INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM

• US 20110292282A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Isozu, Masaaki
• Application Number:
  US13/112,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20110292282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/563
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling devices. The method comprises receiving user input indicating a request to connect to a controllable device. The method further comprises transmitting information to a plurality of controllable devices having indicators, the transmitted information including a command for causing the controllable devices to display, on the indicators, identifiers corresponding to the controllable devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an input unit for receiving user input indicating a request to connect to a controllable device; and

a communication unit for transmitting information to a plurality of controllable devices having indicators, the transmitted information including a command for causing the controllable devices to display, on the indicators, identifiers corresponding to the controllable devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a display unit for displaying identifiers corresponding to the controllable devices, based on response messages received from the controllable devices.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

receiving user input comprises receiving input of a selection of one of the displayed identifiers; and

transmitting information comprises transmitting a connection message to a controllable device associated with the selected identifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a connection processing unit for:

establishing, upon receipt of a response to the connection message from the controllable device associated with the selected identifier, a connection with the controllable device associated with the selected identifier;

generating command signals corresponding to the user input, the command signals being executable by the controllable device associated with the selected identifier;

supplying the command signals to the communication unit for transmission to the controllable device associated with the selected identifier; and

generating display signals causing the display unit to display indications of the command signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the display unit comprises a plurality of subset regions, and the connection processing unit generates signals according to user input received in a first one of the subset regions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the display unit displays a control graphic;

the input unit receives user input directed to the control graphic; and

the communication unit adjusts transmission power of the communication unit in response to the received user input directed to the control graphic.

7. An apparatus controllable by a control device, comprising:

a communication unit for receiving a notification message from a control device; and

a display unit for displaying an identifier of the apparatus on an indicator of the apparatus, in response to receipt of the notification message.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication unit transmits to the control device, in response to the notification message, a response message including an identifier of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control device uses the identifier to control the apparatus.

10. A method for controlling devices, comprising:

receiving user input indicating a request to connect to a controllable device; and

transmitting information to a plurality of controllable devices having indicators, the transmitted information including a command for causing the controllable devices to display, on the indicators, identifiers corresponding to the controllable devices.

11. A tangibly embodied non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform a method for controlling devices, comprising:

receiving user input indicating a request to connect to a controllable device; and

transmitting information to a plurality of controllable devices having indicators, the transmitted information including a command for causing the controllable devices to display, on the indicators, identifiers corresponding to the controllable devices.

12. A system, comprising:

a controlling unit for;

receiving user input indicating a request to connect to a controllable unit; and

transmitting information to a plurality of controllable units having indicators, the transmitted information including a command for causing the controllable units to display, on the indicators, identifiers corresponding to the controllable units; and

a controllable unit for;

receiving the transmitted information including the command from a controlling unit; and

displaying an identifier of the controllable unit on an indicator of the controllable unit, in response to the command.