(12) United States Patent
`Osakabe
`
`USOO640O28OB1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,400,280 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jun. 4, 2002
`
`(54) REMOTE CONTROL SIGNAL RECEIVER
`AND METHOD, AND REMOTE CONTROL
`SYSTEM
`
`5,949,351 A * 9/1999 Hahm ................... 340/825.72
`6,005,490 A * 12/1999 Higashihara ........... 340/825.72
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75) Inventor: Yoshio Osakabe, Kanagawa (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Sony Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`EP
`EP
`EP
`
`O 582343 A 2/1994
`O 604 167 A 6/1994
`O 612 157 A 8/1994
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Hoffman and Moore: “IEE 1394: A Ubiquitous Bus” Com
`pcon 95. Digest of Papers, Mar. 5, 1995, San Francisco,
`CA, USA, pp. 334–338, XP0005454.46.
`* cited by examiner
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/985,711
`Primary Examiner Brian Zimmerman
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 5, 1997
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frommer Lawrence &
`O
`O
`Haug LLP; William S. Frommer; Glenn F. Savit
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Dec. 18, 1996
`(JP) ............................................. 8-338031
`-
`(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. H04Q 1700
`A remote control Signal for indicating reproduction of DVD
`(52) U.S. Cl
`3401825.25; 348/734; 340/825.69
`(58) Field of Search ....................... loss.si.27. 2 which is transmitted from
`bi-directical role
`commander, is deciphered by a digital TV 21 and then
`340/825,72, 825.69; 348/173, 176, 175,
`converted to the data format of an IEEE-1394 serial bus 26,
`734; 379/102; 370/447
`and then transmitted to DVD 24. DVD 24 transmits the
`response to the received remote control Signal to the digital
`TV 21, and also starts the reproduction operation. The
`reproduced Signal is Supplied to the digital TV 21 through
`the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26. The digital TV 21 transmits the
`signal corresponding to the response from DVD 24 to the
`bi-directional remote commander 27, and also displays the
`pictures corresponding to the reproduced signal and output
`the Voices.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1989 Tsurumoto ............. 340/825.69
`4,817,203 A
`4.855,730 A * 8/1989 Venners ................. 340/825.24
`5,128,667 A * 7/1992 Enomoto et al. ...... 340/825.72
`5,532,684. A
`7/1996 Katsu .................... 340/825.25
`5,537,107 A
`7/1996 Funado
`5,574,514 A 11/1996 Tamihira et al.
`5,905,442 A * 5/1999 Mosebrook ............ 340/825.69
`
`3 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`34
`
`35
`
`DECODER
`k
`
`LINK
`
`SOCHRONOS
`PORTION
`
`26
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .
`
`.
`
`phy -
`
`--
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`ASYNCHRONOUS -
`PORTION
`- - -
`36
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`37
`
`
`
`
`
`REMOTE CONTROLSIGNAL
`TRANSMTTINGRECEIVING
`CRC
`
`KEY
`31 INPUTFORTION:32
`
`k
`
`i
`
`i
`
`y
`
`B-DERECTIONAL
`REMOE
`COMMANDER
`
`27
`
`1
`
`Comcast, Ex. 1245
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 6,400,280 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG.1
`
`- - - - -
`
`m- - - - - -b-
`
`REMOTE
`COMMANDER
`
`REMOTE
`COMMANDER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4.
`
`5
`
`R
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`6
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`REMOTE
`COMMANDER
`
`m - - - -- -b-
`
`D
`L
`
`PLAYER
`
`w
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`11
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`REMOTE
`
`M
`
`N
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`4.
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`TV
`
`5
`
`V
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`6
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`4.
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`LD
`PLAYER
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`2
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`FIG.3
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`22
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`23
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`24
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`
`
`
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`DIGITAL
`CAMCODER
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`25
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`DIGITAL
`TV
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`A
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`RESPONSE
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`REMOTE CONTROL
`SIGNAL
`
`Y
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`B-DIRECTIONAL
`REMOTE
`COMMANDER
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`27
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`3
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 4, 2002
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`Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`
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`\/ WWE'H_LS TV/NS) IS
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`4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`FIG.5
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`34
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`35
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`DECODER
`
`SOCHRONOUS
`PORTION
`
`PORTION
`
`
`
`REMOTE CONTROL SIGNAL
`TRANSMITTING/RECEIVING
`CIRCUIT
`
`31
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`B-DIRECTIONAL
`REMOTE
`COMMANDER
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`27
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`5
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 4, 2002
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`Sheet 5 of 8
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`FIG.6
`
`1 OUADLET-4BYTES
`
`TCODE
`
`SOURCE ID
`
`
`
`DESTINATION OFFSET
`DATA LENGTH
`EXTENDED TCODE
`
`HEADER CRC
`
`DATA FELD
`(FCP FRAME)
`
`ZERO PAD BYTES (IFNECESSARY)
`DATA CRC
`
`FIG.7
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`1 OUADLET-4BYTES
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`TCODE
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`SOURCE ID
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`DESTINATION OFFSET
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`QUADLET DATA (FCP FRAME)
`HEADER CRC
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`6
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 4, 2002
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`Sheet 6 of 8
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`FIG.8
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`
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`1 OUADLET-4BYTES
`
`CTS-
`
`SUBUNITSUB
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`
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`OPR2
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`ZERO PAD BYTES (IFNECESSARY)
`
`FIG.9
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`
`
`
`
`pers are ore on
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`CTS SUBUNIT TYPE
`
`DEST.
`
`FIG.10
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`SOURCE CTS SUBUNIT TYPE
`UNIT /CTYPE ISUBUNIT NO.
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`OPC
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`7
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 4, 2002
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`Sheet 7 of 8
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`FIG.11
`
`CURSOR
`
`
`
`MENU FRAME
`
`8
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 4, 2002
`Sheet 8 of 8
`FIG. 12
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`
`
`CURSOR
`
`9
`
`

`

`1
`REMOTE CONTROL SIGNAL RECEIVER
`AND METHOD, AND REMOTE CONTROL
`SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to remote control Signal
`receiver and method, and a remote control System, and for
`example relates to remote control Signal receiver and
`method and a remote control System in which a remote
`control Signal can be transmitted among devices connected
`to a Serial bus by converting the remote control Signal to a
`data format of the Serial bus for transmitting digital data
`bi-directionally.
`Recently, it has been widely performed to control devices
`by using a remote commander for transmitting a command
`with infrared radiation or the like (hereinafter suitably
`referred to as remote control). FIG. 1 shows the case where
`plural devices are controlled by using a remote commander.
`In this case, a television receiver (TV) 4 is operated by a
`remote controller 1 which is attached to the television
`receiver. A video cassette recorder (VCR) 5 is operated by
`a remote controller 2 which is attached thereto. An LD
`player 6 is operated by a remote controller 3 which is
`attached thereto.
`AS described above, when each device is remote
`controlled, the remote control attached to each device is
`used. However, it has been recently typical to attach remote
`controllers to most domestic electrical articles Such as
`Video/acoustic equipment, air conditioners, etc., and thus,
`the home is flooded with many remote controllers. AS a
`result, there may occur a case where a device is operated by
`a remote controller, which is different from a remote con
`troller designed for that device, So that the device malfunc
`tions or never operates.
`Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, it may be considered that
`a remote controller 11 is provided with a function of
`transmitting remote control Signals corresponding to plural
`devices, and it transmits a remote control signal correspond
`ing to a device Specified by a user, whereby the number of
`remote controllers can be reduced and the malfunction can
`be Suppressed.
`However, even when a remote controller is enabled to
`transmit the remote control Signals corresponding to plural
`devices, devices which are operation targets (in this case,
`TV 4, VCR 5 and LD player 6) must be placed where they
`can receive the remote control signals from the remote
`controller 11, and for example there is a problem that it is
`impossible to control a device in a room from another room.
`Further, for example, when a user operates VCR 5 by
`using the remote controller 11, in order to check whether the
`VCR 5 correctly performs the operation corresponding to an
`instruction of the user's remote control, the user must watch
`the display portion of VCR 5 or check whether a tape
`actually runs, and this is cumberSome.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention has been implemented in view of
`the above Situation, and it has an object to moderate the
`restriction on the placement of each device when each
`device is operated by using a remote controller for plural
`devices, and also facilitate a check operation as to whether
`an operation instructed to each device by using the remote
`controller is actually performed by the device.
`A remote control Signal receiver according to a first aspect
`of the present invention is characterized by including recep
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`US 6,400,280 B1
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`2
`tion means of receiving a remote signal, conversion means
`for converting the remote control Signal to data of data
`format of a Serial bus when the remote control signal is
`directed to targets other than itself, and transmission means
`for transmitting the data converted by the conversion means
`through the Serial bus to a device connected to the Serial bus.
`A remote control Signal reception method according to a
`Second aspect of the present invention is characterized by
`comprising the Steps of receiving a remote control Signal,
`converting the received signal to data of data format of a
`Serial bus when the received remote control Signal is
`directed to targets other than itself, and transmitting the
`converted data through the Serial bus to a device connected
`to the serial bus.
`A remote control System according to a third aspect of the
`present invention which transmits a remote control Signal
`transmitted from a remote control generator among devices
`which are connected by a Serial bus for transmitting digital
`data bi-directionally, wherein each device includes remote
`control Signal reception means for receiving the remote
`control Signal, conversion means for converting the remote
`control Signal to data of data format of a Serial bus when the
`remote control Signal is directed to targets other than itself,
`transmission means for transmitting the remote control data
`converted by the conversion means through the Serial bus to
`another prescribed device connected to the Serial bus, remote
`control data reception means for receiving the remote con
`trol data from another device, response means for transmit
`ting a response to the remote control data received by the
`remote control data reception means through the Serial bus
`to another device, response reception means for receiving
`the response transmitted through the Serial bus by response
`means of another device, and remote control data transmis
`Sion means for generating the remote control data corre
`sponding to the response received by the response receiving
`means, and transmitting remote control data to the remote
`control Signal generator.
`In the remote control signal receiver according to the first
`aspect of the present invention, the reception means receives
`the remote control Signal, and when the remote control
`Signal is directed to other targets than itself, the conversion
`means converts the remote control Signal to the data of the
`data format of the Serial bus. The transmission means
`transmits the data converted by the conversion means
`through the Serial bus to a device connected to the Serial bus.
`In the remote control Signal reception method according
`to the Second aspect of the present invention, the remote
`control signal is received, and when the received remote
`control Signal is directed to targets other than itself, the
`remote control Signal is converted to the data of the data
`format of the serial bus. The converted data are transmitted
`through the Serial bus to a device connected to the Serial bus.
`In the remote control System according to the third aspect
`of the present invention, in each device, when the remote
`control Signal is directed to targets other than itself, the
`conversion means converts the remote control Signal to the
`data of the data format of the Serial bus, the transmission
`means transmits the remote control data converted by the
`conversion means through the Serial bus to another pre
`Scribed device connected to the Serial bus, the remote control
`data reception means receives remote control data from
`another device, the response means transmits the response
`corresponding to the remote control data received by the
`remote control data through the Serial bus to another device,
`the response reception means receives the response trans
`mitted through the Serial bus by the response means of
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`

`US 6,400,280 B1
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`another device, and the remote control data transmission
`means generates remote control data corresponding to the
`response received by the response reception means and
`transmits the data to the remote control Signal generator.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional method for
`controlling devices by using a remote commander;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a State that plural devices are
`controlled by using a remote commander;
`FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the construction of an
`embodiment of an AV system to which a remote control
`System of the present invention is applied;
`FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a transmission State of
`isochronous data and asynchronous data;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the detailed construc
`tion of a digital TV 21 of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of Write
`request for data block packet in an asynchronous data
`transmission mode of IEEE-1394 serial bus;
`FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the construction of Write
`request for data quadlet packet in an asynchronous data
`transmission mode of IEEE-1394 serial bus;
`FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the construction of FCP
`frame in the asynchronous data transmission mode of IEEE
`1394 serial bus;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the construction of a remote
`control signal transmitted from a remote commander to a
`device;
`FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the construction of a remote
`control Signal transmitted from a device to a remote com
`mander;
`FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a State that an icon
`35
`corresponding to a control command of a remote com
`mander displayed on the Screen of a digital TV is Selected by
`using a key corresponding to the control command displayed
`on the Screen of an LCD of the remote commander; and
`FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a State that an icon
`40
`corresponding to a control command of a remote com
`mander 51 displayed on the screen of a digital TV 21 is
`Selected by an arrow key provided to the remote commander.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`Preferred embodiments according to the present invention
`will be described hereunder with reference to the accompa
`nying drawings.
`Before the description on the preferred embodiments
`according to the present invention, the feature of the present
`invention will be described hereunder by adding the corre
`sponding embodiments (for example) in parentheses after
`respective means in order to clarify the relationship between
`each means of the present invention. described in the Scope
`of Claim for Patent and the following embodiments.
`That is, the remote control Signal receiver according to the
`present invention includes reception means (for example,
`remote control Signal transmitting/receiving circuit 31 of
`FIG. 5) for receiving a remote control signal, conversion
`means (for example, LINK-IC 36 of FIG. 5) for converting
`the remote control Signal to data of data format of a Serial
`bus when the remote control Signal is directed to targets
`other than itself, and transmission means (for example,
`PHY-IC 3 of FIG. 5) for transmitting the data converted by
`the conversion means through the Serial bus to a device
`connected to the Serial bus.
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`The remote control signal receiver further includes recep
`tion means (for example, PHY-IC 37 of FIG.5) for receiving
`an asynchronous packet returned from a prescribed device
`which receives the asynchronous packet, and transmission
`means (for example, remote control signal transmitting/
`receiving circuit 31 of FIG. 5) for converting the returned
`asynchronous packet to the remote control signal and trans
`mitting the remote control Signal.
`In the remote control System according to the present
`invention, each device includes remote control reception
`means (for example, remote control signal transmitting/
`receiving circuit 31 of FIG. 5) for receiving a remote control
`signal, conversion means (for example, LINK-IC 36 of FIG.
`5) for converting the remote control signal to the data of the
`data format of the Serial bus when the remote control Signal
`is directed to targets other than itself, transmission means
`(for example, PHY-IC 37 of FIG. 5) for transmitting the
`remote control data converted by the conversion means
`through the Serial bus to another prescribed device con
`nected to the Serial bus, remote control data reception means
`(for example, PHY-IC 37 of FIG. 5) for receiving remote
`control data from another device, response means (for
`example, CPU 33 of FIG. 5) for transmitting the response
`corresponding to the remote control data received by the
`remote control data reception means through the Serial bus
`to another device, response reception means (for example,
`PHY-IC 37 of FIG. 5) for receiving the response transmitted
`through the Serial bus by the response means of another
`device, and remote control data transmission means (for
`example, remote control Signal transmitting/receiving cir
`cuit 31 of FIG. 5) for generating the remote control data
`corresponding to the response received by the response
`reception means and transmitting the remote control data to
`the remote control Signal generator.
`In the remote control System according to the present
`invention, the remote control signal generator includes
`reception means (for example, transceiver portion 44 of FIG.
`11, transceiver portion 54 of FIG. 12) for receiving the
`remote control data from the remote control data transmis
`Sion means.
`In the remote control System according to the present
`invention, the device has a mode in which the remote control
`Signal from the remote control signal generator is received,
`and a mode in which the remote control Signal from the
`remote control Signal generator is not received, and it further
`includes first restriction means (for example, CPU 33 of
`FIG. 5) for restricting the number of devices which receive
`the remote control signal, and Second restricting means (for
`example, CPU 33 of FIG. 5) for restricting the number of
`devices which transmit the remote control data correspond
`ing to the response to the remote control Signal.
`In the remote control System according to the present
`invention, the remote control Signal generator includes dis
`play means (for example, LCD 42 of FIG. 11) for displaying
`a Symbol corresponding to a control command to be trans
`mitted to a device, Selection means (for example, operation
`key 43 of FIG. 11) for selecting the symbol displayed on the
`display means, and control command transmission means
`(for example, transceiver portion 44 of FIG. 11) for trans
`mitting the control command corresponding to the Symbol
`Selected by the Selection means to a device.
`Needless to Say, this description does not mean that each
`means is limited to the above.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of an
`embodiment of an AV (audio visual) system to which a
`remote control System of the present invention is applied. A
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`digital TV 21, an integrated receiver-decoder (IRD: inte
`grated receiver-decoder) 22, DVCR (digital video cassette
`recorder) 23, DVD (digital versatile disc), a digital cam
`corder 25 are connected to one another through IEEE (The
`Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
`Inc.)-1394 High Performance Serial Bus (hereinafter
`referred to as IEEE-1394 serial bus) 26. A bi-directional
`remote commander 27 transmits a remote control Signal
`corresponding to a predetermined command, and receives a
`remote control signal corresponding to a response to the
`control command transmitted from the digital TV 21 or the
`like.
`Next, the operation will be described. The bi-directional
`remote commander 27 contained in a receiving circuit of the
`remote control signal transmits the remote control Signal
`corresponding to the predetermined control command to the
`digital TV 21. The digital TV 21 converts the remote control
`signal from the bi-directional remote commander 27 to the
`data format of an asynchronous packet of an IEEE-1394
`Serial bus.
`Here, the IEEE-1394 serial bus which is defined in IEEE
`will be described. The data transmission of the IEEE-1394
`is performed both in an asynchronous data transmission
`mode (asynchronous mode), and an isochronous data trans
`mission mode (isochronous mode) which is Synchronized
`with an isochronous cycle of 8 KHZ (125 uS) which is
`generated by a device Serving as a cycle master to the bus.
`The asynchronous mode is generally used to transmit data
`in a mode which is not based on real time, and transmit a
`control Signal and a control command of a device. Further,
`the isochronous mode is used to transmit data which are
`required to be transmitted on a real-time basis, Such as data
`of moving pictures, audio data Such as music, playing of
`musical instruments, etc.
`FIG. 4 shows an aspect in which a signal Stream and a
`control command are multiplexed in the isochronous mode
`and the asynchronous mode respectively, and then transmit
`ted through the IEEE-1394 serial bus. A signal stream A is
`transmitted as packets PAa, PAb, PAC, PAd, PAe in the
`isochronous mode on the IEEE-1394 serial bus. Further, the
`packets C1, C2 of the command C are transmitted as packets
`PCa, PCb in the asynchronous mode on the IEEE-1394
`Serial bus.
`Likewise, a signal Stream B is transmitted as packets PBa,
`PBb, PBc in the isochronous mode on the IEEE-1394 serial
`bus. Further, packets D1, D2 of a command D are transmit
`ted as packets PDa, PDb in the asynchronous mode on the
`IEEE-1394 serial bus. In the isochronous mode, each packet
`is transmitted at a cycle of 125 uS on the IEEE-1394 serial
`bus. The transmission rate of the IEEE-1394 serial bus may
`be set to 100 Mbps (megabits/second), 300 Mbps and 400
`Mbps.
`Each device connected to the IEEE-1394 serial bus can
`transmit pictures, Voice and control commands to other
`devices at high Speed. The transmission distance of the
`IEEE-1394 serial bus between devices is equal to 4.5 meters
`at present, however, it may be considered to be increased to
`100 meters or more.
`AS described later, the remote control Signal transmitted
`from the bi-directional remote commander 27 shown in FIG.
`3 contains data representing a destination device to which
`the control command is transmitted. For example, when it
`contains data indicating the digital camcorder 25, the digital
`TV 21 which receives the remote control signal from the
`bi-directional remote commander 27 converts the control
`command corresponding to the remote control Signal to the
`asynchronous packet of the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26, and
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`transmits it through the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 to the
`digital camcorder 25.
`The digital camcorder 25 receives the control command
`which is transmitted as the asynchronous packet through the
`IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 from the digital TV 21, converts the
`response to the received control command to the data format
`of the asynchronous packet of the IEEE-1394 serial bus, and
`then transmits it through the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 to the
`digital TV 21.
`The digital TV 21 which receives the response from the
`digital camcorder 25 transmits the remote control Signal
`corresponding to the received response to the bi-directional
`remote commander 27. The bi-directional remote com
`mander 27 receives the remote control Signal transmitted
`from the digital TV 21 to display on a display device such
`as an LCD or the like characters, a figure or an icon which
`corresponds to the response from the digital camcorder 25.
`Next, the detailed construction and operation of the digital
`TV 21 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing
`the inner construction of the digital TV 21. A remote control
`Signal transmitting/receiving circuit 31 receives the remote
`control Signal corresponding to a predetermined control
`command from the bi-directional remote commander 27,
`and transmits the remote control Signal corresponding to the
`response to the bi-directional remote commander 27.
`A key input portion 32 is designed to input a control
`command by carrying out a key operation. A CPU 33 is
`designed to Supply the control command from the remote
`control Signal transmitting/receiving circuit 31 and the con
`trol command from the key input portion 32 to LINK-IC 36,
`and convert the signal supplied from the LINK-IC 36 to the
`control command and transmit it to the remote control Signal
`transmitting/receiving circuit 31.
`The isochronous portion of the LINK-IC 36 converts an
`input digital signal Stream to an isochronous packet and also
`converts an input isochronous packet to a digital Signal
`Stream. A decoder 35 converts a digital Signal Stream Sup
`plied from the isochronous portion of the LINK-IC 36 to
`Video or audio Signals, and outputs the Signals.
`PHY-IC 37 is designed to control the communication with
`the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 according to the protocol of the
`IEEE-1394 serial bus to transmit the isochronous packet
`supplied from the isochronous portion of the LINK-IC 36 to
`the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 and also supply an isochronous
`packet supplied through the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 to the
`isochronous portion of the LINK-IC 36. Further, it is
`designed to transmit the asynchronous packet Supplied from
`the asynchronous portion of the LINK-IC 36 to the IEEE
`1394 Serial buS 26 and also Supply an asynchronous packet
`supplied through the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 to the asyn
`chronous portion of the LINK-IC 36.
`The asynchronous portion of the LINK-IC 36 converts a
`control command supplied from the CPU 33 to an asyn
`chronous packet and also convert an asynchronous packet
`supplied from the PHY-IC 37 to a digital signal stream.
`Next, the operation will be described. The key input
`portion 32 is operated by a user, and a character array
`corresponding to an input control command and a remote
`control Signal corresponding to a control command from the
`bi-directional remote commander 27 which is input to a
`built-in reception portion of the remote control Signal
`transmitting/receiving circuit 31 are deciphered in the CPU
`33. The deciphered control command is supplied to the
`display 34 to display the corresponding character, figure,
`icon or the like in accordance with the content thereof,
`whereby the user can check the indicated control command.
`
`12
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`

`US 6,400,280 B1
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`15
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`25
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`7
`For example, when the digital camcorder 25 connected to
`the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 of FIG. 3 is indicated as a
`transmission destination to transmit a reproducing control
`command, the CPU 34 converts the control command to the
`data format of the asynchronous packet of the IEEE-1394
`Serial buS 26 to indicate the address of the digital camcorder
`25 to Destination ID. The asynchronous portion of the
`LINK-IC 36 converts the data to an asynchronous packet,
`and transmits it from the PHY-IC 37 onto the IEEE-1394
`Serial bus 26. The digital camcorder 25 transmits a response
`to the control command as an asynchronous packet of the
`IEEE-1394 serial bus to the digital TV 21, if necessary.
`The asynchronous packet corresponding to the response
`from the digital camcorder 25 which is returned through the
`IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 is input to the asynchronous portion
`of the LINK-IC 36 through the PHY-IC 37, converted to a
`digital signal stream and then supplied to the CPU 33. The
`CPU 33 converts the digital signal stream to the information
`corresponding to the response of the digital camcorder 25,
`and if necessary it generates the corresponding remote
`control Signal and returns it through the remote control
`Signal transmitting/receiving circuit 31 to the bi-directional
`remote commander 27. Further, if necessary, it Supplies the
`remote control Signal to the display 34 to display corre
`sponding characters, figure, icon or the like, whereby a user
`can recognize whether the digital camcorder 25 normally
`receives the control command.
`On the other hand, the digital camcorder 25 which
`receives the control command indicating the reproduction
`Starts the reproduction processing, converts reproduced digi
`tal video and audio Signals to the data format of the
`isochronous packet, and then transmits the data format
`through the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 to the digital TV 21.
`The isochronous packet corresponding to the reproduced
`Video/audio signal which is transmitted from the digital cam
`coder 25 through the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26 to the digital
`TV 21 is supplied to the isochronous portion of the LINK-IC
`36 through PHY-IC 37, and then converted to a digital signal
`stream. Thereafter, it is supplied to the decoder 35 and
`40
`Subjected to decode processing which corresponds to a
`System of compressing video or audio signals. Such as MPEG
`(Moving Picture Experts Group) 2 or SD (Super Density)
`format of DVCR, thereby expanding the compressed video
`data and audio data to be converted to original Video signals
`and audio Signals. The original Video signals are Supplied to
`the display 34, and displayed. Further, the audio signals are
`Supplied to a Speaker or the like, and output.
`As described above, the digital TV 21 can transmit a
`remote control Signal directed to a target other than itself to
`another device connected to the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26.
`Accordingly, for example, even when the digital camcorder
`25 and the digital TV 21 are put in different rooms, the user
`can control the digital camcorder 25 by using the
`bi-directional remote commander 27 from the room in which
`the digital TV 21 is put. Further, under the control of the
`CPU 33, the digital TV 21 performs the operation corre
`sponding to the remote control Signal Such as a channel
`Switching operation, a Volume adjusting operation or the
`like.
`In general, there are many devices receiving remote
`controls at home. In the case of FIG. 3, when plural devices
`receive remote control signals and transmit the data of
`asynchronous packets onto the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26, the
`bus is congested to induce erroneous control and erroneous
`responses. Therefore, a restriction is imposed on the number
`of devices which are allowed to convert a remote control
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`8
`Signal to the format of the asynchronous packet of the
`IEEE-1394 serial bus after it receives the remote control
`signal, and transmit it onto the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26. The
`CPU provided to each device is allowed to perform the
`above processing.
`Further, remote control Signals to a response are returned
`from plural devices, it is difficult for the bi-directional
`remote commander 27 to receive these remote control
`Signals. Therefore, a restriction is imposed on the number of
`devices which are allowed to return the data corresponding
`to the response onto the IEEE-1394 serial bus 26. The CPU
`provided to each device is also allowed to perform this
`processing. Accordingly, the congestion of the bus can be
`Suppressed.
`Next, a method of putting the remote control Signal on the
`asynchronous packet of the IEEE-1394 serial bus will be
`described. Devices connected to the IEEE-1394 serial bus
`are controlled by a function control protocol (FCP). FCP
`transmits a response as a control command with an asyn
`chronous packet.
`FIG. 6 shows the construction of Write request for data
`block packet of the asynchronous data transmission mode of
`the IEEE-1394 serial bus. FIG. 7 shows the construction of
`Write request for quadlet packet.
`In FIG. 6, in Destination ID is set an address of a packet
`transmission destination. In TL (transaction label) is set a
`label for discriminating plural transactions from one another
`when the plural transactions are issued. In Rt (retry code) is
`Set a code for indicating how to retry when the issuance of
`a transaction fails. In tcode is Set the type of a transaction.
`In Pri (priority) is set a priority of a transaction. In
`Destination offset is Set the address of a register corre
`sponding to a FCP frame as described later. In Data length
`is Set data length, and in Extended code is Set expanded
`tcode. Further, In Header CRC (Cyclic Redundancy
`Check: cyclic redundancy code) is set a cyclic redundancy
`code for performing an error correction control of the
`Header portion.
`In FIG. 7, tcode in the header portion of the packet of FIG.
`6 is set to 0000, and Quadlet data is set as an FCP frame in
`the Data length and Extended toode portions. When teode
`is set to 0000, Extended teode is unnecessary. The other
`portions are the same as the case of FIG. 6, and thus the
`description thereof is omitted.
`The payload of these two types of packets is called as FCP
`frame. When the length of the FCP frame is equa