FR2876204A1 - SYSTEM AND DEVICES FOR USER TO SIMPLY SELECT AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of directional waves, such as light or infrared waves, ultrasonic waves or high frequency radio waves, to allow a user to remotely select an electronic device from among several devices present simultaneously. and physically close or very close, and this by performing a simple gesture of designating the device to be selected with a usual device of reduced size such as a remote control or a personal assistant (commonly called a “PDA”).

Description

SYSTEM AND DEVICES FOR A USER

  SINGLELY SELECTING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

  The present invention relates to the use of directional waves, such as light or infra red waves, ultrasonic waves or radio waves, to enable a user to remotely select an electronic device from among several simultaneously present devices. and physically close, and this by performing a simple gesture of designation of the device to be selected with a device of usual appearance and reduced size, such as that of a remote control or a personal assistant (commonly called PDA).

  The invention applies in particular to the selection of electronic devices inside a room of a living or working space, for example to allow a user standing or sitting, located at a distance that is typically of the order of 2 to 4 meters, to select an electronic device among the electronic devices present, which can be for example: a television set, a CD player, a DVD player, a video recorder, a hi-fi system, or even a function or a subset within a complex electronic device such as a multichannel audio video amplifier usually designated by the symbol 5.1 or 7.1.

  The current remote control devices make it possible to select one of several devices, or groups of functions (such as the selection of a source of an audio video amplifier) but require the user to perform an operation. selection made on the control device, for example the pressing of a button associated with the device or object chosen, or the choice on a menu displayed on a screen.

  Such a selection mode is suitable for selecting one of a small number of devices, but becomes increasingly cumbersome and complex as the number of selectable devices increases. Such an increase has already been noted with the increasing diffusion and diversity of the devices on the market, and should continue or grow in the future with the improvement of electronic technologies and the emergence of local radio networks for the general public. low cost (for example WiFi or Zigbee standard) The invention therefore allows a user to select an electronic device among one or more by means of a gesture to that he would do to designate the electronic device to select by means of of a laser pointer, while the effect, systems and devices usually used as remotes do not have a pointing function.

  The invention also makes it possible to decouple the physical selection from one of several electronic devices on the one hand and on the other hand the detailed knowledge of the 2.5 characteristics of the latter: a) The selection of the selected device is first made from intuitive way since it relies on a gesture of the user and by means of a low level protocol (according to the ISO model in 7 levels) b) The selected device can then describe its user interface in a detailed way by means of a description protocol defined in advance and independent of the specific aspects of this user interface Compared to the previous solutions, the present invention provides the following advantages: a) Selection operation of an electronic device made by means of a simple and intuitive gesture similar to the gesture used to designate a device by means of a laser pointer b) Simplicity of the operation, which is very little dependent on number of selectable electronic devices c) Ability to select and then remote control devices whose characteristics of the user interface are not known in advance The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a system and interface devices that allow easy selection of an electronic device by simple, effective and inexpensive means.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

  Figure 1 depicts a typical situation in which the use of the invention adds a plus to the user (U): i) It has a user device (DU), such as a remote control or a personal assistant (PDA) ii) It is located in front of several controlled electronic devices (DC1) to (DC6), at a distance Sc) typically 2 to 4 meters from the devices controlled (DC1) to (DC6) iii) These controlled devices have front-panel dimensions that are typically 40 cm wide and 5 to 10 cm high for CD, DVD, or VCR players.

  iv) With such devices, the trace (FO) of a directional wave beam, represented as a circular active area, is typically much larger than the smallest dimension of the controlled devices described above. .

  FIG. 2 schematizes a first type of implementation in which: i) the user device (DU) comprises a directive wave transmitter having a radiation intensity diagram (REU), a reference axis (AU) associated with this directional wave transmitter ii) the controlled devices (DC1) and (DC4) are associated with directive wave receivers having a sensitivity diagram (SN1) and (SN4) Figure 3 schematizes a second type of implementation wherein: i) the user device (DU) comprises a directive wave receiver having a radiation sensitivity pattern (SUO) when the user device (DU) is in the (DUO) position and a radiation intensity pattern (SU5) when in the position (DU5), as well as a reference axis (AU) associated with the instruction wave receiver ii) the controlled devices (DC1) and (DC4) are associated with transmitters of guidelines Figure 4 summarizes the essential elements that make up the system: i) the user (U), ii) the user device (DU) manipulated by the user and associated with a reference axis (AU) iii) at least one controlled electronic device (DCN ), which is controlled by means of a transmission channel (CN) by a control device (DN) which is associated with the controlled electronic device (DCN).

  iv) a digital information bidirectional channel (KN) for each of the at least one control device (s) (DN). between the user device (DU) and the control device (DN) such that the percentage of energy transmitted in at least one of the two transmission directions of this channel goes through an extremum (a maximum or a minimum) when the axis reference (AU) of the user device (DU) is in a particular alignment configuration with the controller (DN) Figure 5 describes the various elements that may be included in the user device (DU) i) a transmitter directive (UEU) and digitally-informed (FU) waveguide (EU) directive waveforms (ii) a directional wave (RU) received and at the output of the digital information (RU) iii) a reference axis (AU) iv) electronic, arithmetic and logic means (LU) with memory and computing capabilities v) a user interface device (UI) receiving the part of the means electronic, arithmetic and logical (LU) commands (CU) restitution to the user, and transmitting to the means (LU) orders and information entered by the user, the device (IU) may itself include: a device sensory rendering (VU), which can typically be a display device (with a display and / or indicator lights) and / or a sound reproduction device an information input device (INU) which can typically be a set buttons, joysticks, rotary knobs, any positively actuatable means or voice recognition Figure 5 also describes the elements that may be included in the control device (DN). i) a directional wave (EN) emitting wave transmitter (NW) and controlled by digital information (FN) ii) a directional wave receiver (RN) receiving a directional beam ( ORN) and outputting digital information (RN) iii) electronic, arithmetic and logic (LN) means having memory and computing capabilities, adapted to transmit commands to the controlled device (DCN) by means of a channel transmission device (CM) iv) a sensory rendering device (VN), which can typically be a display device (with a display and / or indicator lights) and / or a sound reproduction device. FIG. 6 and FIG. FIG. 7 describes intensity or sensitivity diagrams as a function of the angle between the direction of the waves incident or transmitted on the one hand, and the axis of symmetry of the component on the other, which are typical of the transmitters (FIG. EU) and (EN), as well as rs (RU) and (RN), when: i) the generation of directional waves (OEN) and (OEU) from an electrical signal is achieved by light-emitting diodes emitting in visible light or infra-red commonly called LEDs ii) the conversion of the ORU and ORN is performed from devices using photo diodes or photo transistors as electrical signal generators.

  Figures 6 and 7 respectively describe a non-directive diagram and a very directive diagram. More directional or less directive diagrams are possible, but are generally used in special cases.

  Figures 6 and 7 describe intensity or sensitivity versus angle of incidence diagrams that are also representative of the corresponding diagrams of the transmitters and receivers of ultrasonic waves.

  Figures 8 to 11 describe intensity versus angle of incidence diagrams for radio antennas operating with high frequency waves (typically over a few tens of megahertz), which are identical when an antenna is operating in a frequency range. broadcast or in reception.

  i) Figure 8 is for a quarter-wave monopole ii) Figure 9 is for a quarter-wave loop (but may also apply to electrically smaller loops); it will be noted that in FIGS. 7 and 8, the direction of the antenna corresponds to a minimum, unlike the diagram of FIGS. 5 and 6, for which the axis of the component corresponds to a maximum of intensity or sensitivity. FIGS. 10 and 11 relate to helical antennas, with two different operating modes: normal mode in FIG. 10 and axial mode in FIG. 11; it will be noted that in the direction of the antenna, FIG. 10 indicates a minimum of intensity while FIG. 11 indicates a maximum of intensity. FIGS. 12 and 13 describe the dimensions (in thousandths of an inch) and the diagrams of FIG. intensity of a 2.4 Ghz antenna and fractal geometry, as described in the article Analysis and Design of a Koch monopoly printed on a PCMCIA card for the 2.4 Ghz ISM band G. Tsachtsiris, C. Soras, SA Kostsopoulos and V. Makios.

  Figures 14, 15 and 16 describe the dimensions (in millimeters) and intensity diagrams of an antenna operating at 2.4 Ghz, also printed on a printed circuit, described in the documentation of the circuit demonstration board. 2.4 Ghz transmitter / receiver CC2420 Chipcon manufacturer (document CC242ODBK User Manual 1 21.pdf available on the manufacturer's website: www.chipcon.com). Figure 17 describes the information provided by this same 2.4 Ghz CC2420 transceiver circuit concerning the amplitude of the radio signal received by it. The manufacturer indicates that this component manages in a native mode a part of the functions provided by the MAC software layer of the protocol, and in particular the formation of transmitted frames and the validity and integrity check of the received frames. This component is also presented by its manufacturer as Zigbee-ready, that is capable, in association with a general purpose microcontroller, programming this microcontroller, a quartz and an antenna constituting a transmitter and receiver device in accordance with the IEEE 802 Zigbee standard.

  Figure 18 shows the sensitivity diagram for the incidence of infrared rays of component TS0P2138 (available on the website of the manufacturer Vishay www.vishav.com), which receives and performs a first decoding of the infrared signals emitted by the usual remotes of electronic devices. This component is representative, in terms of directivity, of most other components dedicated to this use. It allows data transmission in the form of useful 8-bit bytes, plus a start bit (high level) and an end bit (low level), with a bit rate greater than 4,000 bits / second .

  Figure 19 describes the intensity diagram as a function of the angle between the direction of the waves emitted on the one hand, and the axis of symmetry of the component on the other hand for the infrared LED TSAL 6100 (available on the website of the manufacturer Vishay n), which is particularly directive.

  Figure 20 depicts means for matching a directional wave (RB) receiver providing a binary signal to the present invention by preceeding it with an optical waveguide (ERB) screen, except for one slot (FRB) narrow in one dimension and extended in the other dimension.

  FIG. 21 describes, logically and chronologically in terms of events and messages, the various events that may occur in the dialogue between the user (U), the user device (DU) and each of the at least one device ( s) (DN) for the purpose of enabling the selective identification and selection of at least one device (s) ordered (DCN): i) the user device (DU) sends a test message (MT) ), whose reception corresponds to the event (RT) ii) each of the at least one control device (s) (DN) does or does not respond to the user device (DU) by means of a response message (MR), whose reception corresponds to the event (RR) iii) the user device (DU) waits to be sure of having received (RR) all the messages (MR) iv) on the basis of one or more exchanges including the points a) to c) above, the user device (DU) can then: identify from the messages (MR) received one or more rs control device (s) (DN) send one or more message (s) (MX) which makes it possible to initiate with a one or more control device (s) identified a selective dialogue the reception of a message (MX) indicating to one or more control device (s) that they are identified (s) corresponds to the event (RX) the event (RX) can generate in a control device (DN) ) identified a message (MVN) sent to the sensory feedback device (VN) of this controlled device (DN) to tell it to send a sensory echo to the user (U) v) the user device (DU) dialog, when necessary, with the user (U) by: sending him a message (MVU) to attract his attention and / or to transmit information receiving from him any messages (MNU) corresponding to actions of the user, and in particular to the indication by the user that he has selected a controlled device (DCN) Figure 22 describes an example e of information exchange protocol between the user device (DU) and at least one control device (DN) for implementing the different steps of the identification of the various control devices (DN) in the course of a displacement of the user device (DU).

  In this figure, the solid lines represent messages sent by the user device (DU), the dashes of the messages emitted by a control device (DN) and the dotted no activity of the devices (DU) or (DN).

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A. 1) THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows the difficulty of proceeding, in a typical case, with the designation of one of several controlled devices by means of a simple pointing of the device. The typical dimensions of a consumer electronic device are 40 centimeters in width and 5 to 10 centimeters for a CD, DVD or VCR type device, and the user is typically at a distance of between 2 and 4 meters of these devices. At 4 meters a height of 5 centimeters appears at an angle less than 1 (1 degree of angle), and a width of 40 centimeters appears at an angle of about 7.

  For a consumer user, distinguishing an angle of less than 10 is an uncomfortable action, and furthermore the dimension seen at an angle of 7 introduces uncertainty about the part of the device to be designated. Assistance to the user is therefore necessary for this designation action to be carried out in a simple and natural manner.

  The present invention defines such assistance and replaces a static action of the pointing user of the device controlled by a dynamic action which consists in moving a user device, similar to a usual remote control, a mobile phone or a personal assistant (commonly called PDA ), so as to designate in the context of this scan the electronic device to be selected.

  Indeed, during such a displacement action, when: a) the device manipulated by the user and the device to be controlled are in direct view of one another b) communicate by directive waves (this is ie waves that move substantially in a straight line) by means of a transmission channel whose transmission capacity (measured for example by the percentage of energy transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver) varies appreciably when the arrangement the relative angularity of the transmitter and receiver then vary.

  c) this percentage of transmitted energy passes in the general case, when the transmitter and the receiver are in a particular configuration of alignment, by an extremum (a minimum or a maximum) It is this extremum phenomenon (often a maximum) of the energy transmitted between a transmitter and a directive wave receiver which explains that it is necessary, in everyday life, to align one with the other, with a relative precision and adapted to the application, a transmitter and a receiver of directional waves a television antenna on the transmitter which it must receive, a satellite antenna on the satellite which it must receive, a directional microphone on the sound source which it must capture or a directional light receiver on a distant light source.

  The variations in amplitude of a radio receiver in amplitude modulation according to its orientation with respect to the radio transmitter that it is capturing are other manifestations in the everyday life of the directional character of the transmission of radio waves, even at low frequencies.

  This typical characteristic of passing through an extremum of the transmitted energy when the transmitter and the receiver are in a particular alignment configuration has the following advantageous properties: a) it is independent of the waveguide technology used b) it is of a qualitative nature: the appearance of this extremum does not depend on the precise definition of a particular trajectory: small variations in trajectory will modify the exact moment of occurrence (to the nearest millisecond) of this extremum, but not the principle of its appearance the appearance of this extremum does not depend on the precise shape of the directivity diagram of the emitter or the receiver (it depends however on the fact that the variation of amplitude is sufficient to make it possible to detect the extremum) the appearance of this extremum does not depend on the absolute level of the signals received, but only on the variation of this level (as long as this variation can be e detected) c) the measurement of the instant of appearance of the extremum does not pose any particular technical problems, even with consumer components: an accuracy of a few milliseconds in the measurement of a time is not a problem for the electronics, whereas for the user, a duration of a few milliseconds is infinitesimal; it should be noted in this regard that a scan in 1 second by the user of an angle of 30 corresponds on average to the scan of l in about 30 milliseconds. Figure 4 gives a high-level overview of the elements involved. in the operation of 3 () the invention: a) the user (U), which manipulates the user device (DU), with which is associated a reference axis (AU) which makes it possible to define its orientation in the space of the device (DU) b) at least one controlled electronic device (DCN), which is controlled by means of a transmission channel (CN) by a control device (DN) which is associated with the controlled electronic device (DCN).

  c) a bidirectional channel (KN) for transmitting digital information for each of the at least one control device (s) (DN). 10. between the user device (DU) and the control device (DN) such that the percentage of energy transmitted in at least one of the two transmission directions of this channel goes through an extremum (a maximum or a minimum) when the reference axis (AU) of the user device (DU) is in a particular alignment configuration with the control device (DN). It will be advantageous to use binary signals, supposed to have invariant electrical characteristics over time, exchanged between the user device (DU) and the control devices (DN) to evaluate the percentage of energy transmitted.

  A distinction in principle is made between the control device (DN) and the controlled device (DCN) for the following reasons.

  a) it is possible, without any particular problem, to design controlled devices (DCN) that incorporate all or part of the elements that make up the control device (DN), and that make invisible to the user the transmission channel (CN) : a large part of the electronic devices currently marketed comprises indeed receivers allowing a remote control by infrared waves or high frequency radio, and also includes microcontrollers which manage the user interface of the device b) however, to use the invention with current electronic devices as controlled devices (DCN), it is necessary to provide separate control devices (DN), for example as follows: i) the controlled device (DCN) is a conventional electronic device such as a television receiver, DVD player or VCR, which has the ability to be remotely controlled by a telec conventional infrared controller ii) the control device (DN) is then a separate device, which communicates with the user device (DU) by means of the communication channel (KN) (which channel (KN) can be implemented at the by means of any technology, based on infrared or not) iii) to control the controlled device (DCN), the control device (DN) emits infrared waves in a format and a protocol which is understood by the controlled device (DCN) iv) the control device (DN) may, in this case of implementation, be placed at a distance from the controlled device (DCN) Moreover, depending on the overall architecture of the system composed by the user device (DU), the control devices (DN) and the transmission channels (KN), it is possible and sometimes advantageous that several control devices (DN) share means (LN), transmitters (EN) or receivers (RN). For example, the simultaneous operation of several control devices (DN) is compatible with the fact that these control devices (DN) share the same electronic, arithmetic and logical (LN) means, if the power of these means (LN) is sufficient to simultaneously handle multiple transmitters (EN) and receivers (RN).

  Figure 5 details the elements that can be implemented to achieve the devices (DU) and (DN).

  Since the bidirectional transmission channel (KN) is bidirectional, the use of a transmitter (EU) and a receiver (RU) in the user device (DU) and the use of a transmitter (EN) and a receiver (RN) in the control device (DN).

  Depending on the technologies used for the directional waves and the transmitters and receivers, the transmitter and the receiver may be confused or distinct: a) for visible, infra-red or ultrasonic waves, both the components used as sensors in the receivers and transmitters, as well as the electronics used in transmitters and receivers are typically different. b) For high frequency radio waves, the typical situation is as follows: i) the antenna (the wave collector) used by the receiver and that used by the transmitter are confused ii) the receiver (which amplifies and demodulates) and the transmitter can be merged into the same electronic component commonly called transceiver (transceiver) or be implemented with two components or two separate modules (in this case a high frequency switch selectively connects the antenna to the transmitter or receiver). In the case of radio waves, the principle of reciprocity indicates that the directivity pattern of an antenna is the same as the antenna is used for transmitting or receiving waves.

  Both the user device (DU) and the control devices (DN) have the following elements.

  a) transmitters (EU) and (EN) and receivers (RU) and (RN) of instructional waves b) electronic, arithmetic and logical (LU) and (LN) means that i) provide transmitters (EU) and (EN) binary signals (FU) and (FN) which will be transmitted by the transmission channel (KN) in the form of transmitted directive waves (OEU) and (OEN) ii) receive receivers (RU) and ( RN) binary signals (SU) and (SN) which have been received by the transmission channel (KN) in the form of received command waves (ORU) and (ORN). It will be noted that the operating principle of the invention does not require that the guidance waves used for transmission from (EU) to (RN) be of the same type as those used for the transmission of (EN) to (RU).

  The electronic, arithmetic and logic (LN) means of a control device (DN) also provide the control channel (CN) with control signals which will be transmitted to the controlled device (DCN) controlled by the control device (DN). ).

  It may be advantageous for a control device (DN) to transmit directly to the user (U) information, for example that the control device (DN) has been selected or is in pre-selection phase. This direct transmission can be done by means of a sensory echo, for example a combination of a visual signal (the flashing of a light source for example) and an audible signal (beeps for example), realized by means of a device of sensory restitution (VN). The possibility for the user device (DU) to be able to communicate with the user (U) supposes the existence of a user interface (UI), and a dialogue between this user interface (UI) with the electronic, arithmetic and logical means (LU), which transmit to this user interface (UI) commands (CU) for providing information to the user, and receive from this user interface (UI) commands and information (NU) entered by the user.

  The device (IU) may typically comprise: a) a sensory rendering device (VU) 225 which may typically be a display device (with a display and / or indicator lights) and / or a sound reproduction device b) an information input device (INU) which can typically be a set of buttons, joysticks, rotary knobs, any positively actuatable means or voice recognition The detection of the extremum (minimum or maximum) of the percentage of the energy transmitted by at least one of the directions of the transmission channel (KN) can be done by detecting the corresponding extremum for the amplitude of the signal received by the receiving side. Indeed: - when the transmitter (EU) or (EN) emits successive signals of the same characteristics (pulses of the same shape and the same amplitude for example) - the variation of the percentage of energy transmitted by the channel (KN) results in a corresponding change in the percentage of energy received by the receiver (RN) or (RU).

  It will be noted that, for the proper functioning of the invention: a) it suffices to measure this variation in only one of the two transmission directions of the transmission channel (KN) b) there is no difference in principle if the The receiver used for the amplitude measurement of the received signal is located on the user device (DU) or on the control device (DN), since: i) the objective is to detect an extremum corresponding to an alignment of the user device ( DU) relative to the control device (DN) ii) the variation of the percentage of energy transmitted by the transmission channel (KN) is due to the modification of the angular position of the user device (DU) relative to the control device (DN), modification of the position itself due to the displacement of the user device (DU), which is the only moving element of the system object of the invention. FIG. 2 schematizes a first type of implementation in which: a) the device used (DU) includes the directional wave transmitter used to measure the extremum of the energy transmission percentage, and having a radiation intensity diagram (REU) b) the controlled devices (DC1) and (DC4) are associated with the wave receivers used for measuring the extremum of the percentage of energy transmission, and having a sensitivity diagram (SNI) and (SN4) Figure 3 schematically a second type of implementation opens in which: a) the user device (DU) comprises the directional wave receiver used for measuring the extremum of the energy transmission percentage, which has a radiation sensitivity pattern (SUO) when the device user (DU) is in position (DUO) and a radiation intensity diagram (SU5) when in position (DU5) b) the controlled devices (DC1) and (DC4) are each associated with a transmitter In all cases a reference axis (AU) is associated with the user device (DU) manipulated by the user (U) to materialize the direction to be substantially aligned with a control device (DN) for the energy In Figure 3 , on the correspond to an extremum in the percentage transmitted by the transmission channel (KN). In the case of Figure 2, as in the case of enabling a two-way transmission transmission channel (KN), the user device (DU) must comprise another device (receiver or transmitter), and the control devices (DN) comprise a other device (receiver or transmitter).

  The method of measuring the amplitude of the received signal and its variation depends on the other characteristics of the implementation of the invention. It may be performed in the directional wave receiver (RU) or (RN) and / or in the corresponding electronic, arithmetic and logic means (LU) or (LN).

  A.2) THE MAIN CONCEPTS OF THE INVENTION The main notions relating to the operation of the invention are as follows: a) The notion of directive waves and the associated emitters and receivers b) The variations in the intensity of the directive waves transmitted c) Management of information transmissions and collisions d) The notion of selective identification A.2.1) The notion of directive waves and associated transmitters and receivers The directive waves propagate essentially in a straight line. In the context of the present invention, it will be possible to use the following types of such guidance waves.

  a) visible or infra-red light waves b) ultrasonic waves, especially those used in some electronic remote controls c) high-frequency radio waves 20 For high-frequency radio waves, radio waves with a higher frequency will typically be limited to at 27 Mhz (megahertz), with special attention to frequency bands that can be used without prior license, such as Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequencies, and reserved for use by devices with emission (and in particular the power of emission) are regulated. These frequency bands are generally similar (but not identical) between the European Union, the USA and Japan. The following frequency bands of the ISM type whose use is advantageous in the context of the present invention are of particular interest: - 27 and 40 MHz - 315 MHz, 418 to 433 MHz - 868 and 915 MHz - 2.4 GHz (the IEEE 802 standards, which include the Bluetooth, Wifi and Zigbee standards, use this frequency band of 2.4 Gigahertz) - 5 Ghz and 60 Ghz (these frequency bands are already reserved for use ISM type, but do not not yet widely used) The emitters and receivers that are advantageous to use depend on the type of directive wave used: a) For visible and infra-red light waves.

  i) the emission is done by means of LEDs 30 commonly called LEDs whose wavelength of the emitted radiation and the directivity characteristics may vary; these LEDs are typically powered by current pulses ii) the reception (in the sense of the conversion of the light waves into an electrical signal) is done by means of sensors such as photo diodes, photo transistors or integrated sensors adapted to the reception infra red signals emitted by remote controls iii) the photodiodes have the best linearity characteristics with respect to the intensity of the received signal, but require a strong amplification of the received signal iv) the photo transistors provide a stronger signal, but have less good linearity characteristics v) LEDs, photodiodes and phototransistors typically have an axis of symmetry with respect to their directivity characteristics (directivity is invariant by rotation around this axis) vi) integrated infrared signal detectors (such as the Vishay TSOP Series receivers) are designed to accommodate have a modulated signal under specific conditions and output a binary signal, indicating the absence or presence of the modulated signal, and that with a high immunity with respect to the ambient disturbances vii) for such devices, Figures 6 and 7 describe typical curves of sensitivity or intensity of emission with respect to the angle of incidence or output of the light waves, and Figure 19 describes such a diagram with very pronounced directivity characteristics viii) for the photodiodes or the phototransistors, the amplification of the signal supplied can typically be done by means of amplifiers with transistors or operational amplifiers ix) with such devices, the reference axis (AU) associated with the user device (DU) will typically be associated with the axis of symmetry of the transmitting device (EU) or receiver (RU) of the user device (DU) used for measuring the percentage of intensity transmitted by the transmission channel (KN) b) For ultra-sound waves: i) there are specialized sensors and transmitters for this type of wave, which have been commonly used for remote controls or rangefinders ii) directivity characteristics and use of these devices is very close to the characteristics of directivity and use of devices for light waves c) For high frequency radio waves: i) there is a great diversity of situations, due to both the diversity frequencies usable in the context of the present invention and the diversity of the radio frequency techniques used; for example, the modulation of high frequency radio waves may use a principle of amplitude modulation (in which case the amplitude of the received wave will by definition be available) or a principle of frequency or phase modulation (in which case the information of amplitude of the received signal is not always available) ii) in all cases, there is use of a collector or a transmitter of waves (the antenna) and of at least one electronic device (a transmitter and a receiver or a transceiver) Figures 8 to 16 describe different types of antenna. Note that among these antennas: i) some have a minimum or maximum pronounced in a specific direction (Figures 8 to 11); for these types of antennas, the reference axis (AU) associated with the user device (DU) will typically be associated with the direction in which the antenna of the transmitting device (EU) or receiver (RU) of the user device (DU) used for measuring the percentage of intensity transmitted by the transmission channel (KN) has this maximum or the minimum ii) others (Figures 12 and 13) have a marked minimum in a plane (the plane which contains the antenna in this particular case); in this case, the reference axis (AU) will be included in this plan iii) others (Figures 14 to 16) have marked minimums in certain directions; In the context of the present invention, it will be possible to use the minimum around 30 existing in the context of the arrangement described in FIG. 16, and to place the reference axis (AU) in the same direction. It will be noted that the antennas described in FIG. Figures 12 to 16 are antennas usable in the band of 2.4 Ghz and which have the advantageous characteristics.

  i) small dimensions and low cost (these antennas are part of the printed circuit board which contains the rest of the electronics of the device) ii) these antennas are compatible with omnidirectionality characteristics which are generally desirable in the context of use general public, and especially indoors, despite the presence of marked minimums d) A particular type of receiver for infrared light waves has specific characteristics: i) All previously mentioned sensors functioned analogically: they provide a signal electrical (voltage or current) which is continuously variable with the intensity of the received directional waves, and which typically varies linearly or logarithmically with the intensity of the received directional waves.

  ii) For infrared light waves, there are binary sensors: they output a logic signal when they detect a signal of defined characteristics, and the other logic level in the absence of this signal. These sensors, such as the SFH5110 sensors from the Infineon manufacturer or the various TSOP series sensors from the Vishay manufacturer, are commonly used in today's consumer electronics devices to receive the signals produced by the usual infrared remotes and perform a first decoding. received signals.

  iii) These sensors are of small size and low cost, and therefore advantageous to use from an economic point of view. From a technical point of view, however, they use internal automatic gain control devices to neutralize as much as possible the influence of the amplitude of the infra red signals received. Their use for the present invention therefore assumes suitable techniques.

  A.2.2) Variations in the intensity of transmitted waveforms A.2.2.1) Obtaining amplitude information Case N 1: Light waves, visible or infra red, and ultrasonic waves are typically used in the context of an amplitude modulation, which in this case makes it possible to have at the output of the receiver (RU) or (RN) which is involved in the measurement of the percentage of energy transmitted by the transmission channel (KN ), a signal representative of the amplitude of the received directional waves.

  Depending on the case, this signal may be the analog output signal of the receiver, an automatic gain control signal (AGC, which varies inversely with the intensity of the received directional waves) or a combination of the two preceding signals.

  Conventional peak detection and analog-to-digital conversion techniques allow electronic, arithmetic and logic (LU) or (LN) means to measure the variation of the amplitude of the electrical signal generated by the received directional waves.

  Case N 2: When the receiver (RU) or (RN) which is involved in measuring the percentage of energy transmitted by the transmission channel (KN), operates according to a principle of frequency or phase modulation, it is necessary that the receiver also provides a signal representative of the amplitude of the received directional waves. Depending on the case, this signal may be a signal generated by the receiver, an automatic gain control signal (AGC, which varies inversely with the intensity of the received directional waves) or a combination of the two preceding signals.

  An example of this is provided by the 2.4 Ghz Chipcon CC2420 transceiver which provides a digital signal called RSSI which varies logarithmically with the intensity of the received radio waves. Figure 17 shows a typical variation curve of the level of this RSSI signal as a function of the intensity of the radio wave field.

  Case N 3: When the sensor used to measure the percentage of energy transmitted by the transmission channel (KN) is a binary sensor, it will be noted that.

  i) this sensor must necessarily be on the side of the mobile device (ie the user device (DU)) to be able to detect an alignment between the devices (DU) and (DN), since such a sensor can not provide at the output of indication on a continuous variation of the intensity of the received directional waves coming from a transmitter located on the user device (DU) ii) it suffices to precede such a binary sensor by a very directional optical device, such as an opaque screen with a narrow window, so that such a binary sensor can detect a relative alignment between the devices (DU) and (DN), and consequently provide an output electrical signal that corresponds to this alignment. Figure 18 shows the typical sensitivity diagram of such a sensor as a function of the angle of incidence of infrared rays, and shows that this type of sensor is very little directional.

  Figure 20 shows how to precede such a sensor (RB) by an opaque screen (ERB) with a window (FRB) whose dimensions are of the order of 1.5 millimeters in height and 1 centimeter in width. If the screen (FRB) has a thickness of the order of 1.5 centimeters, the viewing angle of the sensor (RB) will be limited by the window (FRB) to about 7 in height and 50 in width, and can be used in the present invention.

  A.2.2.2) The use of amplitude information The amplitude information makes it possible to evaluate the variations in time of the amplitude received, which are representative, if the signals emitted successively have the same characteristics , the variation of the percentage of energy transmitted by the communication channel (KN) between the user device (DU) and a control device (DN). This evaluation of the variation over time allows in turn to detect the extremum (minimum or maximum) corresponding.

  When the amplitude information is directly available in digital form, it can be processed and stored if necessary by the arithmetic and logical part of the electronic, arithmetic and logical means (LU) or (LN). Such a type of treatment is advantageous because it makes it possible to adapt by simple programming means the calculation of the variation over time and the detection of the extremum to the particular characteristics of the signals provided in each variant of implementation of the invention. 'invention.

  If the amplitude information is not directly available in digital form, it is possible to reduce to the previous case by digitizing the amplitude information, using conventional techniques such as peak detection and analog conversion. to digital peak values of the amplitude information.

  A.2.3) Management of information transmissions and collisions A.2.3. 1) The nature of the problem In the context of the present invention, the procedure of selective identification of control devices (DN) during the displacement of the user device (DU) assumes logical or digital type of information exchanges between the user device (DU) and control devices (DN). a) In an architecture such as that shown in FIG. 2, in which each control device (ON) detects the amplitude extremum of the received signal, each control device (DN) which detects an extremum must communicate with the user device (DU) to, at a minimum, signal this event, and possibly interact with it to identify and transmit information b) In an architecture such as that shown in Figure 3, in which the user device (DU) detects the extremum of amplitude of the signal received from each control device (DN), each control device (DN) can transmit independently of each other their signals which serve to evaluate the evolution over time the percentage of energy transmitted In both cases, the risk of collision is high, and measures can advantageously be taken to reduce the risk of collision and facilitate work User Device Detection (DU). i) The control devices (DN) can emit their signals which are used to evaluate the evolution over time of the percentage of energy transmitted in response to a reference signal transmitted by the user device (DU), for example according to the method following: upon receipt of a particular message issued by the user device (DU) acting in master mode in the dialogue with the control devices (DN), the control devices (DN) transmit their messages; they can advantageously transmit their message at a random time within a period of time defined in advance following the reception of the particular message sent by the user device (DU). ii) The user device (DU) can use a very directive transmitter to transmit the information used to measure the intensity transmitted by the transmission channel (KN), which has the effect of reducing the number of control devices (DN) which at a given moment , receive this type of information; this type of measurement can in particular be used in a very simple and economical way when the visible waves are visible or infra-red light waves, emitting with a highly directive LED As a consequence: a) the user device (DU) can advantageously operate in master; it can therefore address messages without risk of collision to one or more control devices (DN) b) the control devices (DN), on the other hand, are intended to function without particular coordination and independently one of the other c) special provisions can be made in a simple way to coordinate the transmission of information by the control devices (DN) d) there is however a risk of collisions between messages sent to the user device (DU) during in the same time period by several distinct control devices (DN) The management of the collisions between messages sent simultaneously by several control devices (DN) can be done in several ways, and notably: a) at the level of the physical layer (DN); within the meaning of the ISO 7-layer model), when the devices (EU), (RU), (EN) and (RN) perform simple conversions between electrical signals and directional waves: In this case, the electronic, arithmetic and logical (LU) and (LN) means must directly support collision detection and retransmission management b) at the MAC Medium Access Control layer (in the sense of the 7-bit model). ISO layers) when all or some of the devices (RU), (RN), (EU), (EN), (LU) or (LN) have the ability to handle higher level functions than simple conversions between electrical signals and directional waves, such as, for example, detecting the integrity of the received information frames and sending information frames to a recipient defined by an identifier.

  A.2.3.2) A first type of transmission and collision management An example of the case b) above is provided by the 2.4 Ghz Chipcon CC2420 transceiver (transceiver) which natively manages a part of the functions provided by the MAC software layer, and in particular: i) the formation of frames transmitted by radio waves from the digital information provided by the microcontroller that controls this component ii) the validity and integrity check of the received frames, and transmitting to the microcontroller which controls this component valid digital data of the received information frame Moreover, the Zigbee communication protocol indicates that a data transmission is carried out according to a method which can be summarized as follows: i) the transmitter listens to the channel to see if no other device is transmitting ii) if the channel is free, the sender sends his message iii) if and when the receiver has received a message and 25 that it is valid, it sends a positive acknowledgment to the issuer iv) if the issuer has received the positive acknowledgment corresponding to his message within a predefined period of time, he considers that the message was well received; otherwise, it tries again to return the message With this protocol and the CC2420 component, the collision management does not pose any particular problem: a) the transmitter, for its part: i) issues after having waited until the transmission channel is free ii) then waits for its acknowledgment to confirm that the information has been received iii) retries a new transmission several times if it does not receive the acknowledgment b) the receiver, for its part i) knows if the information frames received are valid (which means in particular that they were received without collisions) ii) knows the identity of the sender (which is indicated in the frame) and the instant of the arrival of the frame iii) knows moreover the intensity of the directional waves received thanks, for example, to the signal RSSI (see above), which enables it to appreciate the evolution A.2.3.3) A second type of transmissions and collisions management An example of the a) above is provided by infra-red light wave transmissions or ultra-sound waves that are physically managed; in this case, it is necessary to.

  a) use a transmission protocol that minimizes the probability of collisions b) detect collisions that have occurred (or, at a minimum, detect cases in which a collision is possible) c) manage retransmissions related to a collision Figure 22 illustrates an example protocol for implementing the various steps of the identification of the various control devices (DN) during a displacement of the user device (DU) and meeting the above criteria: a) Exchanges between the user device (DU) ) and the control devices (DNs) are in the following context: i) each message exchange between the user device (DU) and the control devices (DNs) takes place during a time slot of a Constant duration (DCY) ii) Unless otherwise specified, all messages sent by the user device (DU) have the same duration and use the same number of bits (8 useful bits for example). If indicated otherwise, all messages sent by a control device (DN) have the same duration of 1 bit. b) In sequence 1 (SQ1), (DU) sends a test message (MT1) and waits for the rest of the duration (DCY) or the responses of the at least one control device (s) (DN) c) In the sequence 2 (SQ2), (DU) sends a test message (MT1) and receives two messages: i) a response message (MRA) from the controller (DNA), issued at a time that appears random within the time slot (DCY) ii) a response message (MRB) from the device command (DNB), issued at a time that seems random located within the time slot (DCY) d) In sequence 3 (SQ3), (DU) sends two messages.

  i) an exclusive dialog message (MX1) ii) an exclusive dialog message (MX2). for the control device (DNA) - of a duration equal to that of the message (MRA) - the control device (DNA) being identified in the message (MX2) in that the message (MX2) is transmitted to the same time with respect to the message (MX1) that the message (MRA) was transmitted with respect to the message (MT1) e) Receiving the messages (MX1) and (MX2). i) the control device (DNA) understands that the user device (DU) wishes to enter into a selective dialogue with it ii) the control device (DNB) understands that the user device (DU) wishes to enter into a selective dialog with a control device other than him, and therefore no longer intervenes in this selective dialogue f) In sequence 4 (SQ4). i) the user device (DU) sends an exclusive dialog message (MX3) which is addressed to the control device (DN) which has been identified by the messages (MX1) and (MX2) to propose an identifier defined in the message (MX3) ii) if the user device (DU) has already assigned to the control device (DN) identified by the messages (MX1) and (MX2) an identifier making it possible to address it selectively, the latter can then answer no by sending the message (MXN) at a time defined in advance iii) if the user device (DU) has not yet been assigned to the control device (DN) identified by the messages (MX1) and (MX2) an identifier to address selectively to him, the latter can then answer yes by sending the message (MXI) at a time defined in advance g) Possible collisions of messages type (MRA) and (MRB) in response to the test messages (MT1): - can be detected or suspected p ar the user device (DU) by measuring the duration and / or the amplitude of the messages (MRA) and (MRB) indeed, a message without collisions has both a duration defined in advance and an amplitude that is constant in time, which is not the case if a collision has occurred; these characteristics of duration and amplitude can advantageously be detected by electronic, arithmetic and logical means (LU) or (LN) 2.5 h) If the user device (DU) detects or suspects a collision: i) it can reissue a another message (MT1) or a test message of another type to obtain new response messages such as (MRA) and (MRB) ii) if response messages such as (MRA) and (MRB) to the message of test (MT1) are issued by the control devices (DN) at times which appear random and located within the duration (DCY), the emission of a sufficient number of messages of type (MT1) will result in an unambiguous configuration for the control device (DU) of the response messages such as (MRA) and (MRB) As a concrete illustration of this protocol with slow transmissions (of the order of 4.000 bits per second ) on the transmission channels (KN), the following values and characteristics p can be used: a) the duration of a cycle (DCY) is 40 bits b) the default duration of a message sent by the user device (DU) is 10 bits, consisting of 8 bits, 1 bit from start to high level and one end bit from low level c) The duration available for the (MRA) or (MRB) type response messages is therefore 30 bits, while each of these messages has a duration of 1 bit d) Depending on the collision detection capabilities of electronic, arithmetic and logical (LU) or (LN) means, the probability of not detecting a collision is of the order of 1/30 or 3/30 (ie 1 / 10) e) By placing in an unfavorable case (a probability of not detecting a collision equal to 1/10), the use of 2 successive type test messages (MT1) makes it possible to reduce this probability to 1/100 , and the use of more messages of this type reduce this probability to 1/1000 or 1/10000 f) To best use this possibility of 30 rep Posted test messages, it will be advantageous to define other type of test messages (MT1). i) a test message (MT2) which requests the control devices (DNs) which responded to the previous message (MT1), and those only, to send new (MRA) or (MRB) type response messages ii) a test message (MT3) which requests the control devices (DNs) which responded to the preceding message (MT2), and those only there, to send new (MRA) or (MRA) response messages MRB) g) The use in the context of the previous protocol of a sequence of 3 messages of type (MT1), followed by a message of type (MX1), itself followed by a message type (MX3) requires 5 cycles (DCY) is 200 bits or 1 / 20th of a second h) Such a sequence, achievable with slow transmission means, provides both good reliability and a virtually transparent character for the user This protocol is given for example to detail possible ways of implementing the invention. Other protocols can be defined.

  It should be noted that the concept of collision detection and sending or returning of messages at a random time is a technique used from the Ethernet local network. Such a technique is used in particular in the IrControl standard, which is part of the Irda family of standards (see the website www.irda.org), defines a infrared remote control standard that is more efficient than the usual remote controls, and in particular the physical layer (PHY) as well as the MAC layer (Medium Access Control).

  A.2.3.4) The notion of selective identification The two previous methods of transmissions and collisions management led to the notion of selective identification: a) the user device (DU) discovers the existence of new control devices ( DN) during its movement by the user (U) b) the user device (DU) has the ability to uniquely identify and communicate selectively with each of the control devices (DN) thus discovered c) furthermore, the various control devices (DN) are discovered by the user device (DU) substantially in the order in which they are designated by the user (U) by means of the reference axis (AU) of the device user (DU), collision management including preventing strict guarantee the order in which the control devices (DN) are discovered by the user device (DU); in particular, the last control device (DN) identified by the user device (DU) may determine the controlled device (DCN) to be selected A.3) USER HANDLING A.3.1) The user's gesture The user gesture that allows selective identification and selection operations is user (U) movement of the user device (DU).

  In order to evaluate the amplitude in space and the speed of this displacement it will be possible, without loss of generality, to consider that this displacement can be defined by a rotation of the user device (DU), which corresponds to angular scanning by the user. user device (DU).

  By way of example, a scan in 1 second can be considered by the user at an angle of 30, which corresponds on average to the scan of 1 in about 30 milliseconds.

  A.3.2) The corresponding events in the system Figure 21 describes, logically and chronologically in terms of messages and events, the various elements that may be involved in the dialogue between the user (U), the user device ( DU) and each of the at least one control device (s) (DN) operating on the transmission channels (KN) associated with (DN) to enable the selective identification and selection of one of the at least one device (s) commanded (DCN): a) the user device (DU) sends a test message (MT) b) each of the at least one control device (s) (DN) responds or not to the user device (DU) at by means of a response message (MR) c) the user device (DU) waits to be sure to have received (RR) all the messages (MR) d) on the basis of one or more exchanges including the points a) to c) above, the user device (DU) can then: identify by means of the messages (MR) received one or p multiple control device (s) (DN) 30. send one or more message (s) (MX) to initiate a selective dialogue with one or more selected control device (s) (DN) e) the user device (DU) dialogue, when necessary, with the user (U) by: sending a message (MVU) to draw his attention and / or to transmit him information 5. receiving any messages (MNU) corresponding to actions of the user, and in particular to the indication by the user that he has selected a controlled device (DCN) A.3.3) The dialogue with the user The user device (DU) can advantageously communicate with the user (U) at by means of a user interface (UI) for: a) informing the user (U) that control devices (DN) corresponding to controlled devices (DCN) have been identified; b) bringing to the attention of the user (U) the characteristics of the devices ordered (DCN) whose device Control (DN) has been selectively identified c) Received from the user (U) choices or instructions A.3.4) Possible use of the invention Possible use of features of the invention is as follows: a) the user (U) moves the user device (DU) and substantially aligns the reference axis (AU) of the user device (DU) with control devices (DN) corresponding to controlled devices (DCN) b) whenever a control device (DN) associated with a controlled device (DCN) is selectively identified: i) the sensory feedback device (VN) transmits a audible and / or visual signal to the user (U) ii) the control device (DN) transmits to the user device (DU) the main characteristics (a short label for example) of the controlled device (DCN) iii) the user device (DU) displays through the user interface (IU) these characteristics transmitted by the control device (DN) c) As time goes by: i) the sensory restoration devices (VN) of the controlled devices (DCN) that have been identified prior to a given period emit a different sound and / or visual signal (for example, a blinking and / or an increasingly weak sound signal, which eventually stops) ii) in synchronization with the modification and disappearance of the signal emitted by the sensory rendering device (VN), the display by the user device (DU) by means of the user interface (UI) relating to the identified controlled devices (DCN) modifies and then removes the display of the information relating to the controlled devices ( DCN) which have been identified before a given period d) At any moment, the user (U) can select by means of the user interface (IU) one of the controlled devices (DCN) fig e) After selecting a controlled device (DCN), the user device (DU) enters into a selective dialog with the control device (DN) corresponding to that selected controlled device (DCN) and this dialogue allows.

  i) the transmission by the control device (DN) to the user device (DU) of the detailed characteristics of the controlled device (DCN) and the possible choices for the user (U), for example in the form of information which makes it possible to constitute a menu of choice ii) the use of this information by the user device (DU) by means of the user interface (UI) to present the possible choices to the user (U) and receive his choices

  EXAMPLES DETAILS OF IMPLEMENTATION

  B.1) OPERATING VARIANTS B.1.1) The main variants of the invention The variants in the implementation of the invention mainly depend on the following elements: a) the type of directive waves b) the different types of transmitters and receivers c) measurement of the transmitted intensity variation d) collision management methods and information exchange protocols B.1.2) The commonalities between the variants of the invention common points between the variants of the invention are mainly the following: a) the electronic, arithmetic and logical means (LU) and (LN) b) the user interface (IU) B. 1.2.1) The electronic means, arithmetic and logic The arithmetic and logical part of the electronic, arithmetic and logical (LU) and (LN) means can be realized in a particularly simple way from an 8-bit microcontroller of a very moderate cost (Microchip PIC range or ranges ST6 or ST7 from ST Microelectroncis); these microcontrollers are capable of generating control pulses and measuring the moment of appearance of pulses with an accuracy of the order of one microsecond. They are conventionally used to control light sources such as LEDs.

  Some of these microcontrollers are equipped with analog / digital converters for converting an analog signal into a digital signal in microseconds or tens of microseconds and with an accuracy of 8 or 10 bits. When these analog / digital converters are preceded by peak detectors, they can measure the amplitude of an analog signal transmitted by electronic means.

  These microcontrollers also have fast serial links allowing them to interface with other components with such links, such as for example the Chipcon 2.4 Ghz CC2420 transceiver.

  These microcontrollers typically have read-only memory, flash memory or electrically reprogrammable memory (EEPROM) for storing programs or permanent data.

  The electronic part of the electronic, arithmetic and logic means (LU) and (LN) can be realized conventionally with operational amplifiers for the amplification and filtering functions, with comparators for measurements of threshold overshoots, and with means standard peak detection methods (such as sample-and-hold) for measuring the amplitude of time-varying analog signals.

  B.1.2.2) The user interface (UI) The user interface (UI) may include the following: a) a sensory rendering device (VU), which may typically be a display device (with a display and / or indicator lights) and / or a sound reproduction device b) an information acquisition device (INU) which can typically be a set of keys, joysticks, rotary knobs, any positively actuatable means or voice recognition B.2) INFRARED OPERATION B.2.1) Operation with analogue detectors The implementation can advantageously be carried out as follows: a) Transmitters (EU) and (EN) are infrared LEDs b) the receivers (RU) and (RN) use photodiodes such as SFH2O3, SFH213 or BPW34 from the manufacturer Infineon c) the signals from these sensors are amplified according to conventional techniques by amplifiers and band pass filters with transistors or with operational amplifiers d) amplitude measurement is performed by analog to digital conversion of the signal from a peak detector using the amplified signal from the sensors e) the detection of the binary information is performed from conventional way with comparators that detect if the amplified signal passes above a predetermined level f) the management of transmissions and collisions is done with a protocol similar to that described in Figure 22 g) the arrangement used can 2 The operation with binary detectors The implementation can advantageously be carried out as follows: a) the emitters (EU) and (EN) are infrared LEDs; it may be advantageous to use a highly directive infrared LED in the user device (DU) to transmit the messages related to the selective identification b) the receivers (RU) and (RN) use binary sensors such as the sensor TSOP2138 (c) the signals from these sensors are directly processed, in a conventional manner, by the microcontroller of the user device (DU) or that of the control devices (DN) d) the arrangement used may be that described in Figure 3 and the The user device receiver (DU) is arranged as shown in Figure 20 to enable it to detect an alignment with a controller (DN). e) the receivers provide binary information directly; the detection of an alignment between the reference axis of the user device (DU) (which is the optical axis of the sensor and the axis of symmetry of the slot (FRB), these two axes being substantially identical) is performed by the generation of a signal by the receiver of the user device (DU); f) the management of transmissions and collisions is done with a protocol similar to that described in FIG. 22, for example all or part of the following variant which is particularly advantageous in this case: i) the control devices (DNs) wait to have received a predetermined number of messages from the user device (DU) before issuing ii) the message (MT1) of Figure 22 is split into a message sequence, for example (MT1.1), (MT1.2), (MT1.3) and (MT1.4) iii) when a controller receives a message from the sequence, for example (MT1 .2). it responds with a message type (MRA) or (MRB) if it has not received the previous message (MT1.1) it does not answer if it has already received the previous message (MT1.1) Such a duplication of the message (MT1) in a sequence in the time of separate messages, or a variant of such a split, makes it possible to better manage the discovery of the control devices (DN) by the user device (DU) and consequently: i) reduce the risk of collisions between messages sent by control devices (DN) ii) better manage the order in which control devices (DNs) are discovered by the user device (DU) B.2.3) Operation in ultrasound The operation is identical to that in infrared with analog sensors, with transmitters and receivers adapted to ultrasound.

  B.3) OPERATION IN HIGH FREQUENCY RADIO B.3.1) Operation in Amplitude Modulation Operation is identical to that in infrared with analog sensors, with transmitters and receivers adapted to radio transmissions in modulation mode. amplitude, of type ASK (Amplitude Shift keying) for example.

  The receivers can be super-reactive receivers, with in this case a bandwidth for digital signals of the order of 2400 bits per second, or superheterodyne receivers, with in this case a bandwidth for digital signals greater than 4000 bits per second. Among the manufacturers of such transmitters and receivers, mention may be made of the manufacturers Laipac, Radiometrix and Aurel.

  B.3.2) Operation with Amplitude or Phase Modulation Techniques The previously mentioned CC2420 component can be used. The manufacturer of this manufacturer provides a demonstration board including a programmable microcontroller and the antenna depicted in Figures 14-16 as a complete exemplary embodiment of a system with this component. The antenna described in Figures 12 and 13 could also be advantageously used.

  The use of other specialized components, or sets of specialized components, equivalent or analogous to the above-mentioned component, in the same frequency range or other frequency ranges, is possible with the corresponding adaptations.

Claims (11)

  1. System and devices allowing a user (U) to select a controlled electrical device (DCN) among at least one controlled electrical device (s), characterized in that it comprises the following elements.   a user-operated device (DU) (U), provided with electronic, arithmetic and logical (LU) means, a user interface (UI), and a transmitter (EU) and a receiver (RU) for directional waves and a reference axis (AU) b) at least one controlled device (s) (DCN), each controlled device (DCN) being controlled by a control device (DN) which transmits commands through a transmission channel (CN), the said control device (DN) being provided with electronic, arithmetic and logic means (LN), and a transmitter (EN) and a directional wave receiver (RN) c) for each of the at least one control device (s) (DN), a bidirectional transmission channel (KN) having the emitters (EU) and (EN) as transmitters and as receivers the receivers (RU) and (RN), adapted for bi-directional transmission of binary information between the user device (DU) and the control device (DN) associated with the transmission channel (KN), and such that: i) the percentage of the energy transmitted in at least one of the directions (DIN) of the transmission channel (KN) passes through an extremum when the axis of reference (AU) of the user device (DU) is in a particular alignment configuration (AL) with the control device (DN) ii) the device (DU) or (DN) which provides the receiver function for transmission in the at least one transmission channel (DIN) direction (DIN) has the capacity to evaluate the variation in time of the amplitude of the directional waves received by it and that these elements cooperate in the following manner .   d) the user (U) moves the user device (DU) e) the user device (DU) has the ability to selectively identify at least one control device (s) (DN), the identification of a control device (DN) being provided when the reference axis (AU) of the user device (DU) is substantially in the particular alignment configuration (AL) with the control device (DN) The system and devices according to claim 1, wherein the user device (DU) provides the user (U) with the ability to select a control device (DN) from among the at least one control device (s) that has been selectively identified 3. The system and devices according to claim 1, wherein the user (U) is informed of the control devices (DN) identified by the user device (DU) by means of a realized sensory feedback, for each at least one device (s) identified by a sensory feedback device (VN) integrated with this control device (DN) 4. System and devices according to claim 1 wherein all or part of the elements constituting a control device (DN) are integrated into the associated controlled device (DCN). The system and devices according to claim 1, wherein all or part of the elements (RN), (EN) and (LN) constituting a control device (DN) are shared between several control devices (DN). The system and devices of claim 1 wherein at least one of the transmission channels (KN) uses infrared waves. 7. System and devices according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the transmission channels (KN) uses high frequency radio waves 8. System and devices according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the transmission channels (KN) uses high frequency radio waves and is compatible with at least one of the IEEE 802 standards. The system and devices of claim 1 wherein the controlled devices (DCN) are designed to be controlled by infrared waves and are controlled by their associated controller (DN) by means of infrared waves transmitted by the transmission channel (CN) connecting the control device (DN) to the controlled system (DCN) The system and devices of claim 1 wherein, following the identification of a controller (DN) by the user device (DU), the controller (DN) described to the user device (DU). the possible choices at the time of identification for the user (U) relating to the controlled device (DCN), and the user device (DU) transmits this information to the user (U) by means of the user interface (VU) ) The system and devices of claim 1 wherein at least one of the transmission channels (KN) uses ultrasonic waves.