JPH08275255A - Home bus system and remote control method for device in home bus system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow the remote controller for devices to control plural home use devices with a control command (character string command) using a character string of a variable length easily understood by everybody in the home bus system where the plural general home use devices are controlled via a home bus through remote control. CONSTITUTION: The system is provided with a remote controller for device controlling remotely devices connecting to a home bus 1, a home controller 2 connecting to the remote controller 4 for device and the home bus 1, a transmitter-receiver 5 for remote controller for device and general house devices 3 to be controlled and with a conversion means converting a command sent from the remote controller for device 4 into an HBS command to attain remote control via the home bus 1 easily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a home bus system configured to control a television, an air conditioner, and other devices connected to a home bus by a home controller, and more particularly, to a remote device by a character string or an icon. The present invention relates to a home bus system and a remote device control method that enable control and device status display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a home bus system, remote control of devices such as general household appliances connected to a home bus is performed by using a home controller installed on the home bus or a separate remote controller. In other words, whether the device is controlled by transmitting a home bus command (hereinafter, referred to as an HBS command) conforming to the standard of the home bus system from a home controller installed on a home bus drawn in the home by wire, Alternatively, the device is controlled by directly transmitting a control signal to the device using an individual remote controller.

[0003]

However, when a remote control is used, each device can be controlled, but it is impossible to know the control status and the status of other devices.
When the HBS command is transmitted and controlled using the home controller, the HBS command is a fixed numerical code, and therefore the user could not understand the meaning even when looking at the code. Further, it is impossible for the user to arbitrarily add a command. The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned various problems of the related art, and enables remote control of a device connected to a home bus by a remote device control device provided separately from the home controller. In addition, regarding the control command, by adopting a variable length command with a character string that can be understood by the user (hereinafter referred to as a character string command), it is possible to directly input the command and even if the number of control devices increases. The present invention provides a home bus system and a remote device control method thereof that allow a user to arbitrarily register a command by using a variable length command. The present invention also displays an icon on the remote device control screen,
Provided is a home bus system capable of performing two operations of an icon and a character input, in which the device can be controlled even when the icon and a character string command are associated and controlled using the icon.

[0004]

According to the invention of claim 1, a television, an air conditioner, and other devices connected to a home bus are provided.
In a home bus system in which a home controller provided on a home bus issues and controls a home bus command conforming to the standard of the home bus system, a remote device control device for remotely controlling the above devices and the remote device control device. A device controller and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving control commands between the home controller are provided, and a character string command is used for the control command of the remote device controller, and the home controller uses the character string command. Is provided in the home bus system in accordance with the standard of the home bus system. The invention according to claim 2 is defined on the screen of the remote device controller by pen input in the home bus system. Enter a character string command or enter using the icon. The device according to claim 3 is characterized in that the state of the control device or the control result is controlled by an icon or a character string command in the remote device control. It has a function of displaying directly on the screen of the device, and in the home bus system according to claim 4, the user arbitrarily displays a character string command and an icon on the screen of the remote device control device. A means for registering and a means for associating the registered character string command with the icon are provided, and the character string command or icon created by the user by associating the arbitrarily created character string command with the home bus command It is characterized by enabling control.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a television, an air conditioner, and other devices connected to the home bus are sent from a home controller provided on the home bus by a home bus command conforming to the standard of the home bus system. It is a remote device control method for a home bus system that enables remote control of these devices by issuing a control command from the remote device control device as well as a control command from the remote device control device. A control command using a character string is used to convert the character string command into a home bus command conforming to the standard of the home bus system by the home controller to control each of the above devices, and to control the control status of the device. The home bus command is transmitted from the control device to the home controller by the home bus command. Converts the string command by the home controller, characterized in that to inform the remote device controller.

[0006]

In the above home bus system in which a plurality of general household appliances that are remotely controlled by different individual control commands are controlled via the home bus, anyone can use a variable length from the remote appliance controller. Control commands using character strings that can be easily understood (character string commands)
Is communicated with a home controller through a transceiver connected to the home bus, and is converted into a home bus command (HBS command) conforming to the standard of the home bus system by the home controller to control the device. Then, the device control status is transmitted from the controlled device to the home controller by the HBS command, and the HBS command is converted into a character string command by the home controller and is notified to the remote device control device through the transceiver to display the status. It Regarding the device control in the home bus system, all control is performed according to the HBS command from the home controller that manages all the home devices connected to the home bus. for that reason,
Although it is necessary to associate the character string command with the HBS command, the home bus system can interactively provide the function of associating the command with the remote device control device and registering the command in the home controller. Also,
Since the icon and the character string command can be associated with each other in the device status display or the control confirmation, two types of displays can be provided.

[0007]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a home bus system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a command sequence diagram showing a command flow in the system, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are configurations of main components in the home bus system according to the present invention. FIGS. 6 to 10 are views showing a display screen of a remote device control device which is a main part configuration of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a command explanatory view showing an example of a character string command in the home bus system of the present invention. . An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to these drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a home bus, 2 is an electric lock 3a connected to the home bus 1, a lighting 3b, a television 3c,
A home controller that manages the entire controlled device 3 such as an air conditioner, a video, and other home appliances.
These devices are controlled by transmitting the S command). A remote device control device 4 controls the device 3 by using a control command (hereinafter, referred to as a character string command) using a character string having a variable length and easily understood by anyone as a control command. . The home controller 2 is provided with a conversion table for converting the character string command of the remote device control device 4 into an HBS command. Reference numeral 5 denotes a transceiver that transmits / receives a character string command transmitted from the remote device control device 4 or the home controller 2 by infrared rays, visible rays, ultrasonic waves, etc., and is connected to the home bus 1.

Next, the structure of the main part of the home bus system will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remote device control apparatus 4 described above. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 11 is a pen input unit for inputting and selecting character string commands, icons and the like. Reference numeral 12 denotes a display unit for displaying a device operation guide menu including icon character string commands and the like on the screen. A display memory 13 stores screen image data to be displayed. Reference numeral 14 is a character generator that generates image data such as characters and figures. Reference numeral 15 is a memory that stores a control program and a character string command. Reference numeral 16 denotes a transmission / reception unit that modulates and transmits command data, or receives and demodulates command data to obtain command data. A control unit 17 controls each unit. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transceiver 5 which exchanges character string commands with the remote device control apparatus described above through space. In FIG. 4, 18 is
It is a transmission / reception unit that modulates and transmits command data from the remote device control device 4, or receives and demodulates command data to obtain command data. A home bus I / F unit 19 is connected to the home bus and communicates with the home controller and devices connected to the home bus. 20 is a control unit. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the above-mentioned home controller. In FIG. 5, 21
Is a memory that stores a correspondence table of HBS commands and character string commands. A home bus I / F unit 22 is connected to the home bus and communicates with the transmitter / receiver and devices connected to the home bus. Reference numeral 23 is a control unit.

The home bus system of the present invention is constructed as described above. Next, FIG. 2 showing the flow of commands in this home bus system, and FIG. 5 to FIG. 5 showing the display screen of the remote device controller. 10 and an example of a character string command in the home bus system of the present invention, an operation of the home bus system of the present invention and an example of command registration will be described. First, FIG. 5 or FIG.
The character string command or the icon associated with the character string command is selected from the remote device control device 4 in the state shown in FIG. By selecting the icon, the device control data (character string command) is transmitted to the transceiver 5 connected to the home bus 1 by infrared rays, visible rays, ultrasonic waves, etc. (indicated by an arrow a in FIG. 2, same as below). This character string command is transmitted from the transceiver 5 to the home controller 2 via the control bus of the home bus 1 (arrow b). The home controller 2 analyzes the character string command, converts it into an HBS command, and communicates with the control target device 3 to perform control (arrow c). Controlled device 3
Transmits the HBS command to the home controller according to the operation result of the control result or the current device state (arrow d). Home controller 2 parses the HBS command and associates it with the string command. The associated character string command is transmitted to the transceiver 5 connected to the home bus 1 (arrow e). Transceiver 5
Sends a character string command to the remote control device 4 by infrared rays, visible rays, ultrasonic waves, or the like (arrow f). And
The remote device control device 4 displays the control device state by directly displaying a character string command on the display unit or by associating it with an icon and changing the icon. The above is a series of control flows.

Next, an example of command registration will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 showing display screens of a remote device control apparatus according to the system of the present invention and FIG. 11 showing an example of a character string command. FIG. 6 is a screen for registering a character string command of the remote device control device. Reference numeral 24 is a character input section, and the user arbitrarily inputs a command therein. Then, the character 25 is displayed. After inputting the command, by pressing the registration key 26 with the pen, the command is registered in the memory 15 and completed. 27 is a stop key. FIG.
1 is an example of a character string command. In the case of lighting equipment as shown in Fig. 11, turn on the light with "Light On" and click "Ligh
"T Off" to turn off the light, and the device's control command "Light On Comp" to turn on the light, "Light Off Cmp"
Register the command such as turning off the light with. of course
Words such as "On", "Off", "Cmp" are automatically added only by registering "Light". Also, with the increase in equipment, "Lig
ht1 "," Light2 "..." Lightn "and many devices of the same model can be registered.

FIG. 7 shows a display screen for registering an icon. Register the command in advance, select the icon 29 stored in the display memory 13 in advance, select the command to be associated with it from the selection item of the icon 29, and press the registration key to register the icon and associate the command. To do. Further, it is possible to arbitrarily create an icon using the pen input unit 11 and store it in the display memory 13. FIG. 8 is a display screen for associating a character string command with an HBS command and registering it in the home controller. In the home bus system, since each general household device to be controlled has an address, which device the character string command is related to is selected by the icon 32 and registered in the icon 33 by the address. In the case of a device that has only "On" and "Off" control for interactive registration, select the command registered with the icon 34 and use the icon 35 to see if the command is an "On" HBS command. O
Select whether it is a "ff" command or a "monitor" command on the display screen and register it with the icon 36. Further, when fine control is required, the information corresponding to the HBS command is registered. After the above information is created on the remote device control device, it is transmitted to the home controller by the transmission / reception unit 16. The home controller is registered by writing the information in the built-in memory 23. This allows the home controller to perform control in response to the character string command.

FIG. 9 shows a control screen by a direct character string command input of the remote device control device and a device status display by a character string command. A command is input to the icon 37, and the transmission key of the icon 39 is pressed to perform a control operation with the character string command 38. In response to a command request by the icon 39, the status from the control device is command 4
It will be indicated by 0. The above is the control operation and the status display by the character string command. FIG. 10 shows a control screen by an icon operation of the remote device control device and a device status display by an icon. When the icons registered in FIG. 7 are displayed all at once, a screen as shown in FIG. 10 is obtained. A control operation is performed by selecting each icon 40. In the status display, the icon is changed like 42 to display the status. The above is the control operation and status display by icons.

[0013]

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily remotely control general household information equipment in a home bus system,
By enabling two types of operations, icon and character input, there are effects such as improved operability. It also enables remote device control without changing the current operating standard of the home system. Further, with regard to registration in the home controller, centralized registration can be performed remotely by the remote device control device. In addition, since it is possible to remotely check the device status graphically using icons and to have commands and icon creation functions that anticipate future expansion of control devices, it is highly useful as a multimedia home appliance control system.
Further, by supplying the character string command creating function or the like as software to the IC card unit such as a portable information terminal or an electronic notebook that is currently used, it can be used in such a terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a command sequence diagram showing a command flow in the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote device control device 4 in the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a transceiver 5 for exchanging character string commands with a remote device control device in a home bus system according to the present invention through space.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home controller in the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display screen of the remote device control device of the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen of the remote device control device of the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen of the remote device control device of the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display screen of the remote device control device of the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen of the remote device control device of the home bus system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a character string command in the remote device control device of the home bus system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Home Bus 2 Home Controller 3 Controlled Equipment 4 Remote Equipment Control Device 5 Transceiver

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A home bus system for controlling a television, an air conditioner, and other devices connected to the home bus by issuing a home bus command conforming to the standard of the home bus system from a home controller provided on the home bus. In the above, a remote device control device for remotely controlling each device is provided, and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a control command between the remote device control device and the home controller is provided, and the remote device control device A character string command is used as the control command, and the home controller is provided with a conversion means for converting the character string command into a home bus command conforming to the standard of the home bus system. 2. The home bus according to claim 1, wherein the device is controlled by inputting a character string command defined on the screen of the remote device control device by pen input or by inputting with an icon. system. 3. The state of the control device or the result of control,
The home bus system according to claim 1, wherein the home bus system has a function of directly displaying on a screen of the remote device control device by an icon or a character string command. 4. A character string command arbitrarily created by providing a means for a user to arbitrarily register a character string command and an icon on the screen of the remote device control device and a means for associating the registered character string command with the icon. The home bus system according to claim 1, wherein the device can be controlled by a character string command or an icon created by the user by associating the command with the home bus command. 5. A television, an air conditioner, and other devices connected to the home bus are controlled by a home controller provided on the home bus by issuing a home bus command conforming to the standard of the home bus system and controlling the remote control. A remote device control method for a home bus system that enables remote control of these devices by issuing a control command from the device control device. Control using a variable-length character string as a control command from the remote device control device. Using the command, the character string command is converted by the home controller into a home bus command conforming to the standard of the home bus system to control each of the above devices, and the control status of the device is sent from the controlled device to the home controller. It is transmitted by a bus command, and the home bus command is sent by the home controller. And converted to a character string command, remote device control method in a home bus system, characterized in that to inform the remote device controller.