Remote control system and method thereof, remote control device and device targeted for control

• US 7,737,862 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Mitsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/436,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/5.64, 340/10.5, 340/5.61, 341/175, 341/176, 348/734
• US Class Current: 340/12.51
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams

Abstract

In a remote control system, when a user directs a host device of a portable type toward target devices for search and specification, a search signal including a unique identifier (UID) is transmitted from a directional antenna. Each of the target devices stores the UID included in the received search signal in a memory unit, and transmits a response signal including device information on itself from an antenna. The host device identifies one of the target devices based on the device information included in the response signal, runs a control program for the identified target device, and displays an operation screen on a display unit. When the user instructs the remote operation on the operation screen, the host device transmits a remote control signal including the UID from the omni-directional antenna. When the target device receives the remote control signal including the UID that matches with the UID stored in the memory unit, the target device controls a function unit according to the remote control signal.

Claims

1. A remote control system including a remote control device and one or more controlled target devices, wherein

said remote control device comprises:

an antenna unit for being switched between a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna;

a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna unit;

a user input/output unit;

a target search unit, responsive to a target search instruction input from said user input/output unit, for transmitting a search signal including a unique identifier through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said directional antenna and for identifying one of said one or more controlled target devices based on a response signal including the identifier and device information received at said wireless communication unit; and

a target control unit for transmitting a remote control signal including the identifier, for remote controlling said identified one of said one or more devices, through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna; and

wherein

each of said one or more controlled target devices comprises;

an antenna;

a wireless communication unit connected to the antenna;

a device information memory unit for storing the device information on said each of said one or more controlled target devices;

an identifier memory unit for storing the identifier assigned to said each of said one or more controlled target devices;

a search response unit for storing the identifier included in the search signal in the identifier memory unit, when the search signal transmitted from said remote control device is received by the wireless communication unit, and for transmitting the response signal including the identifier and the device information stored in the device information memory unit to said remote control device through the wireless communication unit; and

a function control unit for comparing the identifier included in the remote control signal with the identifier stored in the identifier memory unit when the remote control signal transmitted from said remote control device is received by the wireless communication unit, and for executing processing specified by the remote control signal when coincidence of the identifiers is detected.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control device further comprises:

a target separating unit for transmitting an identifier reassignment signal including a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal to each of said one or more controlled target devices except one controlled target device, to perform identifier reassignment, when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from each of the plurality of said one or more controlled target devices, displaying on said user input/output unit a list of the plurality of said one or more controlled target devices with different identifiers respectively assigned thereto, and for identifying one of the plurality of said one or more controlled target devices by an input from said user input/output unit; and

wherein

said each of said one or more controlled target devices further comprises an identifier rewriting unit for comparing the device information included in the identifier reassignment signal with the device information stored in the device information memory unit, when the identifier reassignment signal transmitted from said remote control device is received by the wireless communication unit, and for updating the identifier memory unit with the new identifier included in the identifier reassignment signal, when coincidence of the device information is detected.

3. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control device further comprises:

a target narrowing-down unit for displaying on said user input/output unit a list of a plurality of said one or more controlled target devices, each having transmitted the response signal, when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from said each of the plurality of said one or more controlled target devices, locating one of the plurality of said one or more controlled target devices, by an input from said user input/output unit, and for transmitting an identifier reassignment signal including a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal to said identified one of the plurality of said one or more controlled target devices, thereby performing identifier reassignment; and

wherein

said each of said one or more controlled target devices further comprises an identifier rewriting unit for comparing the device information included in the identifier reassignment signal with the device information stored in the device information memory unit, when the identifier reassignment signal transmitted from said remote control device is received by the wireless communication unit, and for updating the identifier memory unit with the new identifier included in the identifier reassignment signal, when coincidence of the device information is detected.

4. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said antenna unit includes:

said directional antenna;

said omni-directional antenna; and

an antenna switching unit for switching connection between said directional antenna and said wireless communication unit and connection between said omni-directional antenna and said wireless communication unit.

5. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said antenna unit includes:

an array antenna performing switching of antenna characteristics between antenna characteristics comparable to antenna characteristics of said directional antenna and antenna characteristics comparable to antenna characteristics of said onmi-directional antenna; and

a directivity switching unit for switching the antenna characteristics of said array antenna.

6. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein transmission of the remote control signal to said one or more controlled target devices from said remote control device using said omni-directional antenna is performed through a wireless relay station.

20. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein said target separating unit transmits said identifier reassignment signal through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna.

21. The remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said target narrow-down unit transmits said identifier reassignment signal through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna.

7. A method of remote controlling controlled target devices using a remote control device, said remote control device comprising:

an antenna unit for being switched between a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna;

a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna unit, and a user input/output unit,

each of said controlled target devices comprising;

an antenna, a wireless communication unit connected to the antenna, a device information memory unit for storing device information on said each of said controlled target devices, and an identifier memory unit for storing an identifier assigned to said each of said controlled target devices, said method comprising;

responsive to a target search instruction input from said user input/output unit, transmitting, by a target search unit of said remote control device, a search signal including the unique identifier through said wireless communication unit of said remote control device with said antenna unit switched to said directional antenna;

storing the identifier included in the search signal in the identifier memory unit and transmitting a response signal including the identifier and the device information stored in the device information memory unit to said remote control device through the wireless communication unit by a search response unit of each of said controlled target devices that have received the search signal;

locating one of said controlled target devices, by said target search unit of said remote control device, based on the response signal including identifier and the device information received at said wireless communication unit of said remote control device;

transmitting a remote control signal including the identifier, for remote controlling said identified one of said controlled target devices, through said wireless communication unit of said remote control device with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna, by a target control unit of said remote control device; and

comparing the identifier included in the remote control signal with the identifier stored in the identifier memory unit and executing processing specified by the remote control signal when coincidence of the identifiers is detected, by a function control unit of said identified one of said controlled target devices that has received the remote control signal.

8. A method of remote controlling controlled target devices using a remote control device, said remote control device comprising an antenna unit for being switched between a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna, a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna unit, and a user input/output unit, each of said controlled target devices comprising an antenna, a wireless communication unit connected to the antenna, a device information memory unit for storing device information on said each of said controlled target devices, and an identifier memory unit for storing an identifier assigned to said each of said controlled target devices, said method comprising:

responsive to a target search instruction input from said user input/output unit, transmitting, by a target search unit of said remote control device, a search signal including the unique identifier through said wireless communication unit of said remote control device with said antenna unit switched to said directional antenna;

storing the identifier included in the search signal in the identifier memory unit and transmitting a response signal including the identifier and the device information stored in the device information memory unit to said remote control device through the wireless communication unit, by a search response unit of each of said controlled target devices that have received the search signal;

transmitting, by a target separating unit of said remote control device, an identifier reassignment signal including a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal toward each of the plurality of said controlled target devices except one controlled target device, when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from said each of the plurality of said controlled target devices;

comparing the device information included in the identifier reassignment signal with the device information stored in the device information memory unit and updating the identifier memory unit with the new identifier included in the identifier reassignment signal, when coincidence of the device information is detected, by an identifier rewriting unit of each of the plurality of said controlled target devices that have received the identifier reassignment signals, respectively;

displaying on said user input/output unit a list of the plurality of said controlled target devices with different identifiers assigned thereto and locating one of the plurality of said controlled target devices by an input from said user input/output unit by said target separating unit of said remote control device;

transmitting a remote control signal including the identifier, for remote controlling said identified one of the plurality of said controlled target devices, through said wireless communication unit of said remote control device with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna, by a target control unit of said remote control device; and

comparing the identifier included in the remote control signal with the identifier stored in the identifier memory unit and executing processing specified by the remote control signal when coincidence of the identifiers is detected, by a function control unit of said identified one of the plurality of said controlled target devices that has received the remote control signal.

9. A method of remote controlling controlled target devices using a remote control device, said remote control device comprising an antenna unit for being switched between a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna, a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna unit, and a user input/output unit, each of said controlled target devices comprising an antenna, a wireless communication unit connected to the antenna, a device information memory unit for storing device information on said each of said controlled target devices, and an identifier memory unit for storing an identifier assigned to said each of said controlled target devices, said method comprising:

responsive to a target search instruction input from said user input/output unit, transmitting, by a target search unit of said remote control device, a search signal including a unique identifier through said wireless communication unit of said remote control device with said antenna unit switched to said directional antenna;

storing the identifier included in the search signal in the identifier memory unit and transmitting a response signal including the identifier and the device information stored in the device information memory unit to said remote control device through the wireless communication unit, by a search response unit of each of said controlled target devices that have received the search signal;

displaying on said user input/output unit a list of a plurality of said controlled target devices each having transmitted the response signal, when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from each of the plurality of the controlled target devices, locating one of the plurality of said controlled target devices by an input from said user input/output unit, and transmitting an identifier reassignment signal including a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal toward said identified one of the plurality of said devices, by a target narrowing-down unit of said remote control device;

comparing the device information included in the identifier reassignment signal with the device information stored in the device information memory unit and updating the identifier memory unit with the new identifier included in the identifier reassignment signal, when coincidence of the device information is detected, by an identifier rewriting unit of each of the plurality of said controlled target devices that have received the identifier reassignment signal;

transmitting a remote control signal including the reassigned identifier, for remote controlling said identified one of the plurality of said controlled target devices, through said wireless communication unit of said remote control device with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna, by a target control unit of said remote control device; and

comparing the identifier included in the remote control signal with the identifier stored in the identifier memory unit and executing processing specified by the remote control signal when coincidence of the identifiers is detected, by a function control unit of said identified one of the plurality of said controlled target devices that has received the remote control signal.

10. A remote control device comprising:

an antenna unit for being switched between a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna;

a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna unit;

a user input/output unit;

a target search unit responsive to a target search instruction input from said user input/output unit for transmitting a search signal including a unique identifier to controlled target devices through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said directional antenna, and for identifying one of said controlled target devices based on a response signal received at said wireless communication unit, said response signal including the identifier and device information; and

a target control unit for transmitting a remote control signal including the identifier, for remote controlling said identified one of said controlled target devices, through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna.

11. The remote control device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a target separating unit for transmitting an identifier reassignment signal including a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal to each of a plurality of said controlled target devices except one controlled target device, to perform identifier reassignment when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from each of the plurality of said controlled target devices, displaying on said user input/output unit a list of the plurality of said controlled target devices with different identifiers assigned thereto, and for identifying one of the plurality of said controlled target devices by an input from said user input/output unit.

12. The remote control device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a target narrowing-down unit for displaying on said user input/output unit a list of a plurality of said controlled target devices each having transmitted the response signal when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from each of the plurality of said controlled target devices, locating one of the plurality of said controlled target devices by an input from said user input/output unit, and for transmitting an identifier reassignment signal including a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal toward said identified one of the plurality of said controlled target devices, thereby performing identifier reassignment.

13. A controlled target device comprising:

an antenna;

a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna;

a device information memory unit for storing device information on said controlled target device;

an identifier memory unit for storing a unique identifier assigned to said controlled target device by a remote control device;

a search response unit for storing the unique identifier included in a search signal, in said identifier memory unit, when the search signal including the unique identifier transmitted from said remote control device is received at said wireless communication unit, and for transmitting a response signal including the unique identifier and the device information stored in said device information memory unit to said remote control device through said wireless communication unit; and

a function control unit for comparing the identifier included in a remote control signal from said remote control device with the unique identifier stored in said identifier memory unit when the remote control signal transmitted from said remote control device is received at said wireless communication unit, and for executing processing specified by the remote control signal, when coincidence of the identifier transmitted from said remote control device with the unique identifier stored in said identifier unit is detected.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising:

an identifier rewriting unit for comparing device information included in an identifier reassignment signal with the device information stored in said device information memory unit, when the identifier reassignment signal including a reassigned identifier and the device information transmitted from said remote control device is received at said wireless communication unit, and for updating said identifier memory unit with the reassigned identifier included in the identifier reassignment signal, when coincidence of the device information is detected.

15. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a program of computer executable instructions for causing a computer constituting a remote control device comprising an antenna unit for being switched between a directional antenna and an omni-directional antenna, a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna unit, and a user input/output units, to execute:

a target search processing, responsive to a target search instruction input from said user input/output unit, for transmitting a search signal including a unique identifier to controlled target devices through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said directional antenna, and for identifying one of said controlled target devices based on a response signal including the identifier and device information received at said wireless communication unit; and

a target control processing for transmitting a remote control signal including the identifier, for remote controlling said identified one of said devices, through said wireless communication unit with said antenna unit switched to said omni-directional antenna.

16. The computer readable medium having stored thereon a program of computer executable instructions according to claim 15, further causing said computer to execute:

a target separating processing for transmitting an identifier reassignment signal a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal to each of a plurality of said controlled target devices except one controlled target device, to perform identifier reassignment, when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from each of the plurality of said controlled target devices, displaying on said user input/output unit a list of the plurality of said controlled target devices with different identifiers respectively assigned thereto, and for identifying one of the plurality of said controlled target devices by an input from said user input/output unit.

17. The computer readable medium having stored thereon a program of computer executable instructions according to claim 15, further causing said computer to execute:

a target narrowing-down processing for displaying on said user input/output unit a list of a plurality of said controlled target devices each having transmitted the response signal when the response signal to the search signal transmitted from said target search unit is transmitted from said each of the plurality of said controlled target devices, locating one of the plurality of said controlled target devices by an input from said user input/output unit, and for transmitting an identifier reassignment signal including a newly generated identifier and the device information included in the response signal to said identified one of the plurality of said controlled target devices, thereby performing identifier reassignment.

18. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a program of computer executable instructions for causing a computer constituting a controlled target device comprising an antenna, a wireless communication unit connected to said antenna, a device information memory unit for storing device information on said controlled target device, and an identifier memory unit for storing an identifier assigned to said controlled target device, to execute:

a search response processing for storing the unique identifier included in a search signal in said identifier memory unit when the search signal including the unique identifier transmitted from a remote control device is received at said wireless communication unit, and for transmitting a response signal including the identifier and the device information stored in said device information memory unit to said remote control device through said wireless communication unit; and

a function control processing for comparing the identifier included in the remote control signal with the identifier stored in said identifier memory unit when the remote control signal transmitted from said remote control device is received at said wireless communication unit, and for executing processing specified by the remote control signal when coincidence of the identifiers is detected.

19. The computer readable medium having stored thereon a program of computer executable instructions according to claim 18, further causing said computer to execute:

an identifier rewriting processing for comparing device information included in an identifier reassignment signal with the device information stored in said device information memory unit, when the identifier reassignment signal including a reassigned identifier and the device information transmitted from said remote control device is received at said wireless communication unit, and for updating said identifier memory unit with the reassigned identifier included in the identifier reassignment signal when coincidence of the device information is detected.