Control apparatus which remotely controls a device in a network system and control method therefor

• US 7,053,811 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Aratani, Shuntaro, Ohno, Tomoyuki, Yui, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/021,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 341/173, 341/176, 345/744, 345/840, 340/825.09, 340/825.72, 348/164, 348/162, 348/734, 700/83, 709/220
• US Class Current: 341/173
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23238 TV microprocessor executes also home control, monitoring of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25072 Initialise each module during start up
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

A television receiver serves as a control which remotely controls a device in a network system, and is provided with a remote controller for remotely controlling the television receiver itself. The television receiver displays, on a display device, a graphical user interface (guide panel) for graphically guiding the functions assigned to the plural numeral keys provided in the remote controller. Such configuration allows the user to remotely control the desired AV device in the network system in a simple manner with a limited operation sequence.

Claims

1. A control apparatus which remotely controls a device in a network system, comprising:

a remote controller for remotely controlling said control apparatus;

communication means for downloading a control program for remotely controlling an unknown device; and

control means for generating, according to the downloaded control program, a graphical user interface for graphically displaying functions assigned to a plurality of keys provided in said remote controller.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication means starts to perform a process of downloading the control program if said control apparatus detects that said unknown device is connected to the network system.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control apparatus is a television receiver.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said communication means start to perform a process of downloading the control program if said control apparatus detects the said unknown device is connected to the network system.

2. A control method for a control apparatus which remotely controls a device in a network system and has a remote controller for remotely controlling said control apparatus, said method comprising steps of:

downloading a control program for remotely controlling an unknown device; and

generating, according to the downloaded control program, a graphical user interface for graphically displaying functions assigned to a plurality of keys provided in said remote controller.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said downloading step starts to perform a process of downloading the control program if said control apparatus detects that said unknown device is connected to the network system.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein said control apparatus is a television receiver.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said downloading step starts to perform a process of downloading the control program if said control apparatus detects that said unknown device is connected to the network system.

9. A control apparatus which remotely controls a device in a network system, comprising:

a remote controller adapted to remotely control said control apparatus;

a communication unit adapted to download a control program for remotely controlling an unknown device; and

a control unit coupled to said communication unit, and adapted to generate, according to the downloaded control program, a graphical user interface for graphically displaying functions assigned to a plurality of keys provided in said remote controller.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said communication unit starts to perform a process of downloading the control program if said control apparatus detects that said unknown device is connected to the network system.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control apparatus is a television receiver.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said communication unit starts to perform a process of downloading the control program if said control apparatus detects that said unknown device is connected to the network system.