Communication system, communication apparatus, and communication method

• US 20010026386A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Testu, Yamamoto, Takashi, Miyamoto, Katsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,432,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A digital television set (hereinafter, DTV) displays an operation panel of a camera-integrated digital video recorder (hereinafter, DVC). A remote controller for transmitting a control signal to the DTV has a first operation unit and a second operation unit for operating the operation panel. When operating the DVC by using a GUI element displayed on the operation panel, a user operates direction keys and selection keys on the first operation unit. When operating a specific function of the DVC independently of the GUI element displayed on the operation panel, the user controls specific operation keys on the second operation unit. Thus, the user can remotely operate the DVC in a simple operation procedure by using these two operation methods together.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a controlled device for managing an operation panel having a plurality of display elements corresponding to predetermined operations;

a controller for accepting an operation for said operation panel supplied by said controlled device; and

an operation apparatus having a first operation unit for operating said operation panel and a second operation unit for specifying a specific operation,

wherein said controller transmits a first control signal indicating that any of said display element has been operated on the basis of an operation for said first operation unit to said controlled device and transmits a second control signal for specifying any of said specific operations on the basis of an operation for said second operation unit to said controlled device.

2. A system according to

claim 1

, wherein said operation panel has a hierarchical data structure and said display element has at least one of image data and text data.

3. A system according to

claim 1

, wherein said controller moves a cursor displayed on said display panel on the basis of the operation for said first operation unit.

4. A system according to

claim 1

, wherein said controller accepts the operation for said second operation unit even if said display panel is not displayed.

5. A system according to

claim 1

, wherein said controlled device receives one of said first control signal and said second control signal, determines whether contents of said operation panel should be changed, and transmits data for changing the contents of said operation panel to said controller if the contents should be changed.

6. A communication apparatus, comprising:

operation panel managing means for managing an operation panel having a plurality of display elements corresponding to predetermined operations and for supplying said operation panel to a controller for accepting an operation for said operation panel;

receiving means for receiving a first control signal indicating that said display element has been operated and a second control signal for specifying any of specific operations from said controller; and

control means for controlling an operation corresponding to said display element to be executed on the basis of said first control signal and controlling said specific operation to be executed on the basis of said second control signal.

7. An apparatus according to

claim 6

, wherein said operation panel has a hierarchical data structure and said display element has at least one of image data and text data.

8. An apparatus according to

claim 6

, wherein after receiving either said first control signal or said second control signal it is determined whether contents of said operation panel should be changed and data for changing the contents of said operation panel is transmitted to said controller if the contents should be changed.

9. An apparatus according to

claim 6

, wherein said data communication apparatus is a video recorder or a tuner.

10. A communication method, comprising the steps of:

supplying an operation panel having a plurality of display elements corresponding to predetermined operations to a controller for accepting an operation for said operation panel; and

receiving a first control signal indicating that any of said display elements has been operated or a second control signal for specifying any of specific operations,

wherein a control is made so that an operation corresponding to said display element is executed if said first control signal is received and said specific operation is executed if said second control signal is received.

11. A communication apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a signal from an operation apparatus having a first operation unit for operating an operation panel having a plurality of display elements corresponding to predetermined operations supplied from a controlled device and a second operation unit for specifying specific operations; and

transmitting means for transmitting a first control signal indicating that any of said display elements has been operated on the basis of an operation for said first operation unit to said controlled device and for transmitting a second control signal for specifying any of said specific operations on the basis of an operation for said second operation unit to said controlled device.

12. An apparatus according to

claim 11

, wherein said operation panel has a hierarchical data structure and said display element has at least one of image data and text data.

13. An apparatus according to

claim 11

, wherein a cursor displayed on said display panel is moved on the basis of the operation for said first operation unit.

14. An apparatus according to

claim 11

, wherein the operation for said second operation unit is accepted even if said display panel is not displayed.

15. An apparatus according to

claim 11

, wherein said data communication apparatus is a digital television set.

16. A communication apparatus, comprising:

first operation means for operating an operation panel having a plurality of display elements corresponding to predetermined operations supplied from a controlled device to a controller;

second operation means for specifying any of specific operations; and

transmitting means for transmitting a signal indicating that said first operation means has been operated and a signal indicating that said second operating means has been operated to said controller.

17. An apparatus according to

claim 16

, wherein said first operation unit has a plurality of operation keys for selecting display elements of said operation panel and said second operation unit has a plurality of operation keys for specifying said specific operations.

18. An apparatus according to

claim 17

, wherein said data communication apparatus is a remote controller.