Data communication system, apparatus and control method therefor

• US 20050172332A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shibamiya, Yoshikazu, Matsumoto, Yuichi, Miyamoto, Katsuhiro, Kutsuna, Masaki, Aratani, Shuntaro, Fukuda, Tetsu, Yamamoto, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 8,286,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/139
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• 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 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

Each controlled device holds a remote control panel optimum for its operation environment. A control device has a remote controller unit for operating the remote control panel of each controlled device. Each controlled device reconstructs the remote control panel according to the shape etc. of the remote controller unit, and supplies the control device with thus reconstructed remote control panel. The user remote controls the desired controlled device, utilizing the remote control panel displayed on the control device. Thus there can be realized a simple and easily understandable operation environment, which matches the controlled device connected to the network.

Claims

1-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A control system, comprising:

a control apparatus which is remotely operated by an operation apparatus; and

a controlled apparatus which transmits control panel information, which is to be used to control the controlled apparatus, to the control apparatus,

wherein the controlled apparatus includes a receiving unit which receives, from the control apparatus, operation apparatus information including information about an operation apparatus, and a modifying unit which modifies the control panel information according to the operation apparatus information received from the control apparatus.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the control panel information comprises icons, each of which are used to control one function of the controlled apparatus.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the controlled apparatus modifies the icons according to the operation apparatus information.

43. The system according to claim 40, wherein the operation apparatus transmits information corresponding to user instructions to the control apparatus by a wireless transmission.

44. The system according to claim 40, wherein the controlled apparatus transmits the control panel information to the control apparatus using a digital interface conforming to IEEE 1394-1995 standard.

55. The system according to claim 40, wherein the control panel information is a graphical user interface for the controlled apparatus.

56. The system according to claim 40, wherein the modifying unit modifies the control panel information according to information about operation keys of the operation apparatus.

45. A controlled apparatus which transmits control panel information to be used to control the controlled apparatus to a control apparatus remotely operated by an operation apparatus, the controlled apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit which receives, from the control apparatus, operation apparatus information including information about the operation apparatus; and

a modifying unit which modifies the control panel information according to the operation apparatus information received from the control apparatus.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the control panel information includes icons, each of which are used to control one function of the controlled apparatus.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the controlled apparatus modifies the icons according to the operation apparatus information.

48. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the operation apparatus transmits information corresponding to user instructions to the control apparatus by a wireless transmission.

49. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the controlled apparatus transmits the control panel information to the control apparatus using a digital interface conforming to IEEE 1394-1995 standard.

57. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the control panel information is a graphical user interface for the controlled apparatus.

58. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the modifying unit modifies the control panel information according to information about operation keys of the operation apparatus.

50. A method for a controlled apparatus which transmits control panel information to be used to control the controlled apparatus to a control apparatus remotely operated by an operation apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the control apparatus, operation apparatus information including information about the operation apparatus; and

modifying the control panel information according to the operation apparatus information received from the control apparatus.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein the control panel information includes icons, each of which are used to control one function of the controlled apparatus.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the modifying step modifies the icons according to the operation apparatus information.

53. The method according to claim 50, wherein the operation apparatus transmits information corresponding to user instructions to the control apparatus by a wireless transmission.

54. The method according to claim 50, wherein the controlled apparatus transmits the control panel information to the control apparatus using a digital interface conforming to IEEE 1394-1995 standard.

59. The method according to claim 50, wherein the control panel information is a graphical user interface for the controlled apparatus.

60. The method according to claim 50, wherein the modifying step modifies the control panel information according to information about operation keys of the operation apparatus.