Remote control system and remote control method, device for performing remote control operation and control method therefor, device operable by remote control operation and control method therefor, and storage medium

• US 9,913,007 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi, Ayatsuka, Yuji, Matsushita, Nobuyuki, Oba, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Keehn, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US13/458,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 709213, 709208, 709228, 455420
• 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: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation

Abstract

A portable information terminal is placed in proximity with an ID recognition unit of a notebook PC. By reading ID from the portable information terminal, the notebook PC is able to identify a network address of the portable information terminal so as to establish a network connection with the portable information terminal. The notebook PC then sends suitable operation information to the portable information terminal via a network. For example, if presentation is running on the notebook PC, screen information for operating the presentation is transferred to the portable information terminal. Accordingly, by using one device connected to the other device by a wired or wireless network, the operation of the other device can be controlled.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus for performing wireless communication with a communication partner, the apparatus comprising:

a storage device configured to store address information including a network address of the apparatus in the network, the apparatus being located within the network;

a physical transmitter configured to transmit the network address to the communication partner by a non-contact communication method, the non-contact communication method being performed outside of the network, wherein the network address of the apparatus is a logical address of the apparatus that identifies the network and indicates a location within the network at which the apparatus is located;

a connection establishing unit configured to establish a network connection inside of the network using a wireless communication method with the communication partner based on the network address, wherein the wireless communication method does not include the non-contact communication method;

a communication unit comprising a physical receiver configured to receive screen information from the communication partner through the wireless communication method, screen information regarding an operation screen of an application which the communication partner performs; and

a control unit configured to control an operation of an application performed by the apparatus based on the screen information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen information comprises graphical user interface (GUI) information regarding the operation screen of the communication partner.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screen information comprises application information indicating the application currently performed by the communication partner.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact communication method comprises one of an RF-ID communication, a touch net communication, a barcode communication, a two-dimensional barcode communication, a cybercode communication, or an infrared communication.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the wireless communication method comprises one of a wireless local area network communication or a Bluetooth communication.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the network address includes an IP address specifying the location upon the network at which the apparatus is found.

7. A wireless communication apparatus for performing wireless communication with a communication partner, the apparatus comprising:

an address information acquiring unit comprising a physical receiver and configured to acquire, from the communication partner, a network address of the communication partner that is located in a network by using a non-contact communication method, the non-contact communication method being performed outside of the network, wherein the network address of the communication partner is a logical address of the communication partner that identifies the network and indicates a location within the network at which the communication partner is located;

a connection establishing unit configured to establish a network connection inside of the network using a wireless communication method with the communication partner based on the network address acquired by the address information acquiring unit, wherein the wireless communication method does not include the non-contact communication method; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit, screen information regarding an operation screen of an application which the apparatus performs, to the communication partner through the wireless communication method.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the screen information comprises graphical user interface (GUI) information regarding the operation screen of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the screen information comprises application information indicating the application currently performed by the apparatus.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the non-contact communication method comprises one of an RF-ID communication, a touch net communication, a barcode communication, a two-dimensional barcode communication, a cybercode communication, or an infrared communication.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the wireless communication method comprises one of a wireless local area network communication or a Bluetooth communication.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the network address includes an IP address specifying the location upon the network at which the apparatus is found.

13. A method performed by a first device to communicate with a second device, the first device comprising a physical receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring, from the second device and through the physical receiver, a network address of the second device that is located in a network, by using a non-contact communication method, wherein the network address of the second device is a logical address of the second device that identifies the network and indicates a location within the network at which the second device is located;

establishing a network connection of a second communication method with the wireless device based on the network address, wherein the wireless communication method does not include the non-contact communication method; and

transmitting screen information regarding an operation screen of an application which the first device performs, to the second device through the wireless communication method.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the screen information comprises graphical user interface (GUI) information regarding the operation screen of the first device.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the screen information comprises application information indicating the application currently performed by the first device.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the non-contact communication method comprises one of an RF-ID communication, a touch net communication, a barcode communication, a two-dimensional barcode communication, a cybercode communication, or an infrared communication.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the wireless communication method comprises one of a wireless local area network communication or a Bluetooth communication.

18. A system comprising a first device and a second device, the first device comprising:

an address information acquiring unit comprising a physical receiver and configured to acquire, from the second device, a network address of the second device that is located in a network by using a non-contact communication method, the non-contact communication method being performed outside of the network, wherein the network address of the second device is a logical address of the second device that identifies the network and indicates a location within the network at which the second device is located;

a connection establishing unit configured to establish a network connection inside of the network using a wireless communication method with the second device based on the network address acquired by the address information acquiring unit, wherein the wireless communication method does not include the non-contact communication method; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit, screen information regarding an operation screen of an application which the first device performs, to the second device through the wireless communication method.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the screen information comprises graphical user interface (GUI) information regarding the operation screen of the first device.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the screen information comprises application information indicating an application currently performed by the first device.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein the first device is a portable information terminal including a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the non-contact communication method comprises one of an RF-ID communication, a touch net communication, a barcode communication, a two-dimensional barcode communication, a cybercode communication, or an infrared communication.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the wireless communication method comprises one of a wireless local area network communication or a Bluetooth communication.