JP3691353B2 - Multiple equipment control system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multiple device control system that centrally controls a plurality of devices such as AV devices and illuminators by a controller.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 1, the applicant has previously made a plurality of devices such as a VTR (9) (10), an AMP (11), a TV (12), a liquid crystal projector (14), and an illuminator (16) (17). Is connected to the home theater controller (1), and a touch panel controller (8) is connected to the home theater controller (1), and a plurality of devices are centrally controlled in accordance with the operation of the touch panel controller (8). A home theater system is proposed.
[0003]
In the home theater system, the home theater controller (1) generates a system command formed by sequentially connecting a plurality of control information blocks as shown in FIG. 13 (a), for example. In the system command shown in the figure, first, in the first control information block, command 5 (luminance setting with fade) is defined for the device 3 (illuminator), and the luminous intensity parameter (adjustment value) is set to 100%. . Next, command 1 (power ON) is defined for device 1 (VTR), command 1 (power ON) is defined for device 2 (TV), and then device 1 (VTR) is defined. Specifies command 2 (playback). Subsequently, after specifying command 6 (wait setting) for device 4 (wait function by timer) and setting a wait (standby) for 2 seconds, device 3 (illuminator) is set in the last control information block. Command 5 (luminance setting with fade) and reduce the luminous intensity parameter to 20%.
[0004]
The system operation is controlled by the system command, and the operation state of each device is adjusted based on the control information for each device included in the system command. That is, the illuminator is first turned on and adjusted with fading from 0% to 100%, then the VTR is turned on, the TV is turned on, and then the VTR playback is started. Subsequently, after waiting for 2 seconds, the illuminator is adjusted to fade to 20%.
As a result, the user can enjoy the playback video by the VTR under moderate brightness.
Even during the system operation as described above, the user operates the touch panel controller (8) and the device to adjust the operation state of the device, for example, the luminosity of the illuminator, and the brightness according to the time zone and the preference. Can also be set.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the conventional home theater system, the operation for starting up and shutting down the system and the operation by the user during the system operation are not linked to each other, and the device operation is performed by the user operation during the system operation. Even if the adjustment value is changed, the device operation is adjusted according to the initial adjustment value at the start of the next system operation.
[0006]
However, the system command that defines the system operation is set appropriately by the person in charge of the system at the time of installation of the home theater system, but it is not necessarily consistent with the environment of the room where the home theater system is actually installed, the user's preference, etc. However, there are cases where it is desired to change the adjustment value according to conditions. The optimum adjustment value varies depending on the season and time zone. Furthermore, there is a case where it is desired to change the adjustment value depending on the feeling of the user at that time, the content of the viewing program, or the like.
[0007]
However, it is difficult for the user to correct the system command, and it is extremely complicated to change the adjustment value each time. Therefore, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which system commands are automatically updated based on the result of adjustment by the user during system operation. However, according to this method, the mood at that time is temporarily changed. The adjustment value changed for the reason is set at the next system startup, and may not be appropriate.
[0008]
The object of the present invention is to appropriately distinguish between an adjustment value that should be reflected at the next system start-up and an adjustment value that should not be reflected when the adjustment value of the operation state of any device is changed during system operation. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple device control system that can be adapted to the system installation environment and at the same time realize device operation that appropriately reflects the user's intention.
[0009]
[Means for solving the problems]
The multi-device control system according to the present invention is a system capable of centrally controlling the operation of a plurality of devices with a controller and adjusting the adjustment items for the operation state to a desired adjustment value for each device. The controller generates a system command for a plurality of devices to be adjusted by linking the device name for specifying the device, the command for specifying the adjustment item, and the control information block including the adjustment value in the adjustment order. The operation state of each device is adjusted according to the command and the adjustment value included in the control information block for the device in the system command.
The multi-device control system according to the present invention has a characteristic configuration,
Control means for controlling the operation of each device based on a system command at the time of system startup;
Reflectable command table means storing information indicating whether or not the command to be reflected should be reflected in the operating state at the time of system startup for each command for each device;
When the user adjusts the operation state of any device to a desired adjustment value during system operation, it is determined whether or not the command for the adjustment value is a reflection enable command based on the reflection enable command table means. Command determination means;
When it is determined that the command for the adjustment value is a command that can be reflected, a reflection command table means for storing the latest adjustment information representing the command and the adjustment value for the device to be adjusted;
At the end of the system operation, based on the reflection command table means, for the device subject to adjustment, create an absolute value designation type command for designating the adjustment value of the operation state of the device as an absolute value, System command updating means for updating a system command based on the command;
State holding table means for accumulating past operating states of each device .
The system command update means includes a basic setting mode for creating an absolute value designation type command based on the reflected command table means according to a user's selection setting, and an absolute value designation type command based on the state holding table means. Switch between history setting mode to create .
[0010]
In the multi-device control system of the present invention, information indicating whether or not the command is a reflection command is stored in advance in the reflection command table means for each command for each device. Here, for items that cannot be set by the user and that depend on the fixed conditions of the system, such as power-on, the system does not reflect the operation results by the user in the operating state at the time of system startup. Maintain the operating status (default) at startup. On the other hand, for adjustment items that can be adjusted by the user, such as the season, time of day, or user preference, etc. It is desirable to reflect it in the operating state at the time of raising. Therefore, the commands for the adjustment items such as the latter are registered as reflectable commands.
[0011]
When the system is started up, the operation of each device is controlled based on the system command updated at that time. In this process, the operation state of each device is adjusted according to the command and the adjustment value included in the control information block for the device in the system command.
When a user inputs a desired adjustment value for an adjustment item of an arbitrary device during system operation by a system command, it is determined whether or not the command for the adjustment item is a command that can be reflected. The system command is updated based on the adjustment value. On the other hand, when the user inputs a desired adjustment value for an adjustment item of an arbitrary device, but the command for the adjustment item is not a command that can be reflected, the system command is not updated and the original adjustment value is maintained. The
[0012]
Therefore, since the updated adjustment value is set for the command that can be reflected in the system command at the time of starting the next system, and the initial adjustment value is set for the other commands, based on the system command, Device operation that matches the system installation environment and appropriately reflects the user's intention is realized.
[0013]
Here, the adjustment made by the user through trial and error in the middle of the system operation is not reflected in the system command, but the adjustment as the final decision made last is reflected in the system command.
[0014]
In addition, adjustment values set by relative operations such as increasing / decreasing the amount of light are incorporated in system commands as absolute values, so that the operation state of the device can be directly controlled based on the adjustment values. .
[0015]
Furthermore, when the basic setting mode is set, the system operation is executed based on the system command updated at the end of the previous system operation, whereas when the history setting mode is set, the past multiple times Based on the operating state, for example, an average value of a plurality of past adjustment values is calculated, and based on the result, an absolute value designation type command is created and a system operation is executed.
[0016]
In a specific configuration, the state holding table means includes a plurality of environment state holding tables storing past operation states for each environment, and the system command update means is based on the environment state holding table selected and set by the user. Create an absolute value specification type command.
Specifically, a time zone state holding table, a season state holding table, and an illuminance state holding table are set as the environment state holding table.
Therefore, the system command is updated based on the past operation state for the corresponding environment according to the environment such as the time zone, season, and illuminance.
In the state holding table means, the accumulated number of past operation states (number of samples) is written, and the average value etc. is used as a representative value of the past operation states only when the accumulation number is a certain value or more. It can be adopted.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the multiple device control system according to the present invention, when the adjustment value of the operation state is changed for an arbitrary device during the system operation, the adjustment value that should be reflected at the next system startup and the adjustment value that should not be reflected Are properly distinguished from each other, and it is possible to realize a device operation that is adapted to the system installation environment and appropriately reflects the user's intention.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the embodiment in which the present invention is implemented in the home theater system shown in FIG. 1 will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
In the home theater system according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, VTR1 (9), VTR2 (10), and AMP1 (11) are generated by an infrared signal emitted from the infrared control unit (6) of the home theater controller (1). And TV (12) can be controlled. An illuminance sensor (13) is connected to the sensor input section (7) of the home theater controller (1) to measure the illuminance in the room. In addition, a liquid crystal projector (14) is connected to the serial controller (5) of the home theater controller (1), and an illuminator 1 (16) and an illuminator 2 (17) are connected via the dimming controller (15). ) Is connected.
In addition, a touch panel controller (8) is connected to the serial controller (5) of the home theater controller (1), and the operation of the touch panel controller (8) is instructed to start or end the system operation, or It is possible to input an adjustment value for the operation state of the device and cause each device to perform a desired operation.
The home theater controller (1) includes a control circuit (2) composed of a microcomputer, a memory (3), and a timer (4).
[0019]
4 is registered in advance in the memory (3) of the home theater controller (1). In the reflectable command table, for each device whose operation state is to be adjusted, the adjustment result by the user is reflected in the operation state at the time of starting up the system for each command indicating the adjustment item (luminance, volume, luminance, etc.) Information indicating whether or not the command should be reflected is stored.
[0020]
In addition, a reflection command table as shown in FIG. 5 is prepared in the memory (3). In the reflection command table, when the user adjusts the operation state of an arbitrary device to a desired adjustment value during system operation, for the reflection possible command, the name of the device to be adjusted, command (adjustment item) Then, adjustment information including a state (adjustment value) and a read mark (flag) described later is stored.
[0021]
Further, in the memory (3), the state holding table shown in FIG. 6, the state holding table by time zone shown in FIG. 7, the state holding table by season shown in FIG. 8, the state holding table by illuminance shown in FIG. The absolute value designation type command creation selection table shown in FIG. 11 and the absolute value designation type command creation environment selection table shown in FIG. 11 are registered. The functions of these tables will be described later together with the contents of the system operation.
[0022]
In the home theater system according to the present invention, for example, while the system operation is being executed based on the system command as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the user can, for example, command 5 of the device 3 (illuminator) (luminance setting with fade). When the parameter (adjustment value) is changed to “0”, if the command is a command that can be reflected, the adjustment value (“0”) is set to the system as shown in FIG. Reflect in the command.
[0023]
2 and 3 show a control procedure executed by the control circuit (2) of the home theater controller (1) for updating the system command.
When a command is input while waiting for command input (S1) during system operation as shown in FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the command is a reflection enable command based on the reflection enable command table. In the case of a reflection enable command (S2), it is determined whether or not the command and state (adjustment value) have already been registered in the reflection command table. If not registered (S4), a command and a state generated by command execution are newly added to the table. If it has been registered (S3), the table is updated based on the state generated by command execution. Therefore, a reflection enable command that is not used is not reflected in the system command.
[0024]
On the other hand, if it is not a reflection command (S5), it is determined whether or not the command is an end command. If it is not an end command (S6), each command processing is performed, and the process returns to the command input wait (S1).
On the other hand, if it is determined that the command is an end command, the process proceeds to an end process (S7), and the commands are read one by one in order from the end of the system command (see FIG. 13A). Then, until all commands are read, it is checked whether or not the command and the reflection enable command registered in the reflection command table match (S8). If the command is the same as the command that can be reflected (S10), a command is generated by an absolute value designation type command creation process described later with reference to FIG. 3, the system command being read is updated based on the command, and the next command is read ( Return to S7).
[0025]
When all the commands have been read (S11), the read mark in the reflection command table is checked. If all the marks are present (S12), the operation end process (S14) is executed to end the operation.
On the other hand, when there is a command without a read mark (S13), a command is generated by the absolute value designation type command creation process, and added to the end of the system command, and then the operation end process (S14) is executed. End driving.
[0026]
In the creation process of the absolute value designation type command shown in FIG. 3, it is first determined whether or not the basic setting mode should be selected based on the absolute value designation type command creation selection table shown in FIG. The selection table for creating an absolute value designation type command is preset by the user, and when creating an absolute value designation type command based on the reflection command table, “0” (basic setting) is input as a setting value. When creating an absolute value specification type command reflecting the environment, “1” (environment reflection setting) is input as the setting value.
[0027]
In FIG. 3, when the basic setting mode is to be selected (A1), an absolute value designation type command is generated based on the command and state of the reflection command table. Then, after setting a read mark indicating read out at the command position of the table, the procedure is terminated (A12).
[0028]
On the other hand, when the basic setting mode is not selected (A2), it is determined whether or not the environmental conditions are reflected. If the environmental conditions are not reflected (A3), information is read from the state holding table shown in FIG. The state holding table stores the past operating state of each device, that is, the device name, command, adjustment value (average value), and number of information (number of samples used to calculate the average value). .
Next, it is checked whether or not a sufficient number of pieces of information are registered in the state holding table (A4). If the number of pieces of information is insufficient (A5), the current state record is held in the currently accessed state. The data is additionally stored in the table (A7), and the creation of the absolute value designation type command is terminated (A12). On the other hand, when the number of information is sufficient (A6), the average value (absolute value) of the adjustment values is calculated from the current state record and the information read from the state holding table. Then, based on the average value, an absolute value designation type command is generated, a read mark is set in the reflection command table, a record of the current state is additionally stored in the currently accessed state holding table (A7), The creation of the absolute value specification type command is terminated (A12).
[0029]
When reflecting the environmental conditions, the environment selection table for creating an absolute value designation type command shown in FIG. 11 indicates which of the environmental state for the time zone, the environmental state for the season, and the environmental state for the illuminance has priority. Judgment based on.
In FIG. 3, it is first determined whether or not to prioritize the environmental state for the time zone. If time zone priority is given (A9), information is read from the time zone state holding table shown in FIG. Move to A4). In addition, in the status holding table by time zone, the operation status by past time zone for each device, that is, device name, command, time zone type, time zone, adjustment value (average value) of the time zone, And the number of information (number of samples) is stored.
[0030]
If it is not time zone priority (A8), it is determined whether to prioritize the environmental state for the season. If it is season priority (A11), information is read from the seasonal state holding table shown in FIG. Move to (A4). Note that the seasonal state holding table includes the operation status of each device in the past season, that is, the device name, command, season type, season, adjustment value (average value) of the season, and the number of information (samples). Number) is stored.
[0031]
When it is not season priority (A8), information is read from the illuminance-specific state holding table shown in FIG. 9, and the process proceeds to determination of the number of information (A4). The illuminance status holding table includes the past operation status of each device for each illuminance, i.e., device name, command, illuminance type, illuminance, adjustment value (average value) of the illuminance, and the number of information (samples). Number) is stored.
[0032]
FIG. 12 shows how the reflection command table shown in FIG. 5 is rewritten in the process from system startup to system operation termination.
In the example shown in the figure, (1) the brightness of the illuminator 1 is adjusted to 100% when the system is started by executing the system command, (2) the brightness is adjusted to 50%, and (3) the brightness is further reduced to 0%. After the adjustment, the system operation is started, and by the user operation during the system operation, (4) First, the illuminator 1 is increased by 2% in intensity, and (5) Subsequently, the illuminator 2 is adjusted to 100% in intensity. (6) Finally, the light intensity was reduced by 2%.
[0033]
In this example, the reflection command table is (1) blank before the system is started. (2) By adjusting the illuminator 1 to 50%, the device name “illumination 1”, The command “luminosity” and state (adjustment value) “50” are set, and (3) the adjustment value is rewritten to “0” by further adjusting the luminous intensity to 0%. Thereafter, during the system operation, (4) first, the illuminator 1 is increased by 2% in luminous intensity, whereby the adjustment value is rewritten to “2”. (5) Subsequently, when the illuminator 2 is adjusted to 100% luminous intensity, the reflection command table shows the device name “illumination 2”, command “luminosity”, and status for the newly adjusted illuminator 2. (Adjustment value) After “100” is set, (6) The adjustment value for the luminous intensity of the illuminator 2 is rewritten to “98” by finally decreasing the luminous intensity by 2%.
[0034]
The system command is updated based on the reflected command table finally obtained in this way. The target to be reflected in the reflection command table is the adjustment value of the control information block that is the same command and is positioned most recently in the system command.
In the example of FIG. 12, the system command is initially only for adjusting the light intensity of the illuminator 1, but is set by the system command because the user has adjusted the light intensity of the illuminator 1 and the illuminator 2 during system operation. The luminosity of the illuminator 1 is rewritten from 0% to 2%, and the illuminator 2 that has not been set in the system command is also set to 98%. A command for setting the brightness to 98% is added.
[0035]
As described above, according to the home theater system according to the present invention, during the system operation based on the system command set at the time of system installation, according to the environment of the room where the home theater system is installed and the preference of the user, If the operating value is adjusted and the adjustment value should be reflected in the system command, the system command is updated based on the adjustment value, and the adjustment value should not be reflected in the system command. Since the system command is not updated, the user can realize a comfortable system operation suitable for the installation environment and preferences of the system without performing any complicated operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home theater system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for updating a system command in the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating an absolute value designation type command.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a command table that can be reflected.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a reflection command table.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state holding table.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state holding table for each time zone.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a seasonal state holding table.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state holding table for each illuminance.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an absolute value designation type command creation selection table.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an environment selection table for creating an absolute value designation type command.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a change in the reflected command table from the start of the system to the end of operation.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an initial system command and an updated system command.
[Explanation of symbols]
(1) Home theater controller
(2) Control circuit
(3) Memory
(4) Timer
(8) Touch panel controller

Claims (3)

A multi-device control system in which the operation of multiple devices can be centrally controlled by a controller and the adjustment items related to the operation state can be adjusted to a desired adjustment value for each device. For a plurality of devices, a system command is generated by concatenating a control information block including a device name for specifying a device, a command for specifying an adjustment item, and an adjustment value in an adjustment order. In the multiple device control system in which the operation state is adjusted according to the command and the adjustment value included in the control information block for itself during the system command,
Control means for controlling the operation of each device based on a system command at the time of system startup;
Reflectable command table means storing information indicating whether or not the command to be reflected should be reflected in the operating state at the time of system startup for each command for each device;
When the user adjusts the operation state of an arbitrary device to a desired adjustment value during system operation, it is determined whether the command for the adjustment value is a reflection enable command based on the reflection enable command table means. Command determination means;
When it is determined that the command for the adjustment value is a command that can be reflected, a reflection command table means for storing the latest adjustment information representing the command and the adjustment value for the device to be adjusted;
At the end of system operation, based on the reflected command table means, an absolute value designation type command for designating an adjustment value of the operation state of the device as an absolute value is created for the device to be adjusted, System command updating means for updating a system command based on the command;
State holding table means for accumulating past operating states for each device
And
The system command updating means creates a basic setting mode for creating an absolute value designation type command based on the reflected command table means and creates an absolute value designation type command based on the state holding table means according to the user's selection setting. A multi-device control system, wherein the history setting mode is switched . The state holding table means includes a plurality of environment state holding tables storing past operation states for each environment, and the system command update means designates an absolute value based on the environment state holding table selected and set by the user. The multiple device control system according to claim 1 , wherein a type command is created . The multi-device control system according to claim 2 , wherein a state holding table by time zone, a state holding table by season, and a state holding table by illuminance are set as the state holding table by environment.

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