JP2002078043A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system that remotely controls an electronic device in a home via a network. SOLUTION: A service center 11 connected to the network 13 is provided with a control code conversion means to convert a code into a control code. Thus, the convenience of controlling the electronic device 9 for the user can be enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control system for remotely controlling an electronic device, which is a recording or recording device in a house, via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional remote control system of this type is generally the one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-234926. As shown in FIG. 6, the remote control system includes an out-of-home PHS radio telephone 1, a public line network 2, an in-home PHS radio telephone 3, a controller unit 4, a computer unit 5 for controlling the in-home PHS radio telephone 3 and the controller unit 4, an indoor unit. Outlet insertion plug 6, power supply outlet 7 for indoor equipment, control of power supply to electronic equipment (ON / OF
It is configured like a switch unit 8 that performs F).

When the power supply of a device connected to the power supply outlet 7 is turned on (ON), a call is made from the outside PHS radio telephone 1 to the home PHS radio telephone 3 and a control code is transmitted. By receiving the control code, the controller 4 is controlled, and the switch 8 provided between the indoor outlet plug 6 and the power supply outlet 7 is turned on to supply power to the electronic device. Had become.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional remote control system, in order to control the electronic equipment in the house, the user himself / herself converts the electronic equipment to be controlled and the control contents into a control code, and the mobile terminal. Since it is necessary to directly input the converted control code from the input unit of, an input error easily occurs. Also, the control content is power ON / OF.
Although it is still good when only F is used, for example, when the electronic device has a wide variety of control contents such as an air conditioner or a video,
When the number of electronic devices to be newly controlled at home increases, it is inconvenient for the user that the user has to manage the control code by himself and the management becomes complicated, or the control code cannot be controlled because he or she forgets the control code. There was a problem to force

In the case where the electronic device is a video or radio or the like for recording or recording, a control code for recording or recording start / end time is transmitted, but the program is delayed for some reason from the scheduled broadcast / broadcast time. There is a problem that the program cannot be recorded or recorded from the beginning to the end.

Further, in order to know the state of the electronic device to be controlled, it is necessary for the user to himself / herself transmit a message requesting the state of the electronic device from the input section of the mobile terminal. Also, there is a problem that the user does not notice that the control of the electronic device was not successful because he forgot to check the state of the electronic device.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a control device for controlling an electronic device, a mobile terminal for remotely operating the control device, and a mobile terminal for controlling the electronic device via a network. In a remote control system including a service center that receives a transmitted message and transmits a control message to the control device, a display unit on which an operation screen for controlling an electronic device that is a recording or recording device is displayed, A mobile terminal having input means for inputting control content relating to video recording or sound recording in accordance with a screen displayed on the display means, terminal communication means for transmitting the control content input by the input means to a service center, A center communication means for receiving the control content transmitted from the mobile terminal via a network, and a center communication means for controlling the electronic device; Control code conversion means for converting the control content into a control code, control message generation means for creating a control message including a control code using the control code conversion means, and control message generated by the control message generation means A service center having a center control unit for transmitting the control message to the control device, a device communication unit for receiving a control message transmitted from the service center via a network, and a control message received by the device communication unit. Electronic device communication means for transmitting a message to the electronic device in order to control the electronic device based on the control contents.

According to the above invention, the center control means in the service center uses the control code conversion means to convert the control content transmitted from the mobile terminal into a control code necessary for the control device to control the electronic equipment. Therefore, the convenience for the user to remotely control the electronic device in the house can be improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A remote control system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a control device for controlling an electronic device, a mobile terminal for remotely operating the control device, and the mobile device via a network. A remote control system including a service center that receives a message transmitted from a terminal and transmits a control message to the control device, a display unit displaying an operation screen for controlling an electronic device that is a recording or recording device A mobile terminal having input means for inputting control content related to recording or sound recording in accordance with a screen displayed on the display means, and terminal communication means for transmitting the control content input by the input means to a service center; A center communication unit for receiving the control content transmitted from the mobile terminal via a network, and a center communication unit for controlling the electronic device. Control code conversion means for converting the control content into a control code, control message generation means for creating a control message including a control code using the control code conversion means, and control generated by the control message generation means A service center having a center control unit for transmitting a message to the control device, a device communication unit for receiving a control message transmitted from the service center via a network, and a control message received by the device communication unit. In order to control the electronic device based on the control content included, the electronic device includes electronic device communication means for transmitting a message to the electronic device.

The center control means in the service center uses the control code conversion means to convert the control content transmitted from the mobile terminal into a control code required for the control device to control the electronic equipment. It is possible to improve the convenience for the user to remotely control the electronic device in the house.

In a remote control system according to a second aspect of the present invention, the service center has program information storage means for storing program information relating to recording under the control of the center control means.

[0012] The program information acquired from the service center is displayed on the display unit on the mobile terminal.
By selecting a program to be recorded or desired to be recorded from the programs displayed on the display means from the input means and transmitting the program to the service center, the service center controls an electronic device via a control device, whereby the mobile terminal Can be recorded or recorded.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control system according to the third aspect, further comprising a control state storing means for storing the contents of the control performed by the device control means using the electronic device communication means under the control of the device control means. It has a device and a service center provided with an electronic mail creating means for creating a message in a format specified by SMTP under the control of the center control means.

The center control means in the service center obtains the control state of the electronic device from the control state storage means using the electronic mail creation means and creates an electronic mail. Result) can be transmitted to the mobile terminal by e-mail.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes an electronic device that is remotely controlled from outside the house, 10 denotes a mobile terminal in which a user inputs control contents for controlling the electronic device 9, and 11 denotes a mobile terminal 10.
A service center for creating and transmitting a control message for controlling the electronic device 9 based on the control content input from the control center; and a control device 12 for receiving the message transmitted from the service center 11 and controlling the electronic device 9 , 13 are mobile terminal 10, service center 11 and control device 12
Is a network network (Internet network) 13 for connecting.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 14 denotes display means for displaying an operation screen for controlling the electronic equipment 9, and 15 denotes input means for inputting control codes in accordance with the identification code of the electronic equipment 9 and the screen displayed on the display means 14. , 16 are terminal communication means for transmitting the control content inputted by the input means 15 to the service center 11, 17 is terminal control means for controlling each means, and 18 is control transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 via the Internet network 13. A center communication means for receiving the contents, 19 is a control code conversion means storing a conversion table for converting the control contents received for controlling the electronic device 9 into a control code, and 20 is a control code conversion means 19 Control message generating means for creating a control message including a control code, 2
Reference numeral 1 denotes a center control unit that controls each unit, 22 denotes a device communication unit that receives a control message transmitted from the service center 11 via the Internet 13, and 23 denotes an electronic device 9 based on the control message received by the device communication unit 22. Electronic device communication means for transmitting a radio wave for controlling the electronic device, and 24 is a device control means for controlling each means.

Next, the operation and the operation will be described. When the electronic device 9 in the house is remotely controlled, the user first inputs the user ID and password to the service center 11 using the input means 15 according to the screen of the display means 14. Enter the connection request message that includes. When the connection request message is input from the input unit 15, the terminal control unit 17 transmits the connection request message to the service center 11 via the Internet 13 using the terminal communication unit 16. Service center 11
The center control means 21 in the center communication means 18
, Receiving the connection request message using an electronic device that determines whether or not the user can be connected based on the user ID and the password. If the user is a registered user, the electronic device can be controlled by the user. And a list of control contents corresponding to each electronic device is returned to the mobile terminal 10. The terminal control means 17 of the mobile terminal 10 receives the message from the terminal communication means 16 and displays the contents on the display means 14 as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The user selects an electronic device (here, an air conditioner in the living room on the first floor) and a control content (here, cooling, temperature of 28 degrees) while controlling the screen while viewing this screen. After completing the selection, select (click) the send button. The selected content is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 to the service center 11. The center control means 21 in the service center 11 receives the above-mentioned control contents using the center communication means 18 via the Internet 13 and uses the control code conversion means 19 to control the electronic equipment 9 (living room air conditioner on the first floor). And a control code corresponding to the maker name and product number from the control contents (cooling, 28 degrees), and wireless communication necessary for the control device 12 and the electronic device 9 to perform wireless communication. A parameter (for example, a communication channel, a reception cycle, an identification code of an electronic device, a modulation frequency) is obtained, and the control message generation unit 2
A control message including the above-described control code and the wireless communication parameter is generated using 0, and the control message is transmitted from the center communication unit 18 to the control device 12 via the Internet 13. The device control unit 24 in the control device 12 receives the control message using the device communication unit 22, analyzes the control message, and uses the electronic device communication unit 23 to transmit the electronic device 9.
In order to perform wireless communication with the electronic device, the electronic device 9 converts the message format, transmits a radio wave from the electronic device communication unit 23 to the electronic device 9, and controls the electronic device 9.

In each of the above embodiments, the electronic device is an air conditioner. However, a video, a stereo, a water heater, a water heater,
It can also be a DVD or the like.

In the above embodiments, the electronic device communication means 23 communicates with the electronic device 9 wirelessly. However, the electronic device communication means 23 can also be implemented in a wired manner.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the service center has a program information storage means 25.

The components having the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment have the same structure, and the description is omitted.

Next, the operation and operation will be described. The center control means 21 in the service center 11 acquires television program information from the Internet network which is the network 13 using the center communication means 18 and stores it in the program information storage means 25. . The terminal control means 17 of the mobile terminal 10 uses the terminal communication means 16 to
The TV program information stored in the program information storage means 25 is acquired via the PC and the display means 14 displays the TV program information instead of the electronic device selection screen described in the first embodiment. The user selects a program to be recorded from the TV program information displayed on the display means 14 using the input means 15, and the terminal control means 17 uses the terminal communication means 16 to transmit the selected information via the Internet network 13. Service center 11
Send to The service center operates the electronic device 9 via the control device 9 based on the selected program information as in the first embodiment.
(Here, a video or the like) is controlled and the mobile terminal 10 records the selected program. In this way, remote control (recording) of video can be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment by using the control content as TV program recording information.

In the above embodiment, the center control means 21 obtains the television program information from the Internet network which is the network 13 using the center communication means 18 and stores it in the program information storage means 25. It is also possible to provide an input means, and to store the TV program information in the program information storage means 25 from the input means.

In the above embodiment, the service center 11 transmits a control message to the control device 12 as soon as it receives the message for recording reservation from the terminal communication means 16. At the set time, a control message for instructing the control device 12 to record can be transmitted.

The center control means 21 in the service center 11 constantly checks, via the Internet 13, information as to whether or not the program information stored in the program information storage means 25 has changed. When the broadcast time of the program selected by the user changes (for example, in professional baseball, etc.), the center control means 21
May transmit a control message for changing the recording time to the control device 12.

In each of the above embodiments, the electronic device 9 is a video, and the program information storage means 25 in the service center 11 stores television program (including CATV and satellite broadcast) information. The program information storage means 25 may store radio program (including a cable method) information.

Although the electronic device 9 has been described as a video or a stereo, it can be implemented in a similar manner as long as it has a function corresponding to the video or the stereo (for example, DVD, CD-ROM).
R, MD, etc.).

In each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the control device 12 includes a control state storage means 26 for storing the control state of the electronic device 9, and the service center 11 is stored in the control state storage means 26. The center control unit 21 in the service center 11 transmits a control status request message to the control device 24 using the center communication unit 18 by having the electronic mail creating unit 27 that converts the content into an electronic mail. When the device control unit 24 of the control device 12 receives the control state request message using the device communication unit 22, the device control unit 24 obtains the control state of the electronic device 9 stored in the control state storage unit 26 and returns a response message to the service center 11. . The center control means 21 of the service center 11 which has received the response message uses the electronic mail creating means 27 to transmit the electronic device 9 included in the response message.
(SMTP), a protocol for sending e-mail over the Internet
Protocol) to create an e-mail by converting the format to an electronic message. The control result of controlling the electronic device 9 via the Internet 13 using the center communication means 18 can be transmitted to the mobile terminal 10 by e-mail.

Although the network 13 is an Internet in each of the above embodiments, it may be a packet network, a public line analog network, an ISDN (digital network) or a dedicated network.

The mobile terminal 10 in each of the above embodiments
For example, a PHS mobile phone, a mobile phone, a notebook PC, and the like can be considered.

The program information in each of the above embodiments is information published in a program list such as a newspaper or a magazine.
Information such as the title of the movie or drama, the broadcast channel, the broadcast time, and the performers.

[0035]

As described above, in the remote control system according to the first aspect of the present invention, the center control means in the service center uses the control code conversion means to control the control contents transmitted from the mobile terminal. Said that if a user wants to remotely control an electronic device at home, the user would convert the electronic device he / she wants to control by himself / herself into the control code. However, since there is no need to directly input the converted control code from the input unit of the mobile terminal, it is difficult to make an input error. In addition to controlling the power ON / OFF, the user is not limited to the case where the electronic device has a wide variety of control contents such as an air conditioner and a video, or when the number of electronic devices to be newly controlled at home increases. Does not need to manage the control code by itself, and it is no longer possible to perform control because the control code is forgotten, thereby improving the convenience for the user to control the electronic device. There is.

In the remote control system according to a second aspect of the present invention, the program information acquired from the service center is displayed on the display unit on the mobile terminal, and a program to be recorded is selected from the input unit and transmitted to the service center. Therefore, if the electronic device is a video or radio, etc. for recording or recording, the control code for recording or recording start and end time is transmitted, but the program is delayed for some reason from the scheduled broadcast / broadcast time This has the effect of recording or recording a desired program from the beginning to the end.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote control system, the center control means in the service center obtains the control state of the electronic device from the control state storage means using an electronic mail creation means and creates an electronic mail. Since it is not necessary for the user to input and transmit a message requesting the state of the electronic device from the input unit of the mobile terminal to know the state of the electronic device to be controlled, it is troublesome to input the message. It is easy to remember the status of the electronic device because it automatically notifies you of the control status of the electronic device by e-mail so that you can notice early when the control of the electronic device is not going well There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the remote control system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the remote control system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a remote control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the remote control system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional remote control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Out-of-home PHS radio telephone 2 Public line network 3 In-home PHS radio telephone 4 Controller part 5 Computer part 6 Indoor outlet insertion plug 7 Power supply outlet 8 Switch part 9 Electronic equipment 10 Mobile terminal 11 Service center 12 Control device 13 Network network 14 display means 15 input means 16 terminal communication means 17 terminal control means 18 center communication means 19 control code conversion means 20 control message generation means 21 center control means 22 device communication means 23 electronic equipment communication means 24 device control means 25 program information storage means 26 control state storage means 27 e-mail creation means

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 5C056 AA01 BA08 BA10 CA11 CA13 CA20 DA01 DA11 DA20 EA05 EA20 5K048 AA04 BA03 BA13 DC01 DC07 EA12 EB02 EB07 EB12 FB10 HA03 HA23 5K101 KK02 KK11 LL12 MM07 NN18 UU19

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A control device for controlling an electronic device, a mobile terminal for remotely operating the control device, and receiving a message transmitted from the mobile terminal via a network to control the control device In a remote control system including a service center for transmitting a message, a display means on which an operation screen for controlling an electronic device, which is a recording or recording device, is displayed, and recording or recording is performed according to the screen displayed on the display means. A mobile terminal having input means for inputting control content, terminal communication means for transmitting the control content input by the input means to a service center, and control transmitted from the mobile terminal via a network A center communication means for receiving the content, and a control code conversion for converting the control content received for controlling the electronic device into a control code. Conversion means, control message generation means for creating a control message including a control code using the control code conversion means, and center control means for transmitting the control message generated by the control message generation means to the control device. A service center, a device communication unit for receiving a control message transmitted from the service center via a network, and controlling the electronic device based on the control content included in the control message received by the device communication unit. And a control device having electronic device communication means for transmitting a message to the electronic device. 2. The service center includes program information storage means for storing program information related to recording or recording under the control of a center control means, and transmits at least a part of the program information to a mobile terminal. The program information obtained from the program information storage means in the service center is displayed on the display means, by selecting a program to be recorded or recorded from the program displayed on the display means from the input means, and transmitting to the service center, 2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the service center controls an electronic device as a recording or recording device via a control device to record or record a program selected in the mobile terminal. 3. A control device comprising a control state storage means for storing the contents of control of the electronic device by the device control means using the electronic device communication means under the control of the device control means, and an SMTP controlled by the center control means. A service center for transmitting an e-mail to the mobile terminal, comprising an e-mail creating means for creating a message in a prescribed format, wherein the center control means in the service center includes a recording or recording device from the control state storage means. 3. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the control state of the electronic device is acquired, and the acquired result is converted into an electronic mail and transmitted to the mobile terminal. 4.