JP3057789B2 - Control information creation device and control information creation method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention automatically forms an effective system commander as a device operating means in a bus system in which a plurality of devices are connected by a bidirectional bus .
And a control information creating method .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today, many electronic devices such as AV devices and air conditioners use control information (hereinafter, referred to as infrared) .
Although it can be operated by a remote commander that outputs a command signal) , each device is usually provided with a dedicated remote commander and cannot be operated by other remote commanders. That is,
Various types of electronic devices employ command signals of a specific format that differs depending on the manufacturer and model, and command signals of other formats are not accepted as operation control information by the electronic device.

For this reason, the user must operate various remote commanders, such as a commander for a television monitor, a commander for a VTR, and a commander for an air conditioner, for example, and the operability is rather deteriorated.

On the other hand, a remote commander having a so-called learning function capable of storing command signals of other formats has been proposed, and a user can use command signals output from a plurality of remote commanders to learn the learning function. By storing the information in the attached remote commander, various electronic devices can be operated by one or a small number of remote commanders.

[0005]

By the way, in order to effectively use the remote commander with the learning function, the user must store in advance the command signal corresponding to each device in the remote commander with the learning function. However, the operation of storing the command signal is complicated, and cannot be executed without some knowledge of each electronic device.

In other words, in order for a remote commander with a learning function to perform a learning operation, the user must understand the type, maker, connection form, function, etc. of the electronic device possessed by each user, and then use the remote commander with the learning function. The learning operation must be performed accurately, and for example, it is very difficult for a person unfamiliar with electronic equipment to use the electronic device. Therefore, there is a problem that the advantages of the remote commander with the learning function cannot be used.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention is to automatically form a commander operable for each device in a bus system in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected via a bidirectional bus. That is, the command signal of a predetermined format corresponding to all or some of a plurality of devices in the bus system is automatically learned by a remote commander, and a commander corresponding to the system is automatically formed. Control information creation device
And a method for creating control information .

[0008] That is, it is possible to exchange information with each device in the bus system and exchange information with the operation control unit of the commander by being interposed between a bus system in which a plurality of devices are connected by a bidirectional bus and a commander. And the control information creation device (or control information
Command operation information recognizing means for recognizing a type of command operation enabled by a commander for executing a learning operation according to the method of creation , and devices in the bus system
, Required creation information as information for creating the control information. <br/> Creation information searching means for requesting creation information, and control information (command signal in various formats) corresponding to various operation functions of various devices of various manufacturers. ) and database means for holding, obtained by the command operation information analysis unit
And, command operations commander for executing the learning operation information, and control information corresponding to the predetermined command operation based on the control information creation information for each device in the resulting the bus system by creating information retrieval means Control information retrieval means for retrieving from database means, and
A control information writing unit that stores control information corresponding to a certain command operation read by the control information search unit in a storage unit of the commander in association with the command operation, and configures a control information creation device . I do.

[0009]

Since information about each device connected as a bus system can be detected by a bidirectional bus, a database in which control information applied to various devices is stored based on the obtained information on each device. By searching for, the corresponding control information can be read out, and if this is stored in correspondence with the command operation (operation key) of the commander, the complicated sliding operation of the commander that was complicated can be automatically achieved. Will be done.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an example of a home bus system in which a plurality of devices are systematically connected by a bidirectional control bus, 1 is a TV tuner, 2 is a satellite broadcast tuner, 3 is a first VTR, 4 Is a second VTR, 5 is a video disc player, 6 is FM /
AM tuner, 7 is a tape cassette player, 8 is a CD
Players and 9 are DAT players. Each device serving as a signal source of these video signals or audio signals is connected to a television monitor device 12 and a speaker device unit 13 via an AV selector 10 or an audio amplifier selector 11, and A signal or an audio signal can be supplied. A system controller mounted on each of these devices is connected to each other by a bidirectional control bus (hereinafter simply referred to as a bus) B so that control information necessary for system operation and the like can be transmitted and received.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a book connected via a bus B in order to automatically form a system commander capable of operating each device corresponding to such a home bus system.
An automatic creation device corresponding to the control information creation device of the invention.
The remote commander 30 connected to the automatic creation device 20 automatically learns the command so that it can output a command signal corresponding to all or some of the devices in the home bus system. The operation is performed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic creation device 20
U, a program ROM, a work RAM, and a control unit 21 constituted by a microcomputer including an interface unit; an interface unit 22 between the control unit 21 and the bus B of the home bus system; Interface unit 23 with remote commander 30 connected to device 20
And a database 24.

The database 24 contains various manufacturer names,
In accordance with the model name of the electronic device, the data of the format of the command signal employed in the device and the command signal code as the actual control information corresponding to the operation function in the electronic device are stored as the correspondence table data. It is remembered.

The control unit 21 includes a creation information search unit 2 as a software function unit formed in hardware of a CPU, a program ROM, and a work RAM.
1a, an operation information recognition unit 21b, a command signal search unit 21c, and a command signal writing unit 21d are provided.

The created information searching means 21a makes a request for providing information necessary for the automatic learning operation of the remote commander 30 (hereinafter referred to as "request") to each device in the home bus via the interface unit 22, and makes the request. Information (hereinafter referred to as answer) from the device that received the response. Then, when performing the automatic learning operation of the remote commander 30, a request for information such as a manufacturer name and a model name of the device is made to each device. In addition, a connection service in the home bus system is checked as described later.

The operation information recognizing means 21b receives, via the interface unit 23, information on the type of command operation for which the remote commander 30 is enabled from the control unit of the remote commander 30. The remote commander 30 is usually provided with a large number of operation keys,
Each operation key has a specific operation content (for example, VTR playback, TV
ON), the command operation information generally obtained by the operation information recognition means 21b corresponds to the type of operation key provided on the remote commander 30. However, the remote commander 30 having a learning function is usually provided with two types, a category key and a function key. By switching the category key, each function key can correspond to a plurality of devices. Although there are many such operations, in this case, various operations realized by the combination of the prepared category key and function key are command operations possible for the remote commander 30, and the operation information recognizing means 21b stores the command operation information and Supplied and supplied.

When the automatic creation device 20 is formed as a dedicated machine corresponding to a specific remote commander,
The operation information recognizing means 21b may be constituted by a ROM in which the types of command operations of the remote commander are stored in advance. In addition, even if it is not a dedicated machine, it holds information of a predetermined type of command operation (which does not necessarily completely match the type of command operation enabled by the connected remote commander). However, no significant inconvenience occurs. In other words, a command operation for which no operation key is provided is not learned by the automatic creation device 20, but does not affect the learning operation of other command operations.

The command signal searching means 21c searches the database 24 based on the answer to a certain device obtained by the creation information searching means 21a and the command operation information of the remote commander 30 obtained by the operation information recognizing means 21b. A specific command signal corresponding to a predetermined command operation (that is, operation of a predetermined operation key or operation of a combination of a predetermined category key and a function key) in the remote commander 30 is obtained.

The command signal writing means 21d supplies a command signal corresponding to a predetermined command operation obtained by the command signal retrieving means 21c together with the corresponding command operation to the remote commander 30 via the interface unit 23. An operation of storing the operation and the command signal in association with each other is performed.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 3, operation keys are prepared as the remote commander 30 connected to the automatic creation apparatus 20 configured as described above via the interface unit 23, and as shown in FIG. It is configured.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 denotes a category key. For example, a TV key, a DAT key, and the like are provided corresponding to each device in the home bus system. Reference numeral 32 denotes a function key, which is an operation key for executing actual operation functions of various devices. In the case of this remote commander 30, each function key 32
Generates a command signal for the device selected by the category key 31, that is, the type of command signal that can be actually output (that is, the type of command operation described above) is (number of category keys) × (function Number of keys).

Reference numeral 33 denotes an infrared output unit for outputting an infrared command signal; 34, a transmission indicator (LED) that is lit when an infrared command signal is transmitted; and 35, a category key (ie, an operation target) which is currently selected. Device indicator (LED) to display the device
Reference numeral 36 denotes an input / output terminal unit connected to the interface unit 23 of the automatic creation device 20 for exchanging data.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 37 denotes a control unit formed by a microcomputer; 38, a storage unit for storing command operations and command signals in association with each other;
The control unit 37 performs an operation of searching the storage unit 38 and outputting a command signal. That is, the operation target device is selected by the category key 31 and the function key 32 is selected.
Is operated, one command operation by the combination of the category key 31 and the function key 32 is input to the control unit 37 via the key matrix circuit 39. Here, the control unit 37 searches the storage unit 38. To obtain an actual command signal code corresponding to the input command operation. This is supplied to the infrared output section 33 to be modulated into an infrared signal and output. At the same time, lighting control of the transmission indicator 34 is performed. For the selected device indicator 35, the LE of the category key operated together with the operation of the category key 31 is displayed.
D lighting control is performed.

The control unit 37 is provided with the interface unit 3
6a, data can be exchanged with the control unit 21 of the automatic creation device 20. When the remote commander 30 is connected to the automatic creation device 20 via the input / output terminal unit 36, the remote commander 30 is compatible with the home bus system. The learning operation is automatically performed as a remote commander. That is, the control unit 37 controls the interface unit 36
The command operation and the command signal input through “a” are stored in the storage unit 38 in association with each other.
When the command operation is performed by the function key 1 and the function key 32, the stored command signal is output, that is, a so-called learning function is provided.

If the automatic creation device 20 is configured exclusively for the remote commander 30 and the automatic creation device 20 has already grasped the command operations that can be performed on the remote commander 30, the automatic creation device 20 is particularly controlled by the remote commander 30. There is no need to output data on the type of command operation to the.

The automatic creation operation suitable for the home bus system by the automatic creation device 20 of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It is assumed that the remote commander 30 described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 is connected as a remote commander to be created by the automatic creation device 20.

First, the automatic creation device 20 makes a request for each device in the home bus system via the bus B by the function of the creation information search means 21a and receives an answer (F101). ). As a result, it is possible to determine the types of all devices such as the TV tuner 1 and the satellite broadcast tuner 2 connected to the system.

Here, in the operation information recognition means 21b, information indicating the type of command operation of the connected remote commander 30 is obtained from the remote commander 30, or the type of command operation of the remote commander 30 is indicated in advance. Since the information is stored, when the type of the device in the system is determined, it is made to correspond to the command operation related to the operation of the specific category key 31 (F102). That is, when the TV key is selected in the category key 31, each function key 32
, The TV tuner 1 operates, and when the BS key is selected, the operation of each function key 32 causes the satellite broadcast tuner 2 to operate. In this example, the TV tuners 1 to D
The category keys corresponding to the devices up to the AT player 9 are prepared in the remote commander 30, so that the command signals corresponding to these devices can be learned.

Thereafter, the learning operation of the command signal is sequentially performed for the devices (TV tuners 1 to DAT player 9) corresponding to each category key 31. That is, first, a request for a maker name and a model name is made to the learning target device by the function of the creation information search means 21a, and the answer is received. When the maker name and the model name are determined, the function of the command signal search means 21c searches the database 24 based on the maker name and the model name, so that when the category key 31 corresponding to the device is selected, each function is selected. Using the key 32, it is determined in what signal format and which command signal code should be output (F103).

Here, each device does not have an operation function for all the function keys 32 prepared in the remote commander 30. For example, TV tuner 1
For, the numeric keypad, volume key, and power key for channel selection are effective, but other keys are unnecessary. For this reason, the function of the creation information search means 21a makes a request regarding the operation function to the corresponding device, receives an answer, and determines a command signal to be written to the remote commander 30 based on the request (F104). Then, the command signal writing means 21d associates each command signal requiring writing with each command operation (that is, an operation related to pressing of the function key 32 when the associated category key 31 is selected). Is supplied to the control unit 37 of the remote commander 30 and written into the storage unit 38 (F105). For example, currently TV tuner 1
When the command signal learning operation corresponding to the TV key of the category key 31 is performed, only the command signals related to the numeric keypad, volume key, and power key searched based on the manufacturer name and model name of the TV tuner 1 are transmitted. It is supplied to the remote commander 30 and stored in correspondence with the operation of the numeric keypad, volume key, and power key when the TV key is operated.

The command signal learning operation is not performed for command operations relating to unnecessary keys other than those described above. Therefore, even if a key relating to a recording operation is pressed when the TV key is selected with the category key, for example, infrared rays are not transmitted. Although no command signal is generated, when the infrared command signal is not generated, the transmission indicator 35 is not turned on, so that the user understands that the operated key is an unnecessary key, and the user may be confused by the operation. Never do.

The above-described operations from step F103 to step F105 are executed for all devices associated with the category key 31 in step F102, and a command signal required for all corresponding devices is selected by each category key 31. The data is written into the storage unit 38 in correspondence with each of the function keys 32 at the time of the operation (F106).

By the way, in the home bus system of this embodiment, each device as a video signal source or an audio signal source from the TV tuner 1 to the DAT player 9 receives:
When the video signal or the audio signal is transmitted through the AV selector 10 to T
The audio signal is supplied to the V monitor device 12, and the audio signal is supplied to the speaker device unit 13 via the audio amplifier selector 11. Thus, for example, VT
Even if R3 is turned on, the AV selector 10
The input is switched to correspond to TR3, and
Unless the monitor device 12 is turned on, it is not possible to view the video reproduced by the VTR 3. That is, simply selecting the VTR1 key with the category key 31 on the remote commander 30 and performing a play operation with the function key 32 does not necessarily result in the reproduction of the VTR3.

Therefore, in the automatic creation apparatus 20 of this embodiment, system operations such as switching operation of the selectors 10 and 11 and power supply operation of the TV monitor device 12 are automatically controlled in accordance with the operation of each device. Check whether the connection service application is formed in (F
107). For example, when checking the VTR 3, a play command is supplied to the VTR 3 via the bus B. When the VTR 3 enters the play state, the signal path (VTR3 → AV selector 10 → TV monitor) is controlled by the operation control from the VTR 3 or the control operation of the system control device when the system control device is present in the home bus system. Apparatus 1
The presence or absence of a connection service can be detected by checking the status via the bus B as to whether or not 2) is formed.

In such a method, for example, a connection service check is first performed on the TV tuner 1, and if the connection service is not confirmed, a predetermined request is first transmitted via the bus B by the function of the creation information search means 21a. This is performed for necessary devices such as the tuner 1, the selector 10, the TV monitor device 12, and the like, and physical connection information (for example, the AV selector 10, the audio amplifier selector 11,
Input / output plug No. Input plug N of TV monitor device 12
o. etc.) as an answer (F109)
The selector 10 (and / or the audio amplifier selector 11) and the manufacturer name and model name of the TV monitor device 12 are requested and an answer is received (F110). If the manufacturer name and model name are checked, the signal format of the command signal and the command signal code for the input / output switching operation can be determined by searching the database 24 by the function of the command signal search means 21c. The function of the writing means 21d is stored in the storage unit 38 of the remote commander 30 in association with the category key 31 corresponding to the TV tuner 1 (F111).

When a TV key among the category keys 31 is pressed on the remote commander 30, a signal path from the TV tuner 1 is generated from the remote commander 30 to the AV selector 10 and the TV monitor device 12. Thus, an infrared command signal is output, that is, the connection service operation of the home bus system is executed by a command from the remote commander 30. Needless to say, if the connection service exists, this learning operation is not necessary (F108
→ F112).

The learning operation of the remote commander 30 is completed when the operations of steps F107 to F111 are executed for all devices corresponding to the category key 31 (F
112), the remote commander 30 is created as a remote commander that can output an infrared command signal in conformity with the home bus system constructed by various electronic devices of various manufacturers.

The remote commander 30 is provided with a dubbing key 32a. When the dubbing key 32a is pressed, the device selected by the category key 31 is used as a signal source when the dubbing key 32a is pressed. An operation key for recording or recording on the device selected by the category key 31, and an all-off key 32
Reference numeral b denotes an operation key for turning off the power of all devices. Even when such a special operation key is prepared, one or a plurality of corresponding command signals are stored in the storage unit 38. You can do so.

As described above, the automatic creation device 20 of this embodiment
Automatically executes a learning operation for forming a remote commander suitable for the system, so that the user does not need to perform a complicated remote commander learning operation, and in particular, a large number of devices as shown in FIG. It is suitable for a large-scale system.

Also, for the necessary connection service, the remote commander 30 outputs an infrared command signal corresponding to the category key 31 to control the operation, so that the connection service control by the devices in the system is not executed. Even in some cases, the inconvenience of the user performing the connection switching operation is eliminated, so that the user who is unfamiliar with the device operation can fully use the device.

Note that the remote commander for which the learning operation is performed by the automatic creation device 20 of the present embodiment does not necessarily need to have a category key corresponding to all devices in the home bus system. If the remote commander has a learning function and has a function of inputting data from the automatic creation device 20, the automatic learning operation is performed within a range that can correspond to a category.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the automatic creation device 20
And the remote commander 30 are configured separately,
The automatic creation device may be configured to be built in the remote commander. That is, the remote commander 4 shown in FIG.
As shown as 0, in the control unit 37A for controlling the command signal output operation corresponding to the key operation and the learning operation for the storage unit 38, a control having the same function as the control unit 21 in the automatic creation apparatus 20 in FIG. A part 21A is formed, and an interface unit 22A for the database 24A and the bus B is further provided. By incorporating the automatic creation device into the remote commander 40 in this way, the remote commander 4 can be connected to the home bus system only by connecting the remote commander 40 to the home bus system.
0 will be formed as a device compatible with the system.

Furthermore, the automatic creation device does not necessarily need to have a built-in database function. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 21B, the interface unit 22B, and the
Telephone line Te with interface unit 23B
, An interface unit 25B may be provided to communicate with a service center or the like via the telephone line Te so that the database 24B can be used.

By the way, as the remote commander in which the learning operation is performed by the automatic creation apparatus so as to be adapted to the system, if the operation keys are constituted by a liquid crystal touch panel as shown in FIG. It is. That is, in such a remote commander 50, as the category key 51 displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 51a is selected, as shown in FIGS.
Since only the function keys 52 required for 2b are displayed, it is easy for the user to understand the operations that can be performed on each device in the complicated system. When the category key 51 is displayed in liquid crystal, it is not necessary to provide a selection display indicator such as an LED, and the selection display may be performed by displaying a frame on the liquid crystal screen instead.

Although the above embodiment is directed to a system including only AV equipment, an air conditioner, a lighting device,
It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a system including various home appliances such as various communication devices. Also, as the commander in which the learning operation is performed by the automatic creation device, various types such as a radio wave type and a wired type other than the infrared type can be considered.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically form a commander that can be applied to all or some of a plurality of devices in a home bus system composed of various devices of various manufacturers. This has the effect of eliminating the need for the user to execute a difficult and complicated commander learning operation to create a system-compatible commander, which is particularly suitable for a large-scale system with a large number of electronic devices. There is an advantage that even a person unfamiliar with the above can easily operate the system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a home bus system having an automatic creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an automatic creation device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a remote commander on which an automatic learning operation is performed by the automatic creation device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a remote commander in which an automatic learning operation is performed by the automatic creation device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the automatic creation device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of another remote commander applicable to the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 20 Automatic creation device 21, 21A, 21B Control unit 21a Creation information search unit 21b Operation information recognition unit 21c Command signal search unit 21d Command signal writing unit 22 Interface unit 23 Interface unit 24, 24A, 24B Database

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bus system in which a plurality of devices are connected by a bidirectional bus, and transmission and reception of information to and from each device in the bus system via a commander, and information to and from an operation control unit of the commander. Command operation information recognizing means for recognizing a type of command operation enabled by the commander, and necessary control information creation information from each device in the bus system.
And creating information retrieval means for requesting distribution, and a database unit that holds control information corresponding to the various operating functions of the various devices, the command operation information Information command operation that is recognized in the recognition means, and said creation information retrieval means Obtained by
A control information search means for searching the database means for control information corresponding to a predetermined command operation based on the obtained control information creation information; and a control operation corresponding to a command operation read by the control information search means . Control information for storing control information in the storage unit of the commander in association with the command operation
Control information creator instrumentation, characterized in that it is configured to include a writing unit, a
Place . 2. Command operation enabled by a commander.
Command operation information recognition procedure for recognizing the type of
A creation information search procedure for requesting control information creation information, and command operation information recognized in the command operation recognition procedure.
Information and the control information creation information obtained in the creation information search procedure.
Based on the control information corresponding to various operation functions of various devices
Search the database holding the specified command operation
A control information search procedure for obtaining control information corresponding to a command, and a command obtained by the control information search procedure.
The control information corresponding to the operation is
And writing the control information in the commander .