JP3849718B1 - Display control device, control method thereof, control program thereof, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A newly added AV device can be remotely controlled, and remote control construction data for the AV device can be easily acquired from an external database.
A reception processing unit 117R that receives information relating to remote operation supplied from a display device 102, and remote operation data D23 among the information relating to remote operation received here is transmitted to an AV device 110 to Control unit 200 for remotely controlling AV device 110, communication modem 210 for receiving video information supplied from AV device 110 remotely controlled thereby, and transmission for transmitting the received video information to display device 102 And a remote control construction data Drc including display information for displaying the remote operation screen on the display device 102 and remote operation data D23 corresponding to the operation on the remote operation screen. The data is downloaded from 107 and distributed to the display device 102.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a display control apparatus, a control method thereof, and a control program thereof applicable to a multi-function remote control service system capable of centralized remote operation of audio / video equipment such as a digital CS / BS tuner, DVD player, CD / MD player, etc. And a recording medium.

  In recent years, digital information technology has been developed, and there are an increasing number of digital video / audio tuners such as digital CS / BS tuners, DVD players, CD / MD players and the like that can be remotely operated by a remote controller. In addition to audio / video equipment, audio / video equipment such as air conditioners and coolers can be listed as devices that can be remotely controlled by a remote controller. This type of remote control is available for each type of audio video device, and can be operated for each type of audio video device.

  On the other hand, with the development of the Internet, it has become possible to receive various Internet services. In order to receive this type of network service, users are generally registered in advance with an information provider (hereinafter also referred to as an information distribution system), personal authentication is performed at the time of service provision, and payment processing is performed at the end of download. The For this information provider, the user's name, address, date of birth, bank account number, etc. are registered (user registration) to obtain an ID number. Enter a number to authenticate.

JP 09-298775 A (page 3 FIG. 12) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-078036 (page 4 FIG. 1)

  By the way, according to the audio / video equipment that can be operated by the remote control according to the conventional example, the remote control is prepared for each type of audio / video equipment, so when a new audio / video equipment was added, it became accustomed to the handling of the audio / video equipment. A user who is not familiar with the handling is expected to be confused when judging which remote controller corresponds to which audio-video device.

  Therefore, when the number of audio-video devices increases in each home, there is a problem that the number of remote controllers increases and it is difficult to handle for unaccustomed users. Incidentally, a method of expressing the remote controller in software (hereinafter also referred to as an information processing system) and consolidating it can be considered, but it is expected that application management will be complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention solves such a conventional problem, and allows a newly added video information providing apparatus to be remotely controlled, and also facilitates remote control construction data for the video information providing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display control device, a control method thereof, a control program thereof, and a recording medium that can be obtained from an external database.

  The above-described problem is that the video information providing apparatus can be remotely controlled by being connected to the video information providing apparatus and transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing apparatus. A display control device for transferring video information to a video display device and receiving information relating to remote control supplied from the video display device, wherein the receiving unit receives information relating to remote operation supplied from the video display device A remote control unit that transmits remote operation information to the video information providing apparatus among the information relating to the remote operation received by the receiving unit and remotely controls the video information providing apparatus, and is remotely controlled by the remote control unit. The video information receiving unit that receives the video information supplied from the video information providing device, and the video information received by the video information receiving unit A remote control unit including display information for displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device and remote operation information corresponding to an operation on the remote operation screen. When the distribution of the remote control construction data is requested from the video display device, the remote control construction data is downloaded from the external database, distributed to the video display device via the transmission unit, and the display included in the remote control construction data This is solved by a display control device characterized in that a remote operation screen is displayed on the video display device based on the information.

  According to the display control device according to the present invention, when connected to the video information providing device and transmitting the remote operation information to the video information providing device to remotely control the video information providing device, the receiving unit, Receives information related to remote operation supplied from the video display device. The remote control unit transmits remote operation information to the video information providing device among the information related to the remote operation received by the receiving unit, and remotely controls the video information providing device. The video information receiving unit receives video information supplied from the video information providing device remotely controlled by the remote control unit. The transmitting unit transmits the video information received by the video information receiving unit to the video display device. The remote control construction data includes display information for displaying the remote operation screen on the video display device and remote operation information corresponding to the operation on the remote operation screen. Based on this assumption, when the remote control construction data is requested from the video display device, the remote control unit downloads the remote control construction data from the external database and delivers it to the video display device via the transmission unit. Then, the remote operation screen is displayed on the video display device based on the display information included in the remote control construction data.

  Accordingly, the newly added video information providing apparatus can be remotely controlled based on the remote operation information input by operation on the remote operation screen. In addition, the display control device can easily acquire the remote control construction data for the newly added video information providing device from the external database.

  The display control device control method according to the present invention is connected to the video information providing device, and can remotely control the video information providing device by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing device. A control method of a display control device for transferring video information supplied from a video information providing device to a video display device and receiving information relating to remote control supplied from the video display device, the control method being supplied from the video display device Receiving remote control information, transmitting remote control information from the received remote control information to the video information providing device, and remotely controlling the video information providing device, and remotely controlled video Receiving video information supplied from the information providing device; transmitting received video information to the video display device; Display information for displaying the remote operation screen on the device and remote control construction data including remote operation information corresponding to the operation on the remote operation screen are downloaded from the external database and distributed to the video display device Based on the display information included in the remote control construction data, the step of delivering the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database to the video display device in response to the delivery request of the remote control construction data from the video display device And a step of displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device.

  According to the control method of the display control apparatus according to the present invention, when remote operation information is transmitted to the video information providing apparatus to remotely control the video information providing apparatus, the newly added video information providing apparatus On the other hand, remote control can be performed based on remote operation information input by operation on the remote operation screen. In addition, the remote control construction data for the newly added video information providing device can be easily acquired from the external database by the video display device.

  The display control device control program according to the present invention is connected to the video information providing device and can remotely control the video information providing device by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing device. A program for controlling a display control device that transfers video information supplied from a video information providing device to a video display device and receives information related to remote control supplied from the video display device. Receiving remote control information supplied from the remote control device, receiving remote control information from the received remote control information to the video information providing device, and remotely controlling the video information providing device, and remote control Receiving video information supplied from the received video information providing device, and transmitting the received video information to the video display device Download from the external database remote control construction data including display information for displaying the remote operation screen on the video display device, and remote operation information corresponding to the operation on the remote operation screen. Included in the step of delivering to the video display device, the step of delivering the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database to the video display device in response to the remote control construction data delivery request from the video display device, and the remote control construction data And a step of displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device based on the displayed display information.

  According to the display control device control program of the present invention, when remote control information is transmitted to the video information providing device to remotely control the video information providing device, the newly added video information providing device On the other hand, remote control can be performed based on remote operation information input by operation on the remote operation screen. In addition, the remote control construction data for the newly added video information providing device can be easily acquired from the external database by the video display device.

  The recording medium according to the present invention is connected to a video information providing device, and can remotely control the video information providing device by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing device. A storage medium that describes a program for controlling a display control device that transfers video information supplied from a device to a video display device and receives information related to remote control supplied from the video display device. Receiving information relating to remote operation supplied from the device; transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing device out of the received information relating to remote operation; remotely controlling the video information providing device; Receiving video information supplied from the controlled video information providing device, and transmitting the received video information to the video display device; Steps, display information for displaying the remote operation screen on the video display device, and remote control construction data including remote operation information corresponding to the operation on the remote operation screen are downloaded from the external database and video Included in the step of delivering to the display device, the step of delivering the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database to the video display device in response to the delivery request of the remote control construction data from the video display device, and the remote control construction data A program having a step of displaying a remote operation screen on a video display device based on display information is described.

  According to the recording medium of the present invention, when remote control information is transmitted to the video information providing apparatus and the video information providing apparatus is remotely controlled, the newly added video information providing apparatus is also remotely controlled. Remote control can be performed based on remote operation information input by operation on the operation screen. In addition, the remote control construction data for the newly added video information providing device can be easily acquired from the external database by the video display device.

  According to the display control device and the control method thereof according to the present invention, when distribution of the remote control construction data is requested from the video display device, the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database is delivered to the video display device, A remote operation screen is displayed on the video display device based on display information included in the control construction data.

  With this configuration, it is possible to remotely control a newly added video information providing device based on remote operation information input by operation on the remote operation screen. In addition, the remote control construction data for the newly added video information providing device can be easily acquired from the external database by the video display device. As a result, it becomes possible to construct a multi-function remote control service system capable of centralized remote operation of a plurality of video information providing apparatuses in the home or the like with one display control apparatus.

  According to the control program and the recording medium of the display control device according to the present invention, when remote operation information is transmitted to the video information providing device and the video information providing device is remotely controlled, the remote control from the video display device is performed. Distributing the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database to the video display device in response to the construction data delivery request, and causing the video display device to display a remote operation screen based on the display information included in the remote control construction data Steps.

  With this configuration, it is possible to remotely control a newly added video information providing device based on remote operation information input by operation on the remote operation screen. In addition, the remote control construction data for the newly added video information providing device can be easily acquired from the external database by the video display device.

  Subsequently, an embodiment of a display control device, a control method thereof, a control program thereof, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a remote control construction information processing system 100 to which a display control apparatus as an embodiment according to the present invention is applied.

  In this embodiment, the remote control construction information processing system 100 constitutes an information distribution apparatus for delivering remote control construction data including display information corresponding to an arbitrary audio video device, and a remote operation screen for remotely controlling the audio video device. A video display device with a display function is connected through a display control device and communication means. Next, the display control device displays a remote operation screen on the video display device based on the remote control construction data distributed from the information distribution device, and audio based on the remote operation information input on the remote operation screen. Remotely control video equipment. In this way, remote control construction data for newly added audio-video equipment can be easily acquired from the information distribution apparatus, and a plurality of audio-video equipment in the home or the like can be obtained with one display control apparatus. A multi-function remote control service system capable of centralized remote control can be constructed.

  A remote control construction information processing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a system that distributes and processes control information for remote control corresponding to audio video equipment that constitutes an example of a video information providing apparatus. This system 100 includes remote control construction data (hereinafter referred to as remote control construction data Drc) corresponding to audio video equipment (hereinafter collectively referred to as AV equipment 110, etc.) such as a digital CS / BS tuner, DVD player, CD / MD player, and the like. It is suitable to be applied to a multi-function remote control service system that distributes

  In this remote control construction information processing system 100, an information distribution device 108 is prepared on the information provider side. The information distribution apparatus 108 includes, for example, a server 106, an external database (hereinafter simply referred to as a database) 107, and an application 104. The server 106 is configured to deliver remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 and the like described above. On the information user (hereinafter referred to as user) side, a base station 101 as an example of a display control device and a video display device with a remote operation screen display function (hereinafter simply referred to as a display device 102) are prepared.

  In this example, the base station 101 and the display device 102 are also collectively referred to as an information processing device 103. The base station 101 is connected to the AV device 110, and can remotely control the AV device 110 by transmitting remote operation data D 23 to the AV device 110, and video supplied from the AV device 110. In addition to transferring information to the display device 102, information related to remote control supplied from the display device 102 is received.

  The remote controller construction data Drc is a combination of display information for displaying an image schematically showing the remote controller RM on the display screen of the display device 102 and remote operation information input by the remote controller RM displayed on the display screen. Say.

  In addition to the remote control construction data Drc, the control information includes data such as a user interface and an instruction manual, and an application 104 such as a control program. The server 106 individually manages the distribution service of the remote control construction data Drc provided for the user base station 101 and the display device 102. This is to smoothly perform the accounting process for the user. This server 106 is connected to the database 107. Each time a new AV device 110 or the like is manufactured, the database 107 additionally stores remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110.

  This is to cope with the distribution service of the remote control construction data Drc of the new AV device 110 or the like. The database 107 is operated so that the manufacturer / model name can be selected, and the application 104 such as the remote control construction data Drc is managed there in a secure environment. Application software includes a printer driver and the like.

  When the remote control construction data Drc is distributed in the system 100, the server 106 performs a paying process corresponding to the payment of the information processing system 100. In the payment process at this time, for example, payment is made using an ID card such as a magnetic card or an electronic card. This is because the fee-charging process is managed individually. Server 106 is automatically deducted from the user's bank account. Thereby, it is possible to realize a dedicated service or a general-purpose service corresponding to settlement using an ID card.

  The base station 101 and the display device 102 prepared on the user side are configured to remotely control the AV device 110 and the like based on the remote control construction data Drc acquired from the server 106. For the base station 101 and the display device 102, “Airboard (R)” (Sony Corporation: registered trademark) is used as a target device that can be connected to the Internet and can receive satellite data broadcasts and the like. The air board (R) includes a stationary base station (channel selection device) 101 having a television broadcast receiving function and a mobile terminal type display device 102.

  The air board (R) can separate and convey the display device 102 from the base station 101. The display device 102 preferably includes a touch panel. This is because an operation input is performed by touching the remote controller displayed on the display device 102. Information regarding the remote operation obtained by the remote control operation input is output from the display device 102 to the base station 101. The base station 101 performs remote operation by transmitting remote operation data D23 out of information related to remote operation to the audio / video equipment.

  When the remote control construction data Drc is acquired by the base station 101 and the display device 102, the server 106 and the base station 101 are connected through communication means. This is to request the server 106 to distribute the remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 or the like. In this example, the Internet 105, a broadcasting base, a public telephone line, a dedicated communication line, etc. are used as communication means.

  In this remote control construction information processing system 100, the base station 101 performs a distribution request process of remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 and the like to the server 106. Through this distribution request process, the base station 101 and the display device 102 receive (download) the remote controller construction data Drc from the server 106. The remote control construction data Drc downloaded from the server 106 is stored in, for example, a nonvolatile memory provided in the base station 101 or the display device 102.

  When a new AV device 110 or the like is added, remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 is further downloaded and added. Then, based on the remote control construction data Drc, the display device 102 performs display processing of the remote operation screen, and remote operation information is operated and input on the remote operation screen. This remote operation information is transferred to the base station 101. The base station 101 is configured to remotely control the AV device 110 and the like based on remote operation information input by the display device 102.

  In this remote control construction information processing system 100, the AV device 110 and the like and the base station 101 are connected by a wired system or a wireless system. In the case of a wired system, the communication standard interface such as IEEE1394 or USB is connected to the communication standard communication cable. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and a communication path may be optically established between the AV device 110 and the base station 101 by an infrared method. Any connection method may be adopted as long as the AV device 110 and the like can be remotely controlled based on the remote control construction data Drc.

  The stationary base station 101 that remotely controls the AV equipment 110 and the like and the display device 102 with a remote operation screen display function are the information processing system I, and the server 106 and the database 107 that distribute the remote control construction data Drc to the base station 101. The application 104 is assumed to be an information distribution system II.

  Next, a method for controlling the base station 101 according to the present invention will be described. 2A is a flowchart showing an example of a remote control construction data distribution request in the information processing system I, FIG. 2B is a flowchart showing an example of remote control construction data distribution in the information distribution system II, and FIG. is there.

  In this remote control construction information processing system 100, it is assumed that remote control construction data Drc corresponding to an arbitrary AV device 110 or the like is distributed and processed. In the information processing system I, for example, an information processing apparatus 103 including a stationary base station 101 and a display apparatus 102 with a remote operation screen display function is prepared. In the information distribution system II, an information distribution apparatus 108 including a server 106, a database 107, and an application 104 is prepared.

  When these are used as the control conditions of the base station 101 and the user acquires the remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 or the like, the information distribution system II that delivers the remote control construction data Drc in step A1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2A. The server 106 and the base station 101 of the information processing system I are connected via the Internet 105 as an example of communication means. The communication means is not limited to the Internet 105, and the information processing system 100 may use a broadcasting base, a public telephone line, a dedicated communication line, or the like.

  Then, in step A2, the user requests the server 106 to distribute the remote controller construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 and the like from the display device 102 through the base station 101. At this time, in the information distribution system II, device authentication of the AV device 110 or the like, or user authentication processing may be performed. In performing these authentication processes, it is preferable to incorporate key information into the production number information of the AV device 110. In this way, the target device is identified from the key information, and the remote control construction data Drc of the identified target device can be accurately distributed.

  Further, the information distribution system II receives the distribution request at step B1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2B. In step B2, remote control construction data Drc for the AV device 110 or the like requested for distribution is searched. Thereafter, the information distribution system II distributes the remote controller construction data Drc to the information processing system I that requested the distribution in step B3. Thereafter, the information distribution system II proceeds to Step B4 and performs customer management with respect to the information processing system 100. This customer management is for grasping the current usage situation and improving future services.

  For example, the server 106 individually manages the distribution service of the remote control construction data Drc provided for the information processing system I. At this time, the server 106 performs paying processing corresponding to the payment of the distribution service for each user. In addition, the information distribution system II grasps the model of the AV device 110 purchased by the user from the distribution request of the remote control construction data Drc. This is in order to improve the future development of popular products and the distribution service of remote control construction data Drc.

  On the other hand, the information processing system I receives (downloads) the remote controller construction data Drc from the server 106 at step A3 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2A. The remote control construction data Drc downloaded from the server 106 is stored in, for example, a nonvolatile memory provided in the base station 101 or the display device 102. When a new AV device 110 or the like is added, the remote controller construction data Drc is further downloaded and added.

  When the information processing system I remotely controls the AV device 110 and the like, the display device 102 reads the remote control construction data Drc from the memory and displays the remote operation screen through the base station 101 in step C1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2C. To do. At this time, the remote operation screen can be displayed on the display device 102 in a state separated from the base station 101.

  In step C2, the display device 102 is operated so as to input the remote operation information by operating the touch panel on the remote operation screen. This remote operation information is output from the display device 102 to the base station 101. In step C3, the base station 101 remotely controls the AV device 110 and the like based on the remote operation information received from the display device 102. The AV device 110 and the like operate based on the remote operation information received from the base station 101.

  Therefore, remote control construction data Drc for the newly added AV device 110 or the like can be easily acquired from the server 106. In addition, it is possible to remotely control the newly added AV device 110 and the like based on remote operation information input by operation on the remote operation screen. As a result, a multi-function remote control service system capable of performing centralized remote control of a plurality of AV devices 110 in the home or the like by the information processing apparatus 103 including the base station 101 and the display apparatus 102 can be constructed.

  Next, a configuration example of a television receiving system applied to the remote control construction information processing system 100 will be described. The television receiving system illustrated in FIG. 3 includes an information processing apparatus 103 including a base station 101 and a display apparatus 102. The base station 101 receives remote control construction data Drc corresponding to an arbitrary AV device 110 or the like from the information distribution system II and performs remote control of the AV device 110 or the like. Further, the base station 101 and the display device 102 constitute a television receiving system, and the base station 101 and the display device 102 are connected by wireless communication, and the base station 101 and the display device 102 are configured as one set.

  An AV device 110 or the like that the user wants to remotely control is connected to the base station 101 through an interface such as IEEE1394 or USB. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and the AV device 110 and the base station 101 may be optically connected by an infrared method (AV mouse or the like). An AV mouse refers to a device that outputs control light such as infrared rays from the base station 101 when operating a video deck or the like.

  The base station 101 is installed and used in a home, for example. The display device 102 is used in the vicinity of the user. This base station 101 is connected to an antenna 111 for receiving TV broadcasts installed outdoors, and is connected to an antenna cable 111cb drawn indoors from the outdoors, and is connected to a telephone network and drawn indoors from the outdoors. Connected to the telephone line L. This is because the base station 101 is connected to the Internet and remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV equipment 110 and the like is received from the information distribution system II.

  The base station 101 selects a television broadcast program received from the antenna 111 and directs the transmission signal Sout after receiving the selected television broadcast program to the display device 102 through the transmission / reception antenna 118. Wireless transmission. Alternatively, the base station 101 receives the transmission signal Sout after receiving the communication contents transmitted through the telephone line L and the remote control construction data Drc received from the information distribution system II through the transmission / reception antenna 118 and the display device 102. Wirelessly send to.

  In addition, the base station 101 receives a reception signal Sin such as instruction information or an e-mail from the display device 102 through a transmission / reception antenna 118, and changes a television broadcast program to be selected according to the received instruction information, Communication information can be transmitted to the other party's terminal device via the telephone line L. Here, the instruction information, e-mail, remote operation data D23, etc. constitute information related to the remote operation.

  The display device 102 receives the signal Sout wirelessly transmitted from the base station 101, and displays an image corresponding to the image signal included in the transmission signal Sout on the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 125 as an example of a display unit. . In this example, display processing of the remote operation screen is performed by the display device 102 based on the remote control construction data Drc, and remote operation information is selected by an input operation of a remote control key on the remote operation screen.

  The reason why the remote operation information is selected on the remote operation screen is to remotely control the AV device 110 and the like by the base station 101 based on the remote operation information selected here. At the same time, the display device 102 allows a television broadcast program to be viewed by emitting sound from a speaker through a sound signal included in the received signal Sout.

  Further, the display device 102 wirelessly receives communication information such as e-mail and a home page of the Internet 105 after the base station 101 receives and processes it through the telephone line L, and displays it from the signal Sout received here. A signal is formed, and an image corresponding to the display signal is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 125 and provided to the user.

  Further, a touch panel 351 is attached to the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 125 of the display device 102, and the display device 102 is used by the display information displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 125 and the touch panel 351. It is possible to accept input of information such as various instruction inputs from a person. The display device 102 includes the touch panel 351 so that various operations such as creating and sending an e-mail and receiving and displaying an e-mail addressed to the display device 102 can be performed.

  In this example, a so-called “remote control” is constructed on the display screen of the display device 102 by an image schematically representing the remote control based on the above-described remote control construction data Drc and the input operation function of the touch panel 351, and the remote controller key input operation is performed. The remote operation information is output to the base station 101. That is, the display device 102 has a function as a user interface that provides the user with the information captured by the base station 101 in the television reception system and receives information from the user. In addition, the display device 102 has a remote control function as a user interface for remotely controlling the AV device 110 and the like. This remote control function is constructed (assembled) based on the remote control construction data Drc downloaded from the server 106.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the base station 101 is securely connected to both the antenna cable 111cb according to the position where the connection terminal T1 to the antenna cable 111cb and the connection terminal T2 to the telephone line L are provided, for example. It is preferable to dispose at a position where this is possible. As shown in FIG. 3, the base station 101 is preferably wirelessly connected to the display device 102. This is because the display device 102 is detached from the base station 101 and can be freely carried.

  Accordingly, since the display device 102 can be carried anywhere in an area where wireless signals can be received from the base station 101, the target TV broadcast program can be viewed, or the Internet 105 can be connected to send e-mail. You can exchange things. Furthermore, the user can remotely operate a DVD device located far away, an AV device 110 such as a digital CS tuner, or the like with a remote control on the operation screen of the display device 102. As a result, video information can be supplied from the DVD device to the display device 102 via the base station 101.

  Subsequently, the internal configuration examples of the base station 101 and the display device 102 will be described separately.

[Base Station]
In this embodiment, the base station 101 includes a control unit 200 that remotely controls the AV device 110 and the like according to the remote operation information received from the display device 102, and displays video information received from the AV device 110 and the like as a display device. 102, the newly added AV device 110 can be remotely controlled based on the remote operation data D23 input on the remote operation screen, and the newly added AV device 110 can be distributed. The remote control construction data Drc for the device 110 can also be easily acquired from the external database 107.

  The base station 101 shown in FIG. 4 is a device that can download the remote control construction data Drc from a predetermined website. In addition to this, the base station 101 takes in a television broadcast signal and various types of information provided through the telephone line L to the television receiving system shown in FIG. It has a function as an interface for sending information.

  Each unit of the base station 101 is controlled by a control unit 200 as an example of a remote control unit. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 204. . The CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, and EEPROM 204 are connected through a CPU bus 206. The control unit 200 constitutes a microcomputer.

  The control unit 200 requests the information distribution system II described in FIG. 1 to distribute the remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 and the like (distribution request function), and the remote displayed on the display device 102. It also has a function (remote control function) for remotely controlling the AV device 110 and the like based on remote operation information input by operation on the operation screen.

  Here, the ROM 202 records various processing programs executed in the base station 101, data D11 necessary for information processing, and the like. For example, the ROM 202 describes a program for controlling the base station 101. The contents of the program are shown in FIGS. 2A and 12B.

  The RAM 203 is mainly used as a work area for various processes, such as temporarily storing and holding data obtained in various processes. The RAM 203 stores, for example, remote control construction data Drc, data D11, key data D12, remote operation data D23, and the like. The remote operation data D23 is transferred from the display device 102 to the base station 101.

  The EEPROM 204 is a so-called non-volatile memory, and the stored information is not lost even when the power is turned off. For example, information on the broadcast channel that was selected until immediately before the main power of the base station 101 was turned off. Is retained. The EEPROM 204 can realize a so-called last channel memory function that selects a broadcast signal of a channel that has been selected until immediately before the power is turned off after the power is turned on. .

  In addition to storing information for realizing the last channel memory function, the EEPROM 204 stores remote control construction data Drc distributed from the server 106. The remote controller construction data Drc may be stored in the display device 102. As a result, the remote control construction data Drc for the newly added AV device 110 and the like can be easily recorded in the EEPROM 204. The above-described program for controlling the base station 101 is not limited to the ROM 202, but may be one stored in the EEPROM 204.

  According to the base station 101 of this embodiment, the antenna cable 111 cb from the antenna 111 for receiving a television broadcast installed outdoors is connected to the channel selection unit 112 of the base station 101. The television broadcast signal Si received by the antenna 111 is supplied to the channel selection unit 112. The channel selection unit 112 selects a television broadcast signal Si corresponding to the channel selection instruction signal S11 from the television broadcast signals Si received by the antenna 111, and the demodulation unit 113 selects the selected television broadcast signal Si. To supply.

  The channel selection instruction signal S11 is output from the control unit 200 to the channel selection unit 112. The demodulation unit 113 demodulates the television broadcast signal Si input from the channel selection unit 112 based on the control signal S12, and supplies the demodulated signal (hereinafter referred to as a television program signal Sa) to the input terminal a of the switch circuit 114. The control signal S12 is supplied from the CPU 201 to the demodulation unit 113.

  The switch circuit 114 is switched by a switching control signal S13 from the control unit 200 and outputs a television program signal Sa supplied from the demodulation unit 113 to the input terminal a, or from the control unit 200 to the input terminal b. It switches whether to output the supplied signal Sb. Note that the signal Sb supplied from the control unit 200 to the switch circuit 114 is supplied to the base station 101 via the telephone line L and received via the communication modem unit 210 or the so-called Internet 105 as will be described later. Information on the homepage. Of course, the signal Sb is remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 or the like downloaded from the information distribution system II. This is because it is assumed that the remote controller construction data Drc is stored in the memory in the display device 102.

  The signal Sa or Sb output from the switch circuit 114 is supplied to the compression processing unit 115. The compression processing unit 115 compresses data of the signal Sa or Sb input from the switch circuit 114 using a predetermined compression method. In the compression processing unit 115, for example, the signal Sa or Sb from the switch circuit 114 is data-compressed based on the control signal S14 by using a data compression method such as MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group) method or Wavelet method. The control signal S14 is supplied from the CPU 201 to the compression processing unit 115.

  The data Dab compressed in the compression processing unit 115 is supplied to the transmission signal forming unit 116. The transmission signal forming unit 116 forms a transmission signal Sab that conforms to a predetermined communication protocol. In this embodiment, based on the control signal S15, a transmission signal Sab compliant with the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 protocol or its developed protocol is formed from the data Dab. The control signal S15 is supplied from the CPU 201 to the transmission signal forming unit 116.

  The transmission signal Sab formed in the transmission signal forming unit 116 is supplied to the transmission processing unit 117S of the transmission / reception radio unit 117. The transmission processing unit 117 </ b> S constitutes an example of a distribution unit, and distributes video information received from the AV device 110 to the display device 102 by the communication modem 210.

  The transmission / reception wireless unit 117 includes a shared unit 117K, a transmission processing unit 117S, and a reception processing unit 117R. The transmission processing unit 117S performs modulation processing and amplification processing of the transmission signal Sab according to the control signal S16 from the control unit 200. The transmission signal Sout processed in the transmission processing unit 117S is wirelessly transmitted to the display device 102 through the common unit 117K and the antenna 118.

  The shared unit 117K prevents the transmission signal Sout and the reception signal Sin from interfering with each other. That is, as described above, the base station 101 is configured to be able to receive instruction information and the like wirelessly transmitted from the display device 102 through the antenna 118. Therefore, the sharing unit 117K prevents the transmission signal Sout from the transmission processing unit 117S from interfering with the reception signal Sin received through the antenna 118.

  A reception signal Sin such as a channel selection instruction from the display device 102 received through the antenna 118 is supplied to the reception processing unit 117R through the shared unit 117K. The reception processing unit 117R constitutes an example of a reception unit, and receives information related to remote operation from the display device 102. For example, the reception processing unit 117R performs processing such as demodulating the signal Sin received from the display device 102 based on the control signal S17, in this example, information related to remote operation, to obtain the signal Sr that can be handled by the control unit 200. The signal Sr is supplied to the control unit 200. The control signal S17 is supplied from the CPU 201 to the reception processing unit 117R.

  When the signal Sr from the reception processing unit 117R is an instruction signal such as a channel selection instruction, the control unit 200 controls each unit according to the instruction signal. Therefore, when the signal Sr supplied from the reception processing unit 117R to the control unit 200 is a channel selection instruction, the control unit 200 receives the channel selection instruction signal S11 corresponding to the supplied channel selection instruction. The channel selection unit 112 is controlled so as to change the TV broadcast signal Si to be selected.

  Further, when the signal Sr supplied from the reception processing unit 117R to the control unit 200 is transmission information such as an electronic mail, the control unit 200, as will be described later, the communication modem unit 210 and the telephone line L. A telephone network is connected through the terminal, and transmission information is transmitted to the telephone network and transmitted to a target destination. When the signal Sr from the reception processing unit 117R is the remote operation data D23, the control unit 200 outputs the remote operation information corresponding to the information related to the remote operation received by the reception processing unit 117R to the AV device 110. Remote control.

  The communication modem unit 210 constitutes an example of a video information receiving unit, and receives video information from the AV device 110 controlled by the control unit 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the interface (described as I / F in FIG. 4) circuit 211 and a communication unit 212 are included. The I / F circuit 211 is an interface between the communication line connected between the other party and the base station 101 through the telephone network and the base station 101, and is transmitted through the telephone network (telephone line L). The incoming reception data Din is received, or the transmission data Dout from the communication unit 212 is transmitted.

  Of course, the I / F circuit 211 receives remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 and the like downloaded from the information distribution system II. The I / F circuit 211 is provided with a connection terminal (not shown) to the AV device 110 shown in FIG. 1 and receives video information.

  The communication unit 212 demodulates the reception data Din received through the I / F circuit 211 and the remote controller construction data Drc, supplies this to the control unit 200, or modulates the transmission data Dout from the control unit 200, This is supplied to the I / F circuit 211. As a result, various data Din / Dout, remote control construction data Drc, and key information of the AV device 110 and the like can be transmitted to and from the other party to which the telephone line L is connected. .

  Therefore, as described above, the base station 101 is connected to the Internet 105 shown in FIG. 1 through the communication modem unit 210, the telephone line L, and a predetermined ISP (Internet Service Provider). You will be provided with information. In this example, the information distribution system II is requested to distribute the remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the AV device 110 and the like, and the remote control construction data Drc corresponding to this is downloaded from the information distribution system II. In addition to this, the base station 101 and the display device 102 can receive and transmit an electronic mail or chat.

  For example, the control unit 200 can control the communication modem unit 210 to go off-hook or on-hook. When the communication modem unit 210 is controlled to go off-hook, a dial signal is sent to the telephone line L. A so-called dialer function is also provided. It is possible to request distribution of remote control construction data Drc for various AV devices 110 and the like to the information distribution system II. In FIG. 4, a key input unit 215 is connected to the control unit 200. The key input unit 215 is provided with a power on / off key and various setting keys. The on / off key is used to turn on / off the main power supply of the base station 101. The setting key is used for various setting inputs. For example, the key input unit 215 outputs key data D12 based on these key operations to the RAM 203.

  Thus, the base station 101 can receive, select and demodulate the television broadcast signal Si, compress the data Sa of the demodulated television broadcast program Sa, and wirelessly transmit it according to a predetermined communication protocol. Is. Further, network information such as remote control construction data Drc provided via a telephone line can be received and demodulated, and the data can be compressed and transmitted wirelessly in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol as in the case of the television broadcast signal Si. It can be done.

  Further, the base station 101 receives instruction information such as a channel selection instruction wirelessly transmitted from the display device 102 to be described later and remote operation data D23 for remotely operating the AV device, and performs processing according to the information. In addition, transmission information such as an electronic mail transmitted from the display device 102 can be transmitted through the communication modem unit 210.

  For example, when the AV device 110 is remotely controlled based on the information regarding the remote operation received from the display device 102, the base station 101 can also remotely control the display device 102 for the newly added AV device 110. Remote control can be performed on the basis of remote operation data D23 input by operation on the screen. Moreover, the remote control construction data for the newly added AV device 110 can also be easily acquired from the external database 107 by the display device 102.

[Display device]
A display device 102 shown in FIG. 5 constitutes a portable terminal display device and is wirelessly connected to the base station 101 described above. The display device 102 can request the base station 101 to distribute video information, and can store remote control construction data Drc distributed from the database 107. Video information is transferred from the AV device 110 or the like to the display device 102 via the base station 101.

  The display device 102 has a remote control function as a user interface for remotely controlling the AV device 110 and the like. The remote control function is constructed based on the remote control construction data Drc downloaded from the server 106. The display device 102 includes a control unit 300. The control unit 300 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, and an EEPROM 304. The CPU 301, ROM 302, RAM 303, and EEPROM 304 are connected through a CPU bus 305. That is, the control unit 300 constitutes a microcomputer and controls the entire display device.

  In addition to the control unit 300, a transmission / reception wireless unit 122, an expansion processing unit 123, a transmission signal forming unit 128, a key input unit 329, and a touch panel 351 are connected to the CPU bus 305. The transmission / reception radio unit 122 includes a shared unit 122K, a transmission processing unit 122S, and a reception processing unit 122R. The decompression processing unit 123 is connected to the image signal processing unit 124 and the audio signal processing unit 126.

  A ROM 302 connected to the CPU bus 305 records various processing programs executed in the display device 102, data D21 necessary for information processing, and the like. The RAM 303 is mainly used as a work area for various processes such as temporarily storing and holding data obtained in various types of information processing. For example, the RAM 303 stores remote control construction data Drc, data D21, key data D22, remote operation data D23, and the like. The remote operation data D23 is transferred from the display device 102 to the base station 101.

  The EEPROM 304 is a so-called non-volatile memory, and the stored information is not lost even when the power is turned off. For example, various setting parameters, created e-mail, received e-mail, chat contents (Text data) and the like are stored and held. The EEPROM 304 stores remote control construction data Drc distributed from the server 106 in addition to storing text data and the like. This remote control construction data Drc is wirelessly transferred from the base station 101. Thereby, the remote control construction data Drc for the newly added AV device 110 and the like can be easily stored in the EEPROM 304.

  When receiving a wireless signal from the base station 101 in this embodiment, the display device 102 operates as follows. A radio signal compliant with a predetermined communication protocol from the base station 101 is received by the transmission / reception antenna 121 shown in FIG. 5 and supplied to the reception processing unit 122R through the shared unit 122K. The reception processing unit 122R performs processing such as demodulating the signal Sin ′ input from the antenna 121 based on the control signal S21 and supplies the demodulated signal Sc to the expansion processing unit 123. The control signal S21 is supplied from the CPU 301 to the reception processing unit 122R.

  As described above, since the signal Sout (= Sin ′) wirelessly transmitted from the base station 101 is compressed, the decompression processing unit 123 of the display device 102 converts the demodulated signal Sc into the control signal S22. Based on the decompression, the original signal is restored. The control signal S22 is supplied from the CPU 301 to the decompression processing unit 123. For example, in the case where the signal after restoration is a signal Sa of a television broadcast program, the signal is composed of an image signal Sv and an audio signal Sm. The image signal Sv is supplied to the image signal processing unit 124, and the audio signal Sm is supplied to the audio signal processing unit 126.

  The image signal processing unit 124 inputs the image signal Sv from the expansion processing unit 123 to form a display signal Sv ′, and supplies this to the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 125 as an example of a display unit. As a result, the liquid crystal display unit 125 displays an image based on the display signal Sv ′. For example, a remote operation screen based on the remote control construction data Drc downloaded from the information distribution system II by the distribution request function of the base station 101 is displayed. This remote operation screen realizes a remote control function.

  On the other hand, the audio signal processing unit 126 inputs the audio signal Sm from the expansion processing unit 123 to form an audio output signal Sm ′, and supplies the audio output signal Sm ′ to the speaker 127. The speaker 127 is connected to the audio signal processing unit 126. Thereby, the speaker 127 emits sound based on the sound output signal Sm ′.

  In this way, the display device 102 receives a signal Sin ′ of a television broadcast program or the like wirelessly transmitted from the base station 101, and reproduces and outputs the image signal Sv and the audio signal Sm of the received signal Sin ′. To do. As a result, the user can view images, sounds, and the like of television broadcast programs. In addition to this function, the display device 102 operates a “remote control function” on the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 125.

  When the “remote control function” is operated on this display screen, the key input unit 329 and the touch panel 351 shown in FIG. 5 are operated. The key input unit 329 is connected to the control unit 300. The key input unit 329 is provided with a power on / off key and various setting keys. The on / off key is used to turn on / off the main power supply of the display device 102. The setting key is used for various setting inputs. For example, the key input unit 329 outputs key data D22 based on these key operations to the RAM 303.

  The touch panel 351 is operated when inputting the remote operation data D23 on the remote operation screen. For example, when the user touches a remote control key on the remote operation screen, the remote operation data D23 is read from the EEPROM 304 and temporarily recorded in the RAM 303. Further, the display device 102 outputs the remote operation data D23 obtained by the input operation of the remote control key on the remote operation screen from the RAM 303 to the base station 101.

  For example, the remote operation data D23 is supplied to the transmission signal forming unit 128. The transmission signal forming unit 128 forms a transmission signal Se that conforms to a predetermined communication protocol. In this embodiment, based on the control signal S23, a transmission signal Se conforming to the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 protocol or its developed protocol is formed from the remote operation data D23. The control signal S23 is supplied from the CPU 301 to the transmission signal forming unit 128.

  The transmission signal Se formed in the transmission signal forming unit 128 is supplied to the transmission processing unit 122S of the transmission / reception radio unit 122. The transmission / reception radio unit 122 includes a shared unit 122K, a transmission processing unit 122S, and a reception processing unit 122R. The transmission processing unit 122S performs modulation processing and amplification processing of the transmission signal Se in accordance with the control signal S24 from the control unit 300. The transmission signal Sout processed in the transmission processing unit 122S is wirelessly transmitted to the base station 101 through the shared unit 122K and the antenna 121.

  As described above, when the user operates the touch panel 351 and touches the remote control key on the remote operation screen, the remote operation data D23 is controlled by the CPU 301 and is transmitted from the antenna 121 via the transmission processing unit 122S and the shared unit 122K. It is transmitted to the base station 101 by radio waves. In addition to this, when requesting the server 106 shown in FIG. 1 to distribute the remote control construction data Drc or when instructing the acquisition of an electronic program guide or the like, the CPU 301 of the display device 102 uses the transmission processing unit based on this instruction. The predetermined server 106 is accessed via the base station 101 by radio waves from the antenna 121 via the 122S and the shared unit 122K.

  This request is transmitted from the antenna 118 of the base station 101 to the CPU 201 via the shared unit 117K and the reception processing unit 117R. Therefore, the CPU 201 controls the communication unit 212 to connect to a predetermined ISP via the I / F circuit 211 and further connect to a predetermined server 106 via the Internet 105 shown in FIG. Then, information distribution such as remote control construction data Drc is received from the server 106. When the CPU 201 receives the remote control construction data Drc and the like from the server 106 via the I / F circuit 211 and the communication unit 212, the CPU 201 supplies the remote control construction data Drc to the RAM 203 and temporarily stores it.

  Further, the CPU 201 supplies the remote control construction data Drc stored in the RAM 203 to the transmission signal forming unit 116. The transmission signal forming unit 116 forms a transmission signal Sab such as a remote control image signal. The transmission signal Sab formed by the transmission signal forming unit 116 is input to the transmission processing unit 117S. The transmission processing unit 117S processes the transmission signal Sab and outputs the transmission signal Sout from the shared unit 117K to the display device 102 via radio waves via the antenna 118.

  In the display device 102, radio waves from the base station 101 are received via the transmission / reception antenna 121 and supplied to the expansion processing unit 123 via the shared unit 122K and the reception processing unit 122R. The decompression processing unit 123 decompresses the image data schematically representing the remote controller supplied from the reception processing unit 122R, and then stores it in the EEPROM 304.

  Further, when the user operates the touch panel 351 to instruct display of the remote controller, the CPU 301 reads the remote controller construction data Drc stored in the EEPROM 304 from the remote controller construction data Drc and supplies it to the decompression processing unit 123. The decompression processing unit 123 decompresses the remote controller construction data Drc based on the control signal S22. The decompression processing unit 123 supplies the remote control construction data Drc after the decompression process to the image signal processing unit 124, performs a predetermined process, and then outputs it to the liquid crystal display unit 125. The liquid crystal display unit 125 displays an image that schematically represents the remote controller. Note that the display device 102 can also receive data such as an electronic program guide in the same manner.

  Next, a display example of the remote controller RM in the liquid crystal display unit 125 will be described. When the user selects, for example, “remote control” on the window 20 shown in FIG. 6, an image schematically showing the remote control RM is displayed. The window 20 is a display screen in the liquid crystal display unit 125. In this display example of the remote controller RM, a video deck (not shown) is connected to the base station 101, and the video remote controller RM is displayed on the display screen while viewing the video image on the display device 102.

  According to the display example of the remote controller RM shown in FIG. 6, an upper display portion 21 and a lower display portion 22 are provided on the window 20, and the upper display portion 21 has an icon K1 for displaying a channel name and a volume display. Icon K2 is displayed. In this example, “video” is displayed on the icon K1. This is because video playback is selected while a video deck is connected to the base station 101. In addition to “video”, “TV”, “Internet”, “mail”, “album”, or “setting” is displayed on the icon K1. The icon K2 is for adjusting the volume, and the volume is displayed as a bar.

  The lower display 22 displays a screen memo key K3, an image quality adjustment key K4, a sound quality adjustment key K5, a sleep key K6, and a remote control key K7. The screen memo key K3 is operated to stop the screen and freeze the video. The image quality adjustment key K4 is operated when adjusting the image quality of the television or video. The sound quality adjustment key K5 is operated when adjusting the sound quality of the television or video.

  The sleep key K6 is operated to set a time for automatically turning off the power of the video deck connected to the base station 101. For example, when the sleep key K6 is selected, a setting sub-screen is displayed in the moving image display area, and “30 minutes later”, “60 minutes later”,... The user selects and sets this. The remote control key K7 is operated when selecting “remote control”.

  Between the upper display unit 21 and the lower display unit 22 is a moving image display region, and a video image transmitted from a video deck connected to the base station 101, in this example, a moving video landscape image sailing on a yacht is played on the video deck. And displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 125 of the display device 102. This example is a case where the video of the remote controller RM is displayed over the video scenery video of the yacht in the video display area. The remote control image is displayed in the moving image display area by selecting the remote control key K7 on the lower display unit 22. The remote controller RM is operated to remotely control the video deck connected to the base station 101.

  Subsequently, a display example of the remote controller RM1 for the video apparatus will be described. A remote controller RM1 illustrated in FIG. 7 is an image that schematically represents the remote controller in the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 125 of the display device 102. The remote controller RM1 has a power key K11, a television / video K12, a dual audio key K13, a BS key K14, an input switching key K15, a channel-/ + key K16, a rewind key K17, a playback key K18, a fast-forward key K19, and a pause. A key K110, a stop key K111, a display off key K112, and a model switching key K113 are provided, and the key image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 125.

  The power key K11 is operated when turning on / off the power of the video deck. The television / video key K12 is operated when switching between television / video. The dual audio key K13 is operated when switching the audio multiplex broadcasting. The BS key K14 is operated when receiving a satellite broadcast. The input switching key K15 is operated when switching the input of the video deck.

  The channel-/ + key K16 is operated when the channel is up or down. The rewind key K17 is operated when rewinding the video. The reproduction key K18 is operated when reproducing a video. The fast forward key K19 is operated when the video is fast forwarded. The pause key K110 is operated when the video is paused. The stop key K111 is operated when stopping the video. The display off key K112 is operated to turn off the remote control display. The model switching key K113 is operated when switching the first / second video deck.

  Next, a display example of the remote controller RM2 for a digital CS (Communication Satellite) device will be described. A remote controller RM2 shown in FIG. 8 is an image schematically showing the remote controller in the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 125 of the display device 102. The remote controller RM2 includes a power key K21, a satellite switching key K22, a dual voice key K23, a numeric key K24, a channel selection key K25, a channel-/ + key K26, a display off key K27, and a model switching key K28. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 125.

  The power key K21 is operated when turning on / off the power of the digital CS and cable television. The satellite switching key K22 is operated when switching the type of satellite. The dual audio key K23 is operated when switching the audio multiplex broadcasting. The numeric keypad K24 is operated when inputting channel numbers. The channel selection key K25 is used to input a channel number after selecting this button.

  The channel-/ + key K26 is operated when the digital CS or cable television channel is up or down. The display off key K27 is operated to turn off the remote control display. The model switching key K28 is operated at the time of switching the first unit / second unit such as a digital CS or a cable television.

  Next, a display example of a remote controller RM3 for a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) device will be described. A remote controller RM3 shown in FIG. 9 is an image schematically showing the remote controller in the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 125 of the display device 102. The remote controller RM3 includes a power key K31, a rewind key K32, a fast-forward key K33, a previous key K34, a next key K35, a stop key K36, a playback key K37, a pause key K38, a display off key K39, and a model switching key K310. The key image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 125.

  The power key K31 is operated when turning on / off the power of the DVD device. The rewind key K32 is operated when the disk is rewound (double speed). The fast-forward key K33 is operated when fast-forwarding the disk (double speed). The previous key K34 is operated when returning a chapter or video during DVD playback.

  The next key K35 is operated when a chapter or video is advanced during playback of the DVD device. The stop key K36 is operated when stopping the DVD device. The reproduction key K37 is operated when reproducing the DVD device. The pause key K38 is operated when the DVD device is paused. The display off key K39 is operated to turn off the remote control display. The model switching key K310 is operated when switching the first / second DVD apparatus.

  Next, a processing example in the remote control construction information processing system 100 will be described. In this embodiment, an information processing apparatus 103 including a base station 101 and a display apparatus 102 is prepared. For example, a DVD apparatus is connected to the base station 101 as an AV device 110, and remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the DVD apparatus is stored. Assume a case where remote control is performed by downloading from Information Distribution System II. In this system 100, a process of requesting distribution by the information processing system I to the information distribution system II (processing at the time of distribution request) and a process of distributing the remote control construction data Drc from the information distribution system II to the information processing system I (remote control construction information) Processing) and processing for remotely operating the DVD device (remote operation processing), for example, based on the remote control construction data Drc in the information processing system I will be described separately.

[Processing example when requesting distribution]
In this example, when the remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the DVD device is acquired by the information processing system I, it is checked whether the remote control construction information processing system 100 is used in step E1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Whether or not to use the system is determined by the user. When the remote control construction information processing system 100 is used, the process proceeds to step E2 to call a predetermined website and connect the base station 101 and the server 106 through the Internet 105, for example. Thereby, the information distribution system II that distributes the remote controller construction data Drc and the information processing system I including the base station 101 are connected through the Internet 105.

  Thereafter, in step E3, an authentication process such as user ID is performed by a known authentication method. In this authentication process, for example, personal information (registration number) for identifying a user registered in advance with an information provider is compared with personal information (registration number) input on the display device 102. If the registration numbers of both match, authentication is OK. If the registration numbers of both do not match, the authentication is NG. If the authentication is OK, the process proceeds to step E4, and the server 106 is requested to download the remote control construction data Drc corresponding to the DVD device. At this time, the identification number of the DVD device may be inquired. By this inquiry, device authentication of the DVD device can be performed.

  In response to this download request, the remote controller construction data Drc is downloaded in step E5. The remote control construction data Drc downloaded here is stored in the EEPROM 204 in step E6. When a new DVD device is added, the remote controller construction data Drc is further downloaded and additionally recorded in the EEPROM 204.

  In step E7, the user performs a settlement process. In this settlement process, the fee is automatically deducted from the user's bank account by the server 106 that individually manages the fee-charging service. If the remote control construction information processing system 100 is not used in step E1, the process proceeds to step E8 to execute other processes. This is because the remote control construction information processing system 100 may not be used. When the other processing is finished and when the authentication is not performed at step E3, the information processing here is finished.

[Example of processing when distributing remote control construction data]
The information delivery system II waits for a delivery request for the remote controller construction data Drc in step F1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. If there is a distribution request, the process proceeds to step F2 to receive a distribution request for the remote controller construction data Drc. Thereafter, the process goes to step F3, where the information distribution system II searches the database 107 for the remote controller construction data Drc of the DVD device for which the distribution request has been made and extracts it.

  Then, in step F4, the remote controller construction data Drc is distributed to the information processing system I that has received the distribution request. Thereafter, the process goes to step F5, and the information distribution system II executes customer management processing in the information distribution system II regarding the distribution service. At this time, the server 106 individually manages the distribution service of the remote control construction data Drc provided for the information processing system I. For example, the server 106 performs a fee-charging process corresponding to the payment for the distribution service. Further, the server 106 can grasp the model of the DVD device purchased by the user from the distribution request for the remote control construction data Drc. This is for the purpose of future development of popular products and improvement of the remote control construction data Drc distribution service.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step F6, where the information distribution system II checks whether to end the process. If this service is continued for 24 hours, the process returns to step F1 and the information distribution system II repeats the above-described processing. When providing the distribution service by dividing time in one day, the information distribution system II ends the service process when the service end time arrives.

[Example of processing during remote operation]
This processing example is based on the premise that the base station 101 and the DVD device are connected, and the remote operation screen is displayed on the portable terminal type display device 102 separated from the base station 101. When the DVD apparatus is remotely controlled by the information processing system I under this processing condition, it is checked whether the DVD apparatus is remotely controlled in step G1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12A. This check is performed by the user. When the user remotely controls the DVD device, the process proceeds to step G2, and the operation screen shown in FIG. At this time, various key images are displayed on the upper display unit 21 and the lower display unit 22 excluding the moving image display area 23.

  Then, the user selects an operation screen by touching the remote control key K7. By this selection, for example, the remote control construction data Drc is read from the EEPROM 204 in step G3, and the remote control construction data Drc is wirelessly transferred from the base station 101 to the display device 102. The remote controller construction data Drc is stored in the EEPROM 304. The remote controller construction data Drc is read from the EEPROM 304, and in the moving image display area 23 of the liquid crystal display unit 125, for example, an image schematically representing a remote controller as an example of a remote operation screen is displayed at the right end in step G4. . In this example, an image schematically representing the remote controller RM3 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step G5, and the display device 102 waits for a remote control operation input. At this time, the touch panel 351 is operated on the operation screen of the remote controller, and the user inputs the remote operation data D23. Accordingly, when a remote control operation input is detected in step G6, the remote control data D23 is read from the EEPROM 204. Then, the process proceeds to step G7 where the remote operation data D23 is output from the display device 102 to the base station 101.

  On the other hand, the base station 101 waits for input of the remote operation data D23 from the display device 102 in step H1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12B. When the remote operation data D23 is input from the display device 102, the base station 101 proceeds to step H2 to remotely control the DVD device based on the remote operation data D23 received from the display device 102. From this time, the DVD device can be controlled by the display device 102. For example, when receiving the remote operation data D23 from the display device 102, the base station 101 remotely controls the DVD device according to the remote operation data D23 received here.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, when the power key K31 is turned on by the remote controller RM3, the DVD apparatus is turned on. When reproducing the DVD device, the reproduction key K37 is operated. When fast-forwarding the disk (double speed), the fast-forward key K33 is operated. When performing chapter processing or returning video during playback of the DVD device, the previous key K34 is operated.

  When the disk is rewound (double speed), the rewind key K32 is operated. When the DVD device is paused, the pause key K38 is operated. The next key K35 is operated when performing chapter processing or advancing video during playback of the DVD device. In order to stop the DVD device, the stop key K36 is operated. To turn off the remote control display, the display off key K39 is operated. In this way, the base station 101 receives video information from a remotely controlled DVD device and distributes the video information received from the DVD device to the display device 102.

  When remote control is not executed at step G1 in the flowchart of FIG. 12A, the process proceeds to step G8 and other processing is executed. This is because information processing such as chat and electronic program guide may be executed. Therefore, when the other processing is completed and when the remote operation data D23 is transferred to the base station 101 in step G7, the process proceeds to step G9. In step G9, the CPU 301 determines the end of the information processing. The end of information processing is determined by detecting power-off information and the like. When the power-off information is not detected, the process returns to step G1 and the above-described processing is continued.

  As described above, according to the base station 101 and the control method therefor, when the DVD device is connected to the AV device 110 and the remote operation data D23 is transmitted to the DVD device to remotely control the DVD device. In addition, the reception processing unit 117R receives information related to remote operation such as instruction information and electronic mail from the display device 102. The control unit 200 performs remote control by outputting the remote operation data D23 to the DVD device in response to the instruction information received by the reception processing unit 117R. On the assumption of this, the communication modem 210 receives video information from the DVD device remotely controlled by the control unit 200. The transmission processing unit 117S transmits the video information received by the communication modem 210 to the display device 102.

  Therefore, it is possible to remotely control the newly added AV apparatus 110 such as a DVD device based on the remote operation data D23 that is input by operation on the remote operation screen. In addition, when the display device 102 requests delivery of the remote control construction data Drc, the base station 101 delivers the remote control construction data Drc downloaded from the external database 107 to the display device 102 via the transmission processing unit 117S. Therefore, remote control construction data Drc for the newly added AV device 110 can also be easily acquired from the database 107.

  Since the base station 101 displays the remote operation screen on the display device 102 based on the display information included in the remote control construction data Drc, the information processing device 103 including the base station 101 and the display device 102 can be used in the home or the like. It becomes possible to construct a multi-function remote control service system capable of centralized remote operation of AV equipment 110 such as a plurality of DVD devices.

  By realizing such a remote control distribution service system, home DVD devices can be interconnected / controlled. It will be possible to easily realize synergy remote control between devices at home using the Internet environment well.

  The present invention is extremely suitable when applied to a multi-function remote control service system capable of centralized remote control of audio video equipment such as a digital CS / BS tuner, DVD player, CD / MD player and the like.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the remote control construction | assembly information processing system 100 to which the display control apparatus as embodiment which concerns on this invention is applied. (A)-(C) is a flowchart which shows the example of a delivery request | requirement of remote control construction data, the example of delivery, and the example of remote operation. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a television reception system applied to a remote control construction information processing system 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a base station 101. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a display device 102. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of remote control RM in the liquid crystal display part 125. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of remote control RM1 for video apparatuses. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of remote control RM2 for digital CS apparatuses. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of remote control RM3 for DVD apparatuses. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example when a distribution request is made in the remote control construction information processing system 100. It is a flowchart which shows the process example at the time of remote control construction data delivery. (A) And (B) is a flowchart which shows the process example at the time of remote control.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Remote control command delivery processing system, 101 ... Base station (display control apparatus), 102 ... Display apparatus (video display apparatus), 103 ... Information processing apparatus, 105 ... Internet (communication means) ), 106... Server (information distribution device), 107... Database, 110... AV equipment, etc. (video information providing device), 117 S... Transmission processing unit (distribution unit), 117 R. Processing unit (reception unit), 122S ... transmission processing unit, 122R ... reception processing unit (reception unit), 125 ... liquid crystal display unit (display unit), 200, 300 ... control unit (remote control) Part), 202, 302... ROM (recording medium), 204, 304... EEPROM (storage part), 210... Communication modem (video receiving part), 321. , 351 ... touch panel (input section)

Claims (4)

Video information that is connected to the video information providing apparatus and can remotely control the video information providing apparatus by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing apparatus, and is supplied from the video information providing apparatus A display control device that transfers information to a video display device and receives information related to remote control supplied from the video display device,
A receiving unit for receiving information on the remote operation supplied from the video display device;
A remote control unit for remotely controlling the video information providing apparatus by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing apparatus among the information relating to the remote operation received by the receiving unit;
A video information receiving unit that receives video information supplied from the video information providing apparatus remotely controlled by the remote control unit;
A transmission unit that transmits the video information received by the video information reception unit to the video display device;
The remote control unit is
The video display device is requested to distribute display information for displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device and remote control construction data including remote operation information corresponding to the operation on the remote operation screen. When
Downloading the remote control construction data from an external database and delivering it to the video display device via the transmitter,
A display control device, wherein a remote operation screen is displayed on the video display device based on display information included in the remote control construction data. Video information that is connected to the video information providing apparatus and can remotely control the video information providing apparatus by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing apparatus, and is supplied from the video information providing apparatus A display control device for transferring information to a video display device and receiving information related to remote control supplied from the video display device,
Receiving information related to the remote operation supplied from the video display device;
Transmitting the remote operation information to the video information providing device out of the received information related to the remote operation and remotely controlling the video information providing device;
Receiving video information supplied from the remotely controlled video information providing device;
Transmitting the received video information to the video display device;
Display information for displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device, and remote control construction data including remote operation information corresponding to an operation on the remote operation screen is downloaded from an external database and the video is displayed. Delivering to the device;
Delivering the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database in response to a delivery request for the remote control construction data from the video display device to the video display device;
And a step of displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device based on display information included in the remote control construction data. Video information that is connected to the video information providing apparatus and can remotely control the video information providing apparatus by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing apparatus, and is supplied from the video information providing apparatus Is a program for controlling a display control device that transfers information to a video display device and receives information related to remote control supplied from the video display device,
Receiving information related to the remote operation supplied from the video display device;
Transmitting the remote operation information to the video information providing device out of the received information related to the remote operation and remotely controlling the video information providing device;
Receiving video information supplied from the remotely controlled video information providing device;
Transmitting the received video information to the video display device;
Display information for displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device, and remote control construction data including remote operation information corresponding to an operation on the remote operation screen is downloaded from an external database and the video is displayed. Delivering to the device;
Delivering the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database in response to a delivery request for the remote control construction data from the video display device to the video display device;
A control program for a display control device, comprising: displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device based on display information included in the remote control construction data. Video information that is connected to the video information providing apparatus and can remotely control the video information providing apparatus by transmitting remote operation information to the video information providing apparatus, and is supplied from the video information providing apparatus A storage medium describing a program for controlling the display control device that transfers information to the video display device and receives information related to remote control supplied from the video display device,
Receiving information related to the remote operation supplied from the video display device;
Transmitting the remote operation information to the video information providing device out of the received information related to the remote operation and remotely controlling the video information providing device;
Receiving video information supplied from the remotely controlled video information providing device;
Transmitting the received video information to the video display device;
Display information for displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device, and remote control construction data including remote operation information corresponding to an operation on the remote operation screen is downloaded from an external database and the video is displayed. Delivering to the device;
Delivering the remote control construction data downloaded from the external database in response to a delivery request for the remote control construction data from the video display device to the video display device;
A recording medium comprising: a program having a step of displaying a remote operation screen on the video display device based on display information included in the remote control construction data.

Images