DIGITAL DEVICE CONTROL SYSTEM USING SMART PHONE

• US 20130171981A1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digience Company Limited, In Koo Woo
• Original Assignee: Digience Company Limited
• Inventors: Woo, In Koo
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

There is provided a digital device control system using a smart phone, including a smart phone having an application of a remote control function, a digital device of which on/off of a power supply, channel or volume is controlled according to a signal received from the smart phone, and an IR repeater functioning as a central control unit connected to the smart phone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication and connected to the digital device through a plurality of infrared ray communications in order to remotely control the digital device, and therefore, the digital device can be controlled using the smart phone instead of a remote controller. In addition, since a plurality of LEDs capable of performing infrared ray communication is included in the IR repeater so as to transmit and receive an infrared signal of a wide range, a digital device desired to be controlled can be remotely controlled even when the digital device is placed at a far distance or at a blind spot in a room, and a plurality of digital devices can be controlled simultaneously.

Claims

1. A digital device control system using a smart phone, the system comprising:

the smart phone having an application of a remote control function;

a digital device of which on/off of a power supply, channel or volume is controlled according to an infrared; and

an IR repeater functioning as a central control unit connected to the smart phone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication and, if a signal of the smart phone is received, transmitting the infrared signal to the digital device, wherein

the IR repeater includes;

a communication unit for wirelessly communicating with the smart phone through the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication;

a code storage unit for storing information on an electronic product and a manufacturer corresponding to a custom code;

a plurality of infrared ray transmission and reception units including a plurality of LEDs for expanding a transmission angle to a range of 60°

to 360° and

transmitting the infrared signal; and

a microcomputer for controlling the digital device control system to separate and detect a custom code of the digital device included in the signal of the smart phone received through the communication unit, compare a custom code in the code storage unit with the custom code of the digital device, and transmit the infrared signal for controlling the digital device through the infrared ray transmission and reception unit if the custom codes are matched.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the smart phone includes:

a control unit functioning as a CPU for controlling operation of the smart phone as a whole;

a memory unit for storing the custom code of the digital device desired to be controlled;

a communication unit for performing the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication with the IR repeater;

a screen display unit for displaying a manual for controlling the digital device on the smart phone;

a motion recognition unit for recognizing a motion such as a touch or a drag on a screen of the smart phone; and

a voice recognition unit for recognizing a voice of a user to control the digital device;

wherein

the control unit controls the screen display unit to provide the manual on the screen and transmits data received from the motion recognition unit and the voice recognition unit and the custom code to the IR repeater through the communication unit.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the memory unit stores custom codes of digital devices released by domestic or foreign electronics companies, and if a custom code is not stored when the smart phone is released by a mobile communication company, a custom code of a new digital device is added, updated and stored by connecting to a server of each electronics company and downloading a provided program through the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communication.

4. A digital device control system using a smart phone capable of learning an infrared signal of a digital device, the system comprising:

a remote control device provided together with the digital device, for transmitting a control command of a corresponding digital device as the infrared signal;

an IR repeater provided with a microcomputer for receiving the infrared signal transmitted from the remote control device, capturing the infrared signal and transmitting the infrared signal to the smart phone through a wireless communication unit;

the smart phone provided with an infrared signal learning unit for receiving the infrared signal transmitted from the IR repeater, matching the infrared signal to a corresponding control command, and storing the infrared signal, wherein

the IR repeater includes;

a learning signal reception unit configured as an infrared ray receiver (IR_Receiver) being activated when the IR repeater is set to a learning mode and receiving the infrared signal transmitted from the remote control device;

a microcomputer functioning as a control unit in charge of general control of the IR repeater and, in addition, capturing and storing the infrared signal as is received by the learning signal reception unit and transmitting the infrared signal to the smart phone; and

a wireless communication unit configured as a communication module for transmitting and receiving data to and from the smart phone through a wireless communication network.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the microcomputer captures and transmits the infrared signal in a form as is integrating a plurality of codes, such as a lead code for activating a digital device desired to be controlled, a custom code which is an address for identifying the digital device, a data code which is a control command of the digital device, and an inverted data code ( Datacode) inverting the data code.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the IR repeater includes:

a driving signal reception unit for receiving a driving signal of a newly learned digital device transmitted from the smart phone, through the wireless communication unit;

an infrared signal generation unit for creating an infrared signal corresponding to a custom code of the digital device and a data code, i.e., a control command, which configure the received driving signal; and

an infrared signal transmission unit for transmitting the infrared signal toward the digital device.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the smart phone includes:

an integrated control driving unit for creating individual driving signals for controlling a plurality of digital devices by a user input;

an infrared signal learning unit for receiving a captured infrared signal of a new digital device transmitted from the IR repeater in a form as is integrating the plurality of codes which configures the infrared signal;

an infrared signal storage unit for matching the infrared signal to a control command of a digital device desired to be controlled by the corresponding infrared signal and storing the infrared signal;

a driving signal creation unit for creating the driving signal of the digital device by handling an input unit displayed on a display means of the smart phone by the integrated control driving unit; and

a transmitter communication unit capable of performing wireless communication with the IR repeater.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the smart phone further includes an interface creation unit for storing the integrated infrared signal as is as a control command and storing a function or the like that will be frequently used by a user to be matched to a separate function button so that a diverse and convenient user interface may be created for each digital device.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the smart phone further includes a macro learning unit for consecutively creating driving signals in order to sequentially operate the digital device according to a set value.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the macro learning unit creates the driving signals by sequentially changing the data code, i.e., the control command, for the same custom code as a set time is elapsed and transmits the driving signals to the IR repeater so that different control commands may be sequentially executed for the same digital device or the macro learning unit creates the driving signals for activating the digital devices by combining a control command matched to each of the custom code while changing the custom codes of the digital devices as a set time is elapsed and transmits the driving signals to the IR repeater so that the plurality of digital devices may sequentially operate by handling the smart phone only once.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein a separate timer is provided in the IR repeater, and if the IR repeater receives a macro driving signal transmitted from the smart phone, stores the macro driving signal in the microcomputer, and creates and transmits an infrared signal appropriate to each driving signal of the digital device as a set time is elapsed, operations of the digital device are sequentially performed.

11. (canceled)

13. A digital device control system using a smart phone, the system comprising:

the smart phone including a driving signal creation unit for creating a driving signal for controlling a digital device by handling a button displayed on a display means by activating a digital device control application and a driving signal communication unit for transmitting the driving signal of the digital device created by the driving signal creation unit through a wireless communication unit;

a relay home server for receiving the driving signal transmitted from the smart phone of outside and transmitting the driving signal to an IR repeater Installed inside of a room; and

the IR repeater including a driving signal reception unit for receiving the driving signal transmitted from the smart phone or the relay home server, an infrared signal generation unit for generating an infrared signal corresponding to a custom code and a control command of the digital device, which configure, the received driving signal, an infrared signal transmission unit for transmitting the infrared signal toward the digital device, and a wireless communication unit formed as a gateway for receiving the driving signal.

14. The system according to claim 13,

wherein

the relay home server includes a smart phone communication unit configured as a Wi-Fi module for receiving the driving signal transmitted from the smart phone placed outside and a repeater communication unit for transmitting the driving signal received from the smart phone to the IR repeater placed inside;

and/or a Bluetooth module is provided in the IR repeater, and the repeater communication unit is also configured as a Bluetooth module;

and/or a Wi-Fi module is provided in the IR repeater, and the repeater communication unit is also configured as a Wi-Fi module capable of performing Wi-Fi communication.

17. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a format server including:

a smart phone authentication unit for validating an access light to a format database by authenticating a user connected through a wireless communication network;

the format database for storing remote controller formats of digital devices provided by domestic and foreign manufacturers or user interfaces uploaded by users who learn infrared signals and create the user interfaces; and

a format transmission unit for transmitting a remote controller format and a user interface selected by the user to the smart phone of the authenticated user.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the smart phone further includes:

an infrared signal learning unit for receiving and storing an infrared signal of a new digital device transmitted from the IR repeater; and

a UI setting unit for forming an interlace of a smart phone user for handling a function of a newly learned infrared signal, matching a function of a control command to each of buttons configuring the interface of the user, and storing the interface, and

the IR repeater further includes;

a learning signal reception unit for receiving an infrared signal transmitted from a remote control device of a new digital device; and

a microcomputer for capturing and transmitting the infrared signal received by the learning signal reception unit to the smart phone and receiving and storing an infrared signal transmitted from the smart phone.

19. The system according to claim 18,

wherein

the infrared signal learning unit includes a pattern analysis unit for receiving the infrared signal of the new digital device transmitted after being captured by the IR repeater, analyzing a pattern of the infrared signal, and compressing and storing the infrared signal;

and/or the infrared signal learning unit includes an infrared signal storage unit for storing the captured infrared signal of the new digital device transmitted from the IR repeater, in a form of integrating a lead code, a custom code, a data code and an inverted data code configuring the captured infrared signal, together with a function;

and/or the UI setting unit further includes a sensor recognition unit for matching a handling function of the digital device to information on a movement of the smart phone recognized by an acceleration sensor or a direction sensor provided in the smart phone and storing the handling function in the user interface;

and/or the smart phone further includes a UI transmission unit for creating a gateway which transmits and receives data among smart phones in which a digital device control application is installed and transmitting and receiving the user interface set by a user through the UI setting unit and stored in the smart phone;

and/or the relay home server is configured as an IP router provided with a Wi-Fi module capable of receiving the driving signal transmitted through Wi-Fi communication via a local network;

and/or the infrared signal transmission unit includes a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes arranged on an outer surface of the IR repeater in a radial pattern;

and/or the IR repeater further includes a multiple control processing unit for controlling a plurality of digital devices by sequentially creating and transmitting infrared signals according to the custom code and the data code included in each of driving signals transmitted from a plurality of smart phones.

23. The system according to claim 18, wherein the smart phone further includes a format download unit connected to the format server on the wireless communication network so as to upload an infrared signal pattern of a digital device which is learned and analyzed through the infrared signal learning unit onto the format server through the wireless communication network and download a remote controller format previously uploaded by another user or a digital device manufacturer from the format server.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the smart phone further includes a function matching unit for matching a function on the infrared signal pattern, i.e., the remote controller format, downloaded through the format download unit to a display button on the user interface set in the smart phone and storing the remote controller format.

25. The system according to claim 18, wherein the relay home server is configured as a personal computer placed inside of a room and provided with a communication means for receiving the driving signal transmitted from the smart phone placed outside of the room through a 3G network or Wi-Fi communication via a base station.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the relay home server includes a DDNS matching unit for implementing a Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) service by automatically updating a DNS database whenever a new IP address is allocated by an Internet service provider, by matching a dynamic IP address and a host domain.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)