Remote control system for electric device

• US 8,155,289 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Isamu
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US11/727,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20080044006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.04, 379/102.05, 379/102.07, 379/110.01
• US Class Current: 379/102.01
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

A remote control system for at least one electric device, each electric device having device identification data, has a handset comprising a handset transceiver, and a base unit having a telephone function to make a call. The base unit has a base unit transceiver that communicates with the handset wireless transceiver bidirectionally, and a primary remote-controller that communicates the electric device bidirectionally to control the electric device. The primary remote-controller has a remote-control transmitter and a remote-control receiver. The remote-control transmitter transmits control data to the electric device by using the device identification data, the control data being used for controlling the electric device. The remote-control receiver receives response data from the electric device in response to the control data.

Claims

1. A remote control system for remote-controlling at least one electric device, each electric device having device identification data, comprising:

a handset comprising a handset wireless transceiver; and

a base unit having a telephone function to make a call, the base unit comprising;

a base unit transceiver that communicates with the handset wireless transceiver bidirectionally; and

a primary remote-controller that communicates with the electric device bidirectionally to control the electric device;

the primary remote-controller comprising;

a remote-control transmitter that transmits control data to the electric device by using the device identification data, the control data being used for controlling the electric device;

a remote-control receiver that receives response data from the electric device in response to the control data;

a detecting unit that detects the electric device;

a storage that stores the device identification data associated with the electric device; and

a display panel,

wherein;

the handset transmits an instruction for controlling the electric device to the base unit,

the base unit transmits the instruction as the control data to the electric device,

the base unit receives a reaction of the electric device in response to the control data as the response data,

the base unit transmits the response data to the handset,

the base unit transmits a beacon signal,

the base unit detects an electromagnetic wave signal having a predetermined strength;

the base unit determines whether the detected electromagnetic wave signal is a response to the beacon signal;

the base unit identifies device identification data from the detected electromagnetic wave signal if the detected electromagnetic wave signal is the response to the beacon signal;

the base unit determines whether the identified device identification data is already registered in the base unit; and

the base unit registers the identified device identification data in the base unit as the electric device which is controllable by the base unit if the device identification data is not registered.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the control data comprises an instruction for instructing the electric device to effect a predetermined operation, and

the response data includes a result indicating a reaction of the electric device in response to the instruction.

3. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the instruction is for controlling power supply to the electric device.

4. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the primary remote-controller identifies the detected electric device as a destination of the control data in accordance with the device identification data and transmits the control data with the device identification data, and

the remote-control receiver receives the response data with the device identification data from the detected electric device.

5. The remote control system according to claim 4, wherein the control data includes a request that requests the electric device to report a current status thereof to the base unit as the response data, and

the base unit further comprises an output unit that outputs the response data.

6. The remote control system according to claim 5, wherein the request is for confirming power supply to the electric device.

7. The remote control system according to claim 5, wherein the storage further stores the current status associated with the device identification data.

8. The remote control system according to claim 7 wherein, the primary remote-controller further comprises:

a plurality of indicators capable of lighting different colors, each of the plurality of indicators being assigned to the electric device to indicate the current status of the corresponding electric device depending on the color of the corresponding button.

9. The remote control system according to claim 7 wherein, the primary remote-controller further comprises:

a plurality of light-indicators capable of blinking at a predetermined period, each of the plurality of light-indicators being assigned to the electric device to indicate the current status of the corresponding electric device, depending on the predetermined period.

10. The remote control system according to claim 5, wherein the storage further stores the current status associated with the device identification data,

the primary remote-controller renews the current status of the electric device stored in the storage upon receiving the response data.

11. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the primary remote-controller further comprises an input unit having an operation panel, the input unit receiving the device identification data through the operation panel.

12. The remote control system according to claim 11, wherein the operation panel has a plurality of operation buttons operationally connected to the primary remote-controller, each of the plurality of operation buttons being assigned to the detected electric device, and

the storage stores the assigned operating button associated with the device identification data.

13. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein the handset further comprises an input unit that receives the instruction,

the handset transceiver transmits the instruction to the base unit transceiver,

the remote-control transmitter transmits the instruction as the control data, and

the base unit transceiver transmits the response data to the handset transceiver.

14. The remote control system according to claim 13, wherein the base unit further comprises an output unit that outputs the received response data.

15. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the handset transceiver and the base unit transceiver use a spread spectrum method using a microwave band for communication therebetween.

16. The remote-control system according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display the electric device registered in the base unit and a current status thereof.

17. A method for remote-control of at least one electric device by using a remote-control system, each electric device having device identification data, the remote-control system comprising a handset comprising a handset wireless transceiver, and a base unit having a telephone function to make a call;

the base unit comprising a base unit transceiver that communicates with the handset wireless transceiver bidirectionally, and a primary remote-controller that communicates the electric device bidirectionally to control the electric device;

the primary remote-controller comprising a remote-control transmitter that transmits control data to the electric device by using the device identification data, a remote-control receiver that receives response data from the electric device in response to the control data, a detecting unit that detects the electric device, a storage that stores the device identification data associated with the electric device, and a display panel;

comprising

transmitting an instruction for controlling the electric device from the handset to the base unit,

transmitting the instruction as the control data from the base unit to the electric device,

receiving a reaction of the electric device in response to the control data as the response data at the base unit,

transmitting the response data from the base unit to the handset;

transmitting a beacon signal from the base unit;

detecting an electromagnetic wave signal having a predetermined strength;

determining whether the detected electromagnetic wave signal is a response to the beacon signal;

a identifying device identification data from the detected electromagnetic wave signal if the detected electromagnetic wave signal is the response to the beacon signal;

determining whether the identified device identification data is already registered in the base unit; and

registering the identified device identification data in the base unit as the electric device which is controllable by the base unit if the device identification data is not registered.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

displaying the electric device registered in the base unit and a current status thereof.