Information processing system, information processing apparatus, information processing method, program and recording medium

• US 7,937,733 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Katayama, Tamao, Suto, Kazunori, Nishikata, Natsuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARRY, CHRISTOPHER L
• Application Number:
  US11/897,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/82
• US Class Current: 725/80
• 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 21/42213 for facilitating data entry
• 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 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

An information processing system may include first apparatus and second apparatus coupled to each other through communications means. The first apparatus may include a transmitting/receiving unit effecting two-way communications with the second apparatus, and a control unit that transmits data corresponding to the operating signal from the transmitting/receiving unit to the second apparatus in response to an operating signal transmitted from the second apparatus, and to perform control of the first apparatus. The second apparatus may include a transmitting/receiving unit effecting two-way communications with the first apparatus, a display displaying an image based on the data transmitted from the first apparatus, and a control unit that displays, on a screen of the display, a first operating image for operating the first apparatus and a second operating image for operating a menu screen related to the first apparatus, in response to a remote controller signal supplied from a remote controller.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus coupled to each other through communications means,

wherein the first information processing apparatus includes

a transmitting/receiving unit effecting two-way communications with the second information processing apparatus, and

a control unit that transmits data corresponding to a received operating signal from the transmitting/receiving unit to the second information processing apparatus in response to an operating signal transmitted from the second information processing apparatus, and to perform control of the first information processing apparatus;

the second information processing apparatus includes;

a transmitting/receiving unit effecting two-way communications with the first information processing apparatus,

a display apparatus displaying an image based on the data transmitted from the first information processing apparatus, and

a control unit that displays, on a screen of the display apparatus, a first operating image for operating the first information processing apparatus and a second operating image for operating a menu screen related to the first information processing apparatus, in response to a remote controller signal supplied from a remote controller; and

wherein the control unit of the second information processing apparatus transmits an operating signal corresponding to an operating item from the transmitting/receiving unit to the first information processing apparatus, if with respect to the first operating image, an enter key on the remote controller is operated after an operation of a direction key on the remote controller and selection of a predetermined operating item included in the first operating image, and

an operating signal corresponding to an operated key from the transmitting/receiving unit to the first information processing apparatus, if with respect to the second operating image, the direction key or the enter key of the remote controller corresponding to a predetermined direction-indicating direction key or an enter key included in the second operating image is operated,

wherein the first operating image includes a selectable item corresponding to a plurality of keys on the remote controller respectively included in the second operating image, each of the keys included in the second operating image being other than keys displayed on the screen of the display apparatus when the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus,

wherein the control unit of the second information processing apparatus displays by switching the first operating image displayed on the screen of the display apparatus to the second operating image when the remote controller is operated to supply a remote controller signal for displaying the plurality of keys on the remote controller corresponding to the selectable item in the first operating image while the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller has a second operating image switching button for switching the first operating image to the second operating image;

and pressing the second operating image switching button causes the first operating image displayed on the screen of the display apparatus to be switched to the second operating image.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when direction the key indicating any direction or the enter key of the second operating image is selected, the second information processing apparatus displays, on the screen of the display apparatus by highlighting a direction key indicating a selected direction or the selected enter key.

4. An information processing apparatus coupled to an arbitrary information processing apparatus by communications means, comprising:

a transmitting/receiving unit for effecting two-way communications with another information processing apparatus;

an image processing unit adapted to allow a display apparatus to display an image based on data transmitted from the other information processing apparatus; and

a control unit adapted to display, on a screen of the display apparatus by the image processing unit, a first operating image for operating the other information processing apparatus and a second operating image for operating a menu screen in relation to the other information processing apparatus displayed on the display apparatus in response to a remote controller signal supplied from a remote controller;

wherein the control unit transmits an operating signal corresponding to a selected item from the transmitting/receiving unit to the other information processing apparatus, if with respect to the first operating image, an enter key on the remote controller is operated after an operation of a direction key on the remote controller and selection of a predetermined item included in the first operating image, and transmits an operating signal corresponding to the operated key from the transmitting/receiving unit to the other information processing apparatus, if with respect to the second operating image, the direction key or the enter key of the remote controller corresponding to a predetermined direction-indicating direction key or an enter key included in the second operating image is operated,

wherein the first operating image includes a selectable item corresponding to a plurality of keys on the remote controller respectively included in the second operating image, each of the keys included in the second operating image being other than keys displayed on the screen of the display apparatus when the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus,

wherein the control unit displays by switching the first operating image displayed on the screen of the display apparatus to the second operating image when the remote controller is operated to supply a remote controller signal for displaying the plurality of keys on the remote controller corresponding to the selectable item in the first operating image while the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus.

5. An information processing method performed with an arbitrary information processing apparatus coupled through communications means, comprising:

a transmitting/receiving step of effecting two-way communications with another information processing apparatus;

an image processing step of allowing a display apparatus to display an image based on data transmitted from the other information processing apparatus; and

a control step of displaying, on a screen of the display apparatus, a first operating image for operating the other information processing apparatus and a second operating image for operating a menu screen relating to the other information processing apparatus displayed on the display apparatus in response to a remote controller signal supplied, from a remote controller;

wherein the control step is adapted to transmit an operating signal corresponding to a selected item to the other information processing apparatus, if with respect to the first operating image, an enter key on the remote controller is operated after an operation of a direction key on the remote controller and selection of a predetermined item included in the first operating image, and transmits an operating signal corresponding to the operated key to the other information processing apparatus, if with respect to the second operating image, the direction key or the enter key of the remote controller corresponding to a predetermined direction-indicating direction key or an enter key included in the second operating image is operated,

wherein the first operating image includes a selectable item corresponding to a plurality of keys on the remote controller respectively included in the second operating image, each of the keys included in the second operating image being other than keys displayed on the screen of the display apparatus when the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus,

wherein the control step is adapted to display by switching the first operating image displayed on the screen of the display apparatus to the second operating image when the remote controller is operated to supply a remote controller signal for displaying the plurality of keys on the remote controller corresponding to the selectable item in the first operating image while the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium on which a program of an information processing method performed with an arbitrary information processing apparatus coupled through communications means is recorded, the program being executable by a computer and including;

a step of displaying, on a screen of a display apparatus, a first operating image for operating another information processing apparatus and a second operating image for operating a menu screen relating to the other information processing apparatus displayed on the display apparatus in response to a remote controller signal supplied from a remote controller;

a step of transmitting an operating signal corresponding to a selected item from a transmitting/receiving unit to the other information processing apparatus, when with respect to the first operating image, an enter key included in the remote controller is operated after an operation of a direction key on the remote controller and selection of a predetermined item included in the first operating image; and

a step of transmitting an operating signal corresponding to the operated key from the transmitting/receiving unit to the other information processing apparatus, when with respect to the second operating image, the direction key or the enter key of the remote controller corresponding to a predetermined direction-indicating direction key or an enter key included in the second operating image is operated,

wherein the first operating image includes a selectable item corresponding to a plurality of keys on the remote controller respectively included in the second operating image, each of the keys included in the second operating image being other than keys displayed on the screen of the display apparatus when the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus,

wherein the step of displaying includes switching the first operating image displayed on the screen of the display apparatus to the second operating image when the remote controller is operated to supply a remote controller signal for displaying the plurality of keys on the remote controller corresponding to the selectable item in the first operating image while the first operating image is displayed on the screen of the display apparatus.