Remotely controllable electronic apparatus and remote control method

• US 6,654,821 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kudo, Yoshimichi, Aikawa, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NIKETA I
• Application Number:
  US09/662,822
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 710/72, 710/8, 710/5, 710/36, 710/110, 710/107, 709/313
• US Class Current: 710/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40052 High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus bus transfer protocol on a daisy chain bus using an embedded synchronisation G06F13/426
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances

Abstract

A method and system for coordinating control of a remotely controllable electronic apparatus by a first and second control apparatus that use different standards to control the remotely controllable electronic apparatus. The remotely controllable electronic apparatus has a network connection and embedded software allowing a control apparatus to remotely control the remotely controllable electronic apparatus through a network. The first control apparatus has a network connection function and acquires the software from the remotely controllable electronic apparatus through the network. The first control apparatus remotely controls the remotely controllable electronic apparatus by execution of the software in the first control apparatus. The remotely controllable electronic apparatus has an exclusive-control-request-notifying means, which is used for informing the software being executed in the first control apparatus of a request for exclusive control in case the request for exclusive control is received from the second control apparatus.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a network connection function; and

embedded software allowing any controlling apparatus to remotely control said electronic apparatus through a network,

wherein;

a first controlling apparatus also having a network connection function acquires said software from said electronic apparatus through said network and remotely controls said electronic apparatus by execution of said software in said first controlling apparatus; and

said electronic apparatus has an exclusive-control-request-notifying means, which is used for transmitting a request for exclusive control to inform said software being executed in said first controlling apparatus of a request for exclusive control in case said request for exclusive control is received from a second controlling apparatus also having a network connection function.

2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 wherein, when a request for exclusive control is received from said second controlling apparatus, said exclusive-control-request-notifying means communicates said request for exclusive control to said software in said first controlling apparatus through network identification information which is used for identifying said first controlling apparatus and was received from said first controlling apparatus.

3. A controlled apparatus comprising:

a network connection function; and

embedded software allowing any controlling apparatus to remotely control said controlled apparatus through a network, whereby a first controlling apparatus acquires said software from said controlled apparatus through said network and remotely controls said controlled apparatus by execution of said software in said first controlling apparatus,

wherein;

said software comprises;

a first module having a function to issue a remote-control command to said controlled apparatus; and

a second module having a function to acquire a right to use said first module, and

when a second controlling apparatus also having a network connection function issues a request for exclusive control of said controlled apparatus to said controlled apparatus, said second module acquires a right to use said first module in accordance with said request for exclusive control of said controlled apparatus so that said first controlling apparatus is not capable of remotely controlling said controlled apparatus by using said first module.

4. The controlled apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said second module has a function for transmitting network identification information for identifying said first controlling apparatus in said network to said controlled apparatus; and

said controlled apparatus communicates said request for exclusive control of said controlled apparatus made by said second controlling apparatus to said second module by using said network identification information.

5. An controlled apparatus comprising:

network connection function; and

embedded software allowing any controlling apparatus to remotely control said controlled apparatus through a network, whereby a first controlling apparatus acquires said software from said controlled apparatus through said network and remotely controls said controlled apparatus by execution of said software in said first controlling apparatus,

wherein;

said software comprises;

a first module having a function to issue a remote-control command to said controlled apparatus; and

a second module having a function to acquire a right to use said first module, and

in order for said first controlling apparatus to remotely control said controlled apparatus by using said first module, said second module needs to issue a request for exclusive control to said controlled apparatus.

6. A controlled apparatus comprising:

a network connection function; and

embedded software allowing any controlling apparatus to remotely control said controlled apparatus through a network, whereby a first controlling apparatus acquires said software from said controlled apparatus through said network and remotely controls said controlled apparatus by execution of said software in said first controlling apparatus,

wherein;

said software comprises a module having a function to issue a remote-control command to said controlled apparatus; and

in order for said first controlling apparatus to remotely control said controlled apparatus by using said module, said module needs to issue a request for exclusive control to said controlled apparatus.