Apparatus and method for providing remote user interface service

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing Remote User Interface (RUI) service are provided. The apparatus includes a service browser module and a virtual RUI server module. The service browser module communicates with a service registry, which is located outside a home network, and provides a service search User Interface (UI) to allow an RUI client, which is located inside a home network, to search for services that are present outside the home network. The virtual RUI server module is responsible for intermediation so that the services present outside the home network can be used through a service UI.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a related art UPnP RUI;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of an apparatus for providing UPnP RUI service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a flowchart illustrating the user of RUI services, which are present outside a home network, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a flowchart illustrating, in detail, the use of RUI services, which are present outside the home network, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the construction of UPnP RUI service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a process of searching for RUI services, which are present outside the home network, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a process of using RUI services, which are present in the home network, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of receiving an event from an RUI, which is located outside the home network, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a process of deleting registered RUI service according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing Remote User Interface (RUI) service, the apparatus comprising: a service browser module which provides a service search user interface (UI) to allow an RUI client located inside a home network to search for services that are present outside the home network; anda virtual RUI server module which is performs intermediation so that the services present outside the home network can be used through a service UI.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service browser module comprises a management module that downloads a virtual RUI server bundle and installs the virtual RUI server bundle on an Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi) gateway, if a desired service is selected through the service search UI.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the virtual RUI server bundle is constructed using set details of user preference information, and wherein the home network comprises a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service browser module communicates with a service registry located outside the home network in order to allow the RUI client to use the service search UI to search for services present outside the home network.

5. A method of providing a Remote User Interface (RUI) service, the method comprising: providing a service search a user interface (UI) to allow an RUI client located inside a home network to search for services present outside the home network;downloading a virtual RUI server bundle and installing the virtual RUI server bundle on an Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi) gateway if a desired service is selected through the service search UI; andperforming intermediation so that the services present outside the home network can be used through a service UI.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the virtual RUI server bundle is constructed using set details of user preference information, and wherein the home network comprises a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising communicating with a service registry located outside a home network in order to allow the RUI client to use the service search UI to search for services present outside the home network.