Content reproduction device, control method and network system

• US 8,909,731 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): SALAD, ABDULLAHI ELMI
• Application Number:
  US12/811,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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: 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 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27

Abstract

A content reproduction device (600) determines whether there is a change in the connection state of the content reproduction device. When a determination is made that there is a change in the connection state, the content reproduction device transmits to a portable terminal device (500) control information to control the content reproduction device or another device (600A) connected to the content reproduction device. The portable terminal device can control the content reproduction device or another device connected to the content reproduction device based on the received control information.

Claims

1. A content reproduction device configured to communicate with a portable terminal device to control an external device for presenting an ambient physical reproduction environment customized for content, based on an environment control program,

the portable terminal device capable of communication with said external device, for communicating an environment control signal corresponding to said content to said external device, said portable terminal controlling said external device based on the environment control signal,

the external device for changing an ambient physical reproduction environment in correspondence with said content,

said content reproduction device comprising:

a storage unit for storing said content in association with environment information as a recommended environment for reproducing the content, wherein the environment information is dependent upon the content and is used to establish the ambient physical reproduction environment suitable for reproducing the corresponding content,

a reproduction unit for reproducing said content, and

a transmission unit for transmitting, to said portable terminal device, said environment control program, when said reproduction unit reproduces said content, such that the reproduced content is presented in correspondence with the ambient physical reproduction environment.

2. The content reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit transmits said environment control program to said portable terminal device through near-field wireless communication.

3. The content reproduction device according to claim 1, wherein said environment information includes at least one environment item, and a predetermined value suitable for said content, associated with each of said at least one environment item.

4. The content reproduction device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one environment item includes at least one of ambient temperature, humidity, and light intensity.

5. The content reproduction device according to claim 1, comprising an information fetching unit for fetching control information to specify said ambient physical reproduction environment in a state where control of said external device is not performed by said portable terminal device,

wherein said transmission unit transmits said control information to said portable terminal device according to reproduction of said content being stopped.

6. A content reproduction method for presenting an ambient physical reproduction environment suitable for content by an external device, a portable terminal device, and a content reproduction device, said content reproduction method comprising:

said content reproduction device storing content in association with environment information, as a recommended environment for reproducing the content, wherein the environment information is dependent upon the content and is used to establish the ambient physical reproduction environment suitable for reproducing the corresponding content, said content reproduction device reproducing said content,

said content reproduction device transmitting, to said portable terminal device, an environment control program, when said content is to be reproduced,

said portable terminal device sending an instruction to said external device based on said environment control program, and

said external device changing the ambient physical reproduction environment, in correspondence with reproduction of said content by said content reproduction device, based on said instruction from said portable terminal device.

7. A content reproduction system for presenting reproduction environment suitable for content, comprising:

an external device for changing an ambient physical reproduction environment in correspondence with said content,

a portable terminal device capable of communication with said external device, for communicating an environment control signal corresponding to said content to said external device, said portable terminal controlling said external device based on the environment control signal, and

a content reproduction device, said content reproduction device including a storage unit for storing said content in association with environment information as a recommended environment for reproducing said content, wherein the environment information is dependent upon the content, and is used to establish the ambient physical reproduction environment suitable for reproducing the corresponding content, a reproduction unit for reproducing said content, and

a transmission unit for transmitting an environment control program according to said content to said portable terminal device when said reproduction unit reproduces said content such that the external device customizes the ambient physical reproduction environment based on said environment control signal from said control program being executed in said portable terminal while the content is being reproduced by said reproduction unit.