Electronic device controlling apparatus, electronic device controlling system, and electronic device controlling method

• US 7,613,922 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yui, Yasuji, Yaegashi, Akira, Matsumura, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dada; Beemnet W
• Application Number:
  US10/642,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20040107352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: 713/185, 713/172, 713/168, 713/189, 726/9, 726/4, 726/5, 726/18, 726/20, 726/27
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

An electronic device controlling apparatus is disclosed which includes: a communication unit for communicating with electronic devices; a storing element for storing personal identification information and personal information in correspondence with each other; a detecting element for detecting personal identification information and a location where a person identified by the detected personal identification information is present; a searching element for searching the storing element for the personal information corresponding to the personal identification information detected by the detecting element; and a controlling element which, based on the personal information searched for by the searching element, causes the communication unit to transmit a control signal to the electronic device installed in the detected location.

Claims

1. An electronic device controlling apparatus comprising:

a communication device that communicates with electronic devices;

a storage that stores personal identification information and personal information in correspondence with each other;

a receiver that receives the personal identification information and device identification information corresponding to an electronic device from the electronic device, wherein the electronic device acquires the personal identification information from a remote controller corresponding to the electronic device, and the remote controller acquires the personal identification information from a portable storage device loaded into the remote controller;

a search device that searches the storage for the personal information corresponding to the personal identification information received by the receiver; and

a controller that, based on the personal information searched for by the search device, causes the communication device to transmit a control signal to the electronic device corresponding to the device identification information.

2. The electronic device controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage stores the personal identification information, the personal information, and priority information about a plurality of persons.

3. The electronic device controlling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver receives the personal identification information for a plurality of persons and the controller determines priorities of the plurality of persons on the basis of the personal information and priority information corresponding to the personal identification information received by the receiver about the plurality of persons, the controller transmitting the control signal reflecting the priorities of the plurality of persons to the electronic devices.

4. An electronic device controlling system comprising:

one or more electronic devices;

an electronic device controlling apparatus;

one or more remote controllers for receiving personal identification information from one or more portable storage devices loaded into the one or more remote controllers and for transmitting the personal identification information to the one or more electronic devices;

the one or more electronic devices transmitting the personal identification information and device identification information to the electronic device controlling apparatus; and

the electronic device controlling apparatus being connected to the one or more electronic devices and being capable of controlling the one or more electronic devices;

wherein the electronic device controlling apparatus includes;

a communication device for communicating with the one or more electronic devices;

a receiver for receiving the personal identification information and the device identification information from an electronic device corresponding to the device identification information;

a storage for storing the personal identification information and personal information in correspondence with each other;

a search device for searching the storage for the personal information corresponding to the personal identification information received by the receiver; and

a controller for, based on the personal information searched for by the search device, causing the communication device to transmit a control signal to the electronic device corresponding to the device identification information received by the receiver.

5. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 4, wherein the storage stores the personal identification information, the personal information, and priority information about a plurality of persons.

6. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 4, wherein the receiver receives the personal identification information for a plurality of persons and the controller determines priorities of the plurality of persons on the basis of the personal information and priority information corresponding to the personal identification information received by the receiver about the plurality of persons, the controller transmitting the control signal reflecting the priorities of the plurality of persons to the electronic device.

7. An electronic device controlling method comprising:

causing a remote controller to acquire personal identification information from a portable storage device loaded into the remote controller and to transmit the personal identification information to an electronic device corresponding to the remote controller;

receiving the personal identification information and device identification information corresponding to the electronic device from the electronic device;

searching for personal information corresponding to the personal identification information in a storage which stores the personal identification information and the personal information in correspondence with each other; and

transmitting a control signal to the electronic device corresponding to the device identification information, the control signal being based on the personal information.

8. The electronic device controlling method according to claim 7, wherein the storage stores the personal identification information, the personal information, and priority information about a plurality of persons.

9. The electronic device controlling method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of determining priorities of a plurality of persons on the basis of the personal information and priority information about the plurality of persons, and transmitting the control signal reflecting the priorities of the plurality of persons to the electronic device.

10. An electronic device controlling apparatus comprising:

a communication device that communicates with electronic devices;

a storage that stores personal identification information and personal information in correspondence with each other;

a receiver that receives the personal identification information and device identification information corresponding to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device acquires the personal identification information from a remote controller corresponding to the electronic device, and the remote controller acquires the personal identification information from a portable storage device without contacting the portable storage device;

a search device that searches the storage for the personal information corresponding to the personal identification information received by the receiver; and

a controller that, based on the personal information searched for by the search device, causes the communication device to transmit a control signal to the electronic device corresponding to the device identification information.

11. An electronic device controlling system comprising:

a portable storage device;

one or more electronic devices;

an electronic device controlling apparatus;

one or more remote controllers for receiving personal identification information from the portable storage device without contacting the portable storage device and for transmitting the personal identification information to the one or more electronic device;

the one or more electronic devices transmitting the personal identification information and device identification information to the electronic device controlling apparatus; and

the electronic device controlling apparatus being connected to the one or more electronic devices and being capable of controlling the one or more electronic devices;

wherein the electronic device controlling apparatus includes;

a communication device for communicating with the one or more electronic devices;

a receiver for receiving the personal identification information and the device identification information from an electronic device corresponding to the device identification information;

a storage for storing the personal identification information and personal information in correspondence with each other;

a search device for searching the storage for the personal information corresponding to the personal identification information received by the receiver; and

a controller for, based on the personal information searched for by the search device, causing the communication device to transmit a control signal to the electronic device corresponding to the device identification information received by the receiver.

12. An electronic device controlling method comprising:

causing a remote controller to acquire personal identification information from a portable storage device without contacting the portable storage device and to transmit the personal identification information to an electronic device corresponding to the remote controller;

receiving the personal identification information and device identification information corresponding to the electronic device from the electronic device;

searching for personal information corresponding to the personal identification information in a storage which stores the personal identification information and the personal information in correspondence with each other; and

transmitting a control signal to the electronic device corresponding to the device identification information, the control signal being based on the personal information.