Program selection method and apparatus using cordless telephone set

• US 5,901,366 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sonoda, Yumie, Tamori, Hirofumi, Nakano, Hiroaki, Nagahara, Junichi, Niijima, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US08/640,079
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/550, 455/403, 455/560, 455/575, 455/344, 455/420, 379/110.01, 348/734, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/10, 348/563-565
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The invention provides a program selection method and apparatus using a cordless telephone set by which a desired program can be selected from among a large number of programs in a direct rapid and accurate manner. A TEL key changes over a mode of a cordless telephone set between a first mode in which the cordless telephone set is used as a telephone set and a second mode in which the cordless telephone set is used as a remote commander for remotely controlling an electronic apparatus. A monitor apparatus displays a first display corresponding to a function allocated to any of the keys of the cordless telephone set in the first mode and a second display different from the first display and corresponding to another function allocated to any of the keys in the second mode for remotely controlling the electronic apparatus. A transmission circuit generates a signal corresponding to the manually operated key in response to a manual operation of any of the keys.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus to which a program selection apparatus using a cordless telephone set is applied, comprising:

reception means for receiving a signal from said cordless telephone set;

control means for performing a line controlling operation when a first DTMF signal from said cordless telephone set is received by said reception means in a first mode of said electronic apparatus;

means for reducing screens of a plurality of programs forming a plurality of reduced screens;

output means for outputting a signal of a program selection screen in which the plurality of reduced screens are arranged when a second DTMF signal from said cordless telephone set is received by said reception means in a second mode of said electronic apparatus.

2. An electronic apparatus to which a program selection apparatus using a cordless telephone set is applied, comprising:

means for reducing screens of a plurality of programs forming a plurality of reduced screens;

output means for outputting a signal of a program selection screen in which the plurality of reduced screens are arranged;

reception means for receiving a signal from said cordless telephone set;

control means for performing a line controlling operation when a first DTMF signal from said cordless telephone set is received by said reception means in a first mode of said electronic apparatus; and

movement means for moving a cursor arranged on said program selection screen when a second DTMF signal from said cordless telephone set is received by said reception means in a second mode of said electronic apparatus.

3. An electronic apparatus to which a program selection apparatus using a cordless telephone set is applied according to claim 2, further comprising selection means for selecting a program of one of the plurality of reduced screens at which said cursor is positioned when a third DTMF signal from said cordless telephone set is received by said reception means in the second mode of said electronic apparatus.

4. A program selection method using a cordless telephone set, comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from said cordless telephone set;

performing a line controlling operation when a first DTMF signal is received from said cordless telephone set in a first mode;

reducing screens of a plurality of programs; and

outputting a signal of a program selection screen in which a plurality of the reduced screens are arranged when a second DTMF signal from said cordless telephone set is received in a second mode.

5. A program selection method using a cordless telephone set, comprising the steps of:

reducing screens of a plurality of programs and forming a plurality of reduced screens;

arranging a cursor at a position of one of a plurality of child screens of a program selection screen in which a plurality of the reduced screens are arranged;

receiving a signal from said cordless telephone set;

performing a line controlling operation when a first DTMF signal is received from said cordless telephone set in a first mode; and

moving said cursor when a second DTMF signal is received from said cordless telephone set in a second mode.