JP2004165754A - Remote control system and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system for enhancing the usability of a multimedia apparatus and to provide a control method thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The remote control system includes: a remote controller (10) to which user's authentication information is set; the multimedia apparatus (1) capable of remotely controlling an apparatus to be controlled; an authentication means (16) for authenticating a user according to the user's authentication information transmitted from the remote controller when the remote controller operates the multimedia apparatus; and a means (15) for permitting use of the multimedia apparatus when the means (16) authenticates the user to be a legitimate user according to the authentication result of the authentication means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote controller system and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a remote controller control suitable for a multimedia device or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many multimedia devices such as a television device and a video recording device have a remote control function for receiving an instruction from a remote place. And this kind of multimedia device is provided with a remote controller for a user to remotely control. Further, even among devices of the same type, multimedia devices distinguish corresponding remote controllers by identification numbers from the viewpoint of malfunction.
[0003]
However, when controlling a multimedia device from a remote controller, when a plurality of remote controllers exist, a remote controller operation of a certain user is confused with a remote controller operation of another user, and the device is controlled.
[0004]
Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the multimedia device has a function of transmitting identification information to a plurality of remote controllers, and by adding the identification information to control information managed by the multimedia device, the multimedia device can perform a specific operation. There is a mechanism that accepts only the operation of the remote controller (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
However, in a single multimedia device used by a plurality of users, in order to identify a user, authentication of identification information such as a user ID or a password is required in addition to identification information of a remote controller. there were. For example, in a multimedia device, private data information of a user individual and a user group is stored, and in order to access the stored information, it is necessary to input again separately from the identification information of the remote controller. Therefore, various inconveniences have occurred in the operation and the usability of the multimedia device.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-271873
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional remote control system has a problem in its operation and usability.
[0008]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control system and a control method thereof with improved usability of multimedia devices.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a remote controller in which user authentication information is set, a multimedia device capable of remotely controlling a controlled device, and a user device transmitted from the remote controller when operating the multimedia device from the remote controller. An authentication unit for authenticating a user in accordance with the authentication information, and a unit for permitting use of the multimedia device when the user is authenticated according to the authentication result of the authentication unit.
[0010]
According to such a configuration, the usability of the multimedia device can be improved.
[0011]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that there is provided authentication information setting means for setting authentication information of the user in the multimedia device, and the authentication information can be set as a group of a predetermined unit.
[0012]
Further, the multimedia device of the present invention has a library for storing information, and when storing the information in the library, enables setting of access rights in a predetermined unit group for the stored information, and the information stored in the library. When accessing, the current user of the multimedia device is determined, and the access is determined according to the user authentication information set by the authentication information setting means.
[0013]
Still further, according to the present invention, when a multimedia device is used, a detection unit for detecting occurrence of an event, an event notification setting unit for setting a condition for notifying an event to a user, and an event notification setting unit are set. Notification means for notifying the user authenticated by the authentication means of the event in accordance with the notification condition.
[0014]
According to such a configuration, ID information for identifying a user is added to the remote controller, and the remote controller transmits the ID information to the multimedia device. The multimedia device is capable of controlling access to library information, such as images, music, albums, e-mails and program reservations, stored in the multimedia, for each predetermined user, according to ID information that can identify a user. it can.
[0015]
Further, the event notification setting means of the present invention is capable of setting one of a notification of an incoming electronic mail and a notification of an instant message.
[0016]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises an event storage means for storing an event detected by the detection means in accordance with a notification setting condition of the event notification means.
[0017]
According to such a configuration, if there is an event to be notified to the user using the multimedia device, for example, an incoming mail notification or an alarm operation time registered in the schedule, the information can be notified. . Furthermore, the level of notification and the type of information requiring notification can be selected and set for each user.
[0018]
Further, according to the present invention, the access means for accessing the Internet via a predetermined line connected to the multimedia device, and when the authentication procedure is requested from a predetermined website by the access means, the authentication is performed by the authentication means. Executing means for executing an authentication procedure in place of the user.
[0019]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a second authentication information setting means for setting authentication information for a website in the multimedia device.
[0020]
Further, the authentication information according to the present invention is characterized in that the authentication information comprises an address, an ID, and a password of the website.
[0021]
According to such a configuration, when authentication processing of a password or the like is required inside or outside the multimedia device, the multimedia device performs the authentication process on behalf of the multimedia device, so that usability can be further improved.
[0022]
Also provided is a time-out setting means for setting a time-out time for prohibiting another user from using the multimedia device for a predetermined time from the start of the predetermined operation of the user authenticated by the authentication means of the present invention. It is characterized by the following.
[0023]
According to such a configuration, it is possible to reliably cause the home server to execute a user's operation command.
[0024]
A method of controlling a remote control system comprising a remote controller and a multimedia device capable of remotely controlling a controlled device according to the present invention, comprising the steps of: setting user authentication information in the remote controller; When operating the device, a step of authenticating the user according to the authentication information of the user transmitted from the remote controller, and according to the authentication result of the authentication step, if the user is authenticated as a valid user, Permitting use.
[0025]
According to such a configuration, the usability of the multimedia device can be improved.
[0026]
In addition, the control method of the remote control system according to the present invention includes an authentication information setting step of setting authentication information of a user in the multimedia device, and can be set as a group of a predetermined unit.
[0027]
According to such a configuration, ID information for identifying a user is added to the remote controller, and the remote controller transmits the ID information to the multimedia device. The multimedia device is capable of controlling access to library information, such as images, music, albums, e-mails and program reservations, stored in the multimedia, for each predetermined user, according to ID information that can identify a user. it can.
[0028]
Still further, the control method of the remote control system of the present invention, when using a multimedia device, a detection step of detecting the occurrence of an event, an event notification setting step of setting a condition for notifying the event to the user, A notification step of notifying the user authenticated by the authentication step of an event in accordance with a notification condition set in the event notification setting step.
[0029]
According to such a configuration, if there is an event to be notified to the user using the multimedia device, for example, an incoming mail notification or an alarm operation time registered in the schedule, the information is notified to the user. Can be.
[0030]
Further, the control method of the remote control system according to the present invention includes a step of accessing the Internet via a predetermined line connected to the multimedia device, and a step in which an authentication procedure is requested from a predetermined website by the access step. Performing an authentication procedure on behalf of the user authenticated by the authentication step.
[0031]
According to such a configuration, when authentication processing of a password or the like is required inside or outside the multimedia device, the multimedia device performs the authentication process on behalf of the multimedia device, so that usability can be further improved.
[0032]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0033]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, in a remote controller system that is a remote controller and a multimedia device (hereinafter, referred to as a home server) capable of remotely controlling a controlled device, an ID capable of identifying a user to the remote controller. The information is added to the control information from the remote controller and transmitted to the multimedia device. The home server, in accordance with the control information transmitted from the remote controller and the ID information that can identify the user, for each predetermined user, the library information stored in the home server, for example, images, music, albums, mail, Access control of program reservation and the like can be performed.
[0034]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of the remote controller according to the embodiment.
[0035]
In the figure, 10 is a remote controller, 11 is an output unit of a TV tuner or a cable TV, 1 is a home server having a recording / playback function, 19 is information stored in a library in the home server 1 and a list of information is displayed and voiced. It is a display / audio device to output.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 10 includes an operation input unit 20 that receives an operation input from a user, a control unit 21 having a microprocessor configuration that controls the entire remote controller 10, and under the control of the control unit 12. A remote control ID adding unit 13 for generating ID information, and a transmitting unit 23 for adding ID information to a control signal for accessing a library in the home server 1 under the control of the control unit 21 and wirelessly transmitting the control signal. I have.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 1, the home server 1 includes an input / output unit 12 for receiving a control signal transmitted from the remote controller 10 and digital or analog information such as ID information or video and audio. A recording and reproducing unit 13 for storing and reproducing information such as video and audio via an output unit 12 and a library for storing information such as images, audio, music, albums, mails and program reservations via the input / output unit 12 14, a control unit 15 having a microprocessor configuration that controls the entire home server 1, a personal authentication unit 16 that performs a personal authentication process based on ID information sent from the remote controller 10 using a user table, and whether the library 14 can be accessed. User table 17 for storing the ID information and the group to which it belongs in association with each other, Run the playback processing of information read from the library 14, an output unit 18 for outputting to the display and audio device 19 are provided by the recording and reproducing unit 13 on.
[0038]
Further, when creating the user table 17 for each user, the control unit 15 can group and group users by several persons and perform registration processing. When reproducing the information recorded in the library 14 by the recording / reproducing unit 13, the control unit 15 collates the user table 17 with a table in the library 14 and outputs information only to a user who has access authority. Control. Further, the control unit 15 can control the setting process of the access authority for each user with respect to the information of the library 14 according to the content of the control signal received from the input unit 12.
[0039]
The remote controller 10 sets the user ID information input via the operation input unit 20 in the user ID adding unit 22 in advance. Further, the operation input unit 20 receives the control information input by the operation and sends the input information to the control unit 22. The ID information here is, for example, eight-digit alphanumeric characters.
[0040]
The control unit 21 converts the input information received from the operation input unit 20 into a control signal, adds the ID information set in the user ID addition unit 22 to the control signal, and sends the control signal to the transmission unit 23. The user ID adding unit 22 has a nonvolatile memory (not shown) therein and stores an identification signal (ID information such as a password or ID) unique to each user. The transmission unit 23 converts (modulates) the control signal received from the control unit 21 together with ID information into a radio signal and transmits the radio signal on the radio communication path.
[0041]
In the home server 1, the input / output unit 12 receives the radio signal transmitted from the transmission unit 23 of the remote controller 10, demodulates the signal, and sends it to the control unit 15 and the personal authentication unit 16.
[0042]
Next, FIG. 3A shows a state in which a belonging group is assigned to each user ID information in the usage table 17. FIG. 3B shows a setting screen for registering a user in a belonging group.
[0043]
After setting the ID (A) in the remote controller 10, the user transmits the ID (A) to the home server 1 and requests the manager of the home server 1 to register the group to which the user belongs. The administrator of the home server 1 registers the user ID (A) in the use table 17 using a user property setting screen as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the administrator of the home server 1 can arbitrarily change and add the group to which the user registered in the use table 17 belongs.
[0044]
FIG. 3A illustrates four types of groups to which the user belongs, namely, an adult (administrator), an adult, a middle man, and a child. The administrator of the home server 1 can assign, for example, four users to respective groups. The assignment of the belonging group for each user can be combined with the access right to the information of the library 14 described later.
[0045]
FIG. 4 shows an access right for each user to the information in the library 14. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for setting an access right to the library 14 of the home server 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0046]
Next, an operation of the user accessing the library 14 of the home server 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0047]
The user instructs the home server 1 to make a video / sound recording reservation via the remote controller 10 (S50). The home server 1 receives the control information and the user ID information sent from the remote controller 10 via the input / output unit 12. The input / output unit 12 first outputs the user ID information to the personal authentication unit 16. The personal authentication unit 16 checks whether or not the user is registered in the user table 17 (S60).
[0048]
If it is determined that the user is a user registered in the user table 17, the personal authentication unit 16 notifies the control unit 15 of the authentication result of the registered user. The control unit 15 instructs the recording / reproducing unit 13 to issue a recording reservation instruction in accordance with an instruction (control information) from the user. For example, when making a recording reservation for a TV program, the user sets an access right to the recorded data together with the registration of the title (S70). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the ID (A) of the user who has made a recording reservation sets an access right for reproducing all the users with respect to the cultural program on channel 1. Also, the ID (C) of the user who made the recording reservation sets an access right to reproduce the music program of channel 2 only to itself, that is, only to the ID (C). Further, the ID (B) of the user who made the recording reservation sets an access right to reproduce only the adults belonging to the harmful video program 1 on channel 4 to only the adults belonging to the group. Here, the access right is registered and set at the time of recording reservation. However, after recording the video and sound in the library 14, the user can sequentially set and register the title by specifying the title displayed in the list. The registration of the title and the information on the access right are stored in a predetermined area of the library 14 in the home server 1.
[0049]
Next, when the user who owns the ID (A) selects a title listed on the display / audio device 19 of the home server 1 and executes a reproduction instruction, the control unit 15 is registered in the use table 17. Confirm that the group to which ID (A) belongs is an adult and a manager. The control unit 15 acquires the access right of the title designated by the user from the library 14 and determines whether the access right is all, an adult, or a middle person. If so, the control unit 15 instructs the recording / reproducing unit 13 to reproduce the selected title in accordance with the reproduction instruction of the selected title from the user, and outputs the instruction to the display / audio device 19. Here, the ID (A) of the user can reproduce the culture program, the harmful video 1 and the harmful video 2 as titles in the library 14.
[0050]
When the user owning the ID (C) selects a title listed on the display / audio device 19 of the home server 1 and executes a reproduction instruction, the control unit 15 is registered in the use table 17. It is confirmed that the group to which ID (C) belongs is a middle man. The control unit 15 acquires the access right of the title designated by the user from the library 14 and checks whether the access right is all, the principal, or a middle person. If so, the control unit 15 instructs the recording / reproducing unit 13 to instruct the recording / reproducing unit 13 to reproduce the selected title in accordance with the title reproducing instruction from the user, and outputs it to the display / audio device 19. Here, the user's ID (C) can reproduce an educational program, music, and harmful video 2.
[0051]
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the titles listed on the display / audio device 19 display all information regardless of the user who is currently accessing the library 14. However, according to the user ID information transmitted from the remote controller 10, it is also possible to execute only a list display of titles that match the user's access right from the group to which the user belongs in the use table 17.
[0052]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, in a remote control system including a remote controller 1 and a multimedia device capable of remotely controlling a controlled device (hereinafter, referred to as a home server), the home server 1 notifies a user. If there is an event to be performed, for example, an incoming mail notification or an alarm operation time registered in the schedule, the information is output to the display / audio device 19. Furthermore, the level of notification and the type of information requiring notification can be selected and set for each user.
[0053]
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the home server system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same functions, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted. Reference numeral 10 denotes a remote controller, reference numeral 30 denotes an external Internet service provider (hereinafter referred to as ISP) server 30 for managing mails and instant messages, reference numeral 1 denotes a home server having a personal authentication function, and reference numeral 19 denotes an event stack 31 in the home server 1. This is a display / voice device that displays / voice-outputs mails, alarm operations, and the like stored in the device.
[0054]
Since the remote controller 10 in the figure has the same components as those in FIG. 2, the description of the internal functions of the remote controller 10 is omitted.
[0055]
Also, the home server 1 has an input / output unit 12 for receiving a control signal and ID information transmitted from the remote controller 10 or information such as mail and instant message. Stack, which stores information such as information, a control unit 15 having a microprocessor configuration for controlling the entire home server 1, a personal authentication unit 16 for performing personal authentication processing by the remote controller 10 using the user table 17, and ID information. And an output unit 18 that reads events stored in the event stack 31 under the control of the control unit 15 from the event stack 31 according to the setting conditions for each user, and outputs the events to the display / audio device 19. Is provided.
[0056]
FIG. 7 shows a screen for setting a notification level for each user according to the embodiment. The user operates the operation input unit of the remote control 10 to wirelessly transmit control information for displaying a user notification setting screen and user ID information. The home server 1 receives the control information and the user ID information via the input / output unit 12. The input / output unit 12 outputs the ID information of the user to the personal authentication unit 16 and determines whether the user is a user who has been permitted to use the home server 1 or not, or a user registered in the user table 17. If so, the control unit 17 displays a notification setting screen for each user as shown in FIG.
[0057]
The user operates the operation input unit 20 of the remote controller 10 to set a check box indicating “notify an incoming e-mail” and set a target user to be notified of an instant message. Further, an event notification interval is selected from a pull-down menu, and for example, an interval for checking events sequentially stored in the event stack 31 is set every 10 minutes. In addition, by selecting a user registered in the user table 17 on a setting screen (not shown) of a user to be notified of an instant message, only the selected user can be notified. After the user sets predetermined conditions on the event notification level screen, the set conditions are stored in the user area of the event stack 31 as stack information.
[0058]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the interval for checking the event can be set to “invalid”. In this case, when the home server 1 receives the event, it immediately notifies the user of the event.
[0059]
Next, an operation of an event notification process according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0060]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process of outputting an event notification to a user accessing the home server 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a screen for notifying a user using the home server 1 of the arrival of an incoming mail according to the embodiment.
[0061]
The user operates the operation input unit of his / her remote controller 10 to wirelessly transmit a control signal for reproducing the video recorded in the library (not shown) and the user ID information (S100).
[0062]
Home server 1 receives the control information and ID information sent from the user via input / output unit 12 and outputs the ID information to personal authentication unit 16. The personal authentication unit 16 checks whether the ID information is registered in the user table 17 or not. If so, the personal authentication unit 16 permits the control unit 15 to use the home server 1 of the user, and outputs the ID information of the user (S110).
[0063]
After a notification interval of an event set on the user notification setting screen of FIG. 7, for example, 10 minutes after the last notification operation, the control unit 15 sets the user area stacked on the event stack 31 according to the acquired user ID information. Confirm. If the event of the user is stuck, the control unit 15 outputs the stuck event information to the output unit 18, and the event indicating the arrival of the mail and the subject even while the image is being reproduced as shown in FIG. Notify by display / sound. Thereafter, the control unit 15 deletes the area of the event stack 31 on which the event of the user is stacked (S120 → Yes in S130 → S140). After receiving the notification of the arrival of the mail, the user accesses the ISP server 30, downloads his / her own mail into the home server 1, and browses it.
[0064]
If the control unit 15 determines that the user event is not stacked on the event stack 31, the control unit 15 does not perform any operation (No in S130).
[0065]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an operation process of the home server 1 when an event occurs according to the embodiment.
[0066]
The home server 1 receives an incoming mail / instant message event via the input / output unit 12 connected to a telephone line, an ADSL line, or a cable TV line (S200). The input / output unit 12 notifies the control unit 15 of the reception of the mail / instant message. After receiving the notification of the occurrence of the event from the input / output unit 12, the control unit 15 acquires event information (title, subject, reception option, etc.) from the ISP server 30 (S210).
[0067]
The control unit 15 acquires the ID information of the user currently using the home server 1 from the user table 17 and acquires the mail notification level of the user (S220). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that “importance: normal or higher” is set as a reception option as a level for notifying a user of an e-mail.
[0068]
The control unit 15 determines whether or not the event information acquired in S210 satisfies the condition set at the mail notification level. If the notification level of the mail corresponds to the level of the received event information, the control unit 15 stacks the event information in the user area of the event stack 31 (Yes in S230 → S240). In this case, the notification level of the received mail is higher than normal.
[0069]
If the notification level of the mail does not correspond to the notification level of the received mail, the control unit 15 does not perform any operation (No in S230). In this case, the level of the received mail is less than usual.
[0070]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the arrival of a mail / instant message, an event such as a recording reservation failure from a user is also stacked as event information in the user's area of the event stack 31. Can also.
[0071]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the third embodiment, in a remote control system including a remote controller 1 and a multimedia device (hereinafter, referred to as a home server) capable of remotely controlling a controlled device, a password or the like is provided inside and outside the home server 1. When the authentication process is necessary, the client software in the home server 1 can execute the authentication process on behalf of the client software.
[0072]
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the remote control system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 5 in the figure have the same functions, and thus detailed description is omitted here. Reference numeral 10 denotes a remote controller, reference numeral 30 denotes an Internet service provider (ISP) server for managing mails and instant messages, reference numeral 1 denotes a home server having a personal authentication function, and reference numeral 19 denotes a display / audio device for outputting display / audio data.
[0073]
Since the remote controller 10 in the figure has the same components as those in FIG. 2, detailed description of the internal functions of the remote controller 10 is omitted.
[0074]
In addition, when an authentication procedure is required inside and outside the home server 1, client software 32 for executing proxy authentication using an authentication scene, an authentication ID, a password, and the like registered in the user table 17 is provided. In particular, in the user table 17 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12, an authentication scene, an authentication ID, and a password are set and registered in advance by the user.
[0075]
FIG. 12 shows a table configuration used when performing authentication processing on behalf of a user according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, a login and addresses of two homepages are illustrated as an authentication scene. When the user operates the remote control 10 to access the home server 1, the home server 1 requests the user to log in. At this time, the client software 32 detects a login authentication scene and inputs an authentication ID (USER1) and a password (PASSWORD) on the login screen instead of the user. Further, when the user accesses the home page and the authentication procedure is requested from the accessed home page, the client software 32 determines that the authentication situation is registered in the user table 17, and replaces the user with the authentication ID and password. input. The user can operate the remote control 17 to register and set authentication scenes, authentication IDs and passwords in the user table 17 by the number of remote controls 10 of the user. When the user accesses the homepage and the authentication procedure is necessary, the user performs additional registration setting to substitute the authentication procedure as necessary. The home server 1 pre-registers and sets a login as an authentication scene.
[0076]
Next, with reference to FIG. 13, a procedure of a process of executing an authentication process on behalf of a user according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0077]
The user operates the operation unit of the remote controller 10, inputs the address of the homepage, and attempts to access an arbitrary website (S300). The remote controller 10 transmits the user ID information together with the control signal from the transmission unit.
[0078]
The home server 1 receives the user ID information together with the control signal wirelessly transmitted from the remote controller 10 via the input / output unit 12. The input / output unit 12 outputs the received user ID information to the personal authentication processing unit 16 (S310).
[0079]
The personal authentication unit 16 checks whether the user ID information is registered in the user table 17 (S320). When the user ID information is registered in the user table 17, the personal authentication unit 16 determines that the user is a valid user of the home server 1. The control unit 15 accesses a website provided by the Internet service provider server 30 via the input / output unit 12 according to the control information output from the input unit 12. The control unit 15 determines whether the currently accessed website requests an authentication procedure (S330).
[0080]
If the accessing website requires an authentication procedure, that is, the control unit 15 determines whether or not the address is registered and set in the user table 17. The table 17 is accessed, the authentication ID and the password are acquired, and the control unit 51 of the home server 1 executes a proxy authentication procedure for the wave site (Yes in S330 → S340).
[0081]
If the accessed website does not request the authentication procedure, the control unit 51 of the home server 1 does not perform the proxy authentication process (No in S330).
[0082]
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the proxy authentication procedure in the case where the registration is already set in the user table 17 has been described. However, the accessing website requests the authentication procedure, and the user table 17 If the registration is not set in the user table 17, the control unit 15 inputs the authentication ID and password to the website, and then registers and sets the website address (authentication scene), the authentication ID and the password in the user table 17. Inquiry can be made. When the user requests to register and set in the user table 17, the authentication scene, the authentication ID and the password can be registered in the user table 17.
[0083]
Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the history of the operation of the user, for example, the access or reproduction history can be sequentially stored in the user area of the library 14, and the history can be displayed according to the request from the user.
[0084]
Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, an operation timeout time can be set in addition to the user ID information registered and set in the user table 17. The user permitted to use the home server 1 by the personal authentication unit 16 can access the home server 1. The control unit 15 starts counting the timer from the point in time when the use permission of the home server 1 is recognized. The control unit 15 can ignore even if another user instructs the home server 1 to operate within the time registered and set in the user table 17. With such a configuration, it is possible to reliably cause the home server to execute a user operation command.
[0085]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the usability of a multimedia device can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a process of registering user ID information in a belonging group according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing an access right for each user with respect to library information according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for setting an access right to a library of a home server according to the embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an exemplary view showing a screen for setting a notification level for each user according to the embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for outputting an event notification to a user accessing the home server according to the embodiment;
FIG. 9 is an exemplary view showing a screen informing a user using the home server of an incoming mail according to the embodiment;
FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart showing the processing procedure of the home server when an event occurs according to the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a remote controller system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a view showing a table used when executing an authentication process on behalf of a user according to the embodiment;
FIG. 13 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a procedure of an authentication process performed on behalf of a user according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... home server, 10 ... remote control, 11 ... video / audio unit,
12: input / output unit, 13: recording / playback unit, 14: library, 15: control unit
16 ... personal authentication unit, 17 ... user table, 18 ... output unit,
19: display / audio device, 20: operation input unit, 21: control unit,
22: User ID addition unit, 23: Transmission unit, 30: ISP server
31: event stack, 32: client software

Claims (14)

A remote controller in which user authentication information is set, a multimedia device capable of remotely controlling the controlled device, and when operating the multimedia device from the remote controller, according to the user authentication information transmitted from the remote controller. A remote control system comprising: an authentication unit for authenticating a user; and a unit for permitting use of a multimedia device when the user is authenticated according to an authentication result of the authentication unit. . 2. The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising authentication information setting means for setting authentication information of a user in the multimedia device, wherein the authentication information can be set as a group of a predetermined unit. The multimedia device has a library for storing information, and when storing information in the library, allows setting of an access right in a predetermined unit group for the stored information, and accesses the information stored in the library. 3. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein when performing the determination, a current user of the multimedia device is determined, and whether to permit access is determined according to the user authentication information set by the authentication information setting unit. . When using the multimedia device, a detecting unit for detecting the occurrence of an event, an event notification setting unit for setting a condition for notifying an event to a user, and a notification condition set in the event notification setting unit, 2. The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising: notification means for notifying an event to a user authenticated by the authentication means. 5. The remote control system according to claim 4, wherein said event notification setting means can set any one of an e-mail arrival and an instant message notification. 5. The remote control system according to claim 4, further comprising an event storage unit configured to store an event detected by the detection unit according to a notification setting condition of the event notification unit. An access unit for accessing the Internet via a predetermined line connected to the multimedia device; and when the access unit requests an authentication procedure from a predetermined website, the authentication unit replaces the user authenticated by the authentication unit. 2. The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising: an execution unit for executing an authentication procedure. The remote control system according to claim 7, further comprising a second authentication information setting unit that sets authentication information for a website in the multimedia device. 8. The remote control system according to claim 7, wherein the authentication information includes a website address, an ID, and a password. A timeout setting unit that sets a timeout period for prohibiting another user from using the multimedia device for a predetermined time from the start of a predetermined operation of the user authenticated by the authentication unit. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein In a remote control system including a remote controller and a multimedia device capable of remotely controlling a controlled device, a step of setting user authentication information in the remote controller, and operating the multimedia device from the remote controller. Authenticating the user according to the authentication information of the user transmitted from the remote controller, and permitting use of the multimedia device if the user is authenticated according to the authentication result of the authentication step. And a method for controlling a remote control system. The control method of a remote control system according to claim 11, further comprising an authentication information setting step of setting authentication information of a user in the multimedia device, wherein the authentication information can be set as a predetermined unit group. When the multimedia device is used, a detecting step of detecting occurrence of an event, an event notification setting step of setting a condition for notifying an event to a user, and a notification condition set in the event notification setting step, The control method of a remote control system according to claim 11, further comprising a notification step of notifying an event to a user authenticated by the authentication step. A step of accessing the Internet via a predetermined line connected to the multimedia device, and in the case where an authentication procedure is requested from a predetermined website by the access step, instead of the user authenticated by the authentication step, 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of executing an authentication procedure.

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