JP2004260271A - Data communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data communication apparatus capable of easily selecting a link point provided on a homepage even with remote control by an infrared ray remote controller or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A control section 100 integrally controls each section of the data communication apparatus, extracts a link point included in a homepage displayed on a television receiver TV, displays the link point in another window by correlating it with a key switch of an infrared ray remote controller RT, and controls a network connection section 101 and a modem MOD so as to access the link point correlated with the key switch when a user operates the key switch of the infrared ray remote controller RT according to the display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data communication device that can communicate via a network such as the Internet, such as a set-top box and a home game machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, a conventional data communication device such as a set-top box or a home game machine has a function of browsing a homepage through a network such as the Internet, and is operated by giving an instruction using an infrared remote controller or the like. It has become.
[0003]
However, the infrared remote control is equipped with directional buttons and operation sticks for moving the icon pointer, but moving it over the link point provided on the homepage requires familiarity and tips, and operability Was bad.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventional data communication devices come with an infrared remote control for remote control, which is equipped with directional buttons and operation sticks for moving the icon pointer. However, there is a problem that the operability is poor, because it requires some familiarity and tips to move the device.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a data communication device capable of easily selecting a link point provided on a homepage even by remote control using an infrared remote controller or the like. I do.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a data communication device for displaying information received via a network on a display device, comprising a plurality of key switches, and operating the key switches to respond to a request from a user. Input means for receiving, detection means for detecting display information associated with positional information on the network among information received through the network, display information detected by the detection means, identification information for identifying a key switch, and A list display information generating means for generating list display information in which the display information detected by the detection means and identification information for identifying a key switch are generated based on the list display information generated by the list display information generating means. Make the display device display the list showing the correspondence in preference to the information received through the network. Position information corresponding to the display information associated with the identification information of the operated key switch based on the list display information generated by the list display information generating means when the request is received by the display control means and the input means. And communication means for receiving information from a communication device corresponding to the position information via a network.
[0007]
In the data communication device having the above configuration, the position information indicating the position on the network included in the information to be displayed on the display device and the list display indicating the correspondence relationship with the key switch are performed in preference to the information received through the network. The position information associated with the operated key switch is obtained based on the correspondence shown in the list display, and the information is received from the communication device corresponding to the position information.
[0008]
Therefore, according to the data communication device having the above configuration, the user can receive information from the communication device corresponding to the desired position information by operating the key switch while viewing the list display. The user can easily select a link point provided on the homepage.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a data communication device according to the present invention includes a control unit 100, a network connection unit 101, an infrared light receiving unit 102, a ROM 103, a hard disk 104, a flash memory 105, a RAM 106, an image / audio data processing unit 107, a video The signal generator 108 is provided.
[0010]
The network connection unit 101 performs data communication with a server device (not shown) that can communicate through the network NW such as the Internet or an intranet via the modem MOD, and is controlled by the control unit 100 described later. You.
[0011]
The infrared light receiving unit 102 receives an infrared signal emitted from an infrared remote controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as an infrared remote controller) RT operated by the user, receives an instruction or request from the user, and notifies the control unit 100 of the instruction or request. Things.
[0012]
The infrared remote controller RT includes a plurality of key switches to which alphanumeric characters are assigned, a direction key for moving an icon pointer, and for indicating a direction.
[0013]
The ROM 103 stores a control program of the control unit 100, application software, and control data.
The hard disk 104 is used to store application software and various information.
[0014]
The flash memory 105 is mainly used to store information collected by the control unit 100.
The RAM 106 is used as a work area used by the control unit 100 for data processing.
[0015]
The image / audio data processing unit 107 generates image signals and audio signals by decoding display data, image data (still images / moving images), audio data, and music data supplied from the control unit 100, and generates the image signals and audio signals. In addition to outputting to the video signal generation unit 108, the audio signal is output from the speaker SP.
[0016]
The video signal generation unit 108 generates a video signal based on the image signal input from the image / audio data processing unit 107, outputs the video signal to a television receiver TV, and displays an image thereon.
[0017]
The control unit 100 controls and controls each unit of the data communication device, and includes a data communication control function via a network NW, a reproduction control function for controlling reproduction of various data files, and a clock function for measuring time. In addition to the functions provided by the server device, a function of rewriting and displaying HP data described in HTML language provided by the server device, a function of associating a link included in the displayed HP data with a key switch of the infrared remote control RT, and the like. Is provided.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the data communication device having the above configuration will be described. In the following description, control for rewriting HP data, display control, and control for receiving a request from a user through the infrared light receiving unit 102 according to the present invention will be described.
[0019]
This control is performed by the control unit 100 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Prior to this control, it is assumed that a setting has been made in advance as to whether or not to execute a process capable of simply designating link information included in HP data.
[0020]
When the power is turned on and the application software for browsing the HP is started, the program of the software is read from the hard disk 104 to the RAM 106 and executed.
[0021]
First, in step 2a, the control unit 100 controls the network connection unit 101 and the modem MOD to communicate with the server device via the network NW, and via the infrared light receiving unit 102 the URL (Uniform) designated by the user who operates the infrared remote control RT. Read the data of the homepage of Resource Locator.
[0022]
Then, the control unit 100 controls the image / audio data processing unit 107 based on the read homepage data, and starts displaying the homepage on the television receiver TV through the video signal generation unit 108.
[0023]
At the same time, the control unit 100 starts a process of storing the read homepage data in the RAM 106 as backup data, and proceeds to step 2b.
[0024]
In step 2b, the control unit 100 refers to the setting information recorded in the RAM 106 and determines whether the setting for performing the simple input has been made.
Here, if the setting for performing the simple input has been made, the process proceeds to step 2e. On the other hand, if the setting has not been made, the process proceeds to step 2c.
[0025]
In step 2c, the control unit 100 monitors the infrared signal received by the infrared light receiving unit 102, and receives screen scrolling, character input, and movement of the icon pointer according to a request given by a user who operates the infrared remote control RT. It is determined whether a request to move to a link destination has occurred.
[0026]
Here, when a request to move to the link destination is issued, the process proceeds to step 2a, and based on the URL information associated with the link point, the corresponding server device is accessed, and the data of the homepage or the like is read. Start reading. On the other hand, if the request is not made, the process proceeds to step 2d.
[0027]
The movement request here is made by the same operation as in the related art, and a request for movement to the link destination is made by performing a button operation for matching the icon pointer to the link point and selecting it.
[0028]
In step 2d, the control unit 100 monitors the infrared signal received by the infrared light receiving unit 102, and determines whether a user who operates the infrared remote control RT has made a request to start simple input.
Here, if a request to start simple input is detected, the process proceeds to step 2e. If the request is not detected, the process proceeds to step 2c.
[0029]
On the other hand, in step 2e, control unit 100 determines whether or not the display of the home page started in step 2a has been completed.
Here, when the display of the home page started in step 2a is completed, the process proceeds to step 2f, and when it is not completed, the process waits for completion in step 2e.
[0030]
Note that the term “completed” here includes not only the case where the data of all the homepages have been read, but also the case where there is an instruction to stop reading from the user and the case where the display of the read data has been completed at that time.
[0031]
In step 2f, the control unit 100 analyzes the received data of the homepage and detects a portion where a link point is set. Then, how the detected link points are arranged on the display data is analyzed, and it is determined whether the arrangement of the link points is mainly a horizontal line or a vertical line, and the process proceeds to step 2g.
[0032]
In step 2g, the control unit 100 controls the image / audio data processing unit 107 based on the determination result in step 2f, and specifies a window Wa for specifying a range to the television receiver TV through the video signal generation unit 108. Is displayed.
[0033]
Here, in step 2f, as shown in FIG. 3, when it is determined that the arrangement of the link points is mainly a vertical arrangement, as shown in FIG. 4, the left end of the screen of the television receiver TV (or A window Wa is displayed on the home page whose display has been started in step 2a (at the right end by initial setting).
[0034]
On the other hand, in step 2f, as shown in FIG. 5, when it is determined that the arrangement of link points is mainly horizontal, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower end of the screen of the television receiver TV (or the initial setting) A window Wa is displayed on the home page whose display has been started in step 2a.
[0035]
In the window Wa, a software key for specifying a range on the home page is displayed in association with identification information of a key switch provided on the infrared remote controller RT, and key assignment information indicating this correspondence is displayed. The data is recorded in the RAM 106, and the process proceeds to Step 2h.
[0036]
Note that the range on the homepage corresponding to each software key shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 is slightly overlapped with the adjacent software key as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively.
[0037]
In step 2h, the control unit 100 monitors the infrared signal received by the infrared light receiving unit 102, receives a request to select a software key being displayed from a user who operates the infrared remote control RT, and proceeds to step 2i.
[0038]
In step 2i, the control unit 100 analyzes the data of the homepage, detects a link point existing in a range corresponding to the software key selected in step 2h, and proceeds to step 2j.
[0039]
In step 2j, the control unit 100 performs a process of associating a key switch provided on the infrared remote controller RT with the link point detected in step 2i, and records key assignment information indicating this correspondence in the RAM 106. .
[0040]
Then, the control unit 100 controls the image / audio data processing unit 107 based on the key assignment information, and displays the window Wl instead of the window Wa through the video signal generation unit 108. In the window Wl, information indicating the correspondence (key assignment) between the link point and the key switch of the infrared remote controller RT is displayed in a list, and the process proceeds to step 2k.
[0041]
If the window Wa is displayed at the left end of the screen of the television receiver TV (or at the right end by initial setting), the window Wl is at the lower end of the screen (or upper end by initial setting) as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the window Wa is displayed at the lower end of the screen of the television receiver TV (or at the upper end by the initial setting), the window W1 is at the left end of the screen (or at the right end by the initial setting) as shown in FIG. ).
[0042]
Here, for example, when the software key “C” is selected in a state as shown in FIG. 4, an area corresponding to the software key “C” is hidden by the window W1 displayed at the lower end of the screen. Although there is a concern, when displaying the window Wl, the control unit 100 performs display control such as scrolling the screen to display an area corresponding to the software key “C” on the screen.
[0043]
In step 2i, the control unit 100 monitors the infrared signal received by the infrared light receiving unit 102, and determines whether or not a user operating the infrared remote control RT has made a request to return to the original display in which the window Wl is not displayed. judge.
Here, when a request to return to the original display is detected, the process proceeds to step 2m. On the other hand, when the request is not detected, the process proceeds to step 21.
[0044]
In step 2l, the control unit 100 monitors the infrared signal received by the infrared light receiving unit 102, and receives screen scrolling, character input, and movement of the icon pointer according to a request given by a user who operates the infrared remote control RT. It is determined whether a request to move to a link destination has occurred.
[0045]
Here, when a request to move to the link destination is issued, the process proceeds to step 2a, and based on the URL information associated with the link point, the corresponding server device is accessed, and the data of the homepage or the like is read. Start reading. On the other hand, if the request is not made, the process proceeds to step 2f.
[0046]
Note that the movement request here is made when the button operation for matching the icon pointer to the link point and selecting it is performed, or when the key switch of the infrared remote control RT assigned to the link point displayed in the window Wl is operated. May be done.
[0047]
When the key switch of the infrared remote controller RT is operated, the control unit 100 controls the image / audio data processing unit 107 based on the infrared signal received by the infrared receiving unit 102, as shown in FIG. The window W is displayed in an overlapping manner, and the input alphanumeric characters are sequentially displayed on the window W. Then, when the key switch indicating “confirm” provided on the infrared remote controller RT is pressed, the input alphanumeric characters are accepted and the window W is erased.
[0048]
On the other hand, in step 2m, the control unit 100 controls the image / audio data processing unit 107 based on the homepage data backed up in step 2a, and transmits the data to the television receiver TV through the video signal generation unit 108. The home page is displayed, and the process proceeds to step 2c.
As a result, a display as shown in FIG. 3 or 5 is made on the screen of the television receiver TV, instead of the display as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG.
[0049]
As described above, in the data communication device having the above configuration, the link points included in the displayed home page are extracted, and the list is displayed in another window Wl in association with the key switch of the infrared remote control RT. When the user operates the key switch according to this display, the user accesses a server device or the like at the corresponding link point.
[0050]
Therefore, according to the data communication device having the above configuration, the user can access a desired point only by operating the key switch corresponding to the link point displayed in the list. The provided link point can be easily selected.
[0051]
Further, in the data communication device having the above configuration, when extracting a link point, the link point is extracted only in a range specified by the user in the displayed home page.
[0052]
Therefore, according to the data communication device having the above configuration, only the link points in the required range are extracted and displayed in a list in the window Wl in response to the user's request. Even when there are a large number of link points, an unnecessarily large number of link points are not displayed in a list, and can be easily selected from the list.
[0053]
In addition, the range can be specified by a software key corresponding to each area which is displayed in the window Wa and divides the display area of the television receiver TV, so that the range can be easily specified. Can be.
[0054]
In the data communication device having the above-described configuration, the data of the home page is analyzed to analyze how the link points are arranged. Depending on whether the arrangement of the link points is mainly horizontal or vertical. The arrangement of the software keys for specifying the range is made variable.
[0055]
Therefore, according to the data communication device having the above configuration, the arrangement of the software keys can be changed according to the arrangement of the link points on the home page, so that the link points can be efficiently extracted by specifying the range.
[0056]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the above embodiment, the key switch of the infrared remote controller RT is assigned to the display data of the link point, and the case where the key switch is designated by a combination of two numbers is shown as an example. A three-digit number may be assigned to accept the selection of a link point.
[0057]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made assuming a set-top box, a home-use game machine, and the like. However, the present invention can be applied to a personal computer, and a similar effect can be obtained.
[0058]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the infrared remote controller RT and the infrared light receiving unit 102 are used as means for receiving a request from the user. Alternatively, for example, a keyboard or controller wired to the data communication device may be used. It is also possible to apply
In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the position information indicating the position on the network included in the information to be displayed on the display device and the list display indicating the correspondence between the key switches are given priority over the information received through the network. Then, based on the correspondence shown in the above list display, position information associated with the operated key switch is obtained, and information is received from the communication device corresponding to the position information.
[0060]
Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can receive information from the communication device corresponding to the desired position information by operating the key switch while viewing the list display. A data communication device capable of easily selecting the provided link point can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a data communication device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the data communication device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of an image displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of an image displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of an image displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining an area corresponding to a software key displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a view for explaining an area corresponding to a software key displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is a view for explaining key assignment displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is an exemplary view for explaining a key assignment displayed by the data communication device by the control operation shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which an alphanumeric character input by a user through an infrared remote controller is displayed as a guide.
[Explanation of symbols]
100: control unit, 101: network connection unit, 102: infrared light receiving unit, 103: ROM, 104: hard disk, 105: flash memory, 106: RAM, 107: image / audio data processing unit, 108: video signal generation unit, RT: infrared remote controller, MOD: modem, NW: network, TV: television receiver, SP: speaker.

Claims (4)

In a data communication device for displaying information received through a network on a display device,
An input unit that includes a plurality of key switches, and receives a request from a user when the key switches are operated;
Detecting means for detecting, among information received through the network, display information associated with positional information on the network;
List display information generating means for generating list display information in which display information detected by the detection means and identification information for identifying the key switch are associated with each other;
Based on the list display information generated by the list display information generating means, a list display indicating the correspondence between the display information detected by the detecting means and the identification information for identifying the key switch is displayed more than the information received through the network. Display control means for causing the display device to perform priority,
When the input unit receives the request, based on the list display information generated by the list display information generation unit, obtains position information corresponding to the display information associated with the identification information of the operated key switch, A communication unit for receiving information from the communication device corresponding to the position information through the network. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit detects display information associated with positional information on the network within a range specified by a user through the input unit, among information received through the network. A data communication device as described. Further, a range designation information display means for displaying, on the display device, a plurality of software keys corresponding to respective areas obtained by dividing the information displayed on the display device,
The detecting means receives a designation of a range from a user by selecting the software key through the input means, and detects display information associated with location information on a network within the designated range. The data communication device according to claim 2, wherein: The range designation information display means, based on the detection result of the detection means, depending on whether the display array of the display information associated with the position information is mainly arranged horizontally or vertically, 4. The data communication device according to claim 3, wherein the arrangement is changed and displayed on the display device.

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