JP2006222863A - Remote operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote operating device which can transmit an operation instruction for operating an operating apparatus, so as to simplify a registration work of the operation instruction and to decrease the number of the remote operating devices. <P>SOLUTION: In a remote operation system, a cellular phone 10 comprises a plurality of buttons 16 which are operated by a user for selecting an infrared ray command which is transmitted to each operation apparatus 40, etc. ; a RAM 11c for storing a plurality of infrared ray commands for each of operation apparatuses, and also for storing association data which associates at least a part of the infrared ray command with each button; an infrared ray communication module 14 which, when each button is operated, reads out the infrared ray command stored in the operated button in association with reference to the RAM 11c, and radio-transmits the infrared ray command to the operation apparatus; and a CPU 11a for updating the association data stored in the RAM 11c based on an instruction from an outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device capable of transmitting an operation command for operating an operated device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, remote operation devices for remotely operating a television receiver or a recorder as an operated device are widely known.
By the way, such remote operation devices are individually provided for each operated device, and when the number of remote operation devices possessed by the user increases, it becomes troublesome for the user.

  Therefore, in order to eliminate this annoyance, a learning remote control device capable of storing operation commands for operating a plurality of operated devices has been developed for the purpose of reducing the number of remote operation devices (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

This learning remote control device receives an operation command output from a transmission means of a remote operation device attached to the operated device and stores it in the inside so that a plurality of operated devices can be controlled by one remote operation device. It is configured to operate.
JP 2000-092345 A

  However, in the learning remote control device, the operation command to be stored in this device must be prepared and registered one by one by preparing this device and the remote operation device of the operated device. There was a problem that became complicated.

  Therefore, in view of such problems, it is possible to simplify the operation command registration work and reduce the number of remote operation devices in a remote operation device capable of transmitting an operation command for operating the operated device. It is an object of the present invention.

  The invention according to claim 1, which is made to achieve the above object, is a remote operation device capable of transmitting an operation command for operating a plurality of operated devices, and each of the operated devices is provided with a remote operation device. A plurality of input means operated by a user to select an operation command to be transmitted, an operation command storage means for storing a plurality of the operation commands for each of the operated devices, and stored in the operation command storage means Relevance storage means for storing association data relating at least a part of the operation command to the input means, and updating means for updating the association data stored in the relation storage means based on an external command When each input means is operated, the relation storage means is referred to, and the operation command stored in association with the operated input means is read from the operation command storage means. It is characterized in that the instruction provided with a first transmitting means for wirelessly transmitted to the operated equipment.

  Therefore, according to such a remote control device, it is possible to associate an operation command for operating different types of operated devices with each input means. For this reason, the number of remote operation devices possessed by the user can be reduced without complicated registration work.

  The operation command storage means stores at least part of a large number of operation commands in association with each input means. As a method of associating each operation command with each input means, for example, for each operated device In addition, an extraction means for extracting a predetermined operation command or an operation command having a high use frequency and sequentially storing the operation command in association with an input means not associated with the operation command is provided. You may make it perform, and you may make it associate an operation command with high use frequency with an input means by a user operating operation parts, such as an input means.

  By the way, in the remote control device according to claim 1, as described in claim 2, an operation command for the operated device selected by the user is received from a server communicably connected to the remote control device. It is desirable to provide operation command acquisition means for acquiring and storing the operation command storage means.

  According to such a remote control device, even when the user newly purchases the operated device or when a new product of the operated device is developed, the operation command for the operated device is transmitted. be able to.

  In the remote control device according to claim 1 or 2, as described in claim 3, the relationship storage means associates a plurality of operation commands with at least one of the plurality of input means. When the input means associated with a plurality of operation commands is operated, the first transmission means reads these operation commands from the operation command storage means, and sequentially wirelessly transmits the read operation commands. It is preferable.

  According to such a remote control device, since a plurality of operation commands can be transmitted by operating only one input means, a plurality of operations can be performed instantaneously. Further, when operation commands for different operated devices are associated with the input means and stored in the operation command storage means, it is possible to operate different operated devices by operating only one input means.

  Furthermore, in the remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, as described in claim 4, a program guide acquisition means for acquiring an electronic program guide for television broadcasting from the outside, and a program guide acquisition It is desirable to include display means for displaying the electronic program guide acquired by the means.

  According to such a remote control device, an electronic program guide can be acquired, so that a broadcast program can be easily confirmed. Note that the program guide acquisition unit may acquire the electronic program guide from broadcast radio waves of a television, or may acquire the electronic program guide from a server that is communicably connected to the remote control device.

  In addition, in the remote control device according to claim 4, as described in claim 5, channel storage means for storing a preset specific television broadcast channel and electronic program acquired by the program guide acquisition means Program table generating means for generating a new electronic program guide comprising only the television broadcast channels stored in the channel storage means from the table, and the display means displays the electronic program guide generated by the program guide generating means. Or a channel storage unit for storing a preset specific television broadcast channel, and the program guide acquisition unit is stored in the channel storage unit. You may be comprised so that the electronic program guide of only a television broadcast channel may be acquired.

  Therefore, according to such a remote control device, for example, it is possible to display only a specific TV broadcast channel set in advance such as a channel preferred by the user, so that information required by the user can be provided more quickly. can do.

  Further, in the remote control device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, when a specific program is selected from the electronic program guide acquired by the program guide acquisition means as described in claim 7. , An operation command generation means for generating an operation command for viewing the selected program or an operation command for recording the selected program, and an operation command generated by the operation command generation unit for the operated device It is desirable to include second transmission means for wireless transmission.

  Therefore, according to such a remote control device, an electronic program guide can be acquired and an operation command for viewing the selected program can be generated, so that a program to be viewed can be easily selected. Note that the program guide acquisition unit may acquire the electronic program guide from broadcast radio waves of a television, or may acquire the electronic program guide from a server that is communicably connected to the remote control device.

  Furthermore, the remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is configured as a mobile phone capable of communicating with an unspecified number of communication partners via a communication network, as described in claim 8. It is desirable that

  According to such a remote control device, the function of the mobile phone can be used at least partially, so that the remote control device can be provided at low cost.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a remote control system 1 to which the present invention is applied.
The remote control system 1 includes a mobile phone 10 (corresponding to a remote control device in the present invention), a server 30 that can communicate with the mobile phone 10 and exchange data with the mobile phone 10, and the mobile phone 10. Various operated devices (in the present embodiment, a recorder 40, a television receiver 50, and an audio 60) that are driven in response to transmitted infrared commands are provided. Here, communication performed between the mobile phone 10 and the server 30 is performed via a base station 71 that performs wireless communication with the mobile phone 10 and an Internet network 73 that connects the base station 71 and the server 30. Done.

The base station 71 is also connected to a telephone line network 75, and the mobile phone 10 is configured to be able to make a call via the telephone line network 75.
The mobile phone 10 includes a control unit 11 that controls each part of the mobile phone 10, a communication unit 12 that communicates with the base station 71, a TV tuner 13 that receives a television broadcast, and an infrared command (signal). An infrared communication module 14 (corresponding to the first transmission means and the second transmission means in the present invention), a display 15 for displaying an image (including characters), and a plurality of buttons (for example, from 0 to 9) , A start / end button, a cross key, and the like).

  The control unit 11 is configured as a known microcomputer including a CPU 11a, ROM 11b, and RAM 11c (corresponding to operation command storage means, relevance storage means, and channel storage means in the present invention), and the operation section 16 is operated. Thus, various processes are executed based on a command input from the operation unit 16, a program stored in advance in the interior, or a signal received via the communication unit 12 or the infrared communication module 14.

  In addition, based on a command input from the control unit 16, a process of switching between a call mode that functions as a known mobile phone, a data communication mode that performs data communication, and a remote control mode that functions as a remote control device is performed.

  The infrared communication module 14 includes an infrared light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and generates a predetermined signal (that is, an infrared command: an operation command) from the light emitting unit based on a command from the control unit 11. The signal received by the light receiving unit is sent to the control unit 11.

The display 15 is configured as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Color Display), for example, and displays an image in response to a command from the control unit 11.
Next, the server 30 includes a control unit 31, a communication unit 32, and a database 33.

  The database 33 stores information on the operated device that is operated in response to the infrared command, event information, or a program guide. The information on the operated device is stored in association with, for example, the type of the operated device (recorder, television receiver, air conditioner, etc.), manufacturer, and model, and an infrared command for operating each of the operated devices. Has been.

The control unit 31 of the server 30 is mainly used for controlling the communication unit 32, reads information stored in the database 33 as necessary, and transmits the information via the communication unit 32.
Among various types of operated devices that are driven by receiving an infrared command transmitted from the mobile phone 10, the recorder 40 includes an infrared communication module 42 that receives the infrared command transmitted from the mobile phone 10 and a recording that records a television program. And a processing unit 41 that drives the recording unit 43 based on an external command via the infrared communication module 42 or the like.

The processing unit 41 of the recorder 40 drives the recording unit 43 to start recording a program at a preset time.
Further, the processing unit 41 of the recorder 40 is configured to transmit a confirmation signal from the infrared communication module 42 when a drive command is received via the infrared communication module 42. In other words, the infrared communication module 42 transmits a confirmation signal when the infrared command is normally received, and transmits the confirmation signal as a confirmation signal when the infrared command is abnormally received.

The television receiver 50 includes an infrared light receiving unit 52, a display unit 53 that displays an image, and a processing unit 51 that receives a television broadcast radio wave and displays it on the display unit 53.
The audio 60 (sound reproduction device) includes an infrared light receiving unit 52, a speaker 63, and a processing unit 61 that causes the speaker 63 to ring.

  Such processing units 51 and 61 of the television receiver 50 and the audio 60 switch the power ON / OFF and change the reception channel based on the drive command received via the infrared light receiving units 52 and 62. , Processing for changing the volume (that is, processing for changing the operating state) is performed.

  Next, a process in which the mobile phone 10 acquires desired information from the server 30 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating information acquisition processing executed by the control unit 11 of the mobile phone 10.

  This information acquisition process is started when the user of the mobile phone 10 switches to the data communication mode via the operation unit 16 and inputs a command to connect to the server 30. First, in S110, the control unit An application for displaying the Web browser stored in 11 is started up, and the server 30 is accessed using this application. Then, the process proceeds to S120.

  When the server 30 confirms the access from the mobile phone 10, the server 30 transmits an image corresponding to the accessed address to the mobile phone 10. That is, in this case, an image is transmitted to allow the user of the mobile phone 10 to select which function to be provided from among the functions (information) prepared in the server 30 in advance.

In S120, an image for selecting a function transmitted from the server 30 is displayed on the display 15, and the process proceeds to S130.
In S130, it is determined whether or not the user of the mobile phone 10 has selected a function to be executed by the server 30. If a function is selected, the process proceeds to S140, and if a function is not selected, S130 is repeated.

Next, in S140, S160, and S180, it is determined which function is the selected function.
That is, in S140, it is determined whether “use device selection” has been selected. When “use device selection” has been selected, a use device selection process (S150) and a use command selection process (S155) described later are sequentially executed, and the information acquisition process is terminated. On the other hand, if “select used device” is not selected in S140, the process proceeds to S160.

  In S160, it is determined whether or not “select display channel” has been selected. If “display channel selection” is selected, a display channel selection process (S165) described later is executed, and the process proceeds to S170. On the other hand, if “select display channel” is not selected in S160, the process proceeds to S180.

In S170, an electronic program guide is displayed, and a screen for allowing the user to select whether or not to execute processing for selecting a program from the electronic program guide is displayed on the display 15.
Then, in S175, it is determined whether or not execution of program selection processing has been input via the operation unit 16. If the operation unit 16 has not been operated, step S175 is repeated. If it is input that a program is to be selected, the process proceeds to step S185. If it is input that no program is selected, information acquisition processing is performed. Exit.

  In S180, it is determined whether or not “program selection” is selected. When “program selection” is selected, a program guide display process (S185) and a program selection process (S190) described later are executed, and the information acquisition process is terminated. On the other hand, if “program selection” is not selected in S180, the information acquisition process is terminated.

Next, the process of S150 of the above information acquisition process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the used device selection process.
Note that in the used device selection process, information on the operated device possessed by the user is selected from information on a number of operated devices stored in the database 33 of the server 30, and the mobile phone 10 acquires the information. It is processing to do.

The used device selection process corresponds to the operation command acquisition means referred to in the present invention.
When this processing is executed in the used device selection process ("Used device selection" is selected in S140), the server 30 displays the display data of the screen for selecting the operated device possessed by the user to the mobile phone. 10 and the display data transmitted from the server 30 in S310 is displayed.

  Then, the process proceeds to S320, and it is determined whether or not the operated device possessed (used) by the user has been selected. S320 is repeated until the user selects the operated device (S320: NO), and when the user selects the operated device, the process proceeds to S330.

Next, in S330, the server 30 is requested for command set data storing a plurality of infrared commands for operating the operated device selected by the user.
Here, when receiving the command set data request, the server 30 calls the command set data for the operated device selected by the user from the database 33 and transmits the command set data to the mobile phone 10.

  Then, in step S340, the control unit 11 of the mobile phone 10 determines whether command set data has been received. S340 is repeated until command set data is received, and when command set data is received, the process proceeds to S350.

In S350, the received command set data is stored in the RAM 11c of the control unit 11, and the process proceeds to S360.
In S360, it is input via the operation unit 16 that other operated devices are selected in addition to the operated device selected by the user in S320, and command set data related to the devices is acquired from the server 30. It is determined whether or not it has been done. The system waits until any command is input via the operation unit 16, and returns to S310 if an instruction to select another operated device is input. If an input indicating that no other operated device is selected is input, End the used device selection process.

Next, the process of S155 of the above information acquisition process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing use command selection processing.
The used command selection process is a process of selecting a command to be used from a plurality of infrared commands (command set data) acquired in the used device selection process, and registering the command to a specified button (operation unit 16). When this process is completed, it becomes possible to transmit one or a plurality of commands selected when the button to which the command is registered is operated.

Further, this use command selection process corresponds to the updating means in the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the used command selection process, first, in S410, an instruction as to whether or not to register a command to be used is input from the command set data stored in the control unit 11 via the operation unit 16. It is determined whether or not. S410 is repeated until any command is input, and if it is input to register a command to be used, the process proceeds to S420. Alternatively, if a command for not registering a command to be used is input, the used command selection process is terminated.

In S420, display data for selecting a command (a list of commands) is generated based on the command set data and displayed on the display 15.
Next, in S430, it is determined whether an infrared command to be registered is selected from the list displayed on the display 15 via the operation unit 16. S430 is repeated until an infrared command is selected, and if an infrared command is selected, the process proceeds to S440.

In S440, the selected command is stored in the control unit 11, and the process proceeds to S450.
In S450, it is determined whether or not to additionally register another infrared command together with the infrared command stored in S440 to the button designated in S470 described later. The process repeats S450 until any command is input via the operation unit 16, and returns to S420 if it is selected to additionally register another infrared command. On the other hand, if it is selected not to register another infrared command, the process proceeds to S460.

In S460, display data that prompts the user to specify a button for registering the infrared command stored in S440 is generated and displayed on the display 15.
Then, in S470, it is determined whether or not a button for registering an infrared command is designated. The process of S470 is repeated until a button for registering an infrared command is designated, and if a button for registering an infrared command is designated, the process proceeds to S480.

  Next, in S480, association data in which the command stored in S440 is associated with the designated button is generated. That is, when executing a remote control process to be described later, the commands stored in S440 can be called in the order of registration.

  Next, the process proceeds to S490, and in S490, it is determined whether or not to register an infrared command in another button. The process of S490 is repeated until any command is input via the operation unit 16, and the process returns to S420 if an instruction to register another button is input. If it is input in S490 that other buttons are not registered, the use command selection process is terminated.

Next, the display channel selection process shown in S165 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In the display channel selection process, first, in S530, a display channel selection screen is displayed, and the process proceeds to S540.

  In step S540, it is determined whether a display channel has been selected via the operation unit 16. If the display channel is not selected, S540 is repeated. If the display channel is selected, the process proceeds to S550. If it is selected that the display channel is not selected, the display channel selection process is terminated.

  Next, in S550, the display channel selected in S540 is set to be callable in the process of S580 (S640 in the modification shown in FIG. 8) of the program display process described later. That is, this display channel is stored in the RAM 11c.

Then, the process proceeds to S560, a screen for allowing the user to select whether or not to set the display channel is displayed on the display 15, and the process returns to S540.
Next, the program display process shown in S185 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 5B is a flowchart showing the program display process.

Note that the processing of S580 and S590 corresponds to the program guide acquisition means in the present invention, and the processing of S600 corresponds to the program guide generation means.
In the program display process, first, in S580, the server 30 is requested via the communication unit 12 for a program guide for the display channel stored in the RAM 11c. Here, when the display channel information is not stored in the RAM 11c, it is handled as information for acquiring all the channels.

  Then, the process proceeds to S590, and it is determined whether or not the program guide is received from the server 30 via the communication unit 12. If the program guide has been received, the process proceeds to S600, and if the program guide has not been received, S590 is repeated.

Next, in S600, an electronic program guide (EPG) is generated based on the received program guide.
In step S610, the generated program guide is displayed on the display 15, and the program display process ends.

Next, the program selection process shown in S190 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the program selection process.
Note that the processing of S810 and S920 corresponds to the operation command generation means referred to in the present invention.

  In the program selection process, first, in S710, it is determined whether or not the user has selected a specific program from the displayed program table. If a specific program is selected, the process proceeds to S720. If a program is not selected, S710 is repeated.

In step S720, a screen for confirming the selected program and a screen for designating an operation are displayed on the display 15.
Next, the process proceeds to S730, where it is determined whether any operation has been selected via the operation unit 16. If the operation is selected, the process proceeds to S740, and if the operation is not selected, S730 is repeated.

In S740, it is determined whether or not the selected operation is a notification of the start time.
If the selected operation is a notification of the start time in S740, the process proceeds to S750, and the program name of the selected program and the start time are associated with each other and stored in the RAM 11c (S750). The timer is set to (S760), and the program selection process is terminated. Note that an alarm is set at the start time of the program by the processing of S750 and S760. At this time, the program name and its start time are displayed on the display 15.

On the other hand, if the selected operation is not a notification of the start time in S740, the process proceeds to S770.
In S770, it is determined whether recording of the selected program has been selected. When the recording of the selected program is selected, the process proceeds to S780, and when the recording of the selected program is not selected, the process proceeds to S830.

  In S780, it is determined whether or not there are two or more recorders selected in the device selection process (FIG. 3). If there are two or more recorders, the process proceeds to S790, and if there is only one recorder, the process proceeds to S810.

In S790, a screen for selecting a recorder to be used for recording a program from the stored recorders is displayed.
In step S800, it is determined whether a recorder to be used for recording has been selected. If a recorder is selected, the process proceeds to S810. If a recorder is not selected, S800 is repeated.

Next, in S810, an infrared command for making a reservation for program recording in the selected recorder is generated.
In step S820, the infrared command is stored in the RAM 11c in association with a specific button (eg, “0” button) on the operation unit 16. Since the program recording command is associated with a specific button in the processing of S780 to S820, if the button is selected in the remote control processing described later, an infrared command for reserving the program is recorded on the recorder. Can be sent to.

  Next, in S830, it is determined whether or not viewing of the selected program with the mobile phone 10 has been selected. When viewing by the mobile phone 10 is selected, the process proceeds to S840, and when viewing by the mobile phone 10 is not selected, the process proceeds to S860.

In S840, the program name of the selected program and its start time are associated with each other and stored in the RAM 11c.
In S850, a timer is set so that the program selected at the start time can be viewed, and the program selection process is terminated.

  When the start time of the selected program comes after the processing of S840 and S850, the CPU 11a tunes the TV tuner 13 to the channel on which the selected program is broadcast, and displays this program on the display 15.

  Next, in S860, it is determined whether acquisition of program information of the selected program has been selected. If program information acquisition is selected, the process proceeds to S880, and if program information acquisition is not selected, the process proceeds to S910.

In S880, the server is requested for program information via the communication unit 12, and the process proceeds to S890.
In step S890, it is determined whether program information is received from the server via the communication unit 12. If the program information has been received, the process proceeds to S900. If the program information has not been received, the process of S890 is repeated.

Next, in S900, the received program information is displayed on the display 15, and the program selection process is terminated.
Next, in S910, it is determined whether or not the user has selected to view with the television receiver 50 possessed by the user. If it is selected that the TV receiver 50 is to be viewed, the process proceeds to S920. If it is not selected that the TV receiver 50 is to be viewed, the program selection process is terminated.

In S920, an infrared command for changing to the selected channel is generated, the infrared command is transmitted in S930, and the program selection process is terminated.
Next, processing of the mobile phone 10 when the user operates the operated device using the remote control function of the mobile phone 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a remote control process performed by the CPU 11 a of the mobile phone 10.

This remote control process is a process executed when the mobile phone 10 is set to the remote control mode.
In this process, it is determined in S1010 whether or not each button of the operation unit 16 has been operated. If each button of the operation unit 16 is operated, the process proceeds to S1020. If any button of the operation unit 16 is not operated, S1010 is repeated.

  In step S1020, an infrared command is extracted from the RAM 11c while referring to the association data stored in the RAM 11c based on the type of the operated button. At this time, if a plurality of commands are associated with the operated button, all of the plurality of commands are called.

In step S1030, the selected commands are sequentially transmitted.
Next, the process proceeds to S1040, and it is determined whether or not a command for transmitting a confirmation signal notifying that the command transmitted in S1030 has been correctly received is included. If a signal requesting a confirmation signal is included, the process proceeds to S1050. If a confirmation signal is not included, the remote control process is terminated as it is.

  In S1050, it is determined whether a confirmation signal is received within a predetermined time (for example, 1 second). If the confirmation signal is received within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to S1060. If the confirmation signal is not received within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to S1080.

  In S1060, it is determined whether or not the confirmation signal is received normally. If it is determined that the confirmation signal has been successfully received, the process proceeds to S1070, the display 15 is displayed indicating that transmission is complete, and the remote control process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in S1060 that the confirmation signal is abnormally received, the process proceeds to S1080 to display a transmission error on the display 15, and the remote control process is terminated.

  In the remote operation system 1 described in detail above, the user selects an infrared command (operation command) to be transmitted to each operated device (recorder 40, television receiver 50, audio 60, etc.). A plurality of buttons (operation unit 16) operated by the above, a plurality of infrared commands for each operated device, a RAM 11c for storing association data in which at least a part of the infrared commands is associated with each button, When the button is operated, the infrared communication module 14 that refers to the RAM 11c, reads the infrared command stored in association with the operated button from the RAM 11c, and wirelessly transmits the infrared command to the operated device; Process for updating the association data stored in the RAM 11c based on a command from It includes a CPU11a performing mode selection process), the.

  Therefore, according to such a remote operation system 1, it is possible to associate an infrared command for operating different types of operated devices with each button. For this reason, the number of remote control devices (remote controllers) possessed by the user can be reduced without complicated registration work.

  In the remote operation system 1, the CPU 11 a of the mobile phone 10 acquires an infrared command for the operated device selected by the user from the server 30 that is communicably connected to the mobile phone 10 and stores it in the RAM 11 c. (Used device selection processing).

  Therefore, according to such a remote operation system 1, even when the user newly purchases the operated device or when a new product of the operated device is developed, the infrared command of the operated device is used. Can be sent.

  In the remote operation system 1, the RAM 11c of the mobile phone 10 can store a plurality of infrared commands in association with at least one of the plurality of buttons, and the CPU 11a can store buttons associated with the plurality of infrared commands. Is operated, the infrared commands are read from the RAM 11c, and the read infrared commands are sequentially wirelessly transmitted using the infrared communication module 14 (remote control process).

  Therefore, according to such a remote operation system 1, a plurality of infrared commands can be transmitted by operating only one button, and therefore a plurality of operations can be performed instantaneously. Further, when infrared commands of different operated devices are associated with buttons and stored in the RAM 11c, different operated devices can be operated by operating only one button.

  Further, in the remote operation system 1, the mobile phone 10 is provided with a display 15 for displaying the acquired electronic program guide, and the CPU 11a acquires an electronic program guide for TV broadcasting from the outside (program guide acquisition means). It is configured.

According to such a remote control system 1, since an electronic program guide can be acquired, it is possible to easily confirm a broadcast program.
In addition, the RAM 11c stores a specific TV broadcast channel set in advance (channel storage means), and the CPU 11a acquires an electronic program guide for only the TV broadcast channel stored in the RAM 11c (program guide acquisition means). It is configured as follows.

  Therefore, according to such a remote control system 1, for example, it is possible to display only a specific TV broadcast channel set in advance such as a channel preferred by the user, so that information required by the user can be displayed more quickly. Can be provided.

  Further, in the remote operation system 1, when a specific program is selected from the acquired electronic program guide, an infrared command for viewing the selected program or an infrared command for recording the selected program is received. The infrared communication module 14 is configured to wirelessly transmit the generated infrared command to the operated device.

  Therefore, according to such a remote operation system 1, an electronic program guide can be acquired and an infrared command for viewing the selected program can be generated, so that the program desired to be viewed can be easily selected. .

Further, the remote operation system 1 is configured to be able to communicate with an unspecified number of communication partners via a communication network.
Therefore, according to such a remote operation system 1, since the function of the mobile phone 10 can be used at least partially, the function as a remote operation device can be provided at low cost.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can take various forms as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.
For example, in the remote operation system 1 of the present embodiment, the RAM 11c of the mobile phone 10 is configured to store at least part of a large number of infrared commands in association with each button in sequence, but each infrared command and each button are stored. As a method of associating, for example, a predetermined infrared command or a frequently used infrared command is extracted for each operated device, and the infrared command is sequentially associated with a button not associated with the infrared command and stored. Extraction means may be provided and this means may be used.

  Here, extraction of infrared commands that are frequently used may be performed based on, for example, a database stored in the server 30, or the number of times infrared commands used in the past by the mobile phone 10 are accumulated and stored. However, it is also possible to extract those having the highest number of uses.

Further, in the mobile phone 10, the RAM 11c stores a specific TV broadcast channel set in advance (channel storage means), and the CPU 11a newly includes only the TV broadcast channel stored in the RAM 11c from the acquired electronic program guide. The display 15 may be configured to display the generated electronic program guide together with the electronic program guide (program guide generating means). Further, in the remote operation system 1, the mobile phone 10 is communicably connected. However, the electronic program guide may be acquired from the broadcast wave of the television via the TV tuner 13.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, a plurality of infrared commands are collectively acquired from the server 30 as command set data, but only a command selected by the user may be acquired. At this time, an arbitrary command combination may be selected on the display 15 of the mobile phone 10 and the selected infrared command combination may be acquired. Furthermore, the acquired combination of infrared commands may be directly associated with each button of the operation unit 16.

  Furthermore, in the information display process shown in FIG. 2, it is configured to execute various processes while communicating with the server 30 by launching a Web browser application. The above-described processing may be executed using an application that has already been registered at the time of product shipment of the mobile phone 10 or an application that is downloaded from a server when the mobile phone 10 is used.

Further, S580 to S610 in the program display process shown in FIG. 5B may be as shown in FIG.
That is, in S620, a program guide for all channels is requested from the server.

  In S630, as in S590, it is determined whether or not the electronic program guide is received from the server 30 via the communication unit 12. If the program guide has been received, the process proceeds to S640, and if the program guide has not been received, S630 is repeated.

  Next, in S640, the RAM 11c is referred to, data of channels other than the set display channel is deleted, and an electronic program guide for only the set display channel is generated. If the channel set in the RAM 11c is not stored, the channel data is not deleted.

Then, the process proceeds to S650, where the generated program guide is displayed, and the program display process ends.
Even if it does in this way, the same effect is acquired. Further, according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent useless data from being received when updating the data in the program guide.

1 is a block diagram showing an overview of a remote operation system 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an information acquisition process. It is a flowchart which shows a use apparatus selection process. It is a flowchart which shows a command selection process. The flowchart (a) which shows a display channel selection process, and the flowchart (b) which shows a program display process. It is a flowchart which shows a program selection process. It is a flowchart which shows a remote control process. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of a program display process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Remote operation system, 10 ... Mobile telephone, 11 ... Control part, 11a ... CPU, 11b ... ROM, 11c ... RAM, 12 ... Communication part, 13 ... TV tuner, 14 ... Infrared communication module, 15 ... Display, 16 ... Operation unit, 30 ... server, 31 ... control unit, 32 ... communication unit, 33 ... database, 40 ... recorder, 41 ... processing unit, 42 ... infrared communication module, 43 ... recording unit, 50 ... TV receiver, 51 ... Processing part 52 ... Infrared light receiving part 53 ... Display part 60 ... Audio 61 ... Processing part 62 ... Infrared light receiving part 63 ... Speaker 71 ... Base station 73 ... Internet network 75 ... Telephone line network

Claims (8)

A remote control device capable of transmitting an operation command for operating a plurality of operated devices,
A plurality of input means operated by a user to select an operation command to be transmitted to each operated device;
Operation command storage means for storing a plurality of the operation commands for each operated device;
Relevance storage means for storing association data in which at least part of the operation commands stored in the operation command storage means is associated with each input means;
Updating means for updating the association data stored in the relation storage means based on an external command;
When each input means is operated, the relation storage means is referred to, and an operation command stored in association with the operated input means is read from the operation command storage means, and the operation command is read from the operated device. First transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting to,
A remote control device characterized by comprising:   An operation command acquisition unit that acquires an operation command for an operated device selected by a user from a server that is communicably connected to the remote operation device and stores the operation command in the operation command storage unit is provided. The remote control device according to claim 1. The association storage means can store a plurality of operation commands in association with at least one of the plurality of input means,
When the input means associated with a plurality of operation commands is operated, the first transmission means reads these operation commands from the operation command storage means, and sequentially transmits the read operation commands by radio. The remote control device according to claim 1 or 2. A program guide acquisition means for acquiring an electronic program guide of a television broadcast from outside;
Display means for displaying the electronic program guide acquired by the program guide acquisition means;
The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: Channel storage means for storing a preset specific TV broadcast channel;
Program guide generating means for generating a new electronic program guide consisting only of the television broadcast channel stored in the channel storage means from the electronic program guide acquired by the program guide acquiring means;
With
The remote control device according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays the electronic program guide generated by the program guide generation unit. Channel storage means for storing a preset specific TV broadcast channel,
The remote control device according to claim 4, wherein the program guide acquisition unit acquires an electronic program guide for only a television broadcast channel stored in the channel storage unit. An operation for generating an operation command for viewing the selected program or an operation command for recording the selected program when a specific program is selected from the electronic program table acquired by the program table acquisition means. Command generation means;
Second transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the operation command generated by the operation command generation means to the operated device;
The remote control device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising:   The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the remote control device is configured as a mobile phone capable of communicating with an unspecified number of communication partners via a communication network.

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