Remote control system

• US 9,446,325 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kudo, Gen, Kurosaki, Toshiyuki, Tanabe, Hideki, Shibuya, Kiyoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): LITTLEJOHN JR, MANCIL H
• Application Number:
  US13/380,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,324 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/3.21, 340/4.11, 340/4.3, 340/4.31, 340/4.42, 340/4.61, 340/4.62, 340/5.1, 340 1222- 123, 340/12.5, 398115-126
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

Provided is a communication processing module, which is compatible with various kinds of devices to be operated by an operation input device. The communication processing module for the device to be operated receives any one of a standard operation signal specifying a standard action and a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated, which are transmitted by the operation input device. When the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, the communication processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal, and when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal, transfers data contained in the signal to a unique processing module. The unique processing module causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the data transferred from the communication processing module.

Claims

1. A remote control system, comprising:

an operation input device; and

a device of a certain type to be operated, which performs an action in accordance with an operation signal transmitted from the operation input device by wireless communication,

wherein the operation input device transmits to the device to be operated, as the operation signal, both;

a standard operation signal specifying a standard action that is common to said type of device, and

a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated;

wherein the device to be operated comprises;

a first processing circuitry operating to receive the operation signal transmitted from the operation input device; and

a second processing circuitry operating to control the device to be operated to execute the action unique to the device to be operated,

wherein the first processing circuitry causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, and transfers data contained in the operation signal to the second processing circuitry when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal,

wherein the second processing circuitry causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the data transferred from the first processing circuitry,

wherein the device to be operated is a moving object which moves in accordance with the operation signal,

wherein the device to be operated further comprises a drive portion which is driven in accordance with a drive signal, wherein the drive signal is output from the first processing circuitry or the second processing circuitry,

wherein the first processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, and

wherein the second processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the data transferred from the first processing circuitry.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the first processing circuitry refers to a predetermined portion contained in the operation signal, to thereby determine whether the operation signal is the standard operation signal or the specific operation signal.

3. The remote control system, comprising of claim 1, wherein:

the first processing circuitry comprises rewritable control information for disconnection, wherein said first processing circuitry outputs, when the wireless communication is disconnected, a drive signal for causing the drive portion to execute a predetermined action in accordance with said control information, so as to shift the moving object to a predetermined state,

wherein said first processing circuitry receives alternate control information for disconnection in accordance with instructions inputted by the user and rewrites said control information for disconnection with the alternate control information for disconnection received by the moving object, whereby in the event of disconnection, said moving object shifts to a state desired by the user in accordance with said alternate control information.

4. The remote control system according to claim 3,

wherein the operation input device generates control information for disconnection which defines a content of the drive signal for causing the drive portion to execute the predetermined action, and transmits the control information for disconnection to the moving object;

and

wherein the first processing circuitry holds a content of the transmitted control information for disconnection, and, when the wireless communication is disconnected, outputs the drive signal defined by the held control information for disconnection.

5. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the operation input device establishes a communication connection with said moving object by wirelessly accessing common communication setting information stored in a memory of said moving object, wherein said common communication setting information is used to identify the moving object and establish an initial communication connection.

6. The remote control system according to claim 5, wherein said operation input device instructs said moving object to overwrite and update said common communication setting information with specific communication setting information that defines and identifies the specific connection between said operation input device and said moving object after establishing said initial communication connection.

7. The remote control system according to claim 6, wherein after said moving object has been updated with said specific communication setting information, the moving object transmits a response to the operation input device indicating that the update has been completed normally, and said operation input device stores the specific setting information in a permanent storage portion of said operation input device.

8. The remote control system according to claim 7, wherein after said specific setting information is stored in said operation input device the operation input device disconnects the communication connection which was established based on the common setting information and re-establishes a communication connection based on the specific setting information.

9. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the moving object outputs a drive signal for causing the moving object to shift to a predetermined state when the first processing circuitry does not receive an operation signal from the operation input device for a predetermined period of time, thus indicating a disconnection.

10. The remote control system according to claim 9, wherein said drive signal causes a driver portion of said moving object to execute a predetermined action that shifts said moving object into the predetermined state, wherein a content of said drive signal is defined in control information for disconnection stored in the communication first processing circuitry.

11. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein said driver portion comprises one or more motors.

12. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined state is floating on a surface of water.

13. The remote control system according to claim 10, wherein the operation input device is used to generate control information for disconnection, in accordance with user instruction input, wherein said control information is transmitted to the first processing circuitry of the moving object when a communication connection is established, and said control information replaces the control information for disconnection stored in the first processing circuitry.

14. The remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said first processing circuitry is configured to initialize the rewritten control information for disconnection to a default control information for disconnection.

15. The remote control system according to claim 14, wherein said moving object comprises a reset switch, wherein depressing the reset switch causes the first processing circuit to initialize the rewritten control information for disconnection to said default control information for disconnection.

16. The remote control system according to claim 3, wherein said operation input device is configured to generate alternate control information for disconnection in accordance with instructions inputted by the user, and transmit said alternate control information to the moving object when a communication connection with the moving object is established.

17. The remote control system according to claim 3, wherein the alternate control information is an instruction to stop the drive portion.

18. The remote control system according to claim 3, wherein moving object is a toy helicopter.

19. A device of a certain type to be operated, which performs an action in accordance with an operation signal transmitted from an operation input device by wireless communication, the device to be operated comprising:

a first processing circuitry operating to receive, as the operation signal, both a standard operation signal specifying a standard action that is common to said type of device, and a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated, from the operation input device; and

a second processing circuitry operating to control the device to be operated to execute the action unique to the device to be operated,

wherein the first processing circuitry causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, and transfers data contained in the operation signal to the second processing circuitry when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal, and

wherein the second processing circuitry causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the data transferred from the first processing circuitry

wherein the device to be operated is a moving object which moves in accordance with the operation signal,

wherein the device to be operated further comprises a drive portion which is driven in accordance with a drive signal, wherein the drive signal is output from the first processing circuitry or the second processing circuitry,

wherein the first processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, and

wherein the second processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the data transferred from the first processing circuitry.

20. A first processing circuitry to be installed in a device of a certain type to be operated which performs an action in accordance with an operation signal transmitted from an operation input device by wireless communication, the first processing circuitry comprising:

circuitry operating to receive, as the operation signal, both a standard operation signal specifying a standard action that is common to said type of device, and a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated, from the operation input device;

circuitry operating to generate, when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, an action signal for causing the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal, and outputting the action signal; and

circuitry operating to transfer, when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal, data contained in the operation signal to a further processing circuitry which is included in the device to be operated and performs action control unique to the device to be operated,

wherein the device to be operated is a moving object which moves in accordance with the operation signal,

wherein the device to be operated further comprises a drive portion which is driven in accordance with a drive signal, wherein the drive signal is output from the first processing circuitry or the further processing circuitry,

wherein the circuitry operating to receive outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, and

wherein the further processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the data transferred from the circuitry operating to receive.

21. A method of controlling a device of a certain type to be operated, which comprises a first processing circuitry and a second processing circuitry, and performs an action in accordance with an operation signal transmitted from an operation input device by wireless communication, the method of controlling a device to be operated comprising:

receiving, as the operation signal, both a standard operation signal specifying a standard action that is common to said type of device, and a specific operation signal specifying an action unique to the device to be operated, from the operation input device;

causing, by the first processing circuitry, the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal;

transferring, by the first processing circuitry, data contained in the operation signal to the second processing circuitry when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal; and

causing, by the second processing circuitry, the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the transferred data,

wherein the device to be operated is a moving object which moves in accordance with the operation signal,

wherein the device to be operated further comprises a drive portion which is driven in accordance with a drive signal, wherein the drive signal is output from the first processing circuitry or the second processing circuitry,

wherein the first processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, and

wherein the second processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the data transferred from the first processing circuitry.

22. A remote control system, comprising:

an operation input device; and

a device of a certain type to be operated, which performs an action in accordance with an operation signal transmitted from the operation input device through wireless communication, wherein the operation input device comprises;

circuitry operating to establish a wireless communication connection to the device to be operated, by using communication setting information held in advance in the device to be operated;

circuitry operating to transmit, to the device to be operated, an instruction to rewrite the held communication setting information into other communication setting information by using the established wireless communication connection; and

circuitry operating to reestablish the wireless communication connection to the device to be operated, by using the other communication setting information obtained through the rewrite, and

wherein the device to be operated comprises;

circuitry operating to hold the communication setting information;

circuitry operating to rewrite the held communication setting information in accordance with the instruction from the operation input device;

circuitry operating to communicate with the operation input device by using the held communication setting information;

a first processing circuitry operating to receive the operation signal transmitted from the operation input device; and

a second processing circuitry operating to control the device to be operated to execute the action unique to the device to be operated,

wherein when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal the first processing circuitry causes the device to be operated to execute an action that is common to said type of device, and said action corresponds to a content of the operation signal,

wherein when the received operation signal is the specific operation signal the first processing circuitry transfers data contained in the operation signal to the second processing circuitry,

wherein the second processing circuitry causes the device to be operated to execute an action corresponding to a content of the data transferred from the first processing circuitry,

wherein the device to be operated is a moving object which moves in accordance with the operation signal,

wherein the device to be operated further comprises a drive portion which is driven in accordance with a drive signal, wherein the drive signal is output from the first processing circuitry or the second processing circuitry,

wherein the first processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the operation signal when the received operation signal is the standard operation signal, and

wherein the second processing circuitry outputs, to the drive portion, a drive signal corresponding to the content of the data transferred from the first processing circuitry.

23. The remote control system according to claim 22, wherein the device to be operated further comprises a reset switch, and, when the reset switch is depressed, returns the held communication setting information to initial information.

24. The remote control system according to claim 22, wherein the device to be operated is a moving object which moves in accordance with the operation signal.