JP2003018680A - Information provider and remote operation control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To down load menu information provided by an apparatus installed in a town or a department house for shopping, etc., from the apparatus and interactively draw out the information. SOLUTION: Picture data of operating menus transmitted from a controlled apparatus being an information providing apparatus are received by a data receiver 15, stored in a memory 18 and displayed on a display 12. One touches a touch coordinate detector 12 in connection with operating buttons, etc., on the displayed picture to input coordinate data which are then sent to the controlled apparatus via a data transmitter 14. The controlled apparatus provides information connected with coordinates of the touch coordinate data on the displayed picture, based thereon.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises an information providing device which can be utilized for the purpose of extracting information from a remote controller, a remote controller and a controlled device which is remotely controlled by the remote controller. The present invention relates to a remote control system as a system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Remote control, that is, control of various devices using an operation device for remote control, that is, a so-called remote controller or remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote operation device) is generally widely performed in daily life. There is.

In such a remote operation control system or remote operation control device comprising a remote operation device and a controlled device, the remote operation device used is convenient even for a user who has no special knowledge. So that you can enjoy
It is necessary to have an intuitive interface, and due to the difference in this interface, many remote controllers have been developed so far.

In recent years, even in a general household, control by a remote controller such as a television receiver, a video device such as a video tape recorder, an audio device such as a CD player, and a cooler is assumed. Since many devices are used and one or more remote controllers are associated with each of these controlled devices, many remote controllers coexist in the living environment. The use of a large number of remote control devices in this manner causes problems such as troublesome management of the remote control devices.

In order to solve such a problem, a technique for integrating the functions of a plurality of remote controllers in one remote controller has been developed. This includes not only products of the same company but also products of other companies by registering control signals of multiple remote controllers in advance or by learning control signals of multiple remote controllers. It is possible to control operation of a plurality of controlled devices by one remote controller.

[0006]

By the way, even if a plurality of controlled devices can be controlled by one remote controller in this way, there still remains a problem in terms of interface.

That is, the greatest purpose of the remote controller is to make the equipment to be controlled easy to use. For this reason, the remote operation device attached to each controlled device has been devised such as the arrangement, size, and shape of the buttons. From a user's point of view, such ingenuity helps to intuitively operate the device. From the standpoint of the user, the designer will design a remote controller with such ingenuity and provide it to the user. Therefore, there are many problems in the remote controller that cannot reflect the designer's intention. Also, as a manufacturer,
There is also an intention to provide the remote controller interface that seems to be the best for operating the controlled device. If it is difficult to understand how to use the provided remote control device, it is also desirable to provide a new interface after reflecting the opinions of the user.

However, these problems cannot be solved by simply registering control signals or learning them.

In addition, when a new product which has not been marketed until now is newly supplied to the market, this may not be handled within the framework of the existing operation, and thus a new remote controller is inevitably used. Will need to be provided. For example, as a usage pattern of the remote controller, it is possible to send and receive information to and from a device installed in a town or a department store.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and as a usage pattern of a remote controller, while downloading menu information included in a device installed in a town or a department store, An object is to provide a remote operation control system that can be used for the purpose of interactively extracting information, and an information providing device used in such a remote operation control system.

[0011]

An information providing device according to the present invention comprises a device identifying means that can be identified by a remote controller.
Storage means for storing the image data of the operation button and data related to the operation button, and data transmission means for transmitting the image data of the operation button and the data related to the operation button to the remote device. , The remote device provides information according to the data related to the data related to the operation button and the data receiving means for receiving the data related to the operation button transmitted by selecting the image of the operation button By having an information providing means, the above-mentioned subject is solved.

A remote operation control system according to the present invention comprises an information providing device and a remote operation device for remotely operating the information providing device. The information providing device can be identified by the remote operation device. Means, storage means for storing image data of the operation button and data related to the operation button, and data transmission means for transmitting the image data and data related to the operation button to the remote device. , The remote device provides information according to the data related to the data related to the operation button and the data receiving means for receiving the data related to the operation button transmitted by selecting the image of the operation button An information providing unit, wherein the remote controller has an operation input unit for performing an input for operating the information providing device; Display means for displaying image data received from the information providing device, and image data from the controlled device for displaying on the display means and data related to operation buttons are received, and the operation input means The above-mentioned problem is solved by having a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting the data related to the operation button corresponding to the operation input data to the controlled device.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below. First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit configuration of an embodiment of a remote controller used in an information providing device and a remote control system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a remote controller 10 includes a contact coordinate detecting section 11 as an operation input means for operating various controlled equipments, a display section 12 as a means for displaying a two-dimensional image, and a controlled object. As a transmission / reception unit that receives image data from the control device and displays it on the display unit 12, and transmits / receives operation input data from the contact coordinate detection unit 11 that is the operation input unit to / from the controlled device. It has a communication control unit 13, a data transmission unit 14, and a data reception unit 15. In general, an infrared light emitting diode is used for the data transmitting unit 14, and an infrared light receiving element is used for the data receiving unit 15. In addition to these, various devices such as those for transmitting and receiving radio waves and those for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves are used. Needless to say, the transmitting / receiving element of can be used.

The communication control unit 13 includes a device recognition unit 16
Is also connected, and the device recognition unit 16 recognizes or identifies the controlled device. The device recognition device 16 includes, for example, a bar code reader,
A line sensor or a CCD image pickup device can be used. The communication control unit 13 is configured to exchange data with a control unit 17 such as a microcomputer and a storage unit 18 such as a semiconductor memory, and data is also exchanged between the control unit 17 and the storage unit 18. Is exchanged.

X of the output data from the contact coordinate detector 11
The coordinates and the Y coordinate are stored in the X coordinate register 19 and the Y coordinate register 20, respectively, and then sent to the storage unit 18. The display data from the control unit 17 is sent to the display unit 12 via the frame buffer 21.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of such a remote controller 10. In FIG. 2, a touch panel display 22 is provided on the upper surface of the housing of the remote controller 10. This touch panel display 22 is the same as that shown in FIG.
1 is provided on the display surface of a two-dimensional display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a plasma display device corresponding to the display unit 2 of FIG. The touch panel has a light-transmitting property, and the display on the lower display surface is visible through the touch panel. An operation button 23 is provided at a position adjacent to the touch panel display 22 as necessary. The operation button 23 is used for, for example, an initial menu request described later.

A data transmission unit 14, a data reception unit 15, and a device recognition unit 16 are provided facing the front surface of the remote controller 10.

Next, an example of the configuration of the controlled device remotely controlled by the remote controller 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As this controlled device, for example,
Many devices such as a television receiver, a video device such as a video tape recorder, an audio device such as a CD player, a cooler, and the like are envisioned to be controlled by a remote controller.

In FIG. 3, the controlled device 30 has a device-specific hardware unit 31, and is connected to a control unit 32 such as a microcomputer to control the device-specific hardware unit 31. Data is being exchanged at. The controlled device 30 is the remote controller 1 described above.
It has a communication control unit 33, a data receiving unit 34, and a data transmitting unit 35 as transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving data to / from 0, and data is exchanged between the communication control unit 33 and the control unit 32. Be seen. The storage unit 38 exchanges data with the communication control unit 33 and with the control unit 32. In the storage unit 38, as will be described later, image data to be displayed on the display unit 12 of the remote controller 10,
For example, image data for displaying an operation panel such as an operation menu and operation buttons is stored. Further, in association with this image data, the correspondence data of the position or XY coordinate of each operation button of the displayed image and the operation or operation command associated therewith is also stored. This correspondence data may be held as a coordinate → command conversion table that outputs an operation command in response to coordinate input.

The image data stored in the storage unit 60 of the controlled device 30 is, for example, image data for displaying the operation panel surface of the operation button array similar to the dedicated remote controller of the controlled device 30. By displaying such an image on the display unit 12 of the remote controller 10, operability similar to that of a dedicated remote controller is realized. That is, when a touch panel display 22 as shown in FIG. 2 is used as the touch coordinate detection unit 11 and the display unit 12 of the remote controller 10 of FIG. 1, the displayed image is displayed because it is visible through the transparent touch panel. By touching the operation buttons with the fingers, the same operation as a dedicated remote controller can be performed. At this time, the contact coordinate detection unit 11 such as the transparent touch panel only detects the coordinates of the position where the finger or the like is touched, and therefore it is necessary to determine which operation button position in the display image this corresponds to. Is required.

This determination is made by the storage unit 60 of the controlled device 30.
The above correspondence data or the coordinate → command conversion table stored in. In this case, the remote controller 10 uses the touch coordinate data input by operation to control the controlled device 30.
Is transmitted to the controlled device 30, and the operation or operation command corresponding to the coordinate is determined on the controlled device 30 side, and the operation is executed by the hardware unit 31.

On the other hand, the correspondence data or the conversion table of the coordinates on the display image and the operation or operation command may be stored in the storage unit 18 of the remote controller 10 shown in FIG. The remote controller 10
On the side, it is determined which of the displayed operation buttons or the like has been operated, and the operation command corresponding to the operation button is transmitted from the transmission unit 14 as a remote operation control signal.

By the way, the storage unit 18 of the remote controller 10 shown in FIG. 1 can store a plurality of types of image data of the controlled device as described above, that is, image data of a plurality of controlled devices, and can be stored for a long time. If it is possible, it is not necessary to newly send the image data for the controlled device in which the image data is already stored. In this case, the image data of each controlled device is stored in the storage unit 18 together with the device identifier, and the device recognition unit 16 recognizes the identification data of the identification unit of the controlled device to be controlled and recognizes this. By determining whether or not the image data of the device having the identified identifier is already stored in the storage unit 18, it is determined whether or not the image data of the controlled device is sent. The identifier of the controlled device can be obtained by providing an identification unit such as a barcode at a predetermined position on the front surface of the controlled device, as will be described later. At this time, the device recognition unit 16 includes a barcode reader. Can be used.

Next, a specific example of an application form of the remote operation control system or the remote operation control device composed of the remote operation device and the controlled device as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. . Here, FIG. 4 shows an application example to a controlled device in a general home, and FIG. 5 shows an application example to a so-called karaoke system.

In the example of FIG. 4, the controlled equipment is
The case where the above remote controller is used in the room 51 in which the television receiver 30T, the audio device 30A, and the cooler 30C are provided is shown. The television receiver 30T is provided with the data receiving unit 34T, the data transmitting unit 35T, and the identifying unit 36T for device recognition as described above at a predetermined position where data can be transmitted and received, such as the lower front portion. A bar code or the like can be used for the identification unit 36T, and when the bar code is used, a bar code reader may be used as the device recognition unit 16 of the remote controller 10. Similarly, in the audio device 30A, at a predetermined position on the front surface where data can be transmitted and received by infrared rays,
A data receiving unit 34A, a data transmitting unit 35A, and an identifying unit 36A for device recognition are provided. Similarly, the cooler 30C is also provided with a data receiving section 34C, a data transmitting section 35C, and an identifying section 36C for device recognition.

Next, FIG. 5 shows an example of a room 52 in which a so-called karaoke system is installed. The karaoke device 30K, the speaker 30Ks, and the microphone 3 as the main body are shown.
A karaoke system is composed of 0 Km, a monitor receiver 30 Kt, and the like. In this example, the karaoke device 30K
The data receiving section 34K, the data transmitting section 35K, and the identifying section 36K for device recognition as described above are provided at predetermined positions where data can be transmitted and received by infrared rays. A bar code or the like can be used for the identification unit 36K.

A specific example of the operation of the remote operation control system or the remote operation control device comprising the above remote operation device and controlled device will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the operation in the remote controller 10, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the operation in the controlled device 30.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 6, the user of the remote controller 10 causes the remote controller 10 to recognize the controlled device 30 to be used. If the recognition is successful, the process proceeds to step S2, and the database of the recording unit 18 is searched for whether or not the controlled device 30 is already registered,
If found, go to step S3. In step S3, the initial menu image for the controlled device 30 is read into the frame buffer 21 and displayed on the display unit 12. In the example of FIG. 2, this corresponds to the touch panel display 22.

If it cannot be recognized in step S2, the process proceeds to step S4, and the data transmitting unit 14 is used to request the controlled device 30 for an initial menu screen. In response to the request, the device 30 sends a corresponding initial menu screen, and this information is sent to the data receiving unit 15.
Received by. At this time, the remote controller 10 stores and registers this initial menu screen in the database of the storage unit 18 together with the identifier of the controlled device 30. Then, it progresses to step S8 mentioned later. The image data of the initial menu screen may be, for example, image data of an operation button array of a dedicated remote controller of the controlled device 30.

In the remote controller 10, in step S5, the user touches the touch panel, that is, the contact coordinate detecting section 1
It is detected whether 1 is touched with a finger or the like. When there is contact, the process proceeds to step S6, and the coordinate position of the contacted point is detected. This is the X coordinate from the contact coordinate detection unit 11,
After being taken out as each data of the Y coordinate and these coordinates are temporarily stored in the registers 19 and 20, the storage unit 18
To the data transmission unit 1 by the communication control unit 13.
It is output from 4. At this time, the coordinate data may be sent as it is from the data transmission unit 14 to the controlled device 30, or a conversion table may be provided in the storage unit 18 to convert the coordinate data into an operation command and transmit the operation command. Good. In the example of FIG. 6, as shown in step S7, the coordinate position is transmitted, and if any command for the controlled device 30 is defined for the coordinate, the device 30 executes the command. If necessary, the image data of the menu screen to be transferred next, the information indicating the end, and the like are transmitted. Therefore, this data is received by the data receiving unit 15 of the remote controller 10.

Here, the controlled device 30 has a storage unit 38.
In addition to the above initial menu screen, image data of other menu screens corresponding to the mode selected according to the operation may be stored. In this case, the display image of the remote controller 10 may be stored according to the operation content. It is possible to perform an interactive operation such as switching.

Next, in the next step S8, the remote controller 10 determines whether or not the received data is image data. If YES, the process proceeds to step S9 to display the received image data. If NO in step S8, the process returns to step S1. After displaying the image in step S9, the process returns to step S5 to determine whether or not the touch panel is touched.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the operation in the controlled device 30, and in this controlled device 30, two types of information transmitted from the remote controller 10 are sent to the data receiving section 34. I am waiting to receive it. These two types of information are the initial image transmission request information and the contact position information in the contact coordinate detection unit 11.

First, in the first step S10 in FIG. 7, it is determined whether the received information is the initial image transmission request from the remote controller 10. If YES, that is, if it is the initial image transmission request, step S11
Then, the initial image data is transmitted from the data transmitter 35 to the remote controller 10. If NO, that is, if it is not the initial image transmission request, the process proceeds to step S12, and it is determined whether or not the position information is the coordinate data. If the data is coordinate data, the process proceeds to step S13, and the operation corresponding to the received coordinate data is defined,
That is, the database in the storage unit 38 is searched for a defined item, and if it is found, the process proceeds to step S14 and the operation corresponding to the item is performed. This may be a case where the hardware section 31 peculiar to the device is operated or a case where a new next menu screen is transmitted. Specifically, for example, the operation of transmitting the image data of the initial menu again after changing the channel of the television receiver, and the image data of the menu screen for adjusting the brightness of the screen of the television receiver are displayed. Examples of the operation include an operation of transmitting, or an operation of simply turning off the power of the television receiver and transmitting information meaning “end”.

The remote controller used in the remote control system as described above may be used for other purposes. For example, in shopping or the like, it can be used for the purpose of interactively pulling out information from a device installed in a town or a department store while downloading menu information included in the device. The controlled device may be an information processing device, a computer, or the like. In this case, it is possible to refer to data stored in a main computer of a company such as a customer management table or a price list, or to use personal information such as a tool for accessing a scheduler. Further, when the host computer provides the function and has a sufficient transfer rate, it can be realized to be used as a calculator, for example. In this case, when the calculator is first displayed and an appropriate number button is pressed, the position information is sent to the host computer, and the host computer sequentially calculates the result, and the result is taken as image data one by one by the remote controller 10. To be sent to.

If the database stored in the storage unit 38 of the controlled device 30 is realized by an IC card or the like, by changing the IC card, a specific operation change can be made without the need for a new operating device. Also, it becomes possible to remotely control a new controlled device.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, an example of using infrared rays as a data communication method has been described. A communication system such as a wireless telephone is also possible through such a cable. The operation input means may be operated by inputting a button or the like by moving a cursor on an image displayed by means of a cursor moving means other than the touch panel.

[0040]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the information providing device of the present invention, the device identifying means identifiable by the remote controller, the image data of the operation button and the data related to the operation button. Storage means for storing the data, data transmission means for transmitting image data of the operation button and data related to the operation button to the remote device, and the remote device selects an image of the operation button. Data reception means for receiving the data related to the operation button, which is transmitted by doing so, and information providing means for providing information according to the data related to the operation button. Further, to such an information providing device, an operation input means for performing an input for operating the information providing device, and a display means for displaying image data received from the information providing device for the operation input. And receiving image data and data related to operation buttons from the controlled device to be displayed on the display means, and displaying data related to the operation buttons corresponding to the operation input data from the operation input means. By configuring a remote operation control system using a remote controller having a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting to the controlled device, for example, in shopping or the like, from a device installed in a town or a department store, a menu provided by the device is provided. It can be used for the purpose of interactively pulling out information while downloading the information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a remote controller used in a remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a specific example of the external appearance of the remote controller.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a controlled device used in the embodiment of the remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of use in a general home as an application form of the embodiment of the remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a usage example as a so-called karaoke system as an application form of the embodiment of the remote control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the embodiment of the remote controller used in the remote operation control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the controlled device used in the embodiment of the remote control system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Remote Control Device, 11 Contact Coordinate Detection Unit, 12
Display unit, 13 communication control unit, 14 data transmission unit,
15 data receiving unit, 16 device recognition unit, 17 control unit, 18 storage unit, 22 touch panel display, 30 controlled device, 31 device-specific hardware unit, 32 control unit, 33 communication control unit, 34
Data receiving unit, 35 data transmitting unit, 38 storage unit

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A device identification unit that can be identified by a remote controller, a storage unit for storing image data of an operation button and data related to the operation button, and a remote unit for the operation button. Data transmitting means for transmitting image data and data related to the operation button, and data receiving means for receiving data related to the operation button, which is transmitted by the remote device selecting an image of the operation button. And an information providing device that provides information according to the data related to the operation button. 2. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein a display image on the operation panel surface is configured by using the arrangement of the operation buttons. 3. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the device identifying means is a bar code. 4. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the data related to the operation button is a display position of the corresponding operation button. 5. The information providing device according to claim 4, wherein the information providing unit further includes an information search unit that searches for information corresponding to the received display position of the operation button. 6. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means further has a conversion table for selecting the information from the received display position of the operation button. 7. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the data related to the operation button is a command for designating information provided by the information providing means. 8. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitting unit is a wireless communication transmitting unit. 9. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitting unit is an infrared communication transmitting unit. 10. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the data receiving unit is a wireless communication receiving unit. 11. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the data receiving unit is an infrared communication receiving unit. 12. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is a semiconductor memory. 13. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is a replaceable IC card. 14. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information is information for controlling a television. 15. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information is information for audio control. 16. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information is information for controlling an interactive information providing terminal. 17. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information is information for controlling an information processing device. 18. The information providing device according to claim 17, wherein the information processing device is a computer. 19. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information is information for scheduler control. 20. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information is information for controlling a customer management database. 21. The information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the information providing means further includes information result sending means for notifying a result of the information. 22. The information providing device according to claim 21, wherein the result of the information includes image data. 23. An initial screen request receiving means for receiving an initial screen request from the remote controller, and an initial screen image for transmitting an image included in the initial screen displayed on the remote controller in response to the initial screen request. The information providing device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit. 24. An information providing device and a remote controller for remotely operating the information providing device, wherein the information providing device is device identifying means identifiable by the remote controller and image data of operation buttons. And storage means for storing data related to the operation button, data transmission means for transmitting the image data and data related to the operation button to the remote device, and the remote device for operating the operation. Data reception means for receiving data related to the operation button, which is transmitted by selecting the image of the button, and information providing means for providing information according to the data related to the operation button, The remote controller includes an operation input means for inputting to operate the information providing device, and an input device for receiving the operation input from the information providing device. Receiving the image data from the controlled device to be displayed on the display means and the data related to the operation button, and corresponding to the operation input data from the operation input means. A remote operation control system comprising: a transmission / reception unit that transmits data related to the operation button to the controlled device.