Patent Application
20050129203
The present invention relates generally to networked devices such as networked consumer appliances and more particularly to a method and apparatus for broadcasting time-of-day data to networked devices.
As the Internet continues to grow and become more pervasive in homes, more and more consumer products are expected to be connected to the Internet and interconnected with one another over local area networks (LANs). For example, an Internet-equipped refrigerator can maintain an inventory of groceries and re-order when necessary. An Internet-equipped alarm clock can communicate with a source of current weather and road conditions and determine the correct time to wake up someone. Likewise, if the alarm clock is networked with a bedroom lamp, it can turn on the lamp at the appropriate time.
Networked devices such as refrigerators, clocks, lamps, televisions and the like are examples of networked appliances, which may be defined as dedicated function consumer devices containing a networked processor. That is, a networked appliance is any non-general purpose device (i.e., not a PC, PDA, etc.) that has a network connection. As such appliances become more and more interconnected with one another it will become more and more important for them to all be synchronized to the correct time. Moreover, it would be highly convenient for consumers if they did not have to manually set the time on each and every network device.
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus is provided for providing time-of-day data to a networked device. The method begins by receiving a telephony signal that includes time-of-day data and extracting the time-of-day data from the telephony signal. The time-of-day data is then transmitted to the networked device over a communication network.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the telephony signal includes ICLID data.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the telephony signal is received over a PSTN transmission network.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the telephony signal is received over a cellular network.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the telephony signal is received over a Voice-over-IP network.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the networked device includes a networked appliance.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the communication network is a LAN.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the time-of-day data is transmitted in accordance with a network time protocol.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the network time protocol is the Network Time Protocol.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the network time protocol is the Simple Network Time Protocol.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an apparatus provides time-day data to at least one networked device. The apparatus includes a data receiver for receiving a telephony signal that includes time-of-day data and a processor for transforming the time-of-day data in accordance with a network protocol. The apparatus also includes an interface arrangement for transmitting the time-of-day data to the networked device over a communication network.
The present inventors have recognized that networked devices such as networked appliances as well as general purpose devices such as PCs can be readily synchronized to the correct time using commonly available telephony services that are or can be made available in most residences. In particular, the enhanced telephony subscriber service known as Incoming Caller Line Identification (“ICLID”), which is commonly referred to as Caller ID, provides a variety of data about a caller including the time and date of the call. In the present invention the time-of-day data is extracted from the ICLID data by a central networked device that can communicate the time data to other devices that are connected to the network. The networked device receiving the ICLID data and extracting the time data may be a stand-alone receiver or it may be incorporated into another device that serves as a central gateway to other networked devices in the home. Such a central gateway may be, for example, a conventional PC, a television set-top box, or a media center that incorporates interfaces for accessing digital music and photos, watching and recording television shows and viewing DVD movies.
The telephony data receiver 100 is capable of obtaining the ICLID data from a telephone call before the telephone call is answered. The ICLID data is received during the silent interval following the first ring of the telephone call. The silent interval between ring signals transmitted from a telephone central office is generally about four seconds. During this interval the central office transmits a serial data message in the form of a frequency shift keyed (FSK) signal.
The data receiver 100 includes a line interface unit 201, converter 202 and control circuit 203. The FSK signal that represents the ICLID data is received in a balanced manner on the tip and ring leads 250 and 252 of the data receiver 100. Line interface unit 201 amplifies the FSK signal and attenuates the ringing signals. Converter 202 includes a frequency shift keyed modem that converts the FSK signal from the line interface unit 201 to a serial bit stream representation of the data message. Control circuit 201 includes a microprocessor that interprets the data message from the converter 202. Central telephony data receiver 100 is well known in the art. Additional details concerning such a receiver may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,956.
Referring again to
In the present invention, the control circuit 203 in which the time-of-day data is located effectively serves as the time server and the networked devices serve as clients. The control circuit 203 may also be employed to format the time data in accordance with the appropriate protocol required for transmission to the networked devices. Alternatively, this function can be performed by another dedicated circuit or processor.
If the LAN depicted in
Although various embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and are within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. For example, the various components of the present invention may be embodied in hardware, software, or a combination of both.
