Remote control system, remote control apparatus, remote control method, program for implementing the method, and electronic apparatus

• US 20040157558A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishiwatari, Masumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A remote control system which can reliably provide desired control while saving power. A remote control apparatus is capable of carrying out two-way wireless communication with an apparatus to be controlled. A control signal corresponding to a key switch for remote control is repeatedly transmitted while the key switch is being operated. Repeated transmission of the control signal is inhibited in accordance with reception of a predetermined signal from the apparatus to be controlled.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control apparatus; and

a first apparatus controlled by said remote control apparatus;

wherein said remote control apparatus comprises;

at least one key switch for remote control; and

a first transmitting device that repeatedly transmits a control signal corresponding to said key switch while said key switch is being operated and that inhibits the transmission of the control signal in accordance with reception of a predetermined signal from said first apparatus.

2. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control apparatus and said first apparatus communicate with each other by means of infrared light.

3. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said first apparatus comprises:

a first determination device that determines whether the control signal, transmitted by said first transmitting device, is suitable for repeated control; and

a second transmitting device that transmits an inhibition instruction signal for inhibiting said first transmitting device from repeatedly transmitting the control signal in according with a determination by said first determination device.

4. A remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said first apparatus comprises a second determination device that determines whether the control signal transmitted by said first transmitting device has been normally received;

and

wherein said second transmitting device transmits the inhibition instruction signal and an acknowledgement signal indicative of normal reception of the control signal when said second determination device determines that the control signal has been normally received, and said first determination device determines that the control signal is unsuitable for repeated control.

5. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control apparatus comprises:

a first determination device that determines whether the control signal corresponding to said key switch, transmitted by said first transmitting device, is suitable for repeated control; and

a second determination device that determines whether a response to the control signal has been received from said first apparatus; and

wherein said first transmission device is operable to inhibit repeated transmission of the control signal when said first determination device determines that the control signal is unsuitable for repeated control, and said second determination device determines that the response has been received.

6. A remote control apparatus that remotely controls a first apparatus, comprising:

at least one key switch for remote control;

a transmitting device that repeatedly transmits a control signal corresponding to said key switch while said key switch is being operated; and

an inhibition device that inhibits said transmitting device from repeatedly transmitting the control signal in accordance with reception of a predetermined signal from the first apparatus.

7. An electronic apparatus that is remotely controlled by a remote control apparatus, comprising:

a first determination device that determines whether a same control signal repeatedly transmitted by the remote control apparatus is suitable for repeated control; and

a transmitting device that transmits an inhibition instruction signal for inhibiting the repeatedly transmission of the control signal in accordance with a determination by said first determination device.

8. An electronic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a second determination device that determines whether the control signal has been normally received;

and

wherein said transmitting device transmits the inhibition instruction signal and an acknowledgement signal indicative of normal reception of the control signal when said second determination device determines that the control signal has been normally received, and said first determination device determines that the control signal is unsuitable for repeated control.

9. A remote control method of remotely controlling a first apparatus by a remote control apparatus, comprising:

a transmitting step of repeatedly transmitting a control signal corresponding to a key switch for remote control while the key switch is being operated; and

an inhibiting step of inhibiting repeated transmission of the control signal in accordance with reception of a predetermined signal from the first apparatus.

10. A remote control method of remotely controlled by a remote control apparatus, comprising:

a first determination step of determining whether a same control signal repeatedly transmitted by the remote control apparatus is suitable for repeated control; and

a transmitting step of transmitting an inhibition instruction signal for inhibiting the repeatedly transmission of the control signal in accordance with a determination in said first determination step.

11. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote control method of remotely controlling a first apparatus by a remote control apparatus, comprising:

a transmitting module for repeatedly transmitting a control signal corresponding to a key switch for remote control while the key switch is being operated; and

an inhibiting module for inhibiting repeated transmission of the control signal in accordance with reception of a predetermined signal from the first apparatus.

12. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote control method of remotely controlled by a remote control apparatus, comprising:

a first determination module for determining whether a same control signal repeatedly transmitted by the remote control apparatus is suitable for repeated control; and

a transmitting module for transmitting an inhibition instruction signal for inhibiting the repeatedly transmission of the control signal in accordance with a determination in said first determination module.

13. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control apparatus; and

a first apparatus controlled by said remote control apparatus;

wherein said first apparatus comprises;

a first determination device that determines whether a control signal has been normally received from said remote control apparatus; and

a returning device that returns an acknowledgement signal indicative of normal reception of the control signal when said determination device determines that the control signal has been normally received; and

wherein said remote control apparatus comprises;

at least one key switch for remote control;

a transmitting device that repeatedly transmits a control signal corresponding to said key switch while said key switch is being operated;

a second determination device that determines whether the control signal corresponding to said key switch is suitable for repeated control when the acknowledgement signal is returned from the apparatus to be controlled; and

an inhibition device that inhibits said transmitting device from repeatedly transmitting the control signal when said second determination device determines that the control signal corresponding to said key switch is unsuitable for repeated control.

14. A remote control apparatus that remotely controls a first apparatus;

comprising;

at least one key switch for remote control;

a transmitting device that repeatedly transmits a control signal corresponding to said key switch while said key switch is being operated;

a determination device that determines whether the control signal is suitable for repeated control when an acknowledgement signal indicative of normal reception of the control signal is returned from the apparatus to be controlled in response to the control signal; and

an inhibition device that inhibits said transmitting device from repeatedly transmitting the control signal when said determination device determines that the control signal is unsuitable for repeated control.

15. A remote control method of remotely controlling a first apparatus by a remote control apparatus, comprising:

a transmitting step of repeatedly transmitting a control signal corresponding to a key switch for remote control while the key switch is being operated;

a determination step of determining whether the control signal is suitable for repeated control when an acknowledgement signal indicative of normal reception of the control signal is returned from the apparatus to be controlled in response to the control signal; and

an inhibiting step of inhibiting repeated transmission of the control signal when it is determined in said determination step that the control signal is unsuitable for repeated control.

16. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote control method of remotely controlling a first apparatus by a remote control apparatus, comprising:

a transmitting module for repeatedly transmitting a control signal corresponding to a key switch for remote control while the key switch is being operated;

a determination module for determining whether the control signal is suitable for repeated control when an acknowledgement signal indicative of normal reception of the control signal is returned from the apparatus to be controlled in response to the control signal; and

an inhibiting module for inhibiting repeated transmission of the control signal when it is determined by said determination module that the control signal is unsuitable for repeated control.

17. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control apparatus; and

a first apparatus to be controlled by said remote control apparatus;

wherein said remote control apparatus comprises;

at least one key switch for remote control; and

a transmitting device that repeatedly transmits a control signal corresponding to said key switch while said key switch is being operated;

wherein said transmitting device adds a discrimination information for discriminating the control signal transmitted for a first time by said transmitting device, and the control signal transmitted for a second or subsequent time by said transmitting device, to the control signal.

18. A remote control system according to claim 17, wherein said transmitting device transmits the control signal by means of infrared light.

19. A remote control system according to claim 17, wherein said transmitting device adds a packet number as the discrimination information.

20. A remote control system according to claim 19, wherein said transmitting device adds a predetermined packet number as the discrimination information to the control signal transmitted for the first time, and cyclically selects and adds one from among a plurality of packet numbers, different from the packet number added to the control signal transmitted for the first time, to the control signal transmitted for the second or subsequent time.

21. A remote control system according to claim 19, wherein said transmitting device adds a predetermined packet number as the discrimination information to the control signal transmitted for the first time, and adds a predetermined packet number different from the packet number added to the control signal transmitted for the first time, to the control signal transmitted for the second or subsequent time.

22. A remote control system according to claim 17, wherein said transmitting device adds a predetermined leader code as the discrimination information to a leading end of the control signal transmitted for the first time, and adds a predetermined leader code different from the leader code added to the control signal transmitted for the first time, to a leading end of the control signal transmitted for the second or subsequent time.

23. A remote control system according to claim 17, wherein said transmitting device adds a predetermined end code as the discrimination information to a trailing end of the control signal transmitted for the first time, and adds a predetermined end code different from the end code added to the control signal transmitted for the first time, to a trailing end of the control signal transmitted for the second or subsequent time.

24. A remote control apparatus that wirelessly and remotely controls a first apparatus, comprising:

at least one key switch for remote control; and

a transmitting device that repeatedly transmits a control signal corresponding to said key switch while said key switch is being operated;

wherein said transmitting device adds a discrimination information for discriminating the control signal transmitted for a first time by said transmitting device, and the control signal transmitted for a second or subsequent time by said transmitting device, to the control signal.

25. A remote control method of wirelessly and remotely controlling a first apparatus, comprising:

a transmitting step of repeatedly transmitting a control signal corresponding to a key switch for remote control while the key switch is being operated; and

an addition step of adding a discrimination information for discriminating the control signal transmitted for a first time and the control signal transmitted for a second or subsequent time to the control signal.

26. A program for causing a computer to execute a remote control method of wirelessly and remotely controlling a first apparatus, comprising:

a transmitting module for repeatedly transmitting a control signal corresponding to a key switch for remote control while the key switch is being operated; and

an addition module for adding a discrimination information for discriminating the control signal transmitted for a first time and the control signal transmitted for a second or subsequent time to the control signal.