Communication system and communication device

• US 9,007,187 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsurumoto, Takashi, Satoh, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Daniell L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haile, Benyam
• Application Number:
  US13/066,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.22, 398/106, 398/107, 398/120, 348/734, 341/173, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.37
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/12 Power saving techniques of remote control or controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device

Abstract

A communication system includes: a remote controller having an input unit inputting user operations and a communication unit performing bidirectional communication, transmitting a remote control code in accordance with the user operation with respect to the input unit from the communication unit; and a host device having a communication unit performing bidirectional communication and a host function unit executing processing corresponding to the remote control code received in the communication unit, wherein the host device transmits a status response from the communication unit in response to a status inquiry transmitted from the communication unit of the remote controller, the remote controller repeatedly executes a status check communication procedure including the transmission of the status inquiry and waiting for receiving the status response after transmitting the remote control code at given time intervals during which the communication unit is in a dormant state.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a remote controller having an input unit to input user operations and a communication unit to perform bidirectional communication, to transmit a remote control code in accordance with the user operation with respect to the input unit from the communication unit; and

a host device having a communication unit to perform bidirectional communication and a host function unit to execute processing corresponding to the remote control code received in the communication unit,

the host device being configured to transmit a status response from the communication unit in response to a status inquiry transmitted from the communication unit of the remote controller,

the remote controller being configured to repeatedly execute a status check communication procedure in an automatic manner, in which the status check communication procedure includes the transmission of the status inquiry and waiting for receiving the status response after transmitting the remote control code at given time intervals during which the communication unit of the remote controller is in a dormant I state,

the remote controller being configured to execute an operation when receiving the status response not including transmission information, and

the remote controller being further configured to extend a time interval between the transmission of status inquiries according to a number of times of transmitting the status inquiries such that as the number of times increases, the time interval between the transmission of inquiries increases.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the host device is configured to execute processing corresponding to the received remote control code and transmit the status response including transmission information with respect to the remote controller, and

the remote controller is configured to repeatedly execute the status check communication procedure until receiving the status response including transmission information.

3. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the host device is configured to execute processing corresponding to the received remote control code and transmit the status response including information indicating whether there is transmission information with respect to the remote controller or not, and

the remote controller is configured to repeatedly execute the status check communication procedure until receiving transmission information indicated by the status response.

4. The communication system according to claim 2,

wherein the remote controller includes one or more function units, the host device is configured to transmit transmission information instructing activation of at least one function unit in the one or more function units, and the remote controller is configured to activate the function unit designated by the received transmission information.

5. A communication device comprising:

an input unit to input user operations;

a communication unit to perform bidirectional communication; and

a control unit to control operations of the device,

an operation target device having a communication unit to perform bidirectional communication and a target function unit to execute processing corresponding to the remote control code received in the communication unit,

the target device being configured to transmit a status response from the communication unit in response to a status inquiry transmitted from the communication unit of the remote controller,

the control unit is configured to allow the communication unit to transmit a remote control code with respect to the operation target device in accordance with the user operation to the input unit and repeatedly execute a status check communication procedure in an automatic manner, in which the status check communication procedure includes transmission of a status inquiry and waiting for receiving a status response from the operation target device after transmitting the remote control code at given time intervals during which the communication unit is in a dormant state,

the control unit is configured to execute an operation when receiving the status response not including transmission information, and

the control unit being further configured to extend a time interval between the transmission of status inquiries according to a number of times of transmitting the status inquiries such that as the number of times increases, the time interval between the transmission of inquiries increases.

6. The communication device according to claim 5,

wherein the control unit is configured to repeatedly execute the status check communication procedure until receiving the status response including transmission information from the operation target device.

7. The communication device according to claim 5,

wherein the control unit is configured to repeatedly execute the status check communication procedure until receiving transmission information when receiving the status response including information indicating whether there is transmission information or not from the operation target device.

8. The communication device according to claim 6,

further comprising;

one or more function units,

wherein the control unit is configured to activate the function unit designated by transmission information received from the operation target device.