CEC CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20090207039A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Original Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Inventors: HAIJIMA, Toshio
• Application Number:
  US12/243,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20090207039A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.220
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) control apparatus includes a vendor code acquisition instruction unit that queries a CEC device for a vendor code when connected to a CEC device, a control part provided with a storage unit capable of storing the reference location of stored CEC control information that corresponds to the acquired vendor code, a control information storage part which, for each vendor, pre-stores CEC control information corresponding to a plurality of vendors, and a photoreceptor unit having a received signal demodulation unit capable of receiving a signal from a remote control RC and demodulating the signal to acquire a CEC control signal. Based on the acquired vendor information, the control part acquires from the control information storage part control information corresponding to the vendor corresponding to the control signal transmitted from the remote control RC, and outputs the CEC control signal to the externally connected CEC device.

Claims

1. A CEC control apparatus that receives a control signal transmitted from a remote controller, specifies a CEC device control signal from the received control signal, and is capable of communicating with a CEC device, the CEC control apparatus comprising:

a connecting interface for connecting to the CEC device so that CEC control signals can be exchanged;

a CEC modulation-demodulation unit capable of modulating and demodulating a CEC control signal that communicates with the CEC device to be controlled via the interface;

a vendor code acquisition instruction unit capable of querying the CEC device upon being connected for its vendor code, and capable of acquiring the vendor code transmitted from the CEC device;

a control part provided with a storage unit capable of storing the acquired vendor code;

a control information storage part, connected so as to be able to exchange signals with the control part, and having pre-stored CEC control information for a plurality of vendors, each vendor being specified by a vendor code;

a receiving unit, connected so as to be able to exchange signals with the control unit, for receiving control signals transmitted from the remote controller; and

a photoreceptor unit comprising a received signal demodulation unit capable of accepting and demodulating control signals received by the receiving unit and acquiring CEC control signals;

the control part configured to acquire, based on the vendor code stored in the storage means and control signal received by the photoreceptor unit, CEC control information corresponding to the CEC device to be controlled and stored in the control information storage part, modulate the CEC control information with the CEC modulation-demodulation unit, and transmit the modulated CEC control information via the connecting interface to the CEC device.

2. A CEC control apparatus that receives a control signal transmitted from a remote controller, specifies a CEC device control signal from the received control signal, and is capable of communicating with a CEC device, the CEC control apparatus comprising:

a connecting interface for connecting to the CEC device so that CEC control signals can be exchanged;

a CEC modulation-demodulation unit capable of modulating and demodulating a CEC control signal that communicates with the CEC device to be controlled via the interface;

a vendor code acquisition instruction unit capable of querying the CEC device upon being connected for its vendor code and capable of acquiring the vendor code transmitted from the CEC device;

a control part provided with a storage unit capable of storing the acquired vendor code;

a control information storage part, connected so as to be able to exchange signals with the control part, and having pre-stored CEC control information for a plurality of vendors, each vendor being specified by a vendor code;

a receiving unit, connected so as to be able to exchange signals with the control part, for receiving control signals transmitted from the remote controller; and

a photoreceptor unit comprising a received signal demodulation unit capable of accepting and demodulating control signals received by the receiving unit and acquiring CEC control signals;

wherein at the control part, storing the acquired vendor code of a connected CEC device in the storage unit of the control part enables the corresponding CEC control information to be acquired from the control information storage part; and

wherein when the photoreceptor unit receives a control signal from the remote controller, demodulates the received signal, acquires a control signal, and outputs the control signal to the control part, based on the accepted control signal and the previously acquired and stored vendor code of the CEC device to be controlled, the control part selects and accepts from the control information storage part CEC control information corresponding to the CEC device to be controlled, modulates the CEC control information with the CEC modulation-demodulation unit, and is capable of transmitting the modulated CEC control information via the connecting interface to the CEC device.

3. A CEC control apparatus that receives a control signal transmitted from a remote controller, specifies a CEC device control signal from the received control signal, and is capable of communicating with a CEC device, the CEC control apparatus comprising:

a connecting interface for connecting to the CEC device so that CEC control signals can be exchanged;

a CEC modulation-demodulation unit capable of modulating and demodulating a CEC control signal that communicates with the CEC device to be controlled via the interface;

a vendor code acquisition instruction unit capable of querying the CEC device upon being connected for its vendor code and accepts the vendor code transmitted from the CEC device;

a control part provided with a storage unit capable of storing a reference location of CEC control information stored in correspondence to the acquired vendor code;

a control information storage part, connected so as to be able to exchange signals with the control part, and having pre-stored CEC control information for a plurality of vendors, each vendor being specified by a vendor code;

a receiving unit, connected so as to be able to exchange signals with the control part, for receiving control signals transmitted from the remote controller; and

a photoreceptor unit comprising a received signal demodulation unit capable of accepting and demodulating control signals received by the receiving unit and acquiring CEC control signals;

wherein at the control part, storing the storage site of the control information storage part, which records the CEC control information corresponding to the vendor specified by the vendor code acquired from the connected CEC device, in the storage unit of the control part enables the corresponding CEC control information to be acquired from the control information storage part; and

when the photoreceptor unit receives a control signal from the remote controller, demodulates the received signal, acquires a control signal, and outputs the control signal to the control part, based on the accepted control signal and the previously acquired and stored vendor code of the CEC device to be controlled, the control part selects and accepts from the control information storage part CEC control information corresponding to the CEC device to be controlled, modulates the CEC control information with the CEC modulation-demodulation unit, and is capable of transmitting the modulated CEC control information via the connecting interface to the CEC device.