JP2011061732A - Method and system for acquiring start history for recognizing remote operation device existing in periphery of operation object device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and system for recognizing a remote operation device existing in a periphery (position allowing transmission of an operation signal) of an operation object device without expanding a function of existing infrared communication itself. <P>SOLUTION: This system further includes a history storage device connected from a remote operation device via a network. This method includes: a first step of establishing a second wireless link between a first remote operation device and a second remote operation device, wherein the second remote operation device transmits its second identifier to the first remote operation device; a second step wherein the first remote operation device records a second identifier and its reception time as a start condition log; a third step wherein the first remote operation device transmits a start condition log related to its first identifier to the history storage device; and a fourth step wherein the history storage device stores the start condition log, and transmits the start condition log in response to a request from the operation object device or another device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for operating an operation target device by an operation signal transmitted from a remote operation device. For example, the present invention relates to a technique for operating an electrical appliance as an operation target device from a remote controller device as a remote operation device.

  The remote control device can operate an AV (Audio Visual) device (for example, a television device) or an electrical device (for example, a lighting device) from a remote position. The remote control device is generally a wireless type, and in particular, an infrared method or a radio wave method is used (in addition, there are an ultrasonic method and a visible light method). For example, an infrared system is generally used for a remote control device for operating a television device. The remote control device has an infrared light emitting unit, and the television device has an infrared light receiving unit.

  Infrared radiation has a wavelength between about 750 and 1,000 nm. In order to distinguish between infrared rays emitted from nature and infrared rays emitted from the remote control device, the remote control device transmits infrared rays modulated by the carrier frequency. The carrier frequency is generally about 38 to 40 kHz.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram in the prior art.

  According to FIG. 1, the remote operation device 1 transmits an infrared operation signal and operates the operation target device 2. A remote control device is represented as a remote operation device, and a television device and a lighting device are represented as operation target devices. The remote control device A and the remote control device B are in positions where the television device A can be operated. Further, the remote control device B and the remote control device C are in positions where the television device b and the lighting device can be operated.

  The remote control device A transmits, for example, an infrared operation signal for channel switching (or power on / off) to the television device a. Similarly, the remote control device B also transmits an infrared operation signal to the television device a and the television device b. The television device a and the television device b operate according to the received operation signal. In addition, the remote control device C transmits, for example, an infrared operation signal for brightness adjustment (or power on / off) to the lighting device 3. The lighting device 3 operates according to the received operation signal.

  Here, the operation target device 3 can receive the infrared operation signal from the remote control device 1, but cannot distinguish the remote control device that has transmitted the infrared operation signal. Specifically, the television device a cannot distinguish whether the received infrared operation signal is transmitted from the remote control device A or the remote control device B.

  On the other hand, there is a technique in which a remote control device transmits personal information of a user who operates the remote control and an identification number assigned for each operation to the television device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The television device transmits the status information of the television device to the server together with the received personal information and identification number. The server registers the received personal information, identification number, and status information in the database as an activation history. Thereby, the television apparatus can distinguish the remote control apparatus which transmitted the operation signal using the database of a server.

  There is also a technique for displaying the presence of a remote control slave unit by transmitting a confirmation signal to the remote control slave unit and receiving a response signal thereof (see, for example, Patent Document 2). According to this technology, a user who owns a remote control master can easily find a remote control slave that has been lost indoors.

JP 2005-151098 A JP 2007-116328 A

  However, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the television apparatus can distinguish the remote control device that has transmitted the operation signal, but cannot recognize other remote control devices existing in the vicinity thereof. This is because the activation history is acquired only by transmitting an operation signal from the remote control device to the television device. Accordingly, the television apparatus cannot recognize a remote control apparatus that is present at a position where the operation signal can be transmitted but has not transmitted the operation signal.

  A remote control device having an infrared communication function generally transmits a 32-bit infrared signal. The 32-bit infrared signal is composed of a 16-bit custom code representing the manufacturer and a 16-bit data code representing the operation content. Here, when information such as the user's personal information, operation identification number, and television apparatus status information is further included in the infrared signal, the remote control apparatus and the television apparatus must each implement a unique infrared standard. Therefore, in order to grasp the activation history by infrared communication, there arises a problem of an increase in development cost and a decrease in versatility.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a method and system for recognizing a remote operation device existing around an operation target device (position where an operation signal can be transmitted) without expanding the function of existing infrared communication itself. Objective.

According to the present invention, a remote operation device that transmits an operation signal via a first wireless link, and an operation target that receives the operation signal via the first wireless link and whose operation is controlled according to the contents of the operation signal. A boot history acquisition method in a system having a device,
Each of the remote operation device and the operation target device has an identifier,
The remote control device has a second wireless link communication function,
The system further includes a history storage device connected via a network from the remote control device,
A second wireless link is established between the first remote control device and the second remote control device, and the second remote control device transmits the second identifier to the first remote control device. A first step;
A second step in which the first remote control device records the second identifier and its reception time as an activation state log;
A third step in which the first remote control device transmits an activation state log associated with the first identifier to the history storage device;
The history storage device includes a fourth step of storing the startup state log and transmitting the startup state log in response to a request from the operation target device or another device.

According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition method of the present invention,
The first remote operation device transmits an operation log including the first identifier, a target device identifier of the operation target device, and an operation content for the operation target device to the history storage device,
The history storage device records that the second remote control device with the second identifier exists around the first remote control device with the first identifier that operates the operation target device with the target device identifier. Is also preferable.

  According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition method of the present invention, the first wireless link is a directional infrared communication link, and the second wireless link is a non-directional short-range wireless communication link. It is also preferable that there is.

  According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition method of the present invention, the short-range wireless communication link is Bluetooth, and between the second remote control device and the first remote control device for the first step. It is also preferable to transmit and receive the identifier by periodically executing a call (Page) sequence.

  According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition method of the present invention, the short-range wireless communication link is a wireless local area network (LAN), and the first remote control device and the first remote control device in the first step. It is also preferable that the identifier is periodically transmitted to and received from the operating device.

According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition method of the present invention,
The network is the Internet
The history storage device is a history server connected to the Internet,
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the Internet via a mobile phone network.
The remote control device preferably uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone.

According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition method of the present invention,
The network is a home network
The history storage device is built into a set-top box or router connected to the home network, or an operation target device,
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the home network via radio,
The remote control device preferably uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone.

According to the present invention, a remote operation device that transmits an operation signal via a first wireless link, and an operation target that receives the operation signal via the first wireless link and whose operation is controlled according to the contents of the operation signal. A boot history acquisition system comprising:
The system further includes a history storage device connected via a network from the remote operation device and the operation target device,
Remote control device
First wireless communication means for establishing a first wireless link;
A second wireless communication means for establishing a second wireless link;
An operation signal transmitting means for transmitting the operation signal to the operation target device via the first wireless communication means;
Identifier storage means for storing the identifier;
An identifier receiving means for transmitting the identifier to another remote control device via the second wireless communication means and receiving the identifier from the other remote control device;
An activation state log recording means for recording an identifier received from another remote control device and its reception time as an activation state log;
A log transmission means for transmitting an activation state log associated with the identifier of the remote control device to a history storage device;
The history storage device
Log accumulation means for accumulating startup status logs;
And a startup state log providing unit that transmits a startup state log stored in the log storage unit in response to a request from the operation target device or another device.

According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition system of the present invention,
The remote operation device further includes an operation log recording unit that records an operation log including an identifier of the remote operation device, a target device identifier of the operation target device, and an operation content for the operation target device,
The log transmission means of the remote control device transmits the operation log to the history storage device,
The log storage means of the history storage device operates the operation target device with the target device identifier, and the second remote operation device with the second identifier exists around the first remote operation device with the first identifier. It is also preferable to accumulate as

  According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition system of the present invention, the first wireless communication means of the remote operation device is a directional infrared communication means, and the second wireless communication means of the remote operation device is: It is also preferable that the short-range wireless communication means has no directivity.

  According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition system of the present invention, the short-range wireless communication means is a Bluetooth communication means, and the identifier transmission / reception means of the remote operation device is called with another remote operation device ( It is also preferable to transmit and receive the identifier by periodically executing a Page) sequence.

  According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition system of the present invention, the short-range wireless communication means is a wireless LAN communication means, and the identifier transmission / reception means of the remote operation device is an identifier between other remote operation devices. It is also preferable to transmit and receive periodically.

According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition system of the present invention,
The network is the Internet
The history storage device is a history server connected to the Internet,
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the Internet via a mobile phone network.
The remote control device preferably uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone.

According to another embodiment of the activation history acquisition system of the present invention,
The network is a home network
The history storage device is built into a set-top box or router connected to the home network, or an operation target device,
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the home network via radio,
The remote control device preferably uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone.

  According to the method and system of the present invention, by acquiring the activation state log transmitted from the remote operation device, it is possible to transmit the periphery of the operation target device (operation signal can be transmitted without expanding the function of the existing infrared communication itself. Remote control device existing at a certain position) can be recognized.

It is a system block diagram in a prior art. It is a system block diagram which accumulate | stores the starting state log in this invention. It is a system configuration diagram for accumulating operation logs in the present invention. It is a system configuration diagram in which a history accumulation function is installed in a set top box. It is a functional block diagram of the remote operation apparatus and operation target apparatus in this invention. It is a sequence diagram which notifies the operation target device of the presence of the remote control device itself.

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

  FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram for accumulating an activation state log in the present invention.

  According to FIG. 2, a mobile phone A, a mobile phone B, and a mobile phone C are represented as remote operation devices, and a television device a is represented as an operation target device. In the following description, the remote operation device will be described as a typical mobile phone, but may of course be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a mobile terminal. In addition, the operation target device may be an AV device or an electrical device other than the television device. The mobile phone 1 can be connected to the Internet via a mobile phone network. The history storage device 2 as a server is also connected to the Internet.

  Each mobile phone has a device identifier and / or a user identifier (hereinafter referred to as “identifier”). The device identifier is a unique device identifier of the mobile phone, and the user identifier is an identifier unique to the user who operates the mobile phone. The television device also has a target device identifier.

  A mobile phone generally has an infrared light emitting unit conforming to an infrared communication standard IrDA (Infrared Data Association). The IrDA specification is different from the infrared communication specification used in general remote control devices. The mobile phone functions as a remote control device by emulating a remote control operation signal for an IrDA-compliant infrared light emitting unit by activating a remote control application.

  According to the system of FIG. 2, as in FIG. 1, the mobile phone A as a remote control device can, for example, switch channel (or power on / off) infrared via an infrared communication link (first wireless link). An operation signal is transmitted to operate the television apparatus a. Since the infrared communication link is directional, an infrared operation signal can be transmitted by directing the infrared output port of the mobile phone to the television apparatus a. The mobile phone 1 activates a remote control application at a position where the television device a can be operated, and transmits an infrared operation signal to the television device a.

  The cellular phone 1 of the present invention further includes a short-range wireless communication unit. The short-range wireless link (second wireless link) may be Bluetooth, or may be a wireless local area network (LAN) such as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). Short-distance wireless links having no directivity can communicate with each other without being affected by the orientation of the mobile phone.

  For example, first, it is assumed that only the mobile phone A starts the remote control application at a position where the television device a can be operated. Next, it is assumed that the mobile phone B starts a remote control application at a location where the mobile phone B can operate the television apparatus a. At this time, the cellular phone B transmits a short-distance wireless link inquiry request to the surrounding area. When the mobile phone A responds to the inquiry request, a short-distance wireless link can be established between the mobile phone A and the mobile phone B. Of course, conversely, the mobile phone A may send an inquiry request, and the mobile phone B may respond to the inquiry request to establish a short-range wireless link. Thereby, the mobile phone A recognizes that the mobile phone B exists in the vicinity thereof.

  It is assumed that the range in which the mobile phone A can operate the television device a matches the range in which the user who owns the mobile phone A can view the television device a. In addition, when the mobile phone A and the mobile phone B can communicate via the short-range wireless link, the mobile phone B is also located in the operable range of the television device a. That is, it is assumed that the user who has the mobile phone B can also view the television apparatus a.

  Next, the mobile phone A and the mobile phone B exchange identifiers with each other via the short-range wireless link. The mobile phone A that has previously activated the remote control application and is operating the television device a receives the identifier ID-B from the mobile phone B. At this time, the cellular phone A records an “activation state log” including the identifier ID-B and the reception time thereof.

  Then, the mobile phone A associates the identifier “ID-A” of the mobile phone A with the recorded “activation state log” and transmits it to the history storage device 2. The history storage device 2 can store an “activation state log” in the vicinity of the mobile phone A. Thereby, it can be recognized that the mobile phone B is present around the mobile phone A at the reception time.

  Here, it is also preferable that the cellular phone A further associates the identifier ID-a of the television device (operation target device) when transmitting the “activation state log”. As a result, it is recognized that “a mobile phone with identifier ID-B exists in the vicinity of the mobile phone (remote control device) with identifier ID-A that is operating the television device with identifier ID-a”.

  Next, similarly to the mobile phone B, the mobile phone C also exchanges identifiers with the mobile phone A via a short-range wireless link. The cellular phone A records the identifier ID-C and its reception time as an “activation state log”. The mobile phone A transmits an “activation state log” in which the identifier ID-a of the television device a is associated with its own identifier ID-A to the history storage device 2. The history storage device 2 stores these identifiers and times in association with each other.

  These identifiers are periodically exchanged between the mobile phone A and the mobile phone B (or mobile phone C) via a short-range wireless link. The periodic reception of the identifier ID-B in the mobile phone A means that the mobile phone B exists in the vicinity of the mobile phone A. That is, it plays the role of an active signal (or alive signal). On the other hand, the interruption of reception of the identifier ID-B means that the mobile phone B no longer exists in the vicinity of the mobile phone A. The history storage device 2 can recognize other mobile phones existing around the mobile phone A that operates the television device a at each time point based on the “activation state log”.

  Note that the transmission timing of the activation state log is set according to the usage. When the real-time property is required, the log is transmitted, for example, when an application for remote control of a mobile phone is started, when an infrared operation signal is transmitted, or when an identifier is exchanged with another mobile phone. On the contrary, when real time property is not required, the log is transmitted once a day, for example.

  FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram for accumulating operation logs in the present invention.

  According to FIG. 3, the mobile phone A stores an “operation log”. The operation log includes the identifier ID-A of the mobile phone A and the operation content for the television device a. According to FIG. 3, the mobile phone A with the identifier ID-A “activates” at “19:55”, matches the channel with “ch1” at “20:10”, and shifts to “20:13” “↓” "The key is pressed is recorded. These operation logs are transmitted to the history storage device 2. At this time, it may be transmitted in association with the identifier ID-a of the television apparatus a.

  The history storage device 2 is operating the television device a with the identifier ID-a, and the mobile phone A with the identifier ID-A stores information indicating that the “activation”, “ch1”, and “↓” operations have been performed. Further, the fact that the mobile phone B with the identifier ID-B and the mobile phone C with the identifier ID-C exist around the mobile phone ID-A is also stored. Thus, the operation of the mobile phone A with respect to the television apparatus a can be regarded as an equivalent operation as being accepted by the mobile phones B and C that have not been operated at all.

  FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram in which a history storage function is installed in a set-top box.

  FIG. 4 differs from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in that the function of the history storage device 2 is built in a set-top box (or router) 4 connected to the home network. The set top box in FIG. 3 includes a storage unit such as a hard disk and a processor for log matching processing. Of course, the history storage function may be built in the operation target device itself (for example, the television device itself).

  The mobile phone 1 as a remote control device and the set top box 4 may be connected via a short-range wireless link. The short-range wireless link may be Bluetooth or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) such as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). Alternatively, the set top box 4 may be an access point for femtocells, and the mobile phone 1 may be connected to the set top box 4 via a wireless link for mobile phones.

  FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of the remote operation device and the operation target device according to the present invention.

  According to FIG. 5, the remote operation device 1 is, for example, a mobile phone, and includes an input interface unit 10, an infrared output port 11, an operation signal transmission unit 12, a short-range wireless communication unit 13, and an identifier transmission / reception unit 14. An identifier storage unit 15, a communication interface unit 16, an activation state log recording unit 17, a log transmission unit 18, and an operation log recording unit 19. The operation signal transmission unit 12, the identifier transmission / reception unit 14, the identifier storage unit 15, the activation state log recording unit 17, the log transmission unit 18, and the operation log recording unit 19 execute a program that causes a computer mounted on the mobile phone to function. It is realized by.

  The input interface unit 10 is a keyboard on which the user should input the operation content for the operation target device 2 or a display on which the user can operate. The operation content operated by the user is output to the operation signal transmission unit 12.

  The operation signal transmission unit 12 inputs the operation content from the input interface unit 10 and outputs the operation content to the infrared output port 11 as an operation signal. Specifically, in the case of a mobile phone, a remote control operation signal is emulated to the IrDA-compliant infrared output port 11 by activating a remote control application. Further, the operation signal transmission unit 12 outputs the target device identifier of the operation target device 3 and the operation content to the operation log recording unit 19.

  The infrared output port 11 transmits the operation signal output from the operation signal transmission unit 12 to the operation target device 3 using directional infrared rays. The infrared output port 11 is, for example, compliant with IrDA.

  The near field communication unit 13 establishes a near field wireless link such as Bluetooth or wireless LAN. A short-range wireless link having no directivity can communicate with other remote control devices without being affected by the orientation of the remote control device.

  The identifier storage unit 15 stores a device identifier and / or a user identifier of the remote control device, and outputs this identifier to the identifier transmission / reception unit 14. The device identifier may be, for example, a device ID of a Bluetooth wireless module or an identification number of a SIM card mounted on a mobile phone. Further, the user identifier may be a telephone number of a mobile phone or an identifier that can be used only within the home network.

  The identifier transmission / reception unit 14 transmits the identifier output from the identifier storage unit 15 to another remote control device via the short-range wireless communication unit 13. Further, the identifier transmission / reception unit 14 receives from another remote control device via the short-range wireless communication unit 13. The received identifier is output to the activation state log recording unit 17.

  Here, when the short-range wireless communication unit 13 is Bluetooth, the identifier transmission / reception unit 14 may periodically execute a call (Page) sequence. Device IDs can be exchanged in the calling sequence. Further, after establishing a wireless link by a call (Page) sequence, data packets including an identifier may be exchanged. Further, the identifier transmission / reception unit 14 may periodically exchange data packets including the identifier when the short-range wireless communication unit 13 is a wireless LAN.

  Note that the identifier transmission / reception unit 14 operates to retransmit the identifier to another mobile phone after waiting for a certain period of time when a transmission error occurs due to contention in the short-range wireless link.

  The communication interface unit 16 is an interface connected to the history storage device 2. When the history storage device 2 is a server connected to the Internet, the communication interface unit 16 may be an interface for a mobile phone network. When the history storage device 2 is a set-top box connected to a home network, the communication interface unit 16 may be an interface for Bluetooth, wireless LAN, or femtocell.

  The activation state log recording unit 17 records the received identifier (for example, the identifier ID-B of the mobile phone B) and the reception time (for example, 22:00) as the “activation state log”. The activation state log recording unit 17 outputs the “activation state log” to the log transmission unit 18.

  The operation log recording unit 19 records an operation log including a target device identifier of the operation target device and an operation content for the operation target device. The operation log is output to the log transmission unit 18.

  The log transmission unit 18 transmits an “activation state log” and an “operation log” associated with the identifier of the remote operation device itself to the history storage device 2. Note that the log transmission unit 18 may transmit the activation state log and the operation log via the communication interface unit 16 by a short message (for example, C mail) or e-mail.

  According to FIG. 4, the history storage device 2 includes a communication interface unit 21, a log storage unit 22, and an activation state log providing unit 23. The functional components other than the communication interface unit 21 are realized by executing a program that causes a computer installed in the history storage device to function.

  The communication interface unit 21 is an interface connected from the remote operation device 1. The communication interface unit 21 connects to the Internet, which is an IP network.

  The log storage unit 22 stores the activation state log and operation log received from the remote operation device 1 via the communication interface unit 21. These logs are accumulated in association with the operation target device as the operation source.

  The activation state log providing unit 23 transmits the activation state log accumulated in the log accumulation unit 22 in response to a request from the operation target device or another device.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for notifying the operation target device of the presence of the remote operation device itself.

  According to FIG. 6, the mobile phone A (remote control device) and the mobile phone B (remote control device) have a protocol configuration based on Bluetooth. Among them, LMP (Link Management Protocol) realizes connection establishment, connection control and security in a wireless link. In establishing an LMP connection, an inquiry (Inquiry) state and a call (Page) state in Bluetooth are executed.

(S61) When the mobile phone B starts the remote control application, it broadcasts an inquiry request (Inquiry) message to the Bluetooth wireless link. The mobile phone A that exists in a range in which Bluetooth radio waves can be received receives this inquiry request (Inquiry) message. In response to this, the mobile phone A returns an FHS response message. The FHS packet includes information such as Bluetooth class, device ID (identifier), and clock. Thereby, the mobile phone B recognizes the presence of the mobile phone A.

(S62) Thereafter, the mobile phone B periodically executes an identifier notification sequence. The identifier notification sequence can execute, for example, a page (Page) state sequence, whereby the identifier (for example, device ID) of the mobile phone B can be transmitted to the mobile phone A.

(S621) The mobile phone B transmits a page (Page) request message to the mobile phone A. On the other hand, the mobile phone A returns a reception response message to the mobile phone B.
(S622) Next, the mobile phone B transmits an FHS request message to the mobile phone A. The FHS packet includes information such as Bluetooth class, device ID (identifier), and clock. Thereby, the mobile phone A can recognize the presence of the mobile phone B. Then, the mobile phone A returns a reception response message to the mobile phone B.
(S623) Immediately, the mobile phone B transmits a connection release request to the mobile phone A. The mobile phone B only needs to be able to notify the mobile phone A of the identifier of the mobile phone B using a Bluetooth wireless link. That is, it is not necessary to maintain a Bluetooth wireless link. The mobile phone A that has received the connection release request returns a reception response message to the mobile phone B.

  In addition, after establishing a wireless link by S621 and S622, you may transmit the data packet containing an identifier. In this case, the device ID included in the FHS request message is not required. After transmitting the data packet to the mobile phone A, the mobile phone B releases the connection in S623.

  Here, according to the present invention, the mobile phone B immediately transmits a connection release request to the mobile phone A in S623. The reason for this is that Bluetooth is usually based on one-to-one communication and tends to be unstable in the case of one-to-many communication where the processing load increases. Therefore, according to the present invention, by repeating connection / release for a Bluetooth wireless link, a short-range wireless communication unit of one mobile phone operating the television apparatus and a plurality of mobile phones located in the vicinity thereof The short-range wireless communication unit can be connected.

(S63) The mobile phone A receives an operation on the television device a from the user by the remote control application. The mobile phone A transmits an infrared operation signal based on the operation to the television apparatus a. Since the mobile phone A recognizes the presence of the mobile phone B, it can be recognized that the operation content may be an operation agreed with by the user who owns the mobile phone B.

(S64) The identifier notification sequence executed in S62 is periodically executed. Each time the identifier notification sequence is executed, the mobile phone A recognizes the presence of the mobile phone B. Here, when the mobile phone B moves away from the periphery of the mobile phone A, the identifier notification sequence from the mobile phone B is not executed. At this time, the mobile phone A recognizes that the mobile phone B does not exist around the mobile phone A.

  FIG. 6 shows the data structure of the FHS request message transmitted from the mobile phone B to the mobile phone A for S622. The general data structure of Bluetooth consists of an access code part, a header part, and a payload part. The access code part includes a preamble and the like. The header part includes a Bluetooth address, type code (control / voice / data), flow control, ARQN, sequence number, and checksum. Here, the payload portion includes the contents of the FHS. The FHS mainly includes a Bluetooth class, a device identifier (ID), a clock, and the like. With this device identifier, the cellular phone A can recognize the identifier of the cellular phone B.

  As described above in detail, according to the method and system of the present invention, the operation target can be obtained without expanding the function of the existing infrared communication itself by acquiring the activation state log transmitted from the remote operation device. It is possible to recognize a remote control device existing in the vicinity of the device (position where an operation signal can be transmitted).

  The activation state log stored in the history storage device can be used for, for example, the activation status of the remote control application, the activation time, and the audience rating survey on the display channel of the target device. For example, it is possible to recognize who was watching which program at a position where the operation target device (for example, a television device) can be operated. According to the present invention, viewing histories can also be acquired for a plurality of users who are viewing the television apparatus, particularly users who have not transmitted operation signals. Such viewing history is used for a recommendation function for recommending content or programs to the user.

  In addition, an icon based on a user who has a remote control device (for example, a mobile phone) existing in the vicinity of the television device a can be displayed.

  As a simple technique, both the operation signal and the identifier can be transmitted only by short-range wireless communication. However, in the case of short-range wireless communication, the delay is larger than that of infrared communication, and user operability is inferior. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the user's operability can be maintained by using the existing low-delay infrared communication for the operation signal. In addition, short-range wireless communication is used for exchanging identifiers that do not require real-time characteristics.

  Various changes, modifications, and omissions of the above-described various embodiments of the present invention can be easily made by those skilled in the art. The above description is merely an example, and is not intended to be restrictive. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote operation apparatus 10 Input interface part 11 Infrared output port 12 Operation signal transmission part 13 Near field communication part 14 Identifier transmission / reception part 15 Identifier memory | storage part 16 Communication interface part 17 Start-up state log recording part 18 Log transmission part 19 Operation log recording part 2 History storage device 21 Communication interface unit 22 Log storage unit 23 Startup state log providing unit 3 Operation target device 4 Set-top box

Claims (14)

A system comprising: a remote operation device that transmits an operation signal via a first wireless link; and an operation target device that receives the operation signal via the first wireless link and whose operation is controlled according to the content of the operation signal. A boot history acquisition method in
The remote control device and the operation target device each have an identifier,
The remote control device has a communication function of a second wireless link;
The system further includes a history storage device connected from the remote control device via a network,
A second wireless link is established between the first remote control device and the second remote control device, and the second remote control device transmits the second identifier to the first remote control device. A first step;
A second step in which the first remote control device records the second identifier and its reception time as an activation state log;
A third step in which the first remote control device transmits the activation state log associated with the first identifier to the history storage device;
The history storage device has a fourth step of storing the startup status log and transmitting the startup status log in response to a request from the operation target device or another device. Acquisition method. The first remote operation device transmits an operation log including a target device identifier of the operation target device and an operation content for the operation target device to the history storage device,
The history storage device records that the second remote control device with the second identifier exists around the first remote control device with the first identifier that operates the operation target device with the target device identifier. The startup history acquisition method according to claim 1, wherein: The first wireless link is a directional infrared communication link,
The startup history acquisition method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second wireless link is a short-distance wireless communication link having no directivity. The near field communication link is Bluetooth;
The first step is characterized in that the identifier is transmitted and received by periodically executing a page sequence between the second remote control device and the first remote control device. 3. The activation history acquisition method according to 3. The short-range wireless communication link is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network),
The startup history acquisition method according to claim 3, wherein the identifier is periodically transmitted and received between the second remote control device and the first remote control device in the first step. The network is the Internet;
The history storage device is a history server connected to the Internet;
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the Internet via a mobile phone network;
The startup history acquisition method according to claim 1, wherein the remote operation device uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone. The network is a home network;
The history storage device is incorporated in a set-top box or router connected to the home network, or the operation target device,
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the home network via radio,
The startup history acquisition method according to claim 1, wherein the remote operation device uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone. Start-up having a remote operation device that transmits an operation signal via a first wireless link, and an operation target device that receives the operation signal via the first wireless link and whose operation is controlled according to the contents A history acquisition system,
The system further includes a history storage device connected via a network from the remote operation device and the operation target device,
The remote control device is:
First wireless communication means for establishing a first wireless link;
A second wireless communication means for establishing a second wireless link;
An operation signal transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal to the operation target device via a first wireless communication means;
Identifier storage means for storing the identifier;
An identifier receiving means for transmitting the identifier to another remote control device via the second wireless communication means and receiving the identifier from the other remote control device;
An activation state log recording means for recording the identifier received from another remote control device and its reception time as an activation state log;
Log transmission means for transmitting the activation state log associated with the identifier of the remote control device to the history storage device;
The history storage device includes:
Log storage means for storing the startup state log;
An activation history acquisition system comprising activation state log providing means for transmitting the activation state log accumulated in the log accumulation means in response to a request from the operation target device or another device. The remote operation device further includes an operation log recording means for recording an operation log including a target device identifier of the operation target device and an operation content for the operation target device.
The log transmission means of the remote operation device transmits the operation log to the history storage device,
The log storage means of the history storage device operates the operation target device of the target device identifier around the first remote operation device of the first identifier, and the second remote operation device of the second identifier 9. The activation history acquisition system according to claim 8, wherein the activation history acquisition system accumulates data as existing data. The first wireless communication means of the remote control device is a directional infrared communication means,
The startup history acquisition system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second wireless communication unit of the remote control device is a short-distance wireless communication unit without directivity. The short-range wireless communication means is a Bluetooth communication means,
The identifier transmission / reception unit of the remote control device transmits and receives the identifier by periodically executing a page sequence with another remote control device. Startup history acquisition system. The short-range wireless communication means is a wireless LAN communication means,
11. The activation history acquisition system according to claim 10, wherein the identifier transmission / reception means of the remote control device periodically transmits / receives the identifier to / from another remote control device. The network is the Internet;
The history storage device is a history server connected to the Internet;
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the Internet via a mobile phone network;
The startup history acquisition system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the remote control device uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone. The network is a home network;
The history storage device is incorporated in a set-top box or router connected to the home network, or the operation target device,
The remote control device is a mobile phone, and can be connected to the home network via radio,
The startup history acquisition system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the remote control device uses an infrared light emitting unit and a short-range wireless communication unit mounted on the mobile phone.

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