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

• US 7,483,759 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Kano, Masaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flanders; Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US11/200,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 381/105, 381/103, 381/102, 381/98, 381/96, 340/825.25, 340/826.24, 700/94, 348/14.05, 348/114, 348/734, 348/211.99
• 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 allocation information set in an audio apparatus, said method comprising:

a step of creating, by means of a computer system, setting information to be transmitted to said audio apparatus in accordance with an instruction entered by a user;

a step of transmitting the setting information, created by said step of creating, from said computer system to said audio apparatus;

a step of causing said audio apparatus to store the allocation information into a storage section of said audio apparatus in accordance with the setting information received from said computer system, wherein the allocation information is used when said audio apparatus, in accordance with a first control signal transmitted from a remote controller and instructing said audio apparatus to perform a first predetermined control process, performs the first predetermined control process indicated by the first control signal when a first predetermined condition is met; and

a step of causing a second control signal to be transmitted from said remote controller to said audio apparatus and instructing said audio apparatus to relay said second control signal to said computer system when a second predetermined condition is met, wherein said computer system performs a second predetermined control process.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the setting information created by said step of creating is information to be used by said causing step for controlling a plurality of pieces of the allocation information to be stored in said storage section.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the setting information created by said step of creating is information to be used by said causing step for controlling, for each of a plurality of predetermined conditions, the allocation information to be stored in said storage section.

4. A method for controlling allocation information set in an audio apparatus, said method comprising:

a step of creating, by means of a computer system, setting information to be transmitted to said audio apparatus in accordance with an instruction entered by a user;

a step of transmitting the setting information, created by said step of creating, from said computer system to said audio apparatus;

a step of causing said audio apparatus to store the allocation information into a storage section of said audio apparatus in accordance with the setting information received from said computer system, wherein the allocation information is used when said audio apparatus, in accordance with a first control signal transmitted from a remote controller and instructing said audio apparatus to perform a first predetermined control process, performs the first predetermined control process indicated by the first control signal when a first predetermined condition is met;

a step of causing a second control signal to be transmitted from said remote controller to said audio apparatus and instructing said audio apparatus to relay said second control signal to said computer system when a second predetermined condition is met, wherein said computer system performs a second predetermined control process; and

a step of causing said computer system to receive recommended information from a server via a communication network, the recommended information including information for creating recommended setting information and information for prompting the user to enter an the instruction for creating the setting information.

5. A computer system for controlling allocation information stored in a storage section of an audio apparatus, said computer system comprising:

a creation section that creates setting information to be transmitted to said audio apparatus in accordance with an instruction entered by a user, the setting information being information for storing the allocation information into said storage section of said audio apparatus, the allocation information being used when said audio apparatus, in accordance with a first control signal transmitted from a remote controller and instructing said audio apparatus to perform a first predetermined control process, performs the first predetermined control process indicated by the first control signal when a first predetermined condition is met, wherein a second control signal is transmitted from said remote controller to said audio apparatus instructing said audio apparatus to relay said second control signal to said computer system when a second predetermined condition is met, and said computer system performs a second predetermined control process; and

a transmission section that transmits the setting information, created by said creation section, to said audio apparatus.

6. A computer system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the setting information created by said creation section is information for controlling a plurality of pieces of the allocation information stored in said storage section.

7. A computer system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the setting information created by said creation section is information for controlling, for each of a plurality of predetermined conditions, the allocation information stored in said storage section.

8. A computer system for controlling allocation information stored in a storage section of an audio apparatus, said computer system comprising:

a creation section that creates setting information to be transmitted to said audio apparatus in accordance with an instruction entered by a user, the setting information being information for storing the allocation information into said storage section of said audio apparatus, the allocation information being used when said audio apparatus, in accordance with a first control signal transmitted from a remote controller and instructing said audio apparatus to perform a first predetermined control process, performs the first predetermined control process indicated by the first control signal when a first predetermined condition is met, wherein a second control signal is transmitted from said remote controller to said audio apparatus instructing said audio apparatus to relay said second control signal to said computer system when a second predetermined condition is met, and said computer system performs a second predetermined control process;

a transmission section that transmits the setting information, created by said creation section, to said audio apparatus;

a recommended information reception section that receives recommended information from a server via a communication network, the recommended information including first information for creating recommended setting information and second information for prompting the user to enter an instruction for creating the setting information; and

a section that, on the basis of said second information included in the recommended information received from the server by said recommended information reception section, prompts the user to enter the instruction for creating the setting information.

9. A machine readable storage medium for storing a computer program, which when executed causes a computer system to perform a method for controlling allocation information stored in a storage section of an audio apparatus, said method comprising:

a step of creating setting information to be transmitted to said audio apparatus in accordance with an instruction entered by a user, the setting information being information for storing the allocation information into said storage section of said audio apparatus, the allocation information being used when said audio apparatus, in accordance with a control signal transmitted from a remote controller and instructing said audio apparatus to perform a predetermined control process, performs the predetermined control process indicated by the control signal when a first predetermined condition is met;

a step of transmitting the setting information, created by said step of creating, to said audio apparatus; and

a step of causing a second control signal to be transmitted from said remote controller to said audio apparatus and instructing said audio apparatus to relay said second control signal to said computer system when a second predetermined condition is met, wherein said computer system performs a second predetermined control process.