WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20100315279A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Junji, Kojima, Yasushi, Hamai, Shinji
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

To easily ensure that appropriate recognition information is used. A remote control system (1) includes a DVR (13) and a remote control (11) that controls the DVR (13) via a wireless communication path. The remote control (11) which is one apparatus out of the DVR (13) and the remote control (11) obtains, by a wireless reception unit (114), recognition information used by the apparatus to uniquely recognize the other apparatus, via another communication path (a communication path through a TV (12)) different from the wireless communication path connecting the apparatus and the other apparatus. When a connected apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path is identified by the obtained recognition information, the remote control (11) sets, by a control circuit (115), the connected apparatus as the DVR (13) which is the other apparatus to enable communication with the connected apparatus.

Claims

1. A wireless control system comprising:

a controlled apparatus; and

a wireless controlling apparatus that controls said controlled apparatus via a wireless communication path,

wherein one of said controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus obtains recognition information for uniquely recognizing an other one of said controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus, via a communication path different from the wireless communication path connecting said apparatus and said other apparatus, and

when a connected apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path is identified by the obtained recognition information, said apparatus sets the connected apparatus as said other apparatus to enable communication with the connected apparatus.

2. The wireless control system according to claim 1, comprising:

a first controlled apparatus; and

a second controlled apparatus,

wherein said first controlled apparatus has first recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from said first controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize said first controlled apparatus,

said second controlled apparatus has second recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from said second controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize said second controlled apparatus,

said second controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said first controlled apparatus when said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, in a case where said wireless controlling apparatus is able to communicate with said first controlled apparatus according to the first recognition information,

said first controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said wireless controlling apparatus,

said wireless controlling apparatus enables communication with said second controlled apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path, according to the second recognition information outputted from said first controlled apparatus, and

the different communication path is composed of two communication paths that are a communication path between said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus and the wireless communication path between said first controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus.

3. The wireless control system according to claim 2,

wherein, when said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, said second controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said first controlled apparatus, and said first controlled apparatus stores the second recognition information, and

when said wireless controlling apparatus and said first controlled apparatus communicate the first recognition information via the wireless communication path, said first controlled apparatus outputs the first recognition information and the second recognition information to said wireless controlling apparatus.

4. The wireless control system according to claim 3,

wherein the recognition information is information that includes at least addresses and encryption keys of said plurality of controlled apparatuses.

5. The wireless control system according to claim 4,

wherein said first controlled apparatus includes a display unit,

said first controlled apparatus selectively displays first visual information and second visual information, the first visual information including at least a moving image and a still image generated in said first controlled apparatus, and the second visual information including at least a moving image and a still image generated in said second controlled apparatus, and

when the first visual information is displayed on said display unit, said wireless controlling apparatus communicates with said first controlled apparatus and does not communicate with a controlled apparatus different from said first controlled apparatus.

6. The wireless control system according to claim 5,

wherein, when communicating with said wireless controlling apparatus while the second visual information is displayed, said first controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said wireless controlling apparatus.

7. The wireless control system according to claim 6,

wherein said first controlled apparatus determines visual information displayed on said display unit and, when determining that the visual information displayed on said display unit is the second visual information, rejects communication information outputted from said wireless controlling apparatus.

9. The wireless control system according to claim 1,

wherein said controlled apparatus identifies said wireless controlling apparatus,

said wireless controlling apparatus includes:

a first transmission unit configured to transmit recognition information indicating said wireless controlling apparatus via a first communication medium transmittable only within a range of sight, upon detecting that an operation of a button provided on said wireless controlling apparatus is performed; and

a second transmission unit configured to transmit the recognition information and operation information for operating said controlled apparatus, via a second communication medium,

said controlled apparatus includes;

a first obtainment unit configured to obtain the recognition information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus via the first communication medium;

a second obtainment unit configured to obtain the recognition information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus via the second communication medium; and

a recognition information determination unit configured to determine whether or not the recognition information obtained by said first obtainment unit and the recognition information obtained by said second obtainment unit match, thereby identifying a transmitter, and

the different communication path is a communication path that has the first communication medium as a communication medium.

10. The wireless control system according to claim 9,

wherein infrared radiation is used as the first communication medium, and

radio waves are used as the second communication medium.

11. The wireless control system according to claim 1, comprising:

said wireless controlling apparatus that transmits operation information corresponding to a key operation; and

said controlled apparatus that receives the operation information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus,

wherein said wireless controlling apparatus includes;

at least one operation key;

an operation information generation unit configured to, upon detecting that an operation of said operation key is performed, generate operation information corresponding to said operation key;

a recognition information holding unit configured to hold recognition information indicating a generator of the operation information;

a first transmission unit configured to transmit the recognition information via a first communication medium transmittable only within a range of sight; and

a second transmission unit configured to transmit the recognition information and the operation information via a second communication medium,

said controlled apparatus includes;

a first reception unit configured to receive the recognition information indicating said wireless controlling apparatus, via the first communication medium;

a second reception unit configured to receive the operation information and the recognition information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus via the second communication medium;

a recognition information determination unit configured to obtain the recognition information via the first communication medium and the recognition information via the second communication medium, and determine whether or not the recognition information obtained via the first communication medium and the recognition information obtained via the second communication medium match, thereby identifying a transmitter; and

an operation execution unit configured to execute an operation corresponding to the operation information received via the second communication medium, when said recognition information determination unit determines that the recognition information obtained via the first communication medium and the recognition information obtained via the second communication medium match,

said apparatus is said controlled apparatus,

said other apparatus is said wireless controlling apparatus, and

the different communication path is a communication path using the first communication medium.

12. The wireless control system according to claim 11,

wherein infrared radiation is used as the first communication medium in said wireless controlling apparatus, and

radio waves are used as the second communication medium in said wireless controlling apparatus.

13. The wireless control system according to claim 12,

wherein said recognition information determination unit in said controlled apparatus is configured to store the recognition information obtained via the first communication medium and the recognition information obtained via the second communication medium, and determine whether or not the stored recognition information obtained via the first communication medium and the stored recognition information obtained via the second communication medium match, thereby identifying the transmitter.

14. The wireless control system according to claim 1,

wherein said apparatus disables the control between said apparatus and the connected apparatus when the connected apparatus is not recognized as said other apparatus, and enables the control between said apparatus and the connected apparatus only when the connected apparatus is recognized as said other apparatus.

18. The wireless control system according to claim 2,

wherein said first controlled apparatus identifies said wireless controlling apparatus,

said wireless controlling apparatus includes:

a first transmission unit configured to transmit recognition information indicating said wireless controlling apparatus via a first communication medium transmittable only within a range of sight, upon detecting that an operation of a button provided on said wireless controlling apparatus is performed; and

a second transmission unit configured to transmit the recognition information and operation information for operating said first controlled apparatus, via a second communication medium,

said first controlled apparatus includes;

a first obtainment unit configured to obtain the recognition information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus via the first communication medium;

a second obtainment unit configured to obtain the recognition information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus via the second communication medium; and

a recognition information determination unit configured to determine whether or not the recognition information obtained by said first obtainment unit and the recognition information obtained by said second obtainment unit match, thereby identifying a transmitter,

said wireless controlling apparatus recognizes said first controlled apparatus, when said recognition information determination unit in said first controlled apparatus identifies said wireless controlling apparatus, and

said second controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said first controlled apparatus when said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, in a case where said wireless controlling apparatus recognizes said first controlled apparatus as a result of said recognition information determination unit in said first controlled apparatus identifying said wireless controlling apparatus.

8. A pairing method of a wireless control system including a plurality of controlled apparatuses and a wireless controlling apparatus that controls the plurality of controlled apparatuses via a wireless communication path,

wherein a first controlled apparatus of the plurality of controlled apparatuses has first recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from the first controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize the first controlled apparatus, and

a second controlled apparatus of the plurality of controlled apparatuses that is different from the first controlled apparatus has second recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from the second controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize the second controlled apparatus,

said pairing method comprising:

outputting, by the second controlled apparatus, the second recognition information to the first controlled apparatus when the first controlled apparatus and the second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, in a case where the wireless controlling apparatus is able to communicate with the first controlled apparatus according to the first recognition information;

outputting, by the first controlled apparatus, the second recognition information to the wireless controlling apparatus; and

enabling, by the wireless controlling apparatus, communication with the second controlled apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path, according to the second recognition information outputted from the first controlled apparatus.

15. An apparatus in a wireless control system including a controlled apparatus and a wireless controlling apparatus that controls the controlled apparatus via a wireless communication path, said apparatus being one of the controlled apparatus and the wireless controlling apparatus,

wherein said apparatus obtains recognition information used by said apparatus to uniquely recognize an other one of the controlled apparatus and the wireless controlling apparatus, via another communication path different from the wireless communication path connecting said apparatus and the other apparatus, and

when a connected apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path is identified by the obtained recognition information, said apparatus sets the connected apparatus as the other apparatus and communicates with the connected apparatus.

16. A setting method in a wireless control system including a controlled apparatus and a wireless controlling apparatus that controls the controlled apparatus via a wireless communication path, said setting method being performed by one of the controlled apparatus and the wireless controlling apparatus, said setting method comprising:

obtaining recognition information used by the apparatus to uniquely recognize an other one of the controlled apparatus and the wireless controlling apparatus, via another communication path different from the wireless communication path connecting the apparatus and the other apparatus; and

setting, when a connected apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path is identified by the obtained recognition information, the connected apparatus as the other apparatus.

17. A computer program used in a wireless control system including a controlled apparatus and a wireless controlling apparatus that controls the controlled apparatus via a wireless communication path, said computer program causing one of the controlled apparatus and the wireless controlling apparatus to execute:

obtaining recognition information used by the apparatus to uniquely recognize an other one of the controlled apparatus and the wireless controlling apparatus, via another communication path different from the wireless communication path connecting the apparatus and the other apparatus; and

setting, when a connected apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path is identified by the obtained recognition information, the connected apparatus as the other apparatus to enable communication with the connected apparatus.