KR20160056680A - Apparatus and method of pursuing remote controller position - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for tracking a remote control device position are provided. The apparatus includes an electronic device for outputting a position confirmation signal to the remote control device, and a remote control device for receiving the position confirmation signal outputted from the electronic device and transmitting information about the position of the remote control device to the electronic device. The electronic device transmits a signal relating to the position of the remote control device to the remote control device, generates information about the position of the remote control device, receives the signal relating to the position of the remote control device from the remote control device, Calculates the position of the remote controller with respect to the room using the position signal, and displays the position of the remote controller.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PURSUING REMOTE CONTROLLER POSITION [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a remote controller position tracking apparatus and method for enabling a user to easily confirm the position of a remote controller applied to an electronic device and remotely controlling the operation thereof.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] In recent years, many electronic devices have wireless remote controllers. The remote control has an operation function of the electronic device, and when the remote control is lost, the user becomes inconvenient to operate the electronic device.

Accordingly, there is a need for a tracking device and method for more easily and accurately locating the remote controller when the remote controller is lost.

Korea Patent No.: 1998-043014 Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 1998-200974

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote controller position tracking apparatus and method capable of easily displaying a position of a remote controller by displaying the position of the remote controller on a display window of an electronic device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device for outputting a position confirmation signal for a remote control device, a control device for receiving a position confirmation signal outputted from the electronic device, And a remote control device for transmitting to the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is a display device for indicating a specific point, and is configured to display the position of the remote control device.

A data transmitting and receiving unit for outputting a position confirmation signal to the remote control device and receiving a signal relating to the position of the remote control device from the remote control device, a position information processing unit for calculating a position of the remote control device, An input unit for inputting information about the installed room, and a display unit for displaying the position of the remote control device.

The remote control device may include a position information generating unit for generating position information of the remote control device, and a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with the electronic device.

The input unit may be configured to directly input information about the room, or acquire an image of the room through the camera.

The display unit may be configured to output a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of the room to the display window of the electronic device, and to display a point where the remote control device is located within the image.

The display unit may be configured to display the position of the remote control device on a display window of the electronic device using at least one of a character, a symbol, and a mark.

The electronic device may further include an optical output unit configured to project a light beam to a position of the remote control device.

The position information generator may include a GPS receiver, an RFID tag, or an ultrasonic sensor.

The remote control apparatus may further include an alarm generating unit for informing the position of the remote control apparatus when receiving a signal from the electronic apparatus.

The data transmitting and receiving unit of the electronic device and the communication unit of the remote control device may be configured to transmit and receive information to each other by wireless communication.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a remote control device, comprising the steps of: outputting a signal relating to the position determination of the remote control device from an electronic device to a remote control device; generating information about a position of the remote control device; Receiving a signal relating to the position of the remote control device, and in response to the electronic device receiving a signal relating to the position of the remote control device, using the signal relating to the position of the remote control device, And displaying the position of the remote control device as a display means for indicating a specific point.

Wherein the step of displaying the position of the remote control device outputs a plane image or a three-dimensional image of the room to the display window of the electronic device and displays a point where the remote control device is located in the image of the room outputted to the display window ≪ / RTI >

The step of displaying the position of the remote control device may include displaying information on the position of the remote control device in at least one of characters, symbols, and markings on the display window of the electronic device.

The step of displaying the position of the remote control device may include projecting light from the electronic device to a point where the remote control device is located.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that a position where a remote control device is located is displayed on an electronic device, for example, a display window of a display device, so that a user can easily grasp the position of the remote control and find it.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller position tracking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a remote controller position tracking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a remote controller location tracking method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, It is provided to let you know.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller position tracking system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller position tracking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the remote control location tracking system 1 includes an electronic device 100 and a remote control device 300. [

The electronic device 100 outputs a signal regarding the position confirmation of the remote control device 300 to the remote control device 300 and receives the position information from the remote control device 300 and outputs the position of the remote control device 300 do.

The electronic device 100 may be provided with a remote controller search button 109 so that the user can press the remote controller search button 109 to output a signal related to the position confirmation of the remote controller device 300. [

When the user presses the remote controller search button 109, the data transmission / reception unit 110, the position information processing unit 120, the input unit 130, the display unit 150, and the optical output unit 170 Power can be supplied.

The remote control device 300 is configured to receive the positioning signal of the electronic device 100 and to transmit information on the position of the remote control device to the electronic device 100. [

The electronic device 100 may include a general household electronic device such as a display device (T.V, a monitor, etc.), an audio device, a fan, an air conditioner, and a heater. The electronic device 100 may include a home electronic device as well as an industrial electronic device. Hereinafter, a display device will be described as an example.

When the electronic device 100 is constituted by a display device such as a television or a monitor, information on the position of the remote control device 300 can be output through the display window 101 of the display device 100. [

When the electronic device 100 is an audio device, a fan, an air conditioner, a heater, or the like, the electronic device 100 may be provided with a separate display window for displaying the position of the remote control device 300.

The display apparatus 100 includes a data transmission / reception unit 110, a position information processing unit 120, an input unit 130, a display unit 150, a light output unit 170, and a power supply unit 180.

The data transmitting and receiving unit 110 is configured to perform wireless communication for transmitting information to a remote place without connection by wire using radio waves, sound waves, infrared rays, or the like with the remote control device 300.

The position information processing unit 120 calculates the position of the remote controller 300 with respect to the room based on the position information generated through the position information generator 320 mounted on the remote controller 300. [

The input unit 130 allows the user to input information about the room where the display device 100 is installed. The input unit 130 may include an input button 131 provided in the display device 100. In this case, the user can directly input information about the room by using the input button 131. [ The input unit 130 may further include a separate input unit 139 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

In another embodiment, the input unit 130 may include an image processing apparatus 133, such as a camera, for capturing the room where the display apparatus 100 is installed. The camera is fixedly installed in at least one place in the room, and photographs an image of the installed place. The information about the interior can be inputted in two dimensions (2D) or three dimensions (3D).

The input unit 130 may be configured to input information on the display device 100 and / or the articles stored in the room, in addition to information on the inside of the room. The article is provided in the vicinity of the display apparatus 100, and the input unit 130 can be configured to input information on the display apparatus 100 and / or the position of the article. Recognition of the display device 100 and / or the article may be performed by an image acquisition device such as a camera or a sensing sensor 135 such as an ultrasonic sensor, a photosensor, or an infrared sensor.

The display unit 150 displays the image of the room inputted through the input unit 130 two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally on the display window 101 of the display device 100, And displays the location 108 where the remote control device 300 calculated through the processing unit 120 is located.

At this time, the image 105 of the display device 100 and / or the shape, the image 107, and the like related to the goods provided around the electronic device display device 100 are displayed together in the indoor image 103, And may indicate the location 108 where the device 300 is located.

2 shows an example in which the indoor image 103, the image 105 of the display device 100, and the image 107 of the article are three-dimensionally displayed.

In another embodiment, the display unit 150 may be configured to display the location of the remote control device 300 using at least one of a character, a symbol, and a marker.

The display apparatus 100 may further include a light output unit 170 that irradiates light at a position where the remote control apparatus 300 is located. The light output unit 170 may be configured to directly irradiate the light L to a position where the remote control device 300 is located based on the positional information of the remote control device 300 calculated through the positional information processing unit 120 . For this, the light output unit 170 may include a light source, a light path converting unit, and the like. The optical path changing unit is for changing the direction of light output from the light source, and may include an optical device or a mechanical device.

The display apparatus 100 may further include a power supply unit 180. The power supply unit 180 supplies power to the data transmission / reception unit 110, the location information processing unit 120, the input unit 130, the display unit 150, and the optical output unit 170.

The remote control device 300 includes a communication unit 310, a position information generation unit 320, an alarm generation unit 330, and a power supply unit 340.

The communication unit 310 is configured to perform wireless communication with the display device 100 to transmit information to a remote place without connection by wires using radio waves, sonic waves, infrared rays, or the like. The communication unit 310 receives a signal related to the position determination of the remote control device 300 through the data transmission and reception unit 110 of the display device 100 and transmits information about the position of the remote control device 300 to the display device 100. [ To the data transmission / reception unit 110 of the base station.

The position information generator 320 is installed in the remote controller 300 to generate information about the position of the remote controller 300 and includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, .

The GPS receiver receives the signal transmitted from the satellite and outputs the position data corresponding to the point where the remote control device 300 is located.

When the position information generating unit 320 is an RFID tag, an RFID reader is installed in the room, and when the position information generating unit 320 is an ultrasonic sensor, an ultrasonic receiver may be installed in the room.

The alarm generating unit 330 is configured to notify the position of the remote control device 300 when receiving the position confirmation signal of the remote control device 300 from the display device 100. [ The alarm generator 330 may be configured to generate vibration, sound, light, etc. to inform the remote controller 300 of the position of the remote controller 300.

The data transmission and reception unit 110 of the display device 100 and the communication unit 310 of the remote control device 300 can be configured to communicate with each other through Near Field Communication (NFC).

The remote controller position tracking method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a remote controller location tracking method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the location tracking method first outputs a signal regarding the location of the remote control device 300 from the electronic device 100 to the remote control device 300 (S100). For example, when the user presses the remote controller search button 109 provided in the electronic device 100, a signal is output through the data transmitting / receiving unit 110 of the electronic device 100. [

When the position confirmation signal for the remote control device 300 is output from the electronic device 100, the remote control device 300 is operated to generate information about the position of the remote control device 300 (S300). Here, when a signal is received from the electronic device 100 through the communication unit 310 of the remote control device 300, the power supply unit 340 may supply power to the position information generation unit 320 and the alarm generation unit 330 .

When a signal is received from the remote control device 300, the user can be informed of the position of the remote control device 300 through the alarm generating part 330 mounted on the remote control device 300. Vibration, sound, light, or the like may be generated from the alarm generating unit 330 so that the user can confirm the position of the remote controller 300. [

Information on the position of the remote control device 300 can be generated by a GPS receiver, an RFID tag, or an ultrasonic sensor mounted on the remote control device 300. [

The GPS receiver receives the signal transmitted from the satellite and outputs the position data corresponding to the point where the remote control device 300 is located. When a GPS receiver is mounted on the remote control device 300, it is not necessary to install a separate device for the GPS receiver in the room.

When the position of the remote control device 300 is generated using an RFID tag, an RFID reader may be installed in the room.

When the position of the remote control device 300 is generated using an ultrasonic sensor, an ultrasonic receiver may be installed in the room.

When the position of the remote control device 300 is generated as described above, a signal related to the position of the remote control device 300 is output through the communication unit 310 of the remote control device 300, and the data transmission / Receives a signal related to the position of the remote control device 300 (S500).

 The position information processing unit 120 of the electronic device 100 calculates the position of the remote control device 300 with respect to the room where the electronic device 100 is installed based on the received signal (S700).

When the position of the remote control device 300 for the room is calculated, the electronic device 100 displays the position of the remote control device 300 received from the remote control device 300 (S900).

The display unit 150 of the electronic device 100 can display the position of the remote control device 300 through the display window 101 of the electronic device 100 in the position output step S900 of the remote control device 300 .

The display unit 150 may output an image of the room through the display window 101 of the electronic device 100 and may display a location where the remote control device 300 is located within the image of the room.

Here, the image of the room may be input by the user directly by using the input button 131 or the like provided separately in the electronic device 100, or by at least one image acquisition sensor 133, For example, by using a camera. The image relating to the interior can be displayed in two dimensions or three dimensions.

When information on the inside of the room is inputted, information about the display device and / or other articles provided in the room can be inputted. Thus, in the display window 101 of the electronic device 100, the image 107 for the article is displayed together with the image 103 for the interior, and the remote control device 300 is located with respect to the image 107 for the article Point 108 to display.

At this time, the position information processing unit 120 may be configured to calculate the relative position of the remote control device 300 with respect to the article 107 around the electronic device 100.

In another embodiment, the display unit 150 may display the location of the remote control device 300 through letters, symbols, markings, etc. through the display window of the electronic device 100.

In the position output step S700 of the remote control device 300, the light L is projected directly to the position where the remote control device 300 is located through the separate optical output portion 170 provided in the electronic device 100 .

The optical output unit 170 irradiates light to the position of the remote control device 300 calculated by the positional information processing unit 120 as a device for irradiating light to the position of the remote control device 300, Make it easy to recognize the location.

To this end, the light output unit 170 may include an optical device or a mechanism for directing the light output from the light source to the position where the remote control device 300 is placed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the preferred embodiments described above, the present invention is not limited thereto but is limited by the following claims. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the following claims.

1: remote controller position tracking device 100: electronic device (display device)
110: data transmission / reception unit 120:
130: Input unit 150:
170: optical output unit 300: remote control device
310: communication unit 320: position information generating unit

Claims (14)

An electronic device for outputting a position confirmation signal to the remote control device;
And a remote control device that receives the position confirmation signal output from the electronic device and transmits information about the position of the remote control device to the electronic device in response to the confirmation signal reception,
Wherein the electronic device is configured to display the position of the remote control device as display means for indicating a specific point. 2. The remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises: a data transmitting / receiving unit for outputting a position confirmation signal to the remote control device and receiving a signal relating to the position of the remote control device from the remote control device;
A position information processor for calculating a position of the remote controller;
An input unit for inputting information on a room where the electronic equipment is installed; And
And a display unit for displaying the position of the remote control device. The remote control device according to claim 2,
A location information generation unit for generating location information of the remote control device; And
And a communication unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the electronic device. 4. The remote control position locating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the input unit is configured to directly input information about the inside of the room or acquire an image of the room through a camera. 5. The remote controller location tracking device according to claim 4, wherein the display unit outputs a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image relating to the room to a display window of the electronic device, and displays a point where the remote control device is located within the image. The remote controller position tracking device according to claim 4, wherein the display unit displays the position of the remote control device on a display window of the electronic device using at least one of a character, a symbol and a mark. 3. The remote control position locating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic apparatus further comprises an optical output section configured to project a light beam to a position of the remote control apparatus. The remote controller position tracking device according to claim 3, wherein the position information generator comprises a GPS receiver, an RFID tag, or an ultrasonic sensor. The remote control device of claim 3, wherein the remote control device further comprises an alarm generating unit for informing a position of the remote control device when receiving a signal from the electronic device. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the data transmitting and receiving unit of the electronic device and the communication unit of the remote control device are configured to transmit and receive information to each other by wireless communication. Outputting a signal regarding the position confirmation of the remote control device to the remote control device in the electronic device;
Generating information on the position of the remote control device;
Receiving a signal regarding the position of the remote control device from the remote control device;
Calculating an indoor position of the remote controller using a signal related to a position of the remote controller in response to the electronic device receiving a signal related to the position of the remote controller; And
And outputting the position of the remote control device as display means for indicating a specific point. The remote control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the step of displaying the position of the remote controller outputs a plane or three-dimensional image of the room to the display window of the electronic equipment, And displaying a location where the remote controller is located. The remote control position tracking method according to claim 11, wherein the step of displaying the position of the remote control device comprises displaying information on the position of the remote control device in at least one of letters, symbols and markings on the display window of the electronic device. The remote control position tracking method according to claim 11, wherein the step of displaying the position of the remote control device includes projecting light from an electronic device to a position where the remote control device is located.

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