JP2005136519A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system capable of improving simplifying, reducing cost and enhancing operability. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera 15 configures a remote control system for remotely controlling a broadcast receiver 30. The digital camera 15 is provided with an information transmission/reception section, a microphone, and a voice recognition section or the like, in addition to a substantial camera function section. When a prescribed button provided to the digital camera 15 is operated, the digital camera 15 shifts to a remote control mode. The user has an object (LED or the like) in the hand and moves the object in the vicinity of a lens of the digital camera 15. Then the image part of the object is moved to an imaging element (CCD or the like). A CPU of the digital camera 15 discriminates a part with a prescribed luminance or higher, to be a position of the object, generates coordinate information of the object position on the imaging element and discriminates an instructed position on a monitor 14 of the broadcast receiver 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation system.

Conventionally, various systems have been proposed as remote control systems (see Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Patent Document 4).
JP-A-8-331667 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-95911 JP-A-10-177451 JP-A-10-98779

  However, in recent years, IT devices such as digital TVs and home network devices have become complicated and sophisticated, so that the remote controller for remotely operating such IT devices increases the number of buttons and performs a desired operation. The operation of the remote controller has become very troublesome, such as increasing the number of times the button is pressed to perform the desired operation. It is becoming difficult for those who have a lot of opportunities to come into contact with IT equipment on a daily basis. Accordingly, there is a further demand for simplification of configuration, cost reduction, and improvement in operability in such a remote operation system.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote operation system that can be simplified, reduced in cost, and improved in operability.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the remote operation system of the present invention includes position detection means for detecting an instruction position or an instruction area on a display screen specified by a remote instruction operation, and the indication position or the position based on the remote selection operation. Selection control means for executing selection in the instruction area.

  You may provide the display control means which controls the video display on the said display screen. The display control means may highlight the designated position or the designated area on the display screen. The display control means may enlarge and display the designated position or the designated area. The display control means may blink the indication position or the indication area. The display control means may change chromaticity or luminance of the designated position or the designated area. The display control means may display information related to the designated position or designated area.

  You may provide the audio | voice output means which outputs an audio | voice. The voice output means may output the information on the designated position or the designated area on the display screen or information related to the designated position or the designated area. The voice output means may perform voice output for prompting confirmation prior to execution of selection.

  Prior to the execution of the selection, a provisional selection process may be performed. The temporary selection process may be performed by a preceding operation of the selection button, and the execution of the selection may be performed by a subsequent operation of the selection button.

  The execution of the selection may be performed by detecting that the designated position or the instruction area is not changed for a predetermined period or longer. The execution of the selection may be performed by voice recognition. The selection may be performed based on an operator's action.

  Means for determining the operator based on the biological information may be provided, and it may be configured to determine whether to restrict viewing and / or display restriction of the electronic program guide based on the determination result. A means for determining a registrant based on the acquired biometric information and pre-registered biometric information or estimating whether the registrant is an adult or a child by comparing the acquired biometric information with preset reference information is provided. It is configured to determine whether to restrict viewing and / or display restriction of the electronic program guide based on the determination result of the registrant or the estimation result of adult or child and the viewing restriction information of the broadcast program. Also good.

  A means for determining a registrant based on the acquired biometric information and pre-registered biometric information or estimating whether the registrant is an adult or a child by comparing the acquired biometric information with preset reference information is provided. Whether to restrict viewing and / or display restrictions on the electronic program guide based on the judgment result of the registrant or the estimation result of whether it is an adult or a child and whether or not a keyword registered in advance exists in the program information May be configured to determine.

  A means for determining whether a registrant is based on the acquired biometric information and preregistered biometric information or comparing the acquired biometric information with preset reference information to determine whether an adult or a child, The operation restriction may be performed when a determination result that the child is a child is obtained. The biological information may be voice.

  The position detection unit may be configured using an imaging camera, and may detect an instruction position or an instruction area on the display screen based on a position on the imaging element of a predetermined image portion imaged by the imaging camera. The position detection means is configured by using an imaging camera, calculates a reference image captured by the imaging camera, and a moving amount and a moving direction of an image currently being captured with respect to the reference image, and displays them on the display screen. The designated position or the designated area may be detected. The position detecting means is configured using an imaging camera, and based on the direction and amount of deviation between the feature image portion on the image captured by the imaging camera and the predetermined portion on the image, the indicated position on the display screen or The instruction area may be detected. The position detection unit may be configured using an imaging camera, and may detect an instruction position or an instruction area on a display screen by a comparison process between an image captured by the imaging camera and a screen display image. The position detection unit is configured using an imaging camera, performs character recognition based on an image captured by the imaging camera, and displays a display screen based on a comparison between the recognized character and a character that is a screen display target. The upper designated position or designated area may be detected. The position detecting unit is configured using an imaging camera and a light beam emitting unit, detects a light beam irradiation position on an image captured by the imaging camera, and displays on the display screen based on the light beam irradiation position on the captured image. The designated position or the designated area may be detected.

  The imaging camera may be a digital camera. The imaging camera may be provided in a portable telephone device.

  The position detecting means is configured by using a light emitting means, and the light receiving position is determined by the photoelectric conversion means provided on the display side or the screen side which is a display screen, and the designated position or designated area on the display screen is determined. It may be detected.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the configuration of the remote operation system is simplified and the operability is excellent. In addition, if a configuration using a digital camera or a mobile phone is used, there is an effect that the cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. In this embodiment, a remote operation system in the case where a device to be controlled is a digital broadcast receiver is illustrated.

  In FIG. 1, an antenna 1 is arranged outdoors in a predetermined direction and receives a digital broadcast signal transmitted from a satellite or a terrestrial broadcast station.

  The tuner 2 extracts a signal of a specific frequency from the high frequency digital modulation signal including video / audio data. Further, the tuner 2 includes a demodulation circuit, a deinterleave circuit, an error correction circuit, and the like, thereby demodulating the selected digital modulation signal and outputting a transport stream.

  The demultiplexer (DEMUX) 3 converts the transport stream output from the tuner 2 into an MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2) video stream, an audio stream, PSI / SI (Program Specific Information / Service Information), and data broadcast data. Separated into etc. The TS decoder 3a in the demultiplexer 3 takes out a video stream and an audio stream constituting the program selected by the user based on a command from the CPU 17 and supplies them to the stream recording / playback unit 4 and the AV decoder 7. Data broadcast data is supplied to a browser (currently a BML browser). Note that a plurality of channels are multiplexed in the transport stream, and the process for selecting an arbitrary channel from among these is the packet ID of the arbitrary channel in the transport stream from the PSI / SI. It becomes possible by taking out data such as whether or not it is multiplexed. The transport stream can also be selected based on PSI / SI information. Further, SI includes program information (program name, program start time, program duration, program content information, program genre information, etc.).

  The stream recording / playback unit 4 exchanges data and control signals with the external device 31 through the IEEE 1394 interface 5 and writes (records) the video stream and audio stream output from the TS decoder 3a to the external device 31. In addition, a video stream and an audio stream can be read from the external device 31 (reproduction).

  The AV decoder 7 includes a video decoder that decodes a video stream and an audio decoder that decodes an audio stream. The video decoder decodes the input variable length code to obtain a quantization coefficient and a motion vector, and performs inverse DCT conversion, motion compensation control based on the motion vector, and the like. The audio decoder decodes the input encoded signal to generate audio data.

  The video processing circuit 8 receives the video data from the AV decoder 7, performs D / A conversion, and converts it to, for example, an NTSC composite signal. The audio processing circuit 9 receives the audio data output from the AV decoder 7 and performs D / A conversion to generate, for example, a right (R) sound analog signal and a left (L) sound analog signal.

  The video output circuit 10 and the audio output circuit 11 include an output resistor, an amplifier, and the like. The AV output terminal 12 is provided with an output unit (a set of left and right audio output terminals and a video output terminal). A monitor 14 having a display and a speaker is connected to the output unit by a video / audio code 13. The

  An OSD (on-screen display) circuit 19 outputs bitmap data based on character information and color information instructed to be output from the CPU 17 to the adder 20. The adder 20 performs processing for incorporating the bitmap data into the video data. The OSD circuit 19 can perform electronic program guide (EPG) display, cursor display, message display, menu screen display, tool bar display, and the like based on the PSI / SI received by the CPU 17.

  The digital camera 15 constitutes a remote operation system for remotely controlling the broadcast receiving device 30. A configuration example of the digital camera 15 is shown in FIG. The digital camera 15 includes a digital camera camera function unit 15e, a display unit 15d, and a memory 15b as its original camera functions. The memory 15b stores captured image data, user setting information, and the like. The information transmission / reception unit 15c converts the information received from the CPU 15a into an infrared signal, for example, and sends the information received from the broadcast receiving device 30 into an electric signal, and sends it to the CPU 15a. The voice recognition unit 15f performs voice recognition by digitally analyzing the voice input from the microphone. The voice generation unit 15h outputs a voice signal based on data read from a voice memory (not shown) according to an instruction from the CPU 15a or a voice signal based on voice synthesis based on character information supplied from the CPU 15a to a speaker. In addition, the CPU 15a performs a determination process of an instruction position (including an instruction area) based on the captured image. Here, the designated area is defined as including a neighborhood area within a predetermined range with respect to the designated position in addition to the designated area.

  A memory (RAM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc.) 18 stores program information used for displaying an EPG screen, various setting contents, and the like.

  The modem 22 operates under the control of the CPU 13 in, for example, a dial-up connection when transmitting viewing history information to a two-way communication or billing center or a dial-up connection to an Internet provider.

The IC card 21A stores key information for enabling viewing of pay broadcasts, viewing history information of PPV (pay per view) programs to be charged for each program, contract channel information, and the like in its built-in memory. The CA module 21 performs various information write processing and read processing between the CPU 13 and the IC card 21A.
[Instruction control on display screen by digital camera 15]
When a button such as “remote control mode” provided on the digital camera 15 is operated, the digital camera 15 shifts to the remote control mode. After setting the remote control mode, the user operates as follows. FIG. 4 shows how the digital camera 15 is operated as a remote controller. Note that an electronic program guide is displayed on the monitor 14 (screen) of the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 in FIG.

  A. The digital camera 15 is placed on the table. The user moves an object (a shining object such as an LED or a high-reflectance metal) in the vicinity of the lens of the digital camera 15 while holding it in his / her hand. The image portion of the object moves on the image sensor (CCD or the like). The CPU 15a of the digital camera 15 determines a portion having a predetermined luminance or more as an object position. The image sensor position (coordinates) and the screen position (coordinates) of the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 are associated with each other, such that the lower right end of the image sensor is the lower right end of the monitor 14. The digital camera 15 sends object position (coordinate) information on the image sensor to the broadcast receiving device 30. The broadcast receiving apparatus 30 receives the object position (coordinate) information, superimposes a cursor (arrow mark, color change, etc.) on the received video by OSD processing, and moves the cursor based on the information on the movement amount and the movement direction. Display. The user should just look at the cursor on the monitor 14 of the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 and move the object in a desired direction, and the cursor on the monitor 14 moves following this movement. It should be noted that a selection button is provided on the object, and an operation signal of the selection button is received by the digital camera 15 side, and the operation signal is transferred from the digital camera 15 to the broadcast receiving device 30, or the operation of the selection button is performed. The signal is directly transmitted to the broadcast receiving apparatus 30. The selection button may be a two-stage button.

  B. The user takes a desired image (for example, an image near the monitor 14 or an image of an arrangement on the table, etc., but avoids a single color portion image such as a wall) with the digital camera 15 and registers the reference. Processing to make an image. The user changes the imaging position by holding the digital camera 15 in his / her hand. The digital camera 15 calculates the moving amount and moving direction of the image currently being captured with respect to the reference registered image, and sends the moving amount and moving direction to the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 as position designation information. The broadcast receiving apparatus 30 receives the position designation information, superimposes the cursor on the video by OSD processing, and moves and displays the cursor. The reference registration image and the currently captured image may be given from the information sending unit 15c of the digital camera 15 to the broadcast receiving device 30, and the movement amount and moving direction may be calculated on the broadcast receiving device 30 side.

  C. For example, the broadcast receiving device 30 displays a feature image (having features different from those of other portions in terms of chromaticity, luminance, shape, blinking, and the like) at the lower right end of the screen. The user captures the screen of the monitor 14 while holding the digital camera 15 in his / her hand. At this time, the user takes an image while looking at the monitor of the digital camera 15 so that the desired program column portion is located at the center of the monitor, for example. Here, if a feature image exists in the center of the monitor (center of the captured image), the indicated position on the screen for the broadcast receiving device 30 coincides with the display position of the feature image portion. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, if the feature image is shifted with respect to the center of the captured image, the indicated position on the screen can be determined based on the shift information (x value and y value in the figure). it can. The digital camera 15 may calculate the deviation information and send it to the broadcast receiving apparatus 30. Alternatively, the digital camera 15 may send the captured image of the digital camera 15 to the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 and send the deviation information on the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 side. It is also possible to obtain the designated position.

  D. The digital camera 15 is placed on a table and the screen of the monitor 14 of the broadcast receiving device 30 is imaged. The user uses a laser pointer, for example, to irradiate a desired position on the screen of the monitor 14 with point light (for example, red light). The digital camera 15 captures an image in which the point light is present on the image of the monitor 14. When the difference between the dot light existence image and the image (frame) of the monitor 14 is obtained, the coordinates (instructed position) on the dot light image can be acquired. More specifically, for example, the image of the monitor 14 without point light is an image including, for example, the eyelid of the monitor 14, and the XY coordinates are established with reference to the corner of the eyelid, and the monitor screen without point light. The position of the point light on the image can be calculated from the difference between the point and the monitor screen with the point light. The broadcast receiving apparatus 30 may receive the coordinates (instructed position) of the point light on the image, superimpose the cursor on the video by OSD processing, and display the moving position. The cursor moves so as to follow, and it is possible to confirm whether or not the designated position is correctly grasped on the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 side. The digital camera 15 may receive the image (frame) from the broadcast receiving device 30 to obtain the designated position, and send the designated position to the broadcast receiving device 30. The broadcast receiving device 30 may send the designated position. The indicated position may be obtained by receiving a picked-up image. Further, a selection button is provided on the laser pointer, and an operation signal of the selection button is received by the digital camera 15 side and transferred to the broadcast receiving device 30, or an operation signal of the selection button is directly transmitted to the broadcast receiving device. 30 may be transmitted. The selection button may be a two-stage button.

  E. The user captures the screen of the monitor 14 while holding the digital camera 15 in his / her hand. At this time, the user takes an image while looking at the monitor of the digital camera 15 so that the desired program column portion is located at the center of the monitor, for example. The digital camera 15 is equipped with a function for recognizing characters (graphics) based on the captured image. The digital camera 15 sends the recognized character (graphic) information to the broadcast receiver 30. The broadcast receiving apparatus 30 determines at which position on the screen a character (figure) that matches the received character (figure) information is displayed. Since the electronic program guide screen, the toolbar screen, and the like are images created by the broadcast receiving apparatus itself, the above determination can be made. The digital camera 15 may send the captured image to the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 and perform character (graphic) recognition on the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 side. In addition, when the digital camera 15 has a zoom function, the recognition rate can be increased if the desired program column portion is enlarged and imaged.

  F. The designated position may be detected by imaging a part of the operator's body (eyes (gaze), hand, etc.) with the digital camera 15. The digital camera may be a general-purpose camera or an imaging camera dedicated to the controller.

  Next, display control at the designated position (including the designated area) will be described. For example, the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 performs highlighted display (display that can be distinguished from other parts and can be easily recognized by the user) for the indicated position on the electronic program guide screen. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the designated position is enlarged and displayed. Although the image may be enlarged on the designated position, it may be enlarged and displayed at a position different from the designated position (position where no important information is displayed). Further, the present invention is not limited to such enlargement, and the designated position may be blinked with or without enlargement, or the chromaticity or luminance of the designated position may be changed. As the display of the designated area, in addition to the display of the actual designated area, etc., as described above, the designated area is in the vicinity of the specified range (other program information adjacent to the program information at the designated position). Etc.) may be enlarged and displayed.

  Not only program information at the specified position, but also related information such as detailed program information not displayed in the program column, scene images extracted from recorded data of the same program in the past, program opening images, etc. May be. Also, based on program information and related information, for example, “7 o'clock news”, “This program has a preview”, “This program is not subject to parental level viewing restrictions” , "This program is not contracted", "This program is a series program", "This program is a rebroadcast program", "The same program as this program is recorded on the day of the month" You may make it perform. In addition, the interface agent (character image) may be OSD displayed in accordance with such voice output.

  Next, execution of selection for a designated position will be described. As described above, a cursor is displayed on the program field corresponding to the designated position. The process for accepting a recording reservation for the program is, for example, directed to the microphone of the digital camera 15 by the user. It is executed when When the voice recognition unit 15f recognizes the word “recording”, the digital camera 15 sends information indicating a recording command to the broadcast receiving device 30. In addition, an operation of a selection button provided on the object or the laser pointer, an operation of a shutter button provided on the digital camera 15, a user operation for maintaining a specified position for a predetermined time, or a predetermined specific movement of the object or the laser pointer The selection may be executed by various operations of the operator, such as an operation of drawing a circle with a laser pointer or the like on the designated position.

  Further, when the selection button or the shutter button of the digital camera 15 is a button that can be operated in two steps, the provisional selection process may be performed by temporarily pressing these buttons (first step operation: preceding operation). Good. Further, the provisional selection process may be performed when the word uttered by the user is “this”. In the provisional selection process, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, selection items “reserved viewing” and “reserved recording” are displayed on the screen of the monitor 14, and the cursor is positioned on one of them. When the user repeats the temporary pressing operation of the button, the cursor position changes. When a full-press operation (second stage operation: subsequent operation) is performed at a desired cursor position, the contents (processing) at the cursor position are executed. Also, the cursor position changes when the word spoken by the user is “next”. When the user utters the word “this” at the desired cursor position, the contents (processing) at the cursor position are executed. Of course, the reservation recording process may be executed when the user says “reserved recording” regardless of the cursor display. The broadcast receiving apparatus 30 compares the current time with the program start / end time information in the selected program column, and when the current time is within the program broadcast time, an item such as “view now” is additionally displayed as a selection item. You can also.

  Also, the broadcast receiving device 30 or the digital camera 15 outputs a confirmation voice message such as “Are you sure” by voice synthesis processing prior to performing selection, for example, “accept” It is also possible to output a voice message such as In addition, when the user utters “OK” in response to the confirmation voice message such as “OK”, the broadcast receiving device 30 or the digital camera 15 recognizes “OK” by voice recognition. It is also possible to output a voice message such as “accepted”. If the user utters a word such as “stop” during the two seconds, the execution of the selection is stopped by voice recognition.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a case where the mobile phone 15A is used as a remote controller. The cellular phone 15A is equipped with a digital camera, and further includes a voice recognition processing unit, a voice synthesis processing unit, and an information transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives information to and from the broadcast receiving device 30. For example, when a weak electromagnetic wave or ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the broadcast receiving device 30 and the mobile phone 15A can receive the electromagnetic wave or ultrasonic wave, for example, a call incoming function stop process or a call to the other party is made. It is preferable to perform processing such as message transmission to the effect that it cannot be received. In other words, when the mobile phone 15A determines from the broadcast receiving device 30 that is the device to be controlled that the mobile phone 15A exists within a predetermined area, the mobile phone 15A may perform processing giving priority to the function as the remote controller. Similarly, in the above-described digital camera 15, when it is determined from the broadcast receiving device 30 that is a control target device that the device exists within a predetermined area, processing that gives priority to the function as a remote controller may be performed.

  The example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 shows a broadcast receiving device 30 ′ that does not display an image on the monitor 14 but projects an image on the screen 14 ′. A laser pointer 15B is used for position indication, and a two-stage button 151, a voice recognition microphone 152, and an information transmission unit (not shown) are provided on the laser pointer 15B. The screen 14 'does not reflect the projected image 100% but partially transmits it. A two-dimensional photoelectric conversion element (position detection element) 141 using a photodiode or the like is provided on the back side of the screen 14 '. The photoelectric conversion element 141 outputs the coordinate information of the light receiving point. Further, for example, an optical film that transmits only red light is interposed between the back surface of the screen 14 '. When red point light is emitted from the laser pointer 15B toward the screen 14 ', a part of this light is transmitted through the screen 14'. The photoelectric conversion element 141 is provided so as to detect the entire back surface of the screen 14 ', and senses light at a position corresponding to the transmission point light on the back surface of the screen 14'. The point light output is set so that the red light reception intensity from the laser pointer 15B is higher than the red light reception intensity of the photoelectric conversion element 141 due to the transmission of the projected image light. The coordinate information of the light receiving portion exceeding the predetermined threshold is recognized as the indicated position by the red point light, and the information on the indicated position is sent from the information sending unit provided on the screen 14 'to the broadcast receiving device 30'. As a result, the designated position can be detected in the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 '. Operation information of the two-stage button 151 and voice recognition information by voice recognition (microphone 152) are sent from the information sending unit of the laser pointer 15B.

  For example, the first interval pulse light may be emitted by temporarily pressing the two-stage button 151, and the second interval pulse light may be emitted by the final push operation. It is possible to identify which intervals of pulses are irradiated by the photoelectric conversion element 141 on the screen 14 'side. Therefore, the operation information of the two-stage button 151 can be recognized on the screen 14 'side, and the operation information can be sent to the broadcast receiving device 30' from the information sending unit provided on the screen 14 '. Further, when the point light is emitted toward the screen 14 'when the broadcast receiving device 30' is turned off, the photoelectric conversion element 141 senses it and sends the information to the broadcast receiving device 30 ', thereby sending the device 30. ′ May be turned on, and a power off button may be displayed on the screen when the power is on, and the power may be turned off when a position instruction is given and selection is executed. That is, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the laser pointer 15B side does not include an information sending unit for the broadcast receiving device 30 ′.

  On the other hand, information may be sent to the screen 14 'side by an information sending unit provided in the laser pointer 15B, and received information and a command based on this information may be transferred from the screen 14' side to the broadcast receiving device 30 '. .

  Further, projectors often cut off ultraviolet rays and infrared rays emitted from a light source. If the laser pointer 15B also emits infrared rays, the screen 14 'is excellent in infrared transmission, and the photoelectric conversion element 141 is highly sensitive to infrared rays, the accuracy of position detection is increased.

  Voice recognition may be used to perform various operations (power ON / OFF, volume up / down, channel up / down, etc.) by position designation, but a tool bar is displayed on the projection screen of the broadcast receiver 30 '. You may leave it. The user can make the channel up in the broadcast receiving apparatus 30 (30 ′) by specifying the position at the “channel up” display location in the tool bar and executing the selection.

  By the way, it may be desirable to restrict operations by children (particularly infants) and operations by unspecified persons. The restrictions include operation restrictions (digital camera 15, laser pointer 15B, ON operation restriction in broadcast receiving apparatus, restriction on contents that can be operated), or viewing restrictions on programs and electronic programs if the restriction is in the broadcast receiving apparatus. In particular, in the laser pointer 15B described above, it is desirable that the light beam is not inadvertently emitted, and the light beam is preferably emitted only when an adult or a specific person operates.

[Specify operator]
The operator may be identified by a technique (speaker identification technique) for determining whether or not the voice is registered in advance by voice recognition. For example, the operator registers the word “ON” in advance, and speaks “ON” to the controller (digital camera 15, mobile phone 15A, laser pointer 15B) to perform speaker identification and registration. The controller may be activated when it is determined that the user is a person. Also, by analyzing the frequency components (such as voice pitch) contained in the voice, it is possible to estimate whether the voice is mainly a child or an adult. Of course, the specific person may be determined by recognition processing using biological information other than voice, for example, a retina pattern or a fingerprint.

[Viewing restrictions]
For example, depending on the parental level included in the program information and the parental level set in advance by the user, viewing of a predetermined program is restricted, and a password must be input to cancel the restriction. As such, when it is determined that the person is a specific person or an adult, all the contents can be viewed regardless of the parental level, and when it is determined that the person is an unspecified person or a child, viewing is restricted at the parental level. May be used. Note that the same processing can be performed using R designation information.

  The restriction can also be performed based on a keyword preset by the user. For example, the match / similarity between the user-set keyword and the wording included in the program information of each program may be determined, and viewing restriction of the program containing the wording or display restriction in the electronic program guide may be performed. In addition to keywords, restrictions may be imposed by genre, program name, and performer information.

[Operation restriction]
Operation restrictions include not being activated, not accepting an operation even when activated, and outputting an error message. Further, the contents that can be operated include, for example, not accepting a pay broadcast preview instruction, not accepting a pay program purchase instruction, and not accepting a channel setting process or color adjustment process instruction.

  In the above example, the case where the device to be controlled is a broadcast receiving device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. Information transmission / reception may be performed by wire. The information transmission / reception may use a wired / wireless LAN network. Voice recognition or voice synthesis may be performed on the control target device side. Further, for voice output, voice synthesis data generated on the pointing device side such as the digital camera 15 is sent to the control target device, and this control target device The voice synthesis data generated on the control target device side may be sent to the pointing device side and output from the speaker on the pointing device side.

It is the block diagram which showed the digital broadcast receiver which is a control apparatus in the remote control system of embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structural example of the digital camera used as a remote controller. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the processing content of the designated position determination. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that a digital camera was operated as a remote controller. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that a mobile telephone was operated as a remote controller. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that a laser pointer was operated as a remote controller. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structural example of the indication position detection by a laser pointer.

Explanation of symbols

15 Digital camera 15a CPU
15c Information transmission / reception unit 15d Display unit 15e Digital camera function unit 15f Speech recognition unit 15g Audio generation unit 15A Mobile phone 15B Laser pointer 30 Digital broadcast reception device

Claims (29)

Position detection means for detecting an instruction position or an instruction area on a display screen specified by a remote instruction operation; and a selection control means for executing selection in the instruction position or the instruction area based on a remote selection operation.
Having remote operation system.   The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for controlling video display on the display screen.   The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the display control unit highlights the designated position or the designated area on the display screen.   4. The remote operation system according to claim 3, wherein the display control means enlarges and displays the designated position or the designated area.   4. The remote operation system according to claim 3, wherein the display control means blinks the indication position or the indication area.   The remote control system according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit changes chromaticity or luminance of the indication position or the indication area.   The remote control system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the display control means displays information related to the designated position or designated area.   8. The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising a voice output unit that outputs a voice.   9. The remote operation system according to claim 8, wherein the voice output unit outputs voice of the information on the designated position or the designated area on the display screen or information related to the designated position or the designated area. .   The remote operation system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the voice output means performs voice output for prompting confirmation prior to execution of selection.   The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein temporary selection processing is performed prior to execution of the selection.   The remote operation system according to claim 11, wherein the temporary selection process is performed by a preceding operation of a selection button, and the execution of the selection is performed by a subsequent operation of the selection button.   13. The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein the execution of the selection is performed by detecting that the designated position or the instruction area is not changed for a predetermined period or longer.   The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein the selection is performed by voice recognition.   The remote operation system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein execution of the selection is performed based on an operation of an operator.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining an operator based on the biological information, and determining whether to restrict viewing and / or display restriction of the electronic program guide based on the determination result. The remote control system according to any one of claims 15 to 15.   A means for determining a registrant based on the acquired biometric information and pre-registered biometric information or estimating whether the registrant is an adult or a child by comparing the acquired biometric information with preset reference information is provided. It is configured to determine whether to restrict viewing and / or display restriction of the electronic program guide based on the determination result of the registrant or the estimation result of adult or child and the viewing restriction information of the broadcast program. The remote control system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein:   A means for determining a registrant based on the acquired biometric information and pre-registered biometric information or estimating whether the registrant is an adult or a child by comparing the acquired biometric information with preset reference information is provided. Whether to restrict viewing and / or display restrictions on the electronic program guide based on the judgment result of the registrant or the estimation result of whether it is an adult or a child and whether or not a keyword registered in advance exists in the program information The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control system is configured to determine the above.   A means for determining whether a registrant is based on the acquired biometric information and preregistered biometric information or comparing the acquired biometric information with preset reference information to determine whether an adult or a child, The remote control system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein operation restriction is performed when a determination result that the child is a child is obtained.   20. The remote control system according to claim 16, wherein the biological information is voice.   The position detecting means is configured using an imaging camera, and detects an indicated position or an indicated area on a display screen based on a position on an image sensor of a predetermined image portion imaged by the imaging camera. The remote control system according to any one of claims 1 to 20.   The position detection means is configured by using an imaging camera, calculates a reference image captured by the imaging camera, and a moving amount and a moving direction of an image currently being captured with respect to the reference image, and displays them on the display screen. 21. The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein an instruction position or an instruction area is detected.   The position detecting means is configured using an imaging camera, and based on the direction and amount of deviation between the feature image portion on the image captured by the imaging camera and the predetermined portion on the image, the indicated position on the display screen or 21. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein an instruction area is detected.   The position detection unit is configured by using an imaging camera, and detects an instruction position or an instruction area on a display screen by a comparison process between an image captured by the imaging camera and a screen display image. The remote control system according to claim 20.   The position detection unit is configured using an imaging camera, performs character recognition based on an image captured by the imaging camera, and displays a display screen based on a comparison between the recognized character and a character that is a screen display target. The remote operation system according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein an upper designated position or designated area is detected.   The position detecting unit is configured using an imaging camera and a light beam emitting unit, detects a light beam irradiation position on an image captured by the imaging camera, and displays on the display screen based on the light beam irradiation position on the captured image. 21. The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein an instruction position or an instruction area is detected.   The remote control system according to any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the imaging camera is a digital camera.   27. The remote control system according to claim 21, wherein the imaging camera is provided in a portable telephone device.   The position detecting means is configured by using a light emitting means, and the light receiving position is determined by the photoelectric conversion means provided on the display side or the screen side which is a display screen, and the designated position or designated area on the display screen is determined. 21. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote operation system is detected.

Images