JPH10200971A - Signal generator of wireless remote controller by using personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable remote operation with the same feeling as operating an accustomed wireless remote controller by providing a similar feeling of operation as a real wireless remote controller with a GUI image and enabling the GUI image to generate the same signal as the real wireless remote controller. SOLUTION: A personal computer main body 1 is provided with a keyboard 2 and a display screen 3 of an LCD, etc., and a normal wireless remote controller 4 is displayed at the center of the LCD display screen 3 with an appearance shape 4a, a display part 4b, an operating button 4c of the normal wireless remote controller 4 and various characters and forms of display. A function display of the remote controller display part 4b on the LCD display screen is changed together by pressing the operating button 4c of the wireless remote controller 4 on the LCD display screen 3, in addition, data to transmit the contents of the change to equipment to be controlled is generated together by a software on a personal computer and furthermore, the data is relayed by an incorporated software called as a driver and transmitted from the infrared interface at a rear of the personal computer main body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless remote controller displayed on a display screen such as an LCD of a personal computer, which has the same operational feeling as a real wireless remote controller, that is, an emulator function of a wireless remote controller. The present invention relates to a signal generator for a wireless remote controller by a personal computer that generates the same signal as a real one by clicking an operation button of the wireless remote controller displayed on a display screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a conventional remote control device using a personal computer disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-260, and FIG.
It is a front view which shows the example of a display of. In the figure, 10 is a remote control device, 21 is a connection terminal, 30 is a signal cable for data communication, 30a and 30b are connectors, 40 is a personal computer, 41 is a keyboard, 42 is a connection terminal, 5
0 is the CRT screen of the personal computer 40, 51,
52 is a program display area.

Next, the operation will be described. In FIG. 9, one connector 3 of the data communication signal cable 30 is connected.
0a to the connection terminal 42 of the personal computer 40,
Connect the other connector 30b to the connection terminal 2 of the remote control device 10.
Connect to 1. Then, operation input of a remote control device (not shown) is performed by the keyboard 41 of the personal computer 40. This operation input is displayed on the CRT screen 50 of the personal computer 40 and transmitted through the data communication signal cable 30. FIG. 10 shows C
It shows a display example of an RT screen, and shows a result of inputting a desired date and time, a target, a channel, and the like from the keyboard 41.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional remote control device, it has been described that the remotely controlled device can be remotely controlled without erroneous operation. Unlike the remote control operation (in the case of the wireless remote control, the button operation on the wireless remote control), there is a problem that the operator is uncomfortable and the possibility of erroneous operation is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problems.
G of the wireless remote controller displayed on the display screen such as D
The UI image has the same operational feeling as a real wireless remote controller and generates the same signal as the real wireless remote controller, thereby enabling remote control with the same feeling as operating a familiar wireless remote controller. .

[0006]

A signal generator for a wireless remote controller according to the present invention uses a GUI (Graphical Use) of a wireless remote controller created using software operable on a personal computer.
r Interface) image is displayed on a display screen such as an LCD of a personal computer, and the operation button of the GUI image of the wireless remote controller is clicked with the same operation feeling as operating the actual wireless remote controller, thereby real wireless communication is performed. It generates the same signal as the remote control.

Further, by using an infrared interface built in the personal computer or capable of being added later, the personal computer can be provided with a wireless remote control function, and can be connected to the controlled device from the personal computer having the remote control function. This enables one-way or two-way communication between the controlled device and a personal computer having a remote control function.

In the wireless remote control signal generator, the wireless remote controller signal generating portion is generated by a remote control relay device separately provided outside the personal computer using an external interface signal of the personal computer.

[0009] A GUI image of the wireless remote controller is supplied as an electronic medium.

[0010] Furthermore, the GUI of the wireless remote control
Various wireless remote controllers are prepared as files by customizing images in advance for services, and a GUI image of a desired wireless remote controller is displayed on a display screen such as an LCD by selecting a menu of a personal computer. It was done.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a signal generator of a wireless remote controller using a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the personal computer. In the figure,
The personal computer body 1 has a keyboard 2 and a display screen 3 such as an LCD. In the center of the LCD display screen 3, a normal wireless remote controller 4 has an external shape 4a, a display unit 4b,
It is displayed together with the operation buttons 4c and various display characters and display forms. In addition, an infrared interface 1a and an RS-232C interface 1b for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device are built in the back of the personal computer body 1. The RS-232C interface is E
This is a serial interface standard defined by the IA (American Electronic Industries Association) based on the recommendations of the CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee).

When the operation button 4c of the wireless remote controller 4 on the LCD display screen 3 is pressed, the function display of the remote control display section 4b on the LCD display screen is replaced.
In addition, data for transmitting the changed contents to the controlled device is generated by software on a personal computer, and the generated data is further relayed through embedded software called a driver for passing the data to the infrared interface, and transmitted from the infrared interface 1a. .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a signal generator of the wireless remote controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the signal generator of the wireless remote controller includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 1.
1. IrDA modulators 11b and 11b, which are components of an infrared interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices
rDA demodulator 11c, IR transmitter 11d, I
It includes an R receiver 11e, an infrared light emitting section 1c, a photodetector 11f, a remote control signal modulation section 12b, and a remote control signal demodulation section 12c, and further includes a switch 12a which is switched by a signal from the microcomputer 11. The signal generator of this wireless remote control is
May be provided, or may be added later.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. Normally, in FIG. 3, the switch 12a is set on the side of an infrared interface (IrDA in this case) built in the personal computer 1. The waveform of the data generated at that time is as shown in (b) or (c) in FIG. This is the physical layer itself of the IrDA communication, which enables communication between the two supporting IrDA communication. Next, when the switch 12a is set to the remote control signal side in FIG. 3, the waveform of the data generated at that time is as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. This is because pulse position modulation (P
This is called a PM (Remote Control) method and is a general remote control signal, which enables communication with a controlled device. In the first embodiment, the microcomputer 11 and the part that is a component of the infrared interface are shown separately, but they may be built in the microcomputer.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 5 is an external view of a signal generator of a wireless remote controller according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The personal computer 1 is an RS-232 which is an external interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices.
It has a built-in C interface 1b. The data signal cable 5 connects the personal computer 1 to the remote control relay device 6. The remote control relay device 6 has an infrared transmitting unit 6a.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the operation button 4c of the wireless remote controller 4 on the LCD display screen 3 of FIG. 1 is pressed, the function display of the remote controller display section 4b on the screen changes according to the selected function, and the contents of the change are also added. Is generated by software on a personal computer to transmit the data to the controlled device, and the data is transmitted to the RS-232C interface 1 shown in FIG.
b, and further to the remote control relay device 6 via the data signal cable 5. The remote control relay device 6 processes the received data by a built-in microcomputer, activates embedded software called a driver for infrared transmission, and transmits the data from the infrared transmission unit 6a.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 6 shows a display example of a personal computer screen according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Shown here is the standard wireless remote control provided by the manufacturer. For the desired user, a description of the function of the wireless remote controller of the standard specification is supplied as an electronic medium. The supplied user is required to make a layout of the external shape 4a, the display unit 4b, the operation buttons 4c, etc. of the wireless remote controller 4 of the standard specification,
The size, the color, the function names of the buttons, and the like can be freely changed, and the wireless remote controller that is easy to operate can be customized and used.

Embodiment 4 7 and 8 show display examples of the LCD display screen of the personal computer according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and show screen display examples of two different types of wireless remote controllers. The ones shown here are provided with a special function 4d for service as an electronic medium, or a special wireless remote controller for service. One of the wireless remote controls will be displayed on the screen. In addition, prepare all the standard wireless remote controllers that have already been shipped as files for service, select the year, model, etc. from the menu of the personal computer, and the desired wireless remote controller will be displayed on the LCD display screen. 3 may be displayed.

[0019]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

Unlike the prior art, a remote operation device is not required, and the same operation as operating a real wireless remote controller can be performed by only a click operation on a display screen such as an LCD of a personal computer. Only in the normal operation, the remote control of the controlled device can be easily performed.

Also, by using the infrared interface, the personal computer can be provided with a remote control function, and the controlled device can be remotely operated.

In addition, since the same operation as operating a real wireless remote controller can be performed instead of inputting from a keyboard of a personal computer as in the conventional technology, even a person without special skills can easily receive the data in a normal operation. Remote control of the control device can be performed.

Also, the desired user can be supplied as an electronic medium, and the supplied user can freely change the layout and the like of the wireless remote controller, so that an optimal operation suitable for the user can be performed. Can provide the nature.

In addition, since the inventory of the remote controller prepared for the service can be reduced, and various confirmations can be made using the function of the present invention without developing a special remote controller for the service, the quality of the service is also improved. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a personal computer main body according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the personal computer body according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal generator of the wireless remote controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a signal used in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a signal generator of a wireless remote controller according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a display example of an LCD display screen of a personal computer according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a display example of an LCD display screen of a personal computer according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing another display example of the LCD display screen of the personal computer according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a conventional remote control device using a personal computer.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a display example of a CRT screen of a conventional personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 PC main body, 1a Infrared interface built into PC, 1b RS-232C interface as external interface built into PC, 2 keyboard, 3 LCD display screen, 4 wireless remote control, 4a Remote control external appearance, 4b remote control 4c Remote control operation buttons, 4d Service function / display, 5 Data signal cable, 6
Remote control relay device, 6a infrared transmission unit, 11 microcomputer, 11b IrDA modulation unit, 11c
IrDA demodulator, 11d IR transmitter, 11
eIR receiver, 11f Photo detector, 12
a switch, 12b remote control signal modulation section, 12c remote control signal demodulation section.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A wireless remote control GUI (Graphical UserInterf) created using software operable on a personal computer.
ace) Display an image on a display screen of a personal computer, and click the operation button of the GUI image of the wireless remote controller with the same operational feeling as operating the actual wireless remote controller, thereby obtaining the same signal as that of the actual wireless remote controller. A signal generator for a wireless remote controller by a personal computer, characterized by generating a signal. 2. A personal computer,
Or by using an infrared interface that can be added later, the personal computer has a wireless remote control function, and the personal computer with the remote control function has one way to the controlled device, or has the remote control function with the controlled device. 2. A signal generator for a wireless remote controller by a personal computer according to claim 1, wherein bidirectional communication with the personal computer is enabled. 3. A wireless remote control signal generating portion of the wireless remote control signal generating device is generated by a remote control relay device separately provided outside the personal computer using an external interface signal of the personal computer. A signal generator for a wireless remote controller using a personal computer according to claim 1. 4. The wireless remote control GUI image is supplied as an electronic medium.
A signal generator for a wireless remote controller using the personal computer according to claim 3. 5. A GUI image of the wireless remote controller is customized in advance for a service so that various wireless remote controllers are prepared as files, and a GUI image of a desired wireless remote controller is displayed by selecting a menu of a personal computer. 4. A signal generating apparatus for a wireless remote controller by a personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the signal is displayed on a screen.