JP3920729B2 - Remote control lock system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a remote control lock system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, devices such as television receivers and VTRs are provided with a small number of buttons such as volume, channel, and input switching on the main body side. Normally, when a user operates the device, a remote control transmitter is used. Will be used. In addition, receivers that receive digital broadcasts are equipped with functions that are not provided by conventional analog broadcasts, such as data broadcasting, electronic program guide display, and two-way communication. Will be executed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When a large number of keys are provided on the remote control transmitter, a user unfamiliar with the operation causes the device to execute an unintended process due to an inadvertent key operation. It is also desirable to eliminate inadvertent key operations even in television receivers installed in halls where unspecified people gather. For this reason, a remote control lock system has been proposed that can invalidate the keys of the remote control transmitter (see Japanese Patent No. 2911859, IPC: H04Q 9/00). However, in the above-described conventional technique, the specific key set on the manufacturer side is uniformly invalidated, and there is a complaint that even a key not desired by the user is invalidated.
[0004]
An object of this invention is to provide the remote control lock system which can set arbitrarily the key which a user desires to invalidate in view of said situation.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the remote control lock system of the present invention comprises a remote control transmitter and a device that operates by receiving a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter, and can invalidate and set the keys of the remote control transmitter. The remote control lock system is characterized in that the invalidation setting is made for each pressed key when the user presses an arbitrary key at the time of invalidation setting.
[0006]
In the above configuration, if the user presses only the “EPG” key, for example, of the remote control transmitter at the time of invalidation setting, only the “EPG” key is invalidated. After the invalidation setting, even if the user presses the “EPG” key of the remote control transmitter and the remote control signal is sent to the device by this, the remote control signal is ignored on the device side. Thus, since the key which a user desires to invalidate can be set arbitrarily, the dissatisfaction when the invalidation key is uniformly determined by the manufacturer can be solved.
[0007]
It is preferable that a device-arranged key having the same function as a disabled key is also set to be disabled. According to this, when the volume key of the remote control transmitter is invalidated by the invalidation setting, the volume cannot be changed even if the volume key arranged on the device side is operated.
[0008]
It is preferable that an input of a personal identification number is requested at the time of invalidation setting and cancellation thereof. According to this, for example, it is possible to prevent the child from releasing the lock without permission while the guardian is away.
[0009]
It is preferable that a plurality of lock patterns having different key patterns to be invalidated are held and an arbitrary lock pattern can be selected by a user operation. According to this, it is possible to deal with a plurality of users such as a setting for a year and a setting for a child.
[0010]
A button to cancel the invalidation setting should be provided on the device side. For example, by providing a release button in an inconspicuous part (for example, the back side of the device) of the receiving device, the invalidation setting can be canceled even if the password is forgotten.
[0011]
The device has an on-screen display function, generates a video signal for displaying the image of the remote control transmitter when executing the invalidation setting, and distinguishes and displays the invalid key and other keys. It is good to be comprised so that it may do. According to this, it is possible to perform invalidation or cancellation while confirming which key is invalidated (not made).
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, a remote control lock system applied to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus is illustrated. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital broadcast receiving apparatus 30, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a remote control transmitter 10, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a lock setting mode screen.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, an antenna 1 is arranged outdoors in a predetermined direction, and receives a digital broadcast wave sent from a satellite. The antenna 1 is generally provided with a frequency converter, and supplies a received / frequency converted signal to the tuner 2.
[0014]
The tuner 2 extracts a specific frequency from the received high frequency digital modulation signal. That is, a process of selecting one from a plurality of transponders of digital broadcasting is performed. Further, the tuner 2 includes a demodulation circuit, a deinterleave circuit, an error correction circuit, and the like, thereby demodulating the selected digital modulation signal and outputting a transport stream.
[0015]
The demultiplexer (DEMUX) 3 separates the transport stream output from the tuner 2 into an MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2) video stream, an audio stream, and PSI / SI (Program Specific Information / Service Information). The demultiplexer 3 supplies the video stream and the audio stream to the AV decoder 4 and supplies PSI / SI to the CPU 13.
[0016]
The AV decoder 4 includes a video decoder that decodes a video stream and an audio decoder that decodes an audio stream. The video decoder decodes the input variable length code to obtain a quantization coefficient and a motion vector, and performs inverse DCT conversion, motion compensation control based on the motion vector, and the like. The audio decoder decodes the input encoded signal to generate audio data. The video data generated by the decoding is output to the video processing circuit 5, and the audio data is output to the audio processing circuit 6.
[0017]
The video processing circuit 5 receives video data from the AV decoder 4 and performs D / A conversion, for example, to convert it into a composite video signal. The audio signal processing circuit 6 receives the audio data output from the AV decoder 4 and performs D / A conversion to generate, for example, a right (R) sound analog signal and a left (L) sound analog signal.
[0018]
The video output circuit 7 and the audio output circuit 8 include an output resistor, an amplifier, and the like. The AV output terminal 9 is provided with an output unit (a set of left and right audio output terminals and the like, a video output terminal and the like), and a monitor 16 provided with a picture tube 16a and a speaker 16b by a video / audio code 17 in this output unit. Is connected.
[0019]
The OSD circuit 12 generates video data based on character information and color information instructed to be output from the CPU 13 and outputs the video data to the adder 20. The adder 20 performs processing for incorporating the video data into the received video data output from the AV decoder 4. The OSD circuit 12 displays a menu screen and an EPG screen, as well as a screen representing the remote control transmitter 10.
[0020]
The remote control transmitter 10 is a transmitter for sending a command to the broadcast receiving device 30. The remote control transmitter 10 is provided with a “lock” key in this embodiment in addition to the channel setting key and the volume setting key as shown in FIG. 2, for example. When these keys are operated, signal light (remote control signal) indicating a command corresponding to the key is transmitted from a light emitting unit (not shown). The remote control light receiver 11 receives the signal light, converts it into an electric signal, and gives it to the CPU 13.
[0021]
Program information, key lock mode setting information, and the like are stored in a rewritable nonvolatile memory (for example, EEPROM) 14.
[0022]
The CPU 13 performs overall control in the digital broadcast receiving apparatus 30. In particular, key lock control described below is executed as control according to the present invention.
[0023]
When the “lock” key of the remote control transmitter 10 is operated, the receiving device 30 receives the signal and enters the lock setting mode. In this mode, even if the “up / down / left / right” key or the “decision” key is invalidated, the signal is accepted. In the lock setting mode, the OSD circuit 12 displays a screen as shown in FIG. On the left side of the screen, items such as “confirm lock setting”, “lock setting”, and “password setting” are provided. When the user operates the “up / down” key of the remote control transmitter 10 to place the cursor on “confirm lock setting” (change the color) and input “001” using the numeric keys in the corresponding “NO.” Field, The CPU 13 reads the setting contents of the mode 001 stored in the nonvolatile memory 14 and displays the key layout on the screen. In this key layout screen, the disabled keys are shaded.
[0024]
The user operates the “up / down” key of the remote control transmitter 10, puts the cursor on “lock setting” on the left side of the screen, inputs “002” using the number keys in the “NO.” Field, and sets the mode 002. can do. If the mode 002 setting is not stored in the non-volatile memory 14, a non-input (non-shaded) key arrangement is displayed on the right side of the screen, and if the mode 002 setting already exists, The setting contents of will be displayed. Here, when the “OK” key of the remote control transmitter 10 is pressed, the lock setting execution mode is entered. In this lock setting execution mode, the shaded / non-shaded display is alternately switched on the display key on the screen corresponding to the pressed key. That is, the command light corresponding to the pressed key is not executed, but the signal light of the key is accepted as a setting for invalidation / validation of the key.
[0025]
After the user designates invalidation for the desired key (after the desired display key is shaded), the user enters the password setting mode when the enter key is pressed. In this password setting mode, if the setting of mode 002 is a change of the existing one, the three-digit password is input. If the mode 002 is a new one, an arbitrary three-digit password is input. . When the “enter” key is pressed after the password is entered, a key lock state is formed by setting the mode 002 (the setting contents of the mode 002 are stored in the nonvolatile memory 14). In this key lock state, even if a key designated to be invalidated is pressed and the signal light is detected by the receiving device 30, the receiving device 30 does not perform the process that the signal light means.
[0026]
Even when the key lock state is released, the “lock” key of the remote control transmitter 10 is operated. The receiving device 30 receives the signal and enters the lock setting mode shown in FIG. 3. In this lock setting mode, the cursor is placed (changed in color) on “Confirm lock setting”, and a numeric key is entered in the “NO.” Column. When “000” is input using “” and the “OK” key is pressed, the receiving apparatus 30 determines that the key lock state is released. The receiving device 30 requests input of a personal identification number, and releases the key lock state if the personal identification number matches the set one. In consideration of the possibility of forgetting the password, for example, a key lock release button is provided on the back side of the main body of the receiving device 30, and the key lock state is released when this button is pressed. Is good.
[0027]
For example, for a child who is at home when the parent is absent, the key lock may be set by the parent, or the user himself / herself may desire the key lock setting even if the child does not want the key lock. For example, when the user is an elderly person, only the minimum necessary key operation is desired. Keeping the key unlocked as normal, tell the elderly that "When watching TV, press the lock key, enter 001 with the numeric keys, and then press the power key." The receiving device 30 receives signal light by pressing the “lock” key in the TV OFF state (remote control signal waiting state), and then sequentially receives the signal light of the numeric keys “0”, “0”, and “1”. When the signal light is received by pressing the “power” key, the mode 001 key lock state is formed and the TV is turned on. Thereby, for example, only the “Power” key, “Channel UP / DOWN” key, “Volume UP / DOWN” key, and numeric keys are valid, and the other “EPG” key, “Menu” key, etc. are invalidated. It becomes a remote control transmitter for elderly people. In such a case, the key lock state may be automatically released when the “power” key is pressed and the television is turned off. Of course, what is once set to the key lock state may be held as the last memory.
[0028]
In the above example, the receiving apparatus 30 enters the lock setting mode when the “lock” key is pressed. However, such a “lock” key is not provided in the remote control transmitter 10, for example, a television set. In OFF (remote control signal standby state), when an existing predetermined single key is pressed or a predetermined plurality of keys are pressed in a predetermined order, the video output state is automatically executed to enter the lock setting mode. It is good to enter. Further, although a remote control lock system in a digital broadcast receiving apparatus has been shown, it can also be applied to a VTR or the like.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, with the remote control lock system of the present invention, the user can arbitrarily set the key that the user wants to invalidate. Can be resolved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a remote control lock system comprising a digital broadcast receiving apparatus and a remote control transmitter of this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a remote control transmitter.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a lock setting mode screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Antenna 2 Tuner 3 Demultiplexer (DEMUX)
4 AV decoder 12 OSD circuit 13 CPU
14 Nonvolatile memory

Claims (6)

In a remote control lock system comprising a remote control transmitter and a device that operates by receiving a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter, the user presses an arbitrary key at the time of invalidation setting in the remote control lock system in which the key of the remote control transmitter can be invalidated. A remote control lock system configured to be invalidated for each pressed key. 2. The remote control lock system according to claim 1, wherein a key on the device side having the same function as the key set to be disabled is also set to be disabled in conjunction with the key. . 3. The remote control lock system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control lock system is configured to request an input of a personal identification number at the time of invalidation setting and release thereof. The remote control lock system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of lock patterns having different key patterns to be disabled are held, and an arbitrary lock pattern can be selected by a user operation. Remote control lock system characterized by that. The remote control lock system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a button for canceling the invalidation setting is provided on the device side. 5. The remote control lock system according to claim 1, wherein the device has an on-screen display function, generates a video signal for displaying an image of the remote control transmitter when the invalidation setting is executed, and A remote control lock system configured to distinguish and display a key set to be invalidated and other keys.

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