JP2003333672A - Remote control system, server device used in the same system, and remote control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system in which an operation or a status of an equipment managed by a customer premise terminal is easily confirmed in a short time by utilizing a mobile terminal. <P>SOLUTION: When a user requests an image on a screen of a mobile telephone 2, the image request is transmitted from the mobile telephone 2 to an ASP server 5. The ASP server 5 transmits a message to a customer premise terminal 3, and the customer premise terminal 3 performs a dialup connection to an Internet GW 6 and inquires request contents to the ASP server 5. The ASP server 5 notifies the customer premise terminal 3 of the request contents, and the customer premise terminal 3 transmits information (such as an image, for example) corresponding to the relevant request contents to the ASP server 5. The ASP server 5 creates a file in a page format displayable on the mobile telephone 2, saves it in a prescribed URL of a storage 5a, and transmits electronic mail attached with the relevant URL to the mobile telephone 2. The user requests reference to the page of the URL attached to the electronic mail and refers to the information on the mobile telephone 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote operation for operating a home terminal from a place where the user is out and using a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone to confirm the operation or status of a device connected to the home terminal. The present invention relates to a system, a server device used in the system, and a remote control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote control system has been used which enables the user to check the door lock and lighting conditions at home, the images taken by a surveillance camera, etc. on the go using a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone equipped with an internet connection function. It has been known.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration and processing procedure of a conventional remote control system. When giving a request from the mobile phone 21 to the home terminal 22, the user first calls the home terminal 22 from the mobile phone 21 (0),
(1), (2). Then, the home terminal 22 automatically responds (3), and voice guidance prompting the transmission of the personal identification number or the like is sent from the home terminal 22 (4). The user sends the personal identification number according to the voice guidance (5). Then, voice guidance prompting the transmission of the control number and the like is sent from the home terminal 22.
(6). The control number is assigned in advance for each control content such as door lock confirmation, illumination state confirmation, and monitoring by a monitoring camera.

The user transmits a control number and the like to the home terminal 22 according to the voice guidance (7). Then, voice guidance is sent to urge you to disconnect the call (8).
User disconnects the call according to the voice guidance
(9). When the call disconnection is confirmed, the home terminal 22 opens the line (10). The processing up to this point is performed via the exchange 23 of the mobile telephone service company and the exchange 24 of the fixed telephone service company. Then, the home terminal 22 is replaced by the exchange 24.
Via Internet Gateway (Internet G
W) Dial up to 25 (11), Internet 26
Will be connected to. At this time, since the home terminal 22 is provided with an IP address, the mobile phone 21 can access the home terminal 22 via the Internet 26 based on the IP address.

The user uses the URL (Unifor
(m Resource Locator) is designated as the access destination, and the home terminal 22 is accessed from the mobile phone 21 via the Internet 26. Then, the in-home terminal 22 is requested to transfer information such as the door lock of the house, the state of lighting, and the image taken by the surveillance camera. The home terminal 22 transfers the requested information to the mobile phone 21 with an image sometimes. By checking the information transferred from the home terminal 22 with the mobile phone 21, the user can know various situations at home from outside.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional remote control system, the mobile phone 21 makes a call to the home terminal 22 and transmits the personal identification number, the control number, etc. according to the voice guidance, disconnects the call once, and disconnects from the line. Only after the home terminal 22 has performed a series of operations and processing such as connecting to the Internet 26 by dialing up after opening, the home terminal 22 can be accessed to check various home conditions. Therefore, there are problems that the operation is very complicated and that it takes time until the home terminal 22 is connected to the Internet 26. In order to solve such a problem with the conventional remote control system, there is a method in which the home terminal 22 has a fixed IP address so that it is always connected. A remote control system that can be known from the beginning was desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems and demands of the prior art described above, and the operation or state confirmation of a device managed by a home terminal using a portable terminal can be performed with a simple operation in a short time. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote operation system that can be performed, a server device used in the system, and a remote operation method.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a remote control system according to the present invention is a remote control system according to the present invention. A remote operation system for operating or confirming the status of a device connected to the home terminal, wherein when the home terminal is not connected to an external network and a request for the home terminal is received from the mobile terminal, the home terminal A server device connected to the external network for instructing a terminal to connect to the external network, wherein the server device is from the home terminal that has performed processing in response to a request from the mobile terminal. The obtained information is stored in a storage location indicated by a predetermined address, and an e-mail with the address is transmitted to the mobile terminal.

As described above, the server device is interposed between the mobile terminal and the home terminal, and the server device performs the processing in response to the network connection instruction to the home terminal and the request from the mobile terminal. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform a series of operations such as calling the home terminal from the mobile terminal to connect the home terminal 3 to the network, and connecting the home terminal to the network in a short time without always connecting the home terminal to the network. can do. As a result, the time from making a request to obtaining the result for the request is shortened, and the operation is simple,
It is possible to provide a remote control system that is easy for users to use.

The remote control system according to the present invention is
When the server device receives a request for browsing information stored in the storage location indicated by the predetermined address from the mobile terminal, the server device transmits the information to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal transmits from the server device. The state of the device connected to the home terminal is displayed based on the information thus obtained.

The remote control system according to the present invention is
When the server device receives an instruction to change the state of a device connected to the home terminal from the mobile terminal in a state where the home terminal is connected to the external network, a process according to the instruction The information obtained from the in-home terminal that has performed is transmitted to the mobile terminal.

Therefore, the state of the device connected to the home terminal can be confirmed by the mobile terminal, and
If it is necessary to switch the state of the device, each device can be remotely operated using the mobile terminal.

The remote control system according to the present invention is
When the information obtained from the home terminal is an image, the server device converts the image into a format that can be displayed by the mobile terminal. Therefore, the image sent from the home terminal can be viewed without depending on the image format, and it is possible to use all the mobile terminals as mobile terminals of the system regardless of the mobile terminal model or the communication carrier. it can. As a result, since it is not necessary to provide the home terminal with a function corresponding to all image formats or to limit the use to a specific image format, it is possible to construct the system with the home terminal having high versatility. .

The remote control system according to the present invention is
The server device includes a storage unit that stores information obtained from the home terminal.

Further, the server device according to the present invention is used in a remote control system for operating a home terminal using a portable terminal to operate or check the status of a device connected to the home terminal. In a server device connected to the network of, when the home terminal is not connected to the external network, when receiving a request for the home terminal from the mobile terminal,
Instructing the home terminal to connect to the external network, save the information obtained from the home terminal that has performed processing in response to a request from the mobile terminal in a storage location indicated by a predetermined address, An e-mail with the address is sent to the mobile terminal.

Further, when the server device according to the present invention receives a request for browsing the information stored in the storage location indicated by the predetermined address from the mobile terminal, the server device transmits the information to the mobile terminal.

Further, the server device according to the present invention receives an instruction to change the state of the device connected to the home terminal from the portable terminal while the home terminal is connected to the external network. Then, the information obtained from the home terminal that has performed the processing according to the instruction is transmitted to the mobile terminal.

Further, the server device according to the present invention, when the information obtained from the home terminal is an image, converts the image into a format that can be displayed on the portable terminal.

Also, the server device according to the present invention has a storage means for storing information obtained from the home terminal.

A remote operation method according to the present invention is a remote operation method for operating a home terminal using a portable terminal to operate or check the status of a device connected to the home terminal. In a state where the home terminal is not connected to an external network, when receiving a request for the home terminal from the mobile terminal, a network connection instruction step for instructing the home terminal to connect to the external network, E-mail transmission in which information obtained from the in-home terminal that has been processed in response to a request from the mobile terminal is stored in a storage location indicated by a predetermined address, and an e-mail with the address is transmitted to the mobile terminal And a step of receiving a request for browsing information stored in the storage location indicated by the predetermined address from the mobile terminal. And a, a first information transmission step of transmitting the information to the portable terminal.

Further, in the remote operation method according to the present invention, when the home terminal is connected to the external network, an instruction to change the state of a device connected from the portable terminal to the home terminal is issued. Upon receipt, the second information transmission step of transmitting the information obtained from the in-home terminal that has performed the processing according to the instruction to the mobile terminal is included.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a remote control system, a server device used in the system, and a remote control method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to [First Embodiment] and [Second Embodiment]. ] Will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration and a processing procedure of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the remote control system 1 of the first embodiment is mainly used for mobile phones and PDAs.
A mobile terminal (hereinafter, a mobile phone is taken as an example) 2 such as a (mobile information terminal), and an ASP (Application Service Provider) server 5 corresponding to the server device in the claims.
A home terminal 3 such as a telephone or a server, an internet gateway (Internet GW) 6, and a switch 7
It is configured by including a and 7b. The remote control system 1 uses the mobile phone 2 to operate the in-home terminal 3 from a place where the user is out, etc.
This is a system for confirming, on the mobile phone 2, images taken by a surveillance camera.

Each component of the remote control system of this embodiment will be described below. First, mobile phone 2
Is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) function, an Internet connection function, a function of transmitting a request for the home terminal 3 to the ASP server 5, a function of receiving an e-mail with a URL from the ASP server 5, and a URL described in the e-mail. It has a function to access images to display images, movies, and other character data.

Further, the ASP server 5 has a function of transmitting a message relating to a dial-up connection instruction to the Internet 4 to the home terminal 3 instructed by the mobile telephone 2, and a function of transmitting a request from the mobile telephone 2 to the home terminal 3. After receiving the content of the response from the home terminal 3 and creating a page format file that can be displayed on the mobile phone 2, the predetermined address (URL) of the internal storage 5a corresponding to the storage means in the claims is indicated. It has a function of saving in a storage location and a function of transmitting an e-mail with the URL to the mobile phone 2.

Further, the in-home terminal 3 has a function of sending a control signal to a device such as a surveillance camera, an air conditioner, a floor heating, a lighting, an electric lock, etc. installed in the home and acquiring a state (including an image). Internet connection function, function for receiving message from ASP server 5, function for dial-up connection to Internet 4 according to received message, function for receiving request from mobile phone 2 from ASP server 5, and request from mobile phone 2. It has a function of transmitting the response content to the ASP server 5.

The home terminal 3 and the Internet GW 6
A public line 8a, an exchange 7a, and a line 9 such as a private line are provided between the home terminal 3 and the Internet GW6.
It is possible to connect to the Internet 4 by dial-up connection to. Further, when the home terminal 3 is not connected to the Internet, the public line 8b, the exchange 7b, the relay line 10, the exchange 7a and the public line 8a are provided between the ASP server 5 and the home terminal 3. When the ASP server 5 transmits a message regarding a dial-up connection instruction to the home terminal 3 to the home terminal 3, the message is sent to the home terminal 3 via these lines and the exchange.

The operation of the remote control system 1 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. First, a case will be described in which the remote operation system 1 is used to confirm a photographed image photographed by a surveillance camera installed in or around the house at an outing location. In this case, the user operates the mobile phone 2 to make a transmission request (hereinafter referred to as “image request”) of an image captured by the surveillance camera. Then, the image request is transmitted from the mobile phone 2 to the ASP server 5.
(0).

Upon receiving the image request, the ASP server 5 sends a message concerning the dial-up connection instruction to the Internet 4 to the requesting home terminal 3 (1),
(2). When the home terminal 3 receives the message (3), it dials up to the Internet GW 6 via the exchange 8a (4), (5), and the dial-up connection between the home terminal 3 and the Internet GW 6 is completed (6). .

Next, when the home terminal 3 inquires of the ASP server 5 about the request content from the mobile phone 2 (7), the ASP server 5 sends the request content (request for transmitting an image taken by the surveillance camera) to the home terminal 3 Notify (8). In response to this request, the home terminal 3 sends the image taken by the surveillance camera to the ASP server 5 (9).

The ASP server 5 creates a page format file that can be displayed on the mobile phone 2, and saves it together with the image in a storage location indicated by a predetermined address (URL) of the internal storage 5a. The file is a file for the mobile phone 2 to display the image sent from the home terminal 3,
It has link information with the image. If the image transmitted from the home terminal 3 is not in the format that can be displayed by the mobile phone 2, the ASP server 5 converts the image into a format that can be displayed by the mobile phone 2. Further, the ASP server 5 sends an e-mail with a URL storing the created file to the mobile phone 2.
(Ten).

When the mobile phone 2 receives the e-mail sent from the ASP server 5, the user confirms the e-mail and makes a request for browsing the page of the URL attached to the e-mail (11). ). At this time, the ASP server 5 transmits the data of the corresponding file and the image data to the mobile phone 2 in response to the request, so that the user of the mobile phone 2 can confirm the requested image.

When making another request after the image request, if the home terminal 3 and the Internet GW are in a dial-up connection, the ASP server 5 dials up the home terminal 3 to the Internet 4 again. Since it is not necessary to send a message related to the connection instruction, the request is directly sent to the home terminal 3 via the ASP server 5, the Internet GW 6 and the exchange 8a.

As described above, according to the remote control system of the present embodiment, the ASP server 5 is interposed between the mobile phone 2 and the home terminal 3 to accompany the internet connection instruction to the home terminal 3 and the image browsing. The processing is performed by the ASP server 5. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the user does not need to perform a series of operations for connecting the home terminal 3 to the Internet 4 by calling the home terminal 3 from the mobile phone 2, and always connect the home terminal 3 to the Internet 4. You can make a dial-up connection in a short time without having to leave it. As a result, it is possible to provide a remote operation system that is easy for the user to use because the time from when an image request is made until the image can be browsed is shortened and the operation is simple. it can.

In addition, the ASP server 5 causes the home terminal 3
The image sent from the mobile phone 2 can be converted into a format suitable for the image display function of the mobile phone 2.
Even if the image format that can be processed differs depending on the model and the telecommunications carrier that handles the mobile phone 2, all mobile phones regardless of the model and the telecommunications carrier can be used as the mobile phone 2 of the system.
Can be used as Therefore, the home terminal 3
It is not necessary to provide a function corresponding to all image formats, and the load on the home terminal 3 can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a limitation such as limiting to a specific image format, the system can be constructed with a highly versatile home terminal.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a remote control system according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the configuration of the remote control system of this embodiment is exactly the same as that of the remote control system 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the remote operation system of the present embodiment regarding the configuration is omitted.

A case will be described below in which the remote control system 1 is used to check the status of each device such as an air conditioner, floor heating, lighting, and electric lock installed in a house from outside. In this case, the user operates the mobile phone 2 to make a status transmission request for each device (hereinafter referred to as a "telecon request"). Then, the teleconverter request is transmitted from the mobile phone 2 to the ASP server 5 (0).

Upon receiving the teleconverter request, the ASP server 5 sends a message concerning the dial-up connection instruction to the Internet 4 to the requesting home terminal 3.
(1), (2). Home terminal 3 receives the message (3)
And dial up to Internet GW6 (4),
(5), dial-up connection between the home terminal / Internet GW 6 is completed (6).

Next, when the home terminal 3 inquires of the ASP server 5 about the request content from the mobile phone 2 (7), the ASP server 5 notifies the home terminal 3 of the request content (confirmation of the state of each device) ( 8). In response to this request, the home terminal 3 transmits data indicating the states (telecon control state) of the air conditioner, floor heating, lighting, electric lock, etc. to the ASP server 5 (9).

The ASP server 5 creates a page format file that can be displayed on the mobile phone 2, and saves it in the storage location indicated by a predetermined address (URL) of the internal storage 5a. The file is a file for the mobile phone 2 to visually display the data indicating the teleconverter state sent from the home terminal 3. Further, the ASP server 5 sends an e-mail with a URL storing the created file to the mobile phone 2 (10).

When the mobile phone 2 receives the e-mail sent from the ASP server 5, the user confirms the e-mail and makes a browsing request for the page of the URL attached to the e-mail (11). ). At this time, since the ASP server 5 transmits the data of the corresponding file to the mobile phone 2 in response to the request, the user of the mobile phone 2 is in a state of the air conditioner, floor heating, lighting, electric lock, etc. installed in the house. Can be confirmed.

FIG. 3 shows the mobile phone 2 when browsing a page.
An example of the screen displayed in FIG. Screen 11 shown in FIG.
Indicates a radio button 1 for indicating the ON / OFF state of each device and for switching the ON / OFF of each device.
2 is displayed side by side. When the user needs to confirm the ON / OFF state of each device by the image 11 and needs to switch the state of the device, the radio button 12 of the device is switched from ON to ON when the Internet connection is continued.
Switch from FF or OFF to ON. Then, a control signal indicating such an instruction (hereinafter referred to as "telecon instruction") is transmitted from the mobile phone 2 to the ASP server 5.
(12).

Upon receiving the teleconverter instruction, the ASP server 5 sends a teleconverter request to the home terminal 3 (13). When the home terminal 3 receives the teleconverter request, it inquires of the ASP server 5 about the contents of the teleconverter instruction (14), and the AS
The P server 5 sends a control signal (telecon operation) indicated by the teleconverter instruction to the home terminal 3 (15). Upon receiving the teleconverter operation, the home terminal 3 controls to switch the ON / OFF state of the instructed device based on the instruction content, and outputs the data indicating the teleconverter state after switching to the ASP server 5
Send to (16).

Then, the ASP server 5 updates the data by overwriting the file stored in the internal storage 5a, and transmits the data to the mobile phone 2. Therefore, an image showing the ON / OFF state of each device after the teleconverter operation is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 2 (17).

As described above, according to the remote control system of the present embodiment, it is possible to confirm the status of the air conditioner, floor heating, lighting, electric lock, etc. installed in the house on the image 11 of the mobile phone 2. Moreover, if it is necessary to switch the state of the device, each device can be remotely operated on the image 11.

In the first and second embodiments, the page browsed by the mobile phone 2 is stored in the storage 5a in the ASP server 5, but the storage external to the ASP server 5 or the Internet 4 is used. It may be stored in another server connected to. Also, A
In the message regarding the dial-up connection instruction to the Internet 4 sent from the SP server 5 to the home terminal 3,
The request content of the image request or the teleconverter request made by the mobile phone 2 may be included.

[0047]

As described above, according to the remote operation system of the present invention, the server device used in the system, and the remote operation method, the home terminal 3 is connected to the network by calling from the mobile terminal to the home terminal. It is not necessary to perform a series of operations such as connecting, and the home terminal can be connected to the network in a short time without being constantly connected to the network. As a result, the time from making a request to obtaining the result for the request is shortened, and the operation is simple, so that it is possible to provide a remote operation system that is easy for the user to use.

Since the image sent from the home terminal can be browsed without depending on the image format, all the mobile terminals can be used as the mobile terminals of the system regardless of the model of the mobile terminal or the communication carrier. can do. As a result, since it is not necessary to provide the home terminal with a function corresponding to all image formats or to limit the use to a specific image format, it is possible to construct the system with the home terminal having high versatility. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration and a processing procedure of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration and a processing procedure of a remote control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the mobile phone 2 when browsing a page.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration and a processing procedure of a conventional remote control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Remote Control System 2 Mobile Terminal 3 Home Terminal 4 Internet 5 ASP Server 5a Storage 6 Internet Gateway (Internet G
W)

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A remote control system for operating a home terminal using a mobile terminal to check the status of a device connected to the home terminal, wherein the home terminal is connected to an external network. In a state where it is not, when receiving a request for the home terminal from the mobile terminal, the home terminal is instructed to connect to the external network, comprising a server device connected to the external network, The server device saves the information obtained from the in-home terminal, which has processed in response to the request from the mobile terminal, in a storage location indicated by a predetermined address, and sends an email with the address to the mobile terminal. A remote control system characterized by: 2. The server device, when receiving a request for browsing information stored in a storage location indicated by the predetermined address from the mobile terminal, transmits the information to the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal comprises: The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein a state of a device connected to the home terminal is displayed based on the information transmitted from the server device. 3. The server device, when receiving an instruction to change a state of a device connected to the home terminal from the mobile terminal in a state where the home terminal is connected to the external network, The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein information obtained from the home terminal that has performed processing according to an instruction is transmitted to the mobile terminal. 4. The server device, when the information obtained from the home terminal is an image, converts the image into a format that can be displayed by the mobile terminal. The described remote control system. 5. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the server device has a storage unit that stores information obtained from the home terminal. 6. A server device connected to an external network, which is used in a remote operation system for operating a home terminal using a mobile terminal to check the status of a device connected to the home terminal. In the state where the home terminal is not connected to the external network, when receiving a request for the home terminal from the mobile terminal, the home terminal is instructed to connect to the external network, The information obtained from the in-home terminal that has been processed in response to a request from the mobile terminal is stored in a storage location indicated by a predetermined address, and an e-mail with the address is transmitted to the mobile terminal. Server device. 7. The server according to claim 6, wherein when the browsing request for the information stored in the storage location indicated by the predetermined address is received from the mobile terminal, the information is transmitted to the mobile terminal. apparatus. 8. When the home terminal is connected to the external network and an instruction to change the state of a device connected to the home terminal is received from the mobile terminal, a process according to the instruction is received. 8. The server device according to claim 7, wherein the information obtained from the in-home terminal that has performed is transmitted to the mobile terminal. 9. The server device according to claim 6, wherein when the information obtained from the home terminal is an image, the image is converted into a format that can be displayed by the mobile terminal. 10. The storage device according to claim 6, further comprising a storage unit that stores information obtained from the home terminal.
The server device according to 8 or 9. 11. A remote operation method for operating a home terminal using a portable terminal to check the status of a device connected to the home terminal, wherein the home terminal is connected to an external network. When not receiving the request for the home terminal from the mobile terminal, the network connection instruction step for instructing the home terminal to connect to the external network, in response to the request from the mobile terminal. An e-mail transmission step of storing the information obtained from the processed home terminal in a storage location indicated by a predetermined address and transmitting an e-mail with the address to the mobile terminal, and the predetermined address indicates When receiving a request for browsing the information stored in the storage location from the mobile terminal, the information is transmitted to the mobile terminal. A first step of transmitting information,
A remote control method comprising: 12. When the home terminal is connected to the external network and an instruction to change the state of a device connected to the home terminal is received from the mobile terminal, a process according to the instruction is received. 12. A second information transmitting step of transmitting the information obtained from the in-home terminal that has performed to the portable terminal,
Remote operation method described.