JP2016167165A - System, communication method, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system, a communication method, and electronic equipment for enabling a user to easily transfer characters even when equipment which is not much suitable for character input is included.SOLUTION: The system includes: first electronic equipment; and second electronic equipment. The first electronic equipment includes: selection means for selecting an image; input means capable of inputting characters; reception means for receiving the input of a plurality of character groups for reply associated with the image selected by the selection means; and transmission means for transmitting the selected image and the plurality of character groups for reply. The second electronic equipment includes: reception means for receiving the image and the plurality of character groups for reply; presentation means for presenting the image and the plurality of character groups for reply to a user; reception means for receiving the selection of one or more character groups from among the plurality of character groups for reply; and transmission means for transmitting one or more character groups selected by the reception means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a system, a communication method, and an electronic apparatus.

  Currently, communication technology has been developed, and communication functions are implemented in various devices. In addition, among these devices, there are many devices capable of exchanging characters such as e-mails.

JP 2002-236636 A

  In recent years when various devices implement communication functions, there is a need to exchange characters (characters / letters) between various devices, but depending on the device, the input means is not suitable for character input. There are also electronic devices.

  An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a system, a communication method, and an electronic device that allow a user to easily exchange characters by characters even when devices that are not suitable for character input are included. is there.

According to the embodiment, the system includes a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device includes a selection unit that selects an image, an input unit that can input characters, and a reception unit that receives inputs of a plurality of reply character groups associated with the image selected by the selection unit. Transmitting means for transmitting the selected image and the plurality of reply character groups, wherein the second electronic device receives the image and the plurality of reply character groups. A presentation means for presenting the image and a plurality of reply character groups to a user, a reception means for accepting selection of one or more character groups from the plurality of reply character groups, and the acceptance means. Transmitting means for transmitting one or more selected character groups.

The conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of the communication system in embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the external appearance of the remote control in embodiment. The block diagram which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of STB in embodiment. The block diagram which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the smart phone in embodiment. The block diagram which shows an example of the function structure relevant to the communication application of smart phone and STB in embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the image selection screen with the smart phone in embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the comment edit screen with the smart phone in embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the comment edit screen with the smart phone in embodiment. The conceptual diagram which shows an example of the comment selection screen on the display part of TV which STB displays in embodiment. The sequence diagram which shows an example of the flow of a process in the smart phone in the embodiment, a server, and STB.

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

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication system in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication system 10 includes an STB 1, a remote controller 2, a smartphone 3, a TV 4, a server 5, a network 6, and the like.

  The STB 1 is an electronic device having communication and various input / output functions. The name STB1 is an abbreviation for Set Top Box, and STB1 communicates with the smartphone 3 via the server 5, and characters (character / letter / text, etc.) between the STB1 user and the smartphone 3 user. Communication between users is realized. The detailed configuration of the STB 1 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The remote controller 2 is a remote controller of the STB 1 and includes a plurality of keys as input devices. These keys are assigned numbers and basic functions in STB1, and no characters other than numbers are assigned to the keys. That is, it is difficult to input characters other than numbers to the STB 1 using the remote controller 2.

  The smartphone 3 is an electronic device having a call function generally called a smartphone (Smart Phone) and other predetermined functions. The smartphone 3 has a communication function with the STB 1 via the server 5. In addition, the smartphone 3 has a character input function using a SW (software / Software) keyboard or the like, like a general smartphone. That is, the smartphone 3 has a highly functional (advanced / easy input) character input function as compared with the STB 1 and the remote controller 2. The detailed configuration of the smartphone 3 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The TV 4 is a television receiver having a video display function for a user, and has a function of receiving and displaying broadcast waves. Further, the STB 1 and the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) (registered trademark) cable are connected to each other, and the video output from the STB 1 can be displayed on the display unit.

  The server 5 has a function of communicating with the STB 1 or the smartphone 3 via the network 6. Data received from the STB 1 can be transferred to the smartphone 3 and data received from the smartphone 3 can be transferred to the STB 1.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the remote controller according to the present embodiment.

  The remote control 2 has an input unit 21 and a microphone 22.

  The input unit 21 is a group of keys (buttons) to which functions necessary for performing the predetermined functions of the numbers and STB 1 are assigned. In this embodiment, characters other than numbers are not assigned to these keys, and by using the remote controller 2, the user can basically only input numbers or instruct operation of a predetermined function to the STB1. That is, it is not easy for the user to create a sentence using the remote controller 2.

  The microphone 22 has a function of accepting voice input. The user can operate a predetermined function of the STB 1 by speaking into the microphone 22.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the STB system configuration in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the STB 1 includes a processor 101, a storage device 111, a wireless communication unit 112, a power management IC 113, an HDMI interface unit 114, and the like.

  The storage device 111 is a storage device having a nonvolatile memory, a flash memory, a magnetoresistive memory, a hard disk drive, and the like.

  The wireless communication unit 112 has a function of communicating with the server 5 connected to the network 6.

  The power management IC 113 is a one-chip microcomputer for power management. In addition, the power management IC 113 uses the power supplied from the AC adapter 120 to generate operating power to be supplied to each component.

  The HDMI interface unit 114 has a function of converting a signal corresponding to LVDS, which will be described later, into a signal corresponding to HDMI, and transmitting this signal to the connected TV 4.

  The processor 101 is an electronic circuit that controls the operation of various modules in the STB 1. The processor 101 may be a single electronic circuit or a combination of a plurality of electronic circuits. The processor 101 executes various programs loaded from the storage device 111 to the main memory 102. The programs executed by the processor 101 include various application programs such as an operating system (OS) 122 and a communication application 121.

  An operating system (OS) 122 is software for controlling the entire STB 1.

  The communication application 121 is a program for exchanging characters (dialogue / communication) with other electronic devices (for example, the smartphone 3). The communication application 121 and the like will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

  The graphics processor 103 is a display controller that controls the TV 4 used as a display monitor. The graphics processor 103 generates video data for displaying video on the TV 4. The LVDS interface unit 104 converts the video data into a signal corresponding to LVDS (Low voltage differential signaling).

  The receiving unit 105 has a function of receiving audio data input by the microphone 22 of the remote controller 2 and outputting the data to the processor 101. The receiving unit 105 has a function of receiving an input signal corresponding to a predetermined key input from the input unit 21 provided in the remote controller 2 and outputting the received signal to the processor 101.

  Next, the smartphone 3 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of the smartphone according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the smartphone 3 includes a processor 301, a storage device 311, a wireless communication unit 312, a battery 313, a camera 314, a microphone 315, a speaker 316, a touch screen display 304, and the like.

  The storage device 311 is a storage device having a nonvolatile memory, a flash memory, or the like.

  The wireless communication unit 312 communicates with the server 5 connected to the network 6.

  The battery 313 has a function of charging power supplied from the outside via an external power supply connection unit (not shown) and supplying power charged to each component as operating power of the smartphone 3.

  The camera 314 is an image capturing unit having a function of capturing an image, and the smartphone 3 can store an image captured by the camera 314 in the storage device 311.

  The microphone 315 is a sound collection unit that collects a voice spoken by the user. By speaking to the microphone 315, the user can have a conversation with a user of another device when using the telephone function or the like.

  The speaker 316 is a sound output unit that outputs sound, and the user can listen to the call partner's voice from the speaker 316.

  The processor 301 is an electronic circuit that controls the operation of various modules in the smartphone 3. The processor 301 may be a single electronic circuit or a combination of a plurality of electronic circuits. The processor 301 executes various programs loaded from the storage device 311 to the main memory 302. The programs executed by the processor 301 include various application programs such as an operating system (OS) 322 and a communication application 321.

  An operating system (OS) 322 is software for controlling the entire smartphone 3.

  The communication application 321 is a program for exchanging characters with other electronic devices. The communication application 321 and the like will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

  The graphics processor 303 is a display controller that controls the display unit 305. The graphics processor 103 generates a video signal for displaying video on the display unit 305.

  The touch screen display 304 includes a display unit 305 and an input unit 306.

  A display unit 305 is a display for displaying video, and can display video input from the graphics processor 303.

  The input unit 306 is a touch panel and can output coordinate information of a user's contact location with a finger or the like to the processor 301. Further, the input unit 306 is transparent and is provided to overlap the display unit 305.

  Next, the communication application will be described in detail.

  As described above, the smartphone 3 has a rich character input function called the SW keyboard, but the STB 1 and the remote controller 2 basically cannot input characters other than numbers. Therefore, when exchanging characters (dialogue / communication), in the general configuration, the user on the smartphone 3 side can sufficiently convey the intention by inputting characters using the SW keyboard. It is difficult for the user to transmit the intention by inputting characters. Therefore, the communication applications 121 and 321 of the STB 1 and the smartphone 3 according to the present embodiment have a configuration described below and can exchange characters with each other by operating.

  First, the functional configuration of the STB 1 and the smartphone 3 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration related to a smartphone and STB communication application.

  The communication application 321 of the smartphone 3 has a function of associating an image with a message and a comment and transmitting the image, the message, and the comment to the STB 1 communication application 121 via the server 5. The message here is text information that is associated with one or more images and is directed from the user of the smartphone 3 to the user of the STB 1. A comment is associated with one or a plurality of images, and is text information from the user of STB 1 toward the user of smartphone 3. Since the STB1 does not have rich character input means, the user of the smartphone 3 is a candidate for a character group (comment) that the user of the STB1 wants to convey to the user of the smartphone 3 in advance (for example, “I saw it” Ne "etc.) is transmitted to the creation / STB 1 and the user of the STB 1 is selected by a simple input means. Thereby, the user of the STB 1 can convey information / impression (comment) that the user wants to convey when viewing the image to the user of the smartphone 3.

  The communication application 321 includes an image selection unit 322 and a character reception unit 323.

  The image selection unit 322 has a function of selecting an image to be transmitted to the STB 1. The image selection unit 322 displays a predetermined UI (User Interface) on the display unit 305 and allows the user to select an image to be transmitted. The image may be captured by the camera 314 or stored in the storage device 311.

  The character receiving unit 323 has a function of receiving a message and a comment (character group) input from the user using the SW keyboard (input unit 306).

  The communication application 321 has a function of transmitting an image selected by the user and an input message / comment to an external device by the wireless communication unit 312. Images and messages / comments are transmitted to the STB 1 via the server 5.

  The wireless communication unit 112 of the STB 1 receives these images and messages / comments from the server 5.

  The communication application 121 of the STB 1 has a presentation unit 123 and a selection reception unit 124.

  When the communication application 121 of the STB 1 receives an image and a message / comment via the wireless communication unit 112, the presentation unit 123 causes the display unit of the TV 4 to display them (present to the user) via the HDMI interface unit 114.

  When an image and a message / comment are displayed on the display unit of the TV 4, when the user selects one of the comments using the remote controller 2, the selection reception unit 124 receives the comment, and the communication application 121 includes the wireless communication unit 112. The image identification information (ID: Identification) and the comment selected for the image are transmitted via the. At this time, the character information itself may be transmitted as the comment, or only the identification information corresponding to the comment may be transmitted.

  The smartphone 3 receives the image information and comment information transmitted by the STB 1 and displays them to the user. Thereby, the smartphone 3 and the user of STB 1 can exchange characters.

  The communication application 321 of the smartphone 3 and the communication application 121 of the STB 1 may be installed in each device at the time of initial shipment. For example, the communication application 321 may be downloaded and installed from the server 5 after shipment. Also good.

  Next, various processes in the present embodiment will be described with reference to examples of display screens.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an image selection screen on the smartphone according to the present embodiment.

  When the image selection unit 322 of the communication application 321 of the smartphone 3 causes the user to select an image, the display unit 305 displays an image selection screen 610 as shown in FIG.

  The image selection screen 610 displays a transmission candidate image 601, a message 602 in each image, a “select photo” button 603, an “edit message” button 604, and an “edit comment” button 605.

  The image 601 is an image of a candidate for transmission to the STB 1, and in each of the images 601, a message 602 that is character information directed from the smartphone 3 user to the STB 1 user is displayed in the vicinity.

  On the image selection screen 610, one or a plurality of images can be selected simultaneously. When the user directly taps (touches with a finger) the image 601, one tapped image is selected. When the user taps the “select photo” button 603 and then the user taps the plurality of images 601, the plurality of images 601 are displayed. Selected at the same time.

  When the user taps the “edit message” button 604 in a state where the single / plural images 601 are selected, the message 602 can be edited for the selected images. Although not shown, an SW keyboard is displayed on the display unit 305 in the message 602 input screen, and the user can easily input characters using the SW keyboard.

  Further, when the user taps the “edit comment” button 605 in a state where the single / plural images 601 are selected, the comment can be edited for the selected image. The comment editing screen will be described with reference to FIGS.

  If a message or a comment is edited while a plurality of images 601 are selected as described above, the same message or comment is associated with the selected images 601 at once.

  7 and 8 are conceptual diagrams illustrating an example of a comment editing screen on the smartphone according to the present embodiment.

  When the user taps the “edit comment” button 605 in FIG. 6, the screen is switched to the comment edit screen 710 in FIG. 7.

  On the comment edit screen 710, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) comment input fields 701 are displayed. The user can edit the characters in the comment input field 701 for each of the comments 1 to 4. For example, when the user taps the comment edit field 701 of comment 3 in which “tap and edit comment” is described, the SW keyboard 801 is displayed on the display unit 305 as shown in FIG. Thus, a comment (character information) can be entered in the comment edit field 701.

  Note that, by default, characters such as “Look” and “Like” are displayed in some / all comment edit fields 701 before the user input, and the user may be able to change them. The comment editing field 701 may be mounted with no character information input by default.

  When an image, a message, and a comment are selected / input on the smartphone 3 on the screens of FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the smartphone 3 sends this information to the STB 1 via the server 5. Next, a display example of a screen displayed on the TV 4 in order for the STB 1 that has received such information to cause the user to select a comment will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a comment selection screen on the display unit of the TV displayed by the STB in the present embodiment.

  The STB 1 can receive an image, a message, and a comment, and can display a comment selection screen 910 on the display unit 401 of the TV 4 via the HDMI cable.

  On the comment selection screen 910, a remote control display unit 901, an image 902, a message 903, a comment 904, and the like are displayed.

  The remote control display unit 901 displays an image having the same key arrangement as that of the remote control 2, and can present a currently selectable item to the user by, for example, a color scheme, color shading or shadow.

  The image 902 displays an image received by the STB 1, and a message 903 that is a received message is displayed near the image 902.

  In the comment 904, a number is assigned to each received comment and displayed. The user of the STB 1 can select words (characters) to be transmitted to the user of the smartphone 3 from these comments, and the selected comment is transmitted to the smartphone 3. A number is assigned to the comment 904, and the user of the STB 1 can select a reply comment by pressing the corresponding number with the remote controller. Thus, the STB 1 user can select a comment without taking time and effort with a simple input means such as the remote controller 2 (character input is not highly functional). The screen selected on the comment selection screen 910 is transmitted to the smartphone 3 via the server.

  Finally, the flow of processing between devices will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a process flow in the smartphone, the server, and the STB in the present embodiment.

  First, when the user of the smartphone 3 communicates with the user of the STB 1 using the communication application 321, the communication application 321 of the smartphone 3 first selects an image using the image selection unit 322, and the character reception unit 323 uses the SW keyboard to select characters. An input of a group (message and comment) is accepted (S101).

  Next, the communication application 321 transmits an image, a message, and a comment to the server 5 (S102).

  The server 5 transfers the received image, message, and comment to the target STB 1 (S103).

  When the image, message, and comment are received from the server 5, the presentation unit 123 of the STB 1 displays (presents) the image, message, and comment to the user on the comment selection screen 910 (S104).

  Next, the selection receiving unit 124 of the STB 1 receives a selection of a comment from the user (S105). In the present embodiment, the number of selected comments is exemplified as one, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of comments may be selected.

  Upon receiving a comment selection from the user, the communication application 121 of the STB 1 transmits the image ID and the selected comment to the server 5 (S106). In this embodiment, the image ID and the comment are transmitted. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image itself and the ID assigned to the comment may be transmitted, or another combination may be used.

  The server 5 transfers the received image ID and comment to the target smartphone 3 (S107).

  Finally, the smartphone 3 displays the received image ID and comment to the user (S108).

  As described above, a device such as the smartphone 3 having an input unit that can easily input characters creates and transmits a reply candidate comment, and the input unit is simple like STB 1 and character input is possible. It is possible to easily exchange characters (conversations / communications) between users even with devices that are not suitable for the user.

  In other words, a device that is easy to input characters can create and send a reply candidate comment to a device that is relatively difficult to input characters, thereby making it possible to more easily exchange characters. .

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... STB, 2 ... Remote control, 3 ... Smartphone, 4 ... TV, 5 ... Server, 6 ... Network, 10 ... Communication system, 610 ... Image selection screen, 710 ... Comment edit screen, 910 ... Comment selection screen.

Claims (8)

A system having a first electronic device and a second electronic device,
The first electronic device includes:
A selection means for selecting an image;
An input means capable of inputting characters;
Accepting means for accepting input of a plurality of reply character groups associated with the image selected by the selecting means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the selected image and the plurality of reply character groups;
Comprising
The second electronic device is
Receiving means for receiving the image and a plurality of reply character groups;
Presenting means for presenting the image and a plurality of reply character groups to the user;
Receiving means for receiving selection of one or more character groups from the plurality of character groups for reply;
Transmitting means for transmitting one or more character groups selected by the accepting means;
System comprising The first electronic device includes:
Receiving means for receiving one or more character groups transmitted by the second electronic device;
Presenting means for presenting the received character group to the user;
The system of claim 1 comprising: The transmission means of the second electronic device transmits information about the image associated with the character group together with the one or more character groups,
The receiving means of the first electronic device receives one or more character groups transmitted by the electronic device and information about the image,
The system according to claim 2, wherein the presentation unit of the first electronic device presents the received character group together with the image to the user.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the presentation unit of the second electronic device presents an image imitating an input device of the second device together with the image and the plurality of reply character groups. A receiving unit of the first electronic device receives an input of a character group different from the plurality of reply character groups;
The transmission means of the first electronic device transmits a character group different from the character group for reply,
The system according to claim 1, wherein the presenting means of the second electronic device presents the character group different from the character group for reply and the image. The second electronic device comprises input means,
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the input means of the first electronic device is easier to input characters than the input means of the second electronic device. A communication method between a first electronic device and a second electronic device,
The first electronic device includes:
Select an image,
A plurality of reply character groups input by input means capable of inputting characters, and accepting input of the plurality of reply character groups associated with the selected image;
Transmitting the selected image and the plurality of reply character groups;
The second electronic device is
Receiving the image and a plurality of reply character groups;
Presenting the image and a plurality of reply character groups to the user,
Accepting selection of one or more character groups from among the plurality of reply character groups,
A communication method for transmitting the selected one or more character groups. A selection means for selecting an image;
An input means for inputting a plurality of reply character groups associated with the image selected by the selection means;
An electronic apparatus comprising: the transmission unit configured to transmit the selected image and the plurality of reply character groups.

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