JP5839728B2 - Remote control system and apparatus and method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system for remotely controlling functions of a function execution device such as a home appliance or an office device using a sensing unit, and an apparatus and method used in this system.

  In recent years, an increasing number of home appliances and office devices use a remote controller to remotely control functions of a device body. The remote controller is provided with, for example, a plurality of hardware switches or software switches and a display, and when the user operates the switch, the operation signal is transmitted from the remote controller to the device body. In the device main body, when the operation signal is received, the operation signal is decoded, and a corresponding function is executed according to the decoding result. In addition, information regarding the operation content or the executed function is displayed on the display of the remote controller (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-172097 A

  However, in a device that remotely controls the functions of the device body using the remote controller as described above, the switch must be operated when performing remote control. For this reason, the user must remember the correspondence between the control target functions of the device main body and the switch, or check each time according to the instruction manual etc., especially for the operation of the device like the elderly and children. The operation was troublesome for an unfamiliar user.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is simply to select different parts or objects of the material of the sensing device according to the operation mode to be executed by the function execution device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote control system, an apparatus and a method thereof which can perform remote control in an operation state that can be intuitively understood from a difference in materials without performing complicated operations.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention includes a sensing device having a plurality of parts or objects using different materials on the surface, and a plurality of operation modes having different execution contents corresponding to one function. Having a function execution device. When an operation for selecting the plurality of parts or objects for remote control is performed, the sensing device generates and transmits a remote control signal reflecting the material of the selected parts or objects. The function execution device corresponds to the part or the material of the object selected in the transmission source sensing device among the plurality of operation modes corresponding to the one function according to the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device. Select the operation mode selectively.

  A second aspect of the present invention further includes a relay device capable of communicating with the sensing device and the function execution device, and the relay device includes a plurality of parts or objects having different materials for the sensing device. Storage means for storing the identification information for identifying the information and the information indicating the operation mode to be executed by the function execution device in association with each other. The relay device receives the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device, extracts the selected part or object identification information from the remote control signal, and extracts the extracted part or object identification information. The information representing the operation mode associated with the identification information of the part or the object is read from the storage means. The received remote control signal is converted into a signal including information representing the read operation mode, and the converted remote control signal is transmitted to the function execution device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the sensing device, different function execution instructions are assigned to a plurality of parts or objects having different materials. Then, when an operation for selecting one of the peripheral surfaces of a plurality of parts or objects having different materials is performed, information indicating the material of the selected peripheral surface and a function execution instruction assigned to the peripheral surface A remote control signal including information representing the signal is generated and transmitted. On the other hand, the relay device has an operation mode to be executed by the function execution device in association with a combination of information representing the material of the peripheral surface of the plurality of parts or objects and information representing a function execution command assigned to the peripheral surface. Storage means for storing information to represent is provided. Then, the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device is received by the relay device, and the information representing the material of the selected peripheral surface from the remote control signal and the function execution command assigned to the peripheral surface are represented. Extract information. Then, based on the information representing the material of the peripheral surface and the information indicating the function execution command, the operation mode associated with the information indicating the material of the peripheral surface and the information indicating the function execution command from the storage unit. The received remote control signal is converted into a signal including information indicating the read operation mode, and the converted remote control signal is transmitted to the function execution device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when one of a plurality of parts or objects having different materials is selected in the sensing device, a remote control signal reflecting the material of the selected parts or objects is generated. Sent. In the function execution device, in response to the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device, the function execution device corresponds to the part or object material selected in the transmission source sensing device among the plurality of operation modes corresponding to the one function. The operation mode is selectively executed. For this reason, according to the operation mode to be executed, it is possible to cause the function execution device to execute different operation modes only by selecting different parts or objects of the material of the sensing device without performing a complicated operation.

  For example, “metal materials” such as aluminum materials correspond to intuitions such as “artificial”, “stimulating”, and “cold” visually or tactilely. Utilizing this intuition, for example, “daylight color”, which is an artificial color, is associated with a region or an object using the metal material as an operation mode of a lighting fixture, for example. If it does so, when the site | part or object using a metal material is selected, a lighting fixture will light-emit in daylight color. On the other hand, “raised materials” such as fur materials correspond to intuitions such as “natural”, “friendly”, and “warm” visually or tactilely. Utilizing this intuition, if the portion or object using the raised material is associated with, for example, “bulb color” which is a warm color as the operation mode of the lighting fixture, the portion or object using the raised material is When selected, the luminaire emits light in the light bulb color.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device is temporarily received by the relay device, and the identification information of the selected part or object included in the remote control signal corresponds to the relay device. After being converted into information representing the operation mode to be performed, it is transferred to the function execution device. For this reason, it is not necessary to convert the detection information of the material into the identification information of the operation mode in the sensing device, thereby making the sensing device simple and inexpensive. This effect is particularly effective when there are many types of operation modes provided in the function execution device or when a plurality of different function execution devices are controlled simultaneously.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when different function execution instructions are assigned to the peripheral surfaces of the plurality of parts or objects of the sensing device and one of the peripheral surfaces of the plurality of parts or objects is selected, A remote control signal including information indicating the material of the selected part or object peripheral surface and information indicating a function execution command assigned to the peripheral surface is transmitted to the relay device. In the relay device, information representing the peripheral material extracted from the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device and information representing the function execution command are converted into information representing the operation mode, and the converted operation mode information is converted to the converted operation mode information. The information to be represented is transferred to the function execution device to control the operation. For this reason, by selecting a desired function execution command when selecting a plurality of parts of the sensing device or the peripheral surface of the object, various functions can be selected according to the combination of the function execution command and the material to the function execution device. Can be selectively executed.

  In other words, according to the present invention, it is possible to intuitively select a different part or object of the material of the sensing device according to the operation mode to be executed by the function execution device, and perform intuitive operation from the difference of the material without performing a complicated operation. It is possible to provide a remote control system, an apparatus, and a method thereof that can be remotely controlled to an operation state that can be understood.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The functional block diagram of the system shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the conversion table corresponding to the sensing unit using the aluminum raw material memorize | stored in the home server of the system shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the conversion table corresponding to the sensing unit using the fur material memorize | stored in the home server of the system shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the processing procedure and processing content of remote control in the system shown in FIG.

The whole block diagram of the remote control system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the system shown in FIG. 6. The figure which shows an example of the conversion table memorize | stored in the home server of the system shown in FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a remote control processing procedure and processing contents in the system shown in FIG. 7.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
In the first embodiment of the present invention, two remote sensing units having different surface materials are selectively used so that various remote control can be performed on a plurality of function execution devices.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 10a and 10b are sensing units, 20 is a home server operating as a relay device, 30a, 30b, 30c, ... Indicate function execution devices.
Among the function execution devices, the function execution device 30a is composed of a lighting fixture, and in addition to standard functions such as “ON” and “OFF”, the color of the lighting is “bulb color”, “day white”, Multiple additional executions corresponding to higher-level function execution instructions (hereinafter referred to as meta-instructions) such as a function that changes to “daylight color”, a function that changes brightness, and “brighter”, “relax”, etc. It has a function. The function execution device 30b includes an air conditioner. In addition to standard functions such as “ON” and “OFF”, the function execution device 30b includes a plurality of air conditioner-specific functions corresponding to user meta-commands such as “relax” and “sleep”. Additional execution functions are provided.

  Each of the sensing units 10a and 10b has a casing made of a regular hexahedron. Among these, the housing of the sensing unit 10a is made of a metal material such as aluminum. On the other hand, the housing of the sensing unit 10b has a fur material attached to the surface of a metal material or a resin material, for example. On each of the six surfaces of the casings of the sensing units 10a and 10b, meta commands for the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,..., For example, “ON”, “OFF”, “brighten”, “relax”, Names representing “darken”, “sleep”, and the like are printed and printed. In addition, these names may be handwritten in addition to printing, and may be described by sticking a sticker on which the characters are printed on the housing surface.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the sensing units 10a and 10b, the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,...
The sensing units 10a and 10b include measurement units 111 to 116 and a circuit module unit 12 that are respectively disposed on the six surfaces. The measuring units 111 to 116 are composed of pressure-sensitive sensors and detect which surface the sensing units 10a and 10b are placed on a table (not shown) or the like, and detect each of the measuring units 111 to 116. Voltage values v1 to v6 are output.

  The circuit module unit 12 includes a sensing unit ID storage unit 121, a command ID storage unit 122, a threshold value determination unit 123, and a sensing communication unit 124. Of these functions, the threshold determination unit 123 and the sensing communication unit 124 are realized by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown).

  The sensing unit ID storage unit 121 stores sensing unit IDs (DUa, DUb) for identifying the sensing units 10a, 10b. This sensing unit ID (DUa, DUb) indirectly represents the surface material of the sensing unit, that is, whether it is an aluminum material or a fur material.

  In the command ID storage unit 122, “ON”, “OFF”, “brighten”, “brighten”, and “brightness” described in the six surfaces are associated with the identification information (sensor ID) of the six measurement units 111 to 116. Instruction IDs for identifying meta-instructions such as “relax” and “sleep” are stored. The instruction ID storage unit 122 has different information for determining the information indicating the correspondence between each instruction ID and the measuring units 111 to 116 and the detected voltage values v1 to v6 output from the measuring units 111 to 116. Six threshold values Vt1 to Vt6 are stored in advance.

  The threshold value determination unit 123 compares the detection voltage values v1 to v6 output from the measurement units 111 to 116 with the threshold values Vt1 to Vt6 stored in the command ID storage unit 122, thereby outputting the detection voltage. It is determined on which surface the units 111 to 116 are arranged. Furthermore, by referring to the information indicating the correspondence between each instruction ID and the measurement units 111 to 116 stored in the instruction ID storage unit 122, the surface opposite to the surface on which the measurement unit is arranged (the opposite side) Read out the instruction ID described in (5). At the same time, the sensing unit ID is read from the sensing unit ID storage unit 121.

  The sensing communication unit 124 generates a remote control signal including the read command ID and sensing unit ID, and performs processing for transmitting the generated remote control signal to the home server 20. As a communication medium, wireless with less directivity restriction is preferable, but infrared light may be used.

  The home server 20 is composed of, for example, a personal computer, and functions necessary for realizing this embodiment include a home server communication unit 21, a sensing unit determination unit 22, a command / execution conversion unit 23, and a conversion table 24. I have. Of these functions, the home server communication unit 21, the sensing unit determination unit 22, and the instruction / execution conversion unit 23 are realized by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown).

  The home server communication unit 21 has a remote control signal reception function and a transmission function. The reception function performs a process of receiving a remote control signal transmitted from the sensing units 10a and 10b. The transmission function converts the received remote control signal into a remote control signal including a function execution device ID and an operation mode ID passed from a command / execution conversion unit 23 described later, and the converted remote control signal is functioned. To the execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,. As the communication interface, a wireless interface adopting a short-range data communication standard such as a wireless local area network (LAN) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) or an infrared interface is used.

  In the conversion table 24, the identification information (function execution device ID) of the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... And the execution contents of the function execution device, that is, the operations are associated with each combination of the sensing unit ID and the command ID. Information for identifying the mode (operation mode ID) is stored. 3 and 4 show examples of conversion tables corresponding to the sensing unit 10a (aluminum material) and the sensing unit 10b (fur material), respectively.

  The sensing unit discriminating unit 22 extracts the sensing unit ID and the command ID from the remote control signal received by the home server communication unit 21, and determines whether the sensing unit of the transmission source is the sensing unit 10a using an aluminum material. It is determined whether the sensing unit 10b uses a material.

  The command / execution conversion unit 23 reads out the corresponding function execution device ID and the operation mode ID representing the execution content from the conversion table 24 based on the sensing unit ID and the command ID extracted by the sensing unit determination unit 22. The read function execution device ID and operation mode ID are passed to the home server communication unit 21.

  The function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... Include a function information storage unit 31, a function execution unit 32, and a client communication unit 33. Among these, the function execution unit 32 and the client communication unit 33 are realized by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown).

The function information storage unit 31 stores information representing specific execution contents of functions provided in the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... In association with the operation mode ID transmitted by the home server 20. .
The client communication unit 33 has a function of receiving a remote control signal transmitted from the home server 20. The function execution unit 32 extracts the function execution device ID and the operation mode ID from the remote control signal received by the client communication unit 33, and when the extracted function execution device ID matches the ID of its own device, Information representing the function execution content corresponding to the extracted operation mode ID is read from the function storage unit 31, and processing for executing the information representing the read function execution content is performed.

(Operation)
Next, operations of the sensing units 10a and 10b, the home server 20 and the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... Configured as described above will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a remote control processing procedure and processing contents.
The conversion table 24 of the home server 20 stores a conversion table corresponding to the sensing unit 10a using the aluminum material shown in FIG. 3 and a conversion table corresponding to the sensing unit 10b using the fur material shown in FIG. The description will be made assuming that

  Assume that the user places one of the sensing units 10a and 10b on the table with the surface on which the desired meta-instruction is described facing up. In the sensing unit 10a or 10b, when the generation of the measurement value is detected in step S11, the detection voltages v1 to v6 output from the measurement units 111 to 116 are captured in step S12, respectively. The captured detection voltages v1 to v6 are compared with the threshold values Vt1 to Vt6 stored in the instruction ID storage unit 122 in step S13, and the measurement units 111 to 116 that output the detection voltages are arranged on which surface. It is determined whether it is a measuring unit. Subsequently, in step S14, the measurement units 111 to 116 that output the detection voltage are arranged based on the information stored in the instruction ID storage unit 122 and indicating the correspondence between each instruction ID and the measurement units 111 to 116. The instruction ID representing the meta-instruction described on the face (the face on the opposite side) facing the read face is read from the instruction ID storage unit 122.

  That is, when the sensing units 10a and 10b are placed on a table, a detection signal is output from a measurement unit arranged on a surface (lower surface) in contact with the table of the sensing units 10a and 10b, and the measurement unit that outputs the detection signal is arranged. The instruction ID representing the meta-instruction described on the surface opposite to the formed surface, that is, the upper surface is read out.

  Next, in step S15, a remote control signal including the command ID read out by the sensing communication unit 124 and the sensing unit ID read from the sensing unit ID storage unit 121 is generated, and the generated remote control signal is generated. Is transmitted from the sensing communication unit 124 to the home server 20.

  When the home server 20 detects the arrival of the remote control signal in step S16, the remote control signal is received in step S17, and the command ID and the sensing unit ID are extracted from the received remote control signal. Subsequently, in step S18, the conversion table 24 is accessed based on the extracted command ID and sensing unit ID, and the function execution device ID and the operation mode representing the execution content associated with the command ID and the sensing unit ID. The ID is read out.

  In step S19, the remote control signal received from the sensing units 10a and 10b is converted into a remote control signal including the read function execution device ID and an operation mode ID representing the execution content. A control signal is transmitted from the home server communication unit 21 to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,.

  On the other hand, in the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,..., When the arrival of the remote control signal is detected in step S20, the reception process of the remote control signal is performed in step S21, and the function is determined from the received remote control signal. The execution device ID and the operation mode ID are extracted. Subsequently, in step S22, based on the extracted function execution device ID and operation mode ID, control information representing the execution contents associated with the function execution device ID and operation mode ID is stored from the function information storage unit 31. Read out. Then, according to the control information representing the execution content, the corresponding function is executed in step S23.

  For example, it is assumed that the user places the sensing unit 10a using an aluminum material on the table so that the surface on which “brighten” is written is the upper surface. In this case, a remote control signal including a command ID (c1) corresponding to “brighten” and a sensing unit ID (DUa) for identifying the sensing unit 10a is transmitted from the sensing unit 10a. In the home server 20, based on the command ID (c1) and the sensing unit ID (DUa) included in the remote control signal, the ID of the “luminaire” (m1) and “day white” are converted from the conversion table shown in FIG. The operation mode ID (a1) indicating “lights up at maximum brightness” is read out. Then, a remote control signal including the read IDs (m1) and (a1) is transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,.

  In the function execution device (lighting fixture) 30a, when the remote control signal is received, first, based on the ID (m1) of the “lighting fixture” included in the remote control signal, the received remote control signal is It is determined whether the signal is addressed to the own device. And if it is a remote control signal addressed to its own device, it corresponds to the operation mode ID (a1) from the function information storage unit 31 based on the operation mode ID (a1) included in the received remote control signal. The control information “lights up with lightness at daylight white” is read, and the lighting operation is controlled so that the lightness at daylight white is maximized according to the read control information.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the user places the sensing unit 10b using the fur material on the table so that the surface on which “brighten” is written is the upper surface. In this case, a remote control signal including a command ID (c1) corresponding to “brighten” and a sensing unit ID (DUb) that identifies the sensing unit 10b is transmitted from the sensing unit 10b. In the home server 20, based on the command ID (c1) and the sensing unit ID (DUb) included in the remote control signal, the ID (m1) of the “luminaire” and the “bulb color” are converted from the conversion table shown in FIG. The operation mode ID (a3) indicating “lights up at maximum brightness” is read out. Then, a remote control signal including the read IDs (m1) and (a3) is transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,.

  In the function execution device (lighting fixture) 30a, when the remote control signal is received, first, based on the ID (m1) of the “lighting fixture” included in the remote control signal, the received remote control signal is It is determined whether the signal is addressed to the own device. And if it is a remote control signal addressed to its own device, it corresponds to the operation mode ID (a3) from the function information storage unit 31 based on the operation mode ID (a3) included in the received remote control signal. The control information “lights up at maximum brightness with light bulb color” is read out, and the lighting operation is controlled so that the brightness at the light bulb color becomes maximum according to the read control information.

  That is, the user selects either the sensing unit 10a using an aluminum material or the sensing unit 10b using a fur material according to the type of lighting desired, and the surface on which “brighten” is described is the top surface. Thus, it is possible to remotely control the illumination color of the function execution device (lighting fixture) 30a simply by placing it on the table.

  When the user selects the sensing unit 10a using an aluminum material and places it on the table with “relaxation” on the top, the sensing unit 10a receives an instruction ID (c2) indicating “relaxation”. A remote control signal including the sensing unit ID (DUa) of the sensing unit 10a is transmitted. In the home server 20, based on the command ID (c2) and the sensing unit ID (DUa) included in the remote control signal, the ID (m1) of the “lighting fixture” and the “bulb color” are converted from the conversion table shown in FIG. The operation mode ID (a2) indicating “lights up at maximum brightness” is read, and remote control signals including these IDs (m1) and (a2) are transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,. . At the same time, a pair of ID (m2) representing “music player” and operation mode ID (a1) representing “classic”, ID (m3) representing “aroma diffuser” and “ON” from the conversion table shown in FIG. , An operation mode ID (a1) pair indicating “air conditioner”, and an operation mode ID (a1) pair indicating “decrease temperature setting twice”. Then, remote control signals including these ID pairs are transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,.

  When the function execution device (lighting fixture) 30a receives a remote control signal addressed to itself including the ID (m1) of “lighting fixture”, it corresponds to the operation mode ID (a2) contained in this remote control signal. The lighting operation is controlled so as to maximize the lightness of the light bulb color according to the control information indicating “lights up at the maximum lightness with the light bulb color”. Further, when the function execution device (air conditioner) 30b receives a remote control signal addressed to itself including the ID “m4” of “air conditioner”, it corresponds to the operation mode ID (a1) included in the remote control signal. In accordance with the control information indicating “decrease the temperature setting twice”, the cooling or heating temperature is controlled to be lowered twice. Further, when the function execution device (music player) 30c receives a remote control signal addressed to itself including the “music player” ID (m2), the function execution device (music player) 30c sets the operation mode ID (a1) included in the remote control signal. Classical music is played according to the control information representing the corresponding “classic”.

  On the other hand, when the user selects the sensing unit 10b using the fur material and places it on the table with “relaxation” on the top, the command ID (c2) indicating “relaxation” is sent from the sensing unit 10b. And a remote control signal including the sensing unit ID (DUb) of the sensing unit 10b. In the home server 20, based on the command ID (m2) and the sensing unit ID (DUb) included in the remote control signal, the ID (m1) of the “lighting fixture” and the “bulb color” are converted from the conversion table shown in FIG. The operation mode ID (a4) indicating “lights with reduced brightness” is read, and remote control signals including these IDs (m1) and (a4) are transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, and 30c. At the same time, a pair of ID (m2) representing “music player” and operation mode ID (a1) representing “classic”, ID (m3) representing “aroma diffuser” and “ON” from the conversion table shown in FIG. , An operation mode ID (a1) pair that represents “air conditioner”, and an operation mode ID (a2) pair that represents “to enter silent mode”. Then, remote control signals including these ID pairs are transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,.

  When the function execution device (lighting fixture) 30a receives a remote control signal addressed to itself including the ID (m1) of “lighting fixture”, it corresponds to the operation mode ID (a3) included in the remote control signal. The lighting operation is controlled in a state where the lightness is lowered with the color of the light bulb in accordance with the control information indicating that the light is turned off with the light bulb color. When the function execution device (air conditioner) 30b receives a remote control signal addressed to itself including the ID (m4) of “air conditioner”, the function execution device (air conditioner) 30b corresponds to the operation mode ID (a2) included in the remote control signal. Control is performed so as to operate in the silent mode in accordance with the control information indicating “to enter silent mode”. In the function execution device (music player) 30c, classical music is played in the same manner as when the sensing unit 10a using the aluminum material described above is operated.

  As described above, in the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,..., Each time a new remote control signal is received, the function associated with the operation mode ID included in the remote control signal is executed. However, remote control signals are transmitted at short time intervals from both sensing units 10a and 10b, for example, when sensing unit 10a using aluminum material and sensing unit 10b using fur material are placed on the table almost simultaneously. It can happen. In this case, the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... Monitor whether or not a plurality of remote control signals are received within a preset time. When a plurality of remote control signals are received within the monitoring time, both signals are invalidated.

(effect)
As described above in detail, in the first embodiment, the sensing unit 10a using an aluminum material and the sensing unit 10b using a fur material are prepared, and the user can execute the desired contents of the sensing units 10a and 10b. When the sensing unit corresponding to is selected and placed on the table so that the surface on which the desired meta-instruction is described is the upper surface, the instruction ID representing the meta-instruction described on the upper surface from the sensing units 10a and 10b A remote control signal including the sensing unit ID is generated and transmitted to the home server 20. In the home server 20, the ID of the function execution device associated with the command ID and the sensing ID included in the remote control signal and the operation mode ID representing the execution content are read from the conversion table 24, and the received remote control is received. The signal is converted into a remote control signal including the read IDs and transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,. In the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,..., The function execution device ID included in the received remote control signal determines whether or not the remote control signal is addressed to the own device. The operation having the execution content corresponding to the operation mode ID included in the remote control signal is executed.

  Therefore, the user selects either the sensing unit 10a using the aluminum material or the sensing unit 10b using the fur material according to the desired execution content, and sets the table on which the desired meta-instruction is described as the upper surface. It is possible to control the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... That is, by selectively using the sensing unit 10a using an aluminum material and the sensing unit 10b using a fur material, the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... Are different from the material of the sensing units 10a, 10b. It becomes possible to remotely control the operation state that can be intuitively understood.

  A command ID and a sensing unit ID are transmitted from the sensing units 10a and 10b by a remote control signal, and the function execution device to be controlled based on the command ID and the sensing unit ID included in the remote control signal in the home server 20 and its Since the operation mode is specified and the operation of the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,... Is controlled, the processing load of the sensing units 10a, 10b is reduced, and thereby the power consumption of the sensing units 10a, 10b. It is possible to extend the battery life by reducing.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment of the present invention uses a plate-type sensing unit in which one surface is made of an aluminum material and the other surface is made of a fur material, and by selecting one of the surfaces of the sensing unit, The execution device is caused to execute an operation corresponding to each material.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a remote control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which 40 is a sensing unit, 50 is a home server operating as a relay device, and 30b is a function execution device. ing. Among these, the function execution device 30b is composed of an air conditioner, and has a plurality of operation modes such as “ON”, “OFF”, “increase temperature”, and “decrease temperature” as the execution contents of the function.

  In the sensing unit 40, the first surface 40a of the rectangular plate is formed of an aluminum material and the second surface 40b is formed of a fur material, and the first and second surfaces 40a and 40b are respectively formed on the first surface 40a and the second surface 40a. Material IDs (DUa, DUb) for identifying the type of material are assigned.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the sensing unit 40, the function execution device 30b, and the home server 50.
The sensing unit 40 includes measurement units 411 and 412 and a circuit module unit 42 disposed on the first and second surfaces 40a and 40b, respectively. The measuring units 411 and 412 are composed of pressure-sensitive sensors and detect which surface the sensing unit 40 is placed on a table (not shown) or the like, and each of the measuring units 411 and 412 has a detected voltage value. Outputs v1 and v2.

  The circuit module unit 42 includes a sensing unit ID storage unit 421, a threshold value determination unit 422, and a sensing communication unit 423. Of these functions, the threshold determination unit 422 and the sensing communication unit 423 are realized by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown).

  The sensing unit ID storage unit 421 stores IDs (DUa, DUb) for identifying the first and second surfaces 40a, 40b of the sensing unit 40. This ID (DUa, DUb) is used as a material ID that indirectly indicates the difference between the materials of the first and second surfaces 40a, 40b of the sensing unit 40, that is, an aluminum material or a fur material.

  The threshold value determination unit 422 stores in advance two different threshold values Vt1 and Vt2 for determining the detection voltage values v1 and v2 output from the measurement units 411 and 412. Then, by comparing the detection voltage values v1 and v2 output from the measurement units 411 and 412 with the threshold values Vt1 and Vt2 stored in advance, the measurement units 411 and 412 that output the detection voltage have first and first outputs. It is determined which of the two surfaces is the measurement unit. Then, the material ID (DUa, DUb) corresponding to the surface on the opposite side to the determined surface is read from the sensing unit ID storage unit 421.

  The sensing communication unit 423 generates a remote control signal including the read material ID and transmits the generated remote control signal to the home server 50. As a communication medium, wireless with less directivity restriction is preferable, but infrared light may be used.

  The home server 50 is composed of, for example, a personal computer, and functions necessary for realizing this embodiment include a home server communication unit 51, a sensing unit determination unit 52, an instruction / execution conversion unit 53, and a conversion table 54. I have. Of these functions, the home server communication unit 51, the sensing unit determination unit 52, and the instruction / execution conversion unit 53 are realized by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown).

  The home server communication unit 51 has a remote control signal reception function and a transmission function. The reception function performs processing for receiving the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 40. The transmission function converts the received remote control signal into a remote control signal including a function execution device ID and an operation mode ID passed from a command / execution conversion unit 53 to be described later, and converts the converted remote control signal into a function. It transmits to the execution apparatus 30b. As the communication interface, a wireless interface adopting a short-range data communication standard such as a wireless local area network (LAN) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) or an infrared interface is used.

  In the conversion table 54, the identification information (function execution device ID) of the function execution device 30b is associated with the material ID (DUa, DUb) representing the material of the first and second surfaces 40a, 40b of the sensing unit 40, and The execution contents of the function execution device, that is, information for identifying the operation mode (operation mode ID) is stored. For example, since the first surface 40a made of an aluminum material has a feeling of “cold” that the aluminum material has, the material mode ID (DUa) includes an operation mode ID corresponding to the “temperature reduction” operation of the air conditioner. Are stored in association with each other. On the other hand, since the second surface 40b made of the fur material has a sense of “warm” that the fur material has, the material ID (DUb) has an operation mode corresponding to the “temperature increase” operation of the air conditioner. An ID is stored in association with each other. FIG. 8 shows an example of the conversion table 54.

  The sensing unit determination unit 52 extracts the material ID from the remote control signal received by the home server communication unit 51. Then, it is determined whether the surface selected by the transmission source sensing unit 40 is the first surface 40a made of an aluminum material or the second surface 40b made of a fur material.

  The instruction / execution conversion unit 53 reads out the corresponding function execution device ID and the operation mode ID representing the execution content from the conversion table 54 based on the material ID extracted by the sensing unit determination unit 52, and reads this read out. The function execution device ID and the operation mode ID are passed to the home server communication unit 51.

  As in the first embodiment, the function execution device 30b includes a function information storage unit 31, a function execution unit 32, and a client communication unit 33. Among these, the function execution unit 32 and the client communication unit 33 are realized by causing the CPU to execute a program stored in a program memory (not shown).

The function information storage unit 31 stores information indicating specific execution contents of the functions provided in the function execution device 30b in association with the operation mode ID transmitted by the home server 50.
The client communication unit 33 has a function of receiving a remote control signal transmitted from the home server 50. The function execution unit 32 extracts the function execution device ID and the operation mode ID from the remote control signal received by the client communication unit 33, and when the extracted function execution device ID matches the ID of its own device, Information representing the function execution content corresponding to the extracted operation mode ID is read from the function storage unit 31, and processing for executing the information representing the read function execution content is performed.

(Operation)
Next, operations of the sensing unit 40, the home server 50, and the function execution device 30b configured as described above will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a remote control processing procedure and processing contents.

  It is assumed that the user places the sensing unit 40 on the table with the first surface 40a made of an aluminum material facing upward. Then, in the sensing unit 40, when the generation of the measurement value is detected in step S11, the detection voltages v1 and v2 output from the measurement units 411 and 412 are captured in step S12, respectively. The captured detection voltages v1 and v2 are compared with the threshold values Vt1 and Vt2 stored in advance in the threshold determination unit 422 in step S13, and the measurement units 411 and 412 that output the detection voltage are arranged on which surface. It is determined whether or not the measurement unit has been set. In step S <b> 14, the material ID (DUa or DUb) corresponding to the surface opposite to the determined surface is read from the sensing unit ID storage unit 421.

  That is, when the sensing unit 40 is placed on a table, a detection signal is output from a measurement unit disposed on a surface (lower surface) in contact with the table of the sensing unit 40, and the surface on which the measurement unit that outputs the detection signal is disposed. The material ID on the opposite surface, that is, the upper surface is read.

  In step S15, the sensing communication unit 423 generates a remote control signal including the read material ID, and the generated remote control signal is transmitted from the sensing communication unit 423 to the home server 50.

  When the home server 50 detects the arrival of the remote control signal in step S16, the remote control signal is received in step S17, and the material ID is extracted from the received remote control signal. Subsequently, in step S18, the conversion table 54 is accessed based on the extracted material ID, and the function execution device ID associated with the material ID and the operation mode ID representing the execution content are read out.

  In step S19, the remote control signal received from the sensing unit 40 is converted into a remote control signal including the read function execution device ID and an operation mode ID representing the execution content, and the remote control signal after the conversion is converted. Is transmitted from the home server communication unit 51 to the function execution device 30b.

  On the other hand, in the function execution device 30b, when the arrival of the remote control signal is detected in step S20, the reception process of the remote control signal is performed in step S21, and the function execution device ID and the operation mode are received from the received remote control signal. ID is extracted. Subsequently, in step S22, based on the extracted function execution device ID and operation mode ID, control information representing the execution contents associated with the function execution device ID and operation mode ID is stored from the function information storage unit 31. Read out. Then, according to the control information representing the execution content, the corresponding function is executed in step S23.

  For example, it is assumed that the user has placed the sensing unit 40 on the table with the first surface 40a formed of an aluminum material facing up. In this case, the sensing unit 40 transmits a remote control signal including a material ID (DUa) representing the material of the first surface 40a. In the home server 50, on the basis of the material ID (DUa) included in the remote control signal, the function execution device ID indicating “air conditioner” and the operation mode indicating “temperature reduction” operation from the conversion table 54 shown in FIG. The ID is read out. Then, a remote control signal including each read ID is transmitted to the function execution device 30b.

  When the function execution device (air conditioner) 30b receives the remote control signal, the function execution device (air conditioner) 30b first receives the received remote control signal based on the function execution device ID indicating “air conditioner” included in the remote control signal. It is determined whether the signal is addressed to the device. And if it is a remote control signal addressed to its own device, based on the operation mode ID included in the received remote control signal, the function information storage unit 31 "reduces the temperature" corresponding to the operation mode ID. The control information is read out. Then, in accordance with the read control information, control is performed to lower the set temperature, for example, twice.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the user places the sensing unit 40 on the table with the second surface 40b using the fur material facing up. In this case, the sensing unit 40 transmits a remote control signal including a material ID (DUb) representing the material of the second surface 40b. In the home server 50, based on the material ID (DUb) included in the remote control signal, the function execution device ID indicating “air conditioner” and the operation mode indicating “temperature increase” operation from the conversion table 54 shown in FIG. The ID is read out. Then, a remote control signal including each read ID is transmitted to the function execution device 30b.

  When the function execution device (air conditioner) 30b receives the remote control signal, the function execution device (air conditioner) 30b first receives the received remote control signal based on the function execution device ID indicating “air conditioner” included in the remote control signal. It is determined whether the signal is addressed to the device. And if it is a remote control signal addressed to its own device, in order to “increase the temperature” corresponding to the operation mode ID from the function information storage unit 31 based on the operation mode ID included in the received remote control signal. The control information is read out. Then, in accordance with the read control information, control for increasing the set temperature, for example, twice is performed.

(effect)
As described in detail above, in the second embodiment, the sensing unit 40 is prepared in which the first surface 40a is formed of an aluminum material and the second surface 40b on the back surface side is formed of a fur material. When the user places the sensing unit 40 on the table so that the surface corresponding to the desired execution content is the upper surface, a remote control signal including a material ID representing the material of the upper surface is generated from the sensing unit 40. To the home server 50. In the home server 50, the ID of the function execution device associated with the material ID included in the remote control signal and the operation mode ID representing the execution content are read from the conversion table 54, and the received remote control signal is read from the above-mentioned remote control signal. It is converted into a remote control signal including each read ID and transmitted to the function execution device 30b. In the function execution device 30b, the function execution device ID included in the received remote control signal determines whether or not the remote control signal is addressed to the own device, and if it is addressed to the own device, it is included in the received remote control signal. The operation corresponding to the operation mode ID to be executed is executed.

  Therefore, the user selects either the first surface 40a formed of the aluminum material of the sensing unit 40 or the second surface 40b formed of the fur material according to the desired execution content, and The function execution device 30b can be controlled to a desired operation state by simply placing the surface on the table so that the surface is the top surface. That is, by selecting either the first surface 40a formed of an aluminum material or the second surface 40b formed of a fur material, the function execution device 30b can be intuitively understood from the difference in the materials. It is possible to remotely control the state.

  Further, the material ID is transmitted from the sensing unit 40 by a remote control signal, the home server 50 identifies the function execution device to be controlled and its operation mode based on the material ID included in the remote control signal, and the function Since the operation of the execution device 30b is controlled, the processing load on the sensing unit 40 can be reduced, thereby reducing the power consumption of the sensing unit 40 and extending the battery life.

[Other Embodiments]
In each of the above embodiments, the remote control signal transmitted from the sensing unit 10a, 10b or 40 includes the ID of the function execution device to be controlled by the home server 20 or 50 and the operation mode ID indicating the execution content. After being converted to, it is transmitted to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c, ... to control the operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the remote control signal may be directly transmitted from the sensing unit 10a, 10b or 40 to the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,. In that case, in the sensing unit 10a, 10b or 40, the sensing unit ID, the command ID, etc. may be converted into the ID of the function execution device to be controlled and the operation mode ID indicating the execution content and transmitted. The remote control signal including the sensing unit ID and the command ID is transmitted from the sensing unit 10a, 10b or 40, and the sensing unit ID included in the received remote control signal in the function execution devices 30a, 30b, 30c,. In addition, the command ID or the like may be converted into an operation mode ID to control the corresponding operation.

  Further, although cases have been described with the above embodiments where an aluminum material and a fur material are used as materials, a combination of a rigid metal material and a flexible resin or rubber material may be used. Further, three or more kinds of materials having different degrees of flexibility may be used in combination. In addition, the shape type, the number of sensing units, the housing shape of the sensing unit (not limited to a cube, may be a rectangular body, a prism, or a cone) can be variously modified and implemented. In addition, the type of function execution device, the content of the operation to be performed, and the like can be implemented with various modifications.

  In short, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in each embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

  10a, 10b, 40 ... sensing unit, 40a ... surface using aluminum material, 40b ... surface using fur material, 20, 50 ... home server, 21, 51 ... home server communication unit, 22, 52 ... sensing unit discrimination , 23, 53 ... command / execution conversion unit, 24, 54 ... conversion table, 30a, 30b, 30c ... function execution device, 31 ... function information storage unit, 32 ... function execution unit, 33 ... client communication unit, 111- 116, 411, 412 ... measurement unit, 12, 42 ... circuit module unit, 121, 421 ... sensing unit ID storage unit, 122 ... command ID storage unit, 123, 422 ... threshold determination unit, 124, 423 ... sensing communication unit.

Claims (9)

When there are multiple parts or objects using different materials on the surface and the operation to select the multiple parts or objects for remote control is performed, the material of the selected parts or objects is reflected A sensing device that generates and transmits a remote control signal;
A plurality of operation modes having different execution contents corresponding to one function, and the source of the plurality of operation modes corresponding to the one function according to a remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device. A remote control system comprising: a function execution device that selectively executes an operation mode corresponding to a selected part or material of an object in the sensing device. Further comprising a relay device capable of communicating with the sensing device and the function execution device,
The relay device is
Storage means for storing identification information for identifying a plurality of parts or objects having different materials of the sensing device and information indicating an operation mode to be executed by the function execution device in association with each other;
Means for receiving a remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device and extracting identification information of the selected part or object from the remote control signal;
Means for reading out information representing an operation mode associated with the identification information of the part or object from the storage means based on the extracted identification information of the part or object;
Means for converting the received remote control signal into a signal including information indicating the read operation mode, and transmitting the converted remote control signal to the function execution device. The remote control system according to claim 1. The sensing device is
When a function execution instruction is assigned to a plurality of parts or objects having different materials, and an operation for selecting one of the parts or objects having different materials is performed, the selection is performed. Means for generating and transmitting a remote control signal including information representing the material of the peripheral surface and information indicating a function execution command assigned to the peripheral surface,
The relay device is
Information indicating an operation mode to be executed by the function execution device is stored in association with a combination of information indicating the material of the peripheral surface of the plurality of parts or objects and information indicating a function execution command assigned to the peripheral surface. Storage means;
Means for receiving a remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device, and extracting from the remote control signal information representing the material of the selected peripheral surface and information representing a function execution command assigned to the peripheral surface; ,
Based on the extracted information on the peripheral surface material and information on the function execution command, the operation mode associated with the information on the peripheral surface material and the information on the function execution command is stored from the storage unit. Means for reading information;
Means for converting the received remote control signal into a signal including information indicating the read operation mode, and transmitting the converted remote control signal to the function execution device. The remote control system according to claim 2. A sensing device for transmitting a signal for remotely controlling a function execution device having a plurality of operation modes having different execution contents corresponding to one function,
First information including information specifying an operation mode corresponding to the first material when an operation for remotely controlling one function of the function execution device is performed using the first material on the surface. A first sensing unit for transmitting a remote control signal;
When an operation for remotely controlling one function of the function execution device is performed using a second material different from the first material on the surface, an operation mode corresponding to the second material is set. A second sensing unit for transmitting a second remote control signal including information to be designated;
A sensing device comprising: A sensing device for transmitting a signal for remotely controlling a function execution device having a plurality of operation modes having different execution contents corresponding to one function,
A first surface using a first material on the surface;
A second surface using a second material different from the first material on the surface;
When an operation for selecting one of the first and second surfaces is performed in order to remotely control one function of the function execution device, an operation mode corresponding to the selected surface is designated. And a means for transmitting a remote control signal including information. The first and second sensing units are:
When a different function execution command is assigned to each of the plurality of peripheral surfaces and an operation for selecting one of the plurality of peripheral surfaces is performed, information indicating the material of the selected peripheral surface and the corresponding peripheral surface are allocated. 5. A sensing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for generating and transmitting a remote control signal including information indicating the function execution command received or information indicating an operation mode previously associated with the information. . A function execution device having a plurality of operation modes with different execution contents corresponding to one function, and a plurality of parts or objects using different materials on the surface, and selecting the plurality of parts or objects for remote control A relay device capable of communicating with a sensing device that generates and transmits a remote control signal reflecting the selected part or material of the object when an operation is performed,
Storage means for storing identification information for identifying a plurality of parts or objects having different materials of the sensing device and information indicating an operation mode to be executed by the function execution device in association with each other;
Means for receiving a remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device and extracting identification information of the selected part or object from the remote control signal;
Means for reading out information representing an operation mode associated with the identification information of the part or object from the storage means based on the extracted identification information of the part or object;
Means for converting the received remote control signal into a signal including information indicating the read operation mode, and transmitting the converted remote control signal to the function execution device. Relay device to do. Remote control executed by a remote control system comprising a function execution device having a plurality of operation modes having different execution contents corresponding to one function and a sensing device having a plurality of parts or objects using different materials on the surface A method,
When the sensing device performs an operation of selecting the plurality of parts or objects for remote control, a process of generating and transmitting a remote control signal reflecting the material of the selected parts or objects When,
In response to a remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device, the function execution device corresponds to a part or object material selected in the source sensing device among a plurality of operation modes corresponding to the one function. And a step of selectively executing the operation mode to be performed. A function execution device having a plurality of operation modes with different execution contents corresponding to one function, a sensing device having a plurality of parts or objects using different materials on the surface, and these sensing devices and function execution devices A remote control method executed by a remote control system including a relay device capable of communicating with each other,
A step of generating and transmitting a remote control signal including identification information of the selected part or object when the sensing device is operated to select the plurality of parts or objects for remote control; ,
The relay device receives a remote control signal transmitted from the sensing device, and extracts identification information of the selected part or object from the remote control signal;
The relay device reads out information representing an operation mode associated with the identification information of the part or object from the storage unit based on the extracted identification information of the part or object;
The relay device converts the received remote control signal into a signal including information indicating the read operation mode, and transmits the converted remote control signal to the function execution device;
The function execution device receives remote control information transmitted from the relay device, and extracts information representing an operation mode from the remote control signal;
The function execution device comprises a step of executing the operation mode according to the information representing the extracted operation mode.