JP2004145720A - Remote control system, remote control method, radio tag holder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user interface easy to operate and high in convenience. <P>SOLUTION: A radio tag holder holds a radio tag storing information required for operating an external electronic equipment for every region divided by operation items. A remote controller side reads in a non-contact manner the information stored on the radio tag to transmit a command signal based on the read information to the electronic equipment. Thus, the information stored on the radio tag supported by the radio tag supporter is read by the remote controller. Consequently, it is made possible to provide a user interface having unprecedented easy operation and high convenience, namely, transmission of the information to the external electronic equipment for operation instructions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a remote control system for performing a remote operation on an external electronic device, comprising a wireless tag holder in which a wireless tag is held, and a remote controller capable of reading information stored in the wireless tag, And its method. The present invention also relates to the wireless tag holder.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a remote operation using an attached remote controller is performed as an operation input to an AV (Audio Visual) device.
Such a remote controller outputs predetermined command signals corresponding to the operation keys in response to operation of various operation keys arranged on the surface. The AV device performs a predetermined operation according to the command signal, thereby realizing an operation according to the operation key.
[0003]
By the way, in the remote operation using the remote controller as described above, for example, when the performance of the AV device is improved and the function becomes multi-functional, the operation keys on the remote controller are increased correspondingly. It is possible to make it. However, when the number of operation keys is increased in this manner, the arrangement space on the remote controller side is limited, so that the number of operation keys that can be mounted is also limited.
[0004]
Therefore, in the conventional remote controller, for example, when a predetermined operation key is operated, an operation command issued by a specific operation key is switched, so that a plurality of operations are assigned to one operation key. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the number of operation keys.
[0005]
Alternatively, in a remote control system for operating an AV device or the like, for example, a menu of operation items is hierarchically displayed on a display screen, and the menu is specified by tracing the hierarchy of the menu according to an operation from the remote controller. (See, for example, Patent Document 2).
In this case, it becomes substantially the same as arranging the operation keys on the screen, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of operation keys on the remote controller.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in these prior arts, for example, in a case where a plurality of operations are assigned to one operation key, a desired operation may not be performed with only one operation of the operation key, which may deteriorate operability. It will be.
[0007]
Also, in the case of performing an operation using the menu hierarchized as described above, a desired operation may not be performed in a single operation. Furthermore, in this case, the more complicated the function setting and the like are to be performed, the more layers are to be traced, and the operation is complicated, and the detailed function setting and the like tend not to be performed by the user. Becomes stronger.
In other words, in this case, even if a large number of functions that can be executed on the device side are prepared, these functions are not sufficiently used because the operation for realizing them is complicated.
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-124015 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 08-275076 A
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of the above problems, the present invention is configured as a remote control system as follows.
That is, as a remote control system including a wireless tag holder and a remote controller, first, the wireless tag holder includes a wireless tag storing necessary information for operating an external electronic device. It is set to be held for each area divided by the number.
Then, as the remote controller, reading means capable of contactlessly reading information stored in the wireless tag, and a command signal based on the information read by the reading means, And a transmitting unit for transmitting to the device.
[0009]
In the present invention, a remote control method is performed as follows.
In other words, in the wireless tag holder, the information is held in a non-contact manner from the wireless tag in which the information necessary for operating the external electronic device is stored while being held in each of the areas divided according to the operation items. A reading procedure for reading is executed, and a transmission procedure for transmitting a command signal based on the information read by the reading procedure to the external electronic device is executed.
[0010]
Further, in the present invention, as the wireless tag holder, a wireless tag storing necessary information for operating an external electronic device is held for each area divided according to operation items.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the wireless tag holding body holds the wireless tag in which necessary information for operating the external electronic device is stored for each area divided by operation items. Then, on the remote controller side, information stored in the wireless tag held in the holding body is read out in a non-contact manner, and a command signal based on the read information is sent to the external electronic device. Will be sent to
That is, in the present invention, the remote controller transmits information read from a required wireless tag among the wireless tags held in the holding body, thereby responding to the information written in the wireless tag. The operation can be instructed to the electronic device.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<First embodiment>
First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an operation sheet 1 as a wireless tag holder that constitutes a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a plan view showing the surface of the operation sheet 1, and FIG. 1B shows an operation designation area 1a formed on the operation sheet. It is a top view.
In FIG. 1A, the operation sheet 1 is a flat sheet made of paper, and a plurality of operation designation areas 1a are formed on the surface thereof as shown in the drawing. The operation designation area 1a is formed by printing a frame with, for example, ink or the like.
[0013]
In each of the plurality of operation designation areas 1a, for example, operation items are printed by pictures, characters, or the like as shown in the figure, and indicate which operation each corresponds to.
In each of the operation designation areas 1a, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) chip 1b as a wireless tag is embedded as shown by a broken line in FIG. 1B.
As is well known, this RFID chip has a data storage capacity of, for example, about 128 bits, and wirelessly stores stored data by using self-rectification generated by irradiation with microwaves (for example, 2.4 GHz band) as a power source. It can be sent out.
In this case, each of the RFID chips 1b embedded for each of the operation designation areas 1a as described above includes information for instructing various operations on an AV (Audio Visual) device 3 described later in each of the operation designation areas 1a. The command information corresponding to the content of the printed operation item is written.
[0014]
As an information transmission method in the RFID system, an electromagnetic induction method, an electromagnetic coupling method, a microwave method, an electrostatic coupling method, an optical method, and the like are widely known. In this case, any method is adopted. Or a plurality of methods may be used. Further, in this case, the RFID chip 1b may be made capable of writing as well as reading stored data.
The interval between the operation designation areas 1a in which the RFID chips 1b are embedded is set to an arbitrary interval that does not cause crosstalk with a plurality of RFID chips 1b when the remote controller 2 described later reads the command information. It should be done.
[0015]
Next, an example of the internal configuration of the remote controller 2 that constitutes the remote control system of the present embodiment together with the operation sheet 1 is shown in the following block diagram of FIG.
In FIG. 2, first, the reader section 11 is a section for reading command information written on the RFID chip 1 b embedded in the operation sheet 1, and sends out a microwave and is returned from the RFID chip 1 b. An antenna necessary to receive the command information is provided.
The reader unit 11 can read data from the RFID chip 1b by a required information transmission method such as the electromagnetic induction method, the electromagnetic coupling method, the microwave method, the electrostatic coupling method, and the optical method. In addition, the reader / writer having the writing function may be used.
[0016]
The microcomputer 10 is, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown).
In this case, the microcomputer 10 inputs the command information read by the reader unit 11 and supplies a command signal based on the command information to the illustrated infrared light emitting unit 12.
[0017]
The infrared light emitting unit 12 includes an infrared LED (Light Emitting Diode), and performs an infrared light emitting operation according to a light emitting pattern according to a command signal supplied from the microcomputer 10.
Here, a configuration in which a command signal is transmitted by an infrared method has been described as an example, but a configuration corresponding to a radio system such as the IEEE 802.11 system may be employed.
[0018]
The operation obtained in the remote control system according to the present embodiment, which is configured by the operation sheet 1 configured as described above and the remote controller 2, will be described with reference to the system schematic diagram shown in FIG.
The AV device 3 shown in FIG. 3 is, for example, a device or a television capable of recording or reproducing media such as a CD (Compact Disc), an MD (Mini Disc: magneto-optical disc), and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). It is a receiver or the like. In this case, it is assumed that an infrared command signal transmitted from the remote controller 2 is received, and an operation corresponding to the command signal can be executed.
[0019]
In FIG. 3, first, it is assumed that the user wants the AV device 3 to perform an operation corresponding to an operation item printed in a required operation designation area 1 a on the operation sheet 1. It is assumed that the user approaches the operation designation area 1a.
Then, power is transmitted to the RFID chip 1b embedded in the operation designation area 1a by microwaves emitted from the reader unit 11 shown in FIG. 2, and the command information written in the RFID chip 1b is transmitted to the reader chip 11b. It is sent to the unit 11.
[0020]
The command information sent to the reader unit 11 is supplied to the microcomputer 10 shown in FIG. 2, and a command signal based on the command information is supplied to the infrared light emitting unit 12. Then, the command signal is transmitted from the infrared light emitting unit 12 as an infrared signal.
As a result, a command signal corresponding to the operation item printed in the operation specification area 1a specified by the user is transmitted from the remote controller 2.
Then, on the side of the AV device 3 that has received the command signal transmitted in this way, an operation corresponding to the command signal is executed.
[0021]
As described above, depending on the remote control system according to the first embodiment, by bringing the remote controller 2 closer to the operation designation area 1a on the operation sheet 1 where the contents of the operation items are written, It is possible to provide an easy-to-use and easy-to-use, convenient user interface that can issue an operation instruction corresponding to the external AV device 3.
[0022]
Further, as understood from the above description, in the present embodiment, the operation keys are not provided on the remote controller 2 itself, but are provided on the operation sheet 1 which is a flat sheet. The operation designation area 1a is arranged.
For this reason, in the present embodiment, there is no particular restriction on the operation key arrangement space as in the conventional remote controller.
That is, depending on the remote control system of the present embodiment, it is also possible to make each of the functions executable on the AV device 3 one by one correspond to one operation designation area 1a, and once the operation key is It is possible to perform a desired operation only by the above operation.
[0023]
Further, as described above, all the operation items that can be executed on the AV device 3 side can be arranged on the operation sheet 1, so that, for example, detailed function settings for the AV device 3 and the like can be performed. An operation instruction that required a relatively complicated operation can be performed with only one operation.
That is, depending on the remote control system of the present embodiment, functions that have not been used because of the complicated operation in the past can be more easily used.
[0024]
Further, assuming that the operation sheet 1 is made of paper as in the present embodiment, for example, if the operation sheet 1 is applied as a manual for the AV device 3, the remote control of the present embodiment is further improved. The convenience of the system can be increased.
That is, for example, an RFID chip 1a in which corresponding command information for executing the function is written is embedded in a part of the instruction manual in which the description of the function executable by the AV device 3 is indicated. It is something to keep.
In this way, when the user wants to execute this function with reference to the above-described function explanation, the user can only bring the remote controller 2 closer to this function explanation to the AV device 3 to perform the above-described function. It becomes possible to input a command for executing the referenced function.
In other words, by applying the operation sheet 1 to the instruction manual as described above, for example, the desired operation can be performed without referring to the operation procedure indicated in the instruction manual each time. 3 can be input.
[0025]
Further, in the operation sheet 1 of the above embodiment, if each operation item is indicated in braille for each operation designation area 1a, it is possible to realize a remote control system suitable for a blind person. .
[0026]
Here, as described in the system operation in FIG. 3, in the remote control system according to the present embodiment, only by moving the remote controller 2 close to the required operation designation area 1 a on the operation sheet 1, this operation Information can be read from the RFID chip 1b embedded in the sheet 1a.
For this reason, in the remote controller 2 in this case, the reader unit 11 always transmits microwaves for reading data from the RFID chip 1b.
However, such a configuration is not preferable because power is consumed even when it is not used.
[0027]
In order to solve this problem, for example, a key displayed on a housing and a reader operation unit 13 capable of detecting and outputting a pressing operation on the key to the microcomputer 10 are indicated by broken lines in FIG. It may be provided in this way, and the operation of transmitting the microwave by the reader unit 11 may be performed in conjunction with the operation on the reader unit 13.
That is, when the reader operation unit 13 is not operated by the user, the microwave transmission operation of the reader unit 11 is stopped, and the microwave transmission (that is, data reading) is performed only when the operation of the reader operation unit 13 is performed. ) Operation.
By doing so, the power consumption of the remote controller 2 can be significantly reduced.
Note that, for confirmation, as a method of using the remote controller 2 in this case, the user operates the reader operation unit 13 after bringing the remote controller 2 close to a desired operation designation area 1a. As a result, data is read from the RFID chip 1b embedded in the operation designation area 1a.
[0028]
<Second embodiment>
Next, a remote control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the remote control system according to the second embodiment, the information written in the RFID chip 1b embedded in each operation designation area 1a is different from that in the first embodiment.
That is, in the first embodiment, the command information is written to the RFID chip 1b, but here, the operation items indicated in each operation designation area 1a are simply indicated for the RFID chip 1b. Only the operation code as information is written.
To deal with this, in the second embodiment, the remote controller 20 converts the operation code read from the RFID chip 1b into a corresponding command signal.
[0029]
The internal configuration of the remote controller 20 according to the second embodiment is, for example, as shown in FIG. Note that, in this figure, the parts already described in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
4, the remote controller 20 is provided with a storage unit 21 for the microcomputer 10 as shown in FIG.
As the storage unit 21, a non-volatile memory such as a ROM or an NV-RAM, which retains data storage even when power supply is stopped, is employed. The storage unit 21 stores an illustrated command conversion table 21a for converting the operation code read from the RFID chip 1b into a corresponding command signal.
[0030]
As a structure of the command conversion table 21a, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, command information is written in association with each operation code.
Thus, as described later, the microcomputer 10 refers to the command conversion table 21a based on the operation code read from the RFID chip 1b by the reader unit 11 to obtain the command information corresponding to the operation code. Will be able to get.
[0031]
In the remote controller 20 shown in FIG. 4, the reader operation unit 13 is also provided as shown by a broken line in the figure, and the microwave transmission operation in the reader unit 11 is performed as described above. You may make it perform in connection with this operation with respect to the leader part 13.
[0032]
The operation of the remote control system in this case is as follows, for example.
First, assuming that the user wants the AV device 3 to perform an operation corresponding to the operation item printed in the operation designation area 1a on the operation sheet 1, the remote controller 2 shown in FIG. Suppose you approached.
Then, in this case, the operation code written in the RFID chip 1b embedded in the operation designation area 1a is read by the reader unit 11.
[0033]
The operation code read in this way is supplied to the microcomputer 10. In this case, the microcomputer 10 refers to the command conversion table 21a shown in FIG. 5 based on the operation code, and further stores the command conversion table 21a in the command conversion table 21a in association with the operation code. Command information is read.
Then, the microcomputer 10 supplies a command signal based on the read command information to the infrared light emitting unit 12.
As a result, the command signal is transmitted from the infrared light emitting unit 12 to the AV device 3 as an infrared signal.
[0034]
As described above, also in the remote control system according to the second embodiment, as a result, the command signal corresponding to the operation item printed in the operation specification area 1a specified by the user is transmitted from the remote controller 20. Will be able to
[0035]
As described above, in the remote control system according to the second embodiment, only the operation code indicating the operation item is written into each RFID chip 1b embedded in the operation sheet 1. I have.
In this case, a relatively small storage capacity is sufficient as the storage capacity of each RFID chip 1b.
That is, depending on the remote control system according to the second embodiment, the capacity of each RFID chip 1b can be reduced as compared with the case of the first embodiment, and the cost of these RFID chips 1b can be reduced. Is possible, and the manufacturing cost of the operation sheet 1 can be reduced.
[0036]
In the second embodiment, the case where the remote controller 20 corresponds to only the operation code as the information written to each RFID chip 1b in the operation sheet 1 has been described as an example. As in the first embodiment, the operation command may be made to correspond to the RFID chip 1b in which the operation command is written.
That is, the remote controller 20 in this case first determines whether the information read from the RFID chip 1b by the reader unit 11 is command information or an operation code. If it is command information, the microcomputer 10 supplies a command signal based on the command information to the infrared light emitting unit 12 as it is. When the operation code is the operation code, the microcomputer 10 converts the operation code into a corresponding command signal with reference to the command conversion table 21a, and supplies the command signal to the infrared light emitting unit 12. .
By doing so, the remote controller 20 can be adapted to both the operation sheets 1 in the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
[0037]
Here, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the operation sheet 1 as the wireless tag holder is made of flat paper has been described as an example. The material may be of any shape, and may be another material such as a plastic material or wood.
[0038]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the remote control system corresponds to the AV device 3 has been described as an example. In addition to the so-called home appliances, robots such as quadrupedal walking robots, automobiles and the like may be used.
[0039]
Further, the remote control system according to each embodiment may be configured to operate not only one external electronic device as an operation target but also a plurality of different electronic devices.
For this purpose, for example, an RFID chip 1b storing information for operating different electronic devices may be embedded in the operation sheet 1 of each embodiment.
Alternatively, a plurality of operations may be assigned to one RFID chip 1b so that a plurality of electronic devices can be operated.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, in the wireless tag holder, the wireless tag storing the necessary information for operating the external electronic device is held for each area divided according to the operation item. . The remote controller reads information stored in the wireless tag in a non-contact manner, and transmits a command signal based on the read information to the external electronic device.
[0041]
As described above, according to the present invention, information stored in the wireless tag held by the wireless tag holder can be read by a remote controller and transmitted to an external electronic device to issue an operation instruction. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use and highly convenient user interface that has not existed conventionally.
[0042]
Further, as will be understood from the above description, according to the present invention, instead of arranging operation keys on the remote controller itself, a wireless tag as an operation key is arranged on a separately prepared wireless tag holder. I have to.
For this reason, in the present invention, there is no particular restriction on the operation key arrangement space as in the conventional remote controller.
That is, according to the present invention, each of all functions executable on the electronic device side can be associated with one wireless tag (operation key), and a desired operation can be performed with one touch. It becomes possible.
[0043]
In addition, as described above, all the operation items that can be executed on the electronic device side can be arranged on the wireless tag holder, so that conventionally comparatively complicated operation such as detailed function setting can be performed. An operation instruction that required an operation can be performed with only one operation.
In other words, according to the present invention, functions that have not been used due to complicated operation can be more easily used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a wireless tag holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a remote controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a system schematic diagram for explaining an operation obtained in a remote control system including a wireless tag holder and a remote controller.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a remote controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a data structure diagram showing a structure of a command conversion table provided inside a remote controller according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 operation sheet, 1 a operation designation area, 1 b RFID chip, 2 remote controller, 3 AV equipment, 10 microcomputer, 11 reader section, 12 infrared light emitting section, 13 reader operation section, 20 remote controller, 21 storage section, 21 a command conversion table

Claims (8)

A remote control system including a wireless tag holder and a remote controller,
In the wireless tag holder,
A wireless tag in which necessary information for operating an external electronic device is stored for each area divided according to operation items,
The remote controller is
Reading means for reading information stored in the wireless tag in a non-contact manner;
Transmitting means for transmitting a command signal based on the information read by the reading means to the external electronic device,
A remote control system characterized by the following: Command information for operating an external electronic device is stored in each of the wireless tags in the wireless tag holder,
Transmission means in the remote controller,
A command signal based on the command information read from the wireless tag by the reading unit is configured to be transmitted to the external electronic device.
The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein: In each of the wireless tags in the wireless tag holder, information indicating a different operation item is stored,
Transmission means in the remote controller,
The information indicating another of the operation items read from the wireless tag by the reading means is configured to be converted into a corresponding command signal and transmitted to the external electronic device.
The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein: In the wireless tag in the wireless tag holder,
As an external electronic device, necessary information for performing a predetermined operation on the audiovisual device is stored.
The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein: In the wireless tag holder, the information is read out in a non-contact manner from the wireless tag which is held for each area divided according to the operation item and which stores necessary information for operating the external electronic device. Instructions and
A transmitting step of transmitting a command signal based on the information read by the reading procedure to the external electronic device. A wireless tag holder, wherein a wireless tag storing necessary information for operating an external electronic device is held for each area divided according to operation items. The wireless tag holder according to claim 6, wherein the wireless tag holder is formed in a planar shape. 7. The wireless tag holder according to claim 6, wherein Braille indicating a corresponding operation item is formed in an area divided according to the operation item.

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