Information processing apparatus and information processing method

• US 8,736,772 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takizawa, Shuichi, Yamasaki, Takayoshi, Hasegawa, Naoki, Nagai, Norihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDERS, JUSTIN B
• Application Number:
  US13/105,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes an information processing apparatus main body and a remote controller capable of controlling the information processing apparatus main body. The information processing apparatus main body includes a connection unit capable of being connected with an electronic apparatus, a first storage unit to store model identification information, and a control unit to perform control so that display information of a model selection screen for causing a user to select a model of the electronic apparatus with the remote controller is supplied to the electronic apparatus, the model is determined, and model identification information corresponding to the model is transmitted to the remote controller. The remote controller includes a plurality of keys, a transmission unit, a second storage unit to store a list of control codes assigned to the plurality of keys, and an assignment unit to assign the control codes to the plurality of keys.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an information processing apparatus main body; and

a remote controller configured to be capable of controlling the information processing apparatus main body by communicating with the information processing apparatus main body, wherein

the information processing apparatus main body is configured to include

a connection unit capable of being connected with an electronic apparatus having a screen through a transmission line of a signal,

a first storage unit to store in advance a plurality of pieces of model identification information for identifying models of the electronic apparatus capable of being connected with the connection unit, and

a control unit to perform control so that display information of a model selection screen for causing a user to select a model of the electronic apparatus by using the remote controller is supplied to the electronic apparatus which is connected to the connection unit, the model selected by the user is determined based on a transmission signal from the remote controller, and model identification information corresponding to the model determined is transmitted to the remote controller, and

the remote controller is configured to include

a plurality of keys,

a transmission unit capable of transmitting a radio signal for controlling the electronic apparatus in accordance with an operation of the plurality of keys,

a second storage unit to store a list of control codes assigned to the plurality of keys, respectively, for each model indicated by the plurality of pieces of model identification information stored in the first storage unit of the information processing apparatus main body, and

an assignment unit to receive the model identification information transmitted from the information processing apparatus main body, read the list of the control codes corresponding to the model indicated by the received model identification information from the second storage unit, and assign the control codes to the plurality of keys, respectively,

wherein the remote controller receives the model identification information transmitted from the information processing apparatus while the remote controller is in a reception mode, and automatically terminates the reception mode upon reception of the model identification information and notifies the information processing apparatus of the termination of the reception mode.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the display information of the model selection screen includes information about an operation method for causing the user to select the model of the electronic apparatus by using the remote controller.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the remote controller is configured to further include a completion notification unit to notify the information processing apparatus main body of a completion of the assignment of the control codes to the plurality of keys, and

the control unit of the information processing apparatus main body supplies, upon reception of the notification, display information of an assignment check screen for urging the user to use a test method of assigning the control codes to the plurality of keys to the electronic apparatus connected to the connection unit.

4. An information processing method used by an information processing apparatus including

an information processing apparatus main body including a connection unit capable of being connected with an electronic apparatus having a screen through a transmission line of a signal, and a first storage unit to store in advance a plurality of pieces of model identification information for identifying models of the electronic apparatus capable of being connected with the connection unit, and

a remote controller capable of controlling the information processing apparatus main body by communicating with the information processing apparatus main body, the remote controller including a plurality of keys, a transmission unit capable of transmitting a radio signal for controlling the electronic apparatus in accordance with an operation of the plurality of keys, and a second storage unit to store a list of control codes assigned to the plurality of keys, respectively, for each model indicated by the plurality of pieces of model identification information stored in the first storage unit of the information processing apparatus main body, the information processing method comprising:

supplying, by the information processing apparatus main body, display information of a model selection screen for causing a user to select a model of the electronic apparatus by using the remote controller to the electronic apparatus which is connected to the connection unit;

determining, by the information processing apparatus main body, the model selected by the user based on a transmission signal from the remote controller;

transmitting, by the information processing apparatus main body, model identification information corresponding to the model determined to the remote controller; and

receiving, by the remote controller, the model identification information transmitted from the information processing apparatus main body, reading the list of the control codes corresponding to the model indicated by the received model identification information from the second storage unit, and assigning the control codes to the plurality of keys, respectively,

wherein the remote controller receives the model identification information transmitted from the information processing apparatus while the remote controller is in a reception mode, and automatically terminates the reception mode upon reception of the model identification information and notifies the information processing apparatus of the termination of the reception mode.

5. The information processing method according to claim 4, wherein

the display information of the model selection screen includes information about an operation method for causing the user to select the model of the electronic apparatus by using the remote controller.

6. The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising:

notifying the information processing apparatus main body of a completion of the assignment of the control codes to the plurality of keys by the remote controller; and

supplying, upon reception of the notification, display information of an assignment check screen for urging the user to use a test method of assigning the control codes to the plurality of keys to the electronic apparatus connected to the connection unit by the information processing apparatus main body.