JP2002232971A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from getting unease or from making unnecessary operations when it takes much time until a prescribed picture appears in the case that an Internet TV system incorporating an Internet connection unit is connected to the Internet by a remote controller. SOLUTION: When a user operates the remote controller 4 to be connected to the Internet and desires a picture of a desired WWW site, the user enters or selects a URL of the site and the remote controller 4 transmits the information with an infrared ray to a receiver side. The desired picture often takes much time until it appears and a long waiting time is needed. Then the remote controller 4 starts counting when receiving a WWW site access from the user and deactivates functions of operation buttons other than 'cancellation' and 'end'. When no desired picture appears even a lapse of a prescribed time, the remote controller 4 informs a user about a state of access waiting. A display section 47 visually displays this notice for the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device used for audio systems, TVs, VCRs, etc., which are now widely used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic devices such as TVs and video decks have become multifunctional, and accordingly, remote control devices for controlling them have become complicated in push button operation. For example, a device called an Internet TV in which a TV has a built-in Internet connection device can display a TV broadcast image and an Internet image on a display screen. A system that can be controlled by a remote control device has been proposed.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-032887 discloses a "two-way remote control transmitter", in which two infrared transmitters are provided at one end and at the center, and each of them has a television operation function and an Internet operation function. There is disclosed a technology that allows the device to be used in two types of modes. Also,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-313262 discloses a technology in which a remote control device is provided with a transmission microphone and a reception speaker, and a telephone function is enabled by a television receiver capable of receiving both TV broadcasting and the Internet. Have been.

[0004]

However, in such a remote control device, a plurality of button operations are performed over time, and a desired function can be finally obtained. The number of inputs and the time required for inputting are becoming a heavy burden.
As an alternative to such a conventional push-button input method, a voice input device has attracted attention. There is an advantage that a desired function can be directly specified by a voice instruction, and the operation is simplified.

[0005] On the other hand, in the Internet TV, it is necessary to access a WWW site. Even if a dedicated line is used, unlike a video of a TV broadcast, it often takes time to display a desired image. But,
Since the screen does not move during access, there is a risk that the user may become anxious over time or inadvertently perform another input during that time. When the input means is voice, the danger is further increased because the operation is simple. Therefore, an appropriate interface is required for the operation process of the remote controller.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device in consideration of a user interface.

[0007]

In a remote control device according to the present invention, a remote control device having a voice input function is provided. And a notifying means for notifying the user that the function realization waiting time is being reached when the clocking means measures a predetermined time until the function is realized.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an Internet TV system incorporating an Internet connection device to which the present invention can be applied. The Internet TV system includes a display device 1, an Internet connection device 2, a telephone line or a dedicated line 3, and a remote control device 4. Become.

FIG. 2 shows a remote control device with a voice input function according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a voice input unit 41, a power on / off button 42,
An operation button 43 including at least numeric keys of 0 to 9; a volume control button 44; a menu selection button 45 having pointing means for moving / designating a cursor; a determination button 46; a display unit 47;

FIG. 3 shows a remote control device with a voice input function according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a voice input unit 41, a power on / off button 42,
An operation button 43 including at least numeric keys 0 to 9; a volume control button 44; a menu selection button 45 having pointing means for moving and specifying a cursor; a determination button 46; a notification sound output unit 49; I have.

2 and 3 incorporate an electronic control circuit and a voice recognition circuit (not shown), and various operation buttons 42 for controlling electronic equipment are provided on the surface.
To 46 are arranged. The voice input unit 41 has a built-in transmission microphone. Further, an infrared transmitting section 48 is arranged from the top to the back of the main body.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the functions of the erroneous operation prevention means in the remote control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention when the function realization time is longer than a certain time in the Internet mode.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. First, when a user uses an Internet TV system incorporating the Internet connection device 2 as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the control is performed by the remote control device 4. The remote control device 4 takes the form of FIG. 2 or 3 and the user presses a button or
Operate by voice input.

First, when the power is turned on and a TV broadcast is to be received, a number corresponding to each broadcast channel is selected and determined as before, the information is sent to the receiver side by infrared rays, and the desired channel is transmitted. Video can be obtained. Adjust the volume if necessary. In this case, it is obvious that there is almost no waiting time from the input operation until the desired function is realized.

On the other hand, when a user wants to obtain a screen of a desired WWW site by connecting to the Internet, the UR of the WWW site is input by using a number, pointing means, or voice input.
L is input or selected and determined (steps S1 to S3 in FIG. 4), and the information is sent to the receiver side by infrared rays. Here, unlike a TV image, a desired image often takes a long time to be displayed, and furthermore, the image does not move at all, or although it is apparent at the beginning of the display,
The image may look corrupted. For this reason, the user may be anxious or frustrated, and may inadvertently perform another operation by voice input or the like during the waiting time.

In the remote control device 4 according to the present embodiment, timing is started when a user inputs a WWW site access, and "cancel" is further performed.
The functions of the operation buttons other than “end” are invalidated (step S4, step S5, step S6). The timing means
Recent TVs and videos have a built-in timer function, so they can be easily realized. Set a fixed time in advance that humans do not have to wait for ergonomics or psychology, and if the desired image has not been obtained after a longer time, it is still waiting for access Is notified to the user (step S7, step S8, step S9).

This notification is made by displaying it on the display unit 47 in the case of the remote control device 4 shown in FIG. As a display method, sentences, characters, symbols,
Visual display such as a method of displaying marks, pictures, colors, etc. alone or in combination, a method of changing colors or blinking using LEDs etc., a method of combining the former and the latter Can be considered. These can be realized by existing technologies.

The remote control device 4 shown in FIG.
If so, the notification sound output unit 49 notifies that the access waiting time is in progress. As the notification method, a method of using an electronic sound, a method of reproducing a recorded voice, a method of outputting a sentence or phrase synthesized by voice, a method of using music or a song, and the like, may be audibly displayed. It is also possible to set a notification sound selected by the user in advance. These can be realized by existing technologies installed in alarm clocks, answering machines, voice synthesis software, recording / reproducing machines, and the like.

As described above, by notifying the user that the phenomenon that the screen does not move or appears broken during the access waiting time is not due to an operation error of the user, the user can still spend a certain amount of time. You can know that you need to wait for access. Further, an operation error is particularly effective because it is likely to occur in the case of an input operation by voice.

During access, "cancel" and "end"
Since the functions of the operation buttons other than are disabled, even if the user inadvertently performs another operation during the waiting time,
Nothing happens other than "cancel" and "end", and the user never loses his place surfing the Internet.

When the access is completed and the user enters the desired WW
When the image of the W site can be obtained, all the operation buttons of the remote control device 4 are reset to be valid. Then, the process returns to the standby state for the next user input (step S10, step S1).

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when it takes a certain time from the input operation of the user to the realization of the desired function, the user is notified that the function is in the waiting time for realizing the function. Therefore, even if it takes time, the screen of the display does not move during that time, or the image is halfway in the meantime, the user will not change the state without operation mistake etc. It is possible to understand that there is, and it is possible to remove anxiety.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the input state at the present stage is visually displayed on the input state display means, the user can perform an operation with a sense of security and especially during the waiting time for realizing the function. In such a case, the fact is indicated by visual means, so that the user can understand that the state is not an operation error or the like, but a state of being accessed, and can remove anxiety. Also, since it is visual information, it is particularly convenient for people with hearing impairments.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the input state display means always displays the state of the user's operation, not only during the function realization waiting time, the user can determine which position of the operation process the user is in. It is possible to perform the operation while grasping the presence of the user. In addition, the display method includes sentences, characters,
Various methods are available, such as symbols, marks, pictures, colors, and blinking. It is possible.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the input state at the current stage is audibly indicated by the notification sound output means.
The user can perform operations with peace of mind, and especially when the function is in the waiting time, the user will be notified of the fact by audio means. You can understand and remove anxiety. Further, since the information is auditory information, it is particularly convenient for a visually impaired person.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the notification sound output means can always notify the state of the user's operation, not only during the function realization waiting time, so that the user can select the position in the operation process. Operation can be performed while grasping whether or not Furthermore, various notification methods such as sound, voice, and music can be used as the notification method, and it is possible to cope with infants who do not understand the meaning of spoken words and persons who are blind.

According to the sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, when it takes a certain time from the user's input operation to the realization of the desired function, the user becomes uneasy and “cancels” or “cancels” during the waiting time. Even if you make an erroneous operation other than "end", the operation is regarded as invalid, so that you can obtain the desired function without losing the original desired function or losing your current input state Is possible.

According to the invention described in claim 8, in an Internet TV system having an Internet connection device, when a user performs an input operation for obtaining a WWW site screen by connecting to the Internet using a remote control device. Until the screen is actually displayed, it is possible to notify the user that the function is waiting for the function to be realized, so that it may take a long time, the display screen does not move during that time, Even if the image is half-finished, the user can understand that the state is not an operation error or the like but is being accessed, and it is possible to remove anxiety.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent an erroneous input operation that is likely to occur in the case of a remote control device that performs an operation by voice input.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an Internet TV system to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation for preventing a malfunction in the Internet mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 display device 2 internet connection device 3 telephone line or dedicated line 4 remote control device 41 voice input unit 42 power on / off button 43 operation button 44 volume control button 45 menu selection button 46 enter button 47 display unit 48 infrared transmission unit 49 notification Sound output section

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A timer for starting clocking based on an input operation by a user, and a function realizing wait when the timer measures a predetermined time from the input operation until a target function is realized. A remote control device for notifying a user that time is running. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said notifying means includes an input state notifying means for notifying an input state. 3. The input state display means displays visual information such as a sentence, a character, a symbol, a mark, a picture, a color, and a blinking state of an input wait state, a state during an input operation, and a state during a function realization wait time. The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein each of the information is displayed by the following. 4. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification sound output means for notifying by a sound that the function realization waiting time is in progress. 5. The notifying sound output unit notifies the input waiting state, the state during the input operation, and the state during the function realization waiting time by sound information such as sound, voice, and music. The remote control device according to claim 4, wherein 6. An erroneous operation preventing means for preventing a user from obtaining an original target function due to an erroneous input operation other than “cancel” and “end” during the function realization waiting time is provided. The remote control device according to claim 1. 7. The remote control device according to claim 6, wherein the erroneous operation input unit invalidates input operations other than “cancel” and “end” by a user. 8. The target function of the input operation includes:
In an Internet TV system having an Internet connection device, a user connects to the Internet and
The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the remote control device is a function for obtaining a screen of a WW site. 9. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising voice input operation means for performing the input operation by a user's voice.