JP2002291066A - Mobile information device, reservation control method, reservation control program, and memory for storing the reservation control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reservation control method in which a user stores only instruction contents at a visit place into a mobile information device and transfers the instruction contents to an instruction object device after the user returns home and direct communications with the instruction object device becomes available. SOLUTION: The mobile information device 20, 40 or 50 acquires reservation information to reserve video recording or contents downloading or the like by the instruction object device 61, 62, 63 or 64 from the outside and stores the reservation information into the mobile information device temporarily. When the instruction object device thereafter enters a near distance communication range with the mobile information device, the mobile information device transfers the instruction contents corresponding to the reservation information to the instruction object device through near distance communications.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a PDA (Personal
Digital Assistant), a portable information device that performs reservation control such as program recording reservation and content download from a portable information device such as a mobile phone, a reservation control method, a reservation control program, and a reservation control program It relates to a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable information devices (mobile devices) such as PDAs and mobile phones have made it possible to view electronic program guides (EPG) via the Internet or the like. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, usually, the program information is simply checked, and at present it is not possible to cooperate with the recording device.

[0003] Further, an electronic program guide is viewed via the Internet like a personal computer (PC) having a recording function as shown in FIG. 2 and a reservation is made therefrom using a recording system of the PC itself. Some perform recording and the like. However, this system does not cooperate with a PDA or a mobile device.

[0004] VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) and DV
Some independent recording devices such as D (Digital Versatile Disc) recorders also use terrestrial VBI (Verti
calBlanking Interval), BS (Broadcast Satellite),
In some cases, scheduled recording is performed in conjunction with an electronic program guide using a vacant portion of CS (Communication Satellite) data. As a method of instructing these devices to perform scheduled recording from outside, there is a method of controlling a modem of a recording device by using a telephone tone signal (DTMF signal) from outside. However, this is not linked with an electronic program guide or the like.

[0005]

Further, there is a method in which these are combined, and a mobile device such as a PDA directly gives an instruction on demand to a target device via a mobile phone. However, depending on the location, communication becomes impossible or there is a problem of communication cost. For example, a desired instruction cannot be given on demand from a place where communication is prohibited or communication is impossible, such as in a train or in a tunnel.

[0006] Also, as in the case of a PDA shown in FIG. 3 (a), in combination with a mobile phone, on-demand download of moving image contents, music contents, electronic books, and download-type contents provided by an application service provider (ASP). Similarly, in some cases, the intended purpose may not be achieved depending on the communication situation, and the devices are usually not linked. The same applies to a high-performance mobile phone that also has a PDA function as shown in FIG. Further, FIG.
In the case of the silicon audio device (or solid audio device) described above, there is a similar problem when performing on-demand download of music content or the like from this device via a mobile phone or the like. In addition, at present, due to restrictions on communication speed and storage data capacity of mobile devices,
Sometimes you want to download on a non-portable device at home.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to transfer an instruction content after the user can store only the instruction content in a portable information device and go directly to the instruction target device such as after returning home. Portable information equipment, reservation control method,
It is an object to provide a reservation control program and a reservation control program storage medium.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a portable information device according to the present invention is provided with a first information for externally acquiring reservation information for giving an instruction to an instruction target device.
Communication means, a storage means for temporarily storing the reservation information, a second communication means for communicating with an instruction target device located at a relatively short distance, and the second communication means When it becomes possible to communicate with the target device,
Control means for transferring the instruction content corresponding to the reservation information to the instruction target device.

[0009] The reservation information can be obtained by a user of the portable information device from outside, for example, at a location outside the home, for example, from a network connected by first communication means. If the instruction target device is a recording device, the reservation information may be program recording reservation information. Further, when the instruction target device is an information processing device connected to a network, the reservation information may be reservation information for downloading content via the network. The instruction target device is usually a non-portable device located at the user's home or the like, and when the second communication unit becomes communicable with the instruction target device such as when the user returns home. To
By transmitting the instruction content corresponding to the reservation information to the instruction target device, the reservation is controlled. In this reservation control, for example, in the case of a program recording reservation, the reservation is inherited by the instruction target device. If the content is to be downloaded, the download is executed in the instruction target device in accordance with the instruction.

[0010] The control means determines the on-demand property of the reservation of the reservation information, and when it determines that the reservation information has the on-demand property, the first communication means sends the instruction content to the instruction target device. May be transmitted.
According to the present invention, it is assumed that, in principle, the reservation information is simply stored in the portable information device when the user is out of the office, and the instruction to the instruction target device is performed later by the second communication means. However, depending on the contents of the reservation, it is possible to give an instruction to the instruction target device by the first communication means even when going out.

[0011] A reservation control method and a reservation control program according to the present invention are directed to a reservation control method for performing reservation control of an instruction to an instruction target device in a portable information device. Obtaining reservation information from the outside, temporarily storing the reservation information, monitoring whether the instruction target device is in a state where short-range communication is possible from the portable information device, and Transferring the instruction content corresponding to the reservation information to the instruction target device by short-distance communication when a distance communication is possible.

The present invention can also be grasped as a reservation control program storage medium storing such a reservation control program. As a program storage medium used to install such a computer program in a portable information device and make it executable, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD
-Not only package media such as ROM and DVD, but also semiconductor memories and magnetic disks in which programs are temporarily or permanently stored.

[0013]

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

FIG. 4 shows configuration examples of various systems to which the present invention is applied. This figure shows a state of cooperation between various portable information devices and non-portable information devices in the present embodiment. In this specification, the term “system” refers to a logical collection of a plurality of devices, and it does not matter whether the devices of each configuration are in the same housing. In the present invention, an electronic program guide, a download target content, a broadcast program, and the like are used for receiving communication and broadcast infrastructure, a server, and the like for receiving via a network such as the Internet, a broadcast, or the like. The illustration is omitted.

FIG. 4A shows a P as a portable information device.
DA20, disk (DVD) recorder 61 for video recording (recording) as a non-portable information device, HDD
(Hard Disc Drive) shows a combination with a recorder 62, a video cassette recorder (VCR) 63 and the like. The communication interface 31 between the devices is an interface for performing short-distance communication over a relatively short distance (for example, about several meters to several tens of meters). For wireless communication, Bluetooth (trademark) (trademark), IEEE802.11,
If it is wired, such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association), i. LlNK (trademark), USB (Universal Serial Bu
s), serial modems, etc. are conceivable. From the viewpoint of convenience, a wireless interface is preferable. In this combination, the user connects to a server on the network using an external communication device such as a mobile phone (if the PDA 20 has a built-in communication means), and obtains an electronic program guide when going out. And make a reservation based on it. By this reservation act, the program recording reservation information is temporarily stored in the PDA 20. After returning home, the PDA 20 controls the non-portable device such as a reservation instruction from the PDA 20 via the communication interface 31 based on the accumulated information.

FIG. 4B shows a combination of a silicon audio device 50 as a portable information device and a digital television device 65 (or a set-top box (STB)) as an information processing device having a satellite broadcast receiving function. ing. The silicon audio device 50 is a device for recording and reproducing music content (music data) using a static storage device such as a semiconductor memory, and the communication interface between the devices is the same as that in FIG. . In this case, the user also connects to a music distribution server or the like on the network using an external communication device such as a mobile phone (if a communication device is built-in, the communication device if built-in) at a place where the user is away from home. For example, information for specifying a download target is obtained, and the download instruction is temporarily stored in the silicon audio device 50 as reservation information. After returning home, the user issues a download instruction from the silicon audio device 50 to the digital television device 65 via the communication interface 31 based on the stored information. Of course, the music data downloaded by the digital television set 65 is transmitted to the communication interface 3.
1 to a silicon audio device 50 and stored in an internal storage device, for example, a portable memory 51 such as a memory stick (trademark of Sony Corporation). The music data stored in the memory 51 can be reproduced and listened through the headphones 52.

FIG. 4C shows a combination of the high-performance portable telephone 40 as a portable information device and an information processing device (PC) as a home gateway 10. The home gateway 10 is connected to the above-described various recorders 61, 62, 63, the digital television 65, and the like, and can perform communication with them and control thereof.

The combination of the portable information device and the non-portable information device shown in FIG. 4 is merely an example, and various other combinations are possible. For example, the PDA 20 or the silicon audio device 50 can be combined with the home gateway 10. Various recorders 61, 62, 6 from the mobile phone 40 via the communication interface 31.
3 can also be controlled.

As the recording reservation information, for example, a broadcast channel, a broadcast start time, a broadcast end time, a program name and the like are used as information for specifying a broadcast program. The contents of broadcast programs to be video-recorded include terrestrial broadcasting,
It can be obtained from satellite broadcasting, cable TV, Internet broadcasting, and the like. As the download reservation information of the content, the location of the download target (for example, URL)
And information for specifying the content such as the content name. Such download reservation information is stored in XML (eXt
The user interface can be improved by transferring data from the server to the portable information device by using a tag-based mechanism such as ensible Markup Language).

FIG. 5 shows an example of a schematic internal configuration of a PDA 20 as an example of a portable information device used in the present embodiment. The PDA 20 provides a ROM 102, a graphic controller 103, and a touch panel controller 10 to a CPU 101 which controls the entire device.
6, a RAM 108, a communication interface 109, and a short-range communication device 110 are connected via a bus 111. The ROM 102 is a read-only memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 101 and fixed data in a nonvolatile manner. This is Flash RO
It may be a writable memory such as M. RA
M108 is a generally volatile readable and writable memory used as a temporary storage area and a work area for data by the CPU 101. Graphic controller 10
Reference numeral 3 denotes a display device 1 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) which writes display data obtained from the outside into the VRAM 105 under the control of the CPU 101 and reads out the read data.
04. Touch panel controller 106
Controls the touch panel 107 under the control of the CPU 101, detects a user operation on the touch panel 107, and transmits the input information to the CPU 101. Touch panel 107
In addition, an input device such as a keyboard may be separately provided. Here, the communication interface 109 is a communication interface that can perform communication with a server that provides reservation information for program recording and content download, and includes, for example, a PDC (Peronal Digital Cellular),
PIAFS (PHS Internet Access Forum Standard), W
CDMA (W-Code Division Multiple Access), CDM
A2000, means for performing communication such as HDR (High Data Rate). In the case of a portable information device such as a PDA, the communication interface 109 may be an interface for temporarily connecting to an external communication device and using its communication function. The short-range communication device 110 corresponds to the communication interface 31 described in FIG.
As mentioned earlier, in the case of wireless, Bluetooth
oth) (trademark), IEEE 802.11 series, IrDA
I. LINK (trademark), USB, serial modem, and the like are conceivable. Although not shown, the CP
It is assumed that U101 has a clock function for generating current date and time information.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a schematic internal configuration of a recording device 200 as an instruction target device in the present embodiment. The recording device 200 includes the recorder 6 described above.
1, 62, 63 and the like. Recording equipment 2
00, a ROM 202, a TV broadcast receiving circuit 203, a video recording device 205, a display device 206, a RAM 209, a communication interface 210, a short-range communication device 211,
A DROM 212 is connected via a bus 220. The ROM 202 is a read-only memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 201 and fixed data in a nonvolatile manner, and may be a writable memory such as a flash ROM as described above.
The RAM 209 is a generally volatile readable and writable memory used as a temporary storage area and a work area for data by the CPU 201. The TV broadcast receiving circuit 203
Broadcast radio waves such as terrestrial waves and satellite waves are received from the antenna 204, and demodulation, decoding, and processing such as (decompression for digitally compressed signals) are performed to reproduce video and audio signals. The video recording device 205 records the reproduced video and audio signals on a recording medium such as a disk, HDD, or magnetic tape. The display device 206 is a display such as a CRT and an LCD. The communication interface 210 is for receiving an on-demand reservation instruction from a portable information device, and includes, for example, an analog modem, a cable modem, and the like. The ID ROM 212 is a ROM that stores information for identifying what the apparatus 200 is.

FIG. 7 shows a data format in the ID ROM 212 as an example. In this example, the ID ROM 212
Is the device type 212a, the vendor ID 212b,
Unique ID 212c, software version 212
d, standard data 212e, and vendor-specific data 212f. Such information is useful when accessing from a portable information device, when the control content differs depending on the partner device to be accessed, and is also useful for selecting and identifying a connection partner.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of reservation control by the portable information device and processing related thereto in the present embodiment. In this example, processing of a portable information device such as a PDA is assumed.

First, the user obtains an electronic program guide from a portable information device through a network such as the Internet, using an external communication device (or a communication device if a communication device is provided) (S10). ), And accepts a reservation instruction based on the content (S11). As described above, the reservation information includes, for example, a channel for recording reservation, a program name,
The start and end times are stored locally in the portable information device (S12). In the case of downloading content such as music content, a download target list or the like is used instead of the electronic program guide.

Next, it is determined whether or not this instruction has on-demand characteristics (S13). The following can be considered as a criterion and method for this determination. (1) Based on the time from the current time to the reservation execution start time. This is a case where the user waits for an instruction in consideration of the reservation execution start time input by the user, that is, does not immediately issue the instruction, but waits until the time to give the instruction comes. If it is not possible to make a reservation immediately, it is determined that the instruction content has on-demand properties. (2) By comparing with a user's schedule in a PIM (Personal Information Manager) database. When a user's schedule is obtained as information stored in a device such as a portable information device such as a PDA or a mobile phone, the on-demand availability of the reservation is determined by judging the information according to the current date and time. Can be determined. For example, schedule content (location and time)
, It can be determined whether the user is at home at the time. Note that the schedule information is based on the R
Stored in the AM 108 (FIG. 5).

If the content of the reservation instruction has an on-demand property, it is determined whether or not there is a device capable of external communication such as a mobile phone outside (body) (S15). The external communication here refers to transmitting instruction data to the instruction target device by connecting to the instruction target device or connecting to the home gateway through a telephone network or the like. If the portable information device has a built-in communication means, the device capable of such external communication may use it. Next, it is determined whether the externally communicable device is ready for communication with a communication partner (S16). If communication is not possible due to out of service area or according to the communication state, it waits until communication becomes possible. However, when communication cannot be performed after a plurality of attempts, the present process may be terminated. In that case, the user is notified of the message to that effect. If communication is possible (if any), communication is started (S17). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S19 described below.

If it is determined in step S13 that the content of the instruction does not have the on-demand property, the instruction target device appears in the vicinity (in other words, the user enters a predetermined distance range with respect to the instruction target device). Up to) (S1
4) Monitor whether communication by the short-range communication device 110 is possible or not (S18). However, during that time, it is monitored in step S13 whether or not the content of the instruction changes to one having on-demand properties as time elapses. When the instruction target device exists around and becomes communicable with the device, a network connection is established between the portable information device and the instruction target device such as a recording device (S1).
9). It is to be noted that the step S19 is replaced by the step S1.
It should be noted that the type of network to be established differs depending on whether the process proceeds from step S7 or step S18. The former is the first communication interface 10.
9 is a network using a telephone network or the like, and the latter is a network using a short-range communication device 110.

Then, the contents of the instruction are transmitted to the instruction target device (S20). This instruction content may be the reservation information itself stored in the portable information device, or may be a processed version of the reservation information. When the instruction contents have been transferred (S21, Yes), a response from the instruction target device is received (S22), and the network is disconnected (S2).
3), end this processing.

According to the present embodiment, the user does not care about the state of the communication infrastructure, for example, when he notices on the go, such as in a train, or when he happens to be browsing an electronic program guide. It is possible to make a reservation for recording a program or download a content such as music or video. At this time, as long as there is no urgent need, by not giving the on-demand type instruction, it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned adverse effects on the use of the communication carrier. In addition, there is no need to worry about charging for communication.

Under conditions where the communication speed in a mobile environment using a portable information device is not sufficient, it is considered that a device at home has a sufficient communication speed in many cases. In such a case, for example, BS (Broadcasting Sa
It is conceivable to use broadcasting (streaming) such as tellite) and CS (Communication Satellite) digital. Also, xDSL (x Digital Subscri
ber Line), cable modem, FTTH (Fiber To The H)
For example, it is conceivable to download data via a set-top box or a digital television device in accordance with an instructed reservation using high-speed transfer by an optical fiber such as an optical fiber.

In the above embodiment, the description has been made centering on a PDA or a mobile phone. However, an intelligent universal commander as a multifunctional learning remote controller capable of accessing data such as an electronic program guide on a network such as the Internet is provided.
The present invention can be applied also to this. This intelligent universal commander can be shared by a plurality of instruction target devices of different vendors. In this specification, the term “portable information device” is used in a broad sense including such a device.

[0032]

According to the present invention, it is possible not only to make a reservation for instruction control of an instruction target device at an arbitrary desired time even when going out, but also to use the instruction target device by using the reservation information after returning home. Can be controlled in cooperation with each other. By not executing the instruction to the instruction target device as soon as possible at the time of reservation, it is not necessary to worry about the communication state and the billing for the instruction to the instruction target device using the communication network.

The reservation information is created based on an electronic program guide, a download target list, and the like obtained from the outside, and thereafter, the instruction control is performed on the instruction target device using the reservation information. Therefore, the user can perform accurate reservation control without having to store the reservation information itself.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an electronic program guide is displayed on a display screen of a PDA.

FIG. 2 shows a personal computer (P) having a recording function.
It is a figure which shows the state which displayed the electronic program guide on the display screen of C).

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are diagrams for explaining a communication function of the portable information device. FIGS.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are diagrams showing states of cooperation between various portable information devices and non-portable information devices according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic internal configuration of a PDA as an example of a portable information device used in the embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic internal configuration of a PDA as an example of a portable information device used in an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a data format in an ID ROM shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a reservation by the portable information device and a process related thereto in the embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Home gateway, 20 ... PDA, 31 ... Communication interface, 40 ... Cellular phone, 50 ... Silicon (solid) audio device, 61 ... Disc recorder, 6
2: HDD recorder, 63: VCR, 65: Digital television (DTV)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/00 H04N 7/173 610Z 7/173 610 H04B 7/26 RF term (Reference) 5C056 AA01 BA08 CA08 CA11 CA20 DA00 EA05 5C064 BA01 BA07 BB07 BC06 BC16 BC18 BC20 BC23 BC25 BD02 BD07 BD08 BD09 5K048 BA04 BA13 DB01 DC01 DC07 EB02 EB11 FC01 HA01 HA02 5K067 AA34 BB21 BB41 FF02 HH17 5K101 KK18 LL01 LL11

Claims (9)

[Claims] A first communication unit for externally acquiring reservation information for giving an instruction to the instruction target device; a storage unit for temporarily storing the reservation information; A second communication unit for communicating with the instruction target device; and when the second communication unit becomes communicable with the instruction target device, an instruction content corresponding to the reservation information is transmitted. Control means for transferring the information to the instruction target device. 2. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein said instruction target device is a recording device, and said reservation information is program recording reservation information. 3. The portable type device according to claim 1, wherein the instruction target device is an information processing device connected to a network, and the reservation information is reservation information for downloading a content via the network. Information equipment. 4. The control means determines the on-demand property of the reservation of the reservation information, and when the control means determines that the reservation information has the on-demand property, the first communication means communicates with the instruction target device by the first communication means. 2. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the instruction content is transmitted. 5. A system further comprising: clock means for outputting current date and time information, wherein the control means determines whether the on-demand property exists.
5. The portable information device according to claim 4, wherein the process is performed based on a time from a current time to a reservation execution start time. 6. A system further comprising: clock means for outputting current date and time information; and means for storing schedule information of a user, wherein the control means determines whether the on-demand property is present or not.
5. The portable information device according to claim 4, wherein the process is performed based on the current date and time information and the schedule information. 7. A reservation control method for performing a reservation control of an instruction to an instruction target device in a portable information device, the method comprising: acquiring externally reservation information for reserving an instruction of the instruction target device; Temporarily storing the reservation information; monitoring whether the instruction target device is in a state where short-range communication is possible from the portable information device; and when the short-range communication is possible. Transferring the instruction content corresponding to the reservation information to the instruction target device by short-range communication. 8. A reservation control program for performing reservation control of an instruction to an instruction target device in a portable information device, the method comprising: acquiring externally reservation information for reserving an instruction of the instruction target device; Temporarily storing the reservation information; monitoring whether the instruction target device is in a state where short-range communication is possible from the portable information device; and when the short-range communication is possible. Transferring the instruction content corresponding to the reservation information to the instruction target device by short-distance communication. 9. A program storage medium for storing a reservation control program for performing reservation control of an instruction to an instruction target device in a portable information device, wherein the reservation information for reserving the instruction of the instruction target device is stored in an external device. Acquiring the reservation information; temporarily storing the reservation information; monitoring whether the instruction target device is in a state where short-range communication is possible from the portable information device; And a program storage medium storing a reservation control program for executing, when the state is reached, the step of transferring the instruction content corresponding to the reservation information to the instruction target device by short-range communication.