JP2012191481A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple structured remote control system, capable of operating a consumer electronics appliance in home by directing an operation through a device such as a mobile phone at a remote location, and applicable to electric appliances already in use.SOLUTION: A remote control system includes a master unit which is connected to a communication network, for receiving an operating direction from a device such as a mobile phone, and operating a target electric appliance with remote operation, and a slave unit which is provided adjacently to the target electric appliance, for monitoring a remote control operation signal from the master unit. The master unit transmits an infrared operation signal when receiving an operation direction and the slave unit emits light of a light reception confirmation signal when confirming light reception of the infrared operation signal. The master unit memorizes operation history by receiving the light reception confirmation signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system operated from a remote place using a portable terminal, and more particularly to a remote control system using infrared rays for operating home appliances and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, home appliance control systems for operating home appliances in a home from a remote location using a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone have been developed. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a home network is typically configured in a house, home appliances are connected to the home network, and connected to an external network via a home gateway.

  However, home appliances that can support such a home network need to have a network interface, and cannot be applied to currently used home appliances that do not have a network function. In addition, the introduction requires a great cost burden.

  On the other hand, in order to support home appliances that do not have a network function, a learning remote controller that stores remote control operation codes of various home appliances is connected to the network, and the learning remote controller is remotely operated to be used. The thing which enabled remote control of the household appliances which are present is disclosed by patent document 2, for example.

  By the way, when the user remotely controls the home appliance by using an infrared remote controller or the like at home, the user can naturally grasp the state of whether the operation target home appliance is in the stopped state / operating state. Further, when the user operates the remote controller, the home appliance notifies the user that the remote controller operation has been performed by turning on a lamp or generating a sound. When a lighting fixture is operated, the user can naturally confirm the operation by sensing the illumination of the fixture.

Even when the home appliance is remotely operated from a remote location using a mobile terminal, it is necessary for the user to be able to grasp the operating state of the home appliance to be operated, and when the user gives an operation instruction, It is necessary to be able to confirm whether or not the target home appliance has operated according to the instruction.
For this reason, the device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is provided with various sensors corresponding to the home appliance to be operated, and monitors and determines the operating state of each home appliance based on the detection data of the sensor.

JP 2010-98374 A JP 2008-283298 A

  For example, in the case of monitoring the operating state of a lighting fixture based on the detection value of an illuminance sensor in the one disclosed in Patent Document 2, if the room is a night room, it is easy to compare the detection value of the illuminance sensor with a threshold value. In addition, the presence or absence of the operation of the lighting fixture can be determined. However, in the daytime, assuming an environmental condition such as weather change, curtain open / close state, and sensor placement location, it is difficult to accurately determine the operating state by simply comparing the detection value of the illuminance sensor with the threshold value. Even when the operation state of the air conditioner is determined based on the detection value of the temperature sensor, the same difficulty is involved.

  The present invention provides a remote control system in which a home terminal device currently used from a remote location is remotely controlled by a portable terminal such as a cellular phone, and the operation can be easily confirmed.

  A first technical means of the present invention is a remote control system for remotely operating a device to be operated in response to an operation instruction from a remote place, and a master device for sending an infrared operation signal to the device to be operated, and sending from the master device When the master unit is connected to the communication network and receives an operation instruction for the operation target device via the communication network, at least an operation code corresponding to the content of the operation instruction is transmitted to the infrared unit. An infrared operation signal sending unit for sending out as an operation signal; a remote control operation checking unit for receiving a light reception confirmation signal for the infrared operation signal sent from the slave unit that monitors the infrared operation signal and confirming the execution of the operation instruction; The slave unit is provided in proximity to the device to be operated, and receives a light receiving unit that receives the infrared operation signal, and the received infrared operation signal is the object to be operated. Make sure that the operation signal sent to vessel, and wherein the remote control system comprising an infrared light emitting portion for transmitting the received confirmation signal.

  The second technical means is characterized in that the remote control operation confirmation unit sequentially records the contents of the operation instruction as an operation history by receiving the light reception confirmation signal for each device to be operated. The operation history indicates the current state of operation of the operated device.

  According to a third technical means, the slave unit includes a code signal included in the received infrared operation signal, operation code information corresponding to an operation instruction for the operation target device provided with the slave unit, and the operation target device. The received infrared operation signal is confirmed by collating the identification information with one or a plurality of pieces of identification information of the slave unit.

According to a fourth technical means, the light reception confirmation signal transmitted from the slave unit includes the operation code information of the operation target device, the identification information of the operation target device included in the infrared operation signal received by the operation signal light receiving unit, It includes one or more pieces of machine identification information.
If the operation signal includes device identification information or slave device identification information, a confirmation response can be made even with the code.

According to a fifth technical means, when the slave unit receives an infrared operation signal transmitted from a remote control device for an operation target device other than the master unit, it transmits a light reception confirmation signal to confirm the remote control operation of the master unit. The unit stores the operation history based on the reception of the light reception confirmation signal.
Although normal remote control operation is possible when at home, in this case, an operation code is used for the confirmation response of the operation signal.

  A sixth technical means is characterized in that the master unit has a function of transmitting an operation history record of the remote control operation confirmation unit to a communication network. Thereby, the current operation of the device can be confirmed by the portable terminal.

In the remote control system of the present invention, a slave unit that receives an infrared operation signal transmitted to an operation target device is provided close to the device, and the infrared operation signal transmitted to the device is detected to monitor the remote control operation. By confirming that the remote control operation signal is received, it is presumed that the device to be operated has been operated, thereby solving the problem of grasping the operation status in remote operation with a simple configuration.
In addition, the present invention can realize remote operation using a mobile phone or the like for currently used home appliances.

The figure which shows the outline | summary of a remote control system. The figure which shows the structure of the main | base station of a remote control system. The figure which shows an example of the memory content of the operation code memory | storage part of a main | base station, and the operation history memory | storage part. The figure which shows the structure of the subunit | mobile_unit of a remote control system.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a remote control master unit that is remotely operated, 2 a slave unit that monitors the remote control operation of the master unit, and 3 an electrical device of an operation target device that is remotely controlled by an infrared operation signal from the master unit. The slave unit is provided in proximity. Reference numeral 4 denotes a base unit connected, and a remote operation instruction is transmitted. For example, a communication network such as the Internet.

Master unit 1 receives an operation instruction transmitted from mobile phone 5 via communication network 4 and transmits an infrared operation signal from an infrared light emitting unit of the operation signal transmission unit. The infrared operation signal is received by the remote control light receiving unit of the electric device 3 and also received by the light receiving unit of the slave unit 2 provided close to the electric device that monitors the infrared operation signal. When the slave unit confirms that the received infrared operation signal is an operation signal for the electrical device of the device to be operated, the slave unit sends a light reception confirmation signal, and the master unit 1 receives the light reception unit for remote control operation confirmation. Confirm that the remote control has been operated.
In addition, it is preferable that a subunit | mobile_unit is provided adjacent to the light-receiving part of the infrared remote control operation signal of a to-be-operated apparatus as much as possible.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of base unit 1. A communication unit 11 includes a communication interface for connecting to a communication network such as the Internet. The communication unit 11 receives a remote operation instruction from a mobile phone or the like, and transmits an operation history or the like of the operation target device to the mobile phone or the like.

  A code storage unit 12 stores an operation code of an infrared operation signal to be transmitted in correspondence with various operations of the operation target device, and an operation signal light emitting unit 13 emits an infrared operation signal via a communication network. An infrared operation signal including the operation code stored in the code storage unit corresponding to the operation instruction received by the communication unit is emitted to the operation target device.

  A confirmation signal light receiving unit 14 receives a light reception confirmation signal of an infrared operation signal transmitted from a slave unit provided in the operation target device. An operation history storage unit 15 stores that the operation signal sent from the operation signal light emitting unit has been operated when the confirmation signal light receiving unit 14 receives the light reception confirmation signal. Whether or not the light reception confirmation signal sensed and received by the confirmation light receiving unit 14 is a light reception confirmation signal corresponding to the transmitted infrared operation signal is confirmed and determined by information contained in the light reception confirmation signal described later.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a code input unit, which is an example of a configuration for storing an operation code of an operation target device to be remotely operated in the code storage unit. The code input unit includes an infrared light receiving unit and includes an infrared ray for the operation target device. By operating a remote controller, an infrared operation signal transmitted from the remote controller is received and stored in the code storage unit 12. However, in the setting mode, the confirmation signal light receiving unit 14 can be switched so that the function of the code input unit 16 can be executed.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes an operation unit including a key input unit, for example, for inputting identification information of an operated device. Reference numeral 19 denotes a display unit that displays input information, storage information, and the like as necessary.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes an operation input unit for operating the master unit in the home to operate the device to be operated by remote control even when there is no operation instruction from the communication unit, and is provided as necessary. A control unit 10 controls the operation of the master unit.

  FIG. 3A shows an example of the contents stored in the code storage unit, and corresponds to, for example, the air conditioner 1 and, if necessary, the identification information (C-1) of the air conditioner and the lighting device 1 (L-1). In the case of an air conditioner, an operation code corresponding to an operation instruction for lowering / raising the temperature setting is stored in addition to power ON / OFF. Similarly, in the case of the lighting fixture 1, besides the power ON and OFF, operation codes corresponding to operation instructions such as large, medium, and small lighting corresponding to the brightness setting are stored.

  The operation codes of these devices to be operated can be obtained, for example, by causing the code input unit 16 of the master unit to receive infrared operation signals corresponding to various operations using the infrared remote controller for the device. Further, by specifying the type and manufacturer of the device, it can also be acquired from a server or the like connected to the external communication network.

  FIG. 3B is an example of the contents stored in the operation history storage unit 15 and shows an operation history of the air conditioner 1. Since the operation history for a predetermined period is sequentially recorded, it is possible to grasp the operation state of the device by looking at the latest history and a history just before that. In the example shown in the drawing, the air conditioner 1 can grasp that the power is turned off while the temperature setting is raised. The user can confirm whether or not an operation instruction is necessary by viewing the data in the operation history storage unit on the display screen of the mobile phone.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the slave unit 2, 21 is an operation signal light receiving unit that receives an infrared operation signal sent to the operation target device provided with the slave unit, and 22 is an operation signal light receiving unit 21. Is an operation signal confirmation unit that confirms whether or not the infrared operation signal received by is an infrared operation signal for the device to be operated provided with the slave unit. Reference numeral 23 denotes a confirmation signal storage unit for performing the confirmation. A confirmation signal unique to the operation target device provided with the slave unit is stored, and is compared with the infrared operation signal received by the operation signal light receiving unit 21. .
For collation, for example, identification information that identifies the device to be operated, an operation code of the device, and identification information of the slave unit may be stored and collated.

That is, in general, an infrared operation signal transmitted from the infrared remote control device is transmitted over a wide range, and a light receiving unit that receives infrared light is substantially omnidirectional in the front direction of the light receiving unit, and is sensitive to infrared rays emitted from a wide range. Therefore, the operation signal light receiving unit 21 of the child device is also sensitive to an infrared operation signal (remote control signal) sent to a device other than the operation target device provided with the child device.
Therefore, it is necessary to confirm that the infrared operation signal sensitively received by the operation signal light receiving unit 21 is a remote control signal transmitted to the device to be operated provided with the slave unit.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes a confirmation signal light emitting unit that sends a light reception confirmation signal indicating confirmation that the slave unit has received an infrared operation signal to the device to be operated to the master unit. The confirmation signal to be transmitted includes a signal identifying the device to be operated such as identification information of the device specific to the slave or the device to be operated, an operation code, and the like. When the light reception confirmation signal is received by the confirmation signal light receiving unit 14 of the parent machine, the operation history of the operation target device is stored in the operation history storage unit 15.

In order for the confirmation operation signal light emitting section to emit a confirmation signal for receiving the infrared operation signal for the device to be operated, the received infrared operation signal is an infrared operation signal for the operation target device by an operation code of the received infrared operation signal. It is necessary to confirm that there is.
Reference numeral 25 denotes a confirmation signal input unit for inputting a confirmation signal to the confirmation signal storage unit. For example, an infrared operation signal is transmitted by operating an infrared operation remote controller for an operated device, and an operation code can be input. it can. Further, when the infrared operation signal includes identification information of the device to be operated or the slave unit, the identification information can be input.
When receiving the infrared operation signal of the remote controller, the operation signal light receiving unit 21 may also have the function when the slave unit is in the setting mode. Reference numeral 20 denotes a control unit that controls the operation of each unit of the slave unit.

  Next, the operation in the case where an operation instruction is given to the electric device air conditioner C-1 of the device to be operated by the mobile phone by the remote control system of the present invention will be described. Necessary information such as the operation code of the device to be operated and the identification information of the device to be operated and the device to be operated are input to the code storage unit of the base unit and the confirmation signal storage unit of the handset, and are already used for remote operation. It shall be.

  The user communicates and connects with the remote control master unit via a communication network such as the Internet, for example, and displays the contents of the operation history storage unit 15 on the display unit of the mobile phone as necessary to check the state of the air conditioner. For example, in the situation of FIG. 3 (B), it can be understood that the temperature is set to a high setting and the power supply is OFF. Based on this, for example, when an operation instruction to turn on the power is transmitted, the master unit that has received the instruction extracts an operation code corresponding to at least the power on of the air conditioner C-1 by referring to the code storage unit 12. An infrared operation signal is transmitted from the operation signal light emitting unit 13.

  The remote control light receiving unit of the air conditioner C-1 as the operation target device and the operation signal light receiving unit 21 of the slave unit provided in the vicinity thereof sense and receive the infrared operation signal transmitted. When there is an obstacle or the like that blocks light between the master unit and the device to be operated due to unforeseen circumstances, both the remote controller light-receiving unit of the air conditioner C-1 and the operation signal light-receiving unit 21 of the slave unit are connected. It is almost unlikely that the optical path is interrupted and only the optical path reaching either one is interrupted.

  The air conditioner C-1 operates to turn on the power by receiving an infrared operation signal which is a remote control signal. On the other hand, the slave unit compares the information contained in the infrared operation signal that is received and received by the operation signal light receiving unit 21 with the information stored in the confirmation signal storage unit 23, whereby the received infrared operation signal is converted into the air conditioner C-1. The confirmation signal light emitting unit 24 transmits a light reception confirmation signal. When the confirmation signal light receiving unit 14 of the parent device receives the light reception confirmation signal sent from the child device, it confirms that the remote control operation of the operation target device has been performed based on the identification information included in the received confirmation signal. The operation history storage unit 15 stores that the operation instructed for operation has been performed.

  The user can confirm the power-on operation of the air conditioner C-1 by updating the storage of the operation history storage unit 15 on the display unit of the mobile phone, and then can transmit, for example, an operation instruction for lowering the temperature. .

  Here, even if the operation target light receiving unit of the slave unit is sensitive to and receives an infrared operation signal for an operation target device other than the air conditioner C-1, the infrared operation signal is stored in the confirmation signal storage unit 23. Since the confirmation information is not included, the air conditioner is not confirmed and the light reception confirmation signal of the air conditioner is not transmitted.

  When the operation input unit 18 is provided in the parent machine, the same operation is performed when an operation instruction can be given by operating the operation input unit at home. Moreover, what is necessary is just to confirm the memory | storage of the operation log | history memory | storage part 15 by providing the display part 19. FIG.

Further, in the home, there is a case where the operation is performed with an infrared operation remote controller for an operation target device other than the parent device. The device to be operated operates in the same manner as a normal remote control operation when it receives an infrared operation signal sent from the device remote control. The slave unit also receives the infrared operation signal of the remote controller, but the operation signal of the device remote control includes the operation code of the device to be operated, but usually does not include the identification information of the slave unit.
Therefore, in this case, a method for confirming that the infrared operation signal received by the slave unit is an operation signal transmitted to the operation target device provided with the slave unit is an operation included in the remote controller for the device. The verification is performed based on information unique to the device to be operated such as a code. By this collation, the slave unit sends a confirmation signal to the master unit, and the master unit receives the confirmation signal to store the operation of the device to be operated as an operation history.

  Of the above description, the code input unit 16, the operation unit 17, the operation input unit 18, and the display unit 19 of the base unit are not always essential, and may be provided when necessary. Further, information in the confirmation signal storage unit 23 for confirming the operation signal in the slave unit and confirmation information of the light reception confirmation signal in the storage in the operation history storage unit 15 in the master unit include the operation code, device identification information, The identification information may be arbitrarily selected and combined.

  Further, the slave unit can be provided with a function of processing and transmitting a sensor detection signal by using a conventional method together.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a remote unit that monitors an infrared ray operation signal (remote control signal) sent by a remote controller that is remotely operated in the vicinity of the device to be operated can be provided easily and inexpensively from a remote location. It is possible to construct a remote control system that enables remote operation of electric appliances in the house by using a mobile phone or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Master machine, 2 ... Slave machine, 3 ... Electric equipment, 4 ... Communication network, 5 ... Mobile phone, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... Communication part, 12 ... Code memory | storage part, 13 ... Operation signal light emission part, 14 ... Confirmation signal light receiving unit, 15 ... operation history storage unit, 16 ... code input unit, 17 ... operation unit, 18 ... operation input unit, 19 ... display unit, 20 ... control unit, 21 ... operation signal light receiving unit, 22 ... operation signal Confirmation unit, 23 ... confirmation signal storage unit, 24 ... confirmation signal light emitting unit, 25 ... confirmation signal input unit.

Claims (6)

A remote control system for remotely operating a device to be operated according to an operation instruction from a remote place,
It consists of a master unit that sends infrared operation signals to the device to be operated, and a slave unit that monitors infrared operation signals sent from the master unit.
The base unit is connected to a communication network, and receives an operation instruction for the operation target device via the communication network, and an infrared operation signal transmission unit that transmits at least an operation code corresponding to the operation instruction content as an infrared operation signal;
A remote control operation confirmation unit that receives a light reception confirmation signal of the infrared operation signal sent from the slave unit that monitors the infrared operation signal and confirms execution of the operation instruction;
The slave unit is provided close to the operation target device, and a light receiving unit that receives the infrared operation signal, and the received infrared operation signal is an operation signal sent to the operation target device. A remote control system comprising an infrared light emitting unit for confirming and transmitting a light reception confirmation signal.   2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control operation confirmation unit sequentially records contents of operation instructions as an operation history by receiving the light reception confirmation signal for each device to be operated.    The slave unit includes a code signal included in the received infrared operation signal, operation code information corresponding to an operation instruction for the operation target device provided with the slave unit, identification information of the operation target device, The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein an infrared operation signal received by checking with one or a plurality of pieces of identification information is confirmed.   The light reception confirmation signal transmitted by the slave unit is one of operation code information of the operation target device, identification information of the operation target device, identification information of the slave unit included in the infrared operation signal received by the operation signal light receiving unit. The remote control system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of pieces of information.   The slave unit also transmits a light reception confirmation signal when receiving an infrared operation signal transmitted from a remote control device for an operation target device other than the master unit, and the remote control operation confirmation unit of the master unit transmits the light reception confirmation signal. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein an operation history is stored based on the received light.   The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the base unit has a function of transmitting an operation history record of the remote control operation confirmation unit to a communication network.

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