JP2004297470A - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile terminal whereby labor required for doubling as a terminal and a remote controller can remarkably be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: A memory of an electronic apparatus 2 stores an ID code. Two-way communication functions are provided to a mobile phone 1 and the electronic apparatus 2. The mobile phone 1 utilizes the two-way communication function to read the ID code stored in the memory of the electronic apparatus 2 and transmits the ID code to a server 5 via the Internet 4. The server 5 downloads a program PB1 for controlling the electronic apparatus in response to the ID code to the mobile phone 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone that can also be used as a remote control device that remotely controls a device to be controlled such as an electronic device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, most remote controllable electronic devices (for example, electronic devices such as digital terrestrial broadcasting, CS / BS and other public broadcast receiving devices) have a simple or complicated GUI (Graphical User Interface), and a remote control device. (Hereinafter simply referred to as a remote controller) to perform various operations. As a remote control, one remote control is usually provided for one electronic device. Recently, however, a remote control that can perform only basic operations called “simple remote control” has been proposed in order to simplify operation. Sometimes attached.
[0003]
On the other hand, a technique for using a portable terminal device represented by a portable telephone having a communication function also as a remote controller is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. In this patent document 1, a remote control code for each operation is stored in a storage device of a distribution center for each product of each manufacturer, and the remote control code is read in response to a request from a mobile phone and distributed to the mobile phone. Has taken.
[0004]
In this method, a user inputs a maker name, a product name, a model name, and the like of an electronic device to be remotely controlled from a mobile phone in the form of an individual telephone number. For example, by inputting an individual telephone number of 0120-088-298-1240, a manufacturer name, a product name, a model name, etc. are designated (088... Model name, 2... VTR, 98. ··· 98 type, 12 ··· A company, 40 ··· Lot number). After the designation of the manufacturer name, product name, model name, etc., an operation menu sent from the distribution center is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone. From this operation menu, it is possible to select a remote control code for only basic operations, a remote control code for all operations, and the like as remote control codes to be distributed.
[0005]
In this method of using a mobile phone as a remote control, a remote control code that allows all operations can be distributed, a remote control code that can perform only basic operations can be distributed, or a remote control code can be distributed separately for each electronic device. It is possible to do. As a result, one mobile phone can also be used as a plurality of remote controllers, and the number of remote controllers in the home can be reduced.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-285945 A (paragraphs [0013] to [0014])
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, the maker name, product name, model name, and the like of the electronic device are entered as keys in the form of individual telephone numbers and sent from the mobile phone to the distribution center. The operation is very cumbersome, and the individual telephone number has to be checked, which requires considerable effort when trying to use the remote control together.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device capable of greatly reducing the labor required for sharing with a remote controller. is there.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a portable terminal device, comprising: a unique information reading unit that reads unique information stored in a memory of a device to be controlled in a contactless manner; Unique information transmitting means for transmitting the unique information to the server via the Internet.
In the present invention, the portable terminal device reads the unique information (for example, an ID code) stored in the memory of the device to be controlled in a non-contact manner, and transmits the information to the server via the Internet. The server can know the manufacturer name, product name, model name, and the like of the control target device from the transmitted unique information.
Here, a program that enables remote control of the control target device specified from the unique information is transmitted from the server to the mobile terminal device, and if the program is downloaded to the mobile terminal device, a remote control function is added to the mobile terminal device. It becomes possible.
[0010]
The server may send a list of programs that enable remote control of the control target device specified from the unique information to the portable terminal device, and the program list may be displayed on the screen of the portable terminal device. . For example, a program that enables all operations and a program that enables only basic operations are displayed in a list, and the user is allowed to select which program to download from the list. Then, the selected program is sent from the server to the portable terminal device, and downloaded to the portable terminal device.
In the present invention, the unique information reading means and the unique information transmitting means can be configured as hardware, but may be provided as a program. In this case, the program may be downloaded from a server via the Internet, or may be set in advance.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a remote control system including an embodiment of a portable terminal device according to the present invention.
[0012]
In the figure, 1 is a mobile phone, 2 is an electronic device such as a television or an air conditioner, 3 is a base station, 4 is the Internet, and 5 is a server. The base station 3 and the server 5 are connected via the Internet 4. In this remote control system, the mobile phone 1 corresponds to the mobile terminal device according to the present invention, and the electronic device 2 corresponds to the device to be controlled. Note that the mobile terminal device is not necessarily a mobile phone, and may use a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or the like.
[0013]
In this embodiment, the mobile phone 1 and the electronic device 2 are provided with a two-way communication function such as a short-range wireless transmission / reception function (for example, Bluetooth, IrDA (Infrared Data Association)). An ID code is stored in the memory of the device 2 as unique information of the electronic device 2. The ID code is for uniquely specifying a maker name, a product name, a model name, and the like of the electronic device 2. .
[0014]
The server 5 is provided with a program PA for electronic device identification using a Java (registered trademark) applet or the like and a program PB for electronic device operation. Only one electronic device identification program PA is prepared for the entire electronic device used in this system. On the other hand, a plurality of electronic device operation programs PB are prepared corresponding to the ID codes of various electronic devices used in this system.
[0015]
In addition, two types of programs PB for electronic device operation are prepared: a program PB1 that enables all operations and a program PB2 that enables only basic operations. That is, in this embodiment, two types of electronic device operation programs PB1 and PB2 are prepared corresponding to one ID code.
[0016]
FIG. 2 schematically shows the internal configuration of the mobile phone 1 and the electronic device 2. The electronic device 2 includes a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) 2-1, a light receiving unit 2-2, a light emitting unit 2-3, and a nonvolatile memory 2-4. The non-volatile memory 2-4 stores the above-described ID code in addition to the remote control code corresponding to various operation contents in the electronic device 2.
[0017]
The mobile phone 1 includes a microcomputer 1-1, a light receiving unit 1-2, a light emitting unit 1-3, a first memory 1-4, a second memory 1-5, a display unit 1-6, A key operation unit 1-7 and a wireless communication unit 1-8 are provided. The memory 1-4 stores a basic program executed by the microcomputer 1-1. The memory 1-5 stores an electronic device identification program PA and an electronic device operation program PB downloaded from the server 5.
[0018]
Hereinafter, an operation of adding a remote control function to the mobile phone 1 to enable remote control of the electronic device 2 in the remote control system will be described.
[0019]
[Download electronic device identification program]
First, the mobile phone 1 accesses the server 5 via the Internet 4 via the base station 3 and downloads the electronic device identification program PA prepared in the server 5 (FIG. 1: arrows {1}, (2)). The downloaded electronic device identification program PA is stored in the memory 1-5 of the mobile phone 1. This electronic device identification program PA corresponds to the unique information reading means and the unique information transmitting means of the present invention.
[0020]
[Acquisition of ID from electronic device]
Next, the mobile phone 1 is brought closer to the electronic device 2, and the microcomputer 1-1 starts the processing operation of the program PA for identifying the electronic device. As a result, the microcomputer 1-1 sends an ID code acquisition command to the electronic device 2 via the light emitting unit 1-3 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2: arrow {circle around (3)}). This ID code acquisition command is sent as a remote control code (code sequence).
[0021]
The electronic device 2 receives an ID code acquisition command from the mobile phone 1 via the light receiving unit 2-2 and sends it to the microcomputer 2-1. The microcomputer 2-1 decodes the received ID code acquisition command (code sequence of the remote control code), compares the decoded command with the remote control code stored in the nonvolatile memory 2-4, and obtains the ID code. Recognize that. Then, the microcomputer 2-1 reads the ID code stored in the nonvolatile memory 2-4, converts the read ID code into a code string, and transmits the code string to the mobile phone 1 via the light emitting unit 2-3. (FIGS. 1 and 2: arrows (4)).
[0022]
[Sending the acquired ID code to the server]
The mobile phone 1 receives the ID code from the electronic device 2 via the light receiving unit 1-2 and sends it to the microcomputer 1-1. The microcomputer 1-1 decodes the received ID code (code sequence of the ID code) and sends it to the server 5 via the Internet 4 via the wireless communication unit 1-8 (FIG. 1, FIG. 2: arrow [5]). ).
[0023]
[Return of program list]
The server 5 receives the ID code from the mobile phone 1, creates a list (program list) of electronic device operation programs PB1 and PB2 prepared corresponding to the received ID code, and stores the program list. It is returned to the mobile phone 1 (FIGS. 2 and 3: arrow (6)).
[0024]
[Selecting a program from the list]
The mobile phone 1 receives the program list from the server 5 via the wireless communication unit 1-8 and sends it to the microcomputer 1-1. The microcomputer 1-1 displays the received program list on the display unit 1-6.
[0025]
Here, the user selects which program to download from the displayed program list. In this example, since the electronic device operation programs PB1 and PB2 are displayed in the program list, one of them is selected. Here, it is assumed that the electronic device operation program PB1 is selected. Then, the microcomputer 1-1 notifies the server 5 via the wireless communication unit 1-8 that the electronic device operation program PB1 has been selected (FIG. 2, FIG. 3: arrow {circle around (7)}).
[0026]
[Download electronic device operation program]
The server 5 receives the notification from the mobile phone 1, and selects an electronic device operation program selected from the electronic device operation programs PB 1 and PB 2 prepared in correspondence with the ID code of the electronic device 2. The PB 2 is taken out and sent to the mobile phone 1 (FIG. 2, FIG. 3: arrow (8)).
[0027]
The mobile phone 1 receives the electronic device operation program PB1 from the server 5 via the wireless communication unit 1-8 and sends it to the microcomputer 2-1. The microcomputer 2-1 stores (downloads) the received electronic device operation program PB1 in the memory 1-5.
[0028]
In this example, it has been described that the program PB1 for operating the electronic device is selected from the program list. However, similarly, when the program PB2 for operating the electronic device is selected, the operation of the selected electronic device is similarly performed. Program PB2 is downloaded from server 5 to mobile phone 1.
[0029]
The electronic device operation program PB2 may be downloaded after the electronic device operation program PB1, and both programs may be loaded into the mobile phone 1. As a result, the mobile phone 1 can be used as a dedicated remote control capable of performing all operations, or as a simple remote control capable of performing only basic operations. Similarly, for other electronic devices, it is possible to read the ID code stored in the memory of the electronic device and download the electronic device operation program prepared corresponding to the ID code. It is possible.
[0030]
[Remote control operation]
The remote control operation from the mobile phone 1 to the electronic device 2 is performed as follows. The microcomputer 1-1 transmits a remote control code corresponding to a key operation from the key operation unit 1-7 to the electronic device 2 according to the electronic device operation program PB1 downloaded to the memory 1-5. The transmission of the remote control code is performed via the light emitting section 1-3 (FIGS. 3 and 4: arrow (9)).
[0031]
The electronic device 2 receives the remote control code (code string) from the mobile phone 1 via the light receiving section 2-2 (FIG. 4) and sends it to the microcomputer 2-1. The microcomputer 2-1 decodes the received remote control code (code string), checks it against the remote control code stored in the nonvolatile memory 2-4, and recognizes the operation content indicated by the remote control code. Then, the microcomputer 2-1 executes a process according to the operation content.
[0032]
As can be understood from the above description, according to the mobile phone 1 of the present embodiment, the ID code stored in the non-volatile memory 2-4 of the electronic device 2 is read out and sent to the server 5 in a non-contact manner. Since the manufacturer name, product name, model name, and the like of the electronic device 2 are specified, troublesome input operations such as key entry of an individual telephone number do not need to be performed, and the individual telephone number does not need to be known. The labor required to achieve the dual use of the system is greatly reduced.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the electronic device operation program PB has two types, PB1 and PB2, but the types may be further increased.
Also, the electronic device operation program PB may be of one type. In this case, it is not necessary to select a program for operating the electronic device from the program list, and the program for operating the electronic device may be immediately downloaded.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the electronic device identification program PA is first downloaded from the server 5. However, the electronic device identification program PA is set in the mobile phone 1 in advance. Is also good.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the portable terminal device of the present invention, the unique information stored in the memory of the control target device is read out without contact, and transmitted to the server via the Internet. This allows the server to specify the manufacturer name, product name, model name, etc. of the device to be controlled, eliminating the need to perform cumbersome input operations such as key entry of an individual telephone number, and without knowing the individual telephone number. Therefore, the labor required to achieve the dual purpose with the remote controller can be greatly reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a remote control system including an embodiment of a portable terminal device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a mobile phone and an electronic device in the remote control system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a program for operating an electronic device is downloaded to a mobile phone in the remote control system.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating remote control of an electronic device using a mobile phone in the remote control system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile telephone, 2 ... Electronic equipment, 3 ... Base station, 4 ... Internet, 5 ... Server, 1-1 ... Microcomputer, 1-2 ... Light receiving part, 1-3 ... Light emitting part, 1-4 ... First Memory, 1-5: second memory, 1-6: display unit, 1-7: key operation unit, 2-1: microcomputer, 2-2: light receiving unit, 2-3 ... light emitting unit, 2-4 ... Non-volatile memory, PA: Program for identifying electronic devices, PB (PB1, PB2): Program for operating electronic devices.

Claims (4)

Unique information reading means for reading the unique information identifying the controlled device from the memory of the controlled device in a non-contact manner,
A portable terminal device comprising: a unique information transmitting unit that transmits the read unique information to a server via the Internet. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1,
A portable terminal device, comprising: means for downloading a program that enables remote control of the control target device sent from the server in accordance with the unique information transmitted via the Internet. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1,
Program list display means for displaying a list of programs that enable remote control of the controlled device sent from the server according to the unique information transmitted via the Internet,
Means for downloading a desired program selected from the displayed list of programs from the server. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1,
The portable terminal device, wherein the unique information reading unit and the unique information transmitting unit are programs downloaded from the server via the Internet.

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