Communication system and communication device

• US 20110254723A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tsurumoto, Takashi, Satoh, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 9,007,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• 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 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.

2. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the host device executes processing corresponding to the received remote control code and transmits the status response including transmission information with respect to the remote controller, and

the remote controller repeatedly executes 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 executes processing corresponding to the received remote control code and transmits the status response including information indicating whether there is transmission information with respect to the remote controller or not, and

the remote controller repeatedly executes 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 transmits transmission information instructing activation of at least one function unit in the one or more function units, and

the remote controller activates the function unit designated by the received transmission information.

5. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the remote controller extends the time interval of status inquiries to be transmitted according to the number of transmission times.

6. A communication device comprising:

an input unit inputting user operations;

a communication unit performing bidirectional communication; and

a control unit controlling operations of the device,

wherein the control unit allows the communication unit to transmit a remote control code with respect to an operation target device in accordance with the user operation to the input unit and repeatedly executes a status check communication procedure including 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.

7. The communication device according to claim 6,

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

8. The communication device according to claim 6,

wherein the control unit repeatedly executes 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.

9. The communication device according to claim 7, further comprising;

one or more function units,

wherein the control unit activates the function unit designated by transmission information received from the operation target device.

10. The communication device according to claim 6,

wherein the control unit extends the time interval of status inquiries to be transmitted according to the number of transmission times.

11. A communication device comprising:

a communication unit performing bidirectional communication with a remote controller;

a host function unit to be an operation target by a remote control code received by the communication unit; and

a control unit controlling operations of the device,

wherein the control unit manages a status of the host function unit and allows the communication unit to transmit a status response in response to a status inquiry from the remote controller received at the communication unit.

12. The communication device according to claim 11,

wherein the control unit manages a status whether there is transmission information with respect to the remote controller or not in the host function unit and allows the communication unit to transmit the status response including transmission information in response to the status inquiry from the remote controller received at the communication unit.

13. The communication device according to claim 11,

wherein the control unit manages the status whether there is transmission information with respect to the remote controller or not in the host function unit and allows the communication unit to transmit the status response including information indicating whether there is transmission information to the remote controller or not in response to the status inquiry from the remote controller received at the communication unit.

14. The communication device according to claim 12,

wherein the control unit includes an activation instruction of functions included in the remote controller in transmission information.