Bidirectional remote control system, bidirectional remote controller, and device controlled by bidirectional remote controller

• US 6,545,587 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1998
• 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: Kitao, Mitsuru, Hatakeyama, Takeshi, Kurosaki, Toshihiko, Moriguchi, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DaLencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/229,612
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/3.31, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/825.37
• US Class Current: 340/3.31
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A bidirectional remote control system including a bidirectional remote controller and first and second devices controlled thereby, wherein the first device is for receiving a request of device information from the bidirectional remote controller and for sending the device information to the bidirectional remote controller. The bidirectional remote controller is also for sending the request of the device information to the first device, receiving the device information from the first device and sending the device information to the second device, which is for receiving the device information from the bidirectional remote controller.

Claims

1. A bidirectional remote control system comprising a bidirectional remote controller and a first and a second devices controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, wherein

the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller receives a request of device information from the bidirectional remote controller, and sends device information to the bidirectional remote controller,

the bidirectional remote controller sends the request of device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receives device information from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and sends device information to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and

the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller receives device information from the bidirectional remote controller.

2. A bidirectional remote controller system as defined in claim 1, wherein,

the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller is a microwave oven, and

device information is setting information of the microwave oven.

3. A bidirectional remote controller system as defined in claim 1, wherein,

the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller is a car navigator, and

device information is course setting information.

4. A bidirectional remote controller comprising a central processing unit and a storage unit for storing device information, wherein,

the central processing unit sends a request of device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receives device information from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and sends device information to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, as well as storing device information in the storage unit.

5. A bidirectional remote control system comprising a bidirectional remote controller and a first and a second devices controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, wherein

the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller receives a request of device information from the bidirectional remote controller, and sends device information to the bidirectional remote controller,

the bidirectional remote controller sends the request of device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receives device information from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and reconfigures device information in accordance with an input of an operator, and sends the reconfigured device information to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and

the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller receives the reconfigured device information from the bidirectional remote controller.

6. A bidirectional remote controller comprising a central processing unit and a storage unit for storing device information, wherein,

the central processing unit sends a request of device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receives device information from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and reconfigures device information in accordance with an input of an operator, and sends the reconfigured device information to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller.

7. A bidirectional remote control system comprising a bidirectional remote controller and first and second devices controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, wherein,

the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller comprises:

a first device information storage unit for storing device information to provide to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller;

a first bidirectional communication unit for receiving a request for device information, and sending device information stored in the first device information storage unit to the bidirectional remote controller; and

the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller comprises;

a second device information storage unit for storing device information;

a controlled device body for performing an operation in accordance with device information stored in the second device information storage unit; and

the bidirectional remote controller comprises;

a controller device information storage unit for storing device information sent from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller;

a controller bidirectional communication unit for sending a request for device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receiving device information sent from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and sending device information stored in the controller device information storage unit to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller;

an input device for communicating an input to the bidirectional remote controller;

a central processing unit for controlling the operations of the controller device information storage unit, the controller bidirectional communication unit, and the input device.

8. A bidirectional remote controller comprising:

a device information storage unit for storing device information sent from a first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller,

a bidirectional communication unit for sending a request for device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receiving device information sent from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and sending device information stored in the device information storage unit to a second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller,

an input device for communicating an input to the bidirectional remote controller, and

a central processing unit for controlling operations of the device information storage unit, the bidirectional communication unit, and the input device.

9. A bidirectional remote control system comprising a bidirectional remote controller and first and second devices controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, wherein,

the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller comprises:

a first device information storage unit for storing device information to provide to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller;

a first bidirectional communication unit for receiving a request for device information sent from the bidirectional remote controller, and sending device information stored in the first device information storage unit to the bidirectional remote controller; and

the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller comprises;

a second device information storage unit for storing device information sent from the bidirectional remote controller;

a controlled device body for performing an operation in accordance with device information stored in the second device information storage unit; and

the bidirectional remote controller comprises;

a controller device information storage unit for storing device information sent from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller;

a display unit for displaying device information stored in the first device information storage unit;

a controller bidirectional communication unit for sending a request for device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receiving device information sent from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and sending device information stored in the controller device information storage unit to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller;

an input device for communicating an input to the bidirectional remote controller;

a central processing unit for controlling the operations of the controller device information storage unit, the controller bidirectional communication unit, the display unit and the input device, and reconfiguring device information in accordance with input of the input device, to restore said reconfigured device information in the controller device information storage unit.

10. A bidirectional remote controller comprising;

a device information storage unit for storing device information sent from a first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller,

a display unit for displaying device information stored in the device information storage unit,

a bidirectional communication unit for sending a request of device information to the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and receiving device information sent from the first device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller, and sending device information stored in the device information storage unit to the second device controlled by the bidirectional remote controller,

an input device for communicating input to the bidirectional remote controller,

a central processing unit for controlling operations of the device information storage unit, the bidirectional communication unit, the display unit, and the input device, and reconfiguring device information in accordance with the input of the input device, to restore said reconfigured device information in the device information storage unit.

11. A bidirectional remote control system comprising a bidirectional remote controller, a program supply unit, and a program recording unit, for recording a program output by the program supply unit in the program recording unit, wherein,

the program supply unit comprises:

a program information storing unit for storing program information and providing the program information to the program recording unit; and

a bidirectional communication unit for receiving a request from the bidirectional remote controller for program information and sending program information stored in the program information storing unit to the bidirectional remote controller;

the program recording unit comprises;

a receiving unit for receiving program information sent from the bidirectional remote controller;

a program information storing unit for storing program information received in the receiving unit;

a program recording unit body for recording a program in accordance with program information stored in the program information storing unit; and

the bidirectional remote controller comprises;

a program information storing unit for storing program information sent from the program supply unit;

a bidirectional communication unit for sending a request for program information to the program supply unit, and receiving program information sent from the program supply unit, and sending program information stored in the program information storing unit to the program recording unit;

an input device for communicating an input to the bidirectional remote controller;

a central processing unit for controlling operations of the program information storing unit, the bidirectional communication unit, and the input device.

12. A bidirectional remote controller comprising:

a program information storing unit for storing program information sent from a program supply unit,

a bidirectional communication unit for sending a request for program information to the program information supply unit, and receiving program information sent from program supply unit, and sending program information stored in the program information storing unit to a program recording unit,

an input device for communicating an input to the bidirectional remote controller,

a central processing unit for controlling operations of the program information storing unit, the bidirectional communication unit, and the input device.

13. A bidirectional remote control system comprising a bidirectional remote controller, a program supply unit, and a program recording unit, for recording a program output by the program supply unit in the program recording unit, wherein,

the program supply unit comprises:

a program information storing unit for storing program information and providing the program information to the program recording unit,

a bidirectional communication unit for receiving a request of program information sent from the bidirectional remote controller, and sending program information stored in the program information storing unit to the bidirectional remote controller;

the program recording unit comprises;

a receiving unit for receiving the program information sent from the bidirectional remote controller,

a program information storing unit for storing the program information received in the receiving unit,

a program recording unit body for performing a program recording operation in accordance with the program information stored in the program information storing unit; and

the bidirectional remote controller comprises

a program information storing unit for storing program information sent from the program supply unit;

a display unit for displaying program information stored in the program information storing unit;

a bidirectional communication unit for sending a request for program information to the program supply unit, and receiving program information sent from the program supply unit, and sending program information stored in the program information storing unit to the program recording unit;

an input device for communicating an input to the bidirectional remote controller;

a central processing unit for controlling operations of the program information storing unit, the bidirectional communication unit, the display unit, and the input device, and reconfiguring program information stored in the program information storing unit in accordance with a program selection input of an operator to the input device, to restore said reconfigured program information in the program information unit.

14. A bidirectional remote controller comprising,

a program information storing unit for storing program information from a program supply unit,

a display unit for displaying program information stored in the program information storing unit,

a bidirectional communication unit for sending a request for program information to the program information supply unit, and receiving program information sent from program supply unit, and sending program information stored in the program information storing unit to a program recording unit,

an input device for communicating an input to the bidirectional remote controller,

a central processing unit for controlling operations of the program information storing unit, the bidirectional communication unit, the display unit, and the input device, and reconfiguring the program information stored in the program information storing unit in accordance with a program selection input of an operator to the input device to restore said reconfigured program information in the program information unit.