Information signal transmission system and remote control device for the same

• US 7,194,755 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakata, Junichi, Wakita, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HAI V
• Application Number:
  US08/977,591
• Time in Patent Office: 3,402 Days
• Field of Search: 348 11- 12, 348/734, 348/553, 725/10, 725/37, 725/133, 725/74, 725/78, 725 80- 82, 725/14, 725/86, 725100-101, 725/135, 725/151, 455/514, 455/450, 455/509, 455/117, 455502-503, 455/524, 455/552, 455/3.04, 340/825.52, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/3.1, 709/226, 709223-225
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] 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 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• 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 21/43615 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

Abstract

An information signal transmission system and a remote control device for such a system for allowing a viewer to continuously watch, for example, in a bedroom a program the viewer has watched in a living room. A recipient of information is detected referring to identification information set in a remote command device, and monitor devices are alternately switched for continuously providing the viewer with an information signal.

Claims

1. An information signal transmission system, comprising:

a network interface connected to a first presentation device and to a second presentation device through a network,

wherein said first presentation device and said second presentation device each include a control block and a remote control receiver, said remote control receiver operable to receive a remote control signal sent by a remote command device and to feed a result of said received remote control signal to said control block;

a control component connected to said network interface, including a microcomputer to control the information signal transmission system;

an information signal component connected to said control component and to said network interface, including a reproduction block to reproduce an information signal received from said control component and an output block to code an information signal reproduced by said reproduction block and output the information signal to said network interface; and

an identification component connected to said control component;

wherein while said information signal component outputs an information signal to said first presentation device through said network interface, said identification component stores identification data indicating an identification code identifying a user,

when said control component receives a control request from said second presentation device through said network interface and said control request includes identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user, said identification component determines that the identification code of said identification data in said control request matches the identification code of said identification data stored by said identification component and sends a change device request to said control component, said change device request indicating said second presentation device, and

when said control component receives said change device request indicating said second presentation device, said control component causes said information sign al component to begin to output said information signal to said second presentation device through said network interface.

2. The information signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

when said control component receives a reserve request from said first presentation device through said network interface and said reserve request includes identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user, said identification component determines that the identification code of said identification data in said reserve request matches the identification code of said identification data stored by said identification component and sends a pause command to said control component, said pause command indicating said first presentation device, and

when said control component receives said pause command indicating said first presentation device, said control component causes said information signal component to stop outputting said information signal to said first presentation device through said network interface,

such that said information signal component begins to output said information signal to said second presentation device from the point in said information signal when said control component stopped outputting said information signal to said first presentation device.

3. The information signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

said reproduction block is a video reproduction block, and

said output block is a video output block.

4. The information signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

said identification component includes an identification code detector for extracting an identification code indicated by identification data in a control request and a determining component for comparing an identification code indicated by stored identification data with an identification code indicated by identification data extracted by said identification code detector.

5. The information signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

the identification code indicated by said identification data of said control request is received by said second presentation device from said remote command device.

6. The information signal transmission system of claim 5, wherein:

the identification code indicated by said identification data stored by said identification component is received by said first presentation device from said remote command device.

7. The information signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

said first presentation device is a television.

8. The information signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein:

the identification code indicated by said identification data of said control request is generated using voice recognition and a voice sample from said user.

9. The information signal transmission system of claim 1, further wherein:

said remote command device provides identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user to said second presentation device.

10. The information signal transmission system of claim 9, wherein:

said remote command device includes an identification code detector that generates identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user based on input received from said user.

11. The information signal transmission system of claim 10, wherein:

said remote command device includes a keypad for receiving input from said user.

12. A method of transmitting an information signal, comprising:

storing identification data indicating an identification code identifying a user;

outputting an information signal to a first presentation device through a network interface;

receiving a control request from a second presentation device through said network interface, said control request including identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user;

comparing the identification code of said identification data in said control request with the identification code of said stored identification data to assure said codes match;

sending a change device request indicating said second presentation device;

starting to output said information signal to said second presentation device through said network interface,

wherein said first presentation device and said second presentation device each include a control block and a remote control receiver said remote control receiver operable to receive a remote control signal sent by a remote command device and to feed a result of said received remote control signal to said control block.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a reserve request from said first presentation device through said network interface, said reserve request including identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user;

comparing the identification code of said identification data in said reserve request with the identification code of said stored identification data; and

stopping outputting said information signal to said first presentation device through said network interface;

wherein said information signal begins to be output to said second presentation device from the point in said information signal when said information signal is stopped to be output to said first presentation device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said information signal includes video information.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the identification code indicated by said identification data of said control request is received by said second presentation device from said remote command device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the identification code indicated by said identification data of said control request is generated using voice recognition and a voice sample from said user.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving said identification code identifying said user at said remote command device;

adding identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user to said control request; and

sending said control request to said second presentation device.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

comparing attribute information of said second presentation device with attribute information of an information signal system to determine compatibility between said second presentation device and said information signal system;

wherein the attribute information of said second presentation device is included in said control request, and

wherein said information signal system outputs said information signal to said second presentation device after determining that said second presentation device and said information signal system are compatible.

19. A system for transmitting an information signal, comprising:

means for storing identification data indicating an identification code identifying a user;

means for outputting an information signal to a first presentation device through a network interface;

means for processing a control request from a second presentation device received through said network interface, said control request including identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user;

means for comparing the identification code of said identification data in said control request with the identification code of said stored identification data to assure said codes match;

means for sending a change device request indicating said second presentation device;

means for starting to output said information signal to said second presentation device through said network interface,

wherein said first presentation device and said second presentation device each include a control block and a remote control receiver, said remote control receiver operable to receive a remote control signal sent by a remote command device and to feed a result of said received remote control signal to said control block.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for processing a reserve request from said first presentation device received through said network interface, said reserve request including identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user;

means for comparing the identification code of said identification data in said reserve request with the identification code of said stored identification data; and

means for stopping outputting said information signal to said first presentation device through said network interface;

wherein said information signal begins to be output to said second presentation device from the point in said information signal when said information signal is stopped to be output to said first presentation device.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for receiving said identification code identifying said user at said remote command device;

means for adding identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user to said control request; and

means for sending said control request to said second presentation device.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

voice recognition means for generating an identification code based on a voice sample received from a user.