JP4789107B2 - Remote control system and remote control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system and a remote control device that selectively control a plurality of devices to be controlled.

  Currently, there are various electronic devices such as a television device, a video recorder, an audio device, an air conditioner, and a lighting fixture in a home, and each has a dedicated remote control device called “remote control”. Therefore, the user must operate the remote controller for each control target device. For this reason, when the number of devices to be controlled increases, management of individual remote controllers is complicated, and it takes time to search for the corresponding remote controller, or it is confused with different operation modes.

  In some products such as a video recorder, a remote controller in which the operation unit of the video recorder itself and the operation unit of the television device are integrated is also widespread. However, for certain types of products (TV device, VTR, DVD recorder). It is limited, and it cannot be shared with more control target devices. In addition, since dedicated operation keys are prepared for each device, the number of keys is large, and it is difficult to use until familiarized.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for controlling a plurality of devices connected to a network by displaying a list of devices with icons on a client and allowing a user to select a control target. .

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for photographing a control target device and specifying the control target device based on the image as a remote control device that integrally and remotely operates a plurality of control target devices.
JP 2002-189649 A JP 2003-18674 A

  With the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is possible to selectively control a plurality of control target devices from one apparatus.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, even if the control target device exists in front of the user, an operation for selecting a corresponding icon from a list arranged in a large number must be performed. It is inferior to the direct operation of a remote control dedicated to a single device.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, it is essential to incorporate an expensive photographing unit in the remote control device, and an image recognition process for comparing and contrasting the photographed image with the image for identification is necessary. In order to recognize the image, all the control target identification images must be stored, and the processing load of the recognition process is large. Furthermore, there is a problem that the recognition result depends on the image quality depending on the shooting environment such as the brightness of the room.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and an object thereof is to improve operability when a plurality of control target devices are selectively controlled by a single remote control device.

  The remote control system according to the present invention is a remote control system including one or more control target devices and a remote control device that controls the control target devices, and each control target device uniquely identifies itself. A transmitter that transmits a wireless signal including information, and the remote control device receives a wireless signal from the control target device when the remote control device is directed to the control target device; and A device identification information detection unit that detects the device identification information from the received signal received, a storage unit that stores device control information corresponding to the device identification information, and a device control information corresponding to the detected device identification information A search unit that searches from the search unit, a command generation unit that generates a device control command based on the device control information obtained by the search of the search unit, and a transmission that transmits the generated command to the control target device Characterized in that it has and.

  The device to be controlled always generates the wireless signal, or the device to be controlled generates the wireless signal temporarily according to a predetermined operation by a user. The remote control device recognizes the control target device that the user is currently instructing by receiving such a radio signal. In other words, the remote control device can recognize what the control target device is simply by pointing the remote control device toward the target control target device. Therefore, the search unit searches for device control information of the control target device stored in the storage unit, generates a device control command on the basis of the obtained device control information, and transmits it from the transmission unit. .

  Preferably, the device to be controlled transmits the radio signal with a certain angle range, and the remote control device includes a receiving unit that receives the radio signal with directivity.

  Preferably, a server having a device control information storage unit that stores device control information corresponding to the device identification information and a device control information transmission unit that transmits the device control information in response to an external request is prepared. If the device control information for the corresponding device does not exist in the remote control device as a result of the search by the search unit, the remote control device requests the device control information from the server. That is, the remote control device receives a request for device control information for the device specified by the device identification information to the server, and receives the device control information from the server and stores it in the storage unit. You may further have an apparatus control information receiving part to store.

  The remote control device according to the present invention is a remote control device that is shared by a plurality of control target devices, and by directing the remote control device toward the specific control target device, the remote control device from the specific control target device. The device identification information is received, and based on the device identification information, the operation mode is switched to a mode for instructing the control target device.

  The remote control device further includes a display unit having a display screen, the device control information includes user interface screen information for operating the control target device, and the display unit displays a display screen for controlling the control target device. indicate. By switching the user interface screen according to the control target device, a variety of control target devices can be operated using a common operation unit. This also makes it possible to unify operation specifications for various devices to be controlled.

  The instruction to the control target device can be executed directly without going through a server, or the instruction to the control target device can be executed through a server.

  Further, by directing the remote control device in the direction of the specific control target device, the name information of the control target device is received and displayed on the display screen, and the device control of the control target device is performed according to a user instruction. Information may be selected or acquired. Here, “selection” corresponds to the case where the device control information exists in the storage unit, and “acquisition” corresponds to the case where the device control information does not exist in the storage unit and is obtained from an external server. With this configuration, the user can select or acquire the device control information for the device to be controlled after confirming the displayed device name. There may be a mode in which a part of the device control information is acquired from the storage unit and a part is acquired from an external server.

  The remote control device may further include an operation element capable of performing a push-pull operation. In this case, if there is a pull operation of the operation element toward any control target device, the remote control for the control target device is performed. If predetermined information is extracted from the control target device as a device and the operator pushes the control element toward any control target device, the predetermined information and / or the remote control device for the control target device Alternatively, it is possible to adopt a processing mode in which an instruction is output. This makes it possible to operate the device more intuitively and easily.

  The remote control device of the present invention identifies the control target device by receiving a radio signal including device identification information from the control target device in the direction in which the user points the remote control device. The user is free from complicated operations such as selecting a corresponding device from the above. That is, since the user can designate a control target device to be operated by pointing the remote control device, a single remote control device can be used for an arbitrary control target device, and the conventional one-to-one type “remote control” can be used. Operation with a close experience can be realized. As a result, it is possible to quickly and intuitively specify the control target device that the user wants to remotely operate, and the operability of the remote control device is improved.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, an outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The remote control device 10 is shared by a plurality of control target devices 30a to 30n (# 1 to #n). That is, when the user (operator) gives a predetermined instruction to the remote control device 10 toward the control target device # 1, the remote control device 10 becomes a remote control for the device # 1. The “predetermined instruction” is sufficient by operating a specific key or button as described later. Next, when the remote control device 10 is given a predetermined instruction toward the control target device 30b, the remote control device 10 becomes a remote control for the device # 2. Similarly, when a predetermined instruction is given to the remote control device 10 toward the control target device 30n, the remote control device 10 becomes a remote control for the device #n. There is no need to provide a dedicated operation unit for each device, and functions of the same display screen and operation unit can be switched and used.

  The conditions for the remote control device 10 to recognize the control target device are as follows. First, a radio signal including device identification information uniquely representing itself is transmitted from the control target device. This radio signal uses a radio signal medium (for example, infrared rays) having straightness. It is preferable that the wireless signal is transmitted with a certain angle range. On the other hand, reception of a radio signal on the remote control device 10 side is performed with directivity. That is, the wireless signal is received from the control target device only when the remote control device 10 is directed to the target control target device. In FIG. 1, when the remote control device 10 is directed to the device # 1, the remote control device 10 receives a radio signal only from the device # 1. That is, a wireless signal is not received from another control target device (for example, # 2) whose direction is different from the direction in which the remote control device 10 is directed by a predetermined angle or more. With this configuration, the remote control device can operate the control target device even if it is not directly in front of the control target device, and even if there are multiple control target devices, the control target device to which the remote control device is directed The device identification information can be obtained only from the device (that is, the device identification information from the control target device in a direction other than the direction toward the remote control device can be prevented). Further, when there are a plurality of remote control devices, it is possible to operate the same control target device from different directions. The radio signal may be a radio wave. In this case, the antenna that is provided in the remote control device 10 and that receives the radio signal has directivity.

  Each control target device may always output a radio signal, or when a predetermined operation is performed from the remote control device 10, all the control target devices may temporarily generate a radio signal. “Normal” includes not only continuous cases but also periodic cases. In a periodic case, an instruction to generate a radio signal is transmitted from the remote control device 10 to all control target devices via a network or the like. All the control target devices that have received this instruction repeatedly output a radio signal until the predetermined time or termination instruction is received after receiving the instruction.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the entire remote control system in the present embodiment.

  In this configuration, the control target device 30 includes a light emitting unit 31 that emits infrared light as a radio signal having straightness, and a light receiving unit (receiving unit) 32 that receives infrared light. The light emitting unit 31 preferably emits infrared light at a relatively wide angle, and a plurality of light emitting devices are used in combination or a light emitting device with a wide irradiation range is used. On the other hand, the remote control device 10 includes an infrared light receiving unit (receiving unit) and a light emitting unit (transmitting unit). The light receiving unit of the remote control device 10 receives a radio signal with directivity. For this purpose, for example, by arranging the light receiving device in a deep position in the housing of the remote control device or using a lens, directivity on the receiving side can be provided. The remote control device 10 is further connected to the network 23 via a wireless interface. The network 23 may include an arbitrary communication network such as a home network such as a LAN, a mobile phone communication network, a public line network, and the Internet. A server 20 is connected to the network 23. The server 20 of the present embodiment includes a database that stores screen information and control information of a plurality of remote control devices for the control target device 30. In this embodiment, “control information” is assumed to be control data for controlling a control target device, but may include information of a control application. The server 20 may be a so-called home server connected to a LAN, or a server connected to the Internet.

  In FIG. 2, when the user tries to control the control target device 30, first, when the remote control device 10 is set in the remote control operation mode and is directed toward the control target device 30, a radio signal is received from the control target device 30. (1). This wireless signal includes device identification information (device ID) and name information. The remote control device 10 displays the name of the device on the screen based on the received name information (2). Based on this name, the user confirms that the instructed control target is correct (the target control target) and gives a predetermined instruction. As a result, the server 20 is requested via the wireless interface for screen information and control information corresponding to the remote control operation for the device (3). In response to this, the server 20 returns screen information and control information to the remote control device 10. The remote control device 10 stores the received screen information and control information in an internal storage unit. Further, the remote control device 10 displays a remote control screen for the device based on the screen information (5), and transmits a control command (command) to the device according to a user operation based on the control information (6).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the database 25 provided in the server 20 in a table format for convenience. This database 25 accumulates corresponding device names, control information, and screen information for each device ID so that they can be searched.

  When screen information and control information for a certain device 30 to be controlled are taken into the remote control device 10, invariant data among these data is associated with the device ID in a cache storage unit (for example, a non-volatile memory). It is preferable to store them and use them after reading screen information and control information for the same control target device 30 next time from the storage unit. The variable data is obtained from the outside whenever necessary (however, the invariant data is also temporarily stored in some memory). The contents of the cache storage unit are, for example, a subset of the contents of the database 25 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the function of each part corresponding to the system of FIG.

  Each of the one or more control target devices 30 includes a transmission unit 323 that transmits a radio signal including device identification information uniquely representing itself, a reception unit 321 that receives a command directly or indirectly from the remote control device 10, and a control An individual processing unit 327 that performs processing unique to the target device 30, a control unit 325 that controls the individual processing unit 327, a transmission unit 323, and a reception unit 321 is provided. “Indirectly” corresponds to receiving a command from the remote control device 10 via a server or the like.

  The remote control device 10 includes a device identification information receiving unit 101 that receives a radio signal from the control target device when the casing is directed to the control target device, and a device identification from the received signal received by the receiving unit 191. A device identification information detection unit 102 that detects information, a storage unit 103 that stores device control information corresponding to the device identification information, and a search unit that retrieves device control information corresponding to the detected device identification information from the storage unit 104, a command generation unit 105 that generates a device control command based on the device control information obtained by the search of the search unit 104, a command transmission unit 108 that transmits the generated command to the control target device, and a search unit The control information request unit 107 that requests the server 20 for control information for the device in accordance with the search result 104, and the control information is received from the server 20 and stored in the storage unit 103. Having a control information receiving section 106. “Device control information” includes operation user interface data (screen information, etc.) for controlling the device, invariant data such as command data, and operation target identification information (for example, file name, content name, thumbnail image, program) Variable data such as tabular data). The invariant data can be cached in a storage unit inside the remote control device 10. Variable data is acquired from the outside each time. Even “invariant data” may be updated by version upgrade or the like. For this purpose, for example, the version information of the invariant data is also sent from the control object to the remote control device, and when new version information is received from the version information of the invariant data stored in the storage unit in the remote control device, The invariant data in the storage unit may be updated.

  The server 20 includes a request receiving unit 201 that receives a control information request from the outside, a device control information storage unit (corresponding to the database 25) 205 that stores a plurality of device control information corresponding to a plurality of device identification information, The device control information transmission unit 203 extracts the corresponding device control information from the control information storage unit 205 in response to the request and transmits the device control information to the issuer of the request.

  FIG. 5 shows another system configuration replacing the system of FIG. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the device name information is received from the control target device 30 itself. However, in the configuration of FIG. 5, only the device ID is received from the control target device 30 and the device name is sent to the server 20 via the network 23. An inquiry (2) and name information are received (3). The subsequent processing flow is the same as in FIG. That is, the remote control device 10 displays the device name (4), requests the server 20 for screen information and control information of the device again via the network 23 (5), and receives the screen information and control information (6). ). Further, a remote control screen is displayed (7), and a control command is issued to the control target device 30 according to a user operation (8).

  FIG. 6 shows still another system configuration that replaces the system of FIG. In the above configuration, the control command is transmitted directly to the control target device by a wireless signal such as infrared rays, but the control command may be transferred to the control target device 30 via the network 23 (6). In this case, the light receiving unit 32 of the control target device is not necessary. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the system of FIG. Further, although not shown, as another system configuration in place of FIG. 5, a configuration for controlling the control target device 30 via the network 23 as in FIG. 6 can be realized.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a television device as an example of the control target device 30. This television apparatus is a broadcast receiving and reproducing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and includes a central control unit 301, a RAM 302, a ROM 303, a display driver 304, a display (display device) 305, a network interface 306, and input / output. It has an interface 307, a flash memory 308, an IR light receiving unit 309, an antenna 311, a broadcast receiving unit 312, an audio processing unit 313, a speaker 314, and an IR light emitting unit 315.

  The central control unit 301, RAM 302, ROM 303, display driver 304, network interface 306, input / output interface 307, flash memory 308, broadcast receiving unit 312, and audio processing unit 313 are connected to each other via a bus 310. Thus, data is exchanged and instructions are exchanged.

  A RAM 302 is a memory that temporarily holds and stores calculation results of the central control unit 301 and data acquired from the outside. The ROM 303 is a non-volatile memory that stores various programs 303a including an operating system (OS) and a character processing input program. The central control unit 301 reads these programs from the ROM 303 and executes predetermined processing according to the programs. The flash memory 308 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory that retains data acquired from the outside, information such as an e-mail address, URL, and the like for later processing. Some programs may be stored in the flash memory 308. The network interface 306 has a function of establishing connection with an external network and transmitting / receiving data to / from an external network (such as the Internet), and is configured by, for example, a LAN board. An IR light emitting unit 315 and an IR light receiving unit 309 are connected to the input / output interface 307. The IR light emitting unit 315 generates an infrared signal as a radio signal including the above-described device ID and the like. The IR light receiving unit 309 has a function of receiving an infrared signal emitted from the remote control device 10 and converting it to an electrical signal and passing it to the input / output interface 307.

  The display driver 304 has a function of receiving display information such as a document and an image from the central control unit 301 and driving the display 305 based on the display information. The display 305 is an arbitrary display device such as a liquid crystal display device, a CRT display device, or a plasma display device, and has a function of optically displaying a screen based on a drive signal from the display driver 304. The broadcast receiving unit 312 has a function of extracting a signal of a desired channel from a broadcast wave received by the antenna 311 and demodulating and reproducing the signal. The broadcast receiving unit 312 may be a terrestrial wave or a satellite wave.

  The sound processing unit 313 is connected to the speaker 314 and performs sound processing under the control of the central control unit 301. In addition, although not shown, a microphone connected to the audio processing unit 313 may be provided. In addition, a mass storage device such as a hard disk device or a DVD device may be provided.

  FIG. 8 shows a hardware configuration example of a mobile phone terminal used as the remote control device 10. Control of the remote control device 10 is realized by program control of a central control unit (for example, CPU) 1. The ROM 2 is a normal read-only memory that stores a control program for that purpose, an initially installed application program, and fixed data. The RAM 3 is a readable / writable memory that provides a temporary data storage area and work area. The flash memory 4 is a rewritable memory that stores various data as described above in a nonvolatile manner. The various programs 2a are stored in the ROM 2 (however, may be stored in the flash memory 4). The application program for the remote control device in the present embodiment may be preinstalled, or afterwards. It may be downloaded. The wireless network interface 6 is a part that performs wireless voice and data communication with the base station via the antenna 5. The display driver 7 is controlled by the central control unit 1, performs drawing processing of various information, and displays on a display screen of a display (display device) 8 that is a display unit. The audio processing unit 9 is connected to the microphone 11 and the speaker 12 and performs audio processing under the control of the central control unit 1. The operation unit 13 is a part that controls an input interface including various keys such as a numeric keypad and cursor movement operation keys. The short-range wireless communication unit 15 is connected to the antenna 14 and is a part for performing wireless communication at a short distance under the control of the central control unit 1, and is, for example, a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (trademark). The RTC 16 is a real-time clock that provides a clock or timer function. The input / output interface 17 exchanges signals with the IR light emitting unit 18 and the IR light receiving unit 19 under the control of the central control unit 1.

  Note that the processing units (17, 18, 19, etc.) related to the present invention in the control target device 30 are built in or attached to the device. For example, when the device to be controlled is a television, it may be installed in the front of the housing or installed on the television as an external device.

  Although not shown, the remote control device 10 may include a laser projector (laser pointer). The laser projection unit projects laser light as visible light with high straightness when it is difficult to determine where the infrared light receiving unit of the remote control device is facing, and emits a light spot to any control target device. In order to make it possible for the user to visually recognize the device to be controlled.

  FIG. 9 shows the appearance of a mobile phone terminal that functions as the remote control device 10 in the present embodiment. 9A is a front view, FIG. 9B is a right side view, FIG. 9C is a rear view, FIG. 9D is a plan view, and FIG. 9E is a bottom view. Since the left side surface appears symmetrically with the right side surface, the illustration is omitted. In this example, the upper housing is slidably coupled to the lower housing. In the upper housing, a display unit including the display 8 and a control key group of the operation unit 13 are arranged. The control key group includes control keys such as a call key, an end / power key, a cursor key, and a clear key. Some control keys function as so-called soft keys to which different functions are assigned according to the contents of the display screen. As often shown in FIGS. 9B and 10B and 10C, the mobile phone terminal has a trigger key 27 on the back surface thereof. The trigger key 27 is an operator that can perform a push-pull operation in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the terminal) in the figure, and can be operated by a user with a finger (for example, an index finger) while holding the remote control device 10 with one hand. The trigger key 27 is always maintained at a predetermined position by an elastic member such as a spring, and moves to one side and the other side against a spring force by a push operation and a pull operation. When the operating force is released, it returns to its original position by the spring force. In the present embodiment, the remote controller operation mode may be entered by continuously performing the pull operation of the trigger key 27 for a predetermined time or more. After entering the remote control operation mode, the following various modes can be considered as to how to use the trigger key 27 next.

  When a wireless signal is temporarily generated by a predetermined operation by the user instead of constantly generating a wireless signal from the control target device, a pull operation of the trigger key 27 for a predetermined time or more is temporarily wirelessly set as a “predetermined operation”. It is good also as an opportunity of signal generation. Alternatively, other operations such as a push operation may be assigned instead of a pull operation as a temporary radio signal generation trigger. In any case, when a radio signal is temporarily generated, radio signals are generated from all the control target devices for a predetermined time according to the predetermined operation, and the remote control device is directed from the control target device. Receiving a radio signal and recognizing what the device is. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a radio signal including a device ID is always generated, a configuration is assumed in which the device ID is acquired simply by pointing the remote control device toward the control target device, but the radio signal is always generated. Even in such a case, the remote control device acquires a device ID triggered by a predetermined operation of the user (for example, pull operation of the trigger key 27), and corresponds to this device ID simultaneously or triggered by some next operation. It is good also as a structure which acquires the apparatus control information to perform. Alternatively, when the pull operation of the trigger key 27 is performed in two stages and the light is pulled lightly (shallow), the device ID is requested to be transmitted to the operation target device via the network, and then the device control information of the device is pulled strongly (deeply). An instruction to acquire the information may be output. Even when a radio signal is always generated, the control target device is notified via the network that the remote control device has entered the remote control operation mode, and each control target device starts generating a radio signal accordingly. You may make it do. In this case, even when the remote control device exits the remote control operation mode, the control target device can be notified to that effect, and each control target device can stop generating a radio signal.

  FIG. 10 shows an open state in which the second operation unit including the numeric keypad is exposed by sliding the upper case from the lower case from the closed state in which the upper case is overlaid on the lower case. 10A is a front view, FIG. 10B is a right side view, FIG. 10C is a rear view, FIG. 10D is a plan view, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 10C, a camera unit 29 is provided on the back surface of the display 8. As can be seen from FIG. 10A, the operation unit 13 is divided into a control key group 13a in the upper casing and a numeric keypad 13b in the lower casing.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which the display unit including the display 8 is rotated with respect to the lower housing with the lower part as a base point. FIG. 11B is a right side view thereof, and FIG. 11B is a plan view of the state of FIG.

  FIG. 12 shows a processing example in the remote control mode when the mobile phone terminal is used as a remote control device (remote control). As described above, the mobile phone terminal shifts to the remote control mode by a predetermined operation (for example, menu selection or predetermined key selection) by the user. If the device ID is received after shifting to the remote control mode (S11, Yes), the name information of the device specified by the device ID is acquired and displayed (S12). An example of this display screen is shown in FIG. This corresponds to the case where the device ID of the television apparatus is received. In preparation for the case where there are a plurality of television devices, the device name may include additional data such as the manufacturer name and / or model number and be displayed together with the device name.

  Thereafter, if there is a trigger key pull operation by the user (S13, Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S14. If the orientation of the remote control device is changed while there is no pull operation, the received device ID is updated, and the name of the displayed device also changes.

  In step S14, control information (including screen information) of the device is requested from the server, acquired from the server, and stored in the storage unit. However, before making a request to the server, the storage unit (cache) in the remote control device is confirmed, and if the control information of the device has been saved here, the control information is used and the server is not accessed. If the control information can be acquired, a remote control screen, which is a display screen for controlling the device, is displayed on the display unit of the mobile phone terminal based on the image data received together with the control information (S15). FIG. 14 shows an example of a remote control screen when the control target device is a television device. A television image is displayed in the upper half area of the screen, and a guide image for a soft key (cursor key or the like) is displayed in the lower half. FIG. 15 shows an example of a remote control screen of a TV broadcast program guide (EPG) activated by an instruction of the “EPG” button in FIG. FIG. 16 shows an example of a remote control screen when the control target device is a lighting device. In this example, the brightness of the lighting device can be controlled. FIG. 17 shows an example of a remote control screen when the controlled object is an air conditioning device. In this example, the soft keys are assigned to the numeric keys.

  Thereafter, the user's remote control operation can be accepted (S16). When the operation as the device remote control is completed according to the user operation (S17, Yes), the process returns to step S11. If the remote control mode is ended by the user operation (S18, Yes), this process ends. Otherwise, the process returns to step S16, and the above processing is executed.

  FIG. 18 shows the remote control operation acceptance processing in step S16 in FIG. In particular, steps S21 to S26 show a special processing example using a push-pull operation of a trigger key. After the remote control operation acceptance is started, it is confirmed whether or not a trigger key pull operation has been performed (S21). This can be done by periodic checking or interrupt handling. If there is no pull operation, the process proceeds to step S24.

  If there is a pull operation, it is ascertained whether there is a definition of a pull operation corresponding to the pull operation in the control information for the device that has received the device ID at that time (S22). If there is no definition, the process proceeds to step S24. If there is a definition, a pull operation for the device is executed (S23). For example, predetermined information is extracted from the device as a remote control device for the device.

  In step S24, it is confirmed whether or not the trigger key has been pushed (S25). If there is no push operation, the process proceeds to step S27. If there is a push operation, it is confirmed whether or not a valid pull operation is performed before this push operation (S25). If the corresponding effective pull operation is not performed, the process proceeds to step S27. If the corresponding effective pull operation is performed, the push operation in the device is executed. For example, predetermined information and / or instructions are output to the device as a remote control device for the device.

  Note that the contents of the pull operation and the push operation may differ depending on what the control target device is. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 19A, when the television device 401 is a control target device, the pull operation executed in response to the pull operation is acquisition of at least the remote control screen of the television device 401, a control command, or the like. (1), program guide (EPG) data is also acquired upon request (2). When the remote control device is directed to another control target device, for example, the video recorder 402, the device ID of the control target device is acquired (provided that there is no instruction such as a user pulling operation again at this stage). The control information of the new device is not acquired). In this example, when the remote control device is pointed to the video recorder 402, the device ID of the video recorder 402 is acquired, and the device is recognized. When the user selects a program from the program guide and performs a push operation with the remote control device directed to the video recorder 402, for example, a recording reservation for the program defined as a push operation is performed (3). Note that this push operation may include recording immediately when the selected program is currently being broadcast, or outputting a message to that effect if it has already been broadcast.

  FIG. 19B illustrates an example in which “another control device” that is a push operation target is the lighting device 403. The pull operation in this case is the same as that in FIG. 19A, but the pull operation outputs a command for adjusting the brightness of the lighting device 403 in accordance with the program (3) '. How to control the brightness for which program is arbitrary, but as its mechanism, for example, a predetermined control mode can be selected based on program attribute information such as the genre of the program.

  FIG. 19C illustrates an example in which the device that is currently the target of remote control and the device that is the target of the push operation are the same device (television device 401). The push operation here shows an example (3) ″ in which the channel of the television device 401 is switched to the channel selected in the program guide.

  Although not shown, if the control target device to be pulled is a recorder device, a list of contents recorded therein is received, and the user selects desired contents. Thereafter, when the remote control device is directed to a control target device to be pushed, for example, a television device, and a trigger key is pushed, the content selected by the user is transferred to the television device and reproduced.

  In such processing, at least identification of the control target device that is the target of the pull operation and push operation in the remote control device is performed based on a direct radio signal from the control target device. Substantially pull processing and push operation processing, which has a larger processing load than specifying the control target device, can be performed via the network 23 or the like. Of course, it does not exclude that the device is directly controlled by a wireless signal such as infrared rays in the pull operation and the push operation. Further, direct control and indirect control may be switched depending on the control target device.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made.

  For example, when a home server and a server (global server) connected to the Internet are used as the server, the device control information may be held by the home server, or the home server is the URL of the device control information provider The remote control device may acquire the device control information directly from the global server based on the URL.

  Although the operation unit using keys has been described as the remote control device, a touch panel arranged on the display screen may be prepared, and this touch panel may be used as the operation unit. Although the trigger key has shown what can perform both a push operation and a pull operation, you may perform only one of them.

  Although an example in which a cellular phone terminal is supported as a remote control device has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and a dedicated device having only a remote control function may be used.

  For example, when there are a plurality of control target devices in the same direction as viewed from the remote control device, for example, two control target devices are stacked, a plurality of reception signals may be received. In such a case, the user may be allowed to select one of the plurality of devices included in the plurality of received signals on the screen.

  In this specification, “via wireless interface” means that at least the remote control device can control the control target device wirelessly, and a wired interface may be interposed in the course of transmission of the control signal. The “wireless interface” is assumed to be short-range wireless communication using infrared rays or radio waves, but may be a public network, a mobile phone network, or the like. In addition, “wireless” is not an essential requirement, and it is also possible to transmit only a wired signal that does not include wireless (when the remote control device is connected to an information processing device or the like by wire). Wired lines can include not only signal lines but also power lines and the like.

It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the whole remote control system in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the content of the database with which the server shown in FIG. 2 is provided in a table format for convenience. It is the block diagram which showed the function of each part corresponding to the system of FIG. It is a figure which shows another system configuration replaced with the system of FIG. It is a figure which shows another system structure which replaces the system of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the television apparatus as an example of the control object apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the mobile telephone terminal used as a remote control apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the mobile telephone terminal which functions as a remote control apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the open state of the mobile telephone terminal of FIG. It is the top view (a) and side view (b) which show the state which inclined the display with respect to the lower housing | casing. It is a flowchart which shows the process example in remote control mode when using the mobile telephone terminal in embodiment of this invention as a remote control apparatus (remote control). It is a figure which shows the example of a display screen of the name of the apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a remote control screen in case the control object apparatus is a television apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a remote control screen of the program guide (EPG) of a television broadcast in the case of making a television apparatus or a video recorder into a control object apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a remote control screen in case the control object apparatus is an illuminating device in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a remote control screen in case the control object apparatus is an air-conditioning apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the remote control operation reception process of step S16 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing (a) (b) (c) of the example of push-pull operation | movement using the trigger key in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Central control part, 2a ... Various programs, 4 ... Flash memory, 5 ... Antenna, 6 ... Wireless network interface, 7 ... Display driver, 8 ... Display, 9 ... Voice processing part, 10 ... Remote control apparatus, 11 ... Microphone 12 ... Speaker, 13 ... Operation unit, 14 ... Antenna, 15 ... Short-range wireless communication unit, 17 ... Input / output interface, 18 ... Light emitting unit, 19 ... Light receiving unit, 20 ... Server, 23 ... Network, 25 ... Database, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 27 ... Trigger key, 29 ... Camera part, 30a-30n ... Control object apparatus, 31 ... Light emission part, 32 ... Light receiving part, 101 ... Equipment identification information receiving part, 102 ... Equipment identification information detection part, 103 ... Memory | storage part, 104 ... Retrieval unit, 105 ... command generation unit, 106 ... control information reception unit, 107 ... control information request unit, 108 ... command transmission unit, 191 ... reception unit DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 ... Request receiving part, 203 ... Equipment control information transmission part, 205 ... Control information storage part, 301 ... Central control part, 303a ... Various programs, 304 ... Display driver, 305 ... Display, 306 ... Network interface, 307 ... Input / output Interface: 308: Flash memory, 309: Light receiving unit, 310: Bus, 311: Antenna, 312: Broadcast receiving unit, 313: Audio processing unit, 314: Speaker, 315: Light emitting unit, 321: Receiving unit, 323: Transmitting unit 325 ... Control unit, 327 ... Individual processing unit

Claims (22)

A remote control system comprising one or more control target devices and a remote control device that controls the control target devices,
Each control target device has a transmitter that transmits a radio signal including device identification information that uniquely represents the device,
The remote control device is:
A receiving unit that receives the radio signal from the control target device when directed to the control target device;
A device identification information detection unit that detects the device identification information from a reception signal received by the reception unit;
A storage unit for storing device control information corresponding to the device identification information;
A search unit that searches the storage unit for device control information corresponding to the detected device identification information;
A command generation unit that generates a device control command based on the device control information obtained by the search of the search unit;
The generated instruction possess a transmission unit to be transmitted to the control target device,
The device control information includes invariant data and variable data, the invariant data is stored in the storage unit, read from the storage unit when necessary, and the variable data is acquired when necessary. Control system. A server having a device control information storage unit that stores device control information corresponding to the device identification information, and a device control information transmission unit that transmits the device control information in response to an external request;
The remote control device receives a request for device control information for the device specified by the device identification information to the server, and receives the device control information from the server and stores it in the storage unit The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising a device control information receiving unit.   The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the device to be controlled always generates the radio signal.   The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the control target device temporarily generates the wireless signal in response to a predetermined operation by a user. The said control object apparatus transmits the said radio signal with a certain angle range, and the said remote control apparatus was provided with the receiving part which receives the said radio signal with directivity. The remote control system described in. A remote control device shared for a plurality of control target devices,
Means for receiving device identification information from the specific control target device by directing the remote control device in the direction of the specific control target device;
Means for acquiring device control information for the device to be controlled based on the device identification information;
Means for switching the operation mode to a mode for instructing the control target device based on the device identification information ;
The device control information includes invariant data and variable data, the invariant data is stored in the storage unit, read from the storage unit when necessary, and the variable data is acquired when necessary. Control device. E further Bei a display unit having a display screen, before Symbol device control information includes a user interface screen information for operating the controlled equipment, the display unit displays a display screen for controlling the control target device The remote control device according to claim 6.   The remote control device according to claim 6, wherein the instruction to the control target device is directly executed without going through a server.   The remote control device according to claim 6, wherein the instruction to the device to be controlled is executed via a server.   By directing the remote control device in the direction of the specific control target device, the name information of the control target device is received and displayed on the display screen, and the device control information of the control target device is displayed according to a user instruction. 8. The remote control device according to claim 7, wherein the remote control device is selected or acquired. The remote control device according to any one of claims 6-10, characterized in that it comprises a receiving unit for a radio signal transmitted with a certain angle range as the device identification information, receives directionally. A remote control system comprising one or more control target devices and a remote control device that controls the control target devices,
  Each control target device has a transmitter that transmits a radio signal including device identification information that uniquely represents the device,
  The remote control device is:
  A receiving unit that receives the radio signal from the control target device when directed to the control target device;
  A device identification information detection unit that detects the device identification information from a reception signal received by the reception unit;
  A storage unit for storing device control information corresponding to the device identification information;
  A search unit that searches the storage unit for device control information corresponding to the detected device identification information;
  A command generation unit that generates a device control command based on the device control information obtained by the search of the search unit;
  A transmission unit that transmits the generated command to the control target device; and
  An operator for instructing execution of a pull operation and a push operation;
  When the pull operation is instructed by the operator with the remote control device directed to any control target device, predetermined information is extracted from the control target device, and the remote control device is set to any control target device. When a push operation is instructed by the operator, predetermined information and / or instructions are output to the device as a remote control device for the device to be controlled
  A remote control system characterized by that.   A server having a device control information storage unit that stores device control information corresponding to the device identification information, and a device control information transmission unit that transmits the device control information in response to an external request;
  The remote control device receives a request for device control information for the device specified by the device identification information to the server, and receives the device control information from the server and stores it in the storage unit 13. The remote control system according to claim 12, further comprising a device control information receiving unit.   The remote control system according to claim 12, wherein the device to be controlled always generates the radio signal.   The remote control system according to claim 12, wherein the control target device temporarily generates the wireless signal in response to a predetermined operation by a user.   The said control object apparatus transmits the said radio signal with a certain angle range, and the said remote control apparatus was provided with the receiving part which receives the said radio signal with directivity. The remote control system described in.   A remote control device shared for a plurality of control target devices,
  Means for receiving device identification information from the specific control target device by directing the remote control device in the direction of the specific control target device;
  Means for acquiring device control information for the device to be controlled based on the device identification information;
  Based on the device identification information, means for switching the operation mode to a mode for instructing the control target device;
  An operator for instructing execution of a pull operation and a push operation,
  When the pull operation is instructed by the operator with the remote control device directed to any control target device, predetermined information is extracted from the control target device, and the remote control device is set to any control target device. When a push operation is instructed by the operator, predetermined information and / or instructions are output to the device as a remote control device for the device to be controlled
  A remote control device characterized by that.   A display unit having a display screen, wherein the device control information includes user interface screen information for operating the control target device, and the display unit displays a display screen for controlling the control target device. The remote control device according to claim 17, characterized in that:   18. The remote control device according to claim 17, wherein the instruction to the device to be controlled is directly executed without going through a server.   The remote control device according to claim 17, wherein the instruction to the device to be controlled is executed via a server.   By directing the remote control device in the direction of the specific control target device, the name information of the control target device is received and displayed on the display screen, and the device control information of the control target device is displayed according to a user instruction. The remote control device according to claim 18, wherein the remote control device is selected or acquired.   The remote control device according to any one of claims 17 to 21, further comprising a receiving unit that receives, with directivity, a radio signal transmitted with a certain angle range as the device identification information.