Remote controlling apparatus and remote controlling method

• US 8,085,127 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakano, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US11/924,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 341/176, 370/338, 455/41.2, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity

Abstract

A remote controlling apparatus for a remote controlling system of wireless communication type is disclosed. The remote controlling apparatus includes a broadcasting section, a receiving section, a detecting section, and a setting section. The broadcasting section broadcasts a predetermined signal in a lower transmission output state than in a regular communication state. The receiving section receives acknowledge and reception state electric field intensity information from at least one device under remote control. The detecting section detects a device under remote control having highest reception state electric field intensity as a nearest device. The setting section sets the nearest device as an object device under remote control.

Claims

1. A remote controlling apparatus for a remote controlling system of wireless communication type, comprising:

means for broadcasting a predetermined signal in a lower transmission output state than in a regular communication state;

means for receiving acknowledge and reception state electric field intensity information from at least one device under remote control;

means for detecting a nearest device under remote control based on a highest reception state electric field intensity information received from the at least one device under remote control; and

means for setting the nearest device as an object device under remote control.

2. The remote controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for displaying the reception state electric field intensity information and identification information of the nearest device under remote control.

8. The remote controlling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

means for assigning a unique ID to a device under remote control from which an acknowledge is received which does not include a unique identifier; and

means for storing the reception state electric field intensity information from the at least one device under remote control.

3. A remote controlling apparatus for a remote controlling system of wireless communication type, comprising:

means for broadcasting a predetermined signal in a lower transmission output state than in a regular communication state;

means for receiving acknowledge from at least one device under remote control;

means for transmitting a predetermined command to each of the devices under remote control from which the remote controlling apparatus received an acknowledge, the predetermined command directing each of the devices under remote control to enter a command acceptable state for a predetermined period of time and provide a user-indication that each of the devices under remote control has entered the command acceptable state; and

means for transmitting a command to a desired one of the devices under remote control for the predetermined period of time.

4. A remote controlling method for a remote controlling system of wireless communication type, comprising:

broadcasting a predetermined signal in a lower transmission output state than in a regular communication state;

receiving acknowledge and reception state electric field intensity information from at least one device under remote control;

detecting a nearest device under remote control based on a highest reception state electric field intensity information received from the at least one device under remote control; and

setting the nearest device as an object device under remote control.

5. A remote controlling method for a remote controlling system of wireless communication type, comprising:

broadcasting a predetermined signal in a lower transmission output state than in a regular communication state;

receiving acknowledge from at least one device under remote control;

transmitting a predetermined command to each of the devices under remote control from which the remote controlling apparatus received an acknowledge, the predetermined command directing each of the devices under remote control to enter a command acceptable state for a predetermined period of time and provide a user-indication that each of the devices under remote control has entered the command acceptable state; and

transmitting a command to a desired one of the devices under remote control for the predetermined period of time.

6. A remote controlling apparatus for a remote controlling system of wireless communication type, comprising:

a broadcasting section which broadcasts a predetermined signal in a lower transmission output state than in a regular communication state;

a receiving section which receives acknowledge and reception state electric field intensity information from at least one device under remote control;

a detecting section which detects a nearest device under remote control based on a highest reception state electric field intensity information received from the at least one device under remote control; and

a setting section which sets the nearest device as an object device under remote control.

7. A remote controlling apparatus for a remote controlling system of wireless communication type, comprising:

a broadcasting section which broadcasts a predetermined signal in a lower transmission output state than in a regular communication state;

a receiving section which receives acknowledge from at least one device under remote control;

a first command transmitting section which transmits a predetermined command to each of the devices under remote control from which the remote controlling apparatus received an acknowledge, the predetermined command directing each of the devices under remote control to enter a command acceptable state for a predetermined period of time and provide a user-indication that each of the devices under remote control has entered the command acceptable state; and

a second command transmitting section which transmits a command to a desired one of the devices under remote control for the predetermined period of time.