Wireless control system

• US 8,284,094 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamai, Shinji, Kojima, Yasushi, Yoshida, Junji
• Primary Examiner(s): Mottola, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US12/864,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20100315279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/825.69, 341/176, 348/734
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

To easily ensure that appropriate recognition information is used. A remote control system (1) includes a DVR (13) and a remote control (11) that controls the DVR (13) via a wireless communication path. The remote control (11) which is one apparatus out of the DVR (13) and the remote control (11) obtains, by a wireless reception unit (114), recognition information used by the apparatus to uniquely recognize the other apparatus, via another communication path (a communication path through a TV (12)) different from the wireless communication path connecting the apparatus and the other apparatus. When a connected apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path is identified by the obtained recognition information, the remote control (11) sets, by a control circuit (115), the connected apparatus as the DVR (13) which is the other apparatus to enable communication with the connected apparatus.

Claims

1. A wireless control system comprising:

a controlled apparatus; and

a wireless controlling apparatus that controls said controlled apparatus via a wireless communication path,

wherein one of said controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus obtains recognition information for uniquely recognizing an other one of said controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus, via a communication path different from the wireless communication path connecting said apparatus and said other apparatus,

when a connected apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path is identified by the obtained recognition information, said apparatus sets the connected apparatus as said other apparatus to enable communication with the connected apparatus, and

said wireless control system further comprises;

a first controlled apparatus; and

a second controlled apparatus,

wherein said first controlled apparatus has first recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from said first controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize said first controlled apparatus,

said second controlled apparatus has second recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from said second controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize said second controlled apparatus,

said second controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said first controlled apparatus when said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, in a case where said wireless controlling apparatus is able to communicate with said first controlled apparatus according to the first recognition information,

said first controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said wireless controlling apparatus,

said wireless controlling apparatus enables communication with said second controlled apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path, according to the second recognition information outputted from said first controlled apparatus, and

the different communication path is composed of two communication paths that are a communication path between said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus and the wireless communication path between said first controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus.

2. The wireless control system according to claim 1,

wherein, when said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, said second controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said first controlled apparatus, and said first controlled apparatus stores the second recognition information, and

when said wireless controlling apparatus and said first controlled apparatus communicate the first recognition information via the wireless communication path, said first controlled apparatus outputs the first recognition information and the second recognition information to said wireless controlling apparatus.

3. The wireless control system according to claim 2,

wherein the recognition information is information that includes at least addresses and encryption keys of a plurality of said controlled apparatuses.

4. The wireless control system according to claim 3,

wherein said first controlled apparatus includes a display unit,

said first controlled apparatus selectively displays first visual information and second visual information, the first visual information including at least a moving image and a still image generated in said first controlled apparatus, and the second visual information including at least a moving image and a still image generated in said second controlled apparatus, and

when the first visual information is displayed on said display unit, said wireless controlling apparatus communicates with said first controlled apparatus and does not communicate with a controlled apparatus different from said first controlled apparatus.

5. The wireless control system according to claim 4,

wherein, when communicating with said wireless controlling apparatus while the second visual information is displayed, said first controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said wireless controlling apparatus.

6. The wireless control system according to claim 5,

wherein said first controlled apparatus determines visual information displayed on said display unit and, when determining that the visual information displayed on said display unit is the second visual information, rejects communication information outputted from said wireless controlling apparatus.

8. The wireless control system according to claim 1,

wherein said first controlled apparatus identifies said wireless controlling apparatus,

said wireless controlling apparatus includes:

a first transmission unit configured to transmit recognition information indicating said wireless controlling apparatus via a first communication medium transmittable only within a range of sight, upon detecting that an operation of a button provided on said wireless controlling apparatus is performed; and

a second transmission unit configured to transmit the recognition information and operation information for operating said first controlled apparatus, via a second communication medium,

said first controlled apparatus includes;

a first obtainment unit configured to obtain the recognition information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus via the first communication medium;

a second obtainment unit configured to obtain the recognition information transmitted from said wireless controlling apparatus via the second communication medium; and

a recognition information determination unit configured to determine whether or not the recognition information obtained by said first obtainment unit and the recognition information obtained by said second obtainment unit match, thereby identifying a transmitter,

said wireless controlling apparatus recognizes said first controlled apparatus, when said recognition information determination unit in said first controlled apparatus identifies said wireless controlling apparatus, and

said second controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said first controlled apparatus when said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, in a case where said wireless controlling apparatus recognizes said first controlled apparatus as a result of said recognition information determination unit in said first controlled apparatus identifying said wireless controlling apparatus.

7. A pairing method of a wireless control system including a plurality of controlled apparatuses and a wireless controlling apparatus that controls the plurality of controlled apparatuses via a wireless communication path,

wherein a first controlled apparatus of the plurality of controlled apparatuses has first recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from the first controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize the first controlled apparatus, and

a second controlled apparatus of the plurality of controlled apparatuses that is different from the first controlled apparatus has second recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from the second controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize the second controlled apparatus,

said pairing method comprising:

obtaining, by the first controlled apparatus, the second recognition information from the second controlled apparatus when the first controlled apparatus and the wireless controlling apparatus are connected to each other according to the first recognition information, in a case where a wired connection of the second controlled apparatus is detected;

outputting, by the first controlled apparatus, the second recognition information to the wireless controlling apparatus; and

enabling, by the wireless controlling apparatus, communication with the second controlled apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path, according to the second recognition information outputted from the first controlled apparatus.

9. A wireless control system comprising:

a controlled apparatus; and

a wireless controlling apparatus that controls said controlled apparatus via a wireless communication path,

wherein one of said controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus obtains recognition information for uniquely recognizing an other one of said controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus, via a communication path different from the wireless communication path connecting said apparatus and said other apparatus,

when said other apparatus which can be identified by the obtained recognition information is present in a plurality of connected apparatuses recognized via the wireless communication path, said apparatus is set to communicate with said other apparatus according to the recognition information, and

said controlled apparatus comprises;

a first controlled apparatus; and

a second controlled apparatus,

wherein said first controlled apparatus has first recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from said first controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize said first controlled apparatus,

said second controlled apparatus has second recognition information which is recognition information used by a communication apparatus different from said second controlled apparatus to uniquely recognize said second controlled apparatus,

one of said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus controls such that said first controlled apparatus holds the second recognition information when said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus are connected to each other, in a case where said wireless controlling apparatus is able to communicate with said first controlled apparatus according to the first recognition information,

said first controlled apparatus outputs the second recognition information to said wireless controlling apparatus,

said wireless controlling apparatus enables communication with said second controlled apparatus recognized via the wireless communication path, according to the second recognition information outputted from said first controlled apparatus, and

the different communication path includes a communication path between said first controlled apparatus and said second controlled apparatus and a communication path between said first controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus.

10. A wireless control system according to claim 9,

wherein, in the different communication path, a communication path between said first controlled apparatus and said wireless controlling apparatus is a wireless communication path.