JP2954094B2 - Remote terminal controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a remote terminal control device for performing remote control on a remote terminal connected to an ISDN line by electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic mail is generally used as a communication means including a report and a communication to a person. On the other hand, a remote maintenance device that uses an e-mail for remote maintenance instead of merely using it as a communication means has been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-233493, and a remote maintenance device using the e-mail has been proposed. In addition, both the controlling side and the controlled side have a function of transmitting and receiving electronic mail. On the other hand, Japanese Utility Model 4-076758
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 10-125, a remote control device using ISDN is proposed. According to this, a device connected to the ISDN line is remotely controlled by using a user / user information element of an ISDN call setup (SETUP) message. In this case, the device is controlled by the controlling side. ISDN terminal is installed on the side.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional remote control device, the ISDN
In order to remotely control a remote terminal at a remote location connected to a line, control is performed so that remote control can often be performed only from a specific terminal connected to the ISDN or a specific location. There is a problem that the side and the controlled side must be in an environment having the same communication means. The reason is that it is necessary to prepare a call control message specific to ISDN and a special ISDN device in which both the controlling side and the controlled side support the same technology. Also, as described above, even with the remote maintenance device using electronic mail, there has been a problem that a device capable of transmitting and receiving electronic mail must be prepared for both the controlling side and the controlling side.

According to the present invention, a remote terminal can be remotely controlled via a remote ISDN device, and the remote terminal can transmit and receive e-mail without preparing the same communication means and device on the controlling side and the controlled side. An object of the present invention is to obtain a remote terminal control device that can be realized at low cost by simple and versatile means of transmission.

[0005]

To achieve the above object,
An electronic mail transmitting apparatus for setting and transmitting control information for a remote terminal in electronic mail message information according to a predetermined rule, and an electronic mail transmitting apparatus according to the present invention. And an electronic mail receiving device for receiving the electronic mail transmitted from the electronic mail and extracting the electronic mail information including the control information. The ISDN terminal includes a specific information element in the call setup message of the ISDN protocol in the electronic mail. The message information is set, and the ISDMN device with the remote terminal control function is
The control information notified from the SDN terminal using the specific information element in the call setup message of the ISDN protocol is received and analyzed, and the remote terminal executes the control based on the control information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote terminal control apparatus wherein the electronic mail transmitting apparatus and the electronic mail receiving apparatus are connected to each other via the Internet.

The remote terminal control device according to the third aspect of the present invention is the remote terminal control device with the ISDN having the remote terminal control function.
A device for analyzing a specific information element in the call setting message notified from the ISDN terminal to extract message information, and a message information output circuit for analyzing the message information output from the message information output circuit, and A remote terminal control information output circuit for outputting control information of the ISD, and an ISD based on the control information output from the remote terminal control information output circuit.
And a remote terminal control information execution circuit for controlling a remote terminal connected via the N line.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an e-mail transmission device for creating and transmitting an e-mail;
Reference numeral 200 denotes the Internet as a path for transmitting the e-mail, and 300 denotes an e-mail receiving device for receiving the e-mail transmitted via the Internet 200 and extracting the message information. Further, 350 designates the electronic mail information extracted by the electronic mail
Set in SDN messages and information elements, ISDN
ISDN terminal controlling protocol, 400 is ISDN
ISDN for transmitting and receiving messages from terminal 350
Line. Reference numeral 500 denotes an ISD with a remote terminal control function for receiving a call setup (SET UP) message (including message information) transmitted from the ISDN terminal 350.
The N device 550 is a remote terminal that interfaces with the ISDN device 500 with a remote terminal control function, receives control information, and executes control.

Further, the IS with remote terminal control function
As shown in FIG. 2, the DN device 500 analyzes a specific information element in the call setup message notified from the ISDN terminal 350, and extracts a message information to output a message information output circuit 5
00A, a remote terminal control information output circuit 500B that analyzes the message information output from the message information output circuit 500A and outputs control information in the message information, and a control output from the remote terminal control information output circuit 500B. It comprises a remote terminal control information execution circuit 500C for controlling a remote terminal 550 connected via the ISDN line 400 based on the information.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. First, the user 10 activates software for transmitting an e-mail using the e-mail transmission device 100 having an e-mail transmission function. The e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address for the e-mail receiving device 300 using the activated e-mail software. At this time, control information for the remote terminal 550 is set in the electronic mail message information using a format defined between the remote terminal 550 and the ISDN device 500 having a remote terminal control function. Also, the e-mail receiving device 300 that receives the e-mail has a registration such that when an e-mail corresponding to a predetermined e-mail address is received, the e-mail is transmitted to the ISDN device 500 with a remote terminal control function on the ISDN line. Keep it.

Next, an e-mail receiving apparatus 300 that has received an e-mail addressed to the determined e-mail address
Issues a transmission command to the ISDN terminal 350 so as to transmit to the registered destination address (the telephone number of the ISDN device 500 with a remote terminal control function) on the registered ISDN line. In this transmission command, message information including remote terminal control information for controlling the remote terminal 550 described in the received e-mail is notified together. The ISDN terminal 350 uses the destination address and the message information notified by the transmission command to send the ISDN
Generate a call setup message for the protocol. At this time, the message information is set in the call setup message using information elements such as a user / user information element or a sub-address information element.

ISDN device 5 with remote terminal control function
00, when a call setting message is received through the ISDN line 400, the message information output circuit 500A extracts the message information from the information elements in the call setting message, and further, the remote terminal control information output circuit 500B outputs the message information. To obtain control information for the remote terminal 550. Further, the remote terminal control information execution circuit 500C notifies the obtained control information to the remote terminal 550, and executes predetermined control based on the control information notified to the remote terminal 550.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart when the ISDN terminal 350 issues an outgoing command from the e-mail receiving device 300. If there is an outgoing command (step S351), a message is sent to the outgoing command. It is determined whether the information is set (step S35).
2) Only when the message information has been set, the process of copying the message information to an information element (for example, a user / user information element) in the call setting is executed (step S35).
3). Here, as for the method of setting the message information in the transmission command, the ISDN terminal defines a method of placing the message information in the command format of the transmission command, such as a user / user information element or a sub-address information element, and uses the information to determine the method. Make settings for the element. Subsequently, a call setting transmission process is executed (step S35).
4). If there is no message information in step S352, other processing is executed (step S355).

FIG. 5 shows an ISD with a remote terminal control function.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the N device 500 receives a message (call setting) of the ISDN protocol. According to this, first, when a call setting message is received (step S501), it is determined whether or not message information is set in the call setting message (step S50).
2) Only when the message information has been set, the message information is extracted from the information element (for example, user / user information element) in the call setting message (step S503), and then the control information of the remote terminal is extracted from the message information. Extract and output (step S504). Predetermined control is executed using the control information extracted in this manner (step S505).

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram when the present invention is applied to a video recorder for home use. Here, it is assumed that the Internet provider 360 supports the functions of the e-mail receiving device 300 and the ISDN terminal 350 in FIG. First, the user 10
An e-mail is transmitted to an e-mail address registered in advance with the Internet provider 390 using a commercially available general-purpose e-mail transmission device 100 such as a personal computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA). At this time, a G code which is control information for the home video 551 is set in the e-mail.

By transmitting an electronic mail including such a G code, the G code can be notified to the home video 551. The home video 551 and the ISDN device with remote terminal control function 500 can be connected using any interface (for example, a serial interface, infrared, wireless, etc.), and have a function of transmitting and receiving information to and from each other. The operation mode of the home video 551 that has received the G code is set so as to record a television program corresponding to the code. In this way, it is possible to set the absence recording of the video from a remote place.

Further, as another embodiment, the ISDN device 500 with a remote terminal control function by e-mail is unnecessary without requiring a special remote terminal such as the remote terminal 550 in FIG. 1 or the home video 551 in FIG. Can also be controlled. For example, A as control information
T command (ISDN device 5 with remote terminal control function)
By sending an E-mail (a control command for controlling 00) by electronic mail, it is possible to change various setting data of the ISDN device 500 with a remote terminal control function (for example, to register a speed dial).

Further, regarding remote control by e-mail, a password is set in advance in the ISDN device 500 with a remote terminal control function, and the password is described in the message information in the e-mail as well as mere control information. Thus, when control information is received, security can be strengthened, such as performing control only when the passwords match, instead of performing control unconditionally. In addition to checking with a password, there are security measures by identifying the sender of an e-mail.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, a remote terminal can be remotely controlled via an ISDN device at a remote location, and the same communication can be performed between the controlling side and the controlled side. Without preparing any means or devices, it is a simple and versatile means of sending e-mail,
It can be realized at low cost and without choosing a device or a place. In other words, as means for sending e-mail, corporate LAN (including intranet), the Internet, and personal computer communication are used, but devices that can handle e-mail are not only desktop personal computers but also notebook computers. Miniaturized and portable devices such as portable personal computers and portable information devices can be used. As for the connection method, not only general telephone lines but also various methods such as dedicated lines, ISDN lines, mobile phones, and PHSs are provided.
It is being developed nationwide, and by using this environment, simple remote control of a specific remote terminal is possible anywhere in the country.

Further, according to the present invention, when transmitting control information on the ISDN line, the call setup message of the ISDN protocol is mainly used, so that it is not necessary to keep the ISDN line in communication. , Economical system construction and operation become possible. Since the ISDN line does not need to be in communication, the line can be effectively used, and communication costs can be reduced, which is economical. Further, the method of using the terminal is an ISDN specializing in the remote control of the present invention.
If the circuit design of the device is performed, the controlled ISDN device does not need a circuit during communication, so that the circuit design can be simplified and the price of the terminal (ISDN device) can be reduced. become.

Further, according to the present invention, since the control information for the remote terminal can be transmitted as character information, the operability is good and it is easy to apply to various uses. In other words, if the control information is represented by character information, and the visibility of the control information is good and easy to understand, it is easy to find an error in the control information even when describing the control information by e-mail. In addition, not only numbers, but also alphabets and, in some cases, Japanese (such as Hiragana / Kanji) can be used, so that the method of expressing control information is abundant, and there is an advantage that the range of application is widened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a remote terminal control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an IS with a remote terminal control function in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating details of a DN device.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of operation of each unit of the remote terminal control device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a mail notification procedure of the ISDN terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an IS with a remote terminal control function in FIG. 1;
It is a flowchart which shows the call setup message receiving procedure of a DN apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of each section of a remote terminal control device that performs remote control when the present invention is applied to home video recording.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 e-mail transmission device 200 internet 300 e-mail reception device 350 ISDN terminal 400 ISDN line 500 ISDN device with remote terminal control function 550 remote terminal

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-5-233493 (JP, A) JP-A-10-247345 (JP, A) JP-A-10-289205 (JP, A) JP-A-10- 308983 (JP, A) JP-A-10-320033 (JP, A) JP-A-5-207055 (JP, A) JP-A-3-214853 (JP, A) JP-A-2-241293 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04M 11/00-11/10 H04Q 9/00-9/16

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic mail transmitting device for setting and transmitting control information for a remote terminal in electronic mail message information according to a predetermined rule, and receiving an electronic mail transmitted from the electronic mail transmitting device. An electronic mail receiving device for extracting electronic message information including the control information, an ISDN terminal for setting electronic message information in the electronic mail in a specific information element in a call setup message of an ISDN protocol, and an ISDN protocol from the ISDN terminal. IS having a remote terminal control function for receiving and analyzing the control information notified using the specific information element in the call setup message of the above, and causing the remote terminal to execute control based on the control information
A remote terminal control device comprising a DN device. 2. The remote terminal control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic mail transmitting device and the electronic mail receiving device are connected via the Internet. 3. The ISDN with a remote terminal control function.
A device configured to analyze a specific information element in the call setting message notified from the ISDN terminal to extract the message information; and to analyze the message information output from the message information output circuit, and analyze the message information. Remote terminal control information output circuit for outputting the control information of the remote terminal control information output circuit for controlling the remote terminal connected via the ISDN line based on the control information output from the remote terminal control information output circuit The remote terminal control device according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit.