JP2009033533A - Remote controller transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to improve the operability of character / number input and to easily input a URL or the like.
A remote controller transmitting device includes an operation key including a numeric key, a switching unit for switching between a first operation position and a second operation position, and characters / numbers input at the second operation position. And a control unit that receives an input of an operation key and controls to transmit a control signal at each of the first operation position and the second operation position of the switching unit. The remote controller transmitter 20 has a control function in which each key of the numeric key controls the television receiver at the first operating position of the switching unit, and each key of the numeric key at the second operating position of the switching unit. Has a function of inputting letters / numbers for accessing a desired site on the network, so that URL can be easily input.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote controller transmitter, and more particularly to a remote controller transmitter for a television receiver that can be connected to a network.

  In recent years, television receivers having a function of connecting to a network such as the Internet have rapidly spread. In order to obtain information by accessing a predetermined address on the network using such a television receiver, the user needs to input an address code such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locators) to the television receiver. .

  An example of a method for inputting a URL using the remote controller 60 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the display unit 51 of the television receiver 50 is switched to a URL input screen by a user's selection operation. On the URL input screen, for example, a soft key group 52 in which characters such as alphabets are iconified, a pointer 53 for selecting the soft key group 52, and a URL display unit on which the character selected by the soft key group 52 is displayed 54 and a determination soft key 55 for transmitting the URL displayed on the URL display unit 54 to the server.

  The remote controller 60 has operation keys 61 that can move the position of the pointer 53 and select a desired soft key. The user can input a desired URL to the television receiver 50 by selecting characters by repeating transmission for each character using the operation keys 61.

  By the way, the following Patent Document 1 describes a remote controller that inputs a G code using 10KEY. The remote controller described in Patent Literature 1 can display the G code to be set on the display unit of the remote controller, and then transmit the displayed G code collectively to a VTR (Video Tape Recorder).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-13962

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the method of inputting characters / numbers using the soft key group 52 displayed on the display unit 51 of the television receiver 50, the remote control is performed while checking the display unit 51 of the television receiver 50. Since it is necessary to operate the controller 60 and repeat transmission for each character, there is a problem that it takes time. Moreover, since the response of the television receiver 50 is slow after the user operates the remote controller 60, there is a problem that the user continues the operation without noticing the erroneous input.

  In the method described in Patent Document 1 described above, the G code to be set can be displayed once on the display unit and then transmitted together. Therefore, it occurs due to the trouble of repeating transmission for each character and the slow response. It is possible to avoid problems such as erroneous input. However, this method is only applicable to the G code, that is, the method of inputting numbers, and therefore cannot be applied to the input of URLs made up of characters / numbers.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller transmission device for a television receiver capable of inputting characters / numbers such as URLs by a method having excellent operability.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a remote controller transmission device that transmits a control signal to a television reception device,
Operation keys including numeric keys,
A switching unit capable of switching between the first operating position and the second operating position;
A display for displaying letters / numbers input at the second operating position;
A control unit that receives input of an operation key and controls to transmit a control signal at each of the first operation position and the second operation position of the switching unit, and
In the first operating position of the switching unit, each key of the numeric keys has a control function for controlling the television receiver,
In the second operation position of the switching unit, the remote controller transmitting device is characterized in that each key of the numeric keys has a function of inputting characters / numerics for accessing a desired site on the network.

  In the present invention, the operation keys including the numeric keys have a control function for controlling the television receiver and a function for inputting characters / numbers for accessing a desired site on the network. Functions can be switched.

  The remote controller transmission device of the present invention switches the function of operation keys including numeric keys to a control function for controlling the television receiver and a function for inputting characters / numerics for accessing a desired site on the network. Since the input characters / numbers can be displayed and confirmed on the display unit, the characters / numbers can be displayed without impairing the operability of the control function of the television receiver, which is the original function of the remote controller transmitter. The operability of numeric input can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, as an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration of a television receiver that can be connected to a network will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a television apparatus according to an embodiment. An RF signal received by the antenna 1 is supplied to the front end unit 2. The front end unit 2 selects a predetermined UHF channel from a broadcast signal input from the antenna 1, and performs orthogonal demodulation, FFT, deinterleave, Viterbi decoding, transport stream (hereinafter abbreviated as TS as appropriate), etc. Processing is performed and TS is output to the demultiplexer 3. Instead of terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS (Broadcasting satellite) digital broadcasting, CS (Communication Satellite) digital broadcasting, or the like can be selected and received.

  The demultiplexer 3 separates the AV signal corresponding to the audio and video of the program from the TS output from the front end unit 2 and outputs it to an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) decoder 4. Further, the demultiplexer 3 separates data signals such as EPG (Electrical Program Guide) and basic data from the TS, and outputs them to the control unit 11 via the bus 10.

  The MPEG decoder 4 decodes the AV signal input from the demultiplexer 3 and outputs the resulting video signal and audio signal to the video signal processing unit 5 and the audio signal processing unit 6, respectively. The video signal processing unit 5 converts the video signal input from the MPEG decoder 4 into a format suitable for the monitor 7 in the subsequent stage. The audio signal processing unit 6 performs predetermined audio processing on the audio signal input from the MPEG decoder 4. The monitor 7 displays video corresponding to the video signal from the video signal processing unit 5 and outputs audio corresponding to the audio signal from the audio signal processing unit 6.

  The control unit 11 receives an operation input unit 12 that receives a user operation and generates a corresponding operation command, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 in which application software such as a control program and a browser is stored, and various data. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 14 to be stored is connected. A communication unit 15 is connected to the control unit 11 via the bus 10. The control part 11 controls each part which comprises a television receiver via the bus | bath 10 by running the control program memorize | stored in ROM13.

  The operation input unit 12 includes a reception unit that receives and decodes a signal from the remote controller transmission device, an operation button provided on the outer surface of the housing of the television reception device, and the like. The signal is output to the control unit 11. The communication unit 15 communicates predetermined data with another electronic device (not shown) based on, for example, TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). For example, when a URL is input from the operation input unit 12, the input URL is modulated, transmitted from the communication unit 15, and connected to the network. As a result, information from the URL site on the network is read and displayed on the monitor 7.

  Next, the configuration of remote controller transmission device 20 (hereinafter referred to as remote controller 20 as appropriate) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows an example of a plan view of the remote controller 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The remote controller 20 includes a transmission unit 22 that transmits transmission signals such as infrared rays and radio waves, a shutter 21 that slides and moves in the longitudinal direction of the remote controller 20, a plurality of operation keys 23 to 35, and a moving position of the shutter 21. The display unit 36 is configured such that the display surface is covered or exposed.

  The remote controller 20 shown in FIG. 2A shows when the shutter 21 is in the first operating position. In the first operation position, the shutter 21 is closed, and the display unit 36 is covered with the shutter 21. On the other hand, the remote controller 20 shown in FIG. 2B shows when the shutter 21 is in the second operating position. In the second operation position, the shutter is open, and the display surface of the display unit 36 is exposed. By sliding the shutter 21 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 2A, the shutter 21 moves to the second operating position. Further, by sliding the shutter 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow b in FIG. 2B, the shutter 21 moves to the first operation position.

  By moving the shutter 21 to the first operating position and the second operating position, the operation mode of the remote controller 20 is switched. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the shutter 21 is in the first operation position, the remote controller 20 is in an operation mode for controlling the television receiver, like a normal remote controller. Hereinafter, the operation mode when the shutter 21 is positioned at the first operation position is referred to as a normal mode.

  On the other hand, when the shutter 21 is in the second operation position as shown in FIG. 2B, the operation key 33 of the remote controller 20 is switched to a function for inputting characters / numbers for accessing a desired site on the network. It is possible to switch to an operation mode in which a desired URL consisting of the written characters / numbers is transmitted to the television receiver. Hereinafter, the operation mode when the shutter 21 is positioned at the second operation position is referred to as a character / number input mode.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, by using the remote controller 20 in the normal mode, a desired URL can be input to the television receiver using a soft key in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. . Further, by moving the shutter 21 to the second operation position and switching the remote controller 20 to the character / number input mode, a desired URL can be input using the operation keys 33 and the like, and the input is performed on the display unit 36. Characters / numbers can be displayed and transmitted together to the television receiver. Therefore, by switching to the character / number input mode and performing the URL input operation, it is not necessary to repeat transmission one character at a time while checking the television receiver. The problem of continuing the operation without noticing the error is solved, and the input time can be shortened. Further, since it is possible to input the URL by blind touch while checking the characters / numbers input on the display unit 36, it is not necessary to input the URL while repeatedly checking the hand and the monitor 7 of the television receiver. , Improve convenience.

  Hereinafter, functions in the normal mode and the character / number input mode of the remote controller 20 will be described respectively. First, the remote controller 20 in the normal mode will be described with reference to FIG. 2A.

  The operation key 23 is a power key and controls the power ON / OFF of the television receiver. In the normal mode, when the power key is pressed for a television receiver that is turned off, the power of the television receiver is turned on, and, for example, an image received from a digital terrestrial broadcast is displayed on the monitor 7.

  The key group indicated by the operation keys 24, 25, 26 includes, for example, an input switching key, a screen display key, a wide switching key, a mute key, an audio switching key, a color key (blue, red, green, and yellow), and a program guide key. And operation keys capable of operating general television receivers, such as an interlocking data key, a return key, a tool key, a memo key, and a caption key.

  The operation key 27 is a menu key, and can display a menu screen on the monitor 7 of the television receiver. An operation state for connecting to the outside such as the Internet is set by selecting a menu. In one embodiment of the present invention, the URL can be input and transmitted by moving the shutter 21 and switching the remote controller 20 to the character / number input mode as described above. It is also possible to select switching to the input screen and input an address using a soft key as shown in FIG.

  The operation key 28 is a direction key, and is used, for example, to move a pointer displayed on the monitor 7 of the television receiver. The operation key 29 is a determination key, and is used, for example, to determine a position designated by a pointer.

  The operation keys 30, 31, and 32 are, for example, a terrestrial digital broadcast key, a BS digital broadcast key, and a CS digital broadcast key, and are keys for selecting these broadcasts.

  The key group indicated by the operation key 33 is a numeric key, and is a key for selecting a channel to be displayed on the monitor 7 of the television receiver. For example, when one button is selected from the 1 to 12 keys, the channel corresponding to the key is selected and displayed on the monitor 7.

  The operation key 34 is a volume adjustment key, and the operation key 35 is a channel selection key.

  As described above, the shutter 21 is switched to the first operation position and the second operation position, and functions as a switch for switching between the normal mode and the character / numeric input mode in accordance with these operation positions. Switching between the normal mode and the character / numeric input mode can be easily performed by only one operation of moving the shutter 21 to the first operation position and the second operation position.

  Next, the character / number input mode will be described with reference to FIG. 2B.

  In the character / number input mode, the number key indicated by the operation key 33 is switched to a key for inputting characters / numbers. In addition, the operation keys 30, 31, and 32 positioned immediately above the operation key 33 are switched to, for example, a character key, a clear key, and a menu key, respectively. The character key is a key for selecting the type of characters / numbers to be input using the operation keys 33. For example, a desired character type can be selected from alphabets, kana and numbers. The clear key is a key for erasing input characters. The menu key is a key that can select a menu that can be used in the character / number input mode. For example, a favorite URL stored in the memory can be read and displayed on the display unit 36.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the character assignment of each key of the operation keys 30 to 33. The character assignment shown in FIG. 3 is the same as the character assignment used in a general mobile phone. Therefore, for a user who uses the mail function of a mobile phone, the assignment is suitable for character input, and a character / number input operation can be performed by blind touch. Therefore, by assigning the operation keys 33 as shown in FIG. 3, the operability of character / number input can be improved, and the character / number input operation can be performed easily and quickly.

  In FIG. 3, characters corresponding to each numeric key are displayed in order to explain the assignment of characters. However, since such character display is unnecessary for a user who performs blind touch, Do not show. By not displaying characters, the vicinity of the operation key 33 can be displayed simply. If necessary, characters may be displayed near each numeric key.

  The operation key 23 is a power key. In the character / number input mode, when the power key is pressed for a television receiver that is turned off, the television receiver is turned on and the browser stored in the ROM 13 of the television receiver Will start and connect to the network. In this case, the television receiver may be turned on only by sliding the shutter 21 to enter the character / number input mode. When the television receiver is turned on, for example, a URL input screen is displayed on the monitor 7 and the URL transmitted from the remote controller 20 can be displayed. In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which a predetermined URL on the network is accessed and information from the site of the predetermined URL is displayed as a start screen.

  The key function of the operation key 24 is limited so that the function of the operation key 24 in the normal mode is stopped. That is, the normal mode and the character / number input mode are switched between when the key function is restricted and when it is released. In the character / number input mode, the operation of the television receiver can be performed even if the operation key 24 is pressed. Can no longer do. In this way, erroneous operation can be prevented by stopping the function of keys that are not used in the character / number input mode. For example, it is possible to prevent a problem that the screen display of the monitor 7 of the television receiver is switched due to an erroneous operation during use in the character / number input mode.

  The operation keys 25, 26, and 27 cannot be used because they are hidden inside the shutter 21 in the character / number input mode.

  The operation key 28 is a direction key and is used when moving the cursor displayed on the display unit 36. The operation key 28 is an enter key, and is used when the input URL is transmitted to the television receiver. When the URL is transmitted to the television receiving device, the television receiving device starts a browser and performs an access process for the transmitted URL.

  The operation key 34 is used as a volume adjustment button as in the normal mode. The operation key 35 may prevent an erroneous operation by stopping the key function in the same manner as the operation key 24. In addition, for example, the history of transmitted URLs may be switched to a function that can be sequentially displayed on the display unit 36.

  The display unit 36 displays characters / numbers input by pressing the operation button 33 or the like. The display unit 36 is composed of, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. When the shutter 21 is opened and the character / number input mode is entered, the power is turned on, the shutter 21 is closed, and the display unit 36 is placed inside the shutter. When hidden, the power is turned off. Thus, the power consumption of the remote controller 20 can be reduced by turning on the display unit 36 only in the character / number input mode.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remote controller 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the remote controller 20 includes a control unit 37 including a microcomputer and the like. The control unit 37 includes an operation input unit 38, a ROM 39, a RAM 40, a shutter interlock switch 41, a display unit 36, and a transmission unit 22. Is connected.

  The operation input unit 38 shows operation keys 23 to 35, and an input signal corresponding to the operation key is supplied to the control unit 35 when an input operation is performed.

  The control unit 37 determines whether the shutter 21 is closed (normal mode) or open (character / number input mode). When the normal mode is selected, an input from the operation input unit 36 is performed. The command code stored in the ROM 37 is read in response to the received signal, and this command code signal is output from the transmitter 22. When the character / number input mode is selected, when a character / number input operation is performed using the operation key 33 or the like, the input character / number is temporarily stored in the RAM 40 and the display unit The display control of the characters / numbers input to 36 is performed.

  The ROM 39 stores command codes corresponding to the operation keys 23 to 35 in the normal mode and the character / number input mode, and is read out by the control unit 37 in accordance with the input operation of the operation keys 23 to 35.

  When there is a URL input operation in the character / number input mode, the RAM 40 temporarily stores the input URL. When the operation key 29 is pressed to instruct transmission, the URL stored in the RAM 40 is read out and transmitted from the transmission unit 22 as, for example, an infrared command.

  In addition, when an operation for saving the input URL is performed, the RAM 40 stores the URL as a favorite. The URL stored as a favorite in the RAM 40 can be read out by selecting a desired URL using the menu key of the operation key 32 and displayed on the display unit 36.

  The shutter interlocking switch 41 indicates the shutter 21, and gives a state signal corresponding to the first operation position and the second operation position of the shutter 21 to the control unit 37.

  Next, with reference to some examples of display on the display unit 36 shown in FIG. 5, the process from URL input to transmission in the character / number input mode will be described.

  When characters / numbers are input using the operation keys 33, the input characters / numbers are sequentially displayed on the display unit 36 as shown in FIG. 5A. Therefore, the user can perform input while confirming the input characters / numbers. Note that an arrow c in FIG. 5A indicates a cursor. By pressing the menu button of the operation key 32, the favorite URL stored in the memory can be read out and displayed. When all of the input characters / numbers cannot be displayed on the screen of the display unit 36, all input contents can be confirmed by scrolling using the operation keys 28.

  When the input of the URL is completed, the URL can be transmitted to the television receiver by pressing the enter key of the operation key 29. FIG. 5B is an example of display of the operation screen 36 in the process of transmitting to the television receiver. For example, a solid line arrow and a dotted line arrow are displayed on the screen in FIG. 5B. When the enter button is pressed, a dotted arrow is displayed first, and as transmission progresses, it gradually changes to a solid arrow, indicating the state of progress until the transmission is completed.

  When the transmission to the television receiver is completed, a transmission completion notification is made as shown in FIG. 5C. After that, although not shown, it may be configured to switch to an image for selecting whether or not to store the input URL in the memory. When saving in the memory, the URL can be saved by pressing the enter key of the operation key 29.

  When an error occurs in transmission to the television receiver, the input URL is displayed again on the display screen 36, and the URL in error can be retransmitted. Therefore, there is no need to re-enter the URL.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, the flow from URL input to transmission of the remote controller 20 will be described. First, although not shown, the operation state of the television receiver is set to an operation state in which it can be connected to an external network such as the Internet.

  In step S1, it is determined whether or not the shutter 21 of the remote controller 20 is in the second operating position. If the shutter 21 is in the second operating position, the process proceeds to the character / number input mode in step S2. On the other hand, when the shutter 21 is in the first operating position, the process proceeds to the normal mode in step S8.

  When the mode is shifted to the character / number input mode in step 2, the functions of the operation keys 33 and the like are switched, and the display unit 36 is turned on.

  Next, in step S3, a URL is input. The input URL is displayed on the display unit 36.

  In step S4, it is determined whether or not the enter key indicated by the operation key 29 has been pressed. If it is determined that the enter key has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S5, where the input URL is transmitted. The transmitted URL is input to the browser of the television receiver.

  On the other hand, if the determination key is not pressed in step S4, it is determined that the URL has not been input, and the process of step S4 is repeated until the send button is pressed.

  After the transmission is performed in step S5, it is determined whether or not the URL transmitted in step S6 is stored in the memory (RAM 40). In the case of storing in the memory, it is stored in the memory as a favorite in step S7, and a series of processing is terminated.

  In step S6, if the transmitted URL is not stored in the memory, the process is terminated.

  Note that when the shutter 21 is switched to the second operating position in step S2 to step S6, the remote controller 20 is shifted to the normal mode.

  When the mode is shifted to the normal mode in step S8, a desired URL is input to the television receiver using the soft key in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 7, and the process is terminated.

  Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, the normal mode and the character / number input mode can be easily switched by only one operation of moving the shutter 21. In the character / number input mode, the number keys can be switched to the assignment of characters suitable for character / number input, so that characters / numbers can be easily input. Moreover, the input characters / numbers can be displayed on the display unit 36, and the input characters / numbers can be collectively transmitted to the television receiver. Therefore, the URL input operation can be performed in a convenient manner by switching to the character / number input mode without impairing the operability of the remote controller 20 in the normal mode.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications based on the technical idea of the present invention are possible. .

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the normal mode and the character / number input mode are switched using the shutter has been described. For example, a lid having one end connected to the remote controller 20 is provided, and the lid is moved up and down. Alternatively, the normal mode and the character / number input mode may be switched by opening and closing left and right.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the URL is transmitted to the television receiver by inputting characters / numbers using the operation key 33 or the like has been described. The characters / numbers to be transmitted are not limited to URLs. For example, when a television receiver is connected to a search site or the like, characters (words) to be searched may be input and transmitted.

It is a block diagram of an example of the television receiver which can apply this invention It is a top view which shows an example of the remote controller by one embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows an example of a part of key assignment of the operation key of the remote controller by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the remote controller by one embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of a display of the display part of the remote controller by one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of input of the character / number of the remote controller by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram for demonstrating an example of the method of inputting URL into a television receiver using a remote controller.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Front end part 3 ... Demultiplexer 11 ... Control part 12 ... Operation input part 20 ... Remote controller 21 ... Shutter 22 ... Transmission part 23-35 ... Operation Key 37 ... Control part 38 ... Operation input part 39 ... ROM
40 ... RAM
41 ... Shutter interlock switch

Claims (4)

A remote controller transmitter that transmits a control signal to a television receiver,
Operation keys including numeric keys,
A switching unit capable of switching between the first operating position and the second operating position;
A display unit for displaying letters / numbers input at the second operation position;
A control unit that receives an input of the operation key and controls to transmit the control signal at each of the first operation position and the second operation position of the switching unit;
In the first operating position of the switching unit, each of the numeric keys has a control function for controlling the television receiver,
The remote controller transmitting device, wherein at the second operating position of the switching unit, each of the numeric keys has a function of inputting characters / numerics for accessing a desired site on the network.   2. The switching unit includes a shutter, and moves to the first operation position that covers the display unit by sliding the shutter and the second operation position that exposes the display unit. The remote controller transmitting device described. In the first operating position of the switching member, the display unit is powered on,
The remote controller transmission device according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is turned off at the second operating position of the switching member. 2. The remote controller transmission device according to claim 1, wherein characters are assigned to each of the numeric keys 1 to 9 as follows.
Number 1:. @ A Line Number 2: ABC or Line Number 3: D EF Line Number 4: GHI Line Number 5: JK L Line Number 6: M N O is Line Number 7: P Q R S Ma Line Number 8: TU V and Line Number 2: W X Y Z

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