Electronic device controlling system and control signal transmitting device

• US 8,368,527 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kano, Hidekazu, Ohta, Akinori, Matsuura, Iwao, Miyashita, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, James
• Application Number:
  US11/813,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20090309751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,526 Days
• Field of Search: 340 51- 52, 340/500, 340 564- 565, 340531-532
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

An electronic device is provided which executes a function useful in that place without a user in possession of the electronic device being intentional, and which does not receive a signal without providing a special setting if the function is not useful even if the place and the device are the same. There are an electronic device A and an electronic device each having a human body communication function. In a case where a user is holding the electronic device A, the electronic device B outputs a control signal for causing the electronic device A to execute a function aimed to eliminate a danger or an annoyance to the surroundings occurring because of holding it, whereas, due to the fact that the user has the electronic device, the electronic device A receives the control signal irrespective of the user'"'"'s intention and executes a function based on the control signal.

Claims

1. An electronic device controlling system comprising:

a first electronic device including;

a first data communication unit for effecting the reception of a control signal, the control signal including subject device information identifying at least one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a mobile game device as a subject device, the control signal further including a command for the subject device;

a first electrode for receiving the control signal for the first data communication unit from outside of the first electronic device;

an operating unit;

a first control unit that determines whether the first electronic device is the subject device or not from the subject device information included in the control signal, and, if the first electronic device is the subject device, executes the command included in the control signal;

a system register storing information;

a recording unit configured to save the information of said system register upon the first control unit determining that the first electronic device is the subject device;

a timer configured to start counting to a predetermined value upon the first control unit determining that the first electronic device is the subject device;

wherein in a case where an ensuing control signal is not received by the first electrode until said timer has counted to the predetermined value, a value of said system register is reset to a stored value; and

wherein in a case where the ensuing control signal is received by the first electrode during the counting by the timer but before said timer has counted to the predetermined value, the timer is reset upon reception of the ensuing control signal by the first electrode and before said timer has counted to the predetermined value, and the counting is resumed upon resetting said timer; and

a second electronic device including;

a second control unit;

a second data communication unit for effecting the transmission of the control signal, which includes the subject device information and the command for the subject device, and said ensuing control signal on the basis of control by the second control unit; and

an electrode for human body communication for sending the control signal, which includes the subject device information and the command for the subject device, and the ensuing control signal from the second data communication unit to the outside of the first electronic device,

wherein when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other, the first electronic device receives the control signal, which includes the subject device information and the command for the subject device, from the second electronic device via the electrode for human body communication.

2. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic device further has a display unit;

and

wherein the first control unit does not output data to the display unit and disenables operation of the operating unit on the basis of the subject device information and the command in the control signal when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other.

3. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic device further has a display unit;

and

wherein the first control unit displays a warning message on the display unit on the basis of the subject device information and the command in the control signal when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other.

4. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic device has at least one of an actuator, a light emitting element, and a speaker, and the first control unit issues an alarm by at least one of the actuator, the light emitting element, and the speaker on the basis of the subject device information and the command in the control signal when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other.

5. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the second electronic device further has a speed detecting unit and is installed in moving body having a motor;

and

wherein the second control unit sends the control signal when it is detected by the speed detecting unit that the moving body is moving.

6. The electronic device controlling system according to 5, wherein the electrode for human body communication is installed in at least anyone of a seat portion of a driver'"'"'s seat of the moving body, a backrest portion of the driver'"'"'s seat, a safety belt of the driver'"'"'s seat, a brake pedal, a steering wheel, and a gear.

7. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is a mobile phone, and wherein when the subject device information in the control signal identifies the mobile phone and the command in the control signal is a voice mail mode command, the first control unit automatically places the mobile phone into a voice mail mode.

8. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode for human body communication is installed in a walkway at a top of a descending stairway, and wherein the first control unit outputs a warning on the basis of the subject device information and the command in the control signal when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other during human body communication through a pedestrian.

9. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode for human body communication is installed in a walkway approaching a crossing, and wherein the first control unit outputs a warning on the basis of the subject device information and the command in the control signal when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other during human body communication through a pedestrian.

10. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode for human body communication is installed in a walkway approaching a construction site, and wherein the first control unit outputs a warning on the basis of the subject device information and the command in the control signal when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other during human body communication through a pedestrian.

11. The electronic device controlling system according to claim 1, wherein the electrode for human body communication is installed in a walkway approaching a utility pole, and wherein the first control unit outputs a warning on the basis of the subject device information and the command in the control signal when the first electrode and the electrode for human body communication are electromagnetically coupled to each other during human body communication through a pedestrian.