Control system, operation device and control method

• US 20100274932A1
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kose, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

There is provided an information processing apparatus including an execution unit for executing an application, a threshold value setting unit for setting, according to the running application, a threshold value which determines a timing of changing an operational state of the external device, a first detection unit for detecting an input signal, and a first transmission and reception unit for exchanging information with an external device. Moreover, there is provided the external device including a second transmission and reception unit for exchanging information with the information processing apparatus, a second detection unit for detecting an input signal, a determination unit for determining whether or not to change the operational state of the external device from the threshold value based on the detection result, and a change processing unit for changing the operational state of the external device based on the determination result.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

an information processing apparatus; and

an external device communicably connected with the information processing apparatus,

wherein the information processing apparatus includes

an execution unit for executing an application,

a threshold value setting unit for setting a threshold value which determines a timing of changing an operational state of the external device, according to the running application,

a first detection unit for detecting an input signal to the information processing apparatus, and

a first transmission and reception unit for exchanging information with the external device, and

wherein the external device includes

a second transmission and reception unit for exchanging information with the information processing apparatus,

a second detection unit for detecting an input signal to the external device,

a determination unit for determining whether or not to change the operational state of the external device from the threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit of the information processing apparatus based on the detection result by the first detection unit or the second detection unit, and

a change processing unit for changing the operational state of the external device based on the determination result by the determination unit.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the threshold values setting unit sets a threshold value set for each of the information processing apparatus and the external device based on a use frequency of the external device which changes according to the application in execution.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein

the threshold values setting unit sets, for the external device which is frequently used, a lower threshold value than a threshold value for the information processing apparatus.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

when the first detection unit does not detect the input signal to the information processing apparatus,

the determination unit starts to count nonuse time of the information processing apparatus, and

when the first detection unit and the second detection unit do not detect the input signals to the information processing apparatus and the external device, and the counted nonuse time exceeds the threshold value,

the determination unit determines to change the operational state of the external device.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein

when the second detection unit detects the input signal to the external device after the determination unit starts to count the nonuse time and before the counted nonuse time exceeds the threshold value,

the determination unit resets the counted nonuse time.

6. The control system according to claim 4, wherein

when the first detection unit detects an input signal for terminating the running application,

the determination unit terminates the counting of the nonuse time.

7. An operation device comprising:

an operation unit for operating an information processing apparatus which is communicably connected;

a transmission and reception unit for exchanging information with the information processing apparatus;

a determination unit for determining whether to change an operational state of the operation device from a threshold value which determines a timing of changing the operational state set according to the application being executed by the information processing apparatus, based on presence or absence information about an input signal input from the operation unit, and an input signal to the information processing apparatus received via the transmission and reception unit; and

a change processing unit for changing the operational state based on a determination result by the determination unit.

8. The operation device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a motion unit for moving the operation device to a predetermined position;

a drive unit for driving the motion unit; and

a position recognition unit for recognizing a position of the operation device,

wherein the change processing unit enables an operation by the operation unit until the nonuse time exceeds the threshold value, and

wherein when the nonuse time exceeds the threshold value, the change processing unit causes the drive unit to drive the motion unit to move the operation device to the predetermined position.

9. A control method comprising the steps of:

executing an application by an information processing apparatus;

determining a threshold value which determines a timing of changing an operational state of an external device communicably connected with the information processing apparatus according to the executed application;

detecting an input signal to the information processing apparatus;

detecting an input signal to the external device;

determining whether or not to change the operational state of the external device from the threshold value based on the detection result of the input signal to the information processing apparatus or the input signal to the external device; and

changing the operational state of the external device based on the determination result.