JP2002152860A - Remote control contents setting method for audio device, remote control contents setting device for the audio device, recording medium, audio system, and method for controlling computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain remote control with excellent operability without incurring complicated configuration of a remote control transmitter and without the need for troublesome remote control setting. SOLUTION: In the state that an audio device and a personal computer PC are connected, a user uses the PC to make customize settings of customize buttons of the remote control transmitter attached to the audio device. First the user selects a button to be customized, and when the user selects the button, the user selects a function to be assigned to the button. When the assignment of the function is finished, the setting information in response to the selected contents by the user is generated, and the PC transmits the setting information to the audio device. The audio device stores assigned contents of the customize button on the basis of the setting information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control content setting method for audio equipment, a remote control content setting device for audio equipment, a recording medium, an audio system, and a control method for a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, audio equipment is generally provided with a remote control transmitter. By appropriately operating the remote control transmitter, the user can control the audio device even from a remote position, for example, can control a volume parameter.

[0003] By the way, recent audio equipment can realize various functions, and it is convenient if these various functions can be realized by a user operating a remote control transmitter. . Therefore, this type of general audio equipment is provided with a remote control transmitter provided with buttons for selecting each of various functions. When the user selects and operates a button assigned to a function to be realized from among a large number of buttons provided on such a remote control transmitter, a command for realizing the function is transmitted to the remote control transmitter. The function is transmitted from the device to the audio device, and the function specified by the user is realized by the audio device.

[0004]

However, a remote control transmitter attached to an audio device capable of realizing various functions is provided with a large number of buttons.
There is a problem that the remote control transmitter becomes large.

Although many buttons are provided on the remote control transmitter, the functions actually used by the user are often biased to some functions. Therefore, the fact that many buttons are provided on the remote control transmitter may rather complicate the operation or cause an erroneous operation.
In consideration of such a point, it is conceivable to provide the remote control transmitter with only buttons for executing only some of the biased functions. However, since frequently used functions are different depending on the taste of each user and the like, it is difficult to determine which button is provided on the remote control transmitter, and a remote control transmitter that meets the wishes of all users is manufactured. It is difficult.

Therefore, a display unit is mounted on the remote control transmitter, and the display unit is connected to a GUI (Graphical User I / O).
There has been proposed a technique that allows various types of commands to be transmitted to an audio device without providing a large number of buttons by functioning as an interface. However, with this technique, the configuration of the remote control device becomes complicated.

By the way, recently, audio equipment having various sound control functions is connected to a general-purpose personal computer, and tone signals generated and read out by the personal computer are transmitted to the audio equipment, and signal processing is performed in the audio equipment. An audio system for performing the output has been developed. In such an audio system, a remote control transmitter for controlling an audio device is attached, and a user can remotely control the audio device using the remote control transmitter. However, this remote control transmitter cannot remotely control a personal computer. When both audio equipment and a personal computer are to be remotely controlled, a transmitter and a receiving unit for remotely controlling the personal computer are provided. I had to. Therefore, the remote control transmitter attached to the audio device is not easy to use as a device for remotely controlling an audio system including the audio device and the personal computer.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and is excellent in user-friendliness without complicating the configuration of the remote control transmitter and without performing complicated remote control settings. Remote control content setting method for audio equipment capable of providing a remote control transmitter, remote control content setting device for audio equipment, recording medium,
It is an object to provide an audio system and a control method of a computer system.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control content setting method for audio equipment, wherein one or more types of control signals are transmitted in response to a user operation. Receiving means for receiving the control signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter; storage means for storing assignment information indicating the content of control processing assigned to the control signal; and receiving the control signal by the receiving means The control processing executing means for executing the control processing of the content allocated to the received control signal based on the allocation information stored in the storage means. A method for setting information, wherein the computer system divides the control signal according to an instruction input from a user. A creating step for creating setting information indicating the contents of the control process to be performed, a transmitting step in which the computer system sends the setting information created in the creating step to the audio device via communication means, And writing the assignment information to the storage unit in accordance with the received setting information.

[0010] In the remote control content setting method for an audio device according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the remote control content setting method for an audio device according to the first aspect, in the creating step, the control unit may be configured to respond to one control signal with respect to one control signal It is characterized in that setting information for assigning a plurality of control processes among control processes that can be individually executed in the audio device is created.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control content setting method for an audio device according to the first or second aspect. It is possible to store the contents of the control processing to be assigned to each of the plurality of conditions, and the control processing execution means is satisfied at the time among the plurality of conditions when the control signal is received by the receiving means. In a case where the control process is performed for the content assigned to the condition being set, the creation step creates setting information for assigning the content of the control process for each of a plurality of conditions to one control signal. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control content setting method for an audio device according to any one of the first to third aspects. Further comprising a recommended information receiving step of receiving recommended information indicating recommended allocation contents to the control signal via the control signal, informing the user of the received recommended information and prompting an instruction input for the setting information creation. Features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control content setting device for audio equipment, wherein the control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter for transmitting one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation is received. Receiving means, storage means for storing allocation information indicating the content of control processing allocated to the control signal, and when the control signal is received by the receiving means, the allocation information stored in the storage means An apparatus for setting allocation information to be stored in the storage unit in an audio device including a control processing execution unit that performs a control process of the content allocated to the received control signal, based on the control signal,
Creating means for creating setting information indicating the content of control processing to be assigned to the control signal in accordance with an instruction input from a user; and transmitting the setting information created by the creating means to the audio device via communication means. Transmission means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the remote control content setting apparatus for audio equipment according to the fifth aspect, wherein the creating means is configured to respond to one control signal with respect to one control signal. It is characterized in that setting information for assigning a plurality of control processes among control processes that can be individually executed in the audio device is created.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control content setting apparatus for audio equipment, wherein the storage means stores one control signal in response to one control signal. It is possible to store the contents of the control processing to be assigned to each of the plurality of conditions, and the control processing execution means is satisfied at the time among the plurality of conditions when the control signal is received by the receiving means. In a case where the control unit is configured to execute the control process of the content assigned to the given condition, the creating unit creates, for one control signal, setting information for assigning the content of the control process for each of a plurality of conditions. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control content setting device for an audio device according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, wherein the remote control content setting device is configured to control the audio device from a server via a network. A recommendation receiving unit that receives recommendation information indicating recommended assignment contents to a signal, and a notification unit that notifies a user of the recommendation information received by the recommendation reception unit and prompts the user to input an instruction for creating the setting information. It is characterized by having.

The recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the receiving means receives the control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter which transmits one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation; Storage means for storing allocation information indicating the content of control processing allocated to the signal, and when the control signal is received by the receiving means,
Based on the allocation information stored in the storage means, a control processing performing means for performing control processing of the content allocated to the received control signal, audio equipment comprising:
A recording medium recording a program to be executed by a computer system to set allocation information to be stored in the storage unit, wherein setting information indicating the content of a control process to be allocated to the control signal according to an instruction input from a user. A program for causing the computer system to execute a creation process to be created and a transmission process to send the setting information created in the creation process to the audio device via a communication unit are recorded.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an audio system which can be controlled by a remote control transmitter for transmitting one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation, and a computer connected to the audio device. Audio system, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving the control signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter; and an audio device assigned to the control signal received by the receiving unit. Control processing means for executing the control processing, and transmission means for transmitting a control signal received by the receiving means from the electronic device to the computer system, wherein the computer system performs control transmitted from the electronic device. A computer-side receiving means for receiving a signal; Based on the control signals received by computer side receiving unit, characterized in that it comprises a computer-side control processing means executes a control process.

The audio system according to an eleventh aspect is the audio system according to the tenth aspect, wherein the audio device determines whether or not to transmit a control signal received by the receiving means to the computer system. Transmission setting storage means for storing transmission setting information indicating the transmission of the control signal when the transmission setting storage means stores transmission setting information to be transmitted to the computer system. Is transmitted to the computer system, and transmission setting information indicating that the transmission is not transmitted to the computer system is stored in the transmission setting storage unit, the control processing unit transmits the control signal received by the reception unit to the control signal. It is characterized in that control processing of the assigned contents is performed.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the audio system according to the eleventh aspect, the audio device is configured to control the audio device based on a control signal from the remote control transmitter received by the receiving means. A transmission setting rewriting means for rewriting the contents stored in the transmission setting storage means is provided.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the audio system according to any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, the computer-side control processing means controls an operation of application software related to the audio equipment. It is characterized by doing.

A computer system control method according to claim 14, wherein the receiving means receives the control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter which transmits one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation, And a control method for controlling a computer system connected to an audio device including a control processing execution unit that executes a control process assigned to the control signal received by the reception unit, wherein the reception of the electronic device is Means for receiving a control signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter, transmitting a control signal received by the receiving means from the electronic device to the computer system, the computer system, Control processing is performed based on a control signal transmitted from the electronic device. Characterized by comprising a control processing step of the execution.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A. Configuration of Embodiment First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an audio system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the audio system 1 includes an audio device 10
0 and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 2
00.

A-1. Configuration of Audio Device The audio device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 connected via a bus 114 and an RO.
M (Read Only Memory) 102 and RAM (Random Acc
ess memory) 103, a flash ROM 104, a display device 105, an operation panel 106, a remote control receiving unit 107, and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor).
ssing) unit 108, signal output control unit 109, signal input control unit 110, tuner 111, and USB (Univer
sal Serial Bus) interface 112.

The signal input control unit 110 includes an external device connection terminal group 1 provided on the back of the audio device 100.
A digital or analog audio signal inputted from 15 is inputted. The signal input control unit 110 is controlled by the CPU 101 in accordance with an operation state of the operation panel 106 to be described later and an instruction from the PC 200, selects one of the external device connection terminal groups 115, and is input from the selected terminal. Audio device 10
0 and supplied to the CPU 101. Here, the signal input control unit 110 has an A / D conversion circuit (not shown), and when an analog audio signal is input,
The analog audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal.

Various audio devices such as an MD (Mini Disc) player 300 and a cassette tape deck 301 can be connected to the external device connection terminal group 115 as shown in the figure.
Audio signals (digital and analog) from an audio playback device such as a cassette tape deck 301 are supplied to the signal input control unit 110 via the external device connection terminal group 115.

The tuner 111 tunes to the broadcast wave channel selected by the user, receives the broadcast wave, and performs demodulation processing.
The reception data obtained by demodulation is supplied to the CPU 101.

The signal output control unit 109 converts the audio signal taken into the audio apparatus 100 from the signal input control unit 110 and the tuner 111 and subjected to various kinds of signal processing by the DSP unit 108 and the like described later into the amplifier 113 or an external device. Output to the device output terminal 116. Amplifier 113
Amplifies the audio signal supplied from the signal output control unit 109, and outputs the amplified audio signal to the speaker 302 connected to the speaker terminal 117. As a result, the speaker 302 generates a sound corresponding to the audio signal output from the signal output control unit 109. On the other hand, the MD (Mi
ni Disc) It is possible to connect an audio recording device such as a recording device or a cassette tape deck. By connecting these audio recording devices to the external device output terminal 116, the audio signal output from the signal output control unit 109 can be connected. Can be recorded on a recording medium such as an MD or a cassette tape.

The DSP unit 108 includes an operation panel 1 described later.
CPU in accordance with the operation state of PC06 or an instruction from PC 200
The digital signal processing unit 101 performs various digital signal processing such as sound field control and stereophonic sound on the audio signal input from the signal input control unit 110 and the like, and outputs the processed audio signal to the signal output control unit 109. .

The operation panel 106 is provided with various operation keys. When a user operates the various operation keys, a control command signal corresponding to the operation state is sent to the CPU.
101.

The display device 105 includes information indicating which audio source is being selected from the audio source connected to the selected sound source, ie, the external device connection terminal group 115, and a signal provided by the DSP unit 108. Displays various information such as processing details.

The remote control receiving unit 107 is an accessory of the audio device 100, receives a control command wirelessly transmitted from a remote control transmitter 150 for remotely controlling the audio device 100, and receives the received control command. To CPU 101
To supply.

The USB interface 112 is a USB
An interface operation with the PC 200 connected via the connection terminal 118 is performed.

The CPU 101 controls the entire audio device 100. The ROM 102 stores various DSP programs and DSP data, and various control programs and control data. Also, ROM
102, a PC 2 connected to the audio device 100
A program for controlling the audio device 100 from 00 is stored. C
The PU 101 reads various control programs and control data stored in the ROM 102 and executes various control processes. Also, the DSP unit 108 reads various DSP programs and DSP data stored in the ROM 102 and performs various signal processing on the audio signals.

The RAM 103 temporarily stores various data and functions as a working area, and also assigns control processing contents for each of a plurality of control commands sent from the remote control transmitter 150 to an assignment information table storing assignment information. Is stored. Further, a backup power supply (not shown) is connected to the RAM 103, so that data to be stored can be retained even when the audio apparatus 100 is not powered on.

The RAM 103 has an operation panel 10
6 indicates various setting contents of the audio device 100 (volume parameter value, which external device connection terminal receives an audio signal from an audio device connected thereto) which are set in accordance with the operation state of the PC 6 or an instruction from the PC 200. Information, which indicates what kind of signal processing is to be performed). Therefore, when the power of the audio device 100 is turned off and then turned on again, the CPU 101
Reads out various setting contents stored in the RAM 103, and the audio device 100 performs control processing according to the setting contents. As described above, the state of the audio device 100 before the power is turned off is also held in the RAM 103, so that when the power is turned on again, the audio device 100 can be brought to the state before the power is turned off. The details of the allocation information table stored in the RAM 103 will be described later.

The flash ROM 104 stores a firmware program that controls the basic operation of the audio device 100 in a rewritable manner.

Next, the appearance of the audio device 100 will be described. First, FIG. 2 shows an external view of a front panel of the audio device 100. As shown in the figure, an operation panel 10 is provided on the front panel of the audio device 100.
6 are provided. Specifically, sound source selection operators 20 to 23, a DSP operator 25, a MUT
An E operator 26, a volume operator 27, and an up / down operator 28 are provided.

The sound source selection operators 20 to 23 are operators for selecting an input sound source. The DSP operator 25 is an operator for instructing whether or not to make the DSP function, that is, whether or not to execute the signal processing by the DSP unit 108.
The MUTE operator 26 is an operator for instructing whether to set a mode in which sound is not output. The up / down operator 28 is an operator for selecting a variety of prepared DSP modes when the DSP operator 25 is on. The volume operator 27 is an operator for setting a volume parameter value of a tone signal output from the audio device 100.

A display 105a constituting the display device 105 is provided on the front panel of the audio device 100. Display 105a
Is composed of a fluorescent display tube, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and displays various information such as the currently selected DSP mode.
Also, on the front panel of the audio device 100, display indicators 20a to 23a for indicating a selected state of the sound source selection operators 20 to 23 are provided, and these display indicators 20a to 23a correspond to the corresponding sound source selection operators. The light is turned on or off according to the operation states of 20 to 23.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an external view of a rear panel of the audio device 100. As shown in the figure, the rear panel of the audio device 100 has an external device connection terminal group 11
5, the external device output terminal 116, and the speaker terminal 117
And a USB connection terminal 118. In the audio device 100, analog input terminals 115a, 115b, and 11 for inputting analog signals are used as an external device connection terminal group 115 provided on the front panel.
5c, and digital input terminals 115d, 115e, 115 for inputting digital signals.
f is prepared. The external device output terminal 116 includes an analog output terminal 11 for outputting an analog signal.
An analog output terminal 116b for outputting an analog signal to the subwoofer 6a and the subwoofer is provided, and a digital output terminal 116b is provided as a terminal for outputting a digital signal.
c is prepared.

A-2. Remote Control Transmitter Next, a remote control transmitter 150 for remotely controlling the audio device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the remote control transmitter 150 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons on its front panel. Specifically, sound source selection buttons 160 to 163 and FM / AM switching button 1
71, channel selection button 172, mode selection button 173
, A pre-setup down button 174, a DSP mode designation button group 165, and a power off button 166.
And customization buttons 167a, 167b, 167c
, A MUTE button 168, and a volume up / down button 169.

The sound source selection buttons 160 to 163 are buttons for selecting an input sound source, similarly to the sound source selection operators 20 to 23 provided on the front panel of the audio device 100. The FM / AM switch button 171 is used to convert a broadcast wave received by the tuner 111 into an FM (Frequency Modu
This button is used to determine either a (lation) wave or an AM (Amplitude Modulation) wave. Tuning button 17
Reference numeral 2 denotes a button for selecting a preset broadcast wave channel, and the tuner 111 operates this button to tune to the selected broadcast wave channel. The mode selection button 173 is
Buttons for selecting various modes. The pre-setup down button 174 is a button for selecting a broadcast wave channel to be tuned to the tuner 111 in response to an up / down instruction. The DSP mode designation button group 165 is a button group for setting the content of DSP (digital signal processing) to be applied to the audio signal by the DSP unit 108 in the audio device 100. In the illustrated example, “MOVIE”,
"LIVE", "JAZZ", "CHURCH", "HALL", "GAME"
And buttons to which notations such as “VDD” are added, and the user can select a desired DSP from the indicated DSPs by selecting and operating these buttons. . The power off button 166 is a button for instructing power off.
Customize buttons 167a, 167b, 167c
The button is a button to which the user can arbitrarily assign the function. In the present embodiment, three customization buttons are prepared. The MUTE button 168 is a button for instructing whether or not to set a mode in which no sound is output, similarly to the MUTE operator 26 provided on the front panel of the audio device 100. The volume up / down button 169 is a button for setting a volume parameter value of a tone signal output from the audio device 100, similarly to the volume control 27 provided on the front panel of the audio device 100.

As described above, the remote control transmitter 1
A number of buttons are provided on the front panel 50. When a user presses a button, the remote control transmitter 150 wirelessly transmits a control command corresponding to the pressed button. That is, information indicating a control command to be transmitted for each button is stored in a memory (not shown) of the remote control transmitter 150, and the button pressed and operated by referring to the information stored in the memory is stored. A corresponding control command is selected, and the selected control command is wirelessly transmitted.

A-3. Assignment Information Table As described above, when the remote control transmitter 150 wirelessly transmits a control command corresponding to a button pressed and operated by the user, the remote control receiver 107 of the audio device 100 receives the wirelessly transmitted control command. . When the control command transmitted from the remote control transmitter 150 is received as described above,
In the audio device 100, the function assigned to the received control command, that is, the function corresponding to the button pressed down is realized. When performing control processing for realizing this function, the C
The PU 101 refers to the assignment information table stored in the RAM 103.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of the allocation information table stored in the RAM 103. As shown in the figure, the allocation information table includes a fixed allocation information table and a customized allocation information table. The fixed assignment information table contains the customize buttons 167a, 167b,
Information indicating a function to be realized in association with a control command transmitted by pressing many buttons other than 167c is stored. Here, the registered contents are such that the functions described in the function description of each button except the customize button of the remote control transmitter 150 are realized. For example, the FM / AM switching button 171 is pressed. If the control command transmitted in the case of the command A is the command A, the column of the function corresponding to the command A includes the tuner 111 such as the FM / AM switching process.
The control content for switching the received broadcast wave is described.
Therefore, when the user operates the remote control transmitter 15
0 FM / AM switch button 171 is pressed, the control command A is transmitted to the remote control transmitter 15.
Sent from 0. Then, in the audio device 100 that has received the control command A, the audio device 100 refers to the fixed assignment information table and finds that the control to be executed when the control command A is received is an FM / AM switching process. The switching process of the broadcast wave received by 111 is executed.

On the other hand, the customization assignment information table contains control commands C1 and C1 transmitted when each of the customize buttons 167a, 167b and 167c provided on the remote control transmitter 150 is pressed.
C2. An area for writing information indicating a function to be realized in association with C3 is prepared. In an initial state, this area is blank, and information indicating a function desired by the user can be registered by a customization setting process (details will be described later) executed by the audio device 100 and the PC 200. ing.

More specifically, in the customization assignment information table, for each control command C1, C2, C3, "operation flag", "function 1", "function 2", "function 3",.
An area for storing an item such as “function N” is provided. Items of “operation flag” include “0”, “1”,
One of three flags such as "2" is stored.
Here, “0” indicates that the audio device 1
00 indicates that a function to be implemented is assigned, and when a control command in which the “0” flag is described is received, the CPU 101 determines whether each item of “function 1”, “function 2”,. Control processing for realizing the function according to the description content is executed. next,
"1" indicates that no function is assigned to this control command. If a control command in which this "1" flag is described is received, no control is performed for this control command. Not done. Next, “2” indicates that this control command is transferred to the PC 200,
When a control command in which a “2” flag is described is received, CPU 101 transmits this control command to PC 200
SB interface 112 and USB connection terminal 11
8.

The customization assignment information table can assign up to N functions such as "function 1", "function 2", "function 3",... "Function N" for each control command. Has become. That is, customization can be performed such that a plurality of functions are simultaneously realized by pressing one customization button. In addition, each of “Function 1”, “Function 2”, “Function 3”,..., “Function N” has items such as “Flag” and “Set value”. "flag"
Column stores one of two flags such as "0" and "1". Here, “0” is a flag indicating that a control process for realizing the function specified by the set value described in the “set value” column is executed, and “1” is a flag indicating the function item. Is a flag indicating that no control processing is performed. The item of “set value” stores numerical information for specifying a plurality of functions that can be assigned to this function. In this embodiment, “function 1”, “function 2”, “function 3”,...
Details of the functions that can be assigned to each of the “functions N” will be described later.

A-4. Configuration of PC Next, the P connected to the audio device 100 having the above configuration will be described.
Configuration of C (Computer System) 200 FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
0 is the CPU 220, the RAM 221 and the ROM 222
, A hard disk 223, a display unit 224, a display interface 225, an operation unit 226, an operation unit interface 227, and a USB interface 228.
And a disk drive device 229.

The CPU 220 performs various arithmetic processes and controls each unit of the PC 200. RAM 221
Is used as a work memory of the CPU 220, and temporarily stores various data. The ROM 222 is a CPU 2
20 stores a group of programs to be read and executed. The display unit 224 includes a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (Cathod
e Ray Tube) for displaying an image to the user. The display interface 225 is an interface for displaying an image corresponding to the data supplied from the CPU 220 on the display unit 224. The operation unit 226 is a keyboard, a mouse, and the like for a user to input an instruction. The operation unit interface 227 is an interface that supplies data representing an instruction input via the operation unit 226 to the CPU 220. The USB interface 228 performs an interface operation with the audio device 100 connected via a USB connection terminal (not shown). The disk drive device 129 includes a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read O
This is a drive device that reads data described on a recording medium such as an nly memory.

The hard disk 223 stores programs such as an operating system and various application software that are read and executed by the CPU 220.

In the present embodiment, the hard disk 223 stores audio device control application software for controlling various settings of the audio device 100 from the PC 200, and the audio device control application software executed by the CPU 220 executes the audio device control application software. 100 can be controlled. For example, the display unit 22 of the PC 200
4 displays a screen for displaying various detailed setting states of the audio device 100. The user operates the operating unit 226 including a keyboard, a mouse, and the like while referring to this display screen, thereby performing various detailed setting of the audio device 100. (For example, selection of a DSP to be executed by the DSP unit 108 and various detailed settings in the selected DSP) can be performed.

When the CPU 220 executes the audio device control application software, the user can use the PC 200 to customize buttons 167a and 167 of the remote control transmitter 150.
The functions to be assigned to b and 167c can be set. That is, the user can use the PC 200 to rewrite the settings of the customization assignment information table (see FIG. 5) stored in the RAM 103 of the audio device 100. In this customization setting, the customize button 1
When the player operates 67a, 167b, or 167c, the CPU 220 of the PC 200 is used instead of the audio device 100.
It is also possible to make settings so as to be able to control the audio device control application software executed by the software.

B. Operation of Embodiment As described above, the audio device 100 and the PC 200
In the audio system 1 including the
Customizing button 1 provided on remote control transmitter 150 for remote controlling 00
The customization setting of the function assigned to 67a, 167b, 167c can be performed using PC200.

Also, in the audio system 1, the audio device 100
By operating a remote control transmitter 150 for remotely controlling the PC 200, the PC 200 connected to the audio device 100 can be remotely controlled. Hereinafter, the operations of the audio system 1 at the time of the customization setting and the remote control of the PC 200 will be focused, and each operation will be described in detail.

B-1. Operation at the time of customization setting First, the operation at the time of customization setting will be described. The customization settings in the audio system 1
The setting is performed by transmitting setting information indicating customization contents set by the user to the audio device 100 using the 200, and rewriting the contents of the customization assignment information table stored in the RAM 103 based on the setting information.

B-1-1. Operation of PC First, an operation of the PC 200 at the time of customization setting will be described. FIG. 7 shows the CPU 2 at the time of customization setting.
2 shows a flowchart of a routine executed by the control unit 20. As shown in the figure, the customize button 167a,
When the user appropriately operates the operation unit 226 in order to perform the customization setting of 167b and 167c, a control signal corresponding to the operation is transmitted to the C via the operation unit interface 227.
Supplied to the PU 220, the CPU 220 starts processing for customization setting.

Here, in the present embodiment, the customization setting process is performed by executing one routine in the above-described audio device control application software by the CPU 2.
The customization setting routine is executed by the CPU 220 by performing the following operation procedure. As described above, according to the audio device control application software, detailed settings such as the DSP settings of the audio device 100 can be performed on the PC 200 side, and FIG. 8 for performing such settings is shown in FIG. Such a detailed setting screen is displayed on the display unit 224. The detailed setting screen functions as a GUI for performing detailed settings related to the DSP of the audio device 100, and also functions as a setting confirmation screen for displaying current setting contents. When a “SETUP” button 80 displayed on the upper right of such a display screen is clicked, a screen for performing detailed settings as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. By clicking the “Setting Wizard” button 90 on this display screen,
The CPU 220 executes a routine for customization setting.

When the above-described operation procedure is performed and the “setting wizard” button 90 is clicked, the CPU 22
0 executes the customization setting routine, and the display unit 224
A screen for selecting a button to be customized as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed (step Sa1), and the user is prompted to select a button to be customized. In FIG.
The key A indicates the customize button 167a, the key B indicates the customize button 167b, and the key C indicates the customize button 167c.

On this screen, in addition to the display prompting for button selection, how to handle the selected button is selected from three items such as "use", "do not use", and "PC transmission". You can do it. Here, “use” means that the selected button is used by allocating a customization function. When this “use” is selected, in the rewriting processing of the customization allocation information table described below, “use” is used. The flag "0" is described in the column of "operation flag" (see FIG. 5). Also, if "Do not use" is selected,
The flag “1” is described in the “operation flag” column, and the “PC
When "transmission" is selected, the flag "2" is described in the "operation flag" column.

The operation unit 22 such as a mouse is displayed on such a screen.
By appropriately operating the button 6, the user decides a button or the like for performing the customization setting.

When the above-described screen for customizing button selection is displayed on display unit 224, CPU 220 shifts to a state of waiting for a button selection by the user, and determines whether or not an operation such as a button selection has been performed by the user. (Step Sa2). Here, when an operation such as button selection is performed, that is, when the “Done” button 95 is clicked on the screen illustrated in FIG.
It is determined whether “PC transmission” is selected (step Sa3).

If "PC transmission" is not selected, that is, if "use" or "do not use" is selected and "complete" button 95 is clicked, CPU 220 executes the selected button. Is set to 1 (step Sa4), which indicates the number of the function assigned to (the number following the function in "function 1", "function 2"... Shown in FIG. 5), and corresponds to the current number of X. A screen for setting a function (in this case, “function 1” because X = 1 is set) is displayed on the display unit 224 (step Sa5).

In the present embodiment, the “function 1” is set by selecting a sound source to be input to the audio device 100, that is, to which terminal of the external device connection terminal group 115 a sound source is connected to input an audio signal. The audio device 1 is set as shown in FIG.
The names corresponding to all the input terminals provided in 00 are displayed, and the user operates the operation unit 226 such as a mouse to select one of the input terminals. Also, as shown in the figure, items such as "do not change" are displayed on this screen. This means that, even when a button currently being customized is pressed, the input terminal selected in the audio device 100 immediately before being pressed is not changed. When selected, the flag “1” is displayed in the “Flag” column of “Function 1” in the customization assignment information table shown in FIG.
Is described. Therefore, when this "don't change" is selected, even if the customization button that is currently customized is pressed,
In the audio device 100, the process of changing the input terminal is not performed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when “USB” is selected and customization setting is performed, when this customization button is pressed,
In the audio device 100, the currently selected input terminal is an external device connection terminal group 11 other than the USB connection terminal 118.
5, the input terminal is the USB connection terminal 1
18 is performed.

When the screen for setting the function (X) as described above is displayed on the display unit 224, the CPU 220 shifts to a state of waiting for the user to select the setting content, and the user performs the setting operation of the function (X). It is determined whether or not the operation has been performed (step Sa6). Here, when the function (X) is selected and set, that is, when the “Next” button 96 is clicked on the screen shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12, the CPU 220 determines whether or not X = N. (Step Sa7). Here, N is a numerical value indicating the maximum number of functions that can be set to the customize button (see FIG. 5).

In the above case, since X = 1, X is incremented by 1 (step Sa7), and a screen for setting the function (X), that is, “function 2” is displayed on the display unit 224. (Step Sa5). In the present embodiment, as the setting of “function 2”, the type of DSP to be executed by the DSP unit 108 of the audio device 100, that is, the DSP mode is set. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, on the setting screen of “function 2”, all the DSP modes that can be executed by the DSP unit 108 of the audio device 100 are displayed, and the user appropriately operates the operation unit 226 such as a mouse. By doing so, any of the displayed DSP modes can be selected. In addition, "don't change" can be selected in the same manner as "function 1".

In the setting screen of “function 2”,
As in the setting screen of “Function 1”, a “Next” button 9
When the button 7 is clicked, the processing by the CPU 220 proceeds to step Sa5 and thereafter, and displays a screen for setting “function 3” on the display unit 224 (step Sa5).
In the present embodiment, as the setting of “function 3”, various parameter values in the DSP mode set by “function 2” are set. As shown in FIG.
On the setting screen of “Function 3”, parameters that can be set in the DSP mode selected by “Function 2” are displayed. By operating the operation unit 226 such as a mouse as needed by the user, these parameter values are set. It can be set. In addition, "don't change" can be selected in the same manner as "function 1".

In the setting screen of “function 3”,
When the “Next” button 98 is clicked, the processing by the CPU 220 proceeds to step Sa5 and subsequent steps, similar to the setting screens for “function 1” and “function 2”, and a screen for setting “function 4”. Is displayed on the display unit 224 (step Sa5). In the present embodiment, as the setting of “function 4”, a frequency characteristic (glycophone) and a volume are set. As shown in FIG. 15, a selectable glyco is displayed on the setting screen of “function 4”, and a display for setting the volume is displayed. When the user appropriately operates the operation unit 226 such as a mouse, the screen is displayed. , Glyco and volume can be set. Also,
As in the case of the "function 1", "don't change" can be selected.

In the present embodiment, the maximum number N of functions that can be set is 4, and when the “Done” button 99 is clicked on the “function 4” setting screen (step Sa).
No. 6 (“YES”), the CPU 220 determines whether or not X = N (step Sa7). Here, since N = 4, the determination in step Sa6 is “YES”, and setting information reflecting contents appropriately set by the user is created as described above, and the setting information is transmitted to the audio device 100. (Step Sa9).

On the other hand, in the determination of step Sa3,
If it is determined that “PC transmission” has been selected, that is, if the user has requested that this customization button be customized as a button for remotely controlling the PC 200 instead of the audio device 100, the user has selected A screen for setting a function to be assigned to the customize button is displayed on the display unit 224 (step Sa12). Here, various functions realized by the audio device control application software for controlling the audio device 100 on the PC 200 side can be assigned. For example, a function of maximizing or minimizing the display of the setting screen as shown in FIG. 8 can be assigned. Further, a plurality of application software programs are executed by an operating system (for example, “Windows” of Microsoft Corporation), and the screen displayed by the audio device control application software shown in FIG. 8 is hidden by the screen of another application. In such a case, a function for displaying a screen displayed by the audio device control application software can be assigned to the foreground.

The function allocation setting screen on the PC side is displayed on the display unit 22.
4, the CPU 220 shifts to a state of waiting for the user to select a setting content, and determines whether or not a setting operation has been performed by the user (step Sa1).
1). Here, when the function assignment setting operation on the PC side is completed (determination “YES” in step Sa11), the hard disk 22 is determined based on the assignment contents set by the user.
3 is rewritten in the PC-side assignment information table. As shown in FIG. 16, the PC side assignment information table
This is a table in which information indicating a function assigned to a control command set to be transmitted to the PC 200 is described, and such a table is stored in the hard disk 223 in advance. When the setting is performed as described above, the contents of the PC side allocation information table are rewritten. In the illustrated example, when a control command C1 set to be transmitted to the PC 200 (transmitted when the customization button 167a is pressed down) is received, the CPU 220 sets the detailed setting screen (see FIG. 8).
This is a description content when an assignment is made to execute a process of maximizing.

When the "cancel" button is clicked on each of the screens shown in FIGS. 10 to 15, the customization setting routine is interrupted and the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. In each screen shown in FIGS.
When the "return" button is clicked, the screen returns to the previous screen, and the setting can be performed again using the returned screen.

B-1-2. Operation of Audio Device Next, regarding the operation of the audio device 100, the operation of rewriting the contents of the customization assignment information table stored in the RAM 103 based on the setting information created by the PC 200 and transmitted to the audio device 100 as described above. This will be mainly described.

When the power of the audio device 100 is turned on, the CPU 101 of the audio device 100
2 is read out, and the steady processing loop shown in FIG. 17 is executed. As shown in the figure, in this processing loop, first, a remote control process is executed by the CPU 101 (step Sb1). Here, the remote control process is a process of executing a control process corresponding to the received control command when the control command transmitted from the remote control transmitter 150 is received by the remote control receiving unit 107. For example, the FM / AM switch button 17 of the remote control
When the user presses the button 1 and receives a control command corresponding to this operation, the CPU 101 performs control processing such as switching the broadcast wave received by the tuner 111. Here, the control process to be executed when the control command is received is specified by referring to the assignment information table stored in the RAM 103.

In the remote control process, a control command in which a flag “2” indicating that a control command is to be transmitted to the PC 200 is described in the “operation flag” item of the customization assignment information table (see FIG. 5). When the control command is received, the CPU 101 executes a control command transfer process of transmitting the control command to the PC 200.

When the above remote control process is completed, various processes performed in the audio device 100 are executed (step Sb2). For example, when the operation state of the front panel of the audio device 100 is changed, a process according to the changed operation state is performed. That is, when the DSP operator 25 or the up / down operator 28 on the front panel of the audio device 100 is operated to change the DSP mode setting, the DSP
Control processing for changing the mode is executed. Also,
When a control signal related to various settings such as the DSP mode transmitted from the PC 200 is received, processing according to the received control signal is performed.

When various processes as described above are performed, P
It is determined whether or not the setting information for setting the customize button transmitted from C200 has been received (step Sb3). Here, the setting information from the PC 200 is
If received via the connection terminal 118 and the USB interface 112, the customization assignment information table stored in the RAM 103 is rewritten according to the received setting information (step Sb4).

Thereafter, the flow returns to step Sb1 and the CPU 1
01, a remote control process is performed. In this remote control process, the contents of the customized assignment information table rewritten as described above are reflected. Therefore, the setting for customizing the customize button 167a of the remote control transmitter 150 is performed by the PC 200, and after the customization assignment information table is rewritten based on the setting information indicating the set contents, the user sets the customization button 1
When the button 67a is pressed, various functions set to be assigned to the customization button 167a in the PC 200 are realized in the audio device 100.

In this embodiment, a plurality of functions can be assigned to one customization button. Therefore, a plurality of functions can be simultaneously realized by one operation such as pressing one customization button. it can. In particular, in an audio device that performs complicated DSP processing on an audio signal, it is necessary to set various parameter values and selection items of the DSP, and the operation of setting these many settings by operating each button is complicated. . Therefore, it can be said that the effect of enabling various settings of the DSP requiring a large number of settings with a single pressing operation as described above is great.

In this embodiment, as described above, P
By using the C200, the user can perform customized assignment settings of the customization buttons 167a, 167b, and 167c of the remote control transmitter 150 attached to the audio device 100. There is no need to provide children. Conventionally, there has been proposed a technique in which a remote control transmitter attached to a television is provided with a customize button to which a user can freely assign functions, and customization setting is performed while referring to a television screen. Therefore, it is conceivable to perform the assignment setting of the customization button by using a small display screen mounted on a general audio device or an operation device. However, in order to provide the user with an environment in which the assignment setting can be easily performed. Therefore, a large display screen and operation means excellent in operability are required. If such a configuration is added to the audio device 100, the configuration becomes complicated and a problem such as an increase in the size of the device occurs. on the other hand,
In the present embodiment, the user uses the operation unit 226 having excellent operability such as a keyboard and a mouse while referring to a relatively large display unit 224 without complicating the configuration of the audio device 100. Assignment setting of a customize button can be performed in a comfortable environment.

Also, as described above, the customize buttons 167a, 167 of the remote control transmitter 150
Also, when customizing b and 167c, the remote control transmitter 150 only needs to send out a control command corresponding to the pressed button, so that the remote control transmitter 150 performs the control set in advance for each button. It is sufficient if a simple function such as transmitting a command is provided, and a remote control transmitter having a complicated configuration such as managing control contents corresponding to each control command need not be used.

B-2. Operation for Remote Control of PC Next, by operating the remote control transmitter 150, the PC 20 connected to the audio device 100 is operated.
The operation of the audio system 1 at the time of remotely controlling 0 will be described.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the customize button 167 of the remote control transmitter 150
a, 167b, 167c can be assigned any function, and customization buttons 167a, 167b,
A setting is made so that the control command sent from the remote control transmitter 150 by the pressing operation of the button 167c is transferred from the audio device 100 to the PC 200 (setting in which the flag “2” is described in the “operation flag” of the customization assignment information table in FIG. ) (See step Sb1 in FIG. 17).

The CPU 220 of the PC 200 can control the operation of other application software or operating system executed by the CPU 220 based on the control command transmitted from the audio device 100 as described above. ing.

FIG. 18 shows a procedure of a loop process for remotely controlling the PC 200. As shown in the figure, the CPU 220 determines whether or not a control command transmitted from the audio device 100 has been received (step Sc1). Then, when the control command transmitted from the audio device 100 is received (step Sc1)
Determination "YES"), that is, the customize buttons 167a and 167b of the remote control transmitter 150,
If the user presses a button customized to be transmitted to the PC 200 among the buttons 167c, the CPU 220 executes the control processing assigned to the received control command (step Sc2).

Here, the hard disk 22 of the PC 200
3 stores the PC-side allocation information table (see FIG. 16) set as described above. CPU220
Refers to the PC-side allocation information table, specifies the control process to be executed for the received control command, and executes the specified control process. For example, when the content shown in FIG. 16 is described in the PC-side allocation information table, the control command C1 (customize button 167a
Is sent out when the user presses down on the audio device 10).
When transferred from 0, the CPU 220 executes processing for maximizing the display of the detailed setting screen (see FIG. 8).

In this embodiment, the PC 200 can be controlled using the remote control transmitter 150 attached to the audio device 100. Conventionally, as in the audio system 1 of the present embodiment, there is an audio system in which an audio device can be connected to a PC and the audio device can be controlled on the PC side. Is performed, the P of the audio device 100 is
In some cases, an instruction for performing the setting needs to be given to both of the C200. Even in such a case, in the conventional audio system, even though the audio device can be remotely controlled by the remote control transmitter attached to the audio device, the remote control of the PC cannot be performed. I had to move and use my mouse and keyboard. On the other hand, in the audio system 1 according to the present embodiment, both the audio device 100 and the PC 200 can be remotely controlled using the remote control transmitter 150 attached to the audio device 100, so that the user-friendly remote control transmitter 1
50 can be provided to the user.

C. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications as exemplified below are possible.

(Modification 1) In the above-described embodiment, the customization assignment information table (see FIG. 5) contains 1
For a control command corresponding to one customization button, a setting can be made to execute a control process for realizing a composite function integrating a plurality of functions, but customization assignment information as shown in FIG. A table may be prepared so that the allocation information table can be set on the PC 200 side.

As shown in the figure, a plurality of “operation date and time conditions” can be set in this customization assignment information table for each control command, and the number of the set “operation date and time conditions” ( Only two (in the illustrated example, two items) such as “operation flag”, “function 1”,. Here, in the “operation date and time condition”, a time zone is described as shown in the figure. "Operation flag" described, "Function 1" ... "Function N"
Is referred to, the control process for the control command is executed. For example, when the control command C1 is received between 9:00 and 20:00 on weekdays, the “operation flag” and “function 1” registered in the upper part of the control command C1
... Referring to “function N”, control processing is executed. on the other hand,
When the control command C1 is received on a holiday, the control process is executed with reference to the “operation flag”, “function 1”...

By using such a customization assignment information table, a plurality of function assignments can be set for one customization button for each condition. For example, it is possible to set a large volume parameter value between 9:00 and 20:00 on weekdays, and set a small volume parameter value at night (after 20:00). With this setting, when the user presses the customize button without particularly considering the time zone, the volume is automatically controlled according to the time zone.

If the audio device 100 has a clock function, the date and time of receiving the control command is specified using the clock function of the audio device 100 itself, and the “operation date and time” in the customization assignment information table is specified. conditions"
It is only necessary to determine whether or not the condition is satisfied, and to control the setting contents corresponding to the satisfied condition. On the other hand, if the audio device 100 does not have a clock function, the PC 2
00 is requested to supply information indicating the current date and time. Then, information indicating the current date and time transmitted from the PC 200 may be received, and the received date and time information may be used to determine which “operation date and time condition” is satisfied.

(Modification 2) In the embodiment described above, the remote control transmitter 150 is used to
00 remote control includes controls related to audio device control application software,
That is, only the control related to the audio device 100 is performed, but the operation of other application software or operating system that can be executed by the PC 200 may be remotely controlled using the remote control transmitter 150. .

In this case, the PC side allocation information table (FIG. 6)
In the “Function” item of “Ref.”, Control contents of other application software or an operating system may be described. For example, if the "function" item is set to execute a music CD playback function or the like provided by the operating system, if a customization button for transmitting the control command is operated, the PC
At 200, the music playback CD playback function is activated.

(Modification 3) In the above embodiment, the customize buttons 167a, 167b, 167c
Although only the control commands corresponding to the three customizable buttons can be set to be transmitted to the PC 200, the control commands corresponding to all the buttons provided on the remote control transmitter 150 can be set. It may be possible to set so that the audio device 100 can transmit to the PC 200.

When the control commands corresponding to all the buttons can be transmitted to the PC 200 in this way, as shown in FIG.
Is provided with an “audio / PC” switch button 400, and mode information (hereinafter, referred to as a transmission mode and a non-transmission mode) indicating whether to transmit a control command to the PC 200 is stored in the RAM 103 of the audio device 100. A command destination information storage area (transmission setting storage means) is prepared. When the “audio / PC” switch button 400 is pressed and a control command corresponding to this operation is received by the audio device 100, the RAM
The information stored in the command use destination information storage area 103 is rewritten from the current mode to another mode. That is, if the transmission mode for transmitting to the PC 200 is currently set, the control command is transmitted to the audio device 1.
The setting is changed by rewriting to the non-transmission mode used within 00. Conversely, if the non-transmission mode currently used in the audio device 100 is set, the setting is changed by rewriting the transmission mode for transmitting to the PC 200.

Then, the remote control transmitter 15
When a button other than the “audio / PC” switching button 400 of “0” is pressed and a control command corresponding to the operation is received by the audio device 100, the audio device 100
CPU 101 refers to the mode information stored in the command use destination information storage area of the RAM 103. Here, when the transmission mode is set, the CPU 1
01 transmits the received control command to the PC 200.
On the other hand, if the non-transmission mode is set,
With reference to the allocation information table (see FIG. 5) stored in 103, a control process corresponding to the received control command is executed.

In this way, many buttons provided on the remote control transmitter 150 can be used not only for controlling the audio device 100 but also for controlling the PC 200. In this case, it is necessary to assign a function to the PC-side assignment information table stored in the hard disk 223 of the PC 200 for each control command corresponding to many buttons of the remote control transmitter 150. Thus, the remote control transmitter 150
Can be used for controlling the PC 200, for example, by using the remote control transmitter 150.
PC up / down button 169
It is also possible to assign a function instead of a mouse, such as moving a cursor or the like displayed on the screen of the display unit 224 up and down.

It is assumed that the remote control transmitter 150 is used for controlling the PC 200 as described above, and the remote control transmitter 150 is provided with direction buttons for moving the cursor up, down, left, and right. You may.

(Modification 4) In the above-described embodiment, the remote control transmitter 1
50 customization buttons 167a, 167b, 167
When the customization setting of c is performed, the screens shown in FIGS. 10 to 15 are displayed on the display unit 224, and the user performs the selection setting operation individually for each function.
00 hard disk 223 on the WWW (World Wide We
b) If browser software is stored,
The customization setting may be performed in the following procedure.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a system in which the customization setting shown in the modification is performed. As shown in the figure, the PC 200 is connected to the Internet 501 via the telephone network 500, and
Can perform data communication with the WWW server 502 connected to the.

The WWW server 502 has the audio device 1
00 is a server that stores a Web page prepared by a company that manufactures or sells a Web site.
By accessing the Internet 501 by specifying (Uniform Resource Locator), the PC 200 can browse the Web page.

PC 20 that has downloaded the Web page
A screen as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed on the 0 display unit 224. As shown in the figure, on this screen, the contents of the customization setting examples recommended by the provider of the Web page are written, and a “Download Settings” button 510 is displayed next to the notation of each recommended example. It has become so.

When the user refers to the setting contents of the recommended example on this display screen and clicks a “download setting” button 510 displayed next to the desired recommended example, the PC 200
CPU 220 requests the WWW server 502 to download the recommended setting information corresponding to the clicked “download setting” button 510. WWW server 5
02 transmits the requested setting information to the PC 200 in response to the download request of the recommended setting information from the PC 200. Here, when the recommended setting information is downloaded, a screen as shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on the display unit 224 of the PC 200. As shown in this figure, a message indicating that the download has been completed is displayed on this screen, and a message such as "Do you want to send the audio device to customize settings?" Is displayed. It prompts for instructions. Here, when the user clicks the “execute setting” button 515, the CPU 220 creates setting information based on the downloaded recommended setting information, and transmits the created setting information to the audio device 100. In the audio device 100 transmitted in this way, the customization assignment information table is rewritten as in the above-described embodiment. Thus, the customize button 167a, 1
67b and 167c can be customized.

As described above, the customization setting of the remote control transmitter 150 can be performed by the PC 200 which can be connected to a network such as the Internet, so that the recommended settings can be made from another server or personal computer connected to the Internet 501. Information can be acquired and customized settings can be made. Furthermore, it is also possible to exchange personal setting information with another user having the same audio device via the Internet 501.

When a WWW server 502 stores a Web page for displaying help information on a customizing method, the PC 20 that can be connected to the Internet 501
If 0 is used for the customization setting of the remote control transmitter 150 and there is a point that the operation for the customization setting cannot be understood, the user can use the PC.
The help page can be displayed by downloading the web page to the server 200. Then, the user can proceed with the customization setting operation using the PC 200 while referring to the help information displayed on the display unit 224.

(Modification 5) In the above embodiment, the case where the USB interface is used as the interface between the audio device 100 and the PC 200 has been described. However, various known interfaces may be adopted as the interface standard. It may be. For example, wireless communication such as infrared (IrDA standard) or Bluetooth may be used. Also, the audio device 10
The communication between the remote control transmitter 0 and the remote control transmitter 150 is not limited to the wireless communication, but may be a connection between them by a signal cable.

(Modification 6) The audio device is not limited to the audio device 100 having the above configuration, but may be an amplifier, a tuner, a CD player, a DVD (Digital Vers.
atile Disc) It may be an audio device of another configuration such as a player.

(Variation 7) The audio device control application software for realizing operations such as customization settings on the PC 200 side and remote control of the PC in the above-described embodiment is a CD-ROM.
And stored in a recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or the like. Further, the application software may be installed by reproducing a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory or a disk in which the application software is temporarily or permanently stored.

[0111]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a user-friendly remote control transmitter without complicating the configuration of the remote control transmitter and without performing complicated remote control settings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an audio device that is a component of an audio system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a front panel of the audio device.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a rear panel of the audio device.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing a front panel of a remote control transmitter for remotely controlling the audio device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contents of an assignment information table stored in a RAM of the audio device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a P which is a component of the audio system.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of C.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for setting a function to be assigned to a customize button of the remote control transmitter, which is executed by the PC.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displayed by application software for controlling the audio device executed by the PC.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when a function to be assigned to the customize button is set.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when a function to be assigned to the customize button is set.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when a function to be assigned to the customize button is set.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when a function to be assigned to the customize button is set.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when a function to be assigned to the customize button is set.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when a function to be assigned to the customize button is set.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when a function to be assigned to the customize button is set.

FIG. 16 shows P stored in the hard disk of the PC.
It is a figure showing the contents of the C side allocation information table.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a steady process executed by the audio device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the PC to control the PC using the remote control transmitter.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a modification of the assignment information table.

FIG. 20 is an external view showing a front panel of a modified example of the remote control transmitter.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system for performing customization setting of the customization button using the Internet.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when performing customization setting of the customization button using the Internet.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC when performing customization setting of the customization button using the Internet.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 audio device 101 CPU 102
... ROM, 103 ... RAM (storage means), 150 ...
... Remote control transmitters 167a, 167b,
167c: Customize button, 200: PC, 2
20 CPU 221 RAM 223 Hard disk

Claims (14)

[Claims] A receiving means for receiving the control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter for transmitting one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation; A storage unit for storing allocation information indicating the content, and when a control signal is received by the receiving unit, a control process of the content allocated to the received control signal based on the allocation information stored in the storage unit. A method for setting allocation information to be stored in said storage means in an audio device comprising: a control processing execution means to be executed, wherein the computer system assigns the control signal according to an instruction input from a user. A creating step of creating setting information indicating the computer system, wherein the computer system is created in the creating step. Transmitting the setting information to the audio device via a communication unit, the audio device receiving the setting information transmitted from the computer system assigning information to the storage unit according to the received setting information. And a writing step of writing remote control contents. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the creating step, setting information for assigning a plurality of control processes among control processes individually executable in the audio device to one control signal is created. How to set the remote control contents of the audio equipment described in. 3. The storage means can store the contents of control processing assigned to one control signal for each of a plurality of conditions, and the control processing execution means can control the control signal by the receiving means. When receiving, when the control processing of the content assigned to the condition that is satisfied at the time among the plurality of conditions is configured to be executed, in the creating step, for one control signal, 3. The remote control content setting method for an audio device according to claim 1, wherein setting information for allocating the content of control processing for each of a plurality of conditions is created. 4. The computer system receives recommendation information indicating recommended assignment contents to the control signal from a server via a network, notifies the user of the received recommendation information, and instructs the user to create the setting information. 4. The remote control content setting method for an audio device according to claim 1, further comprising a recommended information receiving step of prompting an input. 5. A receiving means for receiving the control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter for transmitting one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation, and a control process for the control signal assigned to the control signal. A storage unit for storing allocation information indicating the content, and when a control signal is received by the receiving unit, a control process of the content allocated to the received control signal based on the allocation information stored in the storage unit. An apparatus for setting allocation information to be stored in said storage means in an audio device comprising: a control processing execution means to be executed, wherein the setting indicating the content of control processing to be allocated to the control signal in accordance with an instruction input from a user Creating means for creating information; and the audio device through communication means for the setting information created by the creating means. Remote control content setting apparatus of an audio device, characterized by a transmitting means for transmitting to. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said creating means creates setting information for assigning a plurality of control processes among control processes individually executable in said audio device to one control signal. A remote control content setting device for an audio device according to item 1. 7. The storage means can store the contents of a control process assigned to one control signal for each of a plurality of conditions, and the control processing execution means can control the control signal by the receiving means. When being received, when performing the control process of the content assigned to the condition that is satisfied at the time among the plurality of conditions, the creating means, for one control signal, 7. The remote control content setting device for an audio device according to claim 5, wherein setting information for allocating the content of the control processing for each of a plurality of conditions is created. 8. A recommendation receiving means for receiving recommendation information indicating recommended assignment contents to the control signal from a server via a network, and notifying a user of the recommendation information received by the recommendation reception means to the user, and setting the setting information. 8. The remote control content setting device for an audio device according to claim 5, further comprising a notifying unit for prompting input of an instruction for creation. 9. A receiving means for receiving the control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter for transmitting one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation, and a control process assigned to the control signal. A storage unit for storing allocation information indicating the content, and when a control signal is received by the receiving unit, a control process of the content allocated to the received control signal based on the allocation information stored in the storage unit. An audio device comprising: a control processing executing means for executing, wherein the recording medium stores a program to be executed by a computer system to set allocation information to be stored in the storage means, wherein the program is executed in accordance with an instruction input from a user. A creation process for creating setting information indicating the content of a control process assigned to a control signal; Recording medium and a transmission processing to record a program to be executed by the computer system that transmits the setting information to the audio device via the communication means has been. 10. An audio system comprising an audio device controllable by a remote control transmitter for transmitting one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation, and a computer system connected to the audio device. A receiving unit that receives the control signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter; and a control processing unit that executes a control process assigned to the control signal received by the receiving unit. A transmission unit that transmits a control signal received by the reception unit from the electronic device to the computer system, wherein the computer system receives a control signal transmitted from the electronic device; Received by the computer-side receiving means An audio system comprising: a computer-side control processing unit that executes control processing based on a control signal. 11. The audio device includes transmission setting storage means for storing transmission setting information indicating whether to transmit a control signal received by the receiving means to the computer system. Transmitting the control signal to the computer system, and not transmitting the control signal to the computer system, when transmission setting information indicating transmission to the computer system is stored in the transmission setting storage unit. If transmission setting information to the effect is stored,
The audio system according to claim 10, wherein the control processing unit performs control processing of contents assigned to a control signal received by the receiving unit. 12. The audio device further comprises transmission setting rewriting means for rewriting the storage contents of the transmission setting storage means based on a control signal from the remote control transmitter received by the receiving means. The audio system according to claim 11, wherein: 13. The computer-side control processing means,
13. The audio system according to claim 10, wherein the operation of application software related to the audio device is controlled. 14. A receiving means for receiving the control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter for transmitting one or more types of control signals in response to a user operation, and a control signal for receiving the control signal received by the receiving means. A method for controlling a computer system connected to an audio device including a control processing execution unit that executes a control process assigned to the electronic device, wherein the reception unit of the electronic device controls the transmission from the remote control transmitter. A receiving step of receiving a signal; a transmitting step of transmitting a control signal received by the receiving unit from the electronic device to the computer system; and the computer system controlling based on the control signal transmitted from the electronic device. Control processing steps for executing processing. Computer system control method.