(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0165555 A1
`
` Deng et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jul. 19, 2007
`
`
`US 20070165555Al
`
`(54) WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR
`DIGITAL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Guoshun Deng, Guangdong Province
`(CN); Xiaohua ChengS Guangdong
`Province (CN); Feng Xiang,
`Guangdong Province (CN); Guanlin
`Kang, Guangdong Province (CN)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`DLA PIPER US LLP
`ATTN: PATENT GROUP
`1200 NINETEENTH STREET, NW
`WASHINGTON, DC 20036 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Netac Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen,
`Guangdong Province (CN)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/598,422
`
`(22) PCT Filed:
`
`Feb. 28, 2005
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT/CN05/00244
`
`§ 371 (c)(1)S
`(2), (4) Date: Aug. 29, 2006
`
`Feb. 29, 2004
`
`(CN) ............................. 200410015523.X
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl-
`H043
`(52) US. Cl.
`
`(200601)
`7/185
`.............................................................. 370/318
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The invention discloses a system for controlling household
`digital equipment based on wireless. The system comprises
`a remote device and receiving devices. The remote device
`sends controlling commands in wireless mode and provides
`at least two kinds of wireless communication modes. The
`
`receiving devices can communicate in the said wireless
`communication mode, can receive the controlling com-
`mands, which are sent by the remote device and can make
`the household digital equipment perform the controlling
`commands. The remote device selects the corresponding
`wireless communication mode according to the controlling
`commands and communicates with the receiving devices by
`the selected wireless communication mode.
`
`106
`
`
`memory unit
`
`
`display unit
`
` interface unit
` input unit
`control unit
`
` 108
`
`..................,..,....t .. ......................~........_.......
`
`power unit
`
`
`102
`
` 114
`,u.mm..n-..wwwmuw.u!E
`
`.
`.10"? power
`.
`d1551at10n radlo unlt
`
`high speed .
`transmissmn unit
`
`
`
`
`104
`
`Roku EX1051
`
`US. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`PC
`
`digital TV
`
`_ controller
`
`remote
`
`
`
`digital Audie
`
`
`
`
`
`other digital
`device
`
`
`
`Fig. l
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 2 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`106
`
`memory unit
` display unit
`
`
`
`interface unit
`
`
`
`102
`
`power unit
`
`114
`
`
`
`r
`
`i
`
`104
`
`Fig. 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 3 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`102
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interfaceunit
`
`.
`'
`
`voltage
`adjustment unit
`
`EEPROM
`
`
`
`106
`
`Fig. 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`memory unit
`
`control unit
`
`high_ speed _
`transmisswn unit
`
`‘
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`power
`
`management unit
`
`control interface unit
`
`212
`
`214
`
`Fig. 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`1164
`
`
`
`
`
`
`encoding
`unlt
`
`interface
`unlt
`
`transmitting
`un1t
`
`modulgting
`umt
`
`1168
`
`1166
`
`\
`
`116
`
`1 162
`
`Fig. 5
`
`demodulating
`unit
`
`unit
`
`decoding
`
`2162
`
`2168
`
`Fig. 6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`Stati on
`
`A
`
`Fig. 7
`
`accesspoint
`
`Fig. 8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`701
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`actuate high speed
`transmission units?
`
`
`waiting for receiving
`control commands
`
`
`
`726
`
`transmittin control
`comman
`via
`
`.
`. the low power
`
`I ssnpauon radio um
`
`
`
`727
`
`Y
`
`actuating the high speed
`transmissmn units
`
`tsp .ymgt .'
`information
`indicating
`success
`
`
`
`
`725
`
`
`
`arc
`g. - evtce control mg
`
`information database to re—
`
`
`
`msmifiing control code
`mformation andlcontijol
`data to the radio unit
`
`
`generating an
`temipt rcqu .
`
`
`
`
`-
`
`
`723
`
` 722
`
`Fig. 9
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jul. 19, 2007 Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`actuating the high
`speed transmission unit
`
`
`
`800
`
`
`
`801
`
`
`
`
`receiving
`data frames
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`di-packeging
`into payloads
`
`processing data to obtain control
`information, and transmitting
`control inforrnation to
`
`'05
`
`changing the control information
`into corresponding control signals
`
`807
`
`
`
`
`
`executing control
`operation
`
` 809
`
`Fig. 10
`
`

`

`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`Jul. 19, 2007
`
`WIRELESS CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR DIGITAL
`HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE
`
`[0001] An existing remote controller typically comprises a
`key unit, an encoding unit, a radio transmitter unit and a
`power unit. However, a remote controller is designed to
`execute some dedicate functions in respect of relevant
`device. For example, a conventional TV remote controller
`should implement functions like channel-selection, auto-
`search, timing-shutdown, listen-only mode, brightness-ad-
`justment, chrominance-adjustment, and volume-adjustment,
`etc. If a plurality of devices should be controlled, multiple
`remote controllers are needed. An universal remote control-
`
`ler was developed to operate as a control center in a digital
`household network so that various devices can be controlled
`
`through a wireless communication protocol. Each device in
`the digital household network includes a radio unit which
`always stays at a standby state, regardless of transmission of
`data, so as to determine whether a data packet was sent from
`other station site according to strength variations of signals
`in a monitoring channel (in a physical channel, data is
`transmitted by a carrier signal). Thus, the radio unit will
`continuously consume power even though nothing is trans-
`mitted. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce power consump-
`tion of digital household appliance.
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`
`[0002] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is
`to provide a wireless control system for digital household
`appliance with lower power consumption.
`
`[0003] The above object is achieved by providing a wire-
`less control system for digital household appliance including
`at least one device, comprising: a remote controller opera-
`tionable at least two wireless communication modes for
`
`wirelessly transmitting control commands; a receiver or a
`household device for receiving or executing the control
`commands transmitted by the remote controller, and wherein
`the remote controller selects one wireless communication
`mode from the at least two wireless communication modes
`
`according to the control commands to wirelessly commu-
`nicate with said device or said receiver.
`
`[0004] The remote controller may comprise a power unit;
`a input unit; a radio unit for providing at least two wireless
`communication modes; and a control unit for selecting one
`of the at least two wireless communication modes, wherein
`the control unit selects one wireless communication mode
`from the at least two wireless communication modes accord-
`
`ing to control commands selected by a user and transmits the
`control commands to the devices so as to control operations
`of the devices.
`
`[0005] Compared with the conventional art, the wireless
`control system for digital household appliance according to
`the invention may select and switch wireless communication
`modes based on control commands to be executed so as to
`
`avoid any waster of wireless communication resource and
`save power.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`[0006] FIG. 1 depicts a digital household network accord-
`ing to the invention;
`
`[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a remote
`controller for a wireless control system for digital household
`appliance according to the invention;
`
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control unit of a
`[0008]
`remote controller according to the wireless control system of
`the present invention;
`
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the receiver according
`[0009]
`to the invention;
`
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a radio unit having
`[0010]
`lower power-consumption of a remote controller according
`to the invention;
`
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a radio unit having
`[0011]
`lower power-consumption of a receiver according to the
`invention;
`
`FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a structure of a
`[0012]
`wireless local network in an Ad-doc mode;
`
`FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a structure of a
`[0013]
`wireless local network with access points in an Infrastruc-
`ture mode;
`
`the digital
`FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing that
`[0014]
`household appliance is wirelessly controlled according to
`the invention; and
`
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing that a receiver
`[0015]
`according to the present invention works.
`
`EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION
`
`[0016] A wireless control system for digital household
`appliance including at least one device according to the
`invention comprises a remote controller 10 for transmitting
`radio control commands, and a receiver 20 for receiving the
`radio control commands from the remote controller 10 and
`
`controlling the device to operate under the control of the
`control commands. The at least one device of digital house-
`hold appliance may be PCs, digital TVs, digital audios and
`etc. The remote controller 10 and the device equipped with
`the receiver 20 form a digital household network, as shown
`in FIG. 1,
`through which the device will be wirelessly
`controlled by using the remote controller 10 and receiver 20.
`For example, video files and audio files stored in a computer
`can be displayed on a digital TV and played on a digital
`audio, respectively, by means of exchanging data through
`the network under the control of the remote controller 10.
`
`[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, the remote controller 10 com-
`prises a control unit 106, a radio unit 104, an interface unit
`102, an input unit 108, a display unit 112, memory unit 110
`and a power unit 114, wherein all of the radio unit 104, the
`interface unit 102, the input unit 108, the display unit 112,
`the memory unit 110 and the power unit 114 are connected
`to the control unit 106, respectively. The radio unit 104
`includes a low power dissipation radio unit 116 and a high
`speed transmission unit 1168.
`
`[0018] The control unit 106 is a kernel part of the remote
`controller 10 and responsible for processing data and con-
`trolling the operation of the system. The control unit 106
`includes a controller which can be implemented with an
`ARM chip having MMU (memory management unit) func-
`tion, such as ARM 720T, StrongARM, ARM920T, and
`ARM922T or the like. The control unit 106 operates the
`operating system of the remote controller 10, wherein the
`operating system may be a WinCE, a VxWorks, and an
`embedded Linux.
`
`

`

`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`Jul. 19, 2007
`
`[0019] The memory unit 110 is adapted to store a big
`volume of data in order to function as a data source used for
`
`the digital household appliance. The memory unit 110 may
`be implemented by hard disks, semiconductor memory
`media, magnetic memory media and optical memory media,
`such as Flash Memory FRAM, MRAM, DRAM, SDRAM,
`EEPOM, SRAM, EPPOM or Millipedes.
`
`[0020] The interface unit 102 provides an interface for
`connecting a memory device, a PC and other host device.
`The interface may be one of interfaces like CF, SM, MMC,
`SD, MS, MD, X-D, and PCMCIA. The interface may further
`include USB, IEEE1394, serial ATA, IDE/SCSI, HiperLAN,
`Bluetooth,
`IrDA, HomeRF, IEEE802.llx, IEEE802.lla,
`IEEE802.11,
`IEEE802.lld,
`IEEE802.ll.g,
`IEEE802.15,
`IEEE802.16, IEEE802.3, R8232, RS485, USB-OTG, UWB,
`POI and URAT, but also include one or more of GSM,
`GPRS, CDMA, 2.5G, 3G interfaces and parallel interfaces.
`Via the interface unit 102, the remote controller 10 is able to
`read data stored in an external memory device or to down-
`load data from a PC and other host device, and store the
`obtained data into the memory unit 110.
`
`[0021] The radio unit 104 includes a low power dissipa-
`tion radio unit 116 and a high speed transmission unit 118 for
`executing wireless communication among digital devices
`having the receiver 20, such as PCs, digital TVs, digital
`Audios, or the like, within the digital household network.
`The unit 116 may adopt communication protocols like
`Bluetooth, Zigbee, IrDA, etc. The unit 118 may adopt one or
`more wireless communication protocols including but lim-
`ited to HomeRF, UWB,
`IEEE802.llx,
`IEEE802.lla,
`IEEE802.llb,
`IEEE802.lld,
`IEEE802.llg,
`IEEE802.15,
`IEEE802.16, IEEE 802.3, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, 2.5G and
`3G. The control unit 106 can switch between the low power
`dissipation radio unit 116 and the high speed transmission
`unit 118. In a default mode, the low power dissipation radio
`unit 116 is ON and the high speed transmission unit 118 is
`OFF. For a purpose of illustration, the low power dissipation
`radio unit 116 is exemplified by an infrared module, and the
`high speed transmission unit 118 is exemplified by an
`IEEE802.11 communication module.
`
`[0022] The input unit 108 is connected to an input terminal
`device, such as a keyboard, a voice-input device, a touch
`screen or the like, for receiving commands from a user.
`
`[0023] The display unit 112 displays an interface of the
`operating system for the remote controller 10 for users’
`operation. A displayer like LCD, CRT, VFD, LCM, LED,
`and OLED, etc. may be connected to the display unit 112.
`
`[0024] The power unit 114 supplies a power to the remote
`controller 10. Batteries like lithium batteries may be used for
`powering the remote controller 10. Alternatively, AC from
`an external AC power supply could be converted by an A/D
`converter (not shown in FIG. 2) to power the remote
`controller 10, similar with the manner of power supply for
`PDAs and Notebook PCs.
`
`[0025] Referring to FIG. 3 now, the control unit 106 of the
`remote controller 10 comprises a main control unit 1061, a
`buffer unit 1062, an interface control unit 1063, a voltage
`adjustment unit 1064 and an EEPROM 1065, all of which
`are connected to a BUS. The main control unit 1061 is
`connected to the buffer unit 1062 and the interface control
`
`unit 1063, respectively. The interface control unit 1063 is
`connected to the interface unit 102.
`
`[0026] The main control unit 1061 controls the interface
`unit 102 and carries out exchange of data, commands,
`addresses, status information among the buffer unit 1062,
`the EEPROM 1065 and the interface control unit 1063. The
`
`main control unit 106 includes programming codes to be
`run, the operating system of the remote controller 10, and a
`control information database of the digital household appli-
`ance like PCs, digital TVs, digital Audios, etc. The program-
`ming codes are extensible according to the actual require-
`ments so as to introduce new functions into the system. The
`software of the remote controller could be upgraded by
`means of e.g. obtaining upgraded software from an external
`device via the interface unit 102.
`
`[0027] The buffer unit 1062 is employed to buffer data and
`may be implemented with a SRAM, a SDRAM, a DDRAM
`and a RDRAM or the like.
`
`[0028] The program instructions and preset information
`like interface identifying codes and command sets provided
`by a manufacturer to be run in the main control unit 1061
`and the interface control unit 1063 are fixed into the
`EEPROM 1065.
`
`[0029] The voltage adjustment unit 1064 is employed to
`adjust the voltage of the remote controller 10 so as to satisfy
`the voltage requirements of various operation modes.
`
`[0030] Referring to FIG. 4 now, the receiver 20 includes a
`control unit 202, a memory unit 210, a power management
`unit 214, a radio unit 204 and a control interface unit 212.
`The memory unit 210, the radio unit 204, the power man-
`agement unit 214 and the control interface unit 212 are
`connected to the control unit 202.
`
`If the receiver 20 is integrated into the digital
`[0031]
`household appliance, the power management unit 214 may
`receive a current from the appliance so as to supply a work
`voltage to the receiver 20. If the receiver 20 is an indepen-
`dent device from household appliance, the power manage-
`ment unit 214 may have a separate power supply to supply
`a voltage to the receiver 20.
`
`[0032] The control unit 202 is a kernel part of the receiver
`20 and responsible for processing data and controlling the
`operation of the system.
`
`[0033] The memory unit 210 is employed to store pro-
`gramming codes and intermediate data to be run on or used
`by the control unit 202.
`
`[0034] The radio unit 204 can conduct wireless commu-
`nication over any of available wireless networks. Specifi-
`cally, the radio unit 204 is employed to wirelessly commu-
`nicate with the radio unit 104 of the remote controller 10.
`
`The radio unit 204 further includes a low power dissipation
`radio unit 216 and a high speed transmission unit 218. The
`low power dissipation radio unit 216 communicates with the
`low power dissipation radio unit 116 of the remote controller
`10 by a way of low power dissipation communications
`according to wireless communication protocols including
`but limited to Bluetooth, Zigbee, and IrDA. The high speed
`transmission unit 218 communicates with the high speed
`transmission unit 118 of the remote controller 10 by a way
`of high speed wireless communication according to wireless
`communication protocols including but not limited to one or
`more of HomeRF, UWB,
`IEEE802.llx,
`IEEE802.lla,
`
`

`

`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`Jul. 19, 2007
`
`IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11d, IEEE802.11g, IEEE 802.15,
`IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.3, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, 2.5G and
`3G.
`
`interface unit 212 is employed to
`[0035] The control
`change the control commands received by the receiver 20
`from the remote controller 10 into control signals which are
`identified by the devices for operation.
`
`[0036] Referring now to FIG. 5, the low power dissipation
`radio unit 116 of the remote controller 10 according to the
`embodiment includes an interface unit 1162, an encoding
`unit 1164, a modulating unit 1166 and a transmitting unit
`1168. The interface unit 1162 receives binary control com-
`mands from the control unit 106 and inputs the received
`binary control commands to the encoding unit 1164. The
`encoding unit 1164 encodes the received binary control
`commands and transmits encoded pulse signals to the modu-
`lating unit 1166. The modulating unit 1166 receives and
`modulates the pulse signals, and transmits the modulated
`pulse signals to the transmitting unit 1168 in which one or
`more infrared LEDs are enabled to change the modulated
`pulse signals into infrared signals for transmission.
`
`[0037] Referring now to FIG. 6, the low power dissipation
`radio unit 216 of the remote controller 10 according to the
`embodiment includes a receiving unit 2162, a demodulating
`unit 2164, a decoding unit 2166 and an interface unit 2168.
`The receiving unit 2162 receives infrared signals from the
`remote controller 10, changes the received infrared signal
`into electric signals, and transmits the electric signals to the
`demodulating unit 2164. The demodulating unit 2164
`receives the electric signals, demodulates the received elec-
`tric signals into a coded pulse signals, and transmits the
`coded pulse signal to the decoding unit 2166 which in turn
`decodes the coded pulse signals into binary digital signals
`and transmits the same to the interface unit 2168. The
`
`interface unit 2168 transmits the binary digital signals to the
`control unit 202.
`
`[0038] When the high speed transmission unit 118 of the
`remote controller 10 and the high speed transmission unit
`218 of the receiver 20 are ON, the remote controller 10 and
`various household devices having the receiver 20 form a
`wireless digital household network by virtue of one or more
`wireless communication protocols such as IEEE802.11 pro-
`tocol, UWB protocol, GSM protocol, GPRS protocol,
`CDMA protocol, 2.5G protocol or 3G protocol. The devices
`may be PCs, digital TVs, digital Audios, etc. For a purpose
`of illustration, the digital household network formed by the
`remote
`controller
`10
`and the devices
`follows
`e.g.
`IEEE802.11 communication protocol. The IEEE802.11
`communication protocol specifies two wireless local net-
`work operating modes, namely, Ad-doc mode and Infra-
`structure mode.
`
`[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, which is a schematic diagram
`for showing a wireless local network in an Ad-doc mode.
`Each of work stations within the network can communicate
`
`with each other equally. In the embodiment, the remote
`controller 10 is set as an initial work station to initialize the
`wireless local network. Meanwhile, the remote controller 10
`and the devices including e.g. PCs, digital TVs, digital
`Audios, etc. form a digital household network. The remote
`controller 10 equally communicates with each of devices of
`the network, respectively. The remote controller 10 operates
`as a control center to control these devices of the network.
`
`[0040] Referring to FIG. 8, which is a schematic diagram
`for showing the configuration of a wireless local network in
`an Infrastructure mode. In this case, the remote controller 10
`operates as an access point (AP), and devices of the network
`such as PCs, digital TVs, digital Audios, etc. operate as work
`stations. The remote controller 10 and these devices consti-
`
`tute a digital household network with a star-shaped topology,
`as shown in FIG. 6.
`
`In the Infrastructure mode, PCs, digital TVs, digital
`[0041]
`Audios, etc. cannot communicate with each other directly.
`Instead, communication signals among devices are relayed
`by the AP, i.e. the remote controller. The remote controller
`10 manages the communications among various devices of
`the network. To this end, a MAC frame should comprise a
`source address, a destination address and an access point
`address. The access point address is the MAC address of the
`remote controller 10. A bridge connection table is estab-
`lished in the remote controller 10. When a device (source
`station) in the network intends to communicate with another
`one (destination station), a data frame is firstly transmitted
`to the remote controller 10. The remote controller 10
`receives the data frame, retrieves the MAC address of the
`destination station from the data frame, and transmits the
`retrieved MAC address by conducting a search in the bridge
`connection table.
`
`In the digital household network, the remote con-
`[0042]
`troller 10 provides not only a bridge connection among the
`devices of the network, but also a connection to a cable local
`network. The digital household network can also be con-
`nected to an Internet so that a PC may access a local network
`or Internet, or request some services like network printing,
`etc. In addition, resources of the Internet may be browsed on
`a digital TV.
`
`[0043] Due to formation of the digital household network,
`devices of the network can communicate each other, without
`needing additional means except for the remote controller
`10. Information on each device within the network can be
`
`retrieved by the remote controller 10. Therefore, within the
`coverage of the remote controller 10, all devices can work
`effectively, which could save a lot of resource, expand the
`network by adding new devices, and increase the working
`distance of the remote controller.
`
`[0044] Please refer to FIG. 9. When the remote controller
`10 is powered up, the control unit 106 is initialized and the
`operating system is loaded at step 701. Auser interface ofthe
`operating system will be displayed on a display terminate
`connected to the display unit 112.
`
`Step 703 is to await control commands which are
`[0045]
`input by users through an input means connected to the input
`unit 108. First, a user may select by means of the input
`means an icon representing one device f to be controlled.
`The control unit 106 displays all operations regarding the
`selected device on the user interface. The user may utilize
`the input means to select one of the operations. The input
`unit 108 sends an interrupt request to the operating system
`based on the selected operation.
`
`[0046] The process goes to step 705 after the operating
`system receives the interrupt request. At step 705,
`the
`operating system determines whether or not to actuate the
`high speed transmission unit 118 of the remote controller 10
`and the high speed transmission unit 218 of the receiver 20
`based on the user’s selection.
`
`

`

`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`Jul. 19, 2007
`
`[0047] Whether to actuate the high speed transmission unit
`118 of the remote controller 10 and the high speed trans-
`mission unit 218 of the receiver 20 depends on character-
`istics of data to be transmitted by the radio unit 104. If there
`is not a big number of data to be transmitted for some
`operations such as operation for adjusting channels, volume
`and picture color of a TV, there is no need to actuate the high
`speed transmission unit 118 and the high speed transmission
`unit 218.
`
`If the high speed transmission unit 118 and the high
`[0048]
`speed transmission unit 218 are not actuated, the process
`goes to step 719 in which the control unit 106 controls the
`low power dissipation radio unit 116 to transmit correspond-
`ing control commands to carry out selected operations. In
`detail, the interface unit 1162 of the low power dissipation
`radio unit 116 receives binary control commands from the
`control unit 106, and then inputs the received binary control
`commands to the encoding unit 1164. The encoding unit
`1164 encodes the received binary control commands, and
`then transmits an encoded pulse signals to the modulating
`unit 1166. The modulating unit 1166 receives and modulates
`the pulse signals and then transmits the modulated signals to
`the transmitting unit 1168. The transmitting unit 1168
`receives the modulated signals and actuates one or more
`infrared LEDs so as to change the modulated signals into
`infrared signals, and transmits the infrared signals. The
`process then goes to step 717 to determine whether data
`frames are transmitted successfully.
`
`If the radio unit is actuated, the process goes to step
`[0049]
`706. At step 706, the remote controller 10 actuates the high
`speed transmission unit 118, and transmits an actuation
`command to the receiver 20 by means of the low power
`dissipation radio unit 116 to actuate the high speed trans-
`mission unit 218.
`
`[0050] The process goes to step 707 to start a sub-process.
`
`the sub-process accesses a device
`[0051] At step 709,
`control information database to retrieve the corresponding
`device control code information.
`
`[0052] At step 711, the control code information is pro-
`cessed by the control unit 106, and then transmitted to the
`radio unit 104.
`
`[0053] At step 713, the high speed transmission unit 118
`packets the control code information as data frames.
`
`[0054] At step 715, the data frames are transmitted to the
`high speed transmission unit 218 of the corresponding
`receiver 20 via a physic layer interface of the high speed
`transmission unit 118.
`
`is determined whether the data
`it
`[0055] At step 717,
`frames are transmitted successfully.
`
`If it is successful, the sub-process then returns to
`[0056]
`step 723. At step 723, the radio unit 104 sends an interrupt
`request to the control unit 106 to execute an interruption.
`
`[0057] At step 725, the operating system, according to
`addresses of an interruption program set by a driver program
`of the radio unit 104, recalls the driver program to execute
`corresponding interruption.
`
`[0058] Then, at step 727, the operating system displays, on
`the user interface, information for indicating the success of
`the operation. The process then returns to step 703 for
`
`awaiting control commands. In this case, the user interface
`returns to a status for awaiting control commands.
`
`If the transmission is not successful (at step 717)
`[0059]
`the radio unit 104 sends an interrupt request to the control
`unit 106 at step 722.
`
`[0060] At step 724, the operating system, according to
`addresses of an interrupt program set by a driver program of
`the radio unit 104, recalls the driver program to execute
`corresponding interruption.
`
`[0061] At step 726, the operating system displays, on the
`user interface, information for indicating the failure of the
`operation. The process then returns to step 703 to wait for
`control commands, and the user interface returns to a status
`of awaiting control commands.
`
`[0062] Hereafter is to illustrate the work process of the
`receiver 20.
`
`If the remote controller 10 transmits control com-
`[0063]
`mands at step 719 (namely, the transmission is done through
`the low power dissipation radio unit 116 in this embodi-
`ment), the receiver 20 receives the control commands by
`virtue of the low power dissipation radio unit 216. Specifi-
`cally, the receiving unit 2162 receives the infrared signals
`from the low power dissipation radio unit 116 of the remote
`controller 10, and changes the received infrared signals into
`electric signals which are in turn transmitted to the demodu-
`lating unit 2164. The demodulating unit 2164 receives and
`demodulates the received electric signals into coded pulse
`signals, and transmits the coded pulse signals to the decod-
`ing unit 2166. The decoding unit 2166 decodes the coded
`pulse signals into binary digital signals which are in turn
`transmitted to the interface unit 2168. The interface unit
`
`2168 transmits the binary digital signals to the control unit
`202 for further use. The control unit 202 controls the digital
`household appliance to operate as per the control com-
`mands.
`
`If the remote controller 10 transmits control com-
`[0064]
`mands by the low power dissipation radio unit 116 to control
`the receiver 20 to actuate the high speed transmission unit
`218, the high speed transmission unit 118 is also actuated to
`transmit
`the data frames.
`In this case,
`the receiver 20
`operates as following.
`
`[0065] Please refer to FIG. 10. After the digital household
`appliance with the receiver 20 receives control commands
`transmitted from the remote controller 10, the process starts
`at step 800.
`
`[0066] At step 800, the low power dissipation radio unit
`216 receives actuation commands from the low power
`dissipation radio unit 116 of the remote controller 10, and
`then transmits received actuation commands to the control
`
`unit 202 which in tum actuates the high speed transmission
`unit 218.
`
`[0067] Then, at step 801, the high speed transmission unit
`218 receives data frames transmitted by the high speed
`transmission unit 118 of the remote controller 10.
`
`[0068] At step 803, the high speed transmission unit 218
`di-packets the received data frames, and transmits payloads
`derived from the non-packeted data frames to the control
`unit 202 for further use.
`
`

`

`US 2007/0165555 A1
`
`Jul. 19, 2007
`
`[0069] At step 805, the control unit 202 processes the
`received payloads to obtain control information, and trans-
`mits the obtained control information to the control interface
`unit 212.
`
`out an interrupt process. The operating system then carries
`out an interrupt program to translate the data into user-
`identifiable document information which is then displayed
`on the user interface of the display terminal device.
`
`[0070] Then, at step 807, the control unit 202 changes the
`control
`information so as to be identified by the digital
`household appliance.
`
`[0077] Hereinafter, a process for displaying the data stored
`in the memory unit 110 or a memory device connected to the
`interface unit 102 on digital TVs will be discussed.
`
`[0071] At last, the control unit 202 controls the digital
`household appliance to operate as per the corresponding
`control information at step 809.
`
`[0072] The remote controller 10 and the receiver 20 carry
`out above processes to control all the functions of the digital
`household appliance in the digital household network. For
`example, the remote controller 10 controls digital TVs to
`switch channels, adjust volume and so on,
`the remote
`controller 10 provides a data resource for the digital house-
`hold appliance so that picture or text filed stored in the user
`memory unit 110 may be showed on digital TVs, or data
`from a PC may be stored into the memory unit 110 or a
`memory device connected to the interface unit 102.
`
`[0073] How the remote controller controls digital TVs to
`switch channels and adjust volume is well known for those
`skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail herein.
`A process for exchanging data between the remote controller
`10 and the digital household appliance is now described.
`This embodiment is to show a process for displaying data
`stored in the memory unit 110 on a digital TV, and a process
`for storing data wirelessly received from a PC into the
`memory unit 110.
`
`[0074] The following illustration relates to such a process
`that the remote controller 10 reads the data which are stored
`
`in a memory device connected to the interface unit 102, and
`stores the read data into the memory unit 110.
`
`[0075] When an external memory device is connected to
`the interface unit 102, the interface control unit 1063 detects
`and identifies the communication protocol
`to which the
`memory device follows and electric characteristics of the
`memory device. If the identification fails,
`the interface
`control unit 1063 sends an interrupt request to the main
`control unit 1061 which in t