Remote controller, equipment operation system, and remote control method

• US 20060267726A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Arai, Morito, Katsuyama, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.710
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext

Abstract

A remote controller having a plurality of keys arranged thereon, sending a remote control signal allocated to each of the keys upon being operated to thereby remotely control control-target equipment. The remote controller can send a remote control signal corresponded to each of the control-target equipment by mode switching and allows a remote control of selection in which specific equipment out of the control-target equipment can select a signal from the other control-target equipment. The remote controller includes an input selection key for directing the selection on the one specific equipment; a receiver receiving a connected equipment signal; a controller generating and sending a remote control signal corresponding to an operation of the key, and effecting the mode switching based on the connected equipment signal, thereby selecting control-target equipment; a transmitter sending the remote control signal; and a display displaying information of the selected control-target equipment.

Claims

1. A remote controller having a plurality of keys arranged thereon, sending a remote control signal allocated to each of said keys upon being operated to thereby remotely control control-target equipment, which is capable of sending a remote control signal corresponded to each of a plurality of control-target equipment by mode switching, and allows remote control of selection, which is made by one specific equipment out of said plurality of control-target equipment, of a signal from the other control-target equipment, comprising;

an input selection key provided as one type of key out of said plurality of keys, for directing said selection on said one specific equipment;

a receiver which receives a connected equipment signal sent from said one specific equipment depending on said selection;

a controller which generates a remote control signal corresponding to an operation of said key, sending the remote control signal generated corresponding to the operation of said key, and effects said mode switching based on a connected equipment signal received by said receiver, to thereby select control-target equipment to be remotely controlled by the remote control signal;

a transmitter which sends the remote control signal generated by said controller; and

a display which displays information of the control-target equipment selected by said controller.

2. The remote controller as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said input selection key is a toggle key sequentially switching the input selection made on said one specific equipment upon every operation.

3. The remote controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said one specific equipment is video equipment or audio equipment which processes video signals or audio signals input thereto, and

said input selection key is a key specifying generation of a remote control signal selecting the input video signals or the input audio signals on said video equipment or said audio equipment.

4. The remote controller as claimed in claim 1,

wherein information on the control-target equipment displayed on said display is a name of control-target the selected by said controller.

5. An equipment operation system comprising a remote controller having a plurality of keys arranged thereon, and sending a remote control signal allocated to each of said keys upon being operated to thereby remotely control control-target equipment, configured to be capable of sending a remote control signal corresponded to each of a plurality of control-target equipment by mode switching, and specific control-target equipment controlled by the remote control signal from said remote controller,

wherein said specific control-target equipment comprises:

a receiver which receives the remote control signal;

a plurality of input sections;

an input selector which selects signals obtained at said plurality of input sections;

a memory section which memorizes connected equipment connected to each of said plurality of input sections;

a controller which takes part in selection through said input selector under instruction, when selection by said input selector is directed by the remote control signal received by said receiver, and reading, out from said memory section, and judging connected equipment of the input section selected by the selection; and

a transmitter which sends a signal of information on the device judged by said controller; and

said remote controller comprises;

an input selection key provided as one type of key out of said plurality of keys, and which directs said selection on said specific control-target equipment;

a receiver which receives a connected equipment signal sent from said specific control-target equipment based on said selection;

a controller which generates a remote control signal corresponding to an operation of said key, sending the remote control signal generated corresponding to the operation of said key, and effects said mode switching based on a connected equipment signal received by said receiver, thereby selecting control-target equipment to be remotely controlled by the remote control signal;

a transmitter which sends the remote control signal generated by said controller; and

a display which displays information of the control-target equipment selected by said controller.

6. A remote control method remotely controlling control-target equipment by sending a remote control signal allocated to each of a plurality of keys, configured to be capable of sending a remote control signal corresponded to each of a plurality of control-target equipment by mode switching, one specific equipment out of said plurality of control-target equipment being capable of selecting a signal from the other control-target equipments, so as to allow remote control of said selection, the method comprising the steps of:

upon reception of a connected equipment signal sent from said one specific equipment based on said selection, after operation of the input selection key provided as one type of key out of said plurality of keys, for directing said selection on said one specific equipment,

effecting said mode switching depending on the received connected equipment signal, to thereby select a control-target equipment to be remotely controlled by the remote control signal; and

displaying information on the selected control-target equipment.