JP2001186580A - Control method for network electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to use a television receiver to operate a desired operation of other device in electronic equipment connected to a serial bus, which is in compliance with the IEEE1394 standard without the need for reading an instruction manual. SOLUTION: A television receiver (display device) 10, an STB (tuner) 12, a VTR 13 have a memory means that stores symbol information, instruction manual information and control information corresponding to the instruction manual information, and the television receiver (display device) 10 makes a request to the STB (tuner) 12 and the VTR 13 on symbol information. By having the symbol of the STB (tuner) 12 or the VTR 13 displayed on the television receiver (display device) 10 and choices of the displayed instruction manual information are selected sequentially, desired operation from the television receiver (display device) 10 is controlled, without having to read the instruction manual.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a serial bus system capable of transmitting, communicating, and controlling video data, etc., on a one-to-one basis or in a plurality of manners. And a method for displaying and controlling the functions of electronic devices other than itself.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The following conventional examples relate to a method for displaying and controlling functions of electronic devices through a network connection.

According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-326799,
A command requesting icon information or function information of the controlled electronic device by the communication system is transmitted from the controlling electronic device, and the information is obtained as a response,
A technique of controlling a controlled electronic device by displaying a control panel in which individual functions of the controlled electronic device based on this information are displayed in the form of buttons or the like is described.

[0004]

However, in the above display and control method, the user must understand the meaning of the functions such as the buttons shown on the control panel, and the user who does not know the meaning or the controlled There is a problem that it is difficult for a user who does not know the handling method of the controlled side to use the controlled electronic device comfortably.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even if the user does not understand the meaning of the buttons on the control panel and the method of implementing and handling the functions of the electronic device on the controlled side, the dialogue can be performed. The function is implemented by repeatedly asking questions and selecting options as in the case of, so that the troublesome operation of reading the instruction manual can be eliminated.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a function which can be connected to a bus system capable of transmitting video data and the like and transmitting a control signal to one-to-one or a plurality of devices at substantially the same time. A first electronic device having memory means for storing symbol information indicating information or information on handling of the electronic device, and a second electronic device having the connectable function and the memory means, the first electronic device having a video display means. The electronic device includes symbol information stored in a memory unit of the first or second electronic device or information related to handling of the electronic device on a video display unit of the first electronic device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the symbol information and the information relating to the handling of the electronic device are not only characters and figures but also audio information. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the present invention, an item for inputting the age of a person who uses the first electronic device is presented, and an age equal to or more than a certain value is displayed. When the information is input, the first electronic device displays the symbol information and the instruction information transmitted from the second electronic device in a manner larger than the size of the symbol information and the instruction information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, information relating to the handling of the electronic device is stored in a plurality of types of memory means so that a user who uses the first electronic device can store the information. An item for inputting age and gender is presented, a mode is automatically selected according to the input information, a mode control signal is transmitted to the second electronic device, and the second electronic device receives the received mode control. According to the signal, the size and type of the symbol information corresponding to the mode in which the plurality of types are stored, the character size of the instruction information, and the content of the sentence are selected and transmitted, and the first electronic device transmits this. indicate.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the first electronic device or the second electronic device does not automatically select the processing but the first electronic device or the first electronic device. The external electronic device or the second electronic device can externally select and set processing contents.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the first, second, third, fourth
Alternatively, in addition to the configuration of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the information relating to the handling of the electronic device stored in the memory means may be handling information represented by figures or characters, or handling information capable of interactively presenting this information. And control information corresponding to the handling explanation information.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first, third, fourth or fifth aspect of the present invention, the first electronic device displays symbol information indicating the second electronic device, By selecting a symbol indicating the second electronic device, the first electronic device requests handling explanation information from the second electronic device, and the second electronic device receives a request from the memory unit. The instruction information is read and sequentially transmitted to the first electronic device. The first electronic device displays the received instruction information, sequentially selects the displayed instruction information information, and sequentially selects the next instruction. A control signal corresponding to an information request or an option is sequentially transmitted to the second electronic device. Thereby, a desired function of the second electronic device is controlled from the first electronic device.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration according to the first embodiment, in which a television (display) 10 and a remote controller 1 are provided.
1, set-top box (tuner) 12 (hereinafter S
TB12), VTR 13, and serial buses 14a and 14b conforming to IEEE1394.

The television (display) 10 is an STB
(Tuner) 12 and VTR13 and IEEE139
4 are connected by serial buses 14a and 14b conforming to the standard.

The remote controller 11 can control the television (display) 10 by infrared communication.

As is well known in the transmission of IEEE 1394 signals, information signals such as video and audio data are transmitted in isochronous communication packets, and control signals are transmitted in asynchronous communication packets.

Now, after a bus reset occurs when the power is turned on or when the configuration on the network is changed from a television (display) 10, which is an electronic device capable of displaying video, a serial bus 14a conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard is generated. , 14b connected on the network of
A request signal is transmitted to TB 12 and VTR 13 to transmit symbol information (asynchronous communication).

The STB 12 and VTR 13 transfer their symbol information to the television (display) 10 as a response.

The television (display) 10 receives this symbol information and displays it on the screen like the VTR symbol 20 and the set-top box (tuner) symbol 21 in FIG.

Taking the recording of the VTR 13 as an example, the user inputs a symbol (V
TR symbol 20) is selected.

The television 10 transmits a request signal for instruction information to the VTR 13 corresponding to the selected VTR symbol 20.

The VTR 13 transmits, to the television 10, handling explanation information for the request as a response.

The instruction information does not transmit all the instruction information, but sequentially transmits necessary data.

As shown in the example 22 of the instruction information table, a table of the instruction information is displayed, and an item to be reserved for recording is selected by the remote controller 11 from the table.

[0034] Instruction items are sequentially presented for items necessary until the recording reservation is completed, and when it reaches the end, the recording reservation is completed.

During this time, according to the item selected for the VTR 13, the television 10 transmits a request for the next instruction information or a control signal corresponding thereto.

The VTR 13 interprets the received request or control signal, and when the control signal is transmitted, performs a control process corresponding to the control signal.

When the VTR 13 completes the operation of performing the control processing, the TV 10 transmits the following instruction information as a response.
And the television 10 displays the received content.

As described above, it is possible to control the VTR 13 from the television 10 to make a recording reservation.

In the above description, three electronic devices connected to a serial bus conforming to IEEE 1394 have been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that the same applies when the number of electronic devices increases or decreases. .

Further, the remote controller 11 controls the television 10 by infrared communication.
The same applies to an electronic device using an infrared or wireless system capable of communicating information and control signals compliant with EE1394, and is a control device for the television 10.

Although not mentioned above, the television 1
0, STB 12, and VTR 13 have memory means for storing their own symbol information, instruction information, and the like as indicated by VTR symbol 20 and STB symbol 21, respectively.

At this time, if the voice information has been transmitted,
"Record" can also be presented by voice.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an example of conversion between received information and display information according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the system is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

An item for inputting the age of a user who uses the television (display) 10 is defined as a television (display).
10 is displayed, and when the input age is equal to or more than a certain rule, the received instruction manual information is enlarged to a predetermined magnification, and the television (display) 10 selects the enlarged data and displays a screen. To be displayed.

FIG. 5 shows a processing flowchart of this embodiment.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the correspondence between the mode of the third embodiment of the present invention and the character size and sentence contents of the instruction information to be selected.

Since the configuration of the system is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is not shown.

The STB 12 and the VTR 13 have memory means for storing three kinds of their own instruction information. Modes are assigned in advance as shown in FIG. 4, and information such as the age and gender of the user who uses the television 10 is selected. The TV 10 automatically presents an item to be input and selects a mode assigned in advance according to the input condition.

The control signal of the selected mode is transmitted to the STB 12
And the side which has transmitted the mode control signal to the VTR 13 reads out, from the memory means, the character size and the contents of the sentence corresponding to the mode from the instruction manual,
Send to The television 10 displays the received instruction information.

For example, if the input age is below a certain rule, the mode 2 in FIG. 4 is selected.

In FIG. 4, the mode 2 is the whole sentence hiragana, and the character size is assigned as standard.

The example in which the television (display) 10 is the control side of another electronic device has been described above.
Electronic devices such as the (tuner) 12 and the VTR 13 can be the control side, and can control the television (display) 10.

FIG. 6 shows an example of voice information presenting means according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

TV 61, TV memory 61a, audio decoder 61b, amplifier 61c, speaker 61d, V
It comprises a TR 62, a VTR built-in memory 62a, a tuner 63, a tuner built-in memory 63a, and serial buses 64a and 64b conforming to IEEE 1394. The configuration related to the control method is the same as that of the first embodiment in FIG. The TV 10 and the TV 61 respectively
(Tuner) 12 is tuner 63, VTR 13 is VT
Corresponds to R62.

Memory means 61a, 62a, 63a storing information relating to the handling of the device as audio data
The television 61 has an audio decoder 61b, an amplifier 61c, and a speaker 61d capable of finally presenting audio information as audio.

Considering the recording of the VTR 62 as an example similarly to the first embodiment, when transmitting from the VTR 62 to the television 61, audio data corresponding to the data transmitted as figures and characters is transmitted from the memory 62a to the IEEE 1394. The data is transmitted to the audio decoder 61b of the television 61 via the compliant serial bus 64a.

The audio decoder 61b converts the audio data into an audio signal and presents it to the user from the speaker 61d as audio information through the amplifier 61c.

In this embodiment, the electronic equipment is 3
However, the same applies to the case where the number of electronic devices is increased or decreased.
The case where the amplifier 61c and the speaker 61d are built in the television 61 is taken as an example.
It is needless to say that the same applies to a case where it is incorporated in another electronic device connected to a serial bus conforming to the standard.

In this embodiment, the recording of the VTR 62 has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that all other functions of an electronic device connected to a serial bus conforming to IEEE 1394 can be similarly applied.

[0054]

According to the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

The device control method according to the first aspect of the present invention is a device control method for executing a desired function of a controlled-side electronic device from a controlling-side electronic device. Is displayed on the electronic device on the control side, and the operation of the controlled side can be controlled by selecting an option, and since the function is implemented, no special knowledge of the function of the electronic device on the controlled side is required. The troublesome work of reading a book can be eliminated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the information displayed on the electronic device on the control side is also audio information,
The operation can be performed without having to read the displayed contents.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically enlarge the size of the information displayed on the control-side electronic device according to the input age structure.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the controlled side has a plurality of types of information to be transmitted to the control side, the information having the optimum content is controlled according to the input age structure and the like. Side, and the control side can display.

According to the invention described in claim 5 of the present application, the display method is not automatically selected by the device, but can be selected by the user regardless of the age structure or the like.

The device control method according to the invention described in claim 6 of the present application is a content which is usually described in an instruction manual in order to execute a desired function of the electronic device on the controlled side from the electronic device on the control side. Can be represented graphically or in text, or presented interactively, eliminating the need for knowledge of the functions of the controlled electronic device and eliminating the hassle of reading the instruction manual. , Operability becomes easy.

According to the device control method of the present invention, in order to execute a desired function of the electronic device on the controlled side from the electronic device on the controlled side, the identification displayed on the electronic device on the controlled side is performed. By selecting the electronic device symbol
Normally, the contents described in the instruction manual are displayed on the electronic device on the control side, and the operation of the controlled side can be controlled by selecting an option. It is possible to eliminate the troublesome work of reading the instruction manual without particularly requiring the knowledge of the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a system for connecting, communicating, and controlling a plurality of electronic devices on a serial bus conforming to IEEE 1394;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of display of symbol information and handling instruction information on a television (display) according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a mode setting according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a process flowchart according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a means for presenting audio information according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... TV (display) 11 ... Remote control 12 ... Set-top box (tuner) 13 ... VTR 14a, 14b ... Serial bus based on IEEE1394 20 ... VTR symbol 21 ... Set-top box (tuner) symbol 22 ... Handling information table of contents Illustrative example 23 ... Screen display example 61 ... TV 61a ... Memory 61b ... Audio decoder 61c ... Amplifier 61d ... Speaker 62 ... VTR 62a ... Memory 63 ... Tuner 63a ... Memory 64a, 64b ... Serial bus based on IEEE1394

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/445 H04N 5/445 Z 5/765 G06F 3/00 653A 5/7826 H04N 5/782 K // G06F 3/00 653 ZF term (reference) 5C018 FA04 FB01 FB07 HA08 HA10 5C025 CA09 CA20 CB03 CB08 CB10 DA08 5E501 AA20 BA03 BA05 EB05 FA04 FA42 5K048 AA04 BA03 BA04 DA05 DB04 DB05 EB02 EB14 EB15 FB15

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A one-to-one or a plurality substantially simultaneously.
A function connectable to a bus system capable of transmitting video data and the like and a control signal; memory means for storing symbol information representing an electronic device or information relating to handling of the electronic device; and video display means. A second electronic device, comprising: a first electronic device;
The symbol information stored in the memory means of the first or second electronic device or the information related to the handling of the electronic device is displayed on the video display means of the first electronic device. Control method of network type electronic equipment. 2. The network type electronic device control method according to claim 1, wherein the symbol information and the information on handling of the electronic device are not only characters and drawings but also audio information. Control method of electronic equipment. 3. The method for controlling a network-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an item for inputting an age of a person who uses the first electronic device is presented, and when a certain age or more is input. A method of controlling a network-type electronic device, wherein, when the first electronic device is used, the size of the symbol information or the instruction information transmitted from the second electronic device is larger than the size of the symbol information or the instruction information. 4. The method for controlling a network-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein information on handling of the electronic device is stored in a plurality of types of memory means, and the age of a person who uses the first electronic device is determined. The item for inputting the gender is presented, the mode is automatically selected according to the input information, the mode control signal is transmitted to the second electronic device, and the second electronic device transmits the mode control signal to the received mode control signal. Accordingly, the size and type of the symbol information corresponding to the mode in which the plurality of types are stored, the character size of the instruction information, and the content of the sentence are selected and transmitted, and the first electronic device displays this. A method for controlling a network-type electronic device, characterized in that: 5. The method for controlling a network-type electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the first electronic device or the second electronic device does not automatically select a process. A method for controlling a network-type electronic device, wherein processing contents can be selected and set from outside for a first electronic device or a second electronic device. 6. The method for controlling a network-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the information on the handling of the electronic device stored in the memory means is represented by a figure or a character. A method for controlling a network-type electronic device, wherein the received instruction information or the instruction information that can be presented interactively and control information corresponding to the instruction information. 7. The control method for a network-type electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic device displays symbol information indicating the second electronic device. By selecting a symbol indicating the second electronic device, the first electronic device requests the second electronic device for handling explanation information, and the second electronic device The instruction information is read out and transmitted to the first electronic device in sequence, the first electronic device displays the received instruction information, sequentially selects the displayed instruction information, and selects the next instruction. The control signal corresponding to the request for the explanation information or the option
Are sequentially transmitted to the electronic devices. As a result, the second
Controlling a desired function of said electronic device from said first electronic device.