Remote control system for audio/video devices

• US 5,182,551 A
• Filed: 01/28/1992
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Goto, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/825,846
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.24, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/310 A, 341/176, 358/194.1, 455/603
• US Class Current: 340/4.37
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units

Abstract

By the determination of the controlled device on a reception side of the remote control apparatus, all the devices connected to the system may be controlled by the transmitter of one unit of the remote control apparatus, and they also may be controlled by the transmitter of an already existing remote control apparatus even when a new device has been additionally connected to the system.

Claims

1. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each having an identifying address and at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, connected to the other devices through information transmission paths and positioned to be controlled by a remote control signal transmitted from a transmitter which is adapted to transmit the signal consisting of either an operation signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operation signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal,

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver, and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a storing means for storing the designation signal having been transmitted from the transmitter so as to be able to control by an operation signal from the transmitter for controlling the control means in the predetermined modes;

a first comparing means for judging whether the signal presently received from the transmitter is an operation signal or a designation signal, and, in the case of the presently received signal being a designating signal, comparing the presently received designating signal with the designation signal having been stored in the storing means to maintain the designation signal in the storing means in the case of coincidence between them, while, in the case of disagreement between them, the designation signal in the storing means is replaced by the presently received designating signal from the transmitter which is also transmitted to all receivers of the other devices through the communication means; and

a second comparing means for comparing, upon receiving the just received signal being an operation signal from the first comparing means, the identifying address of the device designated by the designation signal having been stored in the storing means with the identifying address of the device receiving the remote control signal, and, if the two identifying addresses are the same, sending the operation signal to the control means, while, if the two identifying addresses are different, the operation signal is sent to the device designated by the designation signal having been stored in the storing means.

2. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each connected with the other devices through information transmission paths and having an identifying address, at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, and at least more than one operational actuator which is operable by an operator to transmit a remote control signal consisting of either an operational signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operational signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal;

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver; and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a storing means for storing the designation signal having been transmitted from the actuator so as to be able to control by an operational signal from the actuator for controlling the control means in the predetermined modes;

a first comparing means for judging whether the signal presently received from the actuator is an operational signal or a designation signal, and, in the case of the presently received signal being a designating signal, comparing the presently received designating signal with the designation signal having been stored in the storing means to maintain the designation signal in the storing means in the case of coincidence between them, while, in the case of disagreement between them, the designation signal in the storing means is replaced by the presently received designating signal from the actuator which is also transmitted to all receivers of the other devices through the communication means, and

a second comparing means for comparing, upon receiving the just received signal being an operation signal from the first comparing means, the identifying address of the device designated by the designation signal having been stored in the storing means with the identifying address of the device receiving the remote control signal from the actuator, and, if the two identifying addresses are the same, sending the operation signal to the control means, while, if the two identifying addresses are different, the operational signal is sent to the device designated by the designation signal having been stored in the storing means.

3. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each connected with the other devices through information transmission paths and having an identifying address, at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, and at least more than one operational actuator which is operable by an operator to transmit a remote control signal consisting of either an operational signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operational signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal;

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver; and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a first demodulation means having a specific signal arrangement stored therein, said specific signal arrangement being compared with the signal arrangement of the signal unit received by the receiver so as to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween;

a second demodulation means for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the device select signal of the signal unit is directed to the device having the receiver so as to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof;

a data code process means for judging, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the control command of the device control signal of the signal unit is a kind of command common to the other devices to output a signal indicating whether the command is common or special;

a first format converting means for converting, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the first demodulation means or the special signal from the data code process means, the signal unit of the transmitter to an equivalent transfer signal for transferring through the information transmitting paths;

a second format converting means for converting, upon receiving the command signal from the data code process means, the signal unit of the transmitter to a control command for operating the designated device;

a frame generating means for forming the equivalent transfer signal into a first transfer signal for transferring toward all of the other devices through the information transmitting paths, and for forming the control command into a second transfer signal for transferring toward the designated device through the information transmitting paths; and

a system control means for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the second demodulation means, the operation of the device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit; and

the other devices each comprising;

a frame decode means for judging whether or not the transfer signal from the frame generating means of the device is a common command to output a signal indicating whether the command is common or special;

a first format counter conversion means for converting the transfer signal to the original signal unit in a counter, upon receiving the special signal from the frame decode means;

a second format counter conversion means for judging whether or not the signal unit from the first format counter conversion means has a specific signal arrangement relating to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween;

a format counter conversion means for neglecting, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, whether or not the signal unit is directed to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof; and

a system control means for neglecting, upon receiving the non-identity signal from the format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for controlling, upon receiving one of the identity signal from the format counter conversion signal and the common signal from the frame decode means, the operation of the designated device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit.

4. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each connected with the other devices through information transmission paths and having an identifying address, at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, and at least more than one operational actuator which is operable by an operator to transmit a remote control signal consisting of either an operational signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operational signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal;

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver; and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a first demodulation means having a specific signal arrangement stored therein, said specific signal arrangement being compared with the signal arrangement of the signal unit received by the receiver so as output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween, and for neglecting the signal unit in the case of outputting the disagreement signal;

a second demodulation means for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the device select signal of the signal unit is directed to the device having the receiver so as to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof;

a data code process means for judging, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the control command of the device control signal of the signal unit is a kind of command common to the other devices to output a signal indicating whether the command is special;

a first format converting means for converting, upon receiving the special signal from the data code process means, the signal unit of the transmitter to an equivalent transfer signal for transferring through the information transmitting paths;

a second format converting means for converting, upon receiving the common signal from the data code process means, the signal unit of the transmitter to a control command for operating the designated device;

a frame generating means for forming the equivalent transfer signal into a first transfer signal for transferring toward all of the other devices through the information transmitting paths, and for forming the control command into a second transfer signal for transferring toward the designated device through the information transmitting paths; and

a system control means for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the second demodulation means, the operation of the device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit; and

the other devices each comprising;

a frame decode means for judging whether or not the transfer signal from the frame generating means of the device is a common command to output a signal indicating whether the command is common or special;

a first format counter conversion means for converting the transfer signal to the original signal unit in a counter, upon receiving the special signal from the frame decode means;

a second format counter conversion means for judging whether or not the signal unit from the first format counter conversion means has a specific signal arrangement relating to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween;

a format counter conversion means for neglecting, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, whether or not the signal unit is directed to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof; and

a system control means for neglecting, upon receiving the non-identity signal from the format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for controlling, upon receiving one of the identity signal from the format counter conversion signal and the common signal from the frame decode means, the operation of the designated device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit.

5. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each connected with the other devices through information transmission paths and having an identifying address, at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, and at least more than one operational actuator which is operable by an operator to transmit a remote control signal consisting of either an operational signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operational signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal;

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver; and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a first demodulation means having a specific signal arrangement stored therein, said specific signal arrangement being compared with the signal arrangement of the signal unit received by the receiver to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween;

a second demodulation means for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the device select signal of the signal unit is directed to one device having the receiver so as to output a signal indicating the identify or non-identity thereof;

a data code process means for judging, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the control command of the device control signal of the signal unit is a kind of command common to the other devices to output a signal indicating whether the command is common or special, and for neglecting the signal unit in the case of outputting the special signal;

a first format converting means for converting, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the first demodulation means, the signal unit of the transmitter to an equivalent transfer signal for transferring through the information transmitting paths;

a second format converting means for converting, upon receiving the common signal from the data code process means, the signal unit of the transmitter to a control command for operating the designated device;

a frame generating means for forming the equivalent transfer signal into a first transfer signal for transferring toward all of the other devices through the information transmitting paths, and for forming the control command into a second transfer signal for transferring toward the designated device through the information transmitting paths; and

a system control means for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the second demodulation means, the operation of the device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit; and

the other devices each comprising;

a frame decode means for judging whether or not the transfer signal from the frame generating means of the device is a common command to output a signal indicating whether the command is common or special;

a first format counter conversion means for converting the transfer signal to the original signal unit, in a counter, upon receiving the special signal from the frame decode means;

a second format counter conversion means for judging whether or not the signal nit from the first format counter conversion means has a specific signal arrangement relating to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween;

a format counter conversion means for neglecting, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, whether or not th signal unit is directed to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof; and

a system control means for neglecting, upon receiving the non-identity signal from the format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from one of the format counter conversion signal and the common signal from the frame decode means, the operation of the designated device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit.

6. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each connected with the other devices through information transmission paths and having an identifying address, at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, and at least more than one operational actuator which is operable by an operator to transmit a remote control signal consisting of either an operational signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operational signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal;

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver; and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a first demodulation means having a specific signal arrangement stored therein, said specific signal arrangement being compared with the signal arrangement of the signal unit received by the receiver to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween, and for neglecting the signal unit in the case of outputting the disagreement signal;

a second demodulation means for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the device select signal of the signal unit is directed to the device having the receiver so as to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof;

a data code process means for judging, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the control command of the device control signal of the signal unit is a kind of command common to the other devices to output a signal indicating whether the command is common or special, and for neglecting the signal unit in the case of outputting the special signal;

a format converting means for converting, upon receiving the common signal from the data code process means, the signal unit for the transmitter to a control command for operating the designated device;

a frame generating means for forming the control command into a second transfer signal for transferring toward the designated device through the information transmitting paths; and

a system control means for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the second demodulation means, the operation of the device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit; and

the other devices each comprising;

a frame decode means for judging whether or not the transfer signal from the frame generating means of the device is a common command to output a signal indicating whether the command is common or special, and for neglecting the transfer signal in the case of outputting the special signal; and

a system control means for controlling, upon receiving the common signal from the frame decode means, the operation of the designated device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit.

7. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each connected with the other devices through information transmission paths and having an identifying address, at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, and at least more than one operational actuator which is operable by an operator to transmit a remote control signal consisting of either an operational signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operational signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal;

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver; and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a first demodulation means having a specific signal arrangement stored therein, said specific signal arrangement being compared with the signal arrangement of the signal unit received by the receiver to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween;

a second demodulation means for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the device select signal of the signal unit is directed to the device having the receiver so as to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof;

a first format converting means for converting the signal unit of the transmitter to an equivalent transfer signal for transferring through the information transmitting paths, upon receiving one of the disagreement signal from the first demodulation means and the non-identity signal from the second demodulation means;

a frame generating means for forming the equivalent transfer signal into a transfer signal for transferring toward all of the other devices through the information transmitting paths; and

a system control means for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the second demodulation means, the operation of the device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit; and

the other devices each comprising;

a first format counter conversion means for converting the transfer signal transmitted from the frame generating means to the original signal unit in a counter;

a second format counter conversion means for judging whether or not the signal unit from the first format counter conversion means has a specific signal arrangement relating to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween;

a format counter conversion means for neglecting, upon receiving the disagreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, whether or not the signal unit is directed to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof; and

a system control means for neglecting, upon receiving the non-identity signal from the format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the format counter conversion signal, the operation of the designated device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit.

8. A remote control system for controlling at least two electronic devices each connected with the other devices through information transmission paths and having an identifying address, at least more than two individual predetermined operating modes, and at least more than one operational actuator which is operable by an operator to transmit a remote control signal consisting of either an operational signal for controlling the operation of each of the devices or a designation signal for designating one of the identified devices to be controlled by the operational signal, each of the devices comprising:

a receiver for receiving the remote control signal;

a control means for controlling the operation of the device in connection with the predetermined mode upon receiving the signal from the receiver; and

a communication means for transmitting the signal from the receiver to the other devices through the paths,

said receiver including;

a first demodulation means having a specific signal arrangement stored therein, said specific signal arrangement being compared with the signal arrangement of the signal unit received by the receiver to output a signal indicating the agreement or disagreement therebetween; and

for neglecting the signal unit in the case of outputting the disagreement signal;

a second demodulation means for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the first demodulation means, whether or not the device select signal of the signal unit is directed to the device having the receiver so as to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof;

a format converting means for converting the signal unit of the transmitter to an equivalent transfer signal for transferring through the information transmitting paths, upon receiving the non-identity signal from the second demodulation means;

a frame generating means for forming the equivalent transfer signal into a first transfer signal for to transferring toward all of the other devices through the information transmitting paths; and

a system control means for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the second demodulation means, the operation of the device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit; and

the other devices each comprising;

a format counter conversion means for converting the transfer signal transmitted from the frame generating means to the original signal unit in a counter;

a format counter conversion means for judging, upon receiving the agreement signal from the second format counter conversion means, whether or not the signal unit from the format counter conversion means is directed to each of the other devices to output a signal indicating the identity or non-identity thereof; and

a system control means for neglecting, upon receiving the non-identity signal from the format counter conversion means, the signal unit, and for controlling, upon receiving the identity signal from the format counter conversion signal, the operation of the designated device on the basis of the device control signal of the signal unit.