JPH04316298A - Multi room remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the double operation. CONSTITUTION:Remote control signal transmitters 181,...,18n arranged respectively at plural sub-rooms 161,...,16n output a remote control code. AV equipment 14 such as a tuner 4 and a video tape recorder 6 is arranged at a main room 2 to which a remote control signal outputted by respective sub-rooms 161,...,16n does not reach. The AV equipment 14 performs the prescribed action based on the received remote control code. A relaying means 2 communicates the remote control code outputted from the remote control signal transmitters 181,...,18n of respective sub-rooms 161,...,16n to the AV equipment 14 of the main room 2. The relaying means 2 is equipped with a RAM 46 and displays 481,...,48n. The RAM 46 respectively stores the remote control code received from the remote control signal transmitters 181,...,18n of respective sub-rooms 161,...,16n. The displays 481,...,48n display the action content of the AV equipment 14 in respective sub-rooms 161,...,16n based on the storing content of the RAM 46.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-room remote control system, and particularly to prevention of double operation thereof.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, there has been an increase in the number of remote control controlled devices such as tuners and video tape recorders that can be controlled by remote control signal transmitters. However, the remote control signal from the remote control signal transmitter only travels a relatively short distance. For this reason, it is not possible to remotely control a remote control controlled device in a main room such as a living room from a plurality of sub-rooms such as one's own room or another room using a remote control signal transmitter. Therefore, a multi-room remote control system has been devised that allows each sub-room to remotely control remote-control equipment in a remote main room where remote control signals cannot reach.

FIG. 4 shows a system configuration diagram of a conventional multi-room remote control system.

The main room 2 includes a tuner 4, a video tape recorder 6, a CD (compact disc) player 8, a cassette deck 10, as remote control controlled devices.
AV equipment 14 such as amplifier 12, remote control signal transmitter 18
0 and a monitor system 300 are provided. The plurality of sub-rooms 161,..., 16n include remote control signal transmitters 181,..., 18n and monitor systems 301,..., 3.
0n are provided respectively. Monitor system 300,...
, 30n each include a monitor television 26 for reproducing video signals such as the video tape recorder 6, and a monitor speaker 28 for reproducing audio signals such as the tuner 4 and the video tape recorder 6.

[0005] Remote control signal transmitter 18 in main room 2
The remote control signal transmitters 181, . . . , 18n in the sub-rooms 161, . . . , 16n use light as a carrier, for example. The carrier carries the type of equipment that controls the AV equipment 14 and a remote control code that instructs the operation of the equipment, and outputs a remote control signal. Subroom 161,...,1
The remote control signals from the remote control signal transmitters 181, . Therefore, the remote control signals included in the remote control signals output from the remote control signal transmitters 181,..., 18n are
A relay means 102 for transmitting to the V device 14 is provided.

[0006] The relay means 102 includes a remote control controller 104, remote control signal receivers 1061, . . . , 106n,
and a signal transmission line 24. A remote control controller 104 is provided in the main room 2. The remote control signal receivers 1061,..., 106n are located in the sub-room 161.
, ..., 16n, respectively. Remote control controller 104 and remote control signal receiver 1061,...,106
A signal transmission line 24 is wired between the terminal and the terminal. Remote control controller 104 and monitor system 300, 30
1,..., 30n, there is an AV signal transmission line 321.
,...,32n are wired.

[0007] Remote control signal receiver 1061,...,106
n receives remote control signals from the remote control signal transmitters 181, ..., 18n of the sub-rooms 161, ..., 16n,
Remove the carrier and connect the remote control code to signal transmission line 2
4 to the remote control controller 104. The remote control controller 104 sends the remote control code directly or returns it to a remote control signal and sends it to the AV equipment 14. The AV equipment 14 is controlled based on a remote control code given from the remote control controller 104, and outputs an AV signal such as an audio signal or a video signal. Remote control controller 1
04 is also the AV equipment 1 based on the remote control code.
4 to the AV signal transmission line 321,...,3
2n via any or all monitor systems 30
Send an AV signal to 0, 301, ..., 30n.

For example, when listening to music from the CD player 8 in the subroom 161, the remote control signal transmitter 181
, and sends a remote control signal to the remote control signal receiver 1061 instructing the reproduction of the CD player 8 and the amplification output of the amplifier 12. The remote control controller 104 is the remote control signal receiver 1
061 and the signal transmission line 24, and sends this remote control code to the amplifier 12 and the CD
Send to player 8. The CD player 8 performs playback based on the remote control code and sends an audio signal to the amplifier 12. The amplifier 12 amplifies the audio signal from the CD player 8 and outputs it to the remote control controller 104. The remote control controller 104 has a remote control code of CD player 8.
and the amplified output of the amplifier 12, so the amplifier 12
The audio signal from the subroom 161 is sent to the monitor system 301 in the subroom 161 via the AV signal transmission line 321. The monitor speaker 28 of the monitor system 301 reproduces the audio signal from the CD player 8.

When selecting a tuner 4 in the main room 2 according to an instruction from the subroom 16n and recording it on the cassette deck 10, the remote control signal transmitter 18n is operated and the remote control signal receiver 106n is used to select the tuner 4. and sends a remote control signal instructing the cassette deck 10 to record. The remote control controller 104 receives a remote control code via the remote control signal receiver 106n and the signal transmission line 24, and sends this remote control code to the tuner 4 and the cassette deck 10. The tuner 4 selects a channel based on the remote control code and sends the selected audio signal to the cassette deck 10. The cassette deck 10 records the audio signal from the tuner 4.

[0010] In this way, the subrooms 161,...,
16n can remotely control the AV equipment 14 in the main room 2.

[0011]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional multi-room remote control systems, it is difficult to know from a subroom whether or not a remote control device is being remotely controlled, and if so, what kind of operation it is operating. I couldn't do it. For this reason, if a device controlled by a remote controller is remotely controlled from one subroom so that it operates in a predetermined manner, the device controlled by the remote controller may be remotely controlled from another subroom to perform a different operation. The problem of heavy operation arose.

For example, in the subroom 16n, tuner 4
If you remotely control the tuner 4 to change the tuning in the subroom 161, the cassette deck 10 will record the changed tune. The station's program ended up being recorded.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-room remote control system that solves the above-mentioned technical problems and prevents double operation.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention takes the following configuration.

That is, the multi-room remote control system according to the present invention includes a remote control signal transmitter that is placed in each of a plurality of subrooms and outputs a remote control signal including a remote control code, and a main remote control signal transmitter that is placed in each of a plurality of subrooms and that outputs a remote control signal including a remote control code. A remote control controlled device placed in a room that receives a remote control code and performs a predetermined operation based on the remote control code, and a remote control controlled device in the main room that transmits the remote control code included in the remote control signal output from the remote control transmitter of each sub room. a relay means for transmitting information to the equipment, and remotely controls the remote control controlled equipment in the main room from each subroom, the relay means comprising a storage means for storing the remote control code received from the remote control signal transmitter in each sub room; , a display device for displaying the operation contents of the remote control controlled device in each subroom based on the contents stored in the storage means.

[0016]

[Operation] Remote control signal transmitters are placed in each of the plurality of subrooms. This remote control signal transmitter outputs a remote control signal including a remote control code. The remote control controlled device is placed in the main room where the remote control signals output from each subroom cannot reach. This remote control controlled device receives the remote control code and performs a predetermined operation based on the remote control code. The relay means transmits the remote control code included in the remote control signal output from the remote control transmitter in each sub-room to the remote control controlled device in the main room.

[0017] The relay means includes a storage means and a display. The storage means stores a control signal including a remote control code received from a remote control signal transmitter in each subroom;
For example, a remote control signal and a subroom number are each stored. The display displays the operation details of the remote control controlled device in each subroom based on the contents stored in the storage means.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a multi-room remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and parts corresponding to those of the conventional multi-room remote control system of FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals.

The main room 2 includes a tuner 4, a video tape recorder 6, a CD (compact disc) player 8, a cassette deck 10, as remote control controlled devices.
AV equipment 14 such as amplifier 12, remote control signal transmitter 18
0 and a monitor system 300 are provided. The plurality of sub-rooms 161,..., 16n include remote control signal transmitters 181,..., 18n and monitor systems 301,..., 3.
0n are provided respectively. Monitor system 300,...
, 30n each include a monitor television 26 for reproducing video signals such as the video tape recorder 6, and a monitor speaker 28 for reproducing audio signals such as the tuner 4 and the video tape recorder 6.

[0020] Remote control signal transmitter 18 in main room 2
The remote control signal transmitters 181, . . . , 18n in the sub-rooms 161, . . . , 16n use light as a carrier, for example. The carrier carries the type of equipment that controls the AV equipment 14 and a remote control code that instructs the operation of the equipment, and outputs a remote control signal. Subroom 161,...,1
The remote control signals from the remote control signal transmitters 181, . Therefore, the remote control signals included in the remote control signals output from the remote control signal transmitters 181,..., 18n are
A relay means 42 for transmitting information to the V device 14 is provided.

[0021] The relay means 42 is connected to the remote control controller 4
4. Remote control signal receiver 221,..., 22n, control signal transmission line 24, remote control controller 44
RAM 46 and display 48 as storage means provided in
1,...,48n. The remote control controller 44 is provided in the main room 2. Remote control signal receiver 2
21,..., 22n and indicators 481,..., 48n are provided in the sub-rooms 161,..., 16n, respectively. remote control controller 44 and remote control signal receiver 221,
..., 22n, the control signal transmission line 2
4 is wired. Remote controller 44 and display 4
81,..., 48n, there is a display signal transmission line 50.
is wired. AV signal transmission lines 321, . . . , 32n are wired between the remote control controller 44 and the monitor systems 300, 301, . . . , 30n.

The remote control signal receivers 221,..., 22n receive remote control signals from the remote control signal transmitters 181,..., 18n in the subrooms 161,..., 16n, remove carriers, and convert the remote control codes into subrooms 161,..., 16n.
, 16n room numbers are added. Then, send this remote control code and room number to the control signal transmission line 2.
4 to the remote control controller 44.

As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control controller 44 includes, in addition to the RAM 46, a CPU 52, a ROM 54, a remote control signal receiving section 56, a device selection switch section 58, an operation setting switch section 60, a mode changeover switch 62, a display 480, It includes selectors 641, . . . , 64n and a remote control signal transmitter 66. The ROM 54 stores in advance a program for operating the CPU 52 and a remote control code for the AV equipment 14 manufactured by the company. When incorporating AV equipment 14 made by another company into this system, the mode selector switch 62
is operated to set it to storage mode, and a remote control signal is sent to the remote control signal receiving section 56 from a remote control transmitter made by another company. Then, depending on the type of AV equipment 14 manufactured by another company and the operation of the equipment, the equipment selection switch section 58 and the operation setting switch section 60 are operated, and the remote control code of this AV equipment 14 is set according to the type of AV equipment and the operation of the equipment. Have students learn the following actions as a set. The learned remote control code is stored in the RAM 46. When learning is completed, the mode changeover switch 62 is operated to return to the reception mode. If you are in receive mode,
A with the remote control signal received by the remote control signal receiving section 56
V equipment 14 can be controlled.

When the remote controller 44 receives the remote controller code and room number via the control signal transmission line 24, the remote controller 44 stores the remote controller code in the ROM.
It is checked whether there is a matching remote control code stored in 54 and RAM 46. If there is a match, store this remote control code and room number in RAM.
46 and the remote control code to AV equipment 1.
Output directly to 4. In addition, if direct output is not possible,
This remote control signal is returned to a remote control signal by the remote control signal transmitting section 66, and the remote control signal is sent from the remote control signal transmitting section 66 to a remote control signal receiving section (not shown) of the AV equipment 14. If there is no matching remote control code in the ROM 54 and RAM 46, that remote control code will not be accepted. In this case, the remote control code is neither stored in the RAM 46 nor sent to the AV equipment 14. Therefore, each subroom 161,...
, 16n, the normal remote control code and room number that cause the AV equipment 14 to perform a predetermined operation are stored.

Each subroom 16 stored in RAM 46
The remote control code and room number sent from 1, . . . , 16n are converted into display signals. This display signal is sent to the display 480 of the remote control controller 44 and is sent to each subroom 1 via the display signal transmission line 50.
61,..., 16n are sent to the display devices 481,..., 48n. Therefore, the displays 480, 481, ..., 48n show the AV equipment 14 in use that is controlled by remote control and the AV equipment 14 in use.
The operation details of the device 14 and the room number are displayed (see FIG. 3). As a result, the operation details of the AV equipment 14,
It is possible to easily know what kind of remote control operation was performed in which room.

[0026] The AV equipment 14 has a remote control controller 4.
Controlled based on the remote control code given from 4,
It outputs AV signals such as audio signals and video signals. The remote control controller 44 also sends the AV signal from the AV device 14 to any or all of the monitor systems 300, 301,..., 30n via the AV signal transmission lines 321,..., 32n based on the remote control code. send a signal.

For example, when listening to music from the CD player 8 in the subroom 161, the remote control signal transmitter 181
the CD player 8 to the remote control signal receiver 221.
sends a remote control signal meaning the reproduction of and the amplified output of the amplifier 12. The remote control controller 44 is connected to the remote control signal receiver 22
1 and a control signal transmission line 24 to receive the remote control code and room number. If this remote control code is in the ROM 54 or RAM 46, it is sent to the amplifier 12 and CD player 8. The CD player 8 performs playback based on the remote control code and sends an audio signal to the amplifier 12. The amplifier 12 amplifies the audio signal from the CD player 8 and outputs the amplified audio signal from the output OUT1 to the remote control controller 44. The remote control controller 44 uses the RAM as the remote control code is for playback of the CD player 8 and amplification output of the amplifier 12.
46 and switches the selector 641 so that this audio signal reaches the subroom 161. Then, the AV signal from the amplifier 12 is sent to the monitor system 301 in the subroom 161 via the AV signal transmission line 321. The monitor speaker 28 of the monitor system 301 reproduces the audio signal from the CD player 8. In this case, the display devices 480, 481,..., 48n
The CD player 8 and amplifier 12 in use, and the operation details of each of the CD player 8 and amplifier 12, "PLAY
”, “OUT1” and the room number operated by the remote control “
1” is displayed (see Figure 3). In addition, sub room 16
In case of listening to music played by the CD player 8, the selector 64n may be switched to connect the output OUT1 of the amplifier 12 to the AV signal transmission line 32n.

When selecting the tuner 4 in the sub-room 16n and recording it on the cassette deck 10, operate the remote control signal transmitter 18n and select the remote control signal receiver 22n.
A remote control signal indicating tuning on the tuner 4 and recording on the cassette deck 10 is sent to. The remote control controller 44 receives the remote control code and room number via the remote control signal receiver 22n and the control signal transmission line 24. This remote control code is stored in ROM54 or RAM46
If so, send this remote control code to the tuner 4 and cassette deck 10. The CD player 8 selects a channel based on the remote control code, and sends the selected audio signal to the cassette deck 10. Cassette deck 10 has tuner 4
Record the audio signal from. In this case, the display 48
0,481,...,48n shows the tuner 4 and cassette deck 10 in use, and the tuner 4 and cassette deck 10.
The respective operation details of ``89.9MHz'' channel selection, ``RE
"C" and the room number "n" operated by the remote control are also displayed (see FIG. 3).

In this way, the subrooms 161,...,
16n can remotely control the AV equipment 14 in the main room 2.

In this system, each subroom 161,
..., 16n displays the AV equipment 14 in use that is controlled by remote control, the operation details of the AV equipment 14, and the room number. Therefore, in each sub-room 161, . . . , 16n, the operation details of the AV equipment 14 can be easily known, and double operations to change remote control control can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to easily know what operations are being performed on the AV equipment 14 that can be controlled by remote control, and on the own or other sub-rooms 161, . In addition, a display 480 is also provided in the main room 2, and this display 480 displays the remote-controlled AV equipment 14 in use, the operation details of the AV equipment 14, and the room number. ing. Therefore, in the main room 2, the AV equipment 14
It is possible to easily know the operation contents of the remote control, and to prevent double operations to change remote control control. Furthermore, double operation can be completely prevented by not accepting remote control codes from rooms other than the one used first. In this case, the above state is canceled by detecting that the power of the remote controlled device is turned off. In addition, there are AV equipment 14 that can be controlled by remote control, and sub-rooms 161,...
It is possible to easily know what kind of operations are being performed on the 16n, and the system can be used to a higher level. Note that it is possible to easily identify whether the control is from the main room or not by identifying whether the remote control code input is the output of the remote control signal receiving section 56.

In the above-described embodiment, the AV equipment 14 such as the tuner 4 is used for implementation, but the implementation may be performed using other remote control controlled equipment such as a room cooler. Further, although the present invention has been described using a plurality of remote control controlled devices, the present invention may be implemented using a single remote control controlled device. In this case,
There is no need to display the name of the remote control controlled device on the display.

In addition, although the remote control signal transmitters 181, . You may also do so.

[0033] Furthermore, remote control signal receivers 221,...,2
Although the room number is added to 2n and output to the control signal transmission line 24, in the case where the remote control signal receivers 221,..., 22n are wired with individual signal transmission lines to the remote control controller 44, this Room numbers can be determined by individual wiring. Therefore, in this case, there is no need to add the room number.

Furthermore, although the remote control code is sent through the control signal transmission line 24, it is also possible to send the remote control code using radio waves such as electromagnetic waves or ultrasonic waves.

[0035]

[Effect of the invention] The remote control code received from the remote control signal transmitter in each subroom is stored in the storage means, and the operation details of the remote control controlled equipment are displayed on the display in each subroom based on the stored contents of the storage means. That's what I do. Therefore, the operation contents of the remote control controlled device can be visually observed and understood from the sub-room, and double operation can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a multi-room remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of the vicinity of the remote control controller 44.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing display contents of display devices 480, 481, . . . , 48n.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional multi-room remote control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

2...Main room 4...Tuner 6...Video tape recorder 8...CD player 10...Cassette deck 12...Amplifier 14...AV equipment 161,...,16n...Sub room 180, 18
1,...,18n... Remote control signal transmitter 221,
..., 22n ... remote control signal receiver 24 ...
Control signal transmission line 42 ... Relay means 44 ... Remote control controller 46 ... RAM 480, 481, ..., 48n ... Display device 50
…Display signal transmission line

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims 1: A remote control signal transmitter that is placed in each of a plurality of subrooms and outputs a remote control signal including a remote control code, and a remote control signal transmitter that is placed in a main room where the remote control signals output from each subroom cannot reach and receives the remote control code; A remote control controlled device that performs a predetermined operation based on a remote control code, and a relay means that transmits a remote control code included in a remote control signal output from a remote control transmitter in each subroom to a remote controlled device in the main room, In a multi-room remote control system that remotely controls remote control controlled equipment in the main room from each subroom, the relay means includes a storage means for storing remote control codes received from the remote control signal transmitter of each subroom, and a storage means for storing the remote control codes received from the remote control signal transmitter in each subroom. 1. A multi-room remote control system characterized by comprising a display device that displays operation contents of remote control controlled equipment in each sub-room.