U.S. patent application number 11/829582 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for apparatus and method for providing domain information.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hyoung-shick KIM, Sang-hyeon KIM.
Application Number | 20080075092 11/829582 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39414281 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080075092 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Hyoung-shick ; et
al. |
March 27, 2008 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DOMAIN INFORMATION
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing domain information are
provided. The apparatus includes a storage module that stores
domain information, and a control module that receives a message
requesting domain information from a device intending to join a
domain, responds to the received message, and transmits the stored
domain information to the device, in which the control module
transmits a message including the domain information updated
according to the domain participation of the device.
Inventors: |
KIM; Hyoung-shick; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Sang-hyeon; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
39414281 |
Appl. No.: |
11/829582 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60846105 |
Sep 21, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/395.53 ;
348/E7.061; 348/E7.071; 375/E7.009 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/17318 20130101;
H04N 21/835 20130101; H04L 61/30 20130101; H04L 67/34 20130101;
H04L 63/10 20130101; H04N 21/25816 20130101; H04L 67/16 20130101;
H04L 2463/101 20130101; H04L 41/00 20130101; H04L 12/185 20130101;
H04N 7/163 20130101; G06F 21/10 20130101; H04L 29/12594 20130101;
H04N 21/2541 20130101; G06F 2221/0706 20130101; H04L 67/30
20130101; H04L 67/125 20130101; H04N 21/43615 20130101; H04N
21/4627 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/395.53 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/28 20060101
H04L012/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0008984 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for providing domain information, the apparatus
comprising: a storage module that stores domain information; and a
control module that receives a first message requesting domain
information from a device intending to join a domain, responds to
the received first message, and transmits the stored domain
information to the device, wherein the control module transmits a
second message comprising domain information updated according to
domain participation of the device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device sets a domain
environment using the stored domain information.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second message is
transmitted by a broadcast.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first message is
transmitted by a broadcast.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second message comprises
event-identification information indicating an update of the domain
information.
6. A method of providing domain information, the method comprising:
receiving a first message that requests domain information from a
device intending to join a domain; transmitting stored domain
information to the device in response to the first message; and
transmitting a second message that comprises domain information
updated according to a participation of the device.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the transmitting the second
message comprises setting a domain environment using the stored
domain information transmitted by the device.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second message is transmitted
by a broadcast.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first message is transmitted
by a broadcast.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein the second message comprises
event-identification information indicating an update of the domain
information.
11. An apparatus for providing domain information, the apparatus
comprising: a storage module that stores domain information; a
control module that generates a message comprising changed domain
information and event-identification information indicating the
changed domain information; and a communication-interface module
that transmits the generated message.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the generated message is
transmitted by a broadcast.
13. A method of providing domain information, the method
comprising: changing domain information; generating a message
comprising changed domain information and event-identification
information indicating the changed domain information; and
transmitting the generated message.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the generated message is
transmitted by a broadcast.
15. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer
readable program for executing a method, the method comprising:
receiving a first message that requests domain information from a
device intending to join a domain; transmitting stored domain
information to the device in response to the first message; and
transmitting a message that comprises domain information updated
according to a participation of the device.
16. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer
readable program for executing a method, the method comprising:
changing domain information; generating a message including changed
domain information and event-identification information indicating
the changed domain information; and transmitting the generated
message.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0008984 filed on Jan. 29, 2007, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/846,105, filed on Sep. 21, 2006, in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present
invention relate to providing domain information, and more
particularly, to providing information about a predetermined domain
when a device intends to join the domain.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] CORAL is a technology for improving interoperability between
digital rights management (DRM) technologies, and the CORAL
Consortium was established for this purpose.
[0006] Further, the concept of a "domain", which represents a
logical set of multiple devices, is presented in CORAL, and there
is a domain-management server that manages such a domain. The
domain-management server is also called a domain manager. The
domain is described in detail in "Core Architecture V3.0" and
"Ecosystem V1.0" of the CORAL specification.
[0007] The domain-management server manages domains so that each of
the devices belongs to a certain domain according to specified
rules, and content can be shared between devices belonging to the
same domain.
[0008] The method involving a device joining a domain is described
with reference to FIG. 1 in the following.
[0009] First, it is assumed that there is a first device 110 in
domain A. If a second device 120 intends to join domain A, the
second device 120 connects to a domain-management server 140,
receives information about domain A from the domain-management
server 140, and sets up the environment using the received
information.
[0010] Here, the information about domain A includes the type,
function, and identification information of the device included in
domain A, and can include information about the domain-management
server 140 like the network address (e.g., URL address) of the
domain-management server 140 managing domain A.
[0011] Further, the domain-management server 140 can perform the
authentication on the second device 120, and a
substitute-authentication device 130 can separately exist within
domain A. If there is a substitute-authentication device 130,
information of domain A can include information of the
substitute-authentication device 130 (e.g., the type, function and
identification information of the device).
[0012] Likewise, according to the related art, in order for a
device to join a domain, information about the domain, i.e., domain
information, should be set up, and for this the device should
connect to a separate domain-management server and receive domain
information.
[0013] However, in order for a user to connect to a
domain-management server using a device, the user should directly
input the address of the domain-management server using an input
means attached to the device, or retrieve the stored address of the
domain-management server.
[0014] In the case where a device such as a notebook computer or a
personal computer has a means for inputting letters, it is easy to
connect to the domain-management server, but in the case where the
device includes only a 4-way key or an inconvenient input means, it
is difficult to connect to the domain-management server.
[0015] Further, because the device should have a wired or wireless
communication function for connecting to the domain-management
server, a device without such function cannot join the domain,
which is a problem.
[0016] Therefore, there is a need for a method where devices having
an inconvenient interface for connecting to a domain-management
server or having no wired or wireless internet function can
conveniently join a domain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the
above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. In
addition, the present invention is not required to overcome the
disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention may not overcome any of the problems described
above.
[0018] The present invention provides an apparatus and method for
setting up domain information after receiving domain information
directly transmitted from an existing device without separate
communication with a domain-management server.
[0019] However, the present invention is not limited to the
apparatus and method described above. Other aspects not described
herein will be more definitely understood by those in the art from
the following detailed description.
[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing domain
information, the apparatus including a storage module that stores
domain information, and a control module that receives a message
requesting domain information from a device intending to join a
domain, responds to the received message, and transmits the stored
domain information to the device, in which the control module
transmits a message including the domain information updated
according to the domain participation of the device.
[0021] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a method of providing domain
information, the method including receiving a message that requests
domain information from a device intending to join a domain,
transmitting the stored domain information to the device in
response to the received message, and transmitting a message that
includes the domain information updated according to the
participation of the device.
[0022] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided an apparatus for providing domain
information, the apparatus including a storage module that stores
domain information, a control module that generates a message
including the changed domain information and event-identification
information indicating the change of the domain information, and a
communication-interface module that transmits the generated
message.
[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a method of providing domain
information, the method including changing domain information,
generating a message including the changed domain information and
event-identification information indicating the change of the
domain information, and transmitting the generated message.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The above and other features of the present invention will
become apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments
thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a method where a device joins a domain
according to CORAL.
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a system for providing domain information
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a
device for providing domain information according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of providing domain information
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of providing domain information
according to another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0031] The present invention may be understood more readily by
reference to the following detailed description of exemplary
embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that
this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey
the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the
present invention will only be defined by the appended claims. Like
reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the
specification.
[0032] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described
hereinafter with reference to flowchart illustrations of user
interfaces, methods, and computer program products according to
exemplary embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that
each block of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of
blocks in the flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by
computer program instructions. These computer program instructions
can be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer,
special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing
apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which
execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable
data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the
functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
[0033] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer usable or computer-readable memory that can direct a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to
function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored
in the computer usable or computer-readable memory produce an
article of manufacture including instruction means that implement
the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
[0034] The computer program instructions may also be loaded into a
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a
series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or
other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented
process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or
other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the
functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.
[0035] Further, each block of the flowchart illustrations may
represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises
one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some
alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may
occur out of order. For example, two blocks shown in succession may
in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a system for providing domain information
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 2, it is assumed that while a first device
210 and a second device 220 join an arbitrary domain and operate, a
user introduces a third device 230, and tries to replay a music
file stored in the first device 210 using the third device 230.
Further, it is assumed that the first device 210, the second device
220, and the third device 230 support a common communication
protocol.
[0038] First, the third device 230 broadcasts a message requesting
information of devices belonging to the current domain while
providing information about the third device 230, and each of the
devices transmits a message including its information, for example,
device-identification information or information of provided
functions, to the third device 230 in response to the broadcast
message. Here, the message broadcast by the third device 230 can
include strings indicating that the third device 230 is an element
constituting an "ecosystem" specified in CORAL, i.e., a "specified
service model supporting CORAL". In other words, the identification
information of the ecosystem to which the third device 230 belongs
is included in the message, and is broadcast to devices belonging
to the current domain.
[0039] Likewise, a process where a device intending to join an
arbitrary domain informs devices existing in the domain of its
existence, and receives information of each of the existing devices
in response is called a discovery process. The discovery process
can be performed using a mutual-recognition method between devices
constituting a communication-network environment specified
according to the related art.
[0040] Through such a process, the third device 230 obtains
information of devices belonging to a domain.
[0041] Then, the third device 230 selects a certain device of
devices belonging to the current domain, and sends a request for
domain information. Here, it is assumed that the third device 230
has selected the first device 210. The user can directly select a
device, or the third device 230 can arbitrarily select a
device.
[0042] In response to the request for domain-information, the first
device 210 transmits its domain information to the third device
230, the third device 230 sets up the environment for operation
within the domain using the transmitted domain information.
[0043] That is, the first device 210 that joined a domain provides
domain information to the third device 230, and therefore a user
does not need to input domain information to the third device 230,
and can conveniently set up the domain environment using the domain
information received from the first device 210. After a domain
environment is appropriately set up, the third device 230 can
easily receive domain-related services provided by the
domain-management server without additional user input.
[0044] In the case where a user directly connects the third device
230 to the first device 210, the aforementioned discovery process
can be omitted. Here, the first device 210 can provide its domain
information to the third device 230, and the first device 210
informs a domain-management server (not shown) of the fact that the
third device 230 has joined the domain. In addition, the domain
information of the domain-management server (not shown) is
updated.
[0045] When the domain-environment setup of the third device 230 is
completed, the third device 230 can connect to the
domain-management server (not shown), and register it in the
domain-management server using domain information received from the
first device 210. Further, when a new device is registered in the
domain-management server, the domain-management server informs all
devices belonging to the domain of the registration. In this
manner, all devices belonging to the same domain have the same
domain information.
[0046] That is, because it is desirable that all devices belonging
to the same domain have the same domain information, when there is
a change in the domain information, the change is informed to all
devices belonging to the domain.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a device for
providing domain information according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, and the device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3
is a device that provides domain information, and corresponds to
the first device 210 illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 3, the device 300 for providing domain
information includes a storage module 310, a
communication-interface module 320, a device-connection module 330,
and a control module 340.
[0049] The storage module 310 stores domain information, and the
stored domain information includes the type, function and
identification information of a device included in the domain, and
information about a domain-management server like a network address
(e.g., an URL) of the domain-management server that manages the
domain. Further, the storage module 310 can include information of
the device 300.
[0050] The communication-interface module 320 communicates with the
domain-management server, or communicates with other devices
belonging to the domain through a wired or wireless medium.
Further, the communication-interface module 320 can communicate
with devices intending to join a domain.
[0051] The device-connection module 320 is a module to directly
connect to other devices, and can be a communication module such as
a USB communication module or an IEEE 1394 communication module
supporting the communication between devices.
[0052] The control module 340 controls the overall operation of the
device 300, and extracts domain information stored in the storage
module 310, and generates data to transmit the extracted domain
information to the device intending to join the domain.
[0053] Further, in the case where the domain information is
updated, the control module 340 generates a message about the
change of the domain information in order to inform other devices
belonging to the domain of the update.
[0054] The operation between modules constituting the device 300
illustrated in FIG. 3 is described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 4 and 5 in the following.
[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of providing domain information
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] First, if the communication-interface module 320 receives a
message requesting information of a device 300 from a device with
an intention to join a domain while informing of the existence of
the device S410, the control module 340 extracts information of the
device 300 from the storage module 310, and transmits the extracted
information to the device through the communication-interface
module 320 S420. That is, the aforementioned discovery process is
performed.
[0057] Here, the message transmitted from the device intending to
join can include strings indicating that the device is an element
constituting an "ecosystem" specified in CORAL, i.e., a "specified
service model supporting CORAL". In other words, the identification
information of the ecosystem can be included in the message and
broadcast to devices belonging to the current domain, and FIG. 4
illustrates the case where a certain device 300 receives the
broadcast message.
[0058] The strings can be, for example, in the form shown in the
following. [0059] "coral-<coralEcosystemName>"
[0060] Here, <coralEcosystemName> is identification
information of the service model to which the device belongs, and
an example of such identification is the name of a service
model.
[0061] Then, if the device sends a request for domain information
to the device 300 S430, the control module 340 extracts domain
information stored in the storage module 310, and transmits the
extracted domain information to the device through the
communication-interface module 320 S440.
[0062] The device sets up domain environment using the received
domain information S450, connects to the domain-management server
(not shown) based on the domain information, and informs the domain
of the joining S460. Here, the domain-management server updates the
existing domain information S470, and broadcasts the result of the
update to all devices belonging to the current domain. As such, all
devices belonging to the domain have the same domain
information.
[0063] As another example, the domain-environment setup of the
device is completed, the device 300 can inform all devices joining
the domain and the domain-management server of the fact that a new
device belongs to the domain. That is, the device that provides
domain information broadcasts the update of the domain information
due to the device's joining the domain, and therefore all devices
within the domain have the same domain information.
[0064] Further, the domain information is identically kept between
devices existing within the domain.
[0065] For example, in the case where the domain information of an
arbitrary device within the domain has been changed, the device can
inform other devices of the change of the domain information by a
broadcast.
[0066] Likewise, the type attribute for the event that indicates
the change of the domain information can be set as the following
URL in an event message. [0067]
"urn:coral:core:4-0:events:configuration-change"
[0068] Further, the event message can include the changed domain
information along with the abovementioned event-type setting, which
is described in the following.
TABLE-US-00001 <event
type="urn:coral:core:4-0:events:configuration-change">
<time>2008-12-17T09:30:47</time> <event-id
xmlns="http://whatever.org/">123</event-id>
<user-account xmlns="http://whatever.org/">
<address>http://www.bestshopever.com/users</address>
<username>homers</username> </user-account>
</event>
[0069] Here, <time> refers to the time when an event occurs,
and <event-id> refers to the type of event. Further, "123" is
the event-identification number for the change of domain
information.
[0070] Further, <user-account> is an element that informs of
the change of the user account, and <address> and
<username> detail of the new user information.
[0071] FIG. 4 illustrates the case where a specified device 300
existing in a domain provides domain information a device intending
to join the domain, but other devices existing in the domain can
provide domain information while the discovery process is performed
on the device intending to join the domain.
[0072] FIG. 5 illustrates a method of providing domain information
according to another exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0073] First, a user connects a device intending to join a domain
to the device-connection module 330 of the device S510.
[0074] Then, if the device sends a request for domain information
to the device 300 S520, the control module 340 extracts domain
information stored in the storage module 310, and transmits the
extracted domain information to the device through the
device-connection module 330 S530.
[0075] The device intending to join the domain sets up domain
environment using the received domain information S540, and the
device 300 connects to the domain-management server through the
communication-interface module 320, and informs that a new device
has joined the domain S550.
[0076] Here, the domain-management server updates the existing
domain information S560, and broadcasts the result of the update to
all devices belonging to the current domain. As such, all devices
belonging to the domain have the same domain information.
[0077] The term "module", as used herein, means, but is not limited
to, a software or hardware component, such as a Field Programmable
Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit
(ASIC), which performs certain tasks. A module may be configured to
reside on the addressable storage medium and configured to execute
on one or more processors. Thus, a module may include, by way of
example, components, such as software components, object-oriented
software components, class components and task components,
processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments
of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data,
databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The
functionality provided for in the components and modules may be
combined into fewer components and modules or further separated
into additional components and modules.
[0078] It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the
art that various replacements, modifications and changes may be
made in the form and details without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
Therefore, it is to be appreciated that the above described
exemplary embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and are
not to be construed as limitations of the invention.
[0079] According to the present invention, devices can conveniently
join a domain.
* * * * *
References