Wireless control system, control device, controllable device device control method, control program, and computer readable recording medium containing the same

• US 7,702,323 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 10, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Huy D
• Application Number:
  US10/553,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20060234659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/419, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/411, 455/410, 455/422.1, 725/81
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

The wireless control system of the present invention constitutes a wireless AV system (101) which forms a wireless transmission network (1) in which a wireless center unit (102) and a TV main body unit (103) are connected with each other by a wireless LAN. The wireless center unit (102) transmits to the TV main body unit (103) control data having, in a control command, a discrimination code for discriminating between devices in the wireless AV system (101). The TV main body unit (103) reads out the discrimination code included in the received control data, discriminates a device to carry out the control command included in the control data, and transmits the control data to the discriminated device. As a result, even when the number of controlled devices that a controlling device has to control increases, a throughput of the controlling device for discrimination of control data does not increase, and therefore the whole system constituted of the controlling device and the controlled devices can be smoothly operated.

Claims

1. A wireless control system comprising a controlling device and controlled devices that are wirelessly controlled by the controlling device,

wherein the controlling device wirelessly generates and transmits control data to the controlled devices, the control data including (i) a control command and (ii) a discrimination code for discriminating which of the controlled devices in the system the control command is for, and

the controlled devices receive the wirelessly transmitted control data from the controlling device, read out the discrimination code included in the control data, and discriminating which of the a controlled device in the system the control command is for, the control data being transmitted to a controlled device discriminated by the discrimination section,

wherein the control command includes one of a first command, a second command, and a third command,

the first command includes a reception quality acquisition command and a channel number acquisition command,

the second command includes a channel changing command and a name of other-station device acquisition command, and

the third command includes a reproduction command, a stop command, a fast forward command, and a rewinding command, wherein

the first command is control data transmitted to a first controlled device by the controlling device;

the second command is control data transmitted to a second controlled device by the controlling device via the first controlled device; and

the third command is control data transmitted to a third controlled device by the controlling device via the first controlled device and via the second controlled device.

2. A wireless control system comprising a controlling device and controlled devices that are wirelessly controlled by the controlling device,

wherein the controlling device includes:

a control data generating section for generating control data including (i) a control command and (ii) a discrimination code for discriminating which of the controlled devices in the system the control command is for; and

a wireless communication section for transmitting the control data transmitted from the control data generating section, to a controlled device with which the wireless communication section is in communication, and

wherein each of the controlled devices includes;

a wireless communication section for receiving the control data from the controlling device;

a discrimination section for reading out the discrimination code included in the received control data, and discriminating which of the controlled devices the control command included in the control data is for; and

a control data transmission section for transmitting the control data to a controlled device discriminated by the discrimination section,

wherein, when generated control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, the control data generating section performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the wireless communication section.

3. The wireless control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein control data generated in the control data generating section is any one of control data to be transmitted to a control section included in the controlling device, control data to be transmitted to the wireless communication section in the controlling device, control data to be transmitted to a control section included in the controlled devices, and control data to be transmitted to the wireless communication section in the controlled devices.

4. The wireless control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wireless communication section transmits control data using a spread spectrum wireless system.

5. The wireless control system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wireless communication section performs low power, close range, two-way wireless communication such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth or UWB (Ultra Wide Band).

6. The wireless control system according to claim 2, wherein, when the predetermined key code for discriminating the control data is provided in header of the control data, and data body of the control data includes same data as the predetermined key code, the controlling devices performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the controlled devices.

7. A wireless control system comprising a controlling device and controlled devices that are wirelessly controlled by the controlling device,

wherein the controlling device includes:

a control data generating section for generating control data including (i) a control command and (ii) a discrimination code for discriminating which of the controlled devices in the system the control command is for; and

a wireless communication section for transmitting the control data transmitted from the control data generating section, to a controlled device with which the wireless communication section is in communication, and

wherein each of the controlled devices includes;

a wireless communication section for receiving the control data from the controlling device;

a discrimination section for reading out the discrimination code included in the received control data, and discriminating which of the controlled devices the control command included in the control data is for; and

a control data transmission section for transmitting the control data to a controlled device discriminated by the discrimination section,

wherein the control data includes, as a control command, a command for performing a change of a data transmission rate, a change of a wireless communication channel, a change of a tuner channel, switching of an input, and acquisition of a communication state, and

wherein, when generated control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, the control data generating section performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the wireless communication section.

8. Controlled devices, included in a wireless control system comprising a controlling device and controlled devices that are wirelessly controlled by the controlling device,

said controlled devices (i) receiving control data which includes a discrimination code for discriminating between the controlled devices in the system, and (ii) discriminating a controlled device to carry out a control command included in the control data, based on the discrimination code included in the received control data,

wherein the control command includes one of a first command, a second command, and a third command,

the first command includes a reception quality acquisition command and a channel number acquisition command,

the second command includes a channel changing command and a name of other-station device acquisition command, and

the third command includes a reproduction command, a stop command, a fast forward command, and a rewinding command, wherein

the first command is control data transmitted to a first controlled device by the controlling device;

the second command is control data transmitted to a second controlled device by the controlling device via the first controlled device; and

the third command is control data transmitted to a third controlled device by the controlling device via the first controlled device and via the second controlled device.

9. The wireless control system according to claim 8, wherein, when a predetermined key code for discriminating the control data is provided in header of the control data, and data body of the control data includes same data as the predetermined key code, the controlling devices performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the controlled devices.

10. Controlled devices, included in a wireless control system comprising a controlling device and controlled devices that are wirelessly controlled by the controlling device,

said controlled devices including:

a wireless communication section for receiving from the controlling device control data including a discrimination code for discriminating between the controlled devices in the system;

a discrimination section for reading out the discrimination code included in the received control data and discriminating a controlled device to carry out a control command included in the control data; and

a control data transmission section for transmitting the control data to the controlled device discriminated by the discrimination section,

wherein the control data includes, as a control command, a command for performing a change of a data transmission rate, a change of a wireless communication channel, a change of a tuner channel, switching of an input, and acquisition of a communication state, and

wherein, when the control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, the control data generating section performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the wireless communication section.

11. A controlling device, included in a wireless control system comprising a controlling device and controlled devices that are wirelessly controlled by the controlling device,

said controlling device wirelessly transmitting control data to the controlled devices, the control data having, in a control command for controlling the controlled devices, a discrimination code for discriminating between a controlled device to which the control command is to be transmitted and other one or more controlled devices in the system,

wherein the control data includes, as a control command, a command for performing a change of a data transmission rate, a change of a wireless communication channel, a change of a tuner channel, switching of an input, and acquisition of a communication state, and

wherein, when the control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, the control data generating section performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the wireless communication section.

12. A controlling device, included in a wireless control system comprising a controlling device and controlled devices that are wirelessly controlled by the controlling device,

said controlling device including:

a control data generating section for generating control data having, in a control command for controlling the controlled devices, a discrimination code for discriminating between a controlled device to which the control command is to be transmitted and other one or more controlled devices in the system; and

a wireless communication section for transmitting the control data transmitted from the control data generating section, to a controlled device with which the wireless communication section is in communication,

wherein, when generated control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, the control data generating section performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the wireless communication section.

13. The wireless control system according to claim 12, wherein, when the predetermined key code for discriminating the control data is provided in header of the control data, and data body of the control data includes same data as the predetermined key code, the controlling devices performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the controlled devices.

14. A method of controlling devices, in which a controlling device wirelessly controls controlled devices,

wherein the controlling device wirelessly transmits control data to the controlled devices, the control data having, in a control command for controlling the controlled devices, a discrimination code for discriminating between a controlled device to which the control command is to be transmitted and other one or more controlled devices in the system, and

the controlled devices receive the control data wirelessly transmitted from the controlling device, and, based on the discrimination code included in the received control data, discriminate a controlled device to carry out the control command included in the control data, and transmit the control data to the discriminated controlled device,

wherein the control data includes, as a control command, a command for performing a change of a data transmission rate, a change of a wireless communication channel, a change of a tuner channel, switching of an input, and acquisition of a communication state, and

wherein, when the control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, the control data generating section performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the wireless communication section.

15. The method of controlling devices according to claim 14, wherein, when the predetermined key code for discriminating the control data is provided in header of the control data, and data body of the control data includes same data as the predetermined key code, the controlling devices performs a predetermined conversion of the same data, and transmits the converted control data to the controlled devices.

16. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, said instructions are read and executed by a processor for causing the processor to perform a method of discriminating between controlled devices, comprising:

receiving control data which includes a discrimination code for discriminating between controlled devices in a system, and (ii) discriminating a controlled device to carry out a control command included in the control data, based on the discrimination code included in the received control data,

wherein the control command includes one of a first command, a second command, and a third command,

the first command includes a reception quality acquisition command and a channel number acquisition command,

the second command includes a channel changing command and a name of other-station device acquisition command, and

the third command includes a reproduction command, a stop command, a fast forward command, and a rewinding command, wherein

the first command is control data transmitted to a first controlled device by the controlling device;

the second command is control data transmitted to a second controlled device by the controlling device via the first controlled device; and

the third command is control data transmitted to a third controlled device by the controlling device via the first controlled device and via the second controlled device.

17. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, said instructions are read and executed by a processor for causing the processor to perform a method of discriminating between controlled devices, comprising:

receiving control data including a discrimination code for discriminating between controlled devices in a system;

reading out the discrimination code included in the received control data and discriminating a controlled device to carry out a control command included in the control data; and

transmitting the control data to the controlled device discriminated,

wherein the control data includes, as a control command, a command for performing a change of a data transmission rate, a change of a wireless communication channel, a change of a tuner channel, switching of an input, and acquisition of a communication state, and

wherein, when the control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, a predetermined conversion of the same data is preformed, and the converted control data is transmitted.

18. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, said instructions are read and executed by a processor for causing the processor to perform a method of discriminating between controlled devices, comprising:

transmitting control data to controlled devices, the control data having, in a control command for controlling a controlled devices, a discrimination code for discriminating between the controlled device to which the control command is to be transmitted and other one or more controlled devices in a system,

wherein the control data includes, as a control command, a command for performing a change of a data transmission rate, a change of a wireless communication channel, a change of a tuner channel, switching of an input, and acquisition of a communication state, and

wherein, when the control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, a predetermined conversion of the same data is preformed, and the converted control data is transmitted.

19. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, said instructions are read and executed by a processor for causing the processor to perform a method of discriminating between controlled devices, comprising:

generating control data having, in a control command for controlling controlled devices, a discrimination code for discriminating between a controlled device to which the control command is to be transmitted and other one or more controlled devices in a system; and

transmitting the control data to a controlled device,

wherein, when generated control data includes same data as a predetermined key code, performing a predetermined conversion of the same data and transmitting the converted control data.