JP2006346144A - Remote control system, method, and selling method for electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a general purpose controlling device operate as a remote controller for an electronic device without applying burden of a complicated setting operation to a user. <P>SOLUTION: A radio controlled toy 20 is sold together with a memory card 30 packaged. On the memory card 30, a program which remote-controls the radio controlled toy 20 is stored. When the memory card 30 is fitted in a memory card slot of a controlling device, the program 31 is read by the controlling device and is executed. When the program 31 is executed, the remote control of the electronic device is performed by utilizing a radio communication function which is provided in the controlling device. The controlling device is equipped with a touch panel type display, and the user can visually operate the radio controlled toy 20 by using an operation pen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for remotely controlling an electronic device.

  There are various electronic devices that enable remote control using wireless communication. For example, a radio controlled toy is a typical example. When a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller) sold together with a radio control is operated and a remote signal is transmitted to the radio control, the radio control toy operates according to the remote signal. In addition, home appliances such as televisions and DVD recorders can be remotely controlled using a remote controller.

PHILIPS, “ProntoPro”, [Search June 7, 2005] Internet <URL: http://www.pronto.philips.com/index.cfm?id=636>

  However, with the increase in electronic devices that can be remotely controlled, there is a problem that the user must own a large number of remote controllers accordingly.

  A learning remote controller exists to solve such a problem. A general-purpose remote controller is made to learn the correspondence between operation buttons and remote signals. Thereby, a general-purpose remote controller can be applied as a remote controller for various electronic devices. However, since these learning remote controllers have to learn the function of each operation button, the setting operation is complicated. In addition, since there is a restriction that an operation button prepared in advance for the general-purpose remote controller is used, a problem remains in terms of usability.

  On the other hand, in Non-Patent Document 1, the learning remote controller includes a touch panel display, and the learning remote controller is configured to learn a user interface corresponding to each electronic device. However, the learning operation for each operation button is still troublesome, and the burden placed on the user when performing the setting operation is large.

  In addition, there is a technique of using a mobile phone as a remote control by downloading a remote control program via a network and installing the program on the mobile phone. Since this technique still uses the operation buttons of the mobile phone, there are restrictions on the number and arrangement of the operation buttons. Also, the program cannot be downloaded unless an environment that can access the network is in place. In addition, it is necessary to connect to the site and download the corresponding program, which again places a heavy burden on the user.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for operating a general-purpose control device as a remote controller corresponding to various electronic devices by simply following a simple procedure.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention described in claim 1 is an electronic device capable of remote control, a memory card that is sold together with the electronic device and stores a program for performing remote control of the electronic device, and a control A memory card slot into which the memory card can be inserted, wireless communication means, and the program read from the memory card inserted into the memory card slot, and the wireless communication means And means for performing remote control of the electronic device.

  The invention according to claim 2 is an electronic device that can be remotely controlled, a memory card that is sold together with the electronic device and stores a program for performing remote control of the electronic device, and an adapter that mounts the memory card. A control device, wherein the adapter includes wireless communication means, and the control device includes a slot into which the adapter in which the memory card is mounted can be inserted, and the memory card inserted into the slot. Means for reading a program and performing remote control of the electronic device using the wireless communication means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote control system according to the first or second aspect, the control device includes a touch panel display, and the program is for remotely controlling the electronic device. A user interface is provided on the touch panel display.

  The invention according to claim 4 is a process of inserting a memory card sold together with an electronic device and storing a program for performing remote control of the electronic device into a memory card slot of the control device, and the control device comprises: A control step of reading the program stored in the memory card and remotely controlling the electronic device using a wireless communication unit included in the control device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a step of attaching a memory card, which is sold together with an electronic device and storing a program for performing remote control of the electronic device, to the adapter, and the memory card is attached to a slot of the control device A step of inserting the adapter, and a control step in which the control device reads the program stored in the memory card and remotely controls the electronic device using a wireless communication means included in the adapter. It is characterized by providing.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the remote control method according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the program provides a touch panel display provided in the control device with a user interface for remotely controlling the electronic device. It is characterized by that.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a step of storing a program for causing the control device to operate as a remote controller of the electronic device by causing the control device to read the memory device, and the memory storing the program in the electronic device. And a step of selling the card in a bundle.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a method for selling the electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the program provides a touch panel display provided in the control device with a user interface for remotely controlling the electronic device. It is characterized by doing.

  The present invention is a system including an electronic device capable of remote control, a memory card storing a program for performing remote control, and a control device. Electronic devices are sold with a memory card. When the memory card is inserted into the memory card slot of the control device, the program is read from the memory card, and remote control of the electronic device is performed using wireless communication means.

  As a result, the user can operate the control device as a remote controller of the electronic device only by performing a simple operation of attaching the memory card to the control device.

  Further, the control device includes a touch panel display, and the program provides a user interface for remotely controlling the electronic device to the touch panel display.

  Accordingly, the control device can be operated as a remote controller having a free interface without being restricted by the number and arrangement of operation buttons provided in the control device.

  When the control device does not have a wireless communication function, the memory card is attached to an adapter with a wireless communication function, and then attached to the control device to remotely control the electronic device.

  Thus, even when the control device does not have a wireless communication function, the control device can be operated as a remote controller for the electronic device with a simple operation.

{First embodiment}
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overview of a radio controlled toy set 10 sold at a toy store, a supermarket, a department store, and the like. The radio controlled toy set 10 is sold with a radio controlled toy 20 and a memory card 30 housed in a package.

  The radio-controlled toy 20 includes an infrared communication unit, a control unit, a power unit, and the like (not shown). By receiving a remote control signal from the remote control using infrared communication, the hand is turned, walked, or voiced. It is a toy that performs actions such as putting out. If it was a conventional radio controlled toy, a remote control was included in this package. The present invention is characterized in that a remote controller is not included in this package and a compact memory card 30 is included instead of the remote controller.

  In general, a flash memory can be used as the memory card 30, but in this embodiment, an OTP (One-time programmable) memory is used as the memory card 30. The OTP memory is a memory in which data can be written only once. The OTP memory is used to ensure reliability for guaranteeing the number of rewrites a plurality of times by limiting the number of rewrites to one as compared with an MTP (Multi-time programmable) memory such as a general flash memory. Since the cost can be kept low, it can generally be manufactured and supplied at low cost. In the present embodiment, by using an inexpensive OTP memory, the radio controlled toy 20 including the memory card 30 can be sold at a low cost. However, a general flash memory or the like may be used as long as the cost problem can be cleared.

  When the user purchases the radio-controlled toy set 10, the user takes it home and performs a setting operation of the remote controller. Here, the user can use the general-purpose control device 40 as the hardware of the remote controller.

  FIG. 2 is an overview diagram of the control device 40. The control device 40 has a touch panel display 41 and an operation unit 42 arranged on the surface of the device. The operation unit 42 includes a button group including a cross cursor and a plurality of buttons, and a touch panel display 41. A memory card slot 43 for inserting the memory card 30 is provided on the side surface of the control device 40. There are various types of shapes and interfaces of the memory card 30. Therefore, it is convenient to configure the memory card slot 43 so that the plurality of types of memory cards can be inserted. Or you may make it respond | correspond by mounting | wearing with the adapter corresponding to several types of memory cards.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the control device 40. The control device 40 is provided with a card I / F 44, an infrared communication unit 45, a CPU 46, and a flash ROM 47 in addition to the touch panel display 41, the operation unit 42, and the memory card slot 43 shown in FIG. The card I / F 44 is an interface for inputting / outputting data to / from the memory card 30 mounted in the memory card slot 43, the CPU 46 performs overall control of the control device 40, and various programs are stored in the flash ROM 47. In addition, a remote control program 31 read from the memory card 30 is stored. As described above, the memory card 30 is included in the radio controlled toy set 10, and the memory card 30 stores a program 31 for remotely controlling the radio controlled toy 20.

  When the user purchases the radio controlled toy set 10 at a toy store or the like, first, the package is opened and the radio controlled toy 20 and the memory card 30 are taken out. Next, the memory card 30 is inserted into the memory card slot 43 of the control device 40. With this work, the user can use the general-purpose control device 40 owned at home as a remote control for the radio controlled toy 20.

  Specifically, when the memory card 30 is inserted into the memory card slot 43, the remote control program 31 recorded on the memory card 30 is transferred to the flash ROM 47. Then, the remote control program 31 recorded in the flash ROM 47 is executed on the CPU 46. Since the program 31 is a program for remotely controlling the radio controlled toy 20, the program 31 is installed in the control device 40 by the above operation, and the control device 40 operates as a remote control of the radio controlled toy 20.

  When the memory card 30 is inserted into the memory card slot 43, the CPU 46 recognizes the presence of the program 31 and transfers the program 31 to the flash ROM 47. Thus, by automating the transfer process of the program 31, it is possible to simplify the user's setting operation. Furthermore, by automating the process in which the CPU 46 activates the program 31 transferred to the flash ROM 47, the setting operation can be simplified and the convenience is good. Note that the CPU 46 may directly execute the program 31 stored in the memory card 30.

  FIG. 4 is an image diagram in which the user remotely controls the radio controlled toy 20 using the control device 40. When the program 31 is installed and executed in the control device 40, the control device 40 can transmit a remote signal to the radio controlled toy 20 and control the radio controlled toy 20 using the infrared communication unit 45. Become.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, after the user purchases the radio controlled toy set 10, the user attaches the enclosed memory card 30 to the control device 40 that is a general-purpose device having an infrared communication function. It is possible to use the control device 40 as a remote controller for the radio controlled toy 20 simply by making it. Unlike the prior art, there is no burden on the user of the cumbersome work load of having each button learn remote control information. Also, there is no need for complicated operations such as downloading a program from a site via a network.

  The program 31 includes a user interface program that enables the user to visually control the radio controlled toy 20. As shown in FIG. 5, an image of the radio controlled toy 20 is displayed on the touch panel display 41. The user can send a remote control signal to the radio controlled toy 20 by touching the display surface of the touch panel display 41 using the operation pen 48. For example, after clicking the hand portion of the image of the radio controlled toy 20 with the operation pen 48, the remote control signal is transmitted to the radio controlled toy 20 by sliding the operation pen 48 upward from the hand portion. The radio controlled toy 20 performs an operation of raising the hand upward.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the user interface for performing remote control is displayed on the touch panel display 41, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use remote controller without restricting the arrangement and number of buttons of the control device 40. It is possible to operate.

  According to the present embodiment, the user can operate the general-purpose control device 40 as a remote controller for the radio controlled toy 20 with a simple setting operation. In this embodiment, the radio-controlled toy 20 is described as an example of an electronic device that can be remotely controlled. However, the present invention can also be applied to televisions, DVD recorders, and various home appliances.

  According to the present embodiment, the electronic device that performs remote control does not need to be bundled with the hardware of the remote controller as in the past. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the cost of a product. In addition, the package of the electronic device can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the radio controlled toy 20 and the control device 40 have been described by taking the case of using infrared communication as an example. However, the communication method is not limited to this, and other wireless communication is used. May be.

{Second Embodiment}
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the control device 40 includes the infrared communication unit 45. The second embodiment is an embodiment when the control device 40 does not include an infrared communication unit.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the control device 40 according to the second embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the control device 40 does not include the infrared communication unit 45. In this case, the memory card 30 is not directly attached to the memory card slot 43 but is attached to the memory card slot 43 after the memory card 30 is attached to the adapter 50.

  The adapter 50 includes an interface for enabling data input / output between the memory card 30 and the card I / F 44 and an infrared communication unit 51. When the program 31 is executed by the CPU 46, the remote control program 31 uses the infrared communication unit 51 provided in the adapter 50 to remotely control the radio controlled toy 20. Thereby, similarly to 1st Embodiment, the user can operate the control apparatus 40 as a remote control of the radio controlled toy 20 by simple operation, and there exists the same effect.

It is a general-view figure of a radio control toy set. It is a general-view figure of the control apparatus which operate | moves as a remote control. It is a block diagram of a control apparatus. It is an image figure which carries out remote control of the radio controlled toy with a control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the user interface of a remote control program. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Radio control toy set 20 Radio control toy 30 Memory card 31 Remote control program 40 Control device 41 Touch panel display 42 Operation unit 43 Memory card slot

Claims (8)

Remote controllable electronic devices,
A memory card that is sold with the electronic device and stores a program for remote control of the electronic device;
A control device;
With
The control device includes:
A memory card slot into which the memory card can be inserted;
Wireless communication means;
Means for reading the program from the memory card inserted into the memory card slot and using the wireless communication means to remotely control the electronic device;
A remote control system comprising: Remote controllable electronic devices,
A memory card that is sold with the electronic device and stores a program for remote control of the electronic device;
An adapter for mounting the memory card;
A control device;
With
The adapter is
Wireless communication means,
With
The control device includes:
A slot into which the adapter with the memory card can be inserted;
Means for reading the program from the memory card inserted in the slot and performing remote control of the electronic device using the wireless communication means;
A remote control system comprising: The remote control system according to claim 1 or 2,
The control device includes:
Touch panel display,
With
The remote control system, wherein the program provides a user interface for remotely controlling the electronic device on the touch panel display. Inserting a memory card sold together with an electronic device and storing a program for remote control of the electronic device into a memory card slot of the control device;
A control step in which the control device reads the program stored in the memory card and remotely controls the electronic device using a wireless communication means provided in the control device;
An electronic device remote control method comprising: A process of attaching a memory card, which is sold together with an electronic device and storing a program for performing remote control of the electronic device, to the adapter;
Inserting the adapter with the memory card mounted in a slot of a control device;
A control step in which the control device reads the program stored in the memory card and remotely controls the electronic device using a wireless communication means provided in the adapter;
An electronic device remote control method comprising: In the remote control method of the electronic device of Claim 4 or Claim 5,
The program provides a remote control method for an electronic device, which provides a touch panel display provided in the control device with a user interface for remotely controlling the electronic device. Storing in a memory card a program that causes the control device to operate as a remote controller of an electronic device by being read by the control device;
A step of selling the memory card in which the program is stored in the electronic device;
A method of selling an electronic device comprising: A method for selling the electronic device according to claim 7, comprising:
A method of selling an electronic device, wherein the program provides a touch panel display provided in the control device with a user interface for remotely controlling the electronic device.

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