JPH1127761A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and accurately enter an URL code for internet use to an internet terminal. SOLUTION: An advertisement sponsor of a home page writes his advertisement onto a magnetic card 30, records a URL code on a magnetic recording layer, and distributes the card to general users. The user starts an internet terminal 200 to activate a WWW browser software. On the other hand, the user prepares a remote controller 250 where a magnetic card reader is incorporated in its keyboard. When the user loads the magnetic card 30 to a card insert port 251, the URL code is automatically read internally, and the URL code is sent to an infrared-ray receiving window 201 of the terminal 200 via an infrared-ray communication means. The browser software displays a corresponding home page based on the received URL code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device, and more particularly to a remote control device having a function of externally acquiring control information to be given to a video recording device or an Internet terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a device that operates based on control information provided from the outside is used, an input operation of the control information includes:
It is convenient to use a remote control device. For example, in the case of using a video device having a function of making a scheduled recording of a television broadcast program, it is necessary to input control information such as a recording start date and time, an end date and time, and a channel designation. In this case, rather than performing an operation of directly inputting these pieces of control information to the video equipment main body, after performing an input operation on the remote control device, the remote control device transmits the control information to the video equipment main body.
The operability is improved by transmitting the input control information. For this reason, general video equipment currently on the market is often provided with a dedicated remote control device. First, the user operates a button provided on the remote control device to input control information necessary for performing scheduled recording to the remote control device. By operating a predetermined transfer button, the input control information can be transferred from the remote control device to the video equipment main body.

[0003] Also, control information is input to an Internet terminal device such as a personal computer via a remote control device.
For example, the user can transmit a simple command to WWW browser software operating on the Internet terminal device by operating a button on the remote control device.

Recently, the cost of such a remote control device has been reduced due to the spread of a signal transmission system using infrared rays, and the use of the remote control device for various devices will be increasingly promoted in the future. It is expected to be.

[0005]

As devices to be used by the remote control device, there are devices that can perform most operations by simply giving simple control information,
Some devices need to provide fairly complex control information.
For example, a television receiver, an air conditioner, and the like can perform almost all necessary operations only by giving some basic control information such as power on / off control. However, in order to operate a video recording device, an Internet terminal device, or the like, it is necessary to provide some complicated control information.

For example, in order to perform a recording reservation operation on a video recording device, it is necessary to input control information such as a recording start date and time, an end date and time, and a channel designation.
Performing such complicated control information by operating the buttons of the remote control device is a rather complicated operation for ordinary users. As a method for increasing the efficiency of such complicated operations, a method of inputting control information such as a recording start date and time, an end date and time, a channel and the like by replacing it with a special digit string of several digits has begun to spread, It has been pointed out that since the operation is a simple numeric string input that has no meaning from the user's point of view, erroneous input is likely to occur. In addition, a method of inputting necessary control information by reading a barcode printed on a program guide or the like with a remote control device has been put to practical use, but a normal barcode has a small amount of information per unit length. Therefore, there is a problem that a considerably long barcode is required to input control information necessary for recording reservation. Although this problem can be solved by increasing the bar code density, an expensive reader is required to read a high-density bar code, which increases the manufacturing cost of the remote control device itself. Another problem is that it is not practical.

On the other hand, using Internet terminal equipment,
When performing a WWW browsing operation, it is necessary to input a URL that is an address to be accessed. In general,
This URL contains alphabets, symbols, numbers, and the like, and requires input of a character string of a considerable length. A remote control device capable of efficiently inputting such a URL is not used at present, and a user usually inputs a character string using a keyboard. For this reason, there is a problem that the user is forced to perform a complicated input operation, and an erroneous input is likely to occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device that can easily and accurately supply complicated control information to a target device.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a remote control device having a function of transmitting control information for controlling a predetermined device from a remote location to the device. An information input unit for reading and inputting recorded control information and an information transmitting unit for transmitting the input control information to the device are provided.

(2) The second aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the remote control device according to the aspect, the information input section has a function of reading control information magnetically recorded from a magnetic recording layer formed on a card-shaped medium.

(3) A third aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the remote control device according to the aspect, the information input section has a function of reading electronically recorded control information from an IC memory built in a card-shaped medium.

(4) The fourth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the remote control device according to the third to third aspects, the information input unit inputs control information necessary for performing scheduled recording of a video, and the information transmitting unit transmits the control information to a video device having a scheduled recording function. In this case, control information is transmitted.

(5) The fifth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned first aspect.
In the remote control device according to the third to third aspects, the information input unit inputs control information indicating a specific address accessible via the Internet, and the information transmission unit transmits control information to the Internet terminal device. Is transmitted.

(6) The sixth aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned fifth aspect.
In the remote control device according to the aspect, the information input unit and the information transmission unit are incorporated in a housing of a keyboard device used for operating the Internet terminal device.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

§1. Basic Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic embodiment of a remote control device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a remote control device 20 is used to control a device 10 to be controlled, such as a video device or an Internet terminal device. The remote control device 20 includes an information input unit 21 and an information transmission unit 22. The information input unit 21 is a component having a function of reading and inputting control information recorded on a card-shaped information recording medium (portable thin information recording medium), for example, a magnetic card 30 or an IC. Card 40
To read control information from a medium such as
On the other hand, the information transmission unit 22 is a component having a function of transmitting the control information input by the information input unit 21 to the device 10 to be controlled. The control information is transmitted from a remote location to the device 10 to be controlled. Device 10 to be controlled
The communication means between the communication unit 22 and the information transmission unit 22 may be any means, whether wired or wireless, but the present inventor has found that communication means using infrared rays is currently the most practical. I think there is. Note that the remote control device 20 is provided with input means such as operation buttons as necessary in order to perform an operation input for causing the information input unit 21 and the information transmission unit 22 to execute predetermined operations. It is preferable to keep it.

When a magnetic card 30 is used as a card-shaped information recording medium, a magnetic information reading means may be used as the information input section 21. A general magnetic card 30 is provided with a magnetic recording layer 31 formed by printing a magnetic material on the surface thereof, and control information to be given to the device 10 to be controlled includes the magnetic recording layer 31. Is recorded magnetically. Therefore,
For example, in the main body of the remote control device 20,
A space for accommodating the magnetic card 30 is formed, and when the magnetic card 30 is inserted into this space, the magnetic recording layer 3 is formed.
If a magnetic head capable of reading the control information recorded in 1 is prepared, the control information can be read by this magnetic head. Alternatively, if a magnetic head is embedded in the outer surface of the remote control device 20, control information can be read only by bringing the magnetic card 30 into contact with the outer surface.

On the other hand, as a card-shaped information recording medium,
When the C card 40 is used, a unit capable of electronically accessing the IC card 40 may be used as the information input unit 21. An IC memory 41 is embedded in a general IC card 40, and control information to be given to the device 10 to be controlled is stored in the IC memory 41. I directly from outside
When the C memory 41 can be accessed, a unit for directly accessing the IC memory 41 and reading data may be used as the information input unit 21. In addition, in the case of an IC card with a built-in CPU, it is generally required to access the IC memory 41 via the CPU, so that the information input unit 21 gives a predetermined command to the built-in CPU. Means for performing a process of reading data via the built-in CPU may be used.

When the control information is read from the IC memory 41, the IC card 40 may be inserted into the remote control device 20 or brought into contact with the surface. For example, a space for accommodating the IC card 40 is formed in the main body of the remote control device 20, and if the IC card 40 is inserted into this space, the IC memory 4
If access means capable of reading out the control information recorded in 1 is prepared, the control information can be read by this access means. Alternatively, if the access means is embedded in the outer surface of the remote control device 20, the control information can be read only by bringing the IC card 40 into contact with the outer surface.

The IC card 40 has a type in which a terminal for making electrical contact with an external device is exposed on the surface, and a type in which an external access is received via an electromagnetic wave. Information input unit 21
May use an access means corresponding to the type to be used. For example, when using an IC card of a type that accepts access via electromagnetic waves, control information can be read while the remote control device 20 and the IC card 40 are in a physically non-contact state.

As described above, by using the remote control device according to the present invention, the control information recorded on the card-shaped information recording medium is automatically read and transmitted to the device to be controlled. Therefore, the input operation of the control information can be performed very easily. Therefore, even complicated control information can be easily and accurately given to a target device. Also,
Card-shaped information recording media such as the magnetic card 30 and the IC card 40 are thin and excellent in portability, and are easily adapted to various distribution channels. For this reason, it is easy to send this recording medium by direct mail, or to bind it to a magazine or the like and distribute it, which has the advantage that it can be widely distributed to general users. In particular, magnetic cards are very inexpensive to manufacture and have high utility as advertising media. Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present invention using a magnetic card as such a medium for advertisement will be described.

§2. Embodiment Figure 2 using the video equipment is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment in which the present invention is used to control the video equipment. In this embodiment, a remote control device 150 according to the present invention is used to control a video device 100 having a function of performing scheduled recording. The video device 100 has a function of receiving an externally applied infrared signal via the infrared receiving window 101, and the remote control device 150 has a function of transmitting an infrared signal toward the infrared receiving window 101. (Function as the information transmission unit 22 in FIG. 1). Further, a card insertion slot 151 is formed in the main body of the remote control device 150 as shown, and the magnetic card 30 can be inserted into the card insertion slot 151 here. Inside the remote control device 150, a magnetic head (corresponding to the information input unit 21 in FIG. 1) for reading control information from the magnetic recording layer 31 of the magnetic card 30 accommodated in the card insertion slot 151 is provided. ing.

In this embodiment, the user operates the magnetic card 3
When "0" is inserted into the card insertion slot 151, the control information is automatically read inside the remote control device 150. When the reading is completed, a confirmation sound "P" is presented. Subsequently, the user may point the remote control device 150 toward the infrared receiving window 101 of the video device 100 and perform an operation of pressing a predetermined operation button (control information transfer button) provided on the upper surface. Control information read from the magnetic card 30 is transmitted as an infrared signal from the remote control device 150 toward the infrared receiving window 101.

If the remote control device 150 having such a function is prepared, the operation of recording reservation for the video equipment 100 can be performed very easily and accurately. That is, if a magnetic card 30 that records complicated control information such as a recording start date and time, a recording end date and time, and a channel for a program to be reserved can be obtained, the user can use the magnetic card 3
0 can be inserted into the remote control device 150 and the recording reservation can be set by simply pressing a predetermined transfer button. Unlike the related art, there is no need for complicated button operations or operations for inputting meaningless numeric strings. Further, since the information recording density of the magnetic recording layer 31 is higher than the information recording density of a general bar code, a magnetic card having a general size of a so-called business card can sufficiently supply control information necessary for recording reservation. It is possible to record in.

A magnetic card on which control information necessary for recording reservation is recorded can be widely distributed as an advertising card of a general company. For example, with a magnetic card, FIG.
A large number of program advertisement cards 160 as shown in
If control information such as a recording start date and time, a recording end date and time, and a channel for a program to be advertised is recorded in the magnetic recording layer 161, the program advertising card 160 can be simply inserted into the remote control device 150. Thus, it becomes possible to make a recording reservation for the program. Since the program advertisement card 160 is made of an inexpensive magnetic card, it may be sent to a general audience in the form of direct mail, or distributed to an unspecified number of people at a store or on the street. May be adopted. Also,
As the control information to be recorded on the magnetic recording layer 161, for example, control information for designating repetitive recording, such as "every Thursday at 8: 00-" or "every weekday at 6: 00-" may be used. It is possible, and it is also possible to use a code consisting of a specific digit string that is currently widely used.

The remote control device 150
Can be provided at a relatively low cost by newly incorporating components such as the information input unit 21 into a general remote control device that is standardly attached to the video equipment 100 currently on the market. is there. That is,
The remote control device 150 can be used as a device having both a function as a conventional general remote control device and a function as a remote control device according to the present invention. Of course, the present invention is applicable not only to such control of the video device 100 but also to, for example, control of a television receiver. In this case, the control signal recorded on the program advertisement card 160 functions as a control signal for viewing reservation, not a control signal for recording reservation.

§3. Internet terminal equipment
Embodiments Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention is used to control the internet terminal apparatus. In this embodiment,
An example is shown in which a personal computer incorporating WWW browser software is used as the Internet terminal device 200. In particular, a specific address (URL) accessible via the Internet is transmitted to the Internet terminal device 200. To do so, a remote control device 250 according to the present invention is used. The Internet terminal device 200 has a built-in communication device such as a modem or a terminal adapter, and is connected to a public line 210. Therefore, if the WWW browser software is activated, it is possible to freely access the WWW on the Internet via the public line 210.

In this embodiment, the remote control device 250 also serves as a keyboard device used to operate a personal computer as the Internet terminal device 200. Internet terminal device 200
Has a function of receiving an externally applied infrared signal via the infrared receiving window 201, and the remote control device 250 transmits an infrared signal to the infrared receiving window 201 (FIG. 1). (Function as the information transmission unit 22). As shown in the figure, the main body of the remote control device 250 (the main body as a keyboard device) has a card insertion slot 25 as shown in FIG.
1 is formed, and the magnetic card 30 can be inserted therein. Inside the remote control device 250, the magnetic card 3 housed in the card insertion slot 251 is provided.
A magnetic head (corresponding to the information input section 21 in FIG. 1) for reading control information from the 0 magnetic recording layer 31 is provided.

In this embodiment, the user operates the magnetic card 3
0 is inserted into the card slot 251, the control information is automatically read inside the remote control device 250 and the remote control device 2
From 50, toward the infrared receiving window 201, the magnetic card 3
The control information read from 0 is automatically transmitted as an infrared signal. If the remote control device 250 having such a function is prepared, the input operation of the URL address to the Internet terminal device 200 can be performed very easily and accurately. That is, if the user obtains the magnetic card 30 in which a specific URL address is recorded in advance as control information, the user simply inserts the magnetic card 30 into the card insertion slot 251 and changes the URL address to the Internet terminal device 20.
It becomes possible to input 0.

A magnetic card on which control information corresponding to a URL address is recorded can be widely distributed as an advertising card for a general company. For example, a home page advertisement card 260 as shown in FIG.
Is created in large quantities, and a URL code indicating the address of the homepage to be advertised is recorded as control information in the magnetic recording layer 261 (in this embodiment, for example,
A code such as "http://www.xyz.co.jp"
The home page can be accessed by simply inserting this home page advertisement card 260 into the remote control device 250 (recorded in the magnetic recording layer 261 in the form of an SCII code). Since the homepage advertisement card 260 is made of a low-cost magnetic card, it may be sent to general users in the form of direct mail, or distributed to an unspecified number of people at stores, streets, and the like. It may take a form.

In order for the control information transmitted from the remote control device 250 to be recognized and processed as a URL code within the Internet terminal device 200, WWW browser software (and, if necessary, a personal computer, OS software)
It is necessary to add a processing function for handling control information input from the infrared light receiving window 201 in the same manner as a normal URL code input from a keyboard. Such a processing function is a so-called “WWW browser”. It is convenient to provide it in the form of "plug-in software for software (additional software for expanding functions)."

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific method of using the homepage advertisement card 260 as shown in FIG. First, in step S1, the user obtains the homepage advertisement card 260. As described above, the homepage advertiser can distribute the homepage advertisement card 260 by various means. Subsequently, in step S2, the user activates WWW browser software using the Internet terminal device 200. Specifically, the personal computer is turned on, and the installed predetermined Internet browser software is started. Next, in step S3, the user inserts the obtained homepage advertisement card 260 into the card insertion slot 251 of the remote control device 250 (keyboard device). Then, in step S4, the magnetic recording layer 2
The URL code recorded in 61 is automatically read and automatically transmitted to the infrared receiving window 201 as an ASCII code. On the other hand, on the Internet terminal device 200 side, in step S5, the running WW
ASCII transmitted W browser software
A process of recognizing the code as a URL code is performed, and in step S6, a home page addressed by the URL code is presented.

[0033] Thus, the user can access the target homepage without performing an operation of inputting a complicated URL code from the keyboard. On the other hand, the advertiser side of the homepage can distribute the homepage advertisement card 260 with a relatively low-cost investment, and since this distribution can be expected to increase the number of accesses to the homepage, sufficient advertising The effect can be obtained.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a remote control device 250 is newly provided in a housing of a general keyboard device currently on the market, such as a component such as the information input unit 21 (magnetic card). (Leader device), it can be provided at a relatively low cost. That is, the remote control device 250 can be used as a device having both a function as a conventional general keyboard device and a function as a remote control device according to the present invention. Of course, in practicing the present invention, the remote control device does not necessarily need to be incorporated in the keyboard device,
It may be incorporated in a mouse or another device, or may be prepared as a single device. Also, the remote control device 250 sends the Internet terminal device 200
The transmission of the control information to the personal computer need not necessarily use the infrared communication means, but may use a wired transmission means using a cable or the like provided between the keyboard device and the personal computer.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on several embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various other forms. In short, as long as control information recorded on a card-shaped information recording medium can be read and transmitted to a device to be controlled, what kind of information recording medium or device to be controlled is It may be used.

[0036]

As described above, according to the remote control device of the present invention, the control information recorded on the card-shaped information recording medium is read and transmitted to the device to be controlled. Even in this case, it is possible to easily and accurately input to the target device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic embodiment of a remote control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is used for controlling a video device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a program advertisement card 160 used in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is used for controlling an Internet terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a homepage advertisement card 260 used in the embodiment shown in FIG.

6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific method of using the homepage advertisement card 260 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Device to be controlled 20 ... Remote control device 21 ... Information input part 22 ... Information transmission part 30 ... Magnetic card 31 ... Magnetic recording layer 40 ... IC card 41 ... IC memory 100 ... Video equipment 101 ... Infrared light receiving window 150 ... Remote control device (for video equipment) 151 Card insertion slot 160 Program advertisement card 161 Magnetic recording layer 200 Internet terminal device (personal computer incorporating WWW browser software) 201 Infrared ray receiving window 210 Public line 250 ... Remote control device (keyboard device) 251 ... Card insertion slot 260 ... Homepage advertising card 261 ... Magnetic recording layer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/765 H04N 5/782 K

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device having a function of transmitting control information for controlling a predetermined device from a remote location to the device, wherein the control information recorded on a card-shaped information recording medium is A remote control device, comprising: an information input unit that reads and inputs information; and an information transmission unit that transmits input control information to the device. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit has a function of reading control information magnetically recorded from a magnetic recording layer formed on a card-shaped medium. Features a remote control device. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit has a function of reading control information electronically recorded from an IC memory built in a card-shaped medium. And a remote control device. 4. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit has a function of inputting control information necessary for performing scheduled recording of video, and the information transmission unit includes: A remote control device for transmitting control information to a video device having a reservation recording function. 5. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit has a function of inputting control information indicating a specific address accessible via the Internet. A remote control device, wherein the unit transmits control information to an Internet terminal device. 6. The remote control device according to claim 5, wherein an information input unit and an information transmission unit are incorporated in a housing of a keyboard device used for operating the Internet terminal device. Remote control device.