JP2008244578A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve complication due to separate use of a remote controller for each video apparatus when a sub video apparatus is connected to a main video apparatus, and to execute remote control without being conscious of directivity. <P>SOLUTION: In a first code collation part 12, whether or not a remote control code for remotely controlling a television receiver 100 by a remote controller 300 and a remote control code received in a first code reception part 10 match is collated. When they do not match, the remote control code received in the first code reception part 10 is superimposed on a vertical blanking period included in video signals and transferred to a DVD recorder 200 by the control of a microprocessor 11. The remote control code superimposed on the transferred video signals is collated in a second code collation part 22, and a remote control command relating to the remote control code from which the result of the match is obtained is executed in a second command execution part 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system for remotely operating a main video device such as a television receiver and a sub video device such as a DVD recorder connected to the main video device by a single remote control device.

Conventionally, video devices such as television receivers, video devices, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) devices, and CATV (Cable Television) tuners are provided with operation buttons on the video device main body to perform channel selection and volume adjustment. However, in recent years, each video device has been equipped with a remote control device for remote operation. Made by remote control device.
These video devices are used, for example, with a television receiver as a main video device, a video device, a DVD device, a CATV tuner, or the like as a sub video device, and the sub video device connected to the main video device. That is, a plurality of external device connection terminals are provided in the television receiver, and video devices, DVD devices, CATV tuners, and the like can be connected to the connection terminals, respectively.

Here, a case where a DVD device is connected to the external device connection terminal of the television receiver will be described as an example. When a television image recorded by the DVD device is reproduced, a remote control for the television receiver is used. Send the remote control code using the device, switch to the setting to select the video signal from the DVD device connected to the external device connection terminal, then send the remote control code using the remote control device for the DVD device and record Play the recorded TV image.
As described above, the conventional method requires a television receiver remote control device for operating the television receiver and a DVD device remote control device for operating the DVD device. It is necessary to use the remote control device properly every time you change the setting.

  However, as the number of sub-video devices such as DVD devices connected to the television receiver as the main video device increases, the number of remote control devices for controlling the video devices also increases. Since the proper use of the apparatus becomes complicated, a malfunction occurrence rate due to a mistake in the video equipment to be operated increases, and the user is generally inconvenienced.

In addition, as a remote control code transmission method for a remote control device used for remotely operating video equipment, an infrared remote control device employing an AM modulation method is widely used.
This transmission method using infrared rays as a transmission medium has advantages such as low cost, low power consumption, and no wiring, but there is a problem of directivity, and there is a remote control device within the viewing angle of the remote control device. If the light receiving unit of the video equipment that receives the code is not accommodated, communication cannot be established, which is a major constraint on usage.

In Patent Document 1 below, remote communication using two types of communication media, namely, a communication medium that is restricted in at least one of directivity and communicable distance and a communication medium that is less restricted in directivity and communicable distance. A control system is described.
However, in the remote control system described in this document, a communication medium that is restricted in at least one of directivity and communicable distance is used as a communication medium for specifying a video device to be operated. When the communication for specifying is performed, the communication is not established unless the light receiving unit of the video equipment as the receiver is within the viewing angle of the remote control device as the transmitter.
For this reason, there is no need to use different remote control devices each time the video device to be operated is changed, but the problem of directivity of the communication medium cannot be solved.

Patent Document 2 below includes a remote control device, a video device including the remote control device, and a remote control system related to other video devices connected to a plurality of input terminals of the video device. The remote control device includes an input terminal selection button for selecting a video device to be operated in remote operation of the video device connected to a plurality of input terminals. .
However, the remote control device described in this document selects the video device to be operated with the input terminal selection button provided in the remote control device every time the video device to be operated is changed. Since it is necessary, it is possible to solve the complications due to the use of remote control devices, but it is not possible to solve the complications during operation.

In Patent Document 3 below, a remote control system for remotely operating a video device to be operated and a display for displaying information such as a list of images and functions operated by the remote control system A remote control device with means is described.
However, the remote control device described in this document uses the same remote control device by using display means for displaying information such as images and function lists operated by the remote control system. Even in the case of operating a plurality of video devices, the purpose is to make it possible to easily determine the device to be operated, and it is not possible to solve the complications due to the use of remote control devices.

JP 2006-115196 A JP 2005-198115 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-69463

  In view of the above problems, the present invention solves the troubles caused by using different remote control devices for each video device when a sub-video device such as a DVD recorder is connected to the main video device such as a television receiver. It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote control system that can be operated remotely without being conscious of directivity.

A remote control system according to the present invention remotely controls a first video device, a second video device connected to the first video device, and the first video device or the second video device. The first video equipment includes a code receiver for receiving a remote control code transmitted from the remote control device, and the first video equipment by the remote control device. The remote control device includes a code verification unit for verifying whether or not the remote control code for remote operation matches the remote control code received by the code receiving unit, and the remote control device remotely controls the first or second video equipment A code transmission unit for transmitting a remote control code for performing the operation and an operation unit for performing an operation necessary for transmitting the remote control code from the code transmission unit. To have.
Then, the first video device receives the code receiving unit when the remote control code received by the code receiving unit and the remote control code for remotely operating the first video device do not match in the code matching unit. The remote control code is superimposed on the video signal and transferred to the second video device, and the second video device executes a predetermined operation based on the remote control code superimposed on the video signal transferred from the first video device. To do.

  In this way, even when a remote control code is transmitted to a video device that is not the operation target, the transmitted remote control code is automatically transferred to the operation target video device. At this time, it is not necessary to operate the remote control device with consideration of directivity, and it is easy to use and it is not necessary to change the attached remote control device every time the video equipment to be operated is changed.・ It is possible to eliminate complications due to the use of different control devices.

  In the remote control system of the present invention, the remote control code for which a matching result is not obtained by the code verification unit is superimposed on the vertical blanking period included in the video signal.

  In this way, the remote control code can be transferred using the existing technique of superimposing data in the vertical blanking period, so that it is not necessary to devise a new remote control code transfer method, thereby reducing costs. be able to.

The operation unit provided in the remote control device in the remote control system of the present invention includes an operator for operating the first video equipment and the second video equipment.

In this way, since the remote control device included in the first video device or the second video device can be integrated, the first video device and the second video device can be integrated with the same remote controller. 2 video devices can be operated.
This eliminates the need to change the remote control device each time the target video device is changed, thus eliminating the complications associated with proper use and reducing the number of remote control devices required for operating the video device. Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, a remote control code transmitted to a video device that is not an operation target is automatically transferred to another video device connected to the video device. In addition, since it is not necessary to consider directivity when transmitting the remote control code, usability is improved. Therefore, a remote control system suitable for the user can be provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a remote control system according to the present invention.
In the figure, 100 is a television receiver which is a receiver for receiving television broadcast and displaying video, and 200 is an STB (Set Top Box) connected to the television receiver 100. The STB 200 is a signal that allows a television receiver 100 to view a DVD recorder having a function of recording and reproducing video content on a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) medium, cable television broadcasting, digital broadcasting, VOD (Video On Demand), and the like. It consists of equipment with the function to convert to Reference numeral 500 denotes an antenna that is connected to the television receiver 100 and receives radio waves of television broadcasting, and 300 is a remote control device that is used when the television receiver 100 or the STB 200 is remotely operated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the remote control system. In FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG. Here, a DVD recorder is taken as an example of STB 200.

In the remote control device 300, 30 is a code transmitting unit that transmits a remote control code for remotely operating the television receiver 100 or the DVD recorder 200, and 31 is an operation necessary for transmitting a remote control code from the code transmitting unit 30. An operation unit 32 is provided in the operation unit 31 and is an operator for remotely operating the television receiver 100 and the DVD recorder 200.

In the television receiver 100, 10 is a first code receiver for receiving a remote control code transmitted from the code transmitter 30, 11 is a microprocessor for controlling the entire television receiver 100, and 12 is a remote control. A first code verification unit 13 for verifying whether or not the remote control code for remotely operating the television receiver 100 with the apparatus 300 matches the remote control code received by the first code receiving unit 10, After a remote control command related to the remote control code matched by the code verification unit is controlled by the microprocessor 11, a first command execution unit 14 for executing commands such as turning on / off the power and selecting a channel, for example, A first video signal transmitting / receiving unit 15 for transmitting and receiving supplies power to each unit in the television receiver 100. A source unit 50 is a first tuner that receives a broadcast signal included in a radio wave of a television broadcast having a frequency corresponding to a channel selection made by a user via an antenna 500, and 51 is a broadcast received by the first tuner 50. A first demodulator that demodulates the signal, 16 is an image processor that performs image processing of a video signal included in the broadcast signal demodulated by the first demodulator 51, and 17 is an image processor that performs image processing. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) which is the output destination of the video signal.

In the DVD recorder 200, 20 is a second code receiving unit for receiving a remote control code transmitted from the code transmitting unit 30, 21 is a microprocessor for controlling the entire DVD recorder 200, and 22 is a remote control device 300. A second code verification unit for verifying whether or not the remote control code for remotely operating the DVD recorder 200 matches the remote control code received by the second code receiving unit 20, and 23 is a second code verification unit After the remote control command related to the remote control code matched by the microprocessor 21 is controlled by the microprocessor 21, a second command execution unit 24 for executing commands such as turning on / off the power and playing a DVD, for example, transmits and receives video signals. A second video signal transmission / reception unit 25 for each of the components in the DVD recorder 200 A power supply unit that supplies power, 26 is a video recording / playback unit that records or plays back video or audio on a DVD medium, and 52 corresponds to channel selection made by the user when the antenna 500 is connected to the DVD recorder 200. The second tuner 53 receives a broadcast signal included in the radio wave of the television broadcast having the frequency set via the antenna 500, and 53 is a second demodulator that demodulates the broadcast signal received by the second tuner 52.

Here, when a television broadcast is viewed on the television receiver 100, a broadcast signal of the television broadcast is received by the first tuner 50 provided in the television receiver 100 via the antenna 500, and the first broadcast is received. When demodulating the broadcast signal received by the demodulator 51, the second tuner 52 and the second demodulator 53 on the DVD recorder 200 side can be omitted. Also, a television tuner broadcast signal is received by the second tuner 52 provided in the DVD recorder 200 via the antenna 500, and the broadcast signal received by the second demodulator 53 is demodulated. In the case of viewing on the LCD 17 provided in the first receiver 50, the first tuner 50 and the first demodulator 51 on the television receiver 100 side can be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a remote control device according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.
In the figure, reference numeral 300A denotes a remote control device capable of operating two video equipments, and operation units 32a and 32b necessary for remote control of two video equipments are provided in the operation unit 31 for each video equipment. It has been. The operation element 32a is an operation element for a television receiver, for example, and the operation element 32b is an operation element for a DVD recorder, for example.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the remote control device. Reference numeral 300B denotes a remote control device capable of operating a television receiver and two video devices connected to two external device connection terminals provided in the television receiver. There are provided an operator 32c for switching the video equipment and an operator 32d necessary for remote operation of the video equipment to be operated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a series of operations from transmission of a remote control code by the remote control device 300 to execution of a remote control command related to the remote control code in the remote control system of FIG.

  In step S1, the light receiving unit (first code receiving unit 10) provided in the television receiver 100 is placed in the viewing angle of the code transmitting unit 30 provided in the remote control device 300, and the remote desired by the user is stored. The operator 32 in which the remote control command for performing the operation is registered is operated.

  In step S <b> 2, the remote control code related to the remote control command selected in step S <b> 1 is transmitted from the code transmission unit 30 by operating the operator 32.

  In step S <b> 3, the remote control code transmitted from the code transmitting unit 30 is received by the first code receiving unit 10 provided in the television receiver 100.

  In step S4, the first code matching unit 12 matches the remote control code for remotely operating the television receiver 100 with the remote control device 300 and the remote control code received by the first code receiving unit 10. Check whether or not. The former remote control code is registered (stored) in the first code verification unit 12 in advance.

  In step S5, if the remote control code matches as a result of the verification by the first code verification unit 12 (step S5: YES), the process proceeds to step S6, and if the remote control code does not match (step S5: NO). The process does not proceed to step S6, but proceeds to step S7 and subsequent steps.

  In step S6, the first command execution unit 13 executes the remote control command related to the remote control code that obtained the matching result in step S5. Thereby, in the television receiver 100, for example, a predetermined operation such as turning on / off the power source or selecting a channel is performed.

  In step S7, the remote control code for which the matching result is not obtained in step S5, that is, the remote control code received by the first code receiver 10, is included in the video signal (composite video signal) under the control of the microprocessor 11. It is superimposed on the vertical blanking interval. As a result, a video signal on which the remote control code is superimposed is generated.

  In step S8, the video signal on which the remote control code is superimposed in step S7 is transferred from the first video signal transmitting / receiving unit 14 to the DVD recorder 200.

  In step S9, the video signal transferred from the first video signal transmission / reception unit 14 in step S8 is received by the second video signal transmission / reception unit 24 of the DVD recorder 200.

  In step S10, whether or not the remote control code superimposed in the vertical blanking period of the video signal received in step S9 matches the remote control code for remotely operating the DVD recorder 200 with the remote control device 300. Are verified by the second code verification unit 22. The latter remote control code is registered (stored) in advance in the second code verification unit 22.

  In step S11, if the remote control code matches as a result of the verification by the second code verification unit 22 (step S11: YES), the process proceeds to step S12, and if the remote control code does not match (step S11: NO). The second command execution unit 23 terminates without executing the remote control command.

  In step S12, the second command execution unit 23 executes the remote control command related to the remote control code that obtained the matching result in step S11. Thereby, in the DVD recorder 200, for example, predetermined operations such as power on / off, recording / reproduction, and scheduled recording are performed.

  In the above, the case where the remote control code transmitted from the code transmission unit 30 of the remote control device 300 is received by the first code reception unit 10 provided in the television receiver 100 has been described. Even when received by the second code receiving unit 20 provided in the DVD recorder 200, a series of operations similar to those in the above-described flowchart are performed.

  Thus, in the above-described embodiment, even when the remote control device 300 is transmitted to the video device that is not the operation target, the transmitted remote control code is the operation target from the video device that is not the operation target. Since the remote control system is automatically transferred to a certain video device, when the user remotely operates the television receiver 100, the code is obtained by operating the operation element 32 provided in the remote control device 300. When the remote control code is transmitted from the transmission unit 30, it is not always necessary to transmit the remote control code toward the first code reception unit 10 of the television receiver 100, and it is transmitted toward the second code reception unit 20 of the DVD recorder 200. Also good. Further, even when the DVD recorder 200 is remotely operated, it is not always necessary to transmit the data to the second code receiving unit 20 of the DVD recorder 200, and to the first code receiving unit 10 of the television receiver 100. You may send it.

Therefore, every time a remote operation is performed using the remote control device 300, the remote operation by the remote control device 300 can be performed without confirming the place where the video equipment to be operated is provided. For this reason, the remote control device 300 can be operated without being conscious of directivity, and the usability is improved.

  Further, even when a plurality of sub-video devices such as the DVD recorder 200 are connected to the television receiver 100 that is the main video device, the user can connect the television receiver 100 and the television receiver with one remote control device 300. A plurality of sub-video devices connected to the apparatus 100 can be remotely operated, and the troublesomeness caused by using different remote control devices for each video device can be solved.

  In the embodiment described above, the code receiving unit and the code collating unit are provided in both the television receiver 100 and the DVD recorder 200, but the code receiving unit and the code collating unit may be provided in only one of them.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the DVD recorder 200 is connected as the STB to the television receiver 100 is shown. However, cable television broadcasting, digital broadcasting, VOD (Video On Demand), and the like can be viewed on the television receiver 100. An STB having a function of converting to a simple signal may be connected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the remote control code is superimposed on the composite video signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the remote control code may be superimposed on the component video signal.

  In addition, the communication medium used when transmitting the remote control code by the above-described remote control device is not limited to infrared rays that are widely used, and infrared rays that can implement the remote control system of the present invention are applicable. Other communication media may be used.

  Further, regarding the remote control device in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above, a remote control device having the features of the remote control device 300A and the remote control device 300B can be used to make more video equipment one remote control. -It is also possible to operate with a control device.

It is the figure which showed an example of the whole structure of the remote control system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of a remote control system. It is the figure which showed an example of embodiment of the remote control apparatus in this invention. It is the figure which showed other embodiment of the remote control apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed a series of operation | movement in a remote control system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 1st code receiving part 11,21 Microprocessor 12 1st code collation part 13 1st command execution part 14 1st video signal transmission / reception part 20 2nd code reception part 22 2nd code collation part 23 1st 2 command execution unit 24 second video signal transmission / reception unit 30 code transmission unit 31 operation unit 32 operation unit 100 television receiver 200 DVD recorder (STB)
300 Remote control device 500 Antenna

Claims (4)

A television receiver,
STB (Set Top Box) connected to the television receiver;
A remote control device for remotely operating the television receiver or the STB;
A remote control system comprising:
The television receiver includes: a first code receiving unit for receiving a remote control code transmitted from the remote control device; a remote control code for remotely operating the television receiver with the remote control device; A first code verification unit for verifying whether or not the remote control code received by the first code reception unit matches, and a first video signal transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving a video signal;
The STB includes a second code receiving unit for receiving a remote control code transmitted from the remote control device, a remote control code for remotely operating the STB with the remote control device, and the second code. A second code verification unit for verifying whether or not the remote control code received by the reception unit matches, and a second video signal transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving a video signal;
The remote control device includes a code transmission unit that transmits a remote control code for remotely operating the television receiver or the STB, and an operation unit that performs an operation necessary for transmitting a remote control code from the code transmission unit. And
The television receiver receives the first remote control code received by the first code receiving unit and the remote control code for remotely operating the television receiver when the first code verification unit does not match the first remote control code. The remote control code received by the code receiving unit 1 is superimposed on the video signal and transferred to the STB from the first video signal transmitting / receiving unit, and the STB is transferred from the television receiver and the second video signal Perform a predetermined operation based on the remote control code superimposed on the video signal received by the transceiver,
The STB receives the second code when the remote control code received by the second code receiving unit and the remote control code for remotely operating the STB do not match at the second code verification unit. The remote control code received by the unit is superimposed on the video signal and transferred from the second video signal transmission / reception unit to the television receiver. The television receiver is transferred from the STB, and the first video signal transmission / reception unit A remote control system for executing a predetermined operation based on a remote control code superimposed on a video signal received in step (1). A first video device;
A second video device connected to the first video device;
A remote control device for remotely operating the first video equipment or the second video equipment;
A remote control system comprising:
The first video equipment includes a code receiver for receiving a remote control code transmitted from the remote control device, and a remote control code for remotely operating the first video equipment with the remote control device. A code verification unit for verifying whether or not the remote control code received by the code reception unit matches,
The remote control device performs a necessary operation for transmitting a remote control code from the code transmission unit and a code transmission unit for transmitting a remote control code for remotely operating the first or second video equipment. With an operation unit,
The first video device includes the code receiving unit when a remote control code received by the code receiving unit and a remote control code for remotely operating the first video device do not match in the code verification unit. The remote control code received in step 1 is superimposed on the video signal and transferred to the second video device, and the second video device is based on the remote control code superimposed on the video signal transferred from the first video device. A remote control system characterized by performing predetermined operations. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein
A remote control system, wherein the remote control code is superimposed in a vertical blanking period included in the video signal. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein
The remote control system, wherein the operation unit includes an operator for performing a remote operation on the first video equipment and the second video equipment.

Images