JPH05268670A - Wireless home bus system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control the devices installed at different locations from other location without being attended with an indoor wiring work or the like. CONSTITUTION:Control information relating a system such as addresses of slave sets 12, 13, 14, types of controlled devices 131-143 or an operating mode is registered to a master set 11 and control information is sent from the master set 11 as desired to a slave set of a designated address. A slave set receiving the control information from the master set 11 sends a command in response to the control information in a radio wave by a remote controller. The command is received by a designated controlled device in terms of the control information and operation is controlled for the controlled device based on the received command.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless home bus system for remotely controlling wirelessly controlled devices such as video tape recorders and televisions arranged in different places.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, one house is divided into a plurality of rooms. In the case of a family structure of a plurality of people, each person is assigned a different room so that each person has a private space. Often

Therefore, as a telephone that has become widespread in homes in recent years, it is possible to make a telephone call with a base unit having a normal call function and various control functions, and wirelessly with the base unit based on a predetermined communication protocol. A telephone having a so-called wireless home bus telephone system including one or a plurality of slaves has been introduced. in this case,
The base unit is installed in the entrance, kitchen or living room, etc., which is easy for the whole family to take, and each handset is installed in each room.

Further, as described above, as a result of each person having a dedicated room, a household electric device such as a light, an air conditioner, a television, an audio device or a video tape recorder is installed in each room. It is starting to be installed individually. Most of these devices currently in widespread use each have a portable remote control device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control device) that can be remotely controlled by wireless.

[0005]

As described above, a desired household electric device is installed in each room in the house, and each device can be remotely controlled by a remote control device, but the remote control range is , Limited to each room. Therefore, even if each person has his / her own room and is equipped with a household electric appliance individually, it can be remotely controlled from another room, for example, a living room where a family gathering is performed, and a desired room away from the living room. It is not possible to meet the demand that the electric equipment such as the air conditioner is operated to cool or heat the room in advance.

In order to meet the demand, for example, a main apparatus is installed in a main room such as a living room, and the main apparatus and electric equipment installed in each room are connected by a power cable, and the main apparatus is operated. It is also conceivable to build a so-called wired home bus system that enables remote control.

However, in order to realize this,
Indoor wiring work is required, and if it is done in parallel with new construction or renovation, it will be a large-scale work if the system is installed in an existing house, and it will be a long time. It will take a period. In addition, the standards are often different for each device, and in this case, it is necessary to separately prepare a cable according to the standard for each device, which is troublesome and troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to allow a device installed in a different location to be remotely operated from another location by a wireless home without indoor wiring work or the like. To provide a bus system.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a master unit capable of registering control information related to a system and a master unit capable of wirelessly exchanging information and controlling from the master unit. It is configured to have at least one child device provided with remote control means for wirelessly issuing a command based on information, and a controlled device whose operation is controlled by the command. Further, in the present invention, the master unit is configured to have remote control means for issuing a command based on the control information. Further, in the present invention, the slave unit is configured to have a unit capable of registering command information according to the controlled device.

[0010]

According to the present invention, system-related control information, such as the address of the child device, the type of the controlled device or the operation mode, is registered in the parent device. In this state, the master unit transmits the control information to the slave unit having the designated address. In the child device that receives the control information from the parent device, a command according to the control information is wirelessly issued by the remote control means,
This command is received by the controlled device specified by the control information. As a result, the controlled device performs the operation control based on the received command.

Also, from the base unit equipped with remote control means,
A command based on the control information is issued to control the operation of the controlled device.

Further, in the master unit or the slave unit provided with the command information registration means, command information corresponding to the type of the controlled device installed at the location where the command information is registered is registered.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a wireless home bus system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part, a slave and a controlled device in FIG. In the case of this example, a system configuration example in the case where the room is divided into four rooms is shown. In the figure, 1 is a first room, 2 is a second room, 3 is a third room, 4 is a fourth room, 11 is a master unit (parent), and 12 is a first slave unit (child 1). 1
3 is the second child device (child 2), 14 is the third child device (child 3),
111, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 1
Reference numerals 42 and 143 denote controlled devices, respectively. The rooms 1, 2, 3 and 4 are not shielded,
Similar to a normal house, the rooms are separated by walls so that wireless communication is possible.

In the first room 1, a base unit 11 and a controlled device 111 are arranged. The controlled device 111 is composed of, for example, a stereo (ST), and on / off of the power source, volume control, and the like are controlled by command information by infrared rays emitted from the master device 11.

In the second room 2, a second slave unit 12 and controlled devices 121, 122 are arranged. The controlled device 121 is composed of, for example, a television (TV), and the second slave unit 1 controls on / off of the power source, volume adjustment, and the like.
It is controlled by the command information by infrared rays emitted from 2. Further, the controlled device 122 is composed of, for example, a video tape recorder (VTR), and switching of operation modes such as power on / off, reproduction, recording, and fast forward is performed by infrared rays emitted from the second slave unit 12. It is controlled by command information.

In the third room 3, a third slave unit 13 and controlled devices 131 and 132 are arranged. The controlled device 131 is composed of, for example, a television (TV), and the third slave unit 1 controls on / off of power, volume adjustment, and the like.
It is controlled by the command information by infrared rays emitted from 3. Further, the controlled device 132 is composed of, for example, a light (LT) for illumination, and its on / off is controlled by command information by infrared rays emitted from the third slave unit 13.

In the fourth room 4, a third slave unit 14 and controlled devices 141, 142 and 143 are arranged. The controlled device 141 is, for example, a television (T
V), power on / off and volume control are controlled by command information by infrared rays emitted from the third slave unit 13. The controlled device 132 is composed of, for example, a light (LT), and its on / off is controlled by command information by infrared rays emitted from the third child device 13. In addition, the controlled device 133 is configured by, for example, an indoor cooling / heating device (AC), and power on / off and air volume adjustment are similarly controlled by command information by infrared rays emitted from the third slave unit 13. ..

Each of the controlled devices 111 and 12 described above is
1,122,131,132,141,142,143
Includes an infrared ray receiving section A for receiving infrared rays emitted from the master unit 11 or each of the slave units 11, 12, 13 and a master unit 11 or each of the slave units 11, 1 which is the source of the infrared ray to the effect that the infrared ray is received.
Infrared light emitting section B for outputting response information to 2 and 13
And a control system C for controlling the operation of the device by an electric signal based on the received light and for controlling the driving of the infrared light emitting section B. In FIG. 2, the controlled device 11
1 (stereo in this example) is shown as an example, and other controlled devices 111, 122, 131, 132,
141, 142, 143 also have the same function.

The base unit 11 comprises a digital electronic telephone, is installed in the first room 1, and is connected to an outdoor telephone line through a modular outlet. In addition, base unit 11
Can connect up to three slave units, and each slave unit 12,
A so-called extension call is possible between 13 and 14 based on the communication protocol. In addition to the above-described functional configuration of a normal electronic telephone, the base unit 11 has a memory 11a, a control unit 11b, a display unit 11c, and a remote control device 11d, as shown in FIG.

In the memory 11a, the control information including the extension number of each child device, the number of the controlled device installed in each of the rooms 1 to 4 and the operation command code such as power-on / off is stored on the numeric keypad or the extension. It is arbitrarily combined from the input unit 11e composed of operation buttons and registered as necessary.

The control unit 11b takes out control information, which is a combination of an arbitrary extension number, an equipment number and an operation command code designated by the input unit 11e, from the memory 11a and outputs it to the remote control device 11d and a designated slave unit. It also controls the reception of various wireless information including the response information from the remote control device 11d and the extension call information from each of the slaves 12, 13, and 14.

The display unit 11c is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and has input information from the input unit 11e and the remote controller 11.
The response information from d and the response information from the slaves 12, 13, and 14 are displayed under the control of the control unit 11b.

The remote control device 11d is a controlled device 111.
There is an infrared light emitting unit 11d1 that issues command information to (stereo in this example), an infrared light receiving unit 11d2 that receives infrared response information from the controlled device 111, and a predetermined code is specified from the input unit 11e. Control information related to
When receiving from 1b, the infrared emission unit 11d1 emits a command for operation control corresponding to the controlled device 111 (stereo in this example) that has been learned and registered in advance, and outputs the command.
The remote control unit 11d3 outputs response information from the controlled device 111 received by the infrared light receiving unit 11d2 to the control unit 11b.

The first sub-unit 12 is arranged in the second room 2 and, in addition to the usual communication function configuration such as extension, as shown in FIG. 2, the information transmission / reception control unit 12a and the remote control device 12 are provided.
b. The information transmission / reception control unit 12a includes the base unit 11
It receives control information consisting of a combination of an arbitrary extension number, equipment number and operation command code sent from the remote control device 12b and outputs it to the remote control device 12b, and also various wireless information including response information from the remote control device 12b or extension call information. It is sent to the master device 11 or to the other slave devices 13 and 14.

The remote controller 12b is the same as the base unit 11 described above.
Has the same function as that built into the controlled device 121,
An infrared light emitting unit 12b1 that issues command information to 122 (a television, a video tape recorder in this example), an infrared light receiving unit 12b2 that receives infrared response information from the controlled devices 121 and 122, and a predetermined unit from the base unit 11. A code is designated, and control information relating to the designation is sent to the information transmission / reception control unit 12a
When received from the infrared light emitting unit, a command for operation control corresponding to the controlled devices 121 and 122 that has been learned and registered in advance is received.
12b1 emits light and outputs it, and infrared receiver 12b2
The remote control unit 12b3 that outputs the response information from the controlled devices 121 and 122 received in step 1 to the information transmission / reception control unit 12a. The remote control device 12b is configured to be able to input an operation control command corresponding to the controlled device from an input unit (not shown) in accordance with the type of the controlled device, and can be arbitrarily changed.

The second handset 13 is arranged in the third room 3 and has an information transmission / reception control section 13a and a remote control device 13 as shown in FIG.
b. The information transmission / reception control unit 13a includes the base unit 11
It receives control information consisting of a combination of an arbitrary extension number, device number and operation command code sent from the remote control device 13b and outputs it to the remote control device 13b, and also transmits various wireless information including response information or extension call information from the remote control device 13b. It is sent to the master device 11 or to the other slave devices 12 and 14.

The remote control device 13b is the same as the base unit 11 described above.
Has the same function as that built in the
Infrared ray emitting section 13b1 for issuing command information to 132 (television, light in this example) and controlled devices 131, 13
Infrared receiver 13b2 for receiving infrared response information from 2
Then, when a predetermined code is designated from the base unit 11 and the control information related to the designation is received from the information transmission / reception control unit 13a,
Controlled devices 131 and 132 that have been learned and registered in advance
The controlled device 1 which receives the operation control command corresponding to the infrared light emitting portion 13b1 to be emitted and is received by the light receiving portion 13b2
It has a remote controller control unit 13b3 which outputs response information from the information transmission control units 31 and 132 to the information transmission / reception control unit 13a. The remote control device 13b is configured to be able to input an operation control command corresponding to the controlled device from an input unit (not shown) in accordance with the type of the controlled device, and can be arbitrarily changed.

The third sub-unit 14 is arranged in the fourth room 4, and in addition to the usual communication function configuration such as extension, as shown in FIG. 2, the information transmission / reception control unit 14a and the remote control device 14 are provided.
b. The information transmission / reception control unit 14a includes the master device 11
It receives control information consisting of a combination of an arbitrary extension number, device number and operation command code sent from the remote control device 14b and outputs it to the remote control device 14b, and also transmits various wireless information including response information from the remote control device 14b or extension call information. It is sent to the master device 11 or to the other slave devices 12 and 13.

The remote controller 14b is the base unit 11 described above.
Has the same function as that built in the
142, 143 (in this example, a television, a light, an air conditioner), an infrared light emitting unit 14b1 that issues command information, an infrared light receiving unit 14b2 that receives infrared response information from the controlled devices 141, 142, 143, and a parent unit. When a predetermined code is designated from the machine 11 and the control information relating to the designation is received from the information transmission / reception control unit 14a, an infrared ray is issued as a command for operation control corresponding to the controlled devices 141, 142, 143 learned and registered in advance. The controlled devices 141, 14 received by the infrared ray receiving section 14b2 are emitted from the light emitting section 14b1 and output.
2 and 143, the remote control unit 14b3 outputs the response information to the information transmission / reception control unit 14a. The remote control device 14b is configured to be able to input an operation control command corresponding to the controlled device from an input unit (not shown) in accordance with the type of the controlled device, and can be arbitrarily changed.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, for example, the extension number of the base unit 11 is set to “0”, and the devices in the rooms 1, 2, 3, and 4 are shown in FIG.
Allocate as shown in. That is, in the first room 1, the number of the controlled device 111 (stereo ST) is set to “1”, and in the second room 2, the extension number of the first slave unit 12 is set to “1” and the controlled device 121. (Television T
V) is “1”, the controlled device 122 (video tape recorder VTR) is “2”, and in the third room 3, the extension number of the second child device 13 is “2”, the controlled device is controlled. The number of the device 131 (television TV) is "1", the number of the controlled device 132 (light LT) is "2", and the extension number of the third child device 14 in the fourth room 4 is "3". ,
The number of the controlled device 141 (television TV) is assigned as "1", the number of the controlled device 142 (light LT) is assigned as "2", and the number of the controlled device 143 (cooling / heating device AC) is assigned as "3" ( S1).

This allocation information is input to the input unit 1 of the base unit 11.
1e and the memory 1 via the control unit 11b.
It is registered in 1a (S2). At this time, the input data is displayed on the display unit 11c. Therefore, the input person inputs information while confirming whether the input is correct on the display unit 11c.
Further, command information for operation control corresponding to the controlled device is given to the remote controller control units 11d3, 12b3, 13b3, 14b3 of the remote controller devices 11d, 12b, 13b, 14b of the master device 11 and the slave devices 12, 13, 14 respectively. Is input and registered (S3).

With the above initial settings completed, for example, a person who is present in the first room 1 may change to the third room 3 for example.
When it is desired to turn on the power of the controlled device 131 (television TV) of No. 1, first, from the input unit 11e of the master device 11, the designation information of a predetermined format, for example, a format of "in + 2 ++", It is input to confirm what the current state of the controlled device 131 whose operation is controlled by the second child device 13 is. This designation information is input to the control unit 11b. Thereby, in the control unit 11b, the control information of the memory 11a is referred to, and if there is no error in the designation information, the designation information is sent to the designated second slave unit 13 and input to the information transmission / reception control unit 13a. .. In the information transmission / reception control unit 13a, information indicating the current state of the controlled devices 131 and 132 to be managed is transmitted to the master device 11 according to the input designation information. The information is received by the control unit 11b of the parent device 11, and the operating states of the controlled devices 131 and 132 are displayed on the display unit 11e. As a result, the operating state of the controlled device 131 to be controlled is confirmed (S4).

Here, if it is confirmed that the controlled device 131 is in the operating state, no special operation is performed in that state. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the controlled device 131 is in the non-operating state (S5), the input unit 11e of the parent device 11
From this, command information is input and designated in a code format as shown in FIG. 5 (a) (S6). In particular,
It is input as "inside + 2 + 1 + 0 + 1". here,
The last two digits “0 + 1” indicate the command content for turning on the power. When the last two digits are “0 + 0”, it indicates the instruction content for turning off the power. Four types of operations can be commanded by the last two digits.

The information specified by the input unit 11e is input to the control unit 11b. As a result, the control unit 11b refers to the control information in the memory 11a, and if there is no error in the designation information, the designation information is sent to the designated second slave unit 13 and input to the information transmission / reception control unit 13a. Further, this information is input to the remote controller control unit 13b3 of the remote controller 13b. In the remote controller control unit 13b3, the controlled device 13 that has been learned and registered in advance according to the specified information that has been input.
1 Infrared light emitting unit 13b1 based on the command for operation control
Is illuminated by a predetermined modulation action, and a power-on command is output to the controlled device 131 (S7). In the controlled device 131, the infrared light receiving unit A receives a power-on command from the second child device 13 by infrared light, and an electric signal based on this is input to the control system C. As a result, the power is turned on under the control of the control system C (S8). When the power is turned on, the control system C outputs response information indicating that the power is normally turned on from the infrared emitting section B (S
9). This response information is the infrared receiving unit of the second handset 13.
The light is received by 13b2, and an electric signal based on the light is input to the remote controller control unit 13b3.

When the response information is input to the remote controller control unit 13b3, the response information is wirelessly transmitted to the base unit 11 in the code format shown in FIG. 5B (S).
10). Specifically, it is transmitted in a format such as "inside + 0 + 2 + 1 + 1". Here, the last 1 digit "1" indicates that the command operation is normally completed. If the last digit is "0", it indicates that the command operation was not normally completed.

The response information from the second handset 13 is the base unit 1
It is received by the first control unit 11b and is displayed on the display unit 11e as a result of the command to the controlled device 131. Thereby, it is confirmed whether or not the controlled device 131 to be controlled operates normally (S11).

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Using the wireless telephone system, the master device 11 and the slave devices 12, 13, 14 have remote control devices 11d, 12 having a learning function capable of dealing with so-called various controlled devices.
Since b, 13b, and 14b are provided, the devices installed in different places can be easily operated remotely from other places without complicated work such as indoor wiring work. Further, even when the controlled device installed in each room is changed, the system can be easily reconstructed by learning the operation control command corresponding to the changed device.

In the present embodiment, the case of three slave units has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this. Further, in the present embodiment, the master unit is configured to give the command information to each slave unit based on the control information, but it is also possible to transmit / receive the command information between the slave units.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
No need for complicated work such as indoor wiring work when configuring a new home bus system, or when reconfiguring the system, such as changing controlled devices installed in each room after system configuration. The system can be configured in such a way that equipment installed in different places can be easily operated remotely from other places.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a wireless home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a main part of a parent device, a child device, and a controlled device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of system number assignment of each device in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a format example at the time of command and response according to the present invention.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... First Room 2 ... Second Room 3 ... Third Room 4 ... Fourth Room 11 ... Master Device 11a ... Memory 11b ... Control Unit 11c ... Display Unit 11d ... Remote Control Device 11d1 ... Infrared light emitting unit 11d2 ... Infrared light receiving unit 11d3 ... Remote control unit 11e ... Input unit 12 ... First slave unit 12a ... Information transmission / reception control unit 12b ... Remote control device 12d1 ... Infrared light emitting unit 12d2 ... Infrared light receiving unit 12d3 ... Remote control unit 13 ... second slave unit 13a ... information transmission / reception control unit 13b ... remote control device 13d1 ... infrared light emitting unit 13d2 ... infrared light receiving unit 13d3 ... remote control unit 14 ... third slave unit 14a ... information transmission / reception control unit 14b ... remote control device 14d1 ... Infrared ray emitting section 14d2 ... Infrared ray receiving section 14d3 ... Remote control section 111, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 1
42,143 ... Controlled device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A master unit capable of registering control information related to a system, and a remote control unit capable of wirelessly exchanging information with the master unit and wirelessly issuing a command based on the control information from the master unit. A wireless home bus system comprising at least one slave and a controlled device whose operation is controlled by the above command. 2. The wireless home bus system according to claim 1, wherein the master unit has remote control means for issuing a command based on the control information. 3. The wireless home bus system according to claim 1, wherein the slave unit has means capable of registering command information according to a controlled device.