KR20080001326A - Apparatus and method for changing configuration of device by remote control - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for remotely changing setup of a device, and a method thereof are provided to combine desired functions of a user, and to apply the combined functions to a device remotely, and then to apply changed contents even to other devices belonging to the corresponding device, thus collective changing treatment is available. An RC(Remote Controller) input interpretation module(104) interprets an input signal received from an RC device, and delivers an execution item. A device control module(103) controls the delivered execution item to be executed according to a user's input. A device information reception module(101) receives information changed by function combination set by a user from an external device.

Description

Apparatus and method for changing configuration of device by remote control}

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an internal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a function providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating devices for remotely changing the setting of the internal device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing device information through the device (Without Server) shown in FIG. 2.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing device information through the device (With Server) shown in FIG.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of applying a new mapping function that receives device information update in the internal device 100.

8 is a diagram illustrating a layout mapping processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of batch mapping processing in a host-client system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a diagram illustrating a method of receiving and processing information from a function providing server 300 using various GUIs in addition to a device function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

UI: 201

Instrument Information Analysis Module: 202

Device information storage module: 203

Device information transmission module: 204

Device information receiving module: 205

The present invention relates to a device and a method for remotely changing a device setting, and more particularly, a combination of functions desired by a user and remotely applied to a device and changes to other devices that are dependent on the device. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for changing a device's settings remotely.

In general, the local device must be used to change the input setting of a peripheral device that is dependent on one device.

For example, in order to change information mapped with a button of a remote controller (RC), it is possible to change only an internal device, not an external device, and a separate UI when a mapping function is changed. May be required.

In addition, when there are many devices to be managed, and the same settings need to be applied to multiple devices, there is a difficulty to go directly to each device, and when the input / output environment of the internal device is poor, there is a need to modify the external device. There may be, but it is difficult to accommodate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to change setting information of an internal device from an external device through an apparatus and method for remotely changing the setting of the device.

Another object of the present invention is to collectively change when there are many devices dependent on internal devices to be changed in the same way.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the setting of a function that meets the needs of a user.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the apparatus for remotely changing the setting of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a remote control input analysis module for transmitting the execution item by interpreting the input signal received from the remote control device and the received execution And a device control module for controlling the item to be executed according to a user input.

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus for remotely changing a device setting according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a device information analysis module and a function combination for combining a function desired by a user and validating the function combination. And a device information transmission module for transmitting the information changed by the device to one or more devices.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of remotely changing a device setting according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a remote control input analysis step of delivering an execution item by interpreting an input signal received from a remote control device and the received execution. And a device control step of controlling the item to be executed according to a user input.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of remotely changing a device setting according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a device information analysis step of combining a function desired by a user and validating the function combination and the function combination. The device information transmitting step of transmitting the changed information to the one or more devices to update.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be embodied in various different forms, and the present embodiments merely make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, terms mainly used in the present invention will be described.

1) Local Device: The target device to change the setting includes the input device.

2) External Device: Refers to the device that is not the target device to change the settings.

3) Mapping Function: Refers to the combination of RC button and device function or application command.

For example, button 1 of the RC is muted, button 2 is exiting the UI application, and so on.

4) Device Function: It is a function of the internal device itself, such as scheduled alarm and scheduled recording.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an internal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The internal device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device having a peripheral input device such as a DTV or a PDA and is connected to an external device such as a PC connected by Universal Plug and Play (UPnP). The device information receiving module 101 for receiving device information (Mapping Function, etc.) from the corresponding device, the model number, mapping function, and device according to the request and event of the PC connected by UPnP. After the input from the device information transmission module 102, RC, which transmits a function, etc., and the action to be taken is determined by the RC input analysis module 104, the operation corresponding to the device is controlled by controlling the operation corresponding to the device, For example, the RC signal received by the device control module 103 and the RC input receiving module 105 to perform screen update and device function execution can be searched in a mapping table DB to match the situation. RC input interpretation module 104 which transmits the operation item to instrument control module 103 after interpreting the input, RC input receiving module 105 which receives the input signal from RC, all relations mapped to RC, That is, it includes a mapping table DB 106 that stores a mapping function.

Here, the RC input receiving module 105 has its own reception signal queue because the new input may come from the user before the previous receiving processing is terminated, so that the RC input receiving module 105 processes the RC input receiving module 104 sequentially. do.

In addition, the mapping table constituting the mapping table DB 106 is used by a query of the RC input interpretation module 104, and when the device information receiving module 101 receives new data, the mapping table is validated. Update.

The term '~ module' used in the embodiment of the present invention refers to software or a hardware component such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and the '~ module' performs certain roles. do.

However, '~ module' is not meant to be limited to software or hardware.

The '~ module' may be configured to reside in an addressable storage medium or may be configured to play one or more processors.

Thus, as an example, a '~ module' may include components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, processes, functions, properties, procedures, and the like. Subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.

Functions provided within components and '~ modules' may be combined into smaller number of components and '~ modules' or further separated into additional components and '~ modules'.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is shown together with the apparatus shown in FIG.

The external device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention can easily change the internal settings of the device through a user-friendly input device and a UI, which is convenient for setting a keyboard, a mouse, etc. As a device for accessing the device, the UI 201 for allowing a user to change a relationship between a device and a peripheral device of the device and the storage module 203 for storing device information received from the internal device 100 are accessed. The device information analysis module 202 and the device information received from the internal device 100 may be used to verify the validity of the user setting, and, if valid, check the changes to make changes. The device information storage module 203 for storing, the device information transmission module 204 for transmitting the information changed by the user to the internal device 100, and the internal device 100. Device information receiving module 205 for receiving device information.

For reference, the RC keys that can correspond to device functions, mapping functions, etc. are displayed on the UI, so that the user can easily change the mapping relationship between them. In the device information transmission module 204, the path of the device information file can be changed through UPnP operation. When sending the HTTP client in the internal device 100 can access the path and transmit the XML file.

In addition, the device information transmitting module 204 may update the device information of the internal device 100 by collectively transmitting the device information to one device as well as sending the same device information to all devices found as UPnP. Make sure

In the device information receiving module 205, the device information may be received in an XML format. The XML information is transmitted from the HTTP server in the internal device 100.

In addition to the internal device 100 and the external device 200 described above, an RC having an RC information transmission module 210 may be further included as an input device for a user to issue a command to the internal device 100. 211 may send a signal to the internal device 100.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a function providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The function providing server according to an embodiment of the present invention searches device information DB with device information such as a model number obtained through the device information receiving module 101 to retrieve information requested by the external device 200. The device information retrieval module 301 for transferring the search results to the device information transmission module 302, the device information retransmission module 302 for transmitting the information received through the device information retrieval module 301 to an external device, and the external device. A module for receiving information from a device, the device information receiving module 303 for receiving information and delivering information to the device information retrieval module 301, device functions for all devices provided by a vendor, and an internal device 100. It includes the device information DB (304) is stored in the information about the application to return to the device information search module 301 to transmit information corresponding to the query (Query) of the external device (200).

For reference, the function providing server exchanges information with the external device 200 using HTTP through the device information transmitting module 302.

4 is a diagram illustrating devices for remotely changing the setting of the internal device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 further includes a function providing server 300 which was not included in FIG. 2, so that only the difference from the apparatus described with reference to FIG. 2 will be described.

The device information transmitting module 101 of the internal device 100 does not send the device function information to the PC 200 when the function providing server 300 is included. Instead, it transmits its own model number to access the function providing server 300 from the external device 200 side to receive the device function according to the model number.

The device information storage module 203 of the external device 200 is a selectable component. The device information storage module 203 may be provided to obtain and modify device information currently set in the internal device 100.

If you always want to download the internal device function and RC information from the function providing server 300 and newly set up, the device information storage module 203 may be omitted.

Before the information is stored in this component, only the valid information can be stored through the device information analysis module 202.

The device information transmitting module 204 of the external device 200 may transmit the mapping function changed in the external device 200 to the internal device 100, and may also provide a model number of the internal device 100 to the function providing server 300. ) Can also request device information for the device.

The device information receiving module 205 may receive device information from the internal device 100, and may receive information such as device functions of the internal device 100 when requesting information from the function providing server 300.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing device information through the device (Without Server) shown in FIG. 2.

When a user selects a device from an application of the external device 200, the external device 200 system sends a device information request event to the internal device 100.

The internal device 100 receiving the request event transfers the requested information from the mapping table DB 106 to the device information transmitting module 102 and transmits the information to the external device 200 (S501).

When the external device 200 receives the device information sent by the internal device 100 through the device information receiving module 205, the received information is analyzed through the device information analysis module 202, and the device information storage module 203 ) Is stored in step S502.

After S502, when the analysis is completed, device information such as a device function and a mapping function of the corresponding device is loaded into an application of the external device 200.

For reference, the user may add, delete, or modify a mapping function through the UI 201.

After the modification is completed, the corrected information is analyzed again in the device information analysis module 202 (S503).

After S503, when the analysis is completed, the device information is stored in the device information storage module 203 (S504).

After S504, the updated device information is transmitted to the device information transmitting module 204 and transmitted to the internal device 100 (S505).

After S505, the internal device 100 receives the updated information through the device information receiving module 101 and reflects it to the mapping table DB 106 (S506).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing device information through the device (With Server) shown in FIG.

When the service is provided through the function providing server 300, since the device function information can be directly received from the function providing server 300, there is no need to send the device function information from the internal device 100 to the external device 200. .

Instead, the model number of the internal device 100 is transmitted (S601).

After S601, when the mapping function currently set in the internal device 100 is to be maintained and modified, the corresponding mapping function is transmitted.

In the case of newly setting regardless of the current setting, this process is omitted (S602).

After S602, the device information receiving module 205 of the external device 200 receives the model number and requests the function providing server 300 for a device function for the corresponding internal device 100 (S603).

After S603, the device information receiving module 303 of the function providing server 300 transmits the query data to the device information retrieval module 301 after receiving the query (S604).

After S604, the device information retrieval module 301 retrieves the necessary data from the device information DB 304 and then transfers the information to the device information transmission module 302 so that the retrieved result is transmitted to the external device 200 (S605). ).

After S605, the device information receiving module 205 of the external device 200 receives the information from the function providing server 300, sends the information to the device information analyzing module 202, and then analyzes the device information storing module 203. The data is stored in the UI 201 and reflected on the UI 201 (S606).

Subsequent processes are the same as the processes S503 to S506 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of applying a new mapping function that has received device information update from an internal device 100.

When the device information transmitting module 204 of the external device 200 sends information to the internal device 100, the device information receiving module 101 of the internal device 100 receives the information (S701).

The updated device information is stored in the mapping table DB 106 (S702).

After S702, an input through the RC 210 is generated from the user (S703).

The RC input receiving module 105 receives the signal and transmits the signal to the RC input analyzing module 104 (S704).

The RC input interpretation module 104 searches the mapping table DB 106 to find an operation on the signal (S705).

After operation S705, the device control module 103 of the internal device 100 issues a command to the device to reflect the newly changed mapping function.

The device is controlled according to the operation and the screen is changed (S706).

8 is a diagram illustrating a layout mapping processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, a term used in FIG. 8 will be described, and then a layout mapping method will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the PNS DTV System, which is an application program capable of executing a layout made of a combination of widgets, is installed in the DTV.

Here, a widget is a unit of execution described in XML, a script, and a resource file. The layout is a combination of widgets that has a loading / unloading event, and each event is an RC key. Can be mapped to a button.

Searching, adding, and editing a widget using only the RC in the DTV is very limited, so the PNS PC system is installed in the external device 200 to easily make a layout using the mouse and keyboard in the external device and transmit the layout to the DTV.

At this time, all layouts must have a condition that can be loaded in DTV. Therefore, mapping function should be specified.

The kind that can be registered as a mapping function can be a button of RC.

For example, a user might want to map a layout to a specific RC button to run the layout with a specific numeric input on the DTV.

To this end, the DTV transmits the current mapping function to an external device.

The PNS PC System analyzes the mapping function and selects the button keys that are not currently assigned.

The user selects one of the available button keys inquired.

When the mapping function for the layout is completed and the layout is installed, the mapping function of the layout is registered in the mapping table DB 106 of the DTV, which is the internal device 100.

After that, when you enter a specific numeric button in RC, the layout will appear on the DTV screen.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of batch mapping processing in a host-client system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

An example in which a control server (hereinafter referred to as a host PC) external device 200, which is an environment in which the present invention can be effectively used, can process a plurality of peripheral devices connected to a plurality of internal devices 110 to 140 in a batch. to be.

If there are many identical internal devices 100 networked to the host PC 200, for example, in a hospital or a factory, when the internal settings are changed, all the internal devices 100 need to go directly and change the internal settings. There is a case.

This is because the input device mapping information for the internal device 100 could be performed only in the internal device 100.

However, through the present invention, if the setting information is changed in the host PC 200 and then the mapping information is updated in all the internal devices 110 to 140 connected to the network, the mapping information is updated in a batch.

After the mapping function of the internal devices 110 to 140 is updated, pressing a specific button of the RC 111 in the internal device 110 executes a command as set in the host PC 200 to control the internal device 110. .

Since all other internal devices 120, 130, and 140 have been changed in the same manner, inputting specific buttons of RCs 121 to 141 to the respective internal devices 120, 130, and 140 will all perform the same operation.

As an example, let's say you have mapped your medical records to the RC button 1 when the hospital application has the focus.

The hospital is about to launch a new service that provides basic physical information (blood pressure, temperature, etc.) on screen as well as medical records.

When attempting to map this service to button 2 of RC, using the system, apparatus, and method of the present invention, the host PC 200 connects the hospital application basic fitness channel to button 2 of RC for broadcasting. ), You can change the mapping information between DTV and remote control in every room with just one operation, no matter how many are connected.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a method of receiving and processing information from a function providing server 300 using various GUIs in addition to a device function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and may be used to increase user convenience.

The DTV, which is an internal device 100 registered with an RC to receive an input, and the PC 200 that is an external device are connected by UPnP, and the PC has an environment in which an Ethernet network can be used.

When the user selects the DTV as an internal device, the device sends a device information request to the DTV, and the DTV transmits a model number and mapping information.

Using the transmitted model number, the external device 200 accesses the function providing server 300 and transmits a RC GUI screen shot and a device function list of the corresponding model to the external device 200.

The user may receive information from the function providing server 300 to analyze and reflect the information to the UI so that the user can more easily modify the RC mapping function.

In the present invention, a user easily creates a layout which is a desired combination of functions and proposes a method of easily executing the same on a target device.

This enables the following scenarios.

Scenario 1: Create a function combination by selecting 'weather' and 'news of the day' as a function, and the function combination is executed by pressing '1' button on the remote control and exiting by pressing '1' button again. After that, install the created function combination in DTV. After that, if you press the '1' button on the remote control, 'weather' and 'today's news' will appear on the screen. Press the '1' button again to exit.

Scenario 2: Before a parent with a high school child goes on vacation, select a function called "Two Hours Watching TV" and "End TV 9:00" as a function to create a function combination. to Run it.

After that, the child can't watch TV for more than two hours a day, and when 9 o'clock at night, the TV ends with the message, 'Don't watch TV until late at night'.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. You will understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

According to the apparatus and method for remotely changing a device setting of the present invention as described above, there are one or more of the following effects.

There is an advantage that the peripheral device configuration information of the local device can be changed in the external device.

If there are many devices that need to be changed in the same way, there is an advantage in that they can be changed in a batch.

There is an advantage that the function can be set according to the user's needs.

Claims (5)

A remote control input analysis module for interpreting an input signal received from a remote control device and delivering an execution item; And And a device control module for controlling to execute the received execution item according to a user input. The method of claim 1, A device for remotely changing device settings further comprising a device information receiving module for receiving information changed by a function combination set by a user in an external device. A device information analysis module for combining functions that a user wants to use and validating the function combination; And And a device information transmitting module for transmitting and updating the information changed by the function combination to one or more devices. A remote control input analysis step of interpreting an input signal received from the remote control device and delivering an execution item; And And controlling a device to execute the received execution item according to a user input. A device information analysis step of combining a function that a user wants to use and validating the function combination; And And a device information transmission step of transmitting the information changed by the function combination to one or more devices for updating.

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