contains network address information about the device.  
   
   
       14 . The method set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the device transmits the connection closing message to the managing device according to user's request.  
   
   
       15 . A network system through which a plurality of devices are connected, comprising: 
 a managing device for managing information about the plurality of devices connected to a network; and    a device for transmitting a message of a first type periodically to the managing device at interval of a second period after transmitting the message of the first type N (N>1) times at interval of a first period, the second period being longer than the first period.    
   
   
       16 . The network system set forth in  claim 15 , wherein N=2.  
   
   
       17 . The network system set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the device obtains a network address by requesting network address assignment to the managing device before transmitting the message of the first type.  
   
   
       18 . The network system set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the device provide information about the second period to the managing device and the managing device sets a time limit based on the received second period and if a message of the first type is not received during the time limit, the managing device executes steps for detecting the device.  
   
   
       19 . The network system set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the steps for detecting the device include transmitting a message requesting an acknowledgement and waiting for the acknowledgement.  
   
   
       20 . The network system set forth in  claim 18 , wherein if the device is not detected, the managing device considers the device off-lined and reduces information about the device.  
   
   
       21 . The network system set forth in  claim 20 , wherein when reducing the information about the device, the managing device deletes information related to the operation of the device.  
   
   
       22 . The network system set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the reduced information still contains network address information about the device.  
   
   
       23 . The network system set forth in  claim 20 , wherein if a command for monitoring or controlling the device considered off-lined is received, the managing device provides information indicating that the device is off-lined, without executing the received command.  
   
   
       24 . The network system set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the first period is 5 seconds and the second period is 10 minutes.  
   
   
       25 . A network system through which a plurality of devices are connected, comprising: 
 a managing device for managing information about the plurality of devices connected to a network; and    a device for transmitting a connection closing message to the managing device if there is a connection release request,    wherein if a connection closing message is received, the managing device reduces information about the device which transmitted the message.    
   
   
       26 . The network system set forth in  claim 25 , wherein when reducing the information about the device, the managing device deletes information related to the operation of the device.  
   
   
       27 . The network system set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the reduced information still contains network address information about the device.  
   
   
       28 . The network system set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the connection release request is a command entered by a user.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus for managing a device connected through a network, comprising: 
 a communication module for transmitting and receiving data through the network;    a database for storing management information including the network address information about the device;    a timer for measuring time and detecting timeout of set time limit; and    a control unit for reloading the timer with a time limit specified for the device each time a particular message is received from the device through the communication module, and reducing management information for the device as the result of considering the device off-lined if the time limit specified for the device expires.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 29 , wherein when reducing the information about the device, the control unit deletes information related to the operation of the device.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the reduced information still contains network address information about the device.