US007554614B2
`
`a2) United States Patent
`US 7,554,614 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`Jun. 30, 2009(45) Date of Patent:
`Satou
`
`(54) REMOTE CONTROLSYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Tetsuya Satou, Osaka (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Panasonic Corporation, Osaka (JP)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to anydisclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`12/282,024
`
`(22)
`
`PCTFiled:
`
`Dec. 7, 2007
`
`11/1996 Welmer ....ccccseceeccee T25/151
`5,574,965 A *
`
`3/1997 Osakabeet al.
`coe STO/4T1
`5,608,730 A *
`$991,842 A * 11/1999 Takayama oo... 710/105
`6,813,659 Bl
`11/2004 Osakabeetal.
`6,912,016 B2*
`6/2005 Stumm .............. 348/705
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`5-260554
`2000-059459
`2002-2 15483
`
`10/1993
`2/2000
`8/2002
`
`(86)
`
`PCT No.:
`
`PCT/JP2007/073665
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`§ 371 (¢)(1),
`(2), (4) Date:
`
`Sep. 8, 2008
`
`(87)
`
`PCTPub. No.: WO2008/069304
`
`PCT Pub, Date: Jun. 12, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2009/0051824 Al
`Feb. 26, 2009
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`International Search Report issued Jan. 15, 2008 in the International
`(PCT) Application of which the present application is the U.S.
`National Stage.
`English translation of Informal Comments filed in Response to Writ-
`ten Opinion ofthe International Searching Authority issued Jan. 15,
`2008 in the international application of which the present application
`is the U.S. national phase.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner—Victor R Kostak
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack,
`L.L.P.
`Dec. 8, 2006=(JP) .. 2006-332518
`
`
`Mar. 6, 2007=(JP) .. 2007-056444
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`HOAN 5/44
`(2006.01)
`HOAN 5/268
`(52) U.S. Ch. ciecstsesscseeenee 348/734; 348/706
`(58)
`Field of Classification Search .................. 348/734,
`348/569, 705, 706, 552; 725/38, 153; 710/8,
`TIO/I1, 15-19, 62-64, 105, 106; 340/825.69,
`340/825.71, 825.72; 386/83
`See applicationfile for complete searchhistory.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,371,553 A
`
`12/1994 Kawamuraet al.
`
`A remote control system which controls plural devices con-
`nected to a bus, and which includes: a set top box (2) that is
`operated by a controller (4); and a DVD player(1) that trans-
`mits, to the plural devices connected to the bus, afirst com-
`mand indicating that the DVDplayer (1) is currently output-
`ting video. Uponreceivingthe first command, the set top box
`(2) transmits, to the DVD player (1) via the bus, a second
`command corresponding to an operating signal transmitted
`from the controller, and the DVD player (1) receives the
`second signal and executes a process corresponding to the
`second command.
`
`17 Claims, 27 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Roku EX1037
`U.S. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`Roku EX1037
`U.S. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`

`

`US 7,554,614 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2006/0084409 AL*
`
`4/2006 Ghadiali
`
`.........00c0s04 455/352
`
`7,145,609 B2* 12/2006
`2002/0194596 Al *
`12/2002
`2003/0093804 Al*
`§/2003
`2003/0134590 Al
`7/2003
`2005/0123277 Al*
`6/2005
`2005/0132055 Al*
`6/2005
`
`Ritts escscannstsancenniaveniia 348/705
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`poutyal.
`° ee High—Definition Multimedia Interface Specification Version |.3a,
`BA
`en RRRTES :
`Nov. 10, 2006, (see especially Chapter 13 “CEC 13 CEC Features
`Setret
`Description”, at pp. CEC 22-97).
`On0et al.
`ceececesseeeeeneee 386/94
`
`DGBeeerreentrerrer eres 709/227
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`Sheet 1 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`TtSis
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of 27
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`US 7,554,614 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 of 27
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`US 7,554,614 B2
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`ToeUOISIAZIOL
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 5 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 6 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 6
`
`Television
`
`
`
`DVD player Set top box
`
`
`
`Controller
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 7 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`
`
`
`Television
`
`wo
`
`
`
`
`
`
` 14 Set top box
`
`DVD player
`
`HDMI
`output unit
`
`
`
`
`21
`
`
`
`transmission unit
`20
`
`Input unit
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 8 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 8
`
`User inputs through
`input unit
`
`Television menu
`
`display key
`STB-dedicated
`STB-dedicated key?
`key
`Basic key?
`
`
`Transmit third
`command
`television
`
`
`
`
`
`
`menu?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STB performs
`operation
`corresponding
`to the key
`
`
`Television
`displaying a
`
`Whichis Active
`Source device?
`
`Transmit
`command
`to DVD player
`
`
`
`Transmit
`command
`to television
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 9 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 9
`
`
`
`
`
`Receive command
`Receive command
`through HDMI
`through controller
`
`
`
`of DVD player
`
`
`Start playback
`
`
`
`
`Broadcast
`<Active Source>
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 10 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`<9391NO0S
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 11 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`<Active Source> is connected
`
`Switch input to terminal to
`which the device issuing the
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 12 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG, 12
`
`<Active Source>
`
`Record, in memory,
`last device to issue
`
`of television
`
`
` Display GUI menu
`
`
`Notify menu
`
`display start
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 13 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 14
`
`44
`
`43
`
`Television operation menu
`
`Initial setting
`
`Operate DVD player
`
`Audio mode switching
`
`Picture quality adjustment
`
`FIG. 15
`
`Receive menu display
`start from television
`
`
`
`
`Record, in memory,
`menu display state
`of television
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 14 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 16
`
`corresponding to
`command
`
`
`
`
`Receive command
`Receive CEC
`
`through controller
`command
`
`
`of television
`
` Perform operation
`
`
`
`Display of menu
`started?
`9315
`
`
`Transmit menu
`display start to STB
`
` Display of menu
`
`
`
`ended?
`
`Transmit menu
`
`display end to STB
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 15 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 17
`
`
`
`
`Receive menu
`
`display end from
`television
`
`
` Record, in memory,
`menu display state
`of television
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 16 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 17 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`HDMIcable
`
`HDMI cable
`
`31
`
`External speaker
`
`Television
`transmission
`
`Controller
`reception
`unit
`
`Controller.
`
`DVD player
`12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 18 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 19 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`9
`
`5
`
`Decoder
`unit
`
`
`unit
`
`
`HDMI cable
`
`HDMI
`cable
`
`HDMI
`cable
`
`Controller
`reception
`
`Controller
`transmission
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 20 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`
`
`
`User inputs through
`controller
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Transmit
`Transmit command
`STB performs
`command
`
`to active source and
`
`operation
`to television
`
`television
`corresponding
`to the ke
`
`STB-dedicated key?
`Basic key?
`Television menu display key?
`
`7
`
`STB-dedicated
`displaykey
`
`
`key
`
`
`Transmit television
`
`menu display
`command only to
`
`television
`
`
`Television
`
`Source device?
`
` Neither STB
`
`
`
`Transmit
`nor television
`command to
`television
`
`

`

`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 21 of 27
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 22 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 23 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 25
`
`2 S250
`
`Receive
`<Active Source>
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Record, in memory,
`last device to issue
`<Active Source>
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30, 2009
`
`Sheet 24 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG. 26
`
`S111
`
`Receive CEC
`command
`
`$112
`Receive command
`through controller
`of DVD player
`
`Other than
`basic key
`
`$115
`Perform
`operation
`corresponding
`to command
`
`
`command of basic key
`
`
`$113
`
`Commandof a
`basic key?
`
`S114.
`Basic key
`.
`;
`Displaying menu?
`S116
`
`Not displaying
`
`Displaying
`Perform operation
`corresponding to
`
`
`
`Does not become
`an active source
`
`
`S118
`device
`
`
` Needs to be
`an active source
`
`device?
`
`
`
`Becomes active
`
`source device
`
`
`
` Broadcast
`<Active Source>
`command to CEC
`
`bus
`
`
`Transmit menu
`
`delete command
`
`to television 203
`
`
`
`$119
`
`$120
`
`End
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 25 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`STB menu
`
`CATV program guide
`
`Operate DVD recorder
`
`Currently broadcast TV-program
`
`Operate television
`
`Watch DVD
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 26 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
` $331
`
`$332
`
`Receive command
`through controller
`
`of television
`
`Other than
`9333
`
`Commandofa
`basic key
`
`basic key?
`
`
`Basic key
`9334
`
`
`
`
`Not
`di
`Perform operation
`:
`ot displaying
`corresponding to
`Displaying
`
`
`command
`menu?
`
`
`Displaying
`
`
`Perform operation
`
`corresponding to
`command of basic key
`
`S337
`
`Do nothing
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 30,2009
`
`Sheet 27 of 27
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`FIG,.29
`
`$340
`
`Receive
`<Active Source>
`
` ee
`
`
`
`
`
`Switch input to terminal
`
`to which <Active Source>
`
`device is connected
`
`
` Receive television
`menu display
`
`command
`
`
`
`Transmit menu delete
`command to active
`source device
`
`
`
`Display GUI menu
`of television
`
`
`
`

`

`1
`
`wa
`
`20
`
`2
`The set top box 105 is a device which outputs video and
`audio ofa cable television broadcast, via the HDMI cable.
`In the above-described configuration, when the DVD
`player 103 starts playback, for example, the DVD player 103
`transmits a <Text View On> commandor an <Image View
`On> commandto thetelevision 101, and transmits an <Active
`Source> command indicating the start of video output. The
`television 101 and the AV amplifier 102 which receive the
`respective commands, each perform input switching auto-
`matically so that the video of the DVD player 103 is outputted
`based on the parameters of the commands. Furthermore,
`whenthe television 101 is OFF, the television automatically
`turns ON,
`Furthermore, whenthe user operates the DVDplayer 103
`by operating the controller 106 of the television 101, the
`signal transmitted fromthe controller 106 is received by the
`television 101, and the television 101 transmits a command
`corresponding to the signal of the controller,
`to the DVD
`player 103. Upon receiving the command, the DVDplayer
`103 performs the corresponding operation thereby enabling
`the user to operate the DVD player 103 usingthe controller of
`the television 101.
`in the
`Furthermore, another example of device control
`conventional remote control systemshall be described using
`5 FIG. 3.
`As shown in FIG. 3, a remote control system includes a
`television 301, a DVD player 302, a DVD recorder303,a set
`top box 304, and a controller 305.
`Thetelevision 301 is a device for outputting video and
`) audio outputted from a device connected via an HDMI cable.
`The DVD player 302 is a device which decodes video
`content recorded on a DVD,andoutputs video and audio via
`the HDMI cable.
`is a
`The DVDrecorder 303, like the DVD player 302,
`device which decodes video content recorded on a DVD, and
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`1
`REMOTECONTROLSYSTEM
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to remote control systems,
`and particularly to a remote control system which allows
`plural devices to be controlled by one remote controller.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Conventionally, in an environment ofviewingandlistening
`to video and audio by connecting a television receiver(here-
`after called “television”) to a set top box, there are cases of
`viewing andlistening to video and audio by further connect-
`ing a Digital Versatile Dise (DVD)player, and casesof lis-
`tening to audio by further connecting an external AV amplifier
`and an external speaker, and outputting the audio from the
`speaker. In an Audio/Visual (AV) system such as this, in order
`to operate the respective devices, a user needs to switch
`among, and operate, remote controllers (hereafier called
`“controller”) corresponding to each of the devices. Further-
`more, between viewingandlistening to video and audio out-
`putted by the set top box and viewing andlistening to video
`and audio outputted by the DVD player, the user needs to
`switchthe input of the television. In addition,in order to use
`the respective functions included in the respective devices,
`such as operation of an electronic program guide, the user
`needs to perform troublesome operations such as switching
`among controllers correspondingto the devices.
`As one methodfor solving this problem, a function called
`Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) has been defined in
`High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) (for example,
`see Non-Patent Reference 1). This is a function in which a
`television and various AVdevices are connected by an HDMI
`cable, and transmit and receive CEC commandsto each other
`via a CEC bus included in the HDMI cable. CEC defines a
`outputs video and audio via the HDMIcable. Furthermore,
`the DVD recorder 303 hasa function for receiving and encod-
`command whichis transmitted with the destination of the
`ing video and audio, and recording the encoded video and
`commandbeing specified, and a broadcast commandfornoti-
`audio on a recording DVD.
`fying a commandto all CEC-compliant devices connected by
`The set top box 304 is a device which outputs video and
`HDMI, and communicationis carried out using a combina-
`audio ofa cable television broadcast, via the HDMI cable.
`tion of these commands. The CEC command, as shown in
`Devices connected through the HDMI cable obtaina physi-
`FIG. 1, includes the transmission destination device logical
`cal address by Display Data Channel (DDC) communication
`address, transmission destination device logical address, an
`defined in the HDMI Standard. Here,DDC communicationis
`operating code, and an operand.
`5 a functionforinquiries: from a device (called a source device)
`Non-Patent Reference | defines One Touch Play, Routing
`connected by the HDMI cable, which transmits video and
`Control, Device Menu Control, Remote Control Pass
`audio; to a device (called a sink device) whichreceives video
`Through, and so on, as applications using a CEC command.
`and audio; regarding the device-type informationofthe sink
`Hereinafter, device control in the conventional remote con-
`device, the reproducible video and audio format, the physical
`trol systemshall be described using FIG. 2.
`) address assigned to the source device, and so on. Thelogical
`As shown in FIG. 2, a remote control system includes a
`address is an address given according to terminals connected
`television 101, an AV amplifier 102, a DVD player 103, an
`by the HDMI cable, andis, for example, 1.0.0.0 when con-
`external speaker 104, a set top box 105, andacontroller 106.
`nected to afirst terminal of the television, and 2.0.0.0 when
`connectedto the second terminal.
`The television 101 is a device for outputting video and
`audio outputted froma device connected via an HDMI cable.
`The AV amplifier 102, to which HDMIinput terminal the
`DVD player 103is connected, receives videoand audio from
`the DVD player 103 via the HDMI input terminal, and outputs
`the video outputted from the DVD player 103to the television
`101 connected to an HDMI outputterminal, while outputting
`audio from the external speaker 104, Furthermore, the AV
`amplifier 102 can switch between the input from another
`device not shownin the diagram and the input from the DVD
`player 103, and output video to the television 101.
`The DVD player 103 is a device which decodes video
`content recorded on a DVD,and outputs video and audiovia
`the HDMI cable.
`
`In the configuration indicated in FIG. 3, when the DVD
`player 302 starts playback, for example, the DVDplayer 302
`transmits an <Active Source> command,whichis a broadcast
`commandindicating the start of video and audiooutput, with
`the physical address ofthe transmission source device as a
`parameter. Uponreceiving the command,thetelevision 301
`automatically performs input switching, based on the param-
`eter ofthe <Active Source> command,so that the video of the
`DVD player 302 is outputted. Furthermore, when the televi-
`sion 301 is OFF, the television automatically tums ON.
`Furthermore, when the user operates the DVD player 302
`by operating the controller 305 of the set top box 304, the
`signal transmitted fromthe controller 305 is received by the
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`US 7,554,614 B2
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`4
`Non-Patent Reference 1: High-Definition Multimedia Inter-
`face Specification Version |.3a
`Patent Reference 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Applica-
`tion Publication No. 5-260554
`
`DISCLOSUREOF INVENTION
`
`Problems that Inventionis to Solve
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`
`However, in the case where the user is viewing a cable
`television broadcast received by the set top box, there are
`instances where there is a difference in channel-receiving
`capability betweenthetelevision andset top box. As such, the
`user is required to constantly usethe controllerofthe set top
`box to operate the television, the DVDplayer, and the DVD
`recorder.
`
`3
`set top box 304. The set top box 304 transfers a CEC com-
`mand correspondingto the signal received fromthe controller
`305, to the DVD player 302. The DVD player 302 receiving
`the command performs an operation corresponding to the
`command. With this, the user is able to operate the DVD
`player 302 by operating the controller 305ofthe set top box
`304,
`Furthermore, according to Patent Reference 1, in an AV
`systemincluding an AVbusfor transmitting data signals such
`as a command,a videosignal, and an audiosignal, between a
`television and respective devices in the AV system,
`the
`respective devices are controlled by operating thetelevision.
`Hereinafter, the device control in Patent Reference | shall
`be described using FIG. 4.
`Respective devices in an AV system are connected by an
`AVbus, and a signal passing through the bushas the form of
`a packet. Furthermore, each packet includes a transmission
`source address indicating the devicethat transmitted the data,
`and a destination address indicating the destination of the
`data.
`Atelevision 311 receives a command transmitted from a
`controller 315, and transmits a command to the AV bus
`accordingto the details of the received command.
`When receiving the command fromthe AVbus, each of a
`DVDplayer 312, a DVD recorder 313, and a set top box 314
`analyzes and executes the command when the destination
`address ofthe commandis addressedto it. Furthermore, when
`the commandis not addressedtoit, the commandis disre-
`garded without being analyzed.
`Hereinafter, the operation in the case where the DVD
`player 312 plays back video recorded on a DVD,anddisplays
`the video onthe television 311, in the AV system in Patent
`Reference | shall be described.
`First, when the user presses a power ON button of the
`controller 315, a signal indicating power ON istransmitted.
`Uponreceiving the signal, the television 311 performs the
`checking ofthe connectionstate of devices connected to the
`AVbus, the detection of malfunctions, and so on.
`Next, whenthe user presses a menubutton ofthe controller
`315, the television 311 displays a first control window on a
`screen. Icons indicating AV devices such as the DVD player,
`and a cursorare displayed onthefirst control window. The
`user can movethe cursor by pressing UP,DOWN, LEFT, and
`RIGHTbuttons on the controller 315, and activate, in the
`television 311, a programcorrespondingto the icon indicated
`by the cursor, by pressing an ENTER button.
`Next, whenthe user points the cursorto the iconindicating
`the DVD playerandpresses the ENTER button, thetelevision
`311 displays a second control window. Icons for setting the
`operating mode of the DVD player, such as playback and
`stop, and a cursor are displayed on the second control win-
`dow. By performing the same operation as in the case ofthe
`first control window,the user can activate a program corre-
`sponding to the icon indicated by the cursor. In the case of
`performing playback using the DVD player 312, the user
`points the cursorto the icon indicating playback and presses
`the ENTERbutton. Then,the television 311 generates a com-
`mandfor setting the DVD player 312 to the playback mode,
`adds a destination address indicating the DVD player 312,
`and transmits the command to the AVbus.
`The DVD player 312 checks the destination address of the
`command transmitted by the AV bus and, when the destina-
`tion address indicates the DVD player 312, analyzes the
`details of the command and executes the command. In the
`
`case where the received commandis a commandforsetting
`the playback mode, the DVDplayer312 starts playback of the
`DVD.
`
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`According to Non-Patent Reference |, whenthe user oper-
`ates the DVD player by operatingthe controller of the set top
`box, the signal transmitted from the controlleris received by
`the set top box. Furthermore, the set top box transmits, to the
`DVDplayer, a CEC command corresponding tothe signal
`received fromthe controller. In addition, the DVDplayer 302
`receiving the CEC command performs the operation corre-
`sponding to the received CEC command. Withthis series of
`operations, the user is able to operate the DVDplayer using
`the controller of the set top box.
`However, the television can display a menugenerated by a
`microcomputerbuilt-into the television, by superimposition
`onto the video outputted by the DVDplayer. As such, there
`are cases where boththe television and the DVDplayer have
`a function for displaying a menuand allowing the operation
`ofvarious functions throughthe user’s operation ofa cursor
`displayed on the menu. In such a configuration, for example,
`there is a possibility that the UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT
`buttons, and thelike, used in moving the cursorof the menu
`are used for the television and the DVDplayeralike. There-
`fore, in the case where the user operates the television and the
`DVD player by using the controller, the set top box must
`select to which device the command should be transmitted,
`and it becomes difficult to transmit a command so as to
`control the DVDplayer.
`For example, although the <Active Source> commandis
`broadcast when the DVD player plays back a DVD, in the
`bewT
`5 case where the user watches the video of the DVD player, and
`operates the functions of the television by a menuofthe
`television, such as picture quality adjustment of the televi-
`sion, the menu of thetelevision is displayed by being super-
`imposed onthe video of the DVD player. However, the set top
`box cannot recognize which device between the television
`and the DVDplayeris displaying the menu onthe screen. As
`such, with respect to the signal received from the controller,
`the set top box is unable to determine the device to whichthe
`command should be transmitted. Furthermore, HDMIdefines
`a broadcast commandfor sending a commandtoall devices,
`includinga television anda DVDplayer, connected toa CEC
`bus. However, when the broadcast commandis transmitted, a
`device thatis not intended by a user, such as a DVD recorder
`that is not displaying video on the television, performs. As
`such, the set top box cannot perform broadcast command-
`based command transfer. Therefore,
`in the conventional
`remote control system, the user cannot operate various AV
`devices including a television as well as a DVD player and a
`DVD recorder, by using one controller.
`Thus, the present invention is conceived in order to salve
`the aforementioned problem and has as an object to providea
`remote control system, a remote control method, and a com-
`
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`

`a
`mandtransfer method that allows a television and various AV
`devicesto be controlled via a set top box, using a controller of
`the set top box.
`
`Means to Solve the Problems
`
`In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the remote
`control system accordingto an aspect ofthe present invention
`is aremote control system for controlling plural devices con-
`nected to a bus, the remote control system includes: a first
`video output apparatus operated by a remote controller; and a
`second video output apparatus whichtransmits a first com-
`mandto the devices connected to the bus, the first command
`indicating that the second video outputapparatus is currently
`outputting video, wherein the first video output apparatus
`transmits a second commandto the second video output appa-
`ratus, via the bus, in the case of receiving thefirst command,
`the second command corresponding to an operating signal
`transmitted from the remote controller, and the second video
`output apparatus receives the second command and executes
`a process corresponding to the second command.
`For example, assumingthatthefirst video output apparatus
`is a set top box, the second video output apparatus is an AV
`device such as a DVD player, and the like, and the bus is a
`CEC bus,it is possible to operate the AVdevice from a remote
`controller ofthe set top box.
`It is preferable that the remote control system further
`includes a video display apparatus connected to the bus,
`whereinthefirst video output apparatus transmitsa predeter-
`mined third command to the video display apparatus con-
`nected to the bus, whether or not
`the first command is
`received, and the video display apparatus receives the third
`command and executes a process corresponding to the third
`command,
`For example, assuming that the video display apparatus is
`a televisionreceiver, and the third command is acommandfor
`displaying a menu,
`it
`is possible to cause the television
`receiverto display the menu, from the remote controller of the
`set top box,
`The remote control system according to another aspect of
`the presentinvention is a remote control system including a
`first video output apparatus having a remote controller, a
`video display apparatus, andat least one second video output
`apparatus that are connected to a bus, and whichreceives a
`command issued from the remote controller and transfers the
`received command, via the bus, to at least one of the video
`display apparatusand the at least one second video apparatus,
`whereinthefirst video output apparatus includes: a recogni-
`tion unit which recognizes that the at least one second video
`output apparatus is in an operational state, based on a state-
`recognition command received fromtheat least one second
`video output apparatus, via the bus, the state-recognition
`commandindicatingthatthe at least one second video output
`apparatus is in an operationalstate, a classification unit which
`classifies the command issued from the remote controller:
`anda transfer unit which: in the case where the classification
`unit classifies the commandas a dedicated commandforthe
`video display apparatus, transfers the dedicated command to
`the video display apparatus; and in the case where the classi-
`fication unit classifies the command as a common command
`which can be run commonly among plural devices connected
`to the bus, transfers, via the bus, to the video display apparatus
`and the at least one second video output apparatus that is in
`the operational state, a commandin which the common com-
`mandis attached with a code indicating the video display
`apparatus as a transmission destination, and a command in
`which the common commandis attached with a codeindicat-
`
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`“1G. 1 is a diagram showingthestructure of a CEC com-
`mand.
`
`FIG.2 is a diagram showing the outline configuration of a
`conventional AV device remote control system.
`FIG. 3 is adiagram showingthe outline configuration ofthe
`conventional AVdevice remote control system in Non-Patent
`Reference 1.
`
`“1G. 4is adiagramshowingthe outline configuration ofthe
`conventional AVdevice remote control systemin Patent Ref-
`erence 1.
`
`FIG. 5 is an external viewof a remote control system in a
`first embodiment ofthe present invention.
`FIG. 6 is adiagram showingthe outline configuration ofthe
`remote control system in the first embodimentofthe present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 7 is a function block diagram of the remote control
`systemin the first embodiment ofthe present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operationofa set top box
`in the first embodiment and second embodiment of the
`present invention.
`‘IG, 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of a DVD
`playerinthe first embodiment andthe second embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG, 10 is a diagram showingthe operation ofthe remote
`control system in the first embodiment ofthe present inven-
`tion.
`
`FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation ofa television
`in the first embodiment and the second embodimentofthe
`
`presentinvention.
`FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation ofthe set top
`box in the first embodiment and the second embodiment of
`
`the present invention.
`
`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`6
`ing the at least one second video output apparatus thatis in the
`operational state as the transmissiondestination.
`For example, assuming that the bus is a CEC bus, thefirst
`video output apparatus is a set top box for cable television
`broadcasts, the video display apparatusisa television, and the
`secondvideo output apparatus is an AVdevice such as a DVD
`player, and thelike,it is possible to operate the AVdevice and
`the television from a remote controller of the set top box.
`Furthermore, even whenplural devices are connected to the
`bus, a commandonly affects the AV device that is currently
`being viewed and the television, and does not affect AV
`devices that are not being viewed.
`Note that the present invention can be implemented, not
`only as such a remote control system, but also as a remote
`control method and commandtransfer method whichinclude,
`as steps, the characteristic units included in such a remote
`control system, and as a program which causes a computer to
`execute such steps. Moreover, it should be obvious that such
`a program can bedistributed via a recording medium such as
`a CD-ROM and soon, or a transmission medium suchas the
`Internet, and soon.
`
`Effects ofthe Invention
`
`is possible to provide a
`it
`invention,
`With the present
`remote control system in which, even when video outputted
`by an AVdevice other than a set top box is currently being
`viewed through a television,
`it
`is possible to operate the
`television and the AVdevice using a controllerof the set top
`box.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`TH
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`

`

`US 7,554,614 B2
`
`7
`FIG.13 is a flowchart showing the operation ofthe televi-
`sion in the first embodiment and the second embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 14 isa diagram showing an example ofa menu screen
`ofa televisionin the first embodiment and third embodiment
`of the present invention.
`FIG, 15 is a flowchart showing the operationofthe set top
`boxin the first embodiment and the second embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 16 is a flowchart showingthe operation ofthetelevi-
`sionin thefirst embodiment and the second embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 17 is a flowchart showingthe operationofthe set top
`box in the first embodiment and the second embodiment of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the outline configuration of
`the remote contro! system in a second embodiment ofthe
`present invention.
`FIG, 19 is a function block diagram of the remote control
`systemin the second embodimentof the presentinvention.
`FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the outline configuration of
`the remote control system in a third embodiment of the
`present invention
`FIG. 21 is a function block diagramof the remote control
`systemin the third embodiment ofthe presentinvention.
`FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operationofthe set top
`boxin the third embodimentofthe present invention.
`FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of a table
`indicating the correspondence relationship of a signal
`received by the set top box, the pro