JPH06205237A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To realize a remote control system that simplifies the operation using a remote control and enables various operations, and to make it more convenient. [Structure] A remote control 6 for outputting cursor position displacement information and enter information as a command signal, and display control means (21, 22, 28 to 31) for displaying a cursor and an operation image on a screen according to a command from the remote control 6. )
And command transmission control means (21, 2) capable of bus-transmitting a command signal for executing the operation designated by the cursor in the operation image to an external device or a predetermined part inside the device.
2, 32 to 35) to configure a remote control system, and to improve the operability, the operation image can be scroll-displayed or the operation items guided from the menu are diversified. Alternatively, the operation image can be called regardless of the cursor position.

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 used for AV systems and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an AV system in which a television monitor device, a tuner, a VTR, a CD player, a laser disc player and the like are systematized, it has been conventionally known that a remote commander is used for remote operation.

Especially when a plurality of devices are connected, it is inconvenient to use a remote commander for each device.
In order to be able to operate each device with one remote commander, a so-called learning remote controller capable of storing and transmitting a command code corresponding to each device has been implemented to facilitate the operation.

Alternatively, each device is connected to a central device of the AV system, for example, a selector amplifier or a monitor device by a control bus (hereinafter, simply referred to as a bus), and a remote commander is connected to the central device. By performing the operation by, the operation control command is transmitted from the central device to the necessary device through the bus, and the related operation is executed.

For example, when a command for selecting a VTR is transmitted to the selector amplifier, a command to turn on the power to the monitor device is transmitted from the selector amplifier to the monitor device, and the power to the VTR device is turned on and the reproducing operation is performed. By transmitting the command via the bus, the user can view the reproduced video of the VTR only by switching the selector amplifier.

[0006]

However, it is not preferable to provide too many operation means such as operation keys and shuttle ring in the remote commander because the operation is hampered. In the learning remote controller described above, it is inevitable that the number of operation keys is increased to some extent, which may rather deteriorate the operability. In addition, even if the command transmission can be executed by the bus, the number and type of command codes to be transmitted are limited due to the need to reduce the operation keys of the remote commander, and it is not possible to perform very complicated operations. There was also a problem that only basic operations were possible.

Further, when operating the remote commander, the user has to look down at the remote commander in order to search for a desired key, and it is difficult to perform the operation while looking at the monitor screen. There was also. In order to solve this, the number of operation keys and operation means of the shuttle ring must be kept to a minimum (for example, 1 to several), but in this case, various command codes cannot be transmitted, The above problem of limiting the number of possible actions is exacerbated.

[0008]

In view of such problems, the present invention realizes a remote control system which simplifies the operation by a remote commander and enables various various operations. Moreover, the operation is intended to be more convenient.

Therefore, a remote commander for outputting at least cursor position displacement information and enter information as a command signal, and a display control means for displaying a cursor and an operation image on the screen according to the command signal supplied from the remote commander. And a command transmission control unit capable of transmitting a command signal for executing an operation designated by a cursor in the operation image display to an external device or a predetermined portion inside the device by a control bus, and configuring a remote control system. Then
In particular, at that time, the following three types of methods are proposed as means for improving usability.

First, instead of displaying all the operation images to be displayed in a certain mode at once, the operation images are scrolled according to the cursor operation and other operation images are sequentially displayed. To do so.

Secondly, a menu title and operation items derived from the menu title are prepared as operation images, and a plurality of operation item groups derived from the menu title are set for all or some of the menu titles. . For example, the menu title is set to be a group including operation items only for basic operations in the selected mode and a group of operation items including all operations in the mode.
Then, one operation item group is selected and displayed according to the enter method on the menu title for displaying the operation item.

Third, in order to eliminate the necessity of moving the cursor position to a predetermined position in order to display the operation image, the operation image is displayed by performing an enter operation regardless of the cursor position. To do so.

[0013]

If the remote commander needs only to output at least cursor position displacement information and enter information as command signals, the number of operating means such as operating keys can be minimized. It can also be configured as a remote control system with only a trackball like a mouse or a shuttleball. If the content of the command can be selected from the screen display, it becomes possible to perform various operations of the device having the remote control system and various operations of the external device connected to the bus.

Further, by combining all or part of the above-mentioned first to third methods, or selecting one to be adopted, the operability of the operation for performing the remote control operation on the screen is improved. Can be good. For example, by performing scroll display and setting operation items in groups, it is not necessary to display many operation images at once, and the screen is easy to see and selection operations are easy. Further, by not limiting the cursor position to the operation for guiding the operation image, it becomes possible to execute the operation simply and quickly.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a multi-disk player (MDP) 2, a BS tuner 3, and a VTR 4 are connected to a television monitor device 1 (hereinafter, TV monitor) to form an AV system. Reference numeral 5 denotes a remote commander for the monitor device 1. The illustration and description of the audio output system are omitted.

In the TV monitor 1, 10 is VHF / U
The HF tuner 11 is an input terminal unit. Input terminal part 1
1 is provided with video signal input terminals corresponding to the MDP 2, BS tuner 3, and VTR 4, respectively.

Reference numeral 12 is an input switching section, which is an input terminal section 11.
The video signal from each terminal of or the video signal received by the VHF / UHF tuner is selected and output. Input switching unit 1
The video signal selected in 2 is supplied to the video processing unit 13 and subjected to, for example, decoding processing, Y / C processing, picture, bright, color, hue adjustment processing, matrix demodulation processing, etc., and R, G, B It is used as a video signal. The R, G, B video signals output from the video processing unit 13 are supplied to the CRT 15 via the A terminal of the OSD switching unit 14 and output as a video on the screen. 16 is a remote commander 5
It is a remote control receiving unit for receiving a command code output from, for example, an infrared modulation signal.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a microcomputer which is a system controller for controlling various operations of the TV monitor 1. Two
1 indicates a CPU, 22 indicates a program ROM, and CPU2
1 performs control operation based on an operation program and various data held in a program ROM. Reference numerals 23 to 27 denote input / output ports of the microcomputer 20.

The infrared modulated signal received by the remote control receiver 16 is converted into an electric signal and taken in as a command code from the port 23 to the microcomputer 20 and held in the command code register 28. The CPU 21 takes in the command code held in the command code register 28 at a predetermined timing, and performs processing according to the command code. Reference numeral 29 is a menu data register, and 30 is a cursor position register. The CPU 21 generates data of an operation image to be displayed on the screen according to an input command code and sets it in the menu data register 29.
Similarly, the cursor position information displayed on the screen is set in the cursor position register 30A. Further, in the display operation of the present embodiment, the cursor shape may be changed depending on the case, so the cursor shape data is set in the cursor shape register 30B according to the display mode.

The data held in the menu data register 29, the cursor position register 30A, and the cursor shape register 30B are transferred to the OSD output register 31. Based on the data transferred from the OSD output register 31, R, G, B video signals (hereinafter, referred to as operation video signals) to be displayed on the CRT 15 as an operation video are output from the OSD switching unit 14 via the port 26. It outputs to the B terminal and also outputs the switching control signal of the OSD switching unit 14 via the port 27. In the OSD switching unit 14, the A and B terminals are switched by the switching control signal in accordance with the timing when the operation video signal is supplied, so that the CR
On the screen of T15, the cursor and the operation image (menu title, pull-down title, operation item, and so on) are superimposed on the video demodulated by the video signal processing unit 13 in the RGB demodulation.
And pull-down items) are displayed.

A CPU 21 is provided for each unit in the TV monitor 1.
The command signal generated by is set in the internal bus data register 32 so as to be supplied to each part connected by the internal bus 40, transferred to the port register 33, and transferred to the port 2
5 to the internal bus 40. This allows VHF
In the / UHF tuner 10, the receiving channel is switched, and in the input switching section 12, the connection terminal is selected by the command signal supplied by the internal bus 12. Also, in the video signal processing unit 13, various processing states are set by the similarly supplied command signal.

The microcomputer 20 is also connected to the external devices MDP2, BS tuner 3 and VTR4 by the external bus 41 so that a command signal can be transmitted to each external device. ing.
The command signal generated by the CPU 21 for the external device is set in the external bus data register 34, transferred to the port register 35, and output from the port 24 to the external bus 41.

The remote commander 5 for such a TV monitor 1 is formed as an operating means provided with a shuttle ball 6 which can be rotated and moved up and down. When the shuttle ball 6 is rotated, it becomes position displacement information. A command code (for example, a code indicating the x-axis movement amount and the y-axis movement amount) is output as an infrared signal, and a command code indicating enter is output by pressing the shuttle ball 6.

The operation as a remote control system in such an AV system will be described below with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 2 to 7 and FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. This remote control system displays an operation image (menu title, pull-down title, operation item, and pull-down item) on the screen, and selects this with a cursor to generate a command signal for the monitor device or an external device. , Remote control is realized.

In order to improve the operability, in particular, an item (pull-down item) in which the display showing the operation content is scrolled is provided, and a plurality of groups of operation items led from one menu title are provided to allow the user to specify. The operation item of either group is displayed, and the menu title and pull-down title are displayed not only when the cursor enters the title display area, but also when the enter operation is executed regardless of the cursor position. In some cases, the operation is simplified.

In the processing of FIG. 2, when the system power is first turned on, the software stored in the program ROM 22 executes a start routine to initialize the RAM area of the CPU 21 and each register, and the input / output ports 23 to 23.
Input / output settings of 27 and initialization of cursor and operation image display data are performed (F101, F102).

When the initial setting is completed, the CPU 21 thereafter refers to the command data register 28, for example, at every predetermined timing, and performs a process corresponding to the command input from the remote commander 5. That is, the data fetched from the command data register 28 is decoded (F103), and then the current position (before command input) of the cursor K is determined from the coordinates (F104). At this point, the cursor K is C
If it is not displayed on the RT screen, the display will be started. For example, as shown in Fig. 8, the cursor K appears on the screen.
Is displayed.

Then, the next process to be executed is selected according to the position of the cursor K. If the cursor K is in the pull-down title, the process proceeds to the pull-down mode transition process.
(F104 → F105). If the cursor K is in the pull-down item, the process proceeds to the process in the pull-down item (F104 →
F106). If the cursor K is in the menu title, the process proceeds to the process in the menu title (F104 → F107). If the cursor K is within the operation item, the process proceeds to the process within the operation item (F104 → F108). If the cursor K is located at a position other than these, the processing proceeds to cursor normal movement processing (F104
(→ F109)

The cursor K is displayed and moved by the user rotating the shuttle ball 6 of the remote commander 5. That is, when the shuttle ball 6 rotates, command data indicating the movement amount is output from the remote commander 5, and when the CPU 21 captures the command data, the CPU 21 outputs data for designating the cursor position according to the movement amount.
And the cursor K is displayed on the CRT screen.

The CPU 21 holds the coordinates corresponding to the CRT screen as a means for obtaining the cursor position, and displays it by adding / subtracting the movement amount input to the previous cursor position on the coordinates on the x and y axes. The cursor position data to be generated is being generated. The cursor display is C
It is not always performed on the RT screen, but it may be executed when the movement amount information is input from the remote commander 5, and the display may be turned off if no input is made for a certain period of time.

Here, an area for displaying the menu title and the pull-down title is set on the coordinates of the CPU 21, and when the cursor position is not in that area, only the cursor K is displayed as shown in FIG. When the cursor K is moved according to the operation of the remote commander 5 and enters the menu title area on the coordinates,
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a menu title T indicating a connected external device and a pull-down title PT for selecting a channel in the VHF / UHF tuner 10 are displayed. In other words, the data to be displayed is set in the menu data register 21, and "AV", "VTR", "BS TUNER", "MD" are displayed as the menu title T on the CRT screen.
Display the letter "P". Also pulldown title PT
To display the word "tune".

In the menu title T, "VTR"
“BS TUNER” and “MDP” represent external devices connected to each other, and “AV” represents external devices currently selected by the input selection unit 12 and output as images in these external devices.

Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the process when the user moves the cursor K to the position of "tune" which is the pull-down title PT, that is, the process is step F105.
The pull-down mode transition processing in the case of proceeding to step will be described with reference to FIG.

Step F201 shows a process of displaying the menu title T and the pull-down title PT. If the cursor K directly enters the area of the pull-down title PT from a position other than the menu title T, the menu title T and the pull-down title PT are not displayed at that time, so that display is executed. . When the cursor is moved leftward from the state shown in FIG. 9 to the "tune" position, the menu title T and the pull-down title PT have already been displayed, so this display processing is continued.

At the same time when the cursor K enters the pull-down title PT, the pull-down item PA is displayed as shown in FIG. 10 (F202). As the pull-down item PA, for example, “1ch” to “64” are selected as channel selection channels.
ch ”is prepared, but first of these,“ 1c
Display "h" to "10ch". Next, the shape of the cursor K is changed to the shape for selecting the pull-down item. Then, the cursor K is moved into the pull-down item PA (F203, F204). For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the cursor K, which was an arrow for slanting information, is changed to a left arrow and is moved to a position indicating “1ch” in the pull-down item PA. For this purpose, the CPU 21 sets the modified cursor shape data in the cursor shape register 30B,
Also, position data within the pull-down item PA is set in the cursor position register 30A. After performing these processes, the pull-down mode transition process of step F105 is completed.

In this state, when the process proceeds to step F104 in FIG. 2, since the cursor K is within the pull-down item PA, the process proceeds to step F106 within the pull-down item. This process is shown in FIG.

First, it is determined whether the input command code is the cursor upward movement, the cursor downward movement, the cursor rightward movement, or the enter code (F301).

If the cursor is moved downward, it is first determined whether or not the pull-down item PA where the cursor K is displayed indicates the pull-down item located at the bottom on the screen (F302). Then, for example, unless the bottom pull-down item (in this case, “10ch”) is displayed among the pull-down items PA displayed as shown in FIG. 11, the cursor K is moved down one pull-down item PA. Move (F305). For example, the cursor is moved from the state shown in FIG. 11 to the state shown in FIG.

When the cursor K indicates the bottom pull-down item "10ch" of the pull-down items PA displayed as shown in FIG. 13, the process proceeds from step F302 to F303, and the pull-down item is It is determined whether the pull-down item PA prepared is the largest one (F303). The pull-down items PA are available from "1ch" to "64ch",
ch ”is not the maximum, so the flow proceeds to step F304, and scrolls in the direction of increasing the number of the pull-down item PA to display each pull-down item PA. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the display is from "2ch" to "11ch". When the user further directs the cursor downward movement, the process scrolls the pull-down items PA one by one each time the process goes through step F304.
Scrolling is finally executed from 5 to the state of FIG. If the cursor down movement is further instructed in the state of FIG. 16, since “64ch” is the maximum pull-down item, no further scrolling is performed and no processing is performed (F303 → YES).

When it is instructed to move the cursor upward, it is determined in step F306 whether or not the pull-down item PA where the cursor K is displayed indicates the top pull-down item on the screen. Then, for example, unless the top pulldown item of the pulldown items PA displayed as shown in FIGS. 12 to 16 is indicated, the cursor K is moved to the next pulldown item PA (F309). ). Figure 1
The cursor is moved from 2 to the state shown in FIG.

When the cursor K indicates the top pull-down item of the displayed pull-down items PA, the process proceeds from step F306 to F307, and the pull-down item PA for which the pull-down item is prepared. It is determined whether or not it is the smallest one (that is, "1ch"). For example, a cursor K shown by a dotted line in FIG.
If "55 ch" is indicated, the pull-down item PA is not the minimum, so the process proceeds to step F308, and the pull-down item is scrolled in the direction of decreasing the pull-down item number to display each pull-down item. That is, the display is changed to the display from "54ch" to "63ch" in FIGS.

When the user further instructs to move the cursor upward, the pull-down item is scrolled one by one each time the process goes through step F304, and finally the scroll is executed to the state shown in FIG. When the cursor upward movement is instructed in the state of FIG. 11,
Since "1ch" is the smallest pull-down item, no further scrolling is performed and no processing is performed (F307
→ YES).

As described above, the user can move and scroll the cursor within the displayed pull-down item PA to position the cursor K on a desired channel from "1ch" to "64ch". When the enter operation is performed after such an operation, the process proceeds to step F313, and the CPU 21 reads the command signal for the channel indicated by the cursor K at that time, and the VHF / UHF tuner section is read by the internal bus 40. Will be supplied to 10.

If the cursor K is moved to the right while the cursor K is located in the pull-down item PA, the cursor K will be displaced from the display position of the pull-down item PA on the screen. At this time, the CPU 21 erases the pull-down item PA, the menu title T, and the pull-down title PT (F310, F311), and returns the cursor shape that was the leftward arrow to the arrow pointing diagonally upward (F31).
2). That is, the data in the menu data register 29 is cleared, the set data in the cursor shape register 30B is changed, and the display state as shown in FIG. 8 is restored. This exits the pull-down mode.

For example, when the cursor K enters the area of the menu title T from the state of FIG. 8, the processing shifts to the processing within the menu title (F104 → F107). This process is shown in FIG.
Shown in.

First, in step F401, the menu title T
And pull-down title PT are displayed, and the screen is as shown in FIG. Of course, when the menu title T and the pull-down title PT are already displayed, this display process is continued.

Next, it is determined whether the input command code indicates the movement amount, the enter code, or the double enter (enter is transmitted twice consecutively) (F402), and the movement amount, that is, If the user gives an instruction to move the cursor, the amount of movement is added to or subtracted from the cursor position data on the coordinates to calculate a new cursor position, and the display position of the cursor K is moved to that position (F
403). Then, the process returns to step F103.

If it is the enter code, it is determined which position of the cursor K is in the menu title T (F404). And the cursor K is "AV""VT"
Depending on whether it is “R”, “BS TUNER”, “MDP”, or “TV”, the operation item AT corresponding to that is displayed. That is, if it is in "VTR", the process proceeds from step F404 to F406 to display the operation item for operating the VTR4. Similarly, "BS TUNER"
If there is "MDP" or "TV", the operation item AT for operating the BS tuner 3, MDP2 or TV monitor 1 is displayed (F404 → F407, F408, F4).
09).

If the cursor K is located at the position "AV" of the menu title T, the process proceeds from step F404 to F405 and the input selection unit 12
The current input selection status in step S4 is determined, and any one of steps F406, F407, F408, and F409 is performed according to the selected external device. For example, when the video signal from the VTR 2 is selected, the cursor moves to “A
V ”position and then enter operation,
The operation item AT for the VTR 2 is displayed as shown in 9.

The operation item AT displayed in any of the steps F406, F407, F408, F409 corresponds to the basic operation of each device, for example, the VTR4.
Is prepared for operations such as turning the power on / off, playing, stopping, fast-forwarding, fast-rewinding, starting and recording.

If it is determined in step F402 that the command code is double enter, the cursor K
The operation item is displayed according to the menu title located at (or according to the input selection status when located at “AV”) (F410 to F416). However, in this case, the operation item A displayed in any one of steps F413 to F416
As T, there are prepared operation items that can correspond to more detailed operations of each device. For example, in the case of VTR2, as shown in FIG.
In addition to basic operations such as off, playback, stop, etc., slow playback, pause, screen display mode, input switching, SP / L
Operation items such as P mode switching, reservation setting, and reset are prepared.

As described above, the processing in the menu title (F107)
When the cursor K is moved into the operation item AT after the operation item AT is displayed by, the processing shifts to the operation item inside processing (F104 → F108). The process in the operation item is shown in FIG.

First, the erase data of the menu title T and the pull-down title PT is set in the menu data register 29 to erase the menu title T and the pull-down title (F501). Therefore, the display state is as shown in FIG. 21 when the basic operation item AT is displayed in any of steps F406 to F409 in the process in menu title (F107), and in the process in menu title (F107). When the detailed operation item AT is displayed in any of steps F413 to F416, FIG.
become that way.

Next, it is determined whether the input command code indicates the amount of movement or the enter code.
(F502) If the amount of movement, that is, if the user gives an instruction to move the cursor, the display position of the cursor K is moved according to the amount of movement data (F503), and the process returns to step F103.

If it is an enter code, CPU2
Reference numeral 1 compares the position of the cursor K with the display position of the operation item AT on the coordinates, and determines the operation item indicated by the cursor K. Then, a command signal corresponding to the operation content indicated as the operation item is read from the program ROM 22 and sent to the internal bus 40 or the external bus 41.
(F504). That is, the operation control for the TV monitor 1 itself or an external device such as the VTR 4 is executed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 21 or 22, VTR4
If the user presses the shuttle ball 6 and inputs an enter command when the cursor K is at the position of the operation item indicating "play" in the operation item AT for, the CPU sends a command signal for instructing the VTR 4 to play. Is generated, set in the external bus data register 34, and transmitted to the VTR 4 via the external bus 41.

The menu title T, the pull-down title PT, and the operation item A whose cursor position is the operation image
If neither T nor the pull-down item PA is located, the processing proceeds to cursor normal movement processing (F104 →
F109). The cursor normal movement processing is shown in FIG.

First, the command code is determined (F601),
If the cursor movement is instructed, the menu title T and the pull-down title PT are erased if they are displayed at that time (F602), and the display position of the cursor K is subsequently changed according to the inputted movement amount data. Move (F603).
Then, the process returns to step F103.

However, when the enter code is input, the menu title T and the pull-down title P are superposed near or at the cursor position at that time.
Display T (F604). For example, it is displayed as shown in FIG. Then, the process returns to step F103.

Even when the menu title T and the pull-down title PT are displayed in the areas other than the normal title display area as described above, the cursor K is located in the menu title T or the pull-down title PT, and hence the processing thereafter. Processing in the menu title described above (F10
Alternatively, the process can proceed to 7) or pull-down mode transition processing (F105).

If the player enters at the cursor position of the menu title "VTR" as shown in FIG. 23, for example, as shown in FIG. 24, step F406 of FIG.
The basic operation item AT for the VTR 4 is displayed, and the process proceeds to the in-operation item processing (F108). Of course, if it is a double enter, the operation item A including detailed operations for the VTR 4 by step F413 of FIG.
T is displayed and the process proceeds to the operation item internal process (F108). Similarly, if the player enters in the state of FIG. 25, the BS as shown in FIG.
When the operation item AT of the tuner 3 is displayed and the player enters in the state of FIG. 27, the operation item AT of the MDP 2 is displayed as shown in FIG.

When the cursor is moved to the pull-down title PT as shown in FIG. 29, the pull-down mode transition processing (F105) is executed, so that the display is as shown in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to pull-down item processing (F106).

When the microcomputer 20 executes the processes shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the user moves the cursor K while looking at the CRT screen to display the operation item AT, and performs an enter operation at a desired position. As a result, TV monitor 1 and external devices MDP2, BS tuner 3, V
Various operations of TR4 can be performed.

The remote commander 5 only needs to have at least the shuttle ball 6 as an operating means (although a small number of keys or the like may be provided), and it is very simple and remote during operation. It is not necessary to confirm the position of the keys on the commander, and it is not necessary to keep an eye on the image of the CRT 15 being viewed at that time.

Further, when many kinds of operation contents are required, the menu and operation item setting on the side of the microcomputer 20 can be used. That is, it is only necessary to increase the number of operation items to be displayed and the command signals to be stored, and it becomes possible to remotely control all the various operations of many devices.

In particular, in the embodiment, the pull-down item PA derived from the pull-down title PT is prepared for the tuning operation for the VHF / UHF tuner unit 10, and 64 pull-down items PA can be displayed by scrolling and selected. I am trying. For this reason, it is not necessary to display a large number (64) of pull-down items PA on the screen at one time, the screen can be easily seen, and individual pull-down items PA can be displayed to a certain size, so that the user operation is simple. Becomes

The operation item AT derived from the menu title T is displayed by selecting the operation item AT according to the basic operation contents and the operation item AT including detailed operation according to the enter system (enter and double enter) of the user. Therefore, normally, only the operation item AT based on the basic operation content is used, and the detailed operation item may be used only when necessary. This also improves the visibility on the screen and the operability. Can be realized.

Further, the menu title T and the pull-down title PT are displayed not only when the cursor K enters the display area but also when the enter operation is performed regardless of the position of the cursor K. The menu title T and the pull-down title PT can be called without necessarily moving the cursor K to the title display area, and the operation is significantly simplified.

In the embodiment, the pull-down item scroll-displayed is adopted for the operation for tuner selection, but it is not limited to this. Further, it may be considered that the menu title T and the operation item AT are scrolled inside. Further, during scrolling, the cursor display may be blinked or the color may be changed.

The operation items AT derived from the menu title T are provided in two types, a basic operation group and a detailed operation group, but three or more types may be provided so that the enter method can be selected. Furthermore, although the group settings for the selected operation items include only basic operations and detailed operations, they are not limited to such group settings, but may be set according to the application, function, etc. of the device. Good.

By the way, in the embodiment, the menu title T
"VTR" and "BS TUNER" that show the equipment directly
Along with "MDP" and "TV", a display "AV" representing the currently selected external device is prepared. However, by displaying the menu title T directly indicating the external device, the user can always obtain a desired display. The device can be easily operated. Further, by preparing the menu title "AV" representing the currently selected external device, the user can operate the video without the user having to determine the video source currently being viewed. In particular, the operation that the user wants to operate is usually the source device of the video currently being viewed, so that the menu title T called “AV” is used.
It is very convenient to prepare.

The menu title T is "A
“V”, or “VTR”, “BS TUNER”, and “MDP” that directly represent the equipment,
The “AV” may not be provided. When only the menu title T is “AV”, the processes of steps F404 and F410 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 may be deleted and the processes of steps F405 and F412 may be performed. In addition, the menu title T is "VTR""BSTUNER""MDP"
In the case of only doing so, the processes of steps F405 and F412 may be deleted.

The remote commander 5 is provided with an operation key outside the shuttle ball 6 as an operating means.
A device provided with a joystick, a device using a trackball such as a mouse, and the like are conceivable. In addition to infrared transmission, radio waves or wired transmission may be used.

As a remote control system, in addition to being installed in a TV monitor, if a selector amplifier is used in an AV system, for example, a remote control system for executing the above processing may be installed in the selector amplifier. Good. Further, when it is adopted in, for example, an audio system that does not use monitor display, it is conceivable to provide a display unit for displaying a cursor, menu titles, operation items, etc. on the front panel of the on-board equipment. Further, it is also effective to adopt it in a single device, not in the AV system. For example, in the TV monitor device, if the tuning operation can be selected by the scroll display as described above, the operability will be good.

In the embodiment, the menu title and the operation item are prepared as the operation image, and the operation item is guided from the menu title. However, when the display area has a margin or the operation item to be displayed is small, Alternatively, the operation item may be directly displayed without displaying the menu title.

Further, in the embodiment, as means for improving operability, a pull-down operation screen for scrolling is prepared, a plurality of groups of operation items derived from the menu title are prepared, and the menu title and pull-down title are irrespective of the cursor position. In the above, an example is adopted in which all three methods of “calling” are adopted, but only one of these methods or two methods may be adopted.

[0077]

As described above, in the remote control system of the present invention, at least cursor position displacement information and enter information are output as command signals from the remote commander, and the cursor and the cursor are displayed on the screen according to the command signals. The operation image (menu title or operation item) is displayed to specify the operation content, and a command signal for executing the specified operation is transmitted to the external device or a predetermined part inside the device by the control bus. The number of operating means such as keys, shuttle ring, shuttle ball, trackball, etc. on the commander is greatly reduced, which simplifies the operation and eliminates the need to visually recognize the operating means. In contrast, remote control of many operations is possible There is an effect that it is possible to be.

Further, it is possible to perform an operation by a pull-down operation screen for scroll display, prepare a plurality of groups of operation items derived from the menu title, and call up the menu title and pull-down title regardless of the cursor position. By adopting all or a part of the three methods of "possible", the command designation operation on the screen becomes very simple and convenient, and the operability can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a remote control system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of operation processing of the remote control system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a pull-down mode transition process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a pull-down item process in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of processing in a menu title according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing in an operation item according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of cursor normal movement processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a cursor display state according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of display states of menu titles and pull-down titles according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a display state when shifting to a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a display state in a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a display state in a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a display state in a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a display state in a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a display state in a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a display state in a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a display state in a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a display state during processing in a menu title according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a display state during processing in a menu title according to the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a display state during processing in a menu title according to the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a display state at the time of processing in an operation item according to the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a display state at the time of processing in an operation item according to the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of display states of menu titles and pull-down titles according to the embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of an operation item display state according to the embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of display states of menu titles and pull-down titles according to the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of an operation item display state according to the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of display states of menu titles and pull-down titles according to the embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of an operation item display state according to the embodiment.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a display state when shifting to a pull-down mode according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Monitor Device 2 MDP 3 BS Tuner 4 VTR 5 Remote Commander 6 Shuttle Ball 10 VHF / UHF Tuner Section 15 CRT 16 Remote Control Reception Section 20 Microcomputer 21 CPU 22 Program ROM 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 Input / Output Port 28 Command Data Register 29 Menu data register 30A Cursor position register 30B Cursor shape register 31 OSD output register 32 Internal bus register 33, 35 Port register 34 External bus register 40 Internal bus 41 External bus

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A remote commander for outputting at least cursor position displacement information and enter information as a command signal, and display control means for displaying a cursor and an operation image on a screen according to a command signal supplied from the remote commander. A command transmission control unit capable of transmitting a command signal for executing an operation designated by the cursor in the operation image display to an external device or a predetermined portion inside the device by a control bus, the display control The means is configured so that, when the operation image is displayed, the operation image can be scrolled according to a cursor operation to sequentially display other operation images. 2. A remote commander for outputting at least cursor position displacement information and enter information as a command signal, and a display control means for displaying a cursor and an operation image on a screen according to a command signal supplied from the remote commander. A command transmission control unit capable of transmitting a command signal for executing an operation designated by the cursor in the operation image display to an external device or a predetermined portion inside the device by a control bus, the display control The means prepares a menu title and an operation item derived from the menu title as the operation image, and sets a plurality of operation item groups derived from the menu title for all or some of the menu titles. tight Remote control system according to enter operation mode for a specified, characterized in that the single operation item group from among the plurality of operation items group is configured to be displayed is selected. 3. A remote commander for outputting at least cursor position displacement information and enter information as a command signal, and displaying the cursor at a predetermined position on the screen in accordance with the cursor position displacement information supplied from the remote commander, and the cursor Display control means for displaying an operation image according to enter information regardless of position, and a command signal for executing the entered operation content indicated by the cursor in the operation image display, an external device or a predetermined part inside the device. A remote control system characterized by comprising a command transmission control means capable of transmitting by a control bus, and.