JP2000115275A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To remotely control a video display device equipped with a PDP connected to a personal computer from another personal computer using the Internet. SOLUTION: A first personal computer system 2 and a video display device 1 are connected under a predetermined interface standard, and the first personal computer system controls the video display device via the connection. The first personal computer system is provided with a protocol conversion processing unit 2b for converting the communication control procedure on the Internet and the interface standard between each other, and connecting the first personal computer system to the Internet 3. The remote control data is transmitted from the second personal computer system 4 connected to the Internet, the communication protocol is converted by the protocol conversion processing unit 2b of the first personal computer system, and the video display device is controlled. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control system and, more particularly, to a remote control of a video display device equipped with a PDP (plasma display panel) using the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a video display device equipped with a PDP, which has attracted attention, has been replaced with a personal computer system (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer system).
Connected to a personal computer) to remotely control operation settings and the like of the video display device by operating the personal computer. FIG. 5 shows this configuration diagram. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 51 denotes a personal computer, and 52 denotes an image display device equipped with a PDP. As shown in the figure, the transmission / reception unit 51a of the personal computer 51 and the transmission / reception unit 52a of the video display device 52 are connected under a predetermined interface standard, and the controlled circuit 52b is connected via the control circuit 52b of the video display device 52.
Various controls are performed on c. Here, as the interface standard for connecting the personal computer 51 and the video display device 52, for example, RS-232C or GPIB
Is mainly used. The control items include power on / off, video image quality related (brightness, contrast, color density or hue, etc.), audio related (volume, sound quality, etc.), synchronization related, and various other items.

[0003]

However, even with remote control using a personal computer, the distance from the video display device is limited under the conventional interface standard.
For example, even in the case of RS-232C, the distance is usually about 15 meters. On the other hand, when an image display device equipped with a PDP is exhibited or the like, it is necessary to have a person who has acquired a specialized technique to set the operation. for that reason,
When exhibiting at a plurality of distant places, it is necessary to dispatch a considerable number of skilled technicians to the site. Therefore,
Even if the image display device is installed at a long distance, it is very convenient if the operation setting can be remotely controlled from one specific place, and the number of steps can be reduced. The present invention has been made in view of such a background.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control system capable of controlling a video display device equipped with a DP from a distance using the Internet.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a first personal computer system and a video display device are connected under a predetermined interface standard, and the first personal computer system is connected to the video display device through the connection. In the apparatus for controlling a display device, the first personal computer system is provided with communication protocol conversion means for converting between a communication control procedure on the Internet and the interface standard. To the Internet,
Transmitting remote control data from a second personal computer system connected to the Internet;
The present invention provides a remote control system in which a communication protocol is converted by a communication protocol conversion means of a personal computer system to control the video display device.

[0005] Further, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to the setting of channel selection.

[0006] Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system may include luminance,
The data is related to the setting of image quality such as contrast, color density, or hue.

[0007] Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to on-screen display settings.

Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to audio settings such as volume or sound quality.

Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to the setting of synchronization such as horizontal synchronization or vertical synchronization.

[0010] Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to the setting of the position or size of the video display.

[0011] Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is transmitted to an LED.
This is data relating to the setting of display on or off.

Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to power on / off setting.

Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to the setting of the number of revolutions of a cooling fan provided in the image display device.

Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data for once turning off the power of the video display device and restarting it.

Alternatively, the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system is data relating to rewriting of the control program data in a flash ROM in which a program relating to operation control of the video display device is written.

Further, data relating to the operation and the like of the apparatus, which is stored in the image display apparatus, is transmitted to the second personal computer system via the communication protocol conversion means and the Internet by a transmission instruction of the second personal computer system. To the personal computer system.

Further, data relating to the state of the operation or the like is
The data is related to the type of the input signal.

Alternatively, the data relating to the state of the operation or the like may be transmitted to a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the housing of the image display device, or an inclination sensor for detecting the inclination state of the image display device.
The data is detected by a sensor unit provided in advance in the device.

Alternatively, the data relating to the state of the operation or the like is data relating to a power supply voltage value for a circuit.

Alternatively, the data relating to the state of the operation or the like may be data indicating the operated key among the operation keys of the main body of the video display device or the operation keys of the remote control transmission unit.

Alternatively, the data relating to the state of the operation or the like is data relating to the rotation speed of the cooling fan.

Alternatively, the data relating to the state of the operation or the like is data to be written in an EEPROM in which data relating to the operation setting of the video display apparatus or data relating to the history of the abnormal state of the apparatus is written.

Alternatively, the data relating to the state of the operation or the like is the write data of the RAM in which data relating to the operation control of the video display device is temporarily written.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on embodiments. FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing an embodiment of a remote control system according to the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a main block diagram showing a specific configuration of the video display device 1 in FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a video display device equipped with a PDP, 2 denotes a first personal computer system (hereinafter referred to as a first personal computer) connected to the video display device 1 based on a predetermined interface standard, 3 denotes an internet, Is a second personal computer system (hereinafter, referred to as a second personal computer) connected to the Internet 3. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a channel selection unit that performs channel selection, 12 denotes a signal from the channel selection unit, or an external input (video,
A selection unit 13 for selecting any one of R, G, and B), an audio processing unit 13 for performing predetermined audio processing in addition to volume setting or sound quality setting,
14 is an output unit, and 15 is a speaker.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a first video processing unit for performing predetermined analog processing such as setting of luminance, contrast, hue, and color density on the video signal from the selection unit 12;
Reference numeral 17 denotes an A / D converter for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, and reference numeral 18 denotes synchronous (horizontal and vertical) processing and processing for setting the position and size of a video display for the digital signal from the A / D converter 17. A second video processing unit for performing on-screen display processing;
This is a display unit using DP. Reference numeral 21 denotes an LED display unit for displaying power on, etc., 22 denotes a power control unit for controlling power on / off of the apparatus 1, 23 denotes a power unit controlled by the power control unit 22, and 24 denotes a housing of the apparatus 1. A fan control unit for controlling the number of revolutions of the cooling fan 25 for lowering the temperature inside the body,
26 is a tilt sensor unit for detecting the tilt state of the device 1, 27 is a temperature sensor unit for detecting the temperature inside the housing of the device 1, 28
Indicates a key input unit (operation setting operation) on the main body side of the apparatus 1;
Is a remote control transmitter for transmitting a remote control signal, and 30 is a transmitter
It is a light receiving unit that receives the signal from 29.

Reference numeral 31 denotes an operation control (control unit 3) of the apparatus 1.
4) Flash R with program written
OM, 32 is a RAM in which data relating to operation control of the apparatus 1 is temporarily written, 33 is data relating to operation settings of the apparatus 1 (last mode such as channel selection, video-related and audio-related), or the same. An EEPROM 34 in which data relating to the history of abnormal conditions (for example, power-off, fan stoppage, etc.) is written. 1a is a transmitting / receiving unit (FIG. 1). The control circuit 1b of the video display device 1 in FIG. 1 refers to the control unit 34 and the like, and the controlled circuit 1c refers to a general term for other blocks controlled by the control unit 34. As shown, control lines such as a MUSE bus and an IIC bus are partially used.

The image display device 1 and the first personal computer 2
5 is connected under a predetermined interface standard via the transmission / reception unit 1a and the transmission / reception unit 2c as in FIG. Note that the interface standard is RS-232C or GPIB as in FIG. This connection enables the various controls described above. The first personal computer 2 is connected to the Internet 3 via a transmitting / receiving unit 2a, and a second personal computer is connected to the Internet 3 via a transmitting / receiving unit 4a. The communication protocol which is a communication control procedure (protocol) of the Internet 3 is another type different from the RS-232C or GPIB standard. Therefore, the first personal computer 2 has a function of converting the communication control procedure (protocol) of the Internet 3 into the RS-232C or GPIB standard, and the function of converting the RS-232C or GPIB standard into the communication control procedure (protocol) of the Internet 3. Conversion function. The function for these functions is the protocol conversion processing unit 2b.

The concept of the conversion process of the protocol conversion processing unit 2b will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the video display device 1 and the first personal computer 2 are connected by RS-232C.
Further, the data format in the communication control procedure (protocol) of the Internet 3 is composed of data Ds and three types of header (header a, b, c) information, for example, as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 3B, the data format of the RS-232C standard is composed of data Ds and a carriage return (Cr) indicating the end of the data. The data Ds is used when the second personal computer 4 controls the video display device 1 for required operation settings.
Alternatively, when the video display device 1 instructs a required data transmission, it means control information data including a command related to the setting control or the command (hereinafter, control information data Ds).

The communication protocol of the Internet 3 is RS-
When converting to 232C, three types of headers (header a,
b, c) Delete information and add carriage return (Cr) to data Ds. As a result, data under the Internet 3 is converted into data of the RS-232C standard. On the other hand, when converting the RS-232C standard into the communication protocol of the Internet 3, the carriage return (Cr) is deleted and three types of header (header a, b, c) information are added to the data Ds. Thereby, RS-23
The data of the 2C standard is converted into data conforming to the Internet 3. The above is the concept of the conversion processing operation of the protocol conversion processing unit 2b. Note that the GPIB standard may be processed in the same manner as described above.

Next, the operation of the first personal computer 2 and the second personal computer 4 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure,
(A) shows an operation flow of the second personal computer 4, and (B)
Shows an operation flow of the first personal computer 2. The second personal computer 4 plays a central role in remote control in the present invention, and has a role as a host computer. FIG.
In (A), when performing communication for remote control, the second personal computer 4 first initializes an Internet port to enable Internet communication (ST1). After the above initialization, the system enters the event waiting (standby) state (ST
2). When the second personal computer 4 controls the required operation setting to the video display device 1 or instructs the video display device 1 to transmit required data, control information data including a command related to the setting control or the command. Ds is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 4a (ST3). This data Ds is received by the transmission / reception unit 2a of the first personal computer 2 via the Internet 3 (the following processing will be described later). On the other hand, when data is transmitted from the video display device 1 according to a command of the second personal computer 4 or the like,
The second personal computer 4 receives the data, analyzes the data, and displays the data on the display unit (ST4, ST5). When the communication is to be ended, the communication is ended by operating the keyboard to that effect (ST6).

Next, in FIG. 4B, when the first personal computer 2 performs Internet communication with the second personal computer 4, first, the first personal computer 2 initializes the Internet port and the RS-232C port, respectively. −
Communication with the video display device 1 according to the H.232C standard (hereinafter referred to as R
S communication) is made possible (ST11). After the above-mentioned initialization, the state becomes an event waiting (standby) (ST12). When receiving the Internet data including the control information data Ds transmitted from the second personal computer 4 via the Internet 3, the protocol conversion processing unit 2b of the first personal computer 2 performs the communication of the Internet 3 described above (FIG. 3). Protocol R
A conversion process to an S communication protocol is performed (ST13). The converted RS communication data is transmitted to the video display device 1 via the transmission / reception unit 2C (ST14). In the video display device 1 receiving this data, the control circuit 1b performs necessary control on the controlled circuit 1c based on the data.

On the other hand, when data is transmitted from the video display device 1 in accordance with a command from the second personal computer 4, the first personal computer 2 transmits data from the memory (EEPROM 33) or the like of the video display device 1 to R.
The necessary data is taken in by S communication. This data is R
Since it is based on the S-232C standard, it is converted into the above-mentioned (FIG. 3) communication protocol for the Internet 3 by the protocol conversion processing unit 2b (ST15). The data is transmitted to the second personal computer 4 via the Internet 3 (ST16).
When ending the communication, the communication is ended by operating the keyboard to that effect (ST17). As described above, the video display device 1 connected to the first personal computer 2 under the RS-232C standard can be remotely controlled in operation settings by the second personal computer 4 via the Internet 3. The image display device 1
Necessary data transmission to the second personal computer 4 from the side is also possible.

As the specific contents of the remote control by the second personal computer 4, the same items as the relationship between the first personal computer 2 and the video display device 1 in the related art (FIG. 5) are possible. These items are listed below. The block names in the parentheses below indicate the control targets by the control unit 34. (1) Setting of channel selection (tuning unit 11) (2) Setting of image quality such as brightness, contrast, color density or hue (first image processing unit 16) (3) Setting of on-screen display ( On-screen processing unit 19) (4) Setting of sound such as volume or sound quality (audio processing unit 13) (5) Setting of synchronization such as horizontal synchronization or vertical synchronization (second video processing unit 18) (6) Video display (2) Setting ON or OFF of LED display (LED display unit)
21) (8) Power on / off setting (power control unit 22) (9) Cooling fan rotation speed setting (fan control unit 24) (10) Video display device 1 is once powered off and restarted Setting (power control unit 22) (11) Rewriting control of flash ROM 31 control program data (flash ROM 31)

The data transmitted from the video display device 1 to the second personal computer 4 are listed below. (1) Data relating to the type of input signal (tuning unit 12) (2) Temperature inside housing of video display device 1
(Temperature sensor unit 27, tilt sensor unit 26) (3) Data relating to power supply voltage value for circuit (power control unit 22) (4) Main body operation keys of video display device 1, or remote control Data indicating the operated key among the operation keys of the transmission unit 29 (key input unit 28, light receiving unit 30) (5) Data related to the number of rotations of the cooling fan (fan control unit 24) (6) Video display device (7) Write data in the EEPROM 33 (EEPROM 33) in which data relating to the operation setting 1 or data relating to the history of the abnormal state of the device is written (7) Write data in the RAM 32 (RAM 32) By transmitting these data, the second personal computer 4 It is also possible for the user to confirm and grasp the operation state of the video display device 1. In the above description, the video display device is targeted for remote control. However, similar remote control is possible with other devices. In this case, the control information data Ds is data corresponding to the controlled device.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to control the video display device 1 via the Internet. Thereby, remote control from a place distant from the video display device 1 is possible, and it is not necessary to dispatch a specialized technician to the site for exhibition or the like. Also,
Since the data relating to the operation setting can be transmitted from the video display device 1 side, the operation state of the video display device can be confirmed and grasped from a distance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing one embodiment of a remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main block diagram showing a specific configuration of the video display device 1 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a data format diagram for explaining communication protocol conversion.

FIG. 4 is an operation flow relating to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a main block diagram showing an example of a conventional remote control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Video display apparatus 1a Transmission / reception unit 1b Control circuit 1c Controlled circuit 2 First personal computer 2a Transmission / reception unit 2b Protocol conversion processing unit 2c Transmission / reception unit 3 Internet 11 Tuning unit 12 Selection unit 13 Audio processing unit 14 Output unit 15 Speaker 16 First Video processing unit 17 A / D conversion unit 18 Second video processing unit 19 On-screen processing unit 20 Display unit 21 LED display unit 22 Power supply control unit 23 Power supply unit 24 Fan control unit 25 Fan 26 Incline sensor unit 27 Temperature sensor unit 28 Key input unit (operation setting operation) 29 Remote control transmission unit 30 Light reception unit 31 Flash ROM 32 RAM 33 EEPROM 34 Control unit 4 Second personal computer 4a Transmission / reception unit 51 Personal computer 51a Transmission / reception unit 52 Video display device 52a Transmission / reception unit 52b Control circuit 52c Controlled circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/00 H04L 11/18 F term (Reference) 5B069 AA01 BA04 BB07 HA07 HA15 HA19 KA06 LA03 5C056 AA07 BA01 BA02 BA03 BA04 BA05 BA06 CA06 CA08 CA13 CA19 CA20 DA06 DA08 DA11 DA20 5C080 AA05 BB05 CC03 DD30 EE29 EE30 FF12 GG02 GG09 GG10 GG11 JJ02 JJ07 5K030 GA17 HA08 HC01 JA10 JT04 JT06 LB15 5K034 AA16 EE10 H61

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A first personal computer system and a video display device are connected under a predetermined interface standard, and the first personal computer system controls the video display device via the connection. A communication protocol conversion means for converting between a communication control procedure on the Internet and the interface standard, and connecting the first personal computer system to the Internet; Transmitting remote control data from a second personal computer system connected to the first personal computer system, converting a communication protocol by a communication protocol conversion means of the first personal computer system, and controlling the video display device. Features remote Control system. 2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control data transmitted from said second personal computer system comprises data relating to setting of channel selection. 3. The remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system comprises data relating to setting of image quality such as brightness, contrast, color density or hue. The remote control system as described. 4. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control data transmitted from said second personal computer system comprises data relating to on-screen display settings. 5. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control data transmitted from said second personal computer system comprises data relating to audio settings such as volume or sound quality. 6. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system comprises data relating to synchronization setting such as horizontal synchronization or vertical synchronization. 7. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control data transmitted from said second personal computer system comprises data relating to a setting of a position or a size of a video display. 8. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system comprises data related to setting on or off of an LED display. 9. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system comprises data related to power on / off setting. 10. The remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system comprises data relating to the setting of the number of revolutions of a cooling fan provided in the video display device. The remote control system as described. 11. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system includes data for temporarily turning off the power of the video display device and restarting the video display device. . 12. The remote control data transmitted from the second personal computer system comprises data relating to rewriting of the control program data in a flash ROM in which a program relating to operation control of the video display device is written. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein: 13. The second personal computer system according to a transmission command of the second personal computer system, transmits data relating to a state of operation of the device, etc., stored in the video display device, via the communication protocol conversion means and the Internet. 2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted to a personal computer system. 14. The remote control system according to claim 13, wherein the data relating to the state of the operation or the like comprises data relating to a type of an input signal. 15. A temperature sensor unit for detecting a temperature inside a housing of the video display device, wherein the data relating to the state of the operation or the like is provided.
14. The remote control system according to claim 13, wherein the remote control system comprises data detected by a sensor unit provided in advance in the device, such as a tilt sensor unit for detecting the tilt state of the device. 16. The remote control system according to claim 13, wherein the data relating to the operation or the like comprises data relating to a power supply voltage value for a circuit. 17. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the data relating to the state of the operation or the like includes data indicating an operated key among operation keys of a main body of the video display device or operation keys of a remote control transmission unit. Item 14. The remote control system according to item 13. 18. The remote control system according to claim 13, wherein the data relating to the operation or the like comprises data relating to the number of revolutions of the cooling fan. 19. An EE in which the data relating to the state of the operation or the like is written as data relating to an operation setting of the video display apparatus or data relating to a history of abnormal states of the apparatus.
14. The remote control system according to claim 13, comprising PROM write data. 20. The remote control according to claim 13, wherein the data relating to the state of the operation or the like comprises the write data of a RAM in which data relating to the operation control of the video display device is temporarily written. system.