JP5501520B2 - Information processing terminal and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present embodiment relates to an information processing terminal and an information processing method for starting an application.

  A tablet terminal (same for a smartphone) can perform various operations by activating an application. For example, the tablet terminal can hold and start an application that can control an external device such as a television.

  In order to handle a desired application, the user needs to turn on the tablet terminal, release the lock function (key lock or screen lock) of the tablet terminal, select the desired application, and start the application. And

JP-A-11-212893

  However, even when a user simply controls an external device (for example, a television) using a tablet terminal, the user needs two steps of selecting an application and starting the selected application. Take it.

  The objective of this invention is providing the information processing terminal and information processing method which improve a user's convenience.

  According to the embodiment, the information processing terminal includes storage means, setting means, detection means, activation control means, and display control means. The storage means stores an application for controlling an external device belonging to the network. The setting means sets and registers a specific external device selected from the external devices. The detection means detects a trigger for starting the application. The activation control unit activates the application for controlling the external device based on the trigger without releasing the lock function. When there are a plurality of the applications related to the specific external device, the display control means displays a list of the applications based on the trigger and controls display of a screen that allows the user to select one of them. The activation control unit activates the application selected on the screen.

The block diagram of the system containing the information processing terminal which concerns on embodiment. The block block diagram of the information processing terminal which concerns on embodiment. The screen figure of the information processing terminal concerning an embodiment. The flowchart of the starting process of the application in the information processing terminal which concerns on embodiment. The block diagram of the system containing the information processing terminal which concerns on embodiment. The screen figure of the information processing terminal concerning an embodiment. The screen figure of the information processing terminal concerning an embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a system composed of a plurality of electronic devices. The system includes, for example, a video display device 10, an information processing terminal 20, and a wireless communication device 30.

  The video display device 10 is an electronic device having a function of displaying a video of a broadcast signal or a video stored in a storage medium, for example. The video display device 10 has a function of communicating with the information processing terminal 20 and the wireless communication device 30. In addition, although the video reproduction apparatus 10 is a television, for example, it is not limited to this.

  The information processing terminal 20 is an electronic device having a function of starting an application and controlling (operating) an external device. In addition, the information processing terminal 20 has a function of communicating with the video display device 10 and the wireless communication device 30. The configuration of the information processing terminal 20 will be described later. In addition, although the portable terminal 200 is a tablet terminal, a smart phone, etc., for example, it is not limited to these.

  The wireless communication device 30 is an electronic device having a function of communicating with the video display device 10 and the information processing terminal 20. The wireless communication device 30 communicates with the video display device 10 wirelessly or via a communication cable such as a LAN cable. The wireless communication device 30 communicates with the information terminal 20 wirelessly. The wireless communication device 30 also has a function of forming a subnet (a network that can be controlled mutually) by assigning an IP address to an electronic device using a subnet mask based on a user operation at the information processing terminal 20, for example. Is provided. That is, the wireless communication device 30 has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function. In this embodiment, it is assumed that at least the video display device 10, the information processing terminal 20, and the wireless communication device 30 belong to the same subnet. The wireless communication device 30 is, for example, a router, but is not limited to this.

  Next, the configuration of the information processing terminal 20 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the information processing terminal 20. The information processing terminal 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random access Memory) 203, a communication unit 204, a display 205, a speaker 206, a microphone 207, a sensor unit 208, and an input unit 209. The storage unit 210 is provided.

  The CPU 201 controls the operation of each unit of the information processing terminal 20. CPU201 is provided with each means mentioned below. The ROM 202 stores a program for controlling the information processing terminal 20. The RAM 203 functions as a work memory for the CPU 201. The communication unit 204 is an interface for communicating with the video display device 10 and the wireless communication device 30. The display 205 displays various images based on control by the CPU 201. The speaker 206 outputs sound based on control by the CPU 201.

  The microphone 207 collects sound outside the information processing terminal 20 and generates an audio signal. The microphone 207 functions as sound collecting means for collecting external sounds and detection means for detecting external sounds. The sensor unit 208 includes, for example, a capacitive sensor that senses a user's operation. The sensor unit 208 functions as a detection unit. The capacitive sensor is provided integrally with the display 205, for example. The capacitive sensor supplies an operation signal generated based on a user operation on the display 205 to the CPU 201. The operation input unit 209 is, for example, a button type key. The operation input unit 209 supplies an operation signal generated based on a user operation to the CPU 201. The operation input unit 209 includes, for example, a key for switching the power state (ON / OFF) of the information processing terminal 20 and a key for determining return from the sleep state of the information processing terminal 20. The storage unit (storage unit) 210 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 210 stores a program executed by the CPU 201, an application, and various data. The storage unit 210 includes, for example, a remote control application (hereinafter referred to as a remote control application), an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) application (hereinafter referred to as an EPG application), a program search application (program search application), a character input application (hereinafter referred to as a keyboard application). A voice input application (hereinafter referred to as a voice input application). The remote control application is an application for controlling (operating) an external device. FIG. 3 is an exemplary screen image displayed on the display 205 of the information processing terminal 20 when the remote control application is activated. The display 205 displays, for example, a screen on which keys similar to a remote controller for operating the video display device 10 (hereinafter referred to as a normal remote controller) are arranged. The EPG application is an application for displaying a program guide or program information. The program search application is an application for searching for a program desired by the user. The keyboard application is an application for facilitating character input on the display 205. The voice input application is an application for generating a character string based on a voice signal collected by the microphone 207.

  Next, application activation processing in the information processing terminal 20 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of application activation processing. The CPU 201 (setting unit 201d) stores, in advance, one or more specific external devices selected from at least one or more external devices belonging to the same network as the information processing terminal 20 in the storage unit 210 based on a user operation. It is preferable to register settings. For example, the user may select in advance a specific external device to be one or more control targets (operation targets) that are frequently controlled using the information processing terminal 20. In the present embodiment, a specific external device that is set and registered based on user selection is referred to as a registered external device.

  First, the CPU 201 (detection unit 201a) detects a trigger by a user for starting an application (Block 1001). In Block 1001, the CPU 201 detects a trigger by the user other than the selection operation. This selection operation is intentionally performed by the user on the information processing terminal 20, such as an operation of touching or flicking a predetermined application icon on the touch panel (display 205) screen included in the information processing terminal 20. Includes operations to select an application. In Block 1001, for example, the CPU 201 detects an input to turn on the information processing terminal 20 by a user operation (Turn ON) as a trigger. Next, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a registered external device belonging to the same subnet (Block 1002). In Block 1002, the CPU 201 compares the IP address assigned to each external device with the IP address assigned to the information processing terminal 20, and refers to the information related to the registered external device stored in the storage unit 210. Detect registered external devices that belong to the same subnet. If there is no registered external device belonging to the same subnet (Block 1002, No), the CPU 201 ends the process without starting any application. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the CPU 201 does not continue the application activation process when the information processing terminal 20 does not detect a registered external device belonging to the same subnet (for example, in the home). On the other hand, when the information processing terminal 20 detects a registered external device belonging to the same subnet, the CPU 201 continues the application activation process as described later.

  When there is a registered external device belonging to the same subnet (Block 1002, Yes), the CPU 201 determines whether there are a plurality of registered external devices belonging to the same subnet (Block 1003). When there are a plurality of external devices belonging to the same subnet (Block 1003, Yes), the CPU 201 (display control unit 201b) controls to display a device selection screen on the display 205 (Block 1004). The device selection screen displays a list of a plurality of registered external devices detected by the CPU 201 in Block 1003. FIG. 6 is a screen diagram as an example of the device selection screen. The user can select a desired registered external device to be controlled (operation target) from the device selection screen. Based on the user selection, the CPU 201 determines whether there is an application related to the registered external device selected on the device selection screen (Block 1005). Here, the related application is an application that can be used to operate the selected registered external device, and an example is a remote control application. In addition to the remote control application, the related applications include the above-described EPG application, program search application, keyboard application, and the like. In this embodiment, the remote application is preferable. When there is no plurality of registered external devices belonging to the same subnet (that is, when there is only one registered external device belonging to the same subnet) (Block 1003. Yes), the CPU 201 is the only one in the same subnet in Block 1005. It is determined whether there is an application related to the registered external device.

  When there is no related application (Block 1005, No), the CPU 201 ends the process without starting any application. When there is a related application (Block 1005, Yes), the CPU 201 determines whether there are a plurality of related applications (Block 1006). When there are a plurality of related applications (Block 1006, Yes), the CPU 201 controls to display an application selection screen on the display 205 (Block 1007). The application selection screen displays a list of a plurality of related applications detected by the CPU 201 in Block 1006. FIG. 7 is a screen diagram as an example of an application selection screen displayed on the information processing terminal 20. As an example, the application selection screen displays “1. remote control application”, “2. program guide application”, and “3. program search application”. The user can select a desired application from the application selection screen. Based on the user selection, the CPU 201 (activation control unit 201c) activates the application selected on the application selection screen without releasing the lock function of the information processing terminal 20 (Block 1008). In the present embodiment, the lock function refers to, for example, a broad application execution such as not allowing a user to select an application or accept a start operation without a release operation (key operation, password input, etc.). This is a restricted security function. When there is no plurality of related applications (that is, when there is only one related application) (Block 1006, No), the CPU 201 is the only one in Block 1008 without releasing the lock function of the information processing terminal 20. Launch related applications.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, the CPU 201 can start the application without releasing the lock function based on the detection of the trigger. Therefore, when the user operates the external device belonging to the same subnet using the information processing terminal 20, at least the complicated operation procedure of selecting an application and starting the selected application can be omitted. Therefore, the user can use the information processing terminal 20 as soon as possible with the hand like a normal remote controller.

In addition to the above-described aspects, this embodiment may have the following aspects.
The trigger for activating the information processing terminal in Block 1001 may be other than the power ON of the information processing terminal 20. The CPU 201 may detect, as a trigger, pressing of a key that determines the return of the information processing terminal 20 from the sleep state by the user. Alternatively, the CPU 201 detects a user's operation (contact operation on the information processing terminal 20 (an arbitrary portion such as the back and side surfaces of the information processing terminal 20 as well as the display 205)) detected by the sensor unit 208 as a trigger. Also good. Alternatively, when the sensor unit 208 includes a proximity sensor that senses a user's motion, the CPU 201 detects the user's motion sensed by the sensor unit 208 (the information processing terminal 20 (not only the display 205 but also the back and side surfaces of the information processing terminal 20). It is also possible to detect as a trigger a proximity action) to any place). Alternatively, when the sensor unit 208 includes an acceleration sensor that senses the user's motion, the CPU 201 detects the user's motion sensed by the sensor unit 208 (the information processing terminal 20 (not only the display 205 but the back and side surfaces of the information processing terminal 20). Such a contact operation (for example, lifting operation)) may be detected as a trigger. The above-described sensor included in the sensor unit 208 is an example, and the sensor unit 208 may include any sensor that senses a user's operation. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may detect the sound collected by the microphone 207 as a trigger. In this case, the storage unit 210 stores dictionary data including one or more terms corresponding to the registered external device to be operated. As an example, when the registered external device to be operated is described as a television, the storage unit 210 stores, for example, terms corresponding to the television such as “TV” and “TV” as dictionary data. The CPU 201 can detect the voice as a trigger if a term included in the voice collected by the microphone 207 is registered in the dictionary data. Note that the CPU 201 may not only use the sound collected by the microphone 207 as a trigger in the Block 1001 but also select the registered external device to be operated in the Block 1003 or Block 1004.

  According to the aspect in which the trigger is detected using the sensor unit 208 or the microphone 207 as described above, when the user uses the information processing terminal 20 to control an external device belonging to the same subnet, the information processing terminal 20 The operation of turning on the power can be omitted. Therefore, the user can use the information processing terminal 20 in the same procedure as a normal remote controller.

  Even when there are a plurality of registered external devices belonging to the same subnet in the Block 1003, the CPU 201 may omit the processing of the Block 1003 in the following cases. The CPU 201 may preferentially select the registered external device finally selected as the (previous) operation target as the registered external device of the current operation target. Alternatively, when the sensor unit 208 includes a sensor that detects the intensity of the radio wave emitted from the registered external device, the CPU 201 preferentially selects the registered external device having the strongest radio wave intensity among the registered external devices as the registered external device to be operated. You may make it select. According to such an aspect, the user can save the trouble of selecting a registered external device to be operated.

  In the block 1004, when there are a plurality of registered external devices to be operated, the CPU 201 controls the display 205 to display a device selection screen in which the registered external devices are arranged in the order of the radio wave intensity of the registered external devices detected by the sensor unit 208. Also good. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may control the display 205 to display a device selection screen in which registered external devices are arranged in the frequency order selected as an operation target in the past. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may control to display on the display 205 a device selection screen in which the registered external devices last selected as the operation target are preferentially arranged (shown explicitly). According to such an aspect, the user can easily determine the optimum registered external device according to the radio wave environment where the information processing terminal 20 is placed or the user's usage history by simply looking at the device selection screen. it can.

  Even when there are a plurality of related applications in Block 1006, the CPU 201 may preferentially select and start the last used application as the application to be used this time. According to such an aspect, the user can save the trouble of selecting an application.

  Even if there are a plurality of related applications in the Block 1006, the CPU 201 performs control so that the application is selectively activated in accordance with the operation status (operation state) of the registered external device to be controlled. This processing may be omitted. For example, when the video display device 10 displays a broadcast program, the CPU 201 may select and activate a remote control application or an EPG application. For example, when the video display device 10 displays a character input screen, the CPU 201 may select and activate a keyboard application or a voice input application. The CPU 201 can confirm the operation status of the video display device 10 by transmitting an operation status inquiry signal to the video display device 10 via the communication unit 204, receiving the response signal, and interpreting the response signal. According to such an aspect, the user can use the optimal application according to the operation state of the registered external device to be operated without taking time and effort.

  In block 1007, the CPU 201 may control the display 205 to display an application selection screen in which applications are arranged in the order of past use frequency. Alternatively, the CPU 201 may control to display on the display 205 an application selection screen in which the last used applications are preferentially arranged (shown explicitly). According to such an aspect, the user can easily discriminate an application corresponding to his / her use history only by looking at the application selection screen.

  In the block 1008, the CPU 201 may start the application at a level that does not use personal information because the system does not release the lock function. For example, the CPU 201 may disable the function that allows the user to post the impression of the program on the Web using the information processing terminal 20 among the applications to be activated. According to such an aspect, since the original owner of the information processing terminal 20 can prevent operations related to personal information by a person other than the owner, privacy is protected.

  The CPU 201 may allow the user to exit to the standard state (telephone function or other function) based on a predetermined operation even when the user is using the application activated by the above processing. . Even if another function (for example, a telephone function) is interrupted while the user is using the application activated by the above processing, the CPU 201 returns the original application to the activated state at the end of the interrupt function. May be. The CPU 201 switches the registered external device to be operated to another registered external device based on a predetermined operation even when the user controls a specific registered external device using the application activated by the above processing. It may be. Even when the user is using a specific application activated by the above processing, the CPU 201 may activate another application and switch the application to be used based on a predetermined operation.

  Even when the registered external device is not set and registered in the video display device 10, the CPU 201 regards all of the plurality of external devices belonging to the same network as the video display device 10 as the registered external device, and The same processing as that described above may be performed.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Video display apparatus, 20 ... Information processing terminal, 30 ... Wireless communication apparatus, 201 ... CPU, 201a ... Detection means, 201b ... Display control means, 201c ... Start-up control means, 201d ... Setting means, 202 ... ROM, 203 ... RAM, 204 ... communication unit, 205 ... display, 206 ... speaker, 207 ... microphone, 208 ... sensor unit, 209 ... input unit, 210 ... storage unit.

Claims (9)

Storage means for storing an application for controlling external devices belonging to the network;
Setting means for setting and registering a specific external device selected from the external devices;
Detecting means for detecting a trigger for starting the application;
An activation control means for activating the application for controlling the specific external device based on the trigger without releasing the lock function;
When there are a plurality of the applications related to the specific external device, based on the trigger, a list of the applications is displayed, and a display control unit that controls display of a screen that allows the user to select one of them,
With
The activation control means is an information processing terminal that activates the application selected on the screen.   The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects an input to turn on a power as the trigger.   The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a sensor that senses a user's motion, and detects the motion of the user sensed by the sensor as a trigger.   The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a sound collection unit, and detects a sound collected by the sound collection unit as the trigger.   The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the application is a remote control application for operating the external device. The display control means displays a list of the specific external devices when a plurality of the specific external devices belong to the network, and controls the display of a selection screen that allows the user to select one of them.
The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the activation control unit activates the application related to the specific external device selected on the screen.   The information processing terminal according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit arranges the specific external devices detected by the detection unit in order of radio wave intensity and controls display on the selection screen.   The information processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the activation control unit activates the application according to an operation state of the external device. Stores applications for controlling external devices belonging to the network,
Set and register a specific external device selected from the external devices,
Detect a trigger to launch the application,
Based on the trigger, the application for controlling the specific external device without releasing the lock function shall be started,
When there are a plurality of the applications related to the specific external device, the list of the applications is displayed based on the trigger, the screen for allowing the user to select one of them is displayed, and the application selected on the screen is activated. Information processing method in information processing terminal.

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