JPH10164673A - Device for selecting device to be controlled for remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller which controls a plurality of devices from a remote place and with which the controlled devices can easily be selected. SOLUTION: According to an input to the input means 111 of a remote controller 11, a signal transmitting means 112 transmits signals to a plurality of devices 22a, 22b, and 22c to be controlled for inquiring whether or not the devices 22a, 22b, 22c are in remote-controllable states. A discriminating and selecting means 115 discriminates remote-controllable devices to be controlled based on the answer signals to the inquiries and information stored in a storing means 113 which stores information on devices to be controlled and selects devices to be controlled based on priority information stored in the storing means 113.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device and a controlled device for remotely controlling a controlled device such as a plurality of electronic devices and devices, and more particularly to a remote control device for selecting a controlled device to be remotely controlled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of electronic devices in homes has increased, and the number of remote control devices for remotely controlling electronic devices has increased along with the increase. There are now many remote control devices in homes. It is not uncommon for a situation in which a desired remote controller cannot be found when controlling the apparatus. As means for improving such a situation, a device called a "multi remote controller" capable of controlling a plurality of devices has been developed. However, in the conventional multi remote controller, a user has to switch a switch by himself / herself depending on a device to be controlled, so that a control signal of the controlled device has to be output.

A conventional multi remote controller is disclosed in, for example,
What is described in -86365 is known.
Hereinafter, a conventional multi remote control device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 72 denotes a multi-mode (multi) remote controller, 721 denotes a graphic display serving as a display unit, and 722, 723, and 724 denote:
Command keys 725, 726, 727, 72
8,729,730,731,732,733,73
4 is a keypad. In this example, the multi remote controller 72 stores control codes of a plurality of devices in advance. When it is desired to control a certain device, first, a controlled device to be controlled by the command key 724 is selected. The currently selected controlled device is displayed on the graphic display unit 721, and each time the command key 724 is pressed, the displayed device changes. The user of the remote control device preferably presses the command key 724 until the device to be controlled is displayed. After a device to be controlled is displayed, a keypad 725 to 734 for changing a control code to be transmitted corresponding to the graphic display unit 721.
When a desired operation is selected from among the above and the keypad is pressed, a control code corresponding to the keypad is transmitted, and the controlled device can be controlled. However, in this example, the user must select a controlled device to be controlled by the command key 724 from all the controlled devices in which the remote control device 72 stores the control code.

[0004]

In the field of multi-remote control, it is required to reduce the troublesomeness of the device selection as described above. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device, a controlled device, and a remote control system that allow a user to easily select a device to be controlled from a plurality of controlled devices based on the above situation.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal transmission means for transmitting a signal requesting information on a controlled device, and a controlled device receiving the transmission signal. Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the device; controlled device information storage means for storing controlled device information; information stored in the controlled device information storage means and the response signal receiving means There are provided identification selecting means for identifying and selecting a remotely controllable controlled device from a response signal, and display means for displaying the remotely controllable controlled device to a user of a remote control.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal transmission means for transmitting a signal requesting information on a controlled device, a response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from the controlled device having received the transmission signal, A controlled device information storage unit for storing the information of the response signal and the controlled device information received by the response signal receiving unit; and information stored in the controlled device information storage unit and the response signal receiving unit. From the response signal, identification selecting means for identifying and selecting a remotely controllable controlled device, display means for displaying the remotely controllable controlled device to a user of a remote controller, and stored in the controlled device information storage means Means for reading a signal for controlling the controlled device from the information and sending the signal to the signal transmitting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signal receiving means for receiving a transmission signal from a remote control device, and a method for analyzing a signal received by the signal receiving means to activate an operation corresponding to the received signal. Alternatively, a control unit that generates a response signal corresponding to the received signal and a signal transmission unit that transmits the response signal generated by the control unit to a remote control device are provided in the controlled device.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a remote control device and a configuration of a controlled device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a remote control device main body, which includes an input unit 111 and a signal transmission unit 11.
2. Controlled device information storage means 113, response signal receiving means 114, identification selection means 115, display means 116, transmission information reading means 117, and input means 111 includes an operation switch group 1111. Also, in FIG.
Reference numerals 2a, 22b, and 22c denote controlled devices. For example, in the case of the controlled device 22a, the signal receiving unit 221 is used.
a, control means 222a, signal transmission means 223a, input means 224a, controlled device main body 225a, storage means 226
a.

The operation of the remote control device and the controlled device according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described below. First, roughly how the remote control device and the controlled device operate will be described.

First, the remote controller 11 is provided with an input means 111 realized by an operation button, a cross key, a jog shuttle or the like.
In order to recognize what kind of device is around by using the input from the operation switch group 1111 as a trigger,
A signal is transmitted to the controlled devices 22a, 22b, 22c requesting transmission of information on the controlled device. The controlled device 22a that has received the signal requesting transmission of the information on the controlled device transmits a signal including the controlled device information to the remote control device 11 as a response signal. The remote control device that has received the response signal, based on the response signal and the controlled device information stored in the remote control device, determines one or more controlled devices that have transmitted the response signal at the current time. It recognizes that it is a controlled device that can be remotely controlled.

By the above operation, the remote control device 11 can identify and select a device which can be remotely controlled at the present time from a plurality of controlled devices to which a control signal can be transmitted. When the controlled device that can be remotely controlled is identified, the remote control device 1
1 displays a list of controlled devices that can be remotely controlled by the display means 116 to the user of the remote control device, and the user selects a controlled device to be controlled from the displayed list using an operation switch group 1111 such as a button. . When one controlled device is selected, the remote control device 11 is in a state where it can remotely control the selected controlled device. The above is the outline of the operations of the remote control device and the controlled device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Next, how each part of the remote controller and the controlled device operates will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 of the remote controller and FIG. 4 of the flowchart of the controlled device. First, the remote control device scans an input from an operation switch group 1111 realized by an operation button, a cross key, a jog shuttle, a liquid crystal touch panel, and checks whether there is an input to the remote control device 11 (step S11). When an input to the remote controller is detected by the input unit 111, a control signal from the input unit 111 is sent to the transmission information reading unit 117. Upon receiving the control signal from the input unit 111, the transmission information reading unit 117 reads a transmission code corresponding to the detected input from the controlled device information storage unit 113.

At this time, the transmission information reading means 117
It is determined whether the detected input activates transmission of the controlled device information request signal (step S12).
If it is activated, the code of the controlled device information request signal is sent to the signal transmitting means 112. The signal transmission unit 112, which has received the code of the controlled device information request signal from the transmission information reading unit, modulates the controlled device information request signal with infrared light or the like based on the code of the controlled device information request signal, and controls the controlled devices 22a, 22b,
A controlled device information request signal is transmitted to 22c (step S14).

In step S12, input means 111
If the detected input is not an input for starting transmission of the controlled device information request signal, a code for remotely controlling the controlled device corresponding to the detected input is transmitted or the internal state of the remote control device 11 is changed. Then, processing corresponding to the detected input is performed (step S13).

Here, the controlled device information request signal can be distinguished from the controlled device control signal which is a signal for remotely controlling the controlled device. They may be common to the controlled devices or may be either. In order to distinguish the two types of signals, for example, the controlled device information request signal and the controlled device control signal may have different header patterns of the transmission code, or the controlled device information request signal may be included in the transmission code. A bit pattern for identifying either the signal or the controlled device control signal may be added. The controlled device control signal here is, for example, a signal for turning on the television if the controlled device is a television, or a signal for increasing the volume. The controlled device information is the device control data that describes the current state of the controlled device that has transmitted the controlled device information, the relationship between the operation of the controlled device and the control code for activating the operation. And at least one of identification information of the control target device, type, device name, manufacturer name, graphic information representing the device, character information and graphic information corresponding to each control code, and the like. Here, the controlled device information also includes information for confirming whether a communication path between the remote control device and the controlled device is secured, that is, whether the controlled device can be remotely controlled from the remote control device. Including.

Here, when the signal transmitting means 112 transmits a signal, infrared rays, radio waves, or the like can be used. For example, if infrared light is used, a carrier (infrared ray) is modulated by a controlled device information request signal and a light emitting diode that emits infrared light is driven to send a controlled device information request signal to the controlled devices 22a, 22b, and 22c. .

Hereinafter, a description will be given assuming that the signal transmitted from the remote control device 11 is received by the controlled device 22a. The signal receiving means 221a of the controlled device 22a receives the controlled device information request signal sent from the remote control device 11 (step S23) and sends the received signal to the control means 222a. For example, if the transmission medium is infrared, the signal receiving means 221a includes a photodiode having a sensitivity in the infrared region and a demodulator. The signal receiving unit 221a demodulates the received signal received by the photodiode by the demodulator to extract data indicating the controlled device information request signal, and
Send to 2a.

The control means 222a includes a signal receiving means 221a.
It analyzes the signal sent from the control unit to analyze whether it is a control signal for activating the operation of the controlled device or a signal requesting a response signal to the remote control device (step S24).
I do.

In the analysis in step S24, for example, the control means 222a compares the received signal sent from the signal receiving means 221a with each signal in the signal table stored in the storage means 226a, and It may be analyzed by determining what kind of signal it is. It should be noted that the analysis method is not limited to the above, and it is of course possible to use a method of distinguishing between an operation start signal and a controlled device information request signal by a bit pattern of a header or a specific field in a received signal. It is. In addition, the determination as to whether the signal is an operation start signal for the own controlled device or an operation start signal for another controlled device is made by referring to the destination address or the field of the control target device in the received signal. May be determined.

As a result of the analysis in step S24, it is determined whether or not a response signal is necessary (step S25). If necessary, a response signal is generated and sent to the signal transmitting means 223a. For example, if the received signal is a controlled device information request signal,
Since it can be determined that the controlled device information signal needs to be transmitted as a response signal, the control unit 222a
The information about the own device is read from 6a and sent to the signal transmitting means 223a as a response signal. This response signal is a signal including the above-described controlled device information. Control means 22
2a which receives the response signal sent from 2a
23a transmits the controlled device information signal to the remote control device by infrared rays, radio waves, or the like (step S26). This signal transmission means 223a can be configured in the same manner as the signal transmission means 112 of the remote control device. Control means 2 of controlled device 22a
As a result of analyzing the received signal in step S24, the control unit 222a determines that the received signal is a control signal for activating the operation of the self-controlled device (step S27). The corresponding operation is started (step S28). Specifically, the control unit 222a
Compares the received signal with each signal in the table of signals stored in the storage means 226a, and when it detects that the received signal matches one of the signals for activating the operation,
A control signal for starting the corresponding operation is sent to the controlled device main body 225a to start the operation.

At this time, if it is determined that the received signal is not a signal requiring a response signal and is not a signal for activating an operation for the controlled device, the received signal is received without performing any operation. Discard the signal.

In the flowchart of FIG. 4, step S21 is a step of detecting an input from input means 224a such as a button or a channel provided in the controlled device. Step S22 is a step of detecting an input from input means 224a. The corresponding operation is started by the controlled device main body 225a.

Next, the controlled device information signal including the information of the controlled device transmitted from the controlled device is received by the response signal receiving means 114 of the remote control device (step S1).
5). The response signal receiving means 114 of the remote control device can be configured in the same manner as the signal receiving means 221a of the controlled device.

Here, when there are a plurality of controlled devices that have received the controlled device information request signal from the remote control device, the controlled device information signal, which is a response signal from the controlled device, collides, and The device may not be able to receive data correctly. In order to avoid such a situation, the controlled device waits for a random time and then replies, and the remote control device sends the controlled device information request signal several times at certain intervals so that the controlled device It is desirable to take measures such as preventing the information signals from colliding and avoiding collisions. Alternatively, if the controlled device information storage means 113 stores identifier information (a controlled device ID or the like) for identifying the controlled device, each controlled device issues a response signal to the controlled device information request signal. There is a method of including information on the correspondence between the standby time and the controlled device ID by the time. At this time, an appropriate waiting time is assigned so that the response signals of the plurality of controlled devices respond exclusively to each other. The controlled device that has received the controlled device information request signal refers to the waiting time corresponding to the identifier information of its own controlled device, and if the controlled device transmits the controlled device information signal after waiting for the waiting time, a collision occurs. I don't have to. The operation of waiting until the response signal is transmitted is controlled by the control unit 222a of the controlled device 22a. That is, the signal receiving unit 221a of the controlled device 22a
Is analyzed by the control means 222a, and it is determined whether a response signal is necessary or a signal for activating the self-controlled device. If the response signal is required, the response signal is transmitted. The waiting time up to is read from the received signal, and after waiting for a predetermined time, a response signal is transmitted. As described above, collision of received signals can be avoided.

On the basis of the controlled device information signal received by the response signal receiving unit 114 and the information stored in the controlled device information storage unit 113, the identification selecting unit 115 Analysis is performed (step S16), and a controlled device that can be remotely controlled at the present time is identified (step S17).

As an identification method, for example, there is a method in which one or a plurality of controlled devices that have transmitted a controlled device information signal, which is a response signal from the controlled device, are considered to be remotely controllable. At this time, the identification selecting unit 115 compares the identifier information of the controlled device included in the controlled device information signal with the identifier information of each controlled device stored in the controlled device information storage unit 113 and transmits the same. It recognizes what the controlled device is, and regards one or more controlled devices that can be recognized as being remotely controllable. However, even when the controlled device information signal is transmitted, if the controlled device information included in the signal indicates that remote control is not possible, the identification and selection means 115 can control the controlled device. Of course, the device is not recognized as being remotely controllable.

The remote controller 11 performs the above processing
One or more controlled devices recognized as being remotely controllable,
The display means 116 is used as a means to be shown to the user of the remote controller. The display means 116 is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like. As the display method, for example, the following methods can be considered. When the identification and selection means 115 recognizes that the television and the video can be remotely controlled, the identification and selection means 115 outputs character information indicating the name of the controlled device identified as being remotely controllable or a graphic indicating the controlled device. Information and the like are read from the controlled device information storage means 113, and the read data is sent to the display means 116. The display means 116, which has received the character information or graphic information from the identification and selection means 115, displays character information such as "television" or "video" or graphic information representing a television or video, thereby enabling a remote control which can be remotely controlled at present. A list of devices is shown to the user of the remote control.

The user of the remote controller selects a controlled device that the user wants to operate from among the controlled devices that can be remotely controlled by the input means 111 such as a button. However, if the remote controller recognizes that the remote control can be remotely controlled by one, the process of the user of the remote controller selecting the controlled device by input means such as a button can be omitted. The selection method using this button includes, for example, display means 1
A button corresponding to the name of the controlled device or graphic information representing the controlled device displayed on 16 is provided, and by pressing a button corresponding to the device name or the graphic information, the corresponding controlled device is selected. There is a way. Alternatively, a select button serving as a means for circulating the temporarily selected device in the list of graphic information representing the name of the controlled device or the controlled device and the graphic information representing the device name or the device temporarily selected temporarily There is also a method of selecting a device with a decision button for deciding the selection. In the above example, a button is used as means for assisting the user in selecting a controlled device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a dial, a touch panel, or the like may be used.

When one controlled device is selected from the remotely controllable controlled devices by the above-described process of selecting the controlled device by the user, the remote control device remotely controls the selected controlled device. The mode becomes controllable. That is, an input means such as a button starts transmitting a transmission code for remotely controlling the selected controlled device.
This is because the transmission information reading means 117 uses the information of both the currently selected device and the pressed button to determine
This is realized by determining the transmission code to be read and sending the read transmission code to the signal transmitting means.

When one controlled device is selected from the remotely controllable controlled devices by the above-described process of selecting the controlled device by the user, the remote control device 11 operates the selected controlled device. Character information or graphic information representing each operation is displayed on the display unit 116. Note that each operation here means, for example, channel up / down, volume up / down, etc. if the selected controlled device is a television.

The remote controller is provided with buttons corresponding to each operation of the controlled device displayed on the display means 116.
When the user of the remote controller presses a button corresponding to each operation of the controlled device, a signal is sent from the button to the transmission information reading means 117, and the transmission information reading means 117 receiving the signal from the button presses the pressed button. The code for remotely controlling the controlled device corresponding to the
3 and sends it to the signal transmitting means 112. Signal transmission means 1 receiving a transmission code from transmission information reading means
12 is modulated by infrared rays or the like based on the transmission code,
A code for remotely controlling the selected controlled device is transmitted.

In the above example, the display means 116 is a liquid crystal display, and the buttons constituting the input means 111 are fixed buttons. However, it is needless to say that the display and the buttons may be realized by a touch panel or the like. Further, the transmission information reading means 117 and the identification selecting means 1
Although 15 is a separate part, it goes without saying that both may be realized together by a microcomputer or the like.

With the above-described processing, the controlled device that can be remotely controlled is recognized by the remote control device, so that the user of the remote control device can reduce or eliminate the trouble of selecting the controlled device to be remotely controlled.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a remote control device and a configuration of a controlled device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a remote controller, and reference numerals 22a, 22b, and 22c denote controlled devices. Each means of the remote control device and the controlled device is as described in the first embodiment. However, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that information of a signal received by the response signal receiving unit 114 can be stored in the controlled device information storing unit 113. Here, the controlled device information storage means 113 may be any means that can store information, but must be writable. For example, it can be realized by a random access memory or the like.

The operation of the remote control device and the controlled device according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described below. First, how the remote control device and the controlled device operate roughly will be described.

As in the first embodiment, first, the remote control device 11 is triggered by an input from the operation switch group 1111 of the input means 111 realized by an operation button, a cross key, a jog shuttle, or the like. In order to recognize whether such a device exists, the controlled devices 22a, 22b, 22
c, a signal requesting transmission of information on the controlled device is transmitted. The controlled device 22a that has received the signal requesting the transmission of the information on the controlled device transmits a controlled device information signal to the remote control device 11 as a response signal. The remote control device that has received the response signal, based on the response signal and the controlled device information stored in the remote control device, transmits one or more controlled devices that have transmitted the response signal to the remote control device at the current time. It recognizes that it is a controlled device that can be controlled. Further, the response signal includes device control information for controlling the controlled device, that is, device control data describing a relationship between the operation of the controlled device and a control code for activating the operation. In this case, the device control information included in the response signal is stored in the controlled device information storage unit 1.
13 and reads out and transmits a signal for controlling the controlled device from the information stored in the controlled device information storage means 113, so that the controlled device can be controlled even if the control code is unknown. Allows you to identify and recognize and control.

With the above operation, the remote control device 11 can perform remote control at the present time from among a plurality of controlled devices capable of transmitting control signals and controlled devices that can newly receive control by receiving device control information. Devices that are available can be identified and selected. When the remote controllable control target device is identified, the remote control device 11 displays a list of the remote controllable controllable devices to the user of the remote control device on the display means 116, and the user selects the control target to be controlled from the displayed list. The control device is selected by a group of operation switches 1111 such as buttons. When one controlled device is selected, the remote control device 1
1 is in a state where the selected controlled device can be remotely controlled. The above is the outline of the operation of the remote control device and the controlled device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Next, how each part of the remote controller and the controlled device operates will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 of the remote controller and FIG. 4 of the flowchart of the controlled device. First, the remote control device scans an input from an operation switch group 1111 realized by an operation button, a cross key, a jog shuttle, a liquid crystal touch panel, and checks whether there is an input to the remote control device 11 (step S31). When an input to the remote controller is detected by the input unit 111, a control signal from the input unit 111 is sent to the transmission information reading unit 117. When receiving the control signal from the input unit 111, the transmission information reading unit 117 reads a transmission code corresponding to the detected input from the controlled device information storage unit 113.

At this time, the transmission information reading means 117
It is determined whether the detected input activates transmission of the controlled device information request signal (step S32).
If it is activated, the code of the controlled device information request signal is sent to the signal transmitting means 112. The signal transmission unit 112, which has received the code of the controlled device information request signal from the transmission information reading unit, modulates the controlled device information request signal with infrared light or the like based on the code of the controlled device information request signal, and controls the controlled devices 22a, 22b,
A controlled device information request signal is transmitted to 22c (step S34). In step S32, the input unit 1
If the detected input is not an input for activating transmission of the controlled device information request signal, a code for remotely controlling the controlled device corresponding to the detected input is transmitted or the internal state of the remote control device 11 is changed. For example, a process corresponding to the detected input is performed (step S33).

Hereinafter, a description will be given assuming that the signal transmitted from the remote control device 11 is received by the controlled device 22a. The operation of the controlled device 22a that has received the transmission signal transmitted from the remote control device 11 is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, and the received signal is a control signal for activating the operation of the self-controlled device. Control means 222
a sends a control signal for activating the operation corresponding to the received signal to the controlled device main body 225a, and activates the operation. If the received signal is a controlled device information request signal, the control unit 222a determines that the controlled device information signal needs to be transmitted as a response signal, and the control unit 222a
Reads information about its own device from the storage means 226a and sends it to the signal transmission means 223a as a response signal. Here, the controlled device information signal includes device control data describing a relationship between the operation of the controlled device and a control code for activating the operation.

Next, the controlled device information signal including the information of the controlled device transmitted from the controlled device is received by the response signal receiving means 114 of the remote control device (step S3).
5). Based on the controlled device information signal received by the response signal receiving unit 114 and the information stored in the controlled device information storage unit 113, the identification and selection unit 115 analyzes the received signal (step S36), It is checked whether the information contained in the received signal is stored in the controlled information storage means.
In this example, it is checked whether the information is device control information for controlling a controlled device (step S37), and if it is device control information, it is stored in the controlled device information storage means 113 (step S38). Further, based on the signal analysis result,
The controlled device that can be remotely controlled at the present time is identified (step S39). As described above, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that remote control device 11 having received a signal from a controlled device stores information of a received signal in controlled device information storage means 113 based on the result of analyzing the signal. Although different, other operations are almost the same as those in the first embodiment.

When the remote controller 11 recognizes the controlled device that can be remotely controlled as described above, a list of the controlled device that can be remotely controlled is displayed on the display means 116 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The user selects a controlled device with the operation switch group 1111. When one of the controlled devices that can be remotely controlled is selected by the user in the process of selecting the controlled device, the remote control device enters a mode in which the selected controlled device can be remotely controlled. . That is, the operation switch group 1111 such as a button starts transmission of a transmission code for remotely controlling the selected controlled device.

In the second embodiment, the received device control information is stored in the controlled device information storage means 113, and a signal for remotely controlling the controlled device is generated and transmitted from the stored device control information. In addition, the controlled device for which the control code for remotely controlling the controlled device is unknown can be controlled remotely, and at the same time, the controlled device can be remotely controlled. , The remote controller 11 is identified, and the user of the remote controller can reduce or eliminate the trouble of selecting a controlled device to be remotely controlled.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a remote control device and a configuration of a controlled device in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a remote controller, which includes an input unit 111, a signal transmission unit 112,
Controlled device information storage means 113, response signal receiving means 11
4. An identification selection unit 115, a display unit 116, and a transmission information reading unit 117 are provided. The input unit 111 includes an operation switch group 1111 and a use state detection unit 1112. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 22a, 22b, and 22c denote controlled devices. For example, in the case of the controlled device 22a, a signal receiving unit 221a, a control unit 222a, a signal transmitting unit 223a, an input unit 224a, and a controlled device main body 225.
a, storage means 226a.

The operation of the remote control device and the controlled device according to the third embodiment configured as described above will be described below. First, how the remote control device and the controlled device operate roughly will be described.

First, the remote controller 11 has an input means 111 realized by an operation button, a cross key, a jog shuttle or the like.
When the input to the remote control device by the operation switch group 1111 or the use state detection unit 1112 detects that the remote control device is in the use state, the controlled device group 22a is recognized in order to recognize what kind of device is around. , 22
b, transmitting a signal requesting transmission of information on the controlled device to 22c. That is, when the user holds the remote control device in his hand, or when the user intentionally inputs the
By operating the operation switch group 1111 to control a controlled device to which the remote control device is currently directed, transmission of a signal requesting transmission of controlled device information is started. The controlled device that has received the signal requesting transmission of information on the controlled device transmits a signal including the controlled device information to the remote control device 11 as a response signal. Upon receiving the response signal, the remote control device 11 gives priority to one or more controlled devices that have transmitted the response signal based on the response signal and the controlled device information stored in the remote control device. The degree is added, and it is recognized that the controlled apparatus can be remotely controlled at the present time. Further, a controlled device having the highest priority is selected as a device to be controlled from one or a plurality of controlled devices to which priority is added and which can be remotely controlled.

With the above operation, the remote control device 11 can identify and select a controlled device which is in a state where remote control is possible at present from a plurality of controlled devices to which a control signal can be transmitted. The above is the outline of the operation of the remote control device and the controlled device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Next, how each part of the remote control device and the controlled device operates will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 of the remote control device and FIG. 4 of the flowchart of the controlled device. First, use state detecting means 1112
Detects whether the remote control device is in use (step S41).

As a means for detecting the use state of the remote controller, for example, a vibration sensor or an acceleration sensor can be used. When a user picks up the remote controller to use the remote controller, vibrations or the like applied to the remote controller are detected. There is a method in which the acceleration is detected and it is determined that the device is in use for a certain period of time (for example, 30 seconds). Alternatively, the use state may be detected by contact detection means for detecting that the user is holding the remote control device in his hand. This contact detecting means is also used for a switch such as a desk lamp.

When the use state detection means 1112 detects that the remote control device is in use, the use state detection means 11
Reference numeral 12 sends a signal to the transmission information reading means 117. The transmission information reading means 117 receiving the signal from the use state detecting means 1112 reads the code of the controlled device information request signal from the controlled device information storage means 113 and sends it to the signal transmitting means 112. Signal transmitting means 112 which has received the code of the controlled device information request signal from the transmission information reading means.
Modulates the controlled device information request signal with infrared rays or the like based on the code of the controlled device information request signal and transmits the controlled device information request signal to the controlled devices 22a, 22b, and 22c (step S
45).

If the use state detection means 1112 does not detect that the remote control is in use, it is checked whether there is an input from the operation switch group 1111 realized by an operation button, a cross key, a jog shuttle or the like (step). S
42). When there is an input to the operation switch, the transmission information readout unit, as in the first embodiment,
It is determined whether or not the input is an input for starting transmission of a controlled device information transmission request signal (step S43). The device information request signal is read from the controlled device information reading means 113, the read controlled device information request signal is sent to the signal transmitting means 112, and the signal transmitting means 112 having received the control signal from the transmission information reading means 117 Then, a controlled device information request signal is transmitted to the controlled device (step S45). In step S43, if the input detected by the operation switch group 1111 is not an input for starting transmission of the controlled device information request signal, a code for remotely controlling the controlled device corresponding to the detected input is transmitted or the remote control device 11
A process corresponding to the detected input, such as changing the internal state of the device, is performed (step S44).

Hereinafter, a description will be given assuming that the signal transmitted from the remote control device 11 is received by the controlled device 22a. The operation of the controlled device 22a that has received the transmission signal transmitted from the remote control device 11 is substantially the same as in the first embodiment, and the received signal is a control signal for activating the operation of the self-controlled device. Control means 222
a sends a control signal for activating the operation corresponding to the received signal to the controlled device main body 225a, and activates the operation. If the received signal is a controlled device information request signal, the control unit 222a determines that the controlled device information signal needs to be transmitted as a response signal, and the control unit 222a
Reads information about its own device from the storage means 226a and sends it to the signal transmission means 223a as a response signal.

Next, the controlled device information signal including the information of the controlled device transmitted from the controlled device 22a is received by the response signal receiving means 114 of the remote control device 11 (step S46). In the same manner as in the first embodiment, based on the controlled device information signal received by the response signal receiving unit 114 and the information stored in the controlled device information storing unit 113, the identification selecting unit 115 The signal is analyzed (step S47), and based on the received controlled device information signal and the priority information stored in the controlled device information storage means 113,
A priority is added to each controlled device that has received the response signal (step S48). Further, the identification selecting means 115 selects the controlled device having the highest priority based on the added priority (step S49). Here, the priority information relating to the controlled device is not limited to being stored in the controlled device information storage means, and it goes without saying that the response signal may include the priority information.

As described above, in the third embodiment, remote control device 11 having received a signal from a controlled device adds a priority to each controlled device and selects the controlled device having the highest priority. Is different from the first embodiment, but other operations are almost the same as those of the first embodiment.

Here, as a method of assigning the priority, for example, the following method can be considered. First, there is a method of assigning priorities based on usage frequency. This is a method in which information indicating the frequency of use of each controlled device, that is, information indicating the number of times a signal is transmitted or the frequency of use is stored on the remote control device side, and a device with a higher frequency of use is assigned a higher priority. As another method, there is a method of determining the priority based on the usage history of the remote control device. In this method, a controlled device that has recently been used, that is, a control device that has transmitted a control code is stored in a remote control device, and a higher priority is assigned to a controlled device that has been remotely controlled recently.
Alternatively, there is a method in which a user manually assigns a priority to each controlled device. Of course, some of the above three methods may be used in combination.

When the remote control device 11 recognizes the controlled device that can be remotely controlled as described above, a list of the controlled device that can be remotely controlled is displayed on the display means 116 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The user selects a controlled device with the operation switch group 1111. When one of the controlled devices that can be remotely controlled is selected by the user in the process of selecting the controlled device, the remote control device enters a mode in which the selected controlled device can be remotely controlled. . That is, the operation switch group 1111 such as a button starts transmission of a transmission code for remotely controlling the selected controlled device.

In the example of the third embodiment, the remote controller 11
Operating state detecting means 11 for detecting the operating state of the remote controller
By having the remote control device 12, the identification and selection operation of the controlled device that can be remotely controlled at present only by the user holding the remote control device is activated, and the remote control user can more easily select the controlled device. Also, by adding a priority to the controlled device that has received the response signal, the identification and selection means 115 recognizes the controlled device that can be remotely controlled and selects the controlled device with the highest priority among them. can do. As a result, for example, if priorities are assigned in accordance with the frequency of use, the user can easily select a controlled device having a high use frequency from a plurality of controlled devices.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a remote control device for controlling a plurality of controlled devices, an inquiry is made to the controlled devices as to whether or not remote control is possible, thereby selecting a device to be controlled. The labor can be reduced or eliminated, and the advantageous effect that the user can easily select the controlled device to be controlled is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device and a configuration of a controlled device according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device and a configuration of a controlled device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an operation of the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the controlled device in the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the remote control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an operation of the remote control device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a conventional multi remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 remote control device 111 input means 1111 operation switch group 1112 use state detecting means 112 signal transmitting means 113 controlled device information storing means 114 response signal receiving means 115 identification selecting means 116 display means 117 transmission information reading means 22a, 22b, 22c controlled Device 221a Signal receiving means 222a Control means 223a Signal transmitting means 224a Input means 225a Controlled device main body 226a Storage means 72 Multi-mode (multi) remote controller 721 Graphic display 722, 723, 724 Command keys 725, 726, 727, 728, 729 keypad 730,731,732,733,734 keypad

Claims (7)

[Claims] An input means for inputting a control signal for controlling a remote control device, and a signal transmitting means for transmitting a transmission signal corresponding to the control signal detected by the input means to one or more controlled devices. A response signal receiving unit for receiving a response signal from one or a plurality of controlled devices that have received the transmission signal, a controlled device information storage unit for storing controlled device information, and a controlled device information storage unit. Identification selecting means for identifying and selecting a remotely controllable controlled device from the stored information and the response signal received by the response signal receiving means; and a remote control user connecting the controlled device identified as being remotely controllable to the user. And a display means for displaying on the remote controller. A signal transmitting means for transmitting a controlled device information request signal for requesting information relating to a state of the controlled device or a controlled device control signal for controlling the controlled device; 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device receives a controlled device information signal including information indicating a status of the device. 3. An input means for inputting a control signal for controlling a remote control device, and a signal transmitting means for transmitting a transmission signal corresponding to the control signal detected by the input means to one or a plurality of controlled devices. Response signal receiving means for receiving a response signal from one or more controlled devices that have received the transmission signal, and controlled device information storing information on the response signal and controlled device information received by the response signal receiving means. Storing means, from the information stored in the controlled device information storing means and the response signal received by the response signal receiving means,
Identification selection means for identifying and selecting a remotely controllable controlled device; display means for displaying the remotely controllable controlled device to a user of a remote controller; and identification selection from information stored in the controlled device information storage means. Means for reading out the signal for controlling the controlled device and sending the signal to the signal transmitting means. 4. The identification selecting means adds priority to a remotely controlled controlled device based on the information stored in the controlled device information storing means and the response signal received by the response signal receiving means, 4. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the controlled device having the highest added priority is selected. 5. The input means includes a use state detecting means for detecting a use state of the remote control device, and the signal transmission means includes a control target device when the use state detection means detects that the remote control device is in use state. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted to the remote controller. 6. A signal receiving means for receiving a transmission signal from a remote control device, and analyzing the signal received by the signal receiving means to activate an operation corresponding to the received signal, or A controlled device comprising: control means for generating a corresponding response signal; and signal transmitting means for transmitting the response signal generated by the control means to a remote control device. 7. A remote control system comprising a remote control device and a controlled device, wherein the remote control device is the remote control device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 or 5, and the controlled device is claim 6. Remote control system that is a controlled device of