JP2009044621A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable one remote controller to control a plurality of electronic devices in simple and inexpensive configuration in the remote controller. <P>SOLUTION: A remote controller 1 includes a manipulation section 11; a wireless LAN module 13; a memory 15 which stores a program for controlling operation of the remote controller 1; and a CPU 16 which controls the operation of the remote controller 1 on the basis of the program stored in the memory 15. The remote controller 1 communicates with each of a plurality of electronic devices by radio while using the wireless LAN module 13 and assigns IP addresses to the plurality of electronic devices, respectively. When an instruction to operate a device is manipulated by the manipulation section 11, the remote controller 1 then transmits a control command for controlling the electronic device to an IP address assigned to the electronic device by radio while using the wireless LAN module 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

  Conventionally, in a remote controller for remotely controlling an electronic device such as a television receiver or AV device, the electronic device is remotely controlled by transmitting a control command for controlling the electronic device by infrared rays. There is. In general, such a remote controller is provided with a dedicated one for each electronic device. For this reason, for example, when there are a plurality of electronic devices in the home, there will be a plurality of remote controllers corresponding to each electronic device. When using the electronic devices, a plurality of remote controllers exist. The remote controller corresponding to the electronic device to be used has to be found out and operated, and the convenience is poor.

Therefore, there is known one that can control a plurality of electronic devices with one remote controller (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). In the configurations described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, the remote controller transmits, by radio (radio waves), specific information and control commands for identifying electronic devices to an access point connected to a plurality of electronic devices by wire. By transmitting, each electronic device is controlled via the access point. Each electronic device is specified by an IP address given to each electronic device, and the IP address of each electronic device is given by a router connected to a plurality of electronic devices by wire. ing. Further, in the configuration described in Patent Document 3, the remote controller controls each electronic device by transmitting a control command to each electronic device wirelessly with a different frequency. That is, each electronic device is specified by the wireless transmission frequency of the control command.
JP 2006-318329 A JP 2006-345479 A Utility Model Registration No.3130081

  However, in the configurations described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, an access point and a router are separately required in addition to the remote controller and the electronic device, and a plurality of electronic devices, access points, and routers are required. A communication cable is also required for connecting the two by wire. Therefore, such a configuration is complicated and expensive. Further, the configuration described in Patent Document 3 requires a means for wireless communication at a plurality of different frequencies, which is expensive.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a remote controller capable of controlling a plurality of electronic devices with a single remote controller with a simple and inexpensive configuration. To do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is a remote controller for remotely controlling an electronic device by wirelessly transmitting a control command for controlling the electronic device, and an operation unit operated by a user; A wireless LAN module for performing wireless communication, a control command transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting a control command for controlling an electronic device by the wireless LAN module, and each of a plurality of electronic devices by the wireless LAN module Address assignment means for performing wireless communication between each other and assigning an IP address to each of the plurality of electronic devices, and the control command transmission means is any one of the plurality of electronic devices by the operation unit. When the device operation instruction operation for operating the electronic device is performed, the electronic device is A control command for Gosuru, the IP address addressed assigned by the address assignment means for the electronic device, and transmits by radio by the wireless LAN module.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the remote controller according to the first aspect, information is transmitted from the electronic device by performing wireless communication between the image display unit for displaying an image and the electronic device by the wireless LAN module. And information display means for displaying the acquired information on the image display unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote controller according to the second aspect, the control command transmission means causes the electronic device to operate any one of the plurality of electronic devices by the operation unit. When a device operation instruction operation is performed, a control command for controlling the electronic device is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module to the IP address assigned to the electronic device by the address assigning unit. In addition, in order to operate another electronic device in conjunction with each other, a control command for controlling the other electronic device is addressed to the IP address assigned to the other electronic device by the address assigning unit. The wireless LAN module transmits wirelessly.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote controller according to the third aspect of the present invention, the remote controller further includes a wired communication module that is connectable to a wired network and performs communication via the wired network. When a device operation instruction signal for operating any one of the plurality of electronic devices is received by the wired communication module, a control command for controlling the electronic device is sent to the electronic device at the address The wireless LAN module transmits wirelessly to the IP address assigned by the assigning means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the remote controller can control the electronic device by specifying the IP address assigned to each electronic device. That is, based on the IP address of each electronic device, a plurality of electronic devices can be controlled by a single remote controller. Moreover, since the remote controller performs wireless communication with each electronic device and assigns the IP address of each electronic device, no router or wired communication cable is required, and each electronic device is identified by the IP address. Therefore, no means for wireless communication at a plurality of different frequencies is required. Therefore, a plurality of electronic devices can be controlled by a single remote controller with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the information acquired from the electronic device is displayed on the image display unit of the remote controller, the remote controller is operated based on the information acquired from the electronic device displayed on the image display unit. Thus, it is possible to control the electronic device, and convenience is improved.

  According to the invention of claim 3, another electronic device can be operated in conjunction with the operation of one electronic device by one operation instruction operation of the remote controller, and convenience is improved.

  According to the invention of claim 4, if the remote controller is connected to the wired network, by transmitting a device operation instruction signal to the remote controller via the wired network from a communication terminal such as an IP phone, The electronic device can be controlled by functioning the remote controller from the outside, and convenience is improved.

  Hereinafter, a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a home wireless LAN including a remote controller according to the present embodiment. The home wireless LAN 100 includes a remote controller 1 and a plurality of electronic devices 2. In the illustrated example, the plurality of electronic devices 2 are a television receiver 2a, a DVD recorder 2b, an audio device 2c, and an air conditioner 2d.

  The television receiver 2a is a device that receives a television broadcast signal distributed from a broadcast station and reproduces a television program, and the DVD recorder 2b receives a television broadcast signal distributed from the broadcast station and receives a television program. It is a device that records programs. The audio device 2c is a device that reproduces music, and the air conditioning device 2d is a device that adjusts the temperature and humidity of air.

  Each of these electronic devices 2 (the television receiver 2a, the DVD recorder 2b, the audio device 2c, and the air conditioning device 2d) has a function of performing communication by radio (radio wave), and when power is supplied (for example, Automatically when an IP address assignment request is transmitted by radio, and when the IP address is notified by radio, the IP address that has received the notification (ie, the assigned IP address) is automatically transmitted. It comes to memorize. In addition, when receiving a control command transmission request by wireless, each electronic device 2 transmits information on various control commands for controlling the electronic device 2 by wireless. When each electronic device 2 receives a control command addressed to its own IP address wirelessly, it performs various operations corresponding to the control command.

  The remote controller 1 is a device that remotely controls the electronic device 2. The remote controller 1 has a function of performing communication by radio (radio wave). Upon receiving a radio IP address allocation request from each electronic device 2, the remote controller 1 allocates an IP address to each electronic device 2, The assigned IP address is stored and notified to each electronic device 2 by radio. Further, after notifying the electronic device 2 of the IP address, the remote controller 1 automatically transmits a control command transmission request to the electronic device 2 by radio and receives information of various control commands by radio. Then, the received various control command information is stored. The remote controller 1 receives a device operation instruction operation by the user and transmits a control command for controlling the electronic device 2 to the IP address of the electronic device 2 wirelessly. That is, the remote controller 1 serves as an access point and controls each electronic device 2.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the remote controller 1. The remote controller 1 includes an operation unit 11 operated by a user and an LCD (liquid crystal display) 12 that is an image display unit for displaying an image.

  The operation unit 11 includes function buttons 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, 31 d, 31 e, 31 f, 31 g, 31 h, 31 i, a cursor button 32, and various operation buttons that are pressed by the user to use the remote controller 1. And a plurality of numeric buttons 33.

  The function buttons 31a to 31i are buttons that are operated for selection of the electronic device 2, instructions for various operations of the electronic device 2, and the like, and “A”, “B”, and “C” are used to identify each button. ... "H" and "I" are written. The cursor button 32 is a button operated for selecting items displayed on the LCD 12. The number button 33 is a button operated for inputting characters, numbers, symbols, and the like.

  The LCD 12 displays various images including correspondence between each electronic device 2 and the function buttons 31a to 31i, correspondence between various operations of the electronic device 2 and the function buttons 31a to 31i, information acquired from the electronic device 2, and the like. To do.

  FIG. 3 shows an electrical block configuration of the remote controller 1. In addition to the above-described configuration, the remote controller 1 includes a wireless LAN module 13, a wired communication module 14, a memory 15, a CPU 16 for controlling the operation of the remote controller 1, and the like.

  As described above, the operation unit 11 has various operation buttons pressed by the user in order to use the remote controller 1, and when the various operation buttons are pressed, the CPU 16 performs the pressing operation. Detected. The LCD 12 displays various images under the control of the CPU 16.

  The wireless LAN module 13 is used to communicate with each electronic device 2 wirelessly. The wireless LAN module 13 transmits and receives various signals including control commands, IP addresses, and the like by radio waves under the control of the CPU 16.

  The wired communication module 14 is for communicating via a wired network outside the home such as the Internet, and can be connected to the wired network. The wired communication module 14 transmits and receives various signals via a wired network under the control of the CPU 16.

  The memory 15 stores a program for controlling the operation of the remote controller 1. The memory 15 controls each electronic device 2 under the control of the CPU 16, such as the IP address of each electronic device 2, various control commands for controlling each electronic device 2, and the operating status of each electronic device 2. It stores various data necessary to do so.

  Based on the program stored in the memory 15, the CPU 16 assigns an IP address to each electronic device 2, acquires control command information from the electronic device 2, transmits a control command to the electronic device 2, and the electronic device 2 controls various operations of the remote controller 1 such as acquisition of various types of information from 2, display of various types of information acquired from the electronic device 2, and linked operation of the electronic device 2. The memory 15 (the program stored in the memory 15) and the CPU 16 constitute address allocation means, control command transmission means, and information display means.

  The assignment of an IP address to the electronic device 2 is performed by receiving an IP address assignment request from the electronic device 2. That is, when the wireless LAN module 13 receives a wireless IP address assignment request from the electronic device 2, the CPU 16 executes a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) function, assigns an IP address to the electronic device 2, and The assigned IP address is stored in the memory 15, and the assigned IP address is transmitted (notified) to the electronic device 2 by the wireless LAN module 13. In this way, the CPU 16 performs wireless communication with the electronic device 2 and assigns an IP address to the electronic device 2.

  At this time, the CPU 16 associates the assigned IP address with the function buttons 31a to 31i (that is, associates the electronic device 2 to which the IP address is assigned with the function buttons 31a to 31i), and stores the correspondence relationship in the memory. 15 stores.

  As described above, when power is supplied (for example, when connected to a commercial power source), the electronic device 2 automatically transmits an IP address assignment request and receives a notification (ie, assigned). B) The IP address is stored. Therefore, each time a new electronic device 2 is added, the CPU 16 automatically performs wireless communication with the newly added electronic device 2 to the newly added electronic device 2. An IP address is assigned, and the newly added electronic device 2 is associated with the function buttons 31a to 31i.

  In this way, the CPU 16 automatically assigns an IP address to each of the plurality of electronic devices 2 by performing wireless communication with each of the plurality of electronic devices 2 by the wireless LAN module 13. In addition, each of the plurality of electronic devices 2 is associated with the function buttons 31a to 31i.

  Acquisition of control command information of the electronic device 2 is automatically performed after an IP address is assigned to the electronic device 2. That is, after assigning an IP address to the electronic device 2, the CPU 16 wirelessly transmits a control command transmission request to the electronic device 2 to which the IP address is assigned by the wireless LAN module 13, and then the electronic device 2. The wireless LAN module 13 receives various control command information transmitted wirelessly from the wireless LAN module 13 and stores the received various control command information in the memory 15. In this way, after assigning an IP address to the electronic device 2, the CPU 16 performs wireless communication with the electronic device 2 and acquires information on various control commands of the electronic device 2.

  At this time, the CPU 16 stores the various control commands in association with the IP address of the electronic device 2 in the memory 15 based on the acquired information on the various control commands, and the control buttons and the function buttons 31a to 31a. Association with 31i (that is, association between various operations of electronic device 2 and function buttons 31a to 31i) is performed, and the correspondence is stored in memory 15.

  In the operation waiting state in which the user waits for an operation by the user, first, based on the correspondence relationship between the electronic device 2 stored in the memory 15 and the function buttons 31a to 31i, the LCD 12 stores each electronic device 2 and the operation unit. The correspondence with 11 function buttons 31a to 31i is displayed. That is, the CPU 16 displays on the LCD 12 such as “TV → A button, DVD → B button, audio → C button, air conditioning → D button”.

  Thereby, the user can see the correspondence between each electronic device 2 and the function buttons 31a to 31i by looking at the display on the LCD 12, and by pressing any one of the function buttons 31a to 31i, a plurality of electronic devices can be obtained. Any one of the devices 2 can be selected.

  When any one of the function buttons 31a to 31i is pressed in this operation waiting state (that is, when any one of the plurality of electronic devices 2 is selected), the CPU 16 stores the electronic device 2 stored in the memory 15. Based on the correspondence between the various operations and the function buttons 31a to 31i, which electronic device 2 is selected on the LCD 12, and the various operations of the selected electronic device 2 and the function buttons 31a to 31i. Display correspondence.

  That is, when the function button 31a labeled “A” is pressed, the television receiver 2a is selected from the plurality of electronic devices 2, and the CPU 16 displays, for example, “Selection” on the LCD 12. Device = TV: power on / off → A button, volume UP → B button, volume DOWN → C button,... When the function button 31b labeled “B” is pressed, the DVD recorder 2b is selected, and the CPU 16 displays, for example, “selected device = DVD: power on / off → A Button, recording → B button, playback → C button,... When the function button 31c labeled “C” is pressed, the audio device 2c is selected, and the CPU 16 displays, for example, “selected device = audio: power on / off → A Button, music selection → B button,..., And when the function button 31d labeled “D” is pressed, the air conditioner 2d is selected, and the CPU 16 On the LCD 12, for example, “selected device = air conditioning: power on / off → A button, temperature UP → B button, temperature DOWN → C button,...” Is displayed.

  Thereby, the user can know which electronic device 2 is in a controllable state by viewing the display on the LCD 12, and the correspondence between the various operations of the electronic device 2 and the function buttons 31a to 31i. By pressing any one of the function buttons 31a to 31i, it is possible to instruct the electronic device 2 to perform the device operation.

  The transmission of the control command to the electronic device 2 is performed by operating the device operation instruction operation for operating the electronic device 2 by the operation unit 11 and for operating the electronic device 2 by the wired communication module 14. This is performed by receiving a device operation instruction signal. That is, when the electronic device 2 is selected by the operation unit 11 and a device operation instruction operation is performed, the CPU 16 (that is, in a state where the correspondence relationship between each electronic device 2 and the function buttons 31a to 31i is displayed on the LCD 12). After the function buttons 31a to 31i are pressed and the electronic device 2 is selected, the function buttons 31a to 31i are pressed in a state where the correspondence between the various operations of the electronic device 2 and the function buttons 31a to 31i is displayed on the LCD 12. The function buttons 31a to 31i stored in the memory 15 and the correspondence relationship between the IP addresses and the function buttons 31a to 31i and the control commands. A control command corresponding to the device operation instruction operation is transmitted to the IP address to be transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module 13. To send Te. Further, when the CPU 16 receives the device operation instruction signal by the wired communication module 14 (that is, when receiving the signal for selecting the electronic device 2 and the signal for instructing the operation), the IP address corresponding to the selected electronic device 2 is received. A control command corresponding to the instructed operation is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module 13.

  Acquisition of various types of information from the electronic device 2 and display of various types of information acquired from the electronic device 2 are automatically performed when the power source of the electronic device 2 is turned on by the operation unit 11. That is, the CPU 16 operates the operation unit 11 to transmit a control command for turning on the power to the electronic device 2 by wireless using the wireless LAN module 13, and then wirelessly sends an information transmission request to the electronic device 2. Various information transmitted wirelessly by the LAN module 13 and wirelessly transmitted from the electronic device 2 is received by the wireless LAN module 13, and the received various information is displayed on the LCD 12. As described above, when the power of the electronic device 2 is turned on, the CPU 16 performs wireless communication with the electronic device 2 to acquire various types of information from the electronic device 2, and stores the acquired information in the LCD 12. indicate.

  That is, when the television receiver 2a is turned on as the electronic device 2, the CPU 16 acquires channel information including, for example, a program name, a broadcast time, a broadcast channel, and the like from the television receiver 2a and displays it on the LCD 12. . When the DVD recorder 2b is turned on, the CPU 16 acquires recording information including, for example, a recorded program name from the DVD recorder 2b and displays it on the LCD 12. When the power of the audio device 2c is turned on, the CPU 16 obtains, for example, music information including a reproducible music title from the audio device 2c and displays it on the LCD 12, and turns on the air conditioner 2d. Sometimes, the CPU 16 acquires setting information such as setting temperature and setting humidity from the air conditioner 2d and displays it on the LCD 12.

  The setting of the linked operation of the electronic device 2 is performed by performing a linked operation setting operation using the operation unit 11. The linked operation setting operation is performed, for example, by operating the function buttons 31a to 31i, the cursor button 32, and the numeric buttons 33 of the operation unit 11 in a predetermined procedure, and the contents of the linked operation (the electronic device 2 and the electronic device 2 to be linked). And the operation order of the electronic device 2 are designated. The CPU 16 receives the interlocking operation setting operation and stores the contents of the interlocking operation in the memory 15 to set the interlocking operation.

  When the operation operation instruction operation is performed by the operation unit 11 when the linked operation is set, the CPU 16 assigns a control command for controlling the electronic device 2 to the IP address assigned to the electronic device. Control for controlling another electronic device 2 in order to operate another electronic device 2 in an interlocked manner according to the setting contents of the interlocking operation, in addition to being transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module 13 The command is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module 13 to the IP address assigned to the other electronic device 2.

  That is, for example, when the interlocking operation is set to turn on the television receiver 2a when the DVD recorder 2b is turned on, the CPU 16 causes the operation unit 11 to operate the DVD recorder 2b. When a device operation instruction operation to turn on the power is performed, a control command to turn on the power is transmitted to the IP address of the DVD recorder 2b by the wireless LAN module 13, and the IP address of the television receiver 2a is further transmitted. The wireless LAN module 13 transmits a control command for turning on the power to the destination wirelessly. Further, for example, when the interlock operation is set so that the power of the air conditioner 2d is turned off when the power of the television receiver 2a is turned off, the CPU 16 causes the television receiver to be operated by the operation unit 11. When a device operation instruction operation for turning off the power of 2a is performed, a control command for turning off the power to the IP address of the television receiver 2a is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module 13, and the air conditioning device 2d A control command for turning off the power to the IP address is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module 13.

  According to the remote controller 1 having such a configuration, a plurality of electronic devices 2 can be specified and controlled by the IP address assigned to each electronic device 2. That is, a plurality of electronic devices 2 can be controlled by a single remote controller 1 based on the IP address of each electronic device 2. In addition, since the remote controller 1 performs wireless communication with each electronic device 2 and assigns the IP address of each electronic device 2, a router or a wired communication cable is not required, and each electronic device is determined by the IP address. Therefore, means for wireless communication at a plurality of different frequencies is not required. Therefore, a plurality of electronic devices 2 can be controlled by a single remote controller 1 with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  Further, since the information acquired from the electronic device 2 is displayed on the LCD 12 of the remote controller 1, the electronic device 2 is controlled by operating the remote controller 1 based on the information acquired from the electronic device 2 displayed on the LCD 12. Can improve convenience.

  In addition, by setting a linked operation so that a plurality of electronic devices 2 operate in conjunction with each other, a single device operation instruction operation of the remote controller 1 can be performed in conjunction with the operation of one electronic device 2. The electronic device 2 can be operated, and convenience is improved.

  Further, if the remote controller 1 is connected to a wired network, the remote controller 1 can send the device operation instruction signal to the remote controller 1 via the wired network from a communication terminal such as an IP telephone, so that the remote controller 1 The electronic device 2 can be controlled by causing 1 to function, and convenience is improved.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, the information on the control command of the electronic device may be stored in the memory from the beginning, in addition to being acquired by performing wireless communication with the electronic device. Acquisition of various information from the electronic device and display of various information acquired from the electronic device are performed when the electronic device is selected by pressing the function button, in addition to when the electronic device is turned on. Alternatively, it may be performed when a predetermined operation is performed.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a home wireless LAN including a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows the structure of the same remote controller. The electrical block block diagram of the remote controller.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote controller 2 Electronic device 2a Television receiver 2b DVD recorder 2c Audio device 2d Air-conditioning device 11 Operation part 12 LCD (image display part)
13 Wireless LAN module 14 Wired communication module 15 Memory (control command transmission means, address assignment means, information display means)
16 CPU (control command transmission means, address assignment means, information display means)
31a to 31i Function buttons 32 Cursor buttons 33 Number buttons 100 Home wireless LAN

Claims (4)

In a remote controller for remotely controlling an electronic device by wirelessly transmitting a control command for controlling the electronic device,
An operation unit operated by a user;
A wireless LAN module for performing wireless communication;
A control command transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting a control command for controlling an electronic device by the wireless LAN module;
An address assignment means for performing wireless communication with each of a plurality of electronic devices by the wireless LAN module and assigning an IP address to each of the plurality of electronic devices,
The control command transmission means includes
When the device operation instruction operation for operating any one of the plurality of electronic devices is performed by the operation unit,
A control command for controlling the electronic device is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module to the IP address assigned to the electronic device by the address assigning unit;
A remote controller characterized by that. An image display unit for displaying an image;
Information display means for performing wireless communication with the electronic device by the wireless LAN module, acquiring information from the electronic device, and displaying the acquired information by the image display unit;
The remote controller according to claim 1, further comprising: The control command transmission means includes
When the device operation instruction operation for operating the electronic device is performed on any one of the plurality of electronic devices by the operation unit,
In addition to transmitting a control command for controlling the electronic device to the IP address assigned to the electronic device by the address assignment means by the wireless LAN module,
In order to operate another electronic device in conjunction with the wireless LAN module, a control command for controlling another electronic device is addressed to the IP address assigned to the other electronic device by the address assigning means. By wireless transmission,
The remote controller according to claim 2. A wired communication module that can be connected to a wired network and communicates via the wired network is further provided.
The control command transmission means includes
When receiving a device operation instruction signal for operating any one of a plurality of electronic devices by the wired communication module,
A control command for controlling the electronic device is transmitted wirelessly by the wireless LAN module to the IP address assigned to the electronic device by the address assigning unit;
The remote controller according to claim 3.

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