Remote control method and apparatus, remote controller, and apparatus and system based on such remote control

• US 7,191,024 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Kano, Masaya, Shimizu, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flanders; Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US10/038,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 381/105, 381/103, 381/102, 381/98, 340/825.25, 340/825.24, 348/14.02, 348/14.05, 348/734
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/007 in which the audio signals are in digital form data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

When a user gives a parameter storage instruction via a remote controller, current settings of parameters in an input switching circuit, surround circuit, graphic equalizer and electronic volume are stored into a non-volatile RAM. Then, once the user gives a reproduction instruction via the remote controller, the stored settings of the parameters are read out from the non-volatile RAM and set to the input switching circuit, surround circuit, graphic equalizer and electronic volume. Once the user selects a desired one of customizing buttons that are provided on the remote controller belonging to an audio apparatus connected with a personal computer and selects functions to be allocated to the selected customizing button, the personal computer creates setting information in accordance with the user'"'"'s selections, and transmits the thus-created setting information to the audio apparatus. In turn, the audio apparatus stores the allocated functions of the customizing button on the basis of the setting information.

Claims

1. A method for controlling parameters that modify an acoustic characteristic of a sound system to be set in an audio apparatus by performing remote control by using a remote control signal transmitter wherein said audio apparatus comprises a volatile memory storing first settings of a plurality of first parameters that modify the acoustic characteristic of the sound system, a non-volatile memory storing second settings of a plurality of second parameters that modify the acoustic characteristic of the sound system said first settings and second settings including setting of parameters for controlling switching of input of said audio system, a controlled section operating in accordance with values of said first parameters of said first settings stored in the volatile memory, a signal reception section and a control section, said method comprising:

a step of receiving a control signal transmitted by wireless transmittance from said remote control signal transmitter, wherein said remote control signal transmitter comprises a plurality of operators to which remote control codes which are different from each another are respectively allotted, and a transmitter which transmits, by wireless transmittance, a control signal which corresponds to a predetermined one of the remote control codes allotted to said operators by operating the operator of said predetermined remote control code;

a step of analyzing, in said control section, contents of the code of the control signal received by said signal reception section;

a step of storing said plurality of first parameters stored in said volatile memory when the control signal analyzed in said analyzing step indicates instruction for storing said first settings; and

a step of reading out second settings of said plurality of second parameters from said non-volatile memory when the control signal analyzed in said analyzing step indicates instruction for renewal to said second settings, renewing said first settings of said plurality of first parameters stored in said volatile memory by said second settings of said plurality of second parameters, and modifying the acoustic characteristics of the sound system using the second parameters, whereby said controlled section operates in said accordance with values of said second settings of said plurality of second parameters which have been renewed in said volatile memory.

8. The method of claim 1, said first settings and said second settings including setting of parameters for controlling switching of input of said audio apparatus.

2. An audio apparatus comprising:

a volatile memory storing first settings of a plurality of first parameters that modify an acoustic characteristic of a sound system;

a non-volatile memory storing second settings of a plurality of second parameters that modify an acoustic characteristic of the sound system;

a controlled section operating in accordance with values of first parameters of said first settings stored in said volatile memory;

a signal reception section receiving a control signal transmitted by wireless transmittance from a remote controller signal transmitter, wherein said remote control transmitter comprises a plurality of operators to which remote control codes, which are different from one another, are respectively allotted, and a transmitter which transmits, by wireless transmittance, a control signal which corresponds to a predetermined one of the remote control codes allotted to said operators by operating the operator of said predetermined remote control code; and

a control section analyzing contents of the code of the control signal received by said signal reception section, storing, when the analyzed control signal indicates instruction for storing said first settings, said plurality of first parameters of said first settings stored in said volatile memory in said non-volatile memory, and reading out when the analyzed control signal indicates instruction for renewal to said second settings, said second settings of said plurality of second parameters from said non-volatile memory, renewing said first settings of said plurality of first parameters stored in said volatile memory by said second settings of said plurality of second parameters and modifying the acoustic characteristics of the sound system using the second parameters, whereby said controller section operates in accordance with values of said second settings of said plurality of second parameters which have been renewed in said volatile memory.

3. An audio apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control section measures a length of time over which the control signal transmitted from said remote control signal transmitter is continuously detected, and when the control signal has been continuously detected for more than a predetermined time length, said control section determines the control signal to be the storage instruction,

whereas when the control signal has been continuously detected for less than the predetermined time length, said control section determines the control signal to be the reproduction instruction.

4. An audio apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said apparatus is an audio amplifier, and the plurality of parameters include parameters pertaining to two of surround setting, sound volume selling and/or frequency characteristics setting parameters.

5. An audio apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein when said signal reception section has received the predetermined reproduction instruction indicated by the control signal from said remote control signal transmitter while a main power supply for driving said controlled section is not in an ON state, said control section also performs control to turn on the main power supply.

9. The audio apparatus of claim 2, said first settings and said second settings including setting of parameters for controlling switching of input of said audio apparatus.

6. A system, comprising:

a remote control signal transmitter used for remote controlling an audio apparatus, comprising;

a first operator to which a first remote control code is allotted and which is used for controlling one parameter that modifies an acoustic characteristic of a sound system set in said audio apparatus;

a second operator to which a second remote control code which is different from said first remote control code and which is used for controlling, in package, settings of a plurality of parameters that modify an acoustic characteristic of the sound system used in said audio apparatus;

a transmitter transmitting, by wireless transmittance, a first control signal corresponding to said first remote control code to said audio apparatus by operating said first operator and transmitting, by wireless transmittance, a second control signal corresponding to said second remote control code to said audio apparatus by operating said second operator;

said audio apparatus including;

a volatile memory storing first settings of a plurality of first parameters that modify an acoustic characteristic of the sound system,

a non-volatile memory storing second settings of a plurality of second parameters that modify an acoustic characteristic of the sound system,

a controlled section operating in accordance with values of said first parameters of said first settings stored in said volatile memory,

a signal reception section receiving said first and second control signals transmitted by wireless transmittance from said remote control signal transmitter,

a control section analyzing contents of the code of the first control signal and, in accordance with result of the analysis, controlling one of said first parameters of said first settings stored in said volatile memory;

and analyzing contents of the code of the second control signal and, when said second control signal indicates storing of said first settings, storing, in accordance with said second control signal, said first parameters of said first settings stored in said volatile memory in said non-volatile memory, and when said second control signal indicates instruction of renewal of said second settings, reading out said second settings of said second parameters from said non-volatile memory, renewing said first settings of said plurality of first parameters stored in said volatile memory by said second settings of said plurality of second parameters and modifying the acoustic characteristics of the sound system using the second parameters, whereby said controlled section operates in accordance with values of said second settings of said plurality of second parameters which have been renewed in said volatile memory.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein said second operator is used for both of transmittance of said second control signal indicating renewal instruction concerning settings of said parameters and of transmittance of said second control signal indicating storage instruction concerning settings of said parameters.

10. The system of claim 6, said first settings and said second settings including setting of parameters for controlling switching of input of said audio apparatus.