JP2001111647A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the power consumption in a reception means of a remote controller in a system that conducts two-way communication between a remote controller and a device to be controlled by the remote controller. SOLUTION: A 'minimum reception wait time' that is a minimum time width for which power is supplied to a reception means after transmission of a signal is set to a remote controller. When the device to be controlled desires to extend the 'minimum reception wait time' of the remote controller, the device to be controlled transmits a signal denoting it to the remote controller. In this configuration, the minimum reception wait time for which the remote controller supplies power to the reception means can be reduced and the power- saving of the reception means can be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to setting of a reception timeout time and power saving of a receiving means in a system where it is difficult to predict a reception timeout time when an error occurs in communication. The present invention relates to setting of a reception timeout time of a remote control device and power saving of a reception unit when bidirectional communication is performed between operated operated devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a communication system, a reply (ACK or the like) from a communication partner side may not be received due to a failure in a communication path. In such a case, a method has conventionally been adopted in which the source of the signal is regarded as an error if a reply cannot be received for a certain period of time (eg, Ter) after the signal transmission, and error processing is performed. . The certain time Ter is referred to as a reception timeout time here.

If the reception timeout time is set long,
This leads to delay in error processing. Further, when the device that performs the reception timeout process operates on a battery, the reception unit continues to operate during the waiting time, so that the power consumption during the reception standby increases and the battery life is shortened. Conversely, if the reception timeout time is set short, there is a problem that the response from the responder may not be in time. Therefore, it is desirable to set the reception timeout time appropriately.

As a prior art, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-162974 discloses a wireless transmission / reception apparatus in which a reception timeout time is set in advance and the remote control apparatus is in a power saving state when no key operation is performed on the remote control apparatus. .

[0005]

The conventional remote controller only performs one-way communication from the remote controller to the operated device. In the future, it is expected that a remote control device that performs bidirectional communication between the remote control and the operated device to exchange various information will appear. In such a two-way communication between the remote control device and the operated device, it is necessary to always supply power to the receiving means of the remote control device (operation terminal) in order to be able to start communication from the operated device (host). Since the device normally operates on a battery, it is difficult to always supply power to the receiving means from the viewpoint of reducing power consumption. Therefore, communication between the remote control device and the operated device always starts from the remote control device (operation terminal), and the operated device (host) returns only when a reply to the transmission from the remote control device (operation terminal) is necessary. Is transmitted, a communication activation type from the operation terminal (communication activation from the host is not possible) can be considered.

[0006] In communication start-up type communication from the operation terminal such as when the remote control device performs bidirectional communication, setting of the reception timeout time is important. If the value cannot be predicted, the reception timeout time cannot be set appropriately.

[0007] Examples of the above "when the maximum value of the reception timeout time cannot be predicted" include a system in which communication devices are connected in multiple stages via a relay device, a system in which the internal processing time of a communication device that returns a reply cannot be predicted, Can be considered. As a specific example, a communication system including a remote control device, a TV, and a VTR is considered. It is assumed that the remote control device and the TV can communicate with each other by infrared rays, and the TV and the VTR are wired and can communicate with each other, but the remote control device and the VTR can communicate only via the TV. In this system, when the remote control device sends a signal to the VTR and the remote control device receives a reply from the VTR, the remote control device does not have information on the reception timeout time between the TV and the VTR. Time cannot be predicted. Or, in the same system,
Send a “roll back” command to the TR and
When the remote control device returns status information of "rewinding complete" to the remote control device, the remote control device cannot predict the reception timeout time because the time required for the VTR rewinding process is unknown.

In the system described above, setting a long reception timeout time causes delay in error processing and shortens the battery life. Conversely, if the reception timeout time is set short, a response from the responder may not be in time. There's a problem.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a communication system in which it is difficult to always supply power to a receiving unit, and a communication start type from an operation terminal (communication start from a host is not possible).
In a communication system, when the maximum value of the reception timeout time cannot be predicted, a method of setting the reception timeout time while realizing reduction in power consumption is provided.

[0010]

A communication system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a communication system including a plurality of communication devices and performing bidirectional communication between the plurality of communication devices. The communication device includes a receiving unit, and after the communication device transmits a signal, a time for operating the receiving unit is a “reception waiting time”, and the communication device operates the receiving unit after transmitting the signal. The minimum value of the time to be performed is defined as `` minimum reception wait time '', and the transmitting communication device transmits a transmission signal, and then receives a return signal from the receiving communication device during the minimum reception waiting time. Operate the receiving means, the receiving side communication device, after receiving the transmission signal, if the return signal can be transmitted within the minimum reception wait time, transmits a return signal, within the minimum reception wait time Said return If the signal cannot be transmitted, information on the time when the transmitting communication device should operate the receiving means is transmitted as a time information signal within the minimum reception waiting time, and the transmitting communication device transmits the time information signal. When receiving, the time for operating the receiving means is adjusted according to the time information signal.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a communication system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the communication system according to the first aspect, wherein the time information signal includes information relating to extension of a reception waiting time. Things.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the time information signal includes a time period during which the receiving means is paused and an operation performed when the receiving unit is restarted. It is characterized by including information on time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the time information signal is used when the receiving means is paused and when the receiving means is restarted. It is characterized by including information on the time and the number of repetitions of the pause time and the operation time.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the remote controller and the operated device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
In the figure, 21 is a remote controller, and 22 is a device to be operated (such as a video). As shown in FIG.
Includes a receiving unit, a transmitting unit, a control unit, a power supply, and an input unit, and the operated device 22 includes a receiving unit, a transmitting unit, and a control unit.

The remote control device 21 transmits a remote control signal (an operation signal such as volume up and turn-back, a data request signal for the operated device, etc.) to the operated device 22.
The operated device 22 receives a return signal (AC
K, operation completion notification, reply data) to the remote controller 21.

The time during which the receiving means is operated after transmitting the remote control signal is defined as "reception waiting time", and the minimum value of the reception waiting time, that is, at least the receiving means is operated after transmitting the remote control signal to operate the operated device. Is defined as "minimum reception waiting time".

A time slightly longer than the minimum time required from when the remote control device transmits the remote control signal to when it receives the return signal of the operated device is defined as the "minimum reception wait time" of the remote control device in advance. Set in the device. The “minimum reception waiting time” is not limited to being set in advance, and may be dynamically set according to the system configuration. The operated device always supplies power to the receiving means.

The remote control device 21 configured as described above
In a system in which the operated device 22 performs bidirectional communication, a method for realizing power saving of the receiving unit and setting of the reception timeout time of the remote control device will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

The remote control device transmits a remote control signal when a remote control signal transmission request occurs due to a user input or the like. Upon receiving the remote control signal, the operated device determines "whether or not a reply signal can be transmitted within the" minimum reception waiting time "" and "whether or not the time at which the reply signal can be transmitted is known".

When the operated device can transmit a reply within the "minimum reception wait time" (case A), a reply signal is transmitted to the remote control device within the "minimum reception wait time".

The time at which a reply signal can be transmitted is known, but if a reply cannot be transmitted within the "minimum reception wait time" (case B), the remote control device transmits a "reception wait" within the "minimum reception wait time". Time extension. Upon receiving the extension notification of the “reception waiting time”, the remote control device extends the reception waiting time by the notified time, and the operated device transmits a reply signal within the notified extension time. Hereinafter, the "signal notifying the extension of the" reception waiting time "" is also referred to as a "time information signal".

If the time at which the return signal can be transmitted is unknown (case C), the remote controller is notified of the extension of the "reception waiting time" within the "minimum reception waiting time".
Upon receiving the extension notification of the “reception waiting time”, the remote control device extends the reception waiting time by the notified time, and the operated device transmits a reply signal within the notified extension time or retransmits the “reception waiting time”. Is extended, and the “reception waiting time” of the remote control device is repeatedly extended until a reply signal can be transmitted.

In each of (Case A), (Case B) and (Case C), signal exchange when remote control device 21 transmits a remote control signal to operated device 22 is shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (A). (B) and shown in FIG. FIG.
(A) shows the case of (Case A), FIG. 1B shows the case of (Case B), and FIG. 3 shows the case of (Case C).

The detailed operation of the remote controller will be described below with reference to the flowchart of the operation of the remote controller (FIG. 4).

When a remote control signal transmission request is generated by a user input or the like (step R1), the remote control device sets a preset “minimum reception wait time” as a “reception wait time” (step R2). The power of the receiving means is turned on (step R3), and a remote control signal is transmitted (step R4). After transmitting the remote control signal, the remote control device checks whether there is a received signal (step R5). If a signal has not been received, it is checked whether the reception waiting time has elapsed (step R6). If no signal has been received even after the reception waiting time has elapsed, reception timeout error processing is performed (step R7), and reception is performed. The power of the means is turned off (step R8), and a series of processing ends (step R9).

In step R5, if there is a received signal, it is checked whether the received signal is a "time information signal" (step R10). If it is not a time information signal, normal reception processing is performed (step R11), the power of the receiving means is turned off (step R8), and a series of processing ends (step R9).

If the received signal is a "time information signal" in (step R10), the "reception waiting time" is set again according to the received "time information signal" (step R12), and (step R5). Repeat from).

Next, the detailed operation of the operated device will be described with reference to the flowchart of the operation of the operated device (FIG. 5).

The operated device sets a preset "minimum reception wait time" as a "reception wait time" (step E1). The operated device checks whether a remote control signal has been received from the remote control device (step E).
2). If there is a received signal, it is determined whether a reply signal to the received remote control signal is necessary (step E3). If a reply is not required, necessary internal processing is performed (step E4), and the steps from (step E2) are repeated again. The internal processing referred to here is, for example, when the received remote control signal is an operation signal for the operated device (rewind, channel up, power off, etc.), the corresponding operation (rewind, channel up, power off, etc.) Will be executed. If the received remote control signal is a data request signal for the operated device, acquisition and processing of transmission data are internal processes.

If it is determined in step E3 that a reply is required, it is determined whether the reply can be transmitted within the "reception waiting time" (step E5). If a reply can be transmitted within the "reception waiting time" in (Step E5), necessary internal processing is performed (Step E6), a reply signal is transmitted (Step E7), and the process is repeated from (Step E2). repeat.

If the reply cannot be transmitted within the "reception waiting time" in (Step E5), it is determined whether the time at which the reply can be transmitted is unknown (Step E8). If the time at which a reply can be transmitted is known in (Step E8), a notification is issued to extend the "reception waiting time" until the time at which the reply can be transmitted (Step E9). Note that “in the case where the time at which a reply can be transmitted is known” in (Step E8) means that internal processing and the like take time and a reply cannot be transmitted within the minimum reception waiting time, but the time required for internal processing and the like Is known. The remote control device extends the “reception waiting time” until the time when the operated device performs internal processing and transmits a reply by the “time information signal” of (step E9). After (Step E9), the operated device performs internal processing (Step E6), transmits a reply signal (Step E7), and repeats (Step E2) again.

In step E8, if the time at which a reply can be transmitted is unknown (for example, if the time required for internal processing cannot be predicted), an extension of the "reception wait time" is notified to the remote controller. (Step E1
0). The extension time by the "time information signal" in (Step E10) is set to an appropriate fixed length of time. When notifying the extension of the “reception waiting time”, the extended time width is also notified at the same time, but the default value of the fixed extension time is determined in advance between the remote control device side and the operated device side, and simply “extended”. "May be notified. The operated device executes the internal processing for the time extended in (Step E10) (Step E11), and then determines whether a reply can be transmitted (Step E12). If transmission is possible in (Step E12), a reply signal is transmitted (Step E7), and the steps from (Step E2) are repeated again. If transmission is not possible in (Step E12), the steps from (Step E10) are repeated again.

By operating the remote controller and the operated device as described above, the reception waiting time is reduced only when necessary, such as when the response signal of the operated device is delayed or when it is unknown when the response signal is delayed. Can be extended. As a result, the “minimum reception waiting time” of the remote control device can be set to be as small as the minimum limit, and power saving of the receiving means can be realized.

The "time information signal" is "reception waiting time".
Has been described as a signal notifying the remote controller of the extended time, but the "time information signal" is not limited to this. For example, the “time information signal” indicates the pause time (T
a) and the operation time (Tb). After receiving the “time information signal”, the remote control device suspends (powers off) the receiving unit for the suspension time (Ta), and then operates for the operation time (Tb). You may do it. FIG. 6 shows how signals are exchanged between the remote controller and the operated device in this case. If the “time information signal” is configured in this manner, power consumption can be further reduced.

Further, the "time information signal" includes the number of repetitions (Cnt) in addition to the pause time and the operation time, and after receiving the "time information signal", the remote controller performs the pause and the operation.
It may be repeated twice.

In the above description, the case where the remote control device and the operated device perform one-to-one communication has been described as an example, but the configuration of the system is not limited to this.
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in a system including a remote controller 81, an operated device 82, a relay device A83, and a relay device B84, the remote controller 81 is connected to the relay device A.
The method described in the present embodiment is also applicable to a system that communicates with the operated device 82 via the relay device 83 and the relay device B84.

In the system shown in FIG. 8, remote control device 81 can directly communicate only with relay device A83, relay device A83 can directly communicate only with remote control device 81 and relay device B84, and relay device B84 operates as a relay device. Only the device A83 and the operated device 82 can directly communicate with each other, and the operated device 82 can directly communicate only with the relay device B84. Also, the remote control device 81, the relay device A8
3. It is assumed that a common “minimum reception waiting time” is set in advance for the relay device B84 and the operated device 82. An embodiment of the system configured as described above will be briefly described below.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the exchange of signals among the remote controller, the relay device A, the relay device B and the operated device in the system shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, when the remote control device transmits a remote control signal, the relay device A receives the signal, and the relay device A relays and transmits the remote control signal to the relay device B. Similarly, relay device B relays the received remote control signal to the operated device, and the operated device receives the remote control signal. The operated device transmits a reply signal to the remote control signal. If the reply signal cannot be transmitted within the “minimum reception wait time” as described above, the reception wait time is extended.

At this time, since the relay device A does not itself return a reply signal, it is unclear when the reply signal can be transmitted to the remote control device. Therefore, the relay device A notifies the remote control device of the extension of the reception waiting time. Similarly, the relay apparatus B notifies the relay apparatus A of the extension of the reception waiting time.

When the relay device B receives the extension notification of the reception waiting time from the operated device, the relay device B determines from the content of the received extension notification of the reception waiting time (extension time, etc.) and determines if necessary. An extension notification of the reception waiting time is transmitted to the relay device A. Similarly, also when the relay device A receives the extension notification of the reception waiting time from the relay device B, the relay device A transmits the extension notification of the reception waiting time to the remote control device as necessary.

By operating each device as described above, the "minimum reception waiting time" of the remote control device can be set to a minimum value even in a system connected in multiple stages via a relay device, and the reception of the remote control device can be reduced. Power saving of means can be realized.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a system for performing bidirectional communication between a remote control device and an operated device operated by the remote control device, the power saving of the receiving means of the remote control device is realized. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining signal exchange between a remote control device and an operated device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller and an operated device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating exchange of signals between the remote controller and the operated device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of the remote control device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of the operated device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining signal exchange between the remote control device and the operated device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating exchange of signals among the remote controller, the relay device A, the relay device B, and the operated device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system including a remote controller, an operated device, a relay device A, and a relay device B according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 21 remote control device 22 operated device 81 remote control device 82 operated device 83 relay device A 84 relay device B

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuru Kitao 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kazuma, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5K014 AA01 5K034 AA15 QQ06 TT06 5K048 AA16 BA03 EB02 EB03 EB06 HA04 HA06

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A communication system including a plurality of communication devices and performing bidirectional communication between the plurality of communication devices, wherein the communication device includes a receiving unit, and after the communication device transmits a signal, The time for operating the receiving means is defined as "reception waiting time", and the minimum value of the time for operating the receiving means after the communication device transmits a signal is defined as "minimum reception waiting time", respectively. After transmitting the transmission signal, during the minimum reception waiting time, the receiving unit operates the reception unit to receive a return signal from the reception-side communication device, and the reception-side communication device receives the transmission signal, and performs the minimum reception. If the reply signal can be transmitted within the waiting time, the reply signal is transmitted.If the reply signal cannot be transmitted within the minimum reception waiting time, the time at which the transmitting communication device should operate the receiving means. About Transmitting the information as a time information signal within the minimum reception waiting time, and when the transmitting side communication device receives the time information signal, adjusts a time for operating the receiving unit according to the time information signal. A communication system characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting communication device is a remote control device, and the receiving communication device is an operated device operated by the remote control device. 3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the time information signal includes information on extension of a reception waiting time. 4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the time information signal includes information on a time when the receiving unit is stopped and an operation time when the receiving unit is restarted. 5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the time information signal includes information on a time when the receiving unit is paused, an operation time when the receiving unit is restarted, and a number of times the pause time and the operation time are repeated. A communication system characterized by the following.