Mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability, remote-controlling method and system therefor

• US 20050054337A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nobusawa, Hideaki, Nonaka, Susumu
• Application Number:
  US10/697,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

To obtain a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability easily available as a remote-controller. Various remote control codes for predetermined various controlling operations on target equipment are associated with a plurality of operation buttons of an operation unit of a mobile telephone in a one-to-one relationship, and stored in memory of the mobile telephone. When an operation button is depressed, a control unit of the mobile telephone reads a remote control code associated with the depressed button from the memory, and transmits it to the target equipment using an infrared emission unit.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment by transmitting to the target equipment a desired code in various remote control codes for predetermined various controlling operations on the target equipment, comprising:

an operation unit having a plurality of operation buttons;

storage means for storing the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship; and

transmission means for transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code, which is associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons, and is one of the various remote control codes stored in said storage means when the one button is pressed.

2. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 1, further comprising:

display means for displaying correspondences between the plurality of operation buttons and the predetermined various controlling operations performed when the plurality of operation buttons are pressed respectively.

3. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 2, wherein

said display means displays the correspondences by displaying an image of the operation unit showing controlling operations on and corresponding to the plurality of operation buttons.

4. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 1, further comprising

download means for downloading the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship from a server, which is connected to a communications network, and has the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship, through the communications network, and storing the various remote control codes in said storage means.

5. A remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment by transmitting to the target equipment a desired code in various remote control codes for predetermined various controlling operations on the target equipment, and has an operation unit and storage means for storing the various remote control codes associated with a plurality of operation buttons of the operation unit in a one-to-one relationship, comprising:

a transmitting step of transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code, which is associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons, and is one of the various remote control codes stored in the storage means, when the one button is pressed.

6. The remote-controlling method according to claim 5, further comprising

a displaying step of displaying correspondences between the plurality of operation buttons and the predetermined various controlling operations performed when the plurality of operation buttons are pressed respectively.

7. The remote-controlling method according to claim 6, wherein

said displaying step displays the correspondences by displaying an image of the operation unit showing controlling operations on and corresponding to the plurality of operation buttons.

8. The remote-controlling method according to claim 5, further comprising

a downloading step of downloading the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship from a server, which is connected to a communications network, and has the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship, through the communications network, and storing the various remote control codes in said storage means.

9. A program used to direct a computer to execute a remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment by transmitting to the target equipment a desired code in various remote control codes for predetermined various controlling operations-on the target equipment, and has an operation unit and storage means for storing the various remote control codes associated with a plurality of operation buttons of the operation unit in a one-to-one relationship, comprising:

a transmitting step of transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code, which is associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons, and is one of the various remote control codes stored in the storage means, when the one button is pressed.

10. The program according to claim 9, further comprising

a displaying step of displaying correspondences between the plurality of operation buttons and the predetermined various controlling operations performed when the plurality of operation buttons are pressed respectively.

11. The program according to claim 10, wherein

said displaying step displays the correspondences by displaying an image of the operation unit showing controlling operations on and corresponding to the plurality of operation buttons.

12. The program according to claim 9, further comprising

a downloading step of downloading the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship from a server, which is connected to a communications network, and has the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship, through the communications network, and storing the various remote control codes in said storage means.

13. A remote control system, comprising:

a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which has an operation unit provided with a plurality of operation buttons and remote-controls target equipment; and

a server which is connected to a communications network, and associates various remote control codes for predetermined various controlling operations on the target equipment with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship and holds the codes, wherein;

said mobile telephone comprises;

storage means;

download means for downloading the various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship from said server through the communications network, and storing the codes in said storage means; and

transmission means for transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code, which is associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons and is one of the various remote control codes stored in said storage means when the one button is pressed.

14. The remote control system according to claim 13, wherein

said mobile telephone comprises display means for displaying correspondences between the plurality of operation buttons and the predetermined various controlling operations performed when the plurality of operation buttons are pressed respectively.

15. The remote control system according to claim 14, wherein

said display means displays the correspondences by displaying an image of the operation unit showing controlling operations on and corresponding to the plurality of operation buttons.

16. A mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, comprising:

storage means for storing a group of remote control codes for a predetermined controlling operation to be performed on the target equipment; and

transmission means for transmitting to the target equipment the group of remote control codes for the predetermined controlling operation to be performed on the target equipment in response to a user operation.

17. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 16, wherein

the target equipment is a video recording device, and the group of remote control codes forms recording information for recording of a program.

18. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 16, further comprising

download means for downloading the group of remote control codes from a server, which is connected to a communications network and holds the group of remote control codes, through the communications network, and storing the group of remote control codes in said storage means.

19. A mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, comprising:

an operation unit having a plurality of operation buttons;

storage means for storing various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship for various controlling operations on the target equipment, and a part of remote control codes of a group of remote control codes for a predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment; and

transmission means for transmitting to the target equipment the group of remote control codes formed by a remote control code associated with an operation button pressed by a user in advance and the part of remote control codes to perform the predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment in response to a user operation.

20. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 19, wherein

the group of remote control codes forms time setting information for setting a time on the target equipment.

21. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 19, further comprising

download means for downloading the various remote control codes and the part of remote control codes from a server, which is connected to a communications network and holds the various remote control codes and the part of remote control codes, through the communications network, and storing the various remote control codes and the part of remote control codes in said storage means.

22. A mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, comprising:

an operation unit having a plurality of operation buttons;

storage means for storing various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship for various controlling operations on the target equipment, a first group of remote control codes for a predetermined first controlling operation on the target equipment, and a part of remote control codes of a second group of remote control codes for a predetermined second controlling operation on the target equipment; and

transmission means for transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons when the one button is pressed and when the mobile telephone is set in a first remote control mode, transmitting to the target equipment the first group of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a second remote control mode, and transmitting to the target equipment the second group of remote control codes formed by a remote control code associated with an operation button pressed by a user in advance and the part of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a third remote control mode.

23. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 22, wherein

the target equipment is a video recording device, and the first group of remote control codes forms recording information for recording of a program.

24. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 22, wherein

the second group of remote control codes forms time setting information for setting a time on the target equipment.

25. The mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability according to claim 22, wherein

each remote control code stored in said storage means is received from a server connected to a communications network through the communications network.

26. A remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, and has storage means for storing a group of remote control codes for a predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment, comprising

a transmitting step of transmitting to the target equipment the group of remote control codes stored in the storage means in response to a user operation.

27. The remote-controlling method according to claim 26, wherein

the target equipment is a video recording device, and the group of remote control codes forms recording information for recording of a program.

28. The remote-controlling method according to claim 26, further comprising

a step of downloading the group of remote control codes from a server, which is connected to a communications network and holds the group of remote control codes, through the communications network, and storing the group of remote control codes in said storage means.

29. A remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, and has an operation unit and storage means for storing various remote control codes associated with a plurality of operation buttons of the operation unit in a one-to-one relationship for various controlling operations on the target equipment, and a part of remote control codes of a group of remote control codes for a predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment, comprising

a step of transmitting to the target equipment the group of remote control codes formed by the part of remote control codes stored in the storage means and a remote control code associated with an operation button pressed by a user in advance to perform the predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment in response to a user operation.

30. The remote-controlling method according to claim 29, wherein

the group of remote control codes forms time setting information for setting a time on the target equipment.

31. The remote-controlling method according to claim 29, further comprising

a step of downloading the various remote control codes and the part of remote control codes from a server, which is connected to a communications network and holds the various remote control codes and the part of remote control codes, through the communications network, and storing the various remote control codes and the part of remote control codes in the storage means.

32. A remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, and has an operation unit and storage means for storing various remote control codes associated with a plurality of operation buttons of the operation unit in a one-to-one relationship for various controlling operations on the target equipment, a first group of remote control codes for a predetermined first controlling operation on the target equipment, and a part of remote control codes of a second group of remote control codes for a predetermined second controlling operation on the target equipment, comprising the steps of:

transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons when the one button is pressed and when the mobile telephone is set in a first remote control mode;

transmitting to the target equipment the first group of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a second remote control mode; and

transmitting to the target equipment the second group of remote control codes formed by a remote control code associated with an operation button pressed by a user in advance and the part of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a third remote control mode.

33. The remote-controlling method according to claim 32, wherein

the target equipment is a video recording device, and the first group of remote control codes forms recording information for recording of a program.

34. The remote-controlling method according to claim 32, wherein

the second group of remote control codes forms time setting information for setting a time on the target equipment.

35. The remote-controlling method according to claim 32, wherein

each remote control code stored in said storage means is received from a server connected to a communications network through the communications network.

36. A program used to direct a computer to execute a remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, and has storage means for storing a group of remote control codes for a predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment, comprising

a transmitting step of transmitting to the target equipment the group of remote control codes stored in the storage means in response to a user operation.

37. A program used to direct a computer to execute a remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, and has an operation unit and storage means for storing various remote control codes associated with a plurality of operation buttons of the operation unit in a one-to-one relationship for various controlling operations on the target equipment, and a part of remote control codes of a group of remote control codes for a predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment, comprising

a step of transmitting to the target equipment the group of remote control codes formed by the part of remote control codes stored in the storage means and a remote control code associated with an operation button pressed by a user in advance to perform the predetermined controlling operation on the target equipment in response to a user operation.

38. A program used to direct a computer to execute a remote-controlling method for a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which remote-controls target equipment, and has an operation unit and storage means for storing various remote control codes associated with a plurality of operation buttons of the operation unit in a one-to-one relationship for various controlling operations on the target equipment, a first group of remote control codes for a predetermined first controlling operation on the target equipment, and a part of remote control codes of a second group of remote control codes for a predetermined second controlling operation on the target equipment, comprising the steps of:

transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons when the one button is pressed and when the mobile telephone is set in a first remote control mode;

transmitting to the target equipment the first group of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a second remote control mode; and

transmitting to the target equipment the second group of remote control codes formed by a remote control code associated with an operation button pressed by a user in advance and the part of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a third remote control mode.

39. A remote control system, comprising:

a mobile telephone with remote-controlling capability which has an operation unit provided with a plurality of operation buttons, and remote-controls target equipment; and

a server which is connected to a communications network, and stores various remote control codes associated with the plurality of operation buttons in a one-to-one relationship for various controlling operations on the target equipment, a first group of remote control codes for a predetermined first controlling operation on the target equipment, and a part of remote control codes of a second group of remote control codes for a predetermined second controlling operation on the target equipment, wherein

said mobile telephone comprises;

storage means;

download means for downloading the various remote control codes, the first group of remote control codes, and the part of remote control codes from said server through the communications network, and storing the downloaded codes in said storage means; and

transmission means for transmitting to the target equipment a remote control code associated with one button of the plurality of operation buttons when the one button is pressed and when the mobile telephone is set in a first remote control mode, transmitting to the target equipment the first group of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a second remote control mode, and transmitting to the target equipment the second group of remote control codes formed by a remote control code associated with an operation button pressed by a user in advance and the part of remote control codes in response to a user operation when the mobile telephone is set in a third remote control mode.