Abstract: A communication apparatus to interconnect a plurality of devices using multiple protocols includes a protocol layer having a plurality of protocol objects obtained by objectifying the protocols used by the devices, and a control layer to check a protocol used for data transmission if data is transmitted, to convert a protocol object corresponding to the checked protocol into a preset control object, to convert the preset control object into another protocol object, and to transmit the data to a device connected to the converted other protocol object. Since operatively coupled control is allowed between devices using different protocols, extensibility and flexibility may be achieved. Besides, since an abstraction layer is divided into a control layer and a protocol layer, an interface may not be changed even when protocols are added, protocol conversion may be easily performed, and routing between multiple protocols may be performed using, for example, a logic editor.

Abstract: An electric device includes a communication unit to communicate with at least one of a gateway and a plurality of other electric devices, and a controller to broadcast a request signal for searching for a gateway, communicate with the gateway on the basis of a search response signal after transmission of the gateway response signal from at least one of the gateway and the plurality of other electric devices, and transmit a registration request signal to a power management unit through the gateway. Thus, the electric device can be automatically registered/re-registered in the electric device or be deleted from the electric device, a power management system and electric devices can be easily managed. If the user moves the electric device from a current position to another position, the power management system recognizes the movement and informs the user of the recognition result.

Abstract: A protocol conversion apparatus and a protocol conversion method. The protocol conversion apparatus includes a first control to analyze first protocol data received through a first channel, a protocol mapper to determine whether protocol conversion is required for the first protocol data, and a second control to create second protocol data associated with the first protocol data based on a result of the determination, and to transfer the second protocol to a second channel.

Abstract: A communication apparatus to interconnect a plurality of devices using multiple protocols includes a protocol layer having a plurality of protocol objects obtained by objectifying the protocols used by the devices, and a control layer to check a protocol used for data transmission if data is transmitted, to convert a protocol object corresponding to the checked protocol into a preset control object, to convert the preset control object into another protocol object, and to transmit the data to a device connected to the converted other protocol object. Since operatively coupled control is allowed between devices using different protocols, extensibility and flexibility may be achieved. Besides, since an abstraction layer is divided into a control layer and a protocol layer, an interface may not be changed even when protocols are added, protocol conversion may be easily performed, and routing between multiple protocols may be performed using, for example, a logic editor.

Abstract: An electric device includes a communication unit to communicate with at least one of a gateway and a plurality of other electric devices, and a controller to broadcast a request signal for searching for a gateway, communicate with the gateway on the basis of a search response signal after transmission of the gateway response signal from at least one of the gateway and the plurality of other electric devices, and transmit a registration request signal to a power management unit through the gateway. Thus, the electric device can be automatically registered/re-registered in the electric device or be deleted from the electric device, a power management system and electric devices can be easily managed. If the user moves the electric device from a current position to another position, the power management system recognizes the movement and informs the user of the recognition result.