JP2003502954A - Method of programming an electronic device and related devices - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) SUMMARY The present invention relates to a method for accessing a transmission channel specified by at least a character in an electronic device 1, wherein a plurality of channels are each specified by a character selectable by a control signal. The present invention provides that when the device is in the standby mode, the reception of n signals separated by a time interval smaller than a given duration At will combine the n characters associated with each of the n children signals. Determining access to the channel specified by The invention also relates to an electronic device including a storage device for performing the method, and a system including the device and a control means such as a remote controller for controlling access to a channel desired by a user. The invention is particularly applicable to television sets, decoders, record players and / or recorders, and video tape recorders.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for programming a stand-by electronic device, and more particularly to a process of granting each channel of the device specified by a number. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electronic device and a system including the device to be controlled and the means of control.

Controllers for television receivers, decoders, video recorders, disk readers and recorders, as well as other electronic devices, and more particularly remote controllers, typically include a certain number of buttons. In the case of a remote controller, the latter makes it possible to send to the controlled receiver the encoded signal carried, usually by means of an infrared carrier. However, the invention applies generally to any type of equipment that may be controlled by a control device, such as a decoder, video recorder, disc reader and / or recorder.

When the television receiver is enabled, granting to the channel identified by the at least two digit number often feels like a complex operation. In fact, in order to access a given two-digit channel, the user needs to select the tens button and then the tens button of the channel in succession.

This same operation is even more cumbersome when the receiver is in a standby state that limits energy consumption. In practice, the user faces two ways of granting the desired channel. The user presses one of the buttons on the remote controller to switch to the channel associated with this button, and then perform the above operation to select two buttons corresponding to the desired number of channels. Run to access. Alternatively, the user can press the re-enable button, which is typically labeled "ON", to go to the last channel in the previous standby state, and then, similar to the method described above, switch to the desired channel. Perform the operation to select the two buttons corresponding to the number of places. clearly,
The method of granting these two desired channels is complicated and tedious.

[0005]   It is an object of the invention to simplify the user's operation with this latter content.

The subject of the present invention is a method for controlling an electronic device capable of receiving data from a plurality of transmission channels each specified by a word of at least one character, each word selected by a special control signal. , The electronic device is in a standby state and further divided by a time interval less than a given duration Δt that determines the identifier of the channel by combining the n characters each associated with the received signal. Is received, the electronic device is activated, and the channel specified previously is selected by the device.

Therefore, the method of selecting the desired channel is simplified, the switching of the device to the ON state is faster for the user, the device is in the initial standby state, and the user is Directly to the desired channel by
It can be reached without going through an intermediate enable button.

The subject of the invention is also a method for controlling an electronic device capable of receiving data from a plurality of transmission channels each specified by a word containing at least one character, each selected by a special control signal. Then, the electronic device is in a standby state, and further collects and records the character associated with the first control signal, and continuously has a duration Δt determined based on the reception of the previous signal. If received within a lesser span, builds and records a word of characters that is determined by the combination of the character associated with the received control signal and the last word recorded, and the selected channel is the sustain The absence of the reception of the control signal during the time Δt is determined by the last word of the recorded character followed by the activation of the device, identified above. And performing selection by channel the instrument of that.

According to one embodiment, the step of identifying the last word stored is characterized by the step of checking the integrity of the last word, which checks the validity of the word.

[0010]   According to one embodiment, the characters are alphanumeric.

According to one embodiment, the control signal is characterized in that it is a message comprising a field of bits containing a numerical value specific to the means for selecting the channel of the button seed.

The subject of the invention is also a means for receiving a plurality of control signals, each control signal being associated with a character for identification of a transmission channel, and for storing at least one character associated with the control signal. First storage means, selection means for selecting a transmission channel specified by at least one character, control means for controlling the selection means to the channel specified by the character stored in the storage means, and re-enabling means. And an electronic device including: a second storage unit including a program for re-enabling from a standby state; and a calculation unit for executing the program stored in the storage unit. The program includes a step of collecting characters associated with the stored first unique control signal for the device in the standby mode; The last word stored in the first storage means and the character associated with the received control signal if received within a span less than the duration Δt determined with respect to the reception of the previous signal. A successive construction step of the word of characters determined by the combination and a subsequent recording step, the absence of reception of a control signal for the duration Δt being followed by the last recorded word of the character. It is characterized in that it further comprises calculation means for controlling the selection means for selecting the selected channel.

The subject of the invention is also a means for receiving a plurality of control signals, each control signal being associated with a character for identification of a transmission channel, and for storing at least one character associated with the control signal. First storage means, selection means for selecting a transmission channel specified by at least one character, control means for controlling the selection means to the channel specified by the character stored in the storage means, and re-enabling. Means for re-enabling from a standby state for the last word stored in said first storage means and a control signal having a duration determined on the basis of reception of a previous signal. If received within a span less than Δt, the word of the character is determined by the combination with the character associated with the received control signal. Controlling the selection means to the channel determined by the word of the last character stored in the first storage means followed by the absence of reception of the control signal for the duration Δt, Control means for further controlling the re-enabling means.

According to one embodiment, the adaptation of the set of last words stored to the content of the set of words stored in the device, each of which identifies a set of existing channels. In order to confirm, it is characterized by including a means for comparing.

The subject of the invention also comprises a device to be controlled and a second control means for transmitting a control signal for controlling said device, in particular a remote control means of the kind of a keypad remote controller, The above-mentioned device is the electronic device according to any one of claims 6 and 8, and is a system.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of some embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

For simplicity of description, the same reference numbers will be used to indicate elements that fulfill the same function.

The device of FIG. 1 receives a signal, for example from an antenna 3, and transforms the frequency of this signal into an intermediate frequency for the video intermediate frequency amplifier 4 and for the audio intermediate frequency amplifier 5 connected before it. 2, and a demodulator 6 that sends a baseband video signal to an audio power amplifier 7 that supplies a loudspeaker 8 after the video intermediate frequency amplifier 4.
The video intermediate frequency amplifier 5 is followed by a demodulator 9 for generating a baseband video signal for a video amplifier 10 for sending an ad hoc signal to an electrode of a CRT (cathode ray tube) 11, a microprocessor 121 and a control element 122. A central control unit 12 that manages the functions of the controller and a receiver 1 of the controller that receives the infrared light signal S from the remote controller box 16 in series and sends them to the microprocessor 12.
5 and a television with. These control elements can also be incorporated into a microprocessor. The memory block 13 is a microprocessor 12
And a first memory 131 for storing data including current values for various settings of the television, among others. The second memory 132 of the memory 13
Includes a program for turning on (re-enabling) the standby television again. The central control unit 12 is, of course, connected to all the elements of the device which may be controlled by the control elements, namely the tuner (channel selection), the image
It is linked by a bus 14 to an audio circuit (various level settings) or possibly a scanning circuit (not shown) which selects various picture formats.

The remote controller 16 of FIG. 2 has a button 17 for making a standby (standby), a pair of buttons 18 for increasing and decreasing a parameter value such as voice output, and particularly for selecting a channel. It includes a number pad 19 which allows to do so, for example a button 20 which allows to increase or decrease the number of channels received. The buttons on the number pad 19, as described below, allow the channel identified by the two-digit number to be communicated to the television 1.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a circuit that can be used in such a remote controller box. The battery 21 comprises a light emitting diode 23 controlled by a transistor 24,
And powers the customized microprocessor 22. The microprocessor contains a known processor, together with the necessary ROM, RAM, and also contains a modulator (for the diode 23) sending a pulse whose duration and number are controllable, and for controlling the transistor 24. Has an output of.

An array 25 of ten positions is provided in the memory of the remote controller, in which the number corresponding to the channel is stored at each position corresponding to the button number. Generally, the first nine channels of the station, usually referred to as 1,2,3, ..., are stored at 10 positions, and it is possible to store further channels at the 0 button position. Is possible.

The control signal Si (i corresponds to the number of the control signal sent to the television) originating from the remote controller and directed to the television in the enabled or standby state is a known control message. including. It contains a number that the user selects by pressing the corresponding button, 0-9.
Contains a field that contains the numeric value of. Furthermore, it can start with a field containing a "1" start digit, which represents the system that the controller is to reach (video recorder, television, decoder, disc reader and / or recorder, etc.).

[0023]   The operation of the present invention is as follows.

When there is a television in standby and the user presses a button on the remote controller, the microprocessor 22 causes the transmission of a message carrying the programmed value associated with the position of the selected button. The television receives the infrared signal from the remote controller and conveys the signal to the microprocessor 12. The latter queries the standby software module stored in memory 13.

The standby software includes the following functions. Collection of infrared signals, decoding of infrared signals that makes it possible to decode the numerical values sent by the remote controller,
The construction of a connect message according to the algorithm of the next standby software module. The connect message consists of a sequence of decoded numbers and the algorithm for constructing the connect message is implemented in memory 132 and
It is executed by the microprocessor according to the following steps. At time t1, after decoding the first message deciphering the first numerical value, the latter is stored in the memory 131. At time t2 = t1 + Δt, Δt = 200 ms (according to the present example), but two possibilities arise:

1. If the message is not decoded, and the stored number matches the digit sequence (matches the connect message), the application software is started and an effective connection to the desired channel and All elements are activated to enable operation of the television.

2. If the second message is decoded during the span ΔT, which decodes the second number, the construction of the connection message is such that the first number, the first number is in the tens place and the second number is one. It is realized by substituting a new numerical value in the place of.

In an iterative manner, decoding some other messages that follow every span less than Δt, decrypts the numbers corresponding to these messages, and the latter of each new connection message. Inevitably, while considering new numbers, the numbers that correspond to the ones digit before are shifted to the left and then correspond to the tens digit, which corresponds to the tens digit earlier. Numerical values are shifted to the left to correspond to the tens place.

Regarding the confirmation of the integrity of the final connection message corresponding to the final number stored in the memory 131. As mentioned above, the stored number matches the column of digits and "
Make sure that you do not match the inconsistent sequence of commands, such as 1 "," + ", and then selecting the" CH "button continuously. Conversely, if the message integrity is verified, the application software
Control the admission to the channel number closest to the requested number by comparing the latter with the contents of the database of all channels that make up the program.

The flowchart of FIG. 4 shows a flow of operations executed by the standby software module stored in the memory 13. In step 1, the modulator waits for a message sent from the remote controller. When the message is received, the process proceeds to step 2. In step 2, the module tests whether a message has already been received, i.e. whether the memory 131 contains a first message matching the channel selection. If yes (step 3)
), The module performs message shifting. Messages that match the ones place will now match the tens place. If there is already a message that matches the tens place, it is overwritten with a new message. In step 4, the unit digit space is free to accept new messages without considering previous events.
Next (step 5), the module starts a time delay and monitors during the latter whether a new message has been received. If yes, the module loops to step 3 to make a space and store this new message. If no, the user does not press a button on his remote controller and checks the list of messages sent to the television receiver. In step 6, the module starts a program which re-enables the television drawing the channel numbered which is the concatenation of the tens and ones messages.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this patent application. For example, the term channel corresponds to a particular frequency width in the case of the embodiment described above, the latter in the case of a disc reader and / or recorder can correspond to the track of the device. . Similarly, the present invention is not limited to entering a two digit channel number and may have one or more digits.

Similarly, it is conceivable for a channel identified by the letters "C +", "MTV" (in which case the control means comprises alphanumeric buttons). The corresponding step then has to allow the presence of such a channel name.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a system including a remote controller box and a television.

[Fig. 2]   It is a figure which shows a remote controller box.

[Figure 3]   It is a circuit diagram contained in a box.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the sequence of operations for selecting a channel and turning on the device.

[Procedure for Amendment] Submission for translation of Article 34 Amendment of Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] January 11, 2001 (2001.1.11)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[Claims]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[0005]   European patent application EP 352 446 describes a process in equipment equipped with a remote controller.
Regarding devices that select gram. Pro with a character corresponding to the pressed button Grams are immediately selected, after which a time delay is initiated, during which the equipment continues Consider characters and try to concatenate them to get the full identifier of the program . If the program identifier is encoded with more than one character, this method Initial selection of unwanted programs.   The purpose of the present invention is to simplify the user operation with this latter content.To do The goal is to enable effective connection to users' desired channels.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

The subject of the present invention is a method for controlling an electronic device capable of receiving data from a plurality of transmission channels each specified by a word of at least one character, each word selected by a special control signal. the electronic apparatus is in a standby state, and further, the time interval between two received less than a given duration Delta] t, by the received signal, channel by binding character associated with each of the signal A step of receiving at least one signal for which the identifier is determined, a step of activating the electronic device following a duration Δt in which no signal is received, and a step of selecting by the device of the previously specified channel. It is characterized by including.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

Therefore, the method of selecting the desired channel is simplified, the switching of the device to the ON state is faster for the user, the device is in the initial standby state, and the user is Directly to the desired channel by
It can be reached without going through an intermediate enable button. The equipment is activated only when a certain duration that without the button is pressed, has been completed. In other words, the duration, a signal for enabling the column of the received signal before. Words of these characters associated with the signal, an identifier of a program desired by the user.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[0008] According to a first embodiment, the portion including a certain number of received signal last is to determine the identifier of the channel. Thus, the user can override the entry character before.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

The subject of the invention is also a means for receiving a plurality of control signals, each control signal being associated with a character for identification of a transmission channel, and for storing at least one character associated with the control signal. First storage means, selection means for selecting a transmission channel specified by at least one character, control means for controlling the selection means to the channel specified by the character stored in the storage means, and re-enabling means. an electronic apparatus including bets, in order to re-enable the standby state, and the last word stored in the first memorize means, from sustained time Δt received is determined as a measure of the signal before when received with less in the span, the bond between the character associated with the received control signals, continuously calculates to build a character of a word to be determined by the And stage, the absence of reception of control signals between the duration Δt is followed, the last character of the word stored in the first storage means, and controlling the selection means to select a channel that is determined by the and further comprising a control means for further controlling the re-enabling means.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Delete

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

When there is a television in standby and the user presses a button on the remote controller, the microprocessor 22 causes the transmission of a message carrying the programmed value associated with the position of the selected button. The television receives the infrared signal from the remote controller and conveys the signal to the central controller 12. The latter queries the standby software module stored in memory 13.

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

In an iterative manner, decoding some other messages that follow every span less than Δt, decrypts the numbers corresponding to these messages, and the latter of each new connection message. entails taking into account (the new value of the considered Omonbakanaka, numerical values corresponding to the previous one's place is shifted to the left, then becomes so that the corresponding to the position of 10, before the position of 10 The number corresponding to is shifted to the left so that it corresponds to the hundreds place, and the leftmost place has no previous corresponding number) .

[Procedure Amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief description of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a system including a remote controller box and a television.

[Fig. 2]   It is a figure which shows a remote controller box.

[Figure 3]   It is a circuit diagram contained in a box.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an order of operations for selecting a channel and turning on a device.

[Procedure for Amendment] Submission for translation of Article 34 Amendment of Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] May 3, 2001 (2001.5.3)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

[Claims]

7. To verify the suitability of the set of last words stored with respect to the contents of the set of words stored in the device, each of which identifies a set of existing channels, The electronic device according to claim 6 , further comprising means for comparing.

8. A device to be controlled and a second control means for transmitting a control signal for controlling said device, in particular a remote control means of the kind of a keypad remote controller, said device comprising: A system, which is the electronic device according to any one of 6 and 7 .

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

The device of FIG. 1 receives a signal, for example from an antenna 3, and transforms the frequency of this signal into an intermediate frequency for the video intermediate frequency amplifier 4 and for the audio intermediate frequency amplifier 5 connected before it. 2, a video intermediate frequency amplifier 4, a demodulator 6 for sending a baseband video signal to an audio power amplifier 7 for supplying a loudspeaker 8, and a video intermediate frequency amplifier 4 , and a CRT (cathode ray tube) 11 a demodulator 9 which produces a baseband video signal for video amplifier 10 sends an ad-hoc signal to the electrodes, comprises a central control unit 121 and the control element 122, the central controller 1 for managing these functions
2 and a controller receiver 15 that receives the infrared optical signal S from the remote controller box 16 in series and sends them to the central controller 12. These control elements can also be integrated in a central control unit . The memory block 13 is linked to the central control unit 12 and comprises, among other things, a first memory 131 for storing data including current values for various settings of the television. The second memory 132 of the memory 13 contains a program for turning on (re-enabling) the television in the standby state again. The central control unit 12 can, of course, be connected to all the elements of the device that can be controlled by the control elements, namely the tuner (channel selection), the video / audio circuit (various level settings), or possibly the various elements. Scanning circuit to select picture format (
(Not shown) are linked by the bus 14.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Contents of correction]

When there is a television in standby and the user presses a button on the remote controller, the microprocessor 22 causes the transmission of a message carrying the programmed value associated with the position of the selected button. The television receives the infrared signal from the remote controller and conveys the signal to the central controller 12. The latter queries the standby software module stored in memory 13.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/44 H04N 5/44 H (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK) , ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR , NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, E, DK, DM, DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC , LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Arzo, Sergi France, 35250 Mwaze, Rue des Poulier 18 72) Inventor Le, Luc France, 44530 Severac, Marrakech (no address) F-term (reference) 5C025 AA23 5C056 BA02 BA08 CA01 DA01 EA05 5K048 AA04 BA03 CA02 DA01 DB02 DC01 EA12 EB02 FA07 FB08 HA07

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method of controlling an electronic device capable of receiving data from a plurality of transmission channels each specified by a word consisting of at least one character, each selected by a special control signal, the electronic device comprising: Is in a waiting state and further divided by n time intervals less than a given duration Δt, which determines the identifier of the channel by combining the n characters associated with each of the received signals. A method comprising the steps of receiving a signal, activating the electronic device, and selecting by the device of the previously identified channel. 2. A method of controlling an electronic device capable of receiving data from a plurality of transmission channels, each of which is specified by a word containing at least one character, each selected by a special control signal. Is in a standby state and further collects and records the characters associated with the first control signal and is received within a span less than a duration Δt determined with respect to the reception of the previous signal, Sequentially constructing and recording a word of characters determined by the combination of the character associated with the received control signal with the last word recorded, the selected channel being controlled for the duration Δt. The absence of signal reception is determined by the last word of the recorded letter followed by the activation of the device and above the channel identified above. A method, characterized in that the selection is performed by a recording device. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of identifying the last word stored is conditioned by the step of checking the integrity of the last word to check the validity of the word. Method. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the character is an alphanumeric character. 5. The control signal according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is a message containing a field of bits containing a numerical value specific to the means for selecting the channel of the button seed. Method. 6. A means for receiving a plurality of control signals each associated with a character for identifying a transmission channel, and a first storage means for storing at least one character associated with the control signal. An electronic device comprising: a selection means for selecting a transmission channel specified by at least one character; a control means for controlling the selection means for the channel specified by the character stored in the storage means; and a re-enabling means. And further comprising second storage means including a program for re-enabling from the standby state, and calculation means for executing the program stored in the storage means, wherein the program is in a standby mode. A step of collecting a character associated with the stored first unique control signal for the device; A character determined by the combination of the last word that was received and the character associated with the received control signal if received within a span less than the duration Δt determined with respect to the reception of the previous signal. Of successive words and subsequent recording steps for selecting a channel selected by the last recorded word of characters followed by the absence of reception of the control signal for the duration Δt. An electronic device, further comprising a calculation means for controlling the means. 7. Means for receiving a plurality of control signals each associated with a character for identifying a transmission channel, and first storage means for storing at least one character associated with the control signal. An electronic device including a selecting means for selecting a transmission channel specified by at least one character, a control means for controlling the selecting means to a channel specified by the character stored in the storage means, and a re-enabling means. In order to re-enable from the standby state, within the span less than the last word stored in the first storage means and the duration Δt where the control signal is determined with reference to the reception of the previous signal. Calculating means for constructing successive words of a character, when received, determined by the combination with the character associated with the received control signal, Controlling the selection means to the channel determined by the word of the last character stored in the first storage means followed by the absence of reception of a control signal for the duration Δt, and enabling the re-enabling means. An electronic device, further comprising control means for controlling. 8. To verify the suitability of the set of last words stored to the contents of the set of words stored in the device, each of which identifies a set of existing channels, The electronic device according to claim 7, further comprising means for comparing. 9. A device comprising a controlled device and a second control means for transmitting a control signal for controlling said device, in particular a remote control device of the kind of a remote controller of a keypad, said device comprising: A system which is the electronic device according to any one of 6 and 8.