U.S. patent application number 12/585145 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-31 for telephone set, communication adaptor, home appliance control method, and program recording medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Masakazu Hattori, Hiroshi Kakuda, Yoshitaka Ukita.
Application Number | 20090325567 12/585145 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18154690 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090325567 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ukita; Yoshitaka ; et
al. |
December 31, 2009 |
Telephone set, communication adaptor, home appliance control
method, and program recording medium
Abstract
The invention relates to a telephone set comprises a connection
means to execute a connecting process for enabling transmission and
reception of an information signal to and from a home appliance
such as a general audio device remote-controllable by radio
communication; a control means for generating, upon arrival of an
incoming call, a remote control signal such as a pause command to
the home appliance; and a radio communication means for sending the
remote control signal to the home appliance by radio communication.
Thus, upon arrival of an incoming call at the telephone set, the
remote control signal is sent to the audio device or the like
either directly from the telephone set or via a communication
adaptor installed therein, hence pausing or muting the output of
the audio device under remote control. Such control action enables
a user to perceive the incoming call with facility.
Inventors: |
Ukita; Yoshitaka; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kakuda; Hiroshi; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
Hattori; Masakazu; (Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
18154690 |
Appl. No.: |
12/585145 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11812604 |
Jun 20, 2007 |
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12585145 |
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09710129 |
Nov 10, 2000 |
7257398 |
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11812604 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/420 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72412 20210101;
H04M 1/72442 20210101; H04M 2250/02 20130101; H04M 1/6066 20130101;
H04M 1/72415 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/420 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/00 20060101
H04M003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 12, 1999 |
JP |
11-323439 |
Claims
1. A telephone set comprising: a connection means to execute a
connecting process for enabling transmission and reception of an
information signal to and from a home appliance remote-controllable
by radio communication; a control means for generating, upon
arrival of an incoming call, a remote control signal to said home
appliance; and a radio communication means for sending the remote
control signal to said home appliance by the radio
communication.
2-37. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a telephone set, a
communication adaptor, a home appliance control method, and a
program recording medium which are capable of remote-controlling a
home appliance such as an audio device upon arrival of an incoming
call.
[0002] There has been known heretofore a situation where a user
listening to an audio device fails to notice arrival of an incoming
call at a telephone set, since it is difficult to perceive the
ringing tone of the telephone set due to the sound being emitted
from headphones or speakers. For prevention of such inconvenience,
there is provided a system which mutes or temporarily stops the
audio device upon arrival of an incoming call at the telephone
set.
[0003] For example, a system is disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-open No. Hei 9-18797, wherein an audio device such as a radio
receiver or the like is informed of arrival of an incoming call at
a telephone set by an exclusive radio means. According to this
system, the audio device such as a radio receiver is muted in
response to the information indicative of the incoming call, and
then reproduces a prepared ringing tone to notify the user of the
incoming call.
[0004] In the system mentioned above, it is necessary to
additionally equip the audio device with exclusive hardware for
detecting arrival of an incoming call at the telephone set. And a
program is also required for controlling the operation at detection
of the incoming call. Consequently, it becomes necessary to employ
a specific audio device designed with an intention for notice of an
incoming call, or to employ a combination with an additional
unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
perform a control action of stopping the output of a home
appliance, such as a general audio device or the like, upon arrival
of an incoming call at a telephone set, thereby enabling a user to
perceive the incoming call with facility.
[0006] In the present invention, a remote-control signal is sent,
upon arrival of an incoming call at a telephone set, to a home
appliance such as an audio device remote-controllable by radio
communication, either directly from the telephone set or via a
communication adaptor, thereby stopping the output of the home
appliance under remote control.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a telephone set which comprises a connection means to
execute a connecting process for enabling transmission and
reception of an information signal to and from a home appliance
remote-controllable by radio communication; a control means for
generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a remote control
signal to the home appliance; and a radio communication means for
sending the remote control signal to the home appliance by radio
communication.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a communication adaptor installable in a telephone set.
The communication adaptor comprises a connection means to execute a
connecting process for enabling transmission and reception of an
information signal to and from a home appliance remote-controllable
by radio communication; a control means for generating, upon
arrival of an incoming call, a remote control signal to the home
appliance; and a radio communication means for sending the remote
control signal to the home appliance by radio communication.
[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a home appliance control method which comprises a
connection processing step for enabling transmission and reception
of an information signal to and from a home appliance
remote-controllable by radio communication; a remote-control signal
generating step for generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a
remote control signal to the home appliance; and a remote-control
signal sending step for sending the remote control signal to the
home appliance by radio communication.
[0010] And according to a fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a program recording medium where a home appliance
control program is recorded in such a manner as to be readable and
executable by a computer. The control program comprises a
connection processing step for enabling transmission and reception
of an information signal to and from a home appliance
remote-controllable by radio communication; a remote-control signal
generating step for generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a
remote control signal to the home appliance; and a remote-control
signal sending step for sending the remote control signal to the
home appliance by radio communication.
[0011] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following description which
will be given with reference to the illustrative accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an audio
system where the present invention is applied;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
principal components in a telephone set employed in the above audio
system;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
principal components in a CD player unit of a portable CD player in
the above audio system;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of
principal components in a remote-control headphone belonging to the
CD player unit;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram typically showing a protocol stack for
execution of communication by BT-adapted devices;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a diagram typically showing the composition of an
A/V protocol packet in the audio system;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a diagram typically showing the composition of a
data packet in the audio system;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a diagram typically showing the procedure of
communication between a telephone set and a portable CD player
based on a BT protocol;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a diagram typically showing the composition of an
FHS packet;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a diagram typically showing the procedure of
communication among three BT communication devices;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a diagram typically showing the state of a
piconet in communication among the three BT communication devices
in FIG. 10;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a diagram typically showing the other procedure
of communication between the telephone set and the portable CD
player based on the BT protocol;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a diagram typically showing the other procedure
of communication among three BT communication devices;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a diagram typically showing the state of a
piconet in communication among the three BT communication devices
in FIG. 13;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a diagram typically showing another procedure of
communication among three BT communication devices; and
[0027] FIG. 16 is a diagram typically showing a further procedure
of communication between the telephone set and the portable CD
player based on the BT protocol.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Hereinafter some preferred embodiments of the present
invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0029] The present invention is applied to an audio system of such
a structure as shown in FIG. 1 for example.
[0030] The audio system shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with, as an
audio device to be controlled by a telephone set 100 upon arrival
of an incoming call, a portable CD player 200 which consists of a
player unit 210 having a Bluetooth communication function and a
headphone 240 with a remote control function.
[0031] Bluetooth (hereinafter referred to as BT) is a term of
short-distance radio communication technology of which activity for
standardization was started by five American, European and Japanese
companies in May, 1998. According to this BT communication, its
maximum data transfer rate is set to 1 Mbits/second (effectively,
721 kbits/second), and its maximum transmission distance is set to
10 meters. And a total of 79 channels each having a bandwidth of 1
MHz are allocated to an ISM (Industrial Scientific) band of 2.4 GHz
available by users without license, wherein radio waves are
transmitted by frequency-hopping spectrum spread technology in
which channels are switched 1600 times per second. Devices adapted
for such BT communication are separated into a master for
determining a frequency hopping pattern and slaves opposite in
communication. A master is capable of communicating with seven
slaves simultaneously. A subnet consisting of a maximum of eight
devices including a master and slaves is termed a piconet. The
slaves included in a piconet are permitted to serve as slaves in
two or more piconets simultaneously.
[0032] The portable CD player 200 has antennas 221, 223 for BT
radio communication in the CD player unit 210 and the
remote-control headphone 240 respectively. In this portable CD
player 200, music data reproduced by the CD player unit 210 are
transmitted from the CD player unit 210 to the remote-control
headphone 240. Meanwhile, when a remote control command button 249
attached to the remote-control headphone 240 is manipulated by the
user, a corresponding control command is sent to the CD player unit
210.
[0033] Upon detection of an incoming call by a telephone antenna
101, the telephone set 100 emits a ringing tone from a speaker 107.
This telephone set 100 is equipped also with a function to perform
BT radio communication and has a BT antenna 111 for such
communication.
[0034] In this embodiment where the telephone set 100 emits the
same control signal as one transmitted from the remote-control
headphone 240 to the CD player unit 210, relevant devices to be
employed here are those conforming with the "Bluetooth" standards
for radio communication. And "A/V protocol" is defined as one of
transport layer protocols in the BT communication, and A/V device
control commands are used for remote control.
[0035] Upon detection of an incoming call, the telephone set 100
interrupts the communication between the CD player unit 210 and the
remote-control headphone 240. Then a command for temporarily
pausing the reproduction is sent from the telephone set 100 to the
CD player unit 210. And simultaneously with execution of such
temporary pause of the reproduction in the CD player unit 210, the
sound being emitted from the headphone 240 is brought to a stop.
Consequently, the user is enabled to easily perceive the ringing
tone outputted from his telephone set 100.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of principal components in
the telephone set 100.
[0037] This telephone set 100 comprises a telephone antenna 101 for
connection and communication with a public telephone network such
as PHS or portable telephone, and a BT antenna 111 for BT
communication. The telephone antenna 101 serves to transmit and
receive radio waves of 1.9 GHz and 800 MHz-1.5 GHz. Meanwhile the
BT antenna 111 serves to transmit and receive radio waves of a 2.4
GHz band.
[0038] A modem 103 is connected to the telephone antenna 101 via an
RF processor 102, and a baseband processor 113 is connected to the
BT antenna 111 via an RF processor 112. And a microcomputer 105 is
connected to the modem 103 and the baseband processor 113.
[0039] A memory 104 and a voice codec processor 106 are connected
to the microcomputer 105. Further, a speaker 107 and a microphone
108 are connected to the voice codec processor 106.
[0040] The RF processor 102 and the modem 103 demodulate the analog
signal received by the telephone antenna 101, and then convert the
received signal into digital data. Contrary thereto, the RF
processor 102 and the modem 103 modulate digital data (voice data)
to be transmitted into analog radio wave signal, and then transmit
the same from the telephone antenna 101.
[0041] After processing the data received from the modem 103, the
microcomputer 105 delivers the data to the voice codec processor
106. Subsequently in the voice codec processor 106, the voice
converted into a communication format is returned to its former
state and then is reproduced by the speaker 107. Meanwhile the
voice inputted via the microphone 108 is converted into
communication data by the voice codec processor 106 and after being
processed through the microcomputer 105, the modem 103 and the RF
processor 102, the data are finally transmitted from the telephone
antenna 101.
[0042] The microcomputer 105 further executes a process relative to
a user interface of the telephone set 100, and also a process
relative to BT communication. A program for operating the
microcomputer 105 is stored previously in the memory 104. This
memory 104 further stores data to be saved temporarily during the
processing by the microcomputer 105.
[0043] Data transmitted by BT communication are commands for
controlling the CD player unit 210 from the telephone set 100.
These data are generated through processing by the microcomputer
105 and then are delivered to the baseband processor 113.
Subsequently the baseband processor 113 converts the data, which
have been delivered from the microcomputer 105, into a packet
suited for BT communication. In this stage, a code for error
correction and detection is added together with various data for
communication. The data generated by the baseband processor 113 and
delivered to the RF processor 112 are converted into analog data to
be transmitted. The RF processor 112 modulates the delivered
digital data and then sends the same as radio waves of a 2.4 GHz
band from the BT antenna 111. The carrier frequency is selected by
frequency hopping in a manner to be different per slot (group of
data).
[0044] Meanwhile, received data include replies to the control
commands sent from the telephone set 100 to the CD player unit 210
for example. These replies represent information signifying whether
the command has been received properly, or whether desired control
has been executed in response to the command. The signal received
by the BT antenna 111 is demodulated and converted by the RF
processor 112 into digital data, and then an error check and so
forth are executed in the baseband processor 113. Thereafter the
data are delivered to the microcomputer 105, where the relevant
process is executed.
[0045] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of principal components of
the CD player unit 210 in the portable CD player 200.
[0046] The CD player unit 210 comprises a spindle motor 212 for
rotating a compact disc (CD) 211; a pickup 213 for optically
reading out signals from the CD 211; a servo circuit 214 connected
to the spindle motor 212 and the pickup 213; a demodulator 215
connected to the pickup 213; a microcomputer 216 connected to the
demodulator 215; a baseband processor 219 connected to the
demodulator 215 via an encoder 218; and a BT antenna 221 connected
to the baseband processor 219 via an RF processor 220.
[0047] In the CD player unit 210, the spindle motor 212 rotates the
CD 211 under control of the servo circuit 214. At this time, the
pickup 213 reads out the signals from the CD 211 and then supplies
the same to the demodulator 215. Subsequently the demodulator 215
converts the signals, which have been read out by the pickup 213,
into digital data with execution of error correction, thereby
reproducing the original music data.
[0048] In the CD player unit 210, the data reproduced by the
demodulator 215 are supplied further to the encoder 218 so as to
send the music data to the remote-control headphone 240 by BT radio
communication. Then the encoder 218 converts the input music data
into a format (MP3, ADPCM, ATRAC, etc.) specified by the BT A/V
protocol. And the data thus converted are transmitted finally from
the BT antenna 221 via the baseband processor 219 and the RF
processor 220.
[0049] The microcomputer 216 sends various control commands to the
peripheral processing blocks or receives therefrom the information
relative to the state. The microcomputer 216 further processes the
user interface in the CD player unit 210 and the control commands
from the remote-control headphone 240. The control command from the
remote-control headphone 240 is received by the BT antenna 221 and
then is interpreted in the microcomputer 216 via the RF processor
220 and the baseband processor 219.
[0050] A program prepared for operating the microcomputer 216 is
described in a memory 217 connected to the microcomputer 216. Other
memories used temporarily for the processing in the microcomputer
216 are also included in this memory 217.
[0051] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of principal components in
the remote-control headphone 240 belonging to the CD player unit
210.
[0052] The remote-control headphone 240 is equipped with a BT
antenna 241 for BT communication. A baseband processor 243 is
connected to the BT antenna 241 via an RF processor 242. And a
microcomputer 245 is connected to the baseband processor 243.
[0053] An input unit 244, a memory 246 and a decoder 247 are
connected to the microcomputer 245. And a headphone 248 is
connected to the decoder 247.
[0054] In the remote-control headphone 240, the BT antenna 241
receives music data transmitted from the CD player unit 210. The
music data are demodulated by the RF processor 242 and, after
conversion thereof into digital data, an error check and so forth
are executed by the baseband processor 243. Subsequently the
microcomputer 245 unifies the packets divided for transmission, and
reproduces the data outputted from the encoder 218 of the CD player
unit 210. Then the decoder 247 restores the same to the original
music data and emits the sound thereof from the headphone 248.
[0055] Meanwhile, when the user manipulates a command button 249 of
the remote controller, the input unit 244 detects it and notifies
the microcomputer 245 of such manipulation. Then the microcomputer
245 interprets it as a command, and generates command data in
accordance with the BT A/V protocol. Subsequently the command data
thus generated are transmitted from the BT antenna 241 via the
baseband processor 243 and the RF processor 242.
[0056] A program prepared for operating the microcomputer 245 is
described in a memory 246 connected to the microcomputer 245. Other
memories used temporarily for the processing in the microcomputer
245 are also included in this memory 246.
[0057] Next, FIG. 5 shows a protocol stack for executing
communication by each BT-adapted device.
[0058] In a physical layer (R/F 501), digital data are converted
into analog data and then are transmitted from the antenna. Primary
modulation thereof is performed in accordance with the sequence of
0, 1 of the digital data, and the modulated data are transmitted
through superposition on a 2.4 GHz-band carrier. The carrier is
switched continuously by frequency hopping which changes the
carrier frequency per data transmission (slot).
[0059] Transmission and reception of data are performed alternately
per slot. In a reception slot, the 2.4 GHz-band carrier is removed
from the signal received by the antenna, and then demodulation
thereof is performed to extract the digital data having the
sequence of 0, 1. Although the frequency of the carrier to be
removed is continuously changed by frequency hopping, the hopping
sequence relative to each opposite device in communication is known
previously.
[0060] A main role of a link layer (Baseband 502) is to control
retransmission of the data.
[0061] A variety of communication information are additionally
attached to the original data before transmission to the opposite
device in communication. Upon reception of the data, a reply is
sent back as to whether the data have been received properly or
not. In the case of failure in proper reception, a request for
retransmission of the data is sent. And if the opposite device
fails to receive the data even with repeated transmission thereof,
the transmission is given up after a predetermined number of times.
In the case of overflow of the receiving buffer, a temporary pause
of the transmission is requested to the opposite device.
[0062] In addition to such information relative to communication
control, some other codes for error detection and correction are
also attached to the data for enhancing the performance against any
error that may be caused in the communication channel.
[0063] A link layer (LMP (Link Management Protocol) 503) is used
for controlling the link state to a destination connected in BT
communication, including the following items.
[0064] Establishment and release of connected state
[0065] Mode control according to presence or absence of data to be
transmitted or received, and communication frequency
[0066] Switching of kinds of packets according to state of
communication channel
[0067] Authentication for permitting data communication Encryption
in data communication
[0068] In a link layer (L2CAP (Logical Link Control &
Adaptation Protocol) 504), logical channels are defined. Two BT
communication devices are physically linked through a single
communication channel, and a plurality of logical channels can be
defined here. Consequently, it becomes possible to realize
simultaneous transmission and reception of the data of various
high-order protocols. And when the data size delivered from the
high-order protocol is great, the data are subdivided into packets
defined in the Baseband 502. The data are subdivided on the
transmitting side, and such data are restructured to the former
great cluster on the receiving side.
[0069] The processing executed in the link layer L2CAP 504 includes
interchange of information with the opposite device in BT
communication, relative to the data transfer rate and the response
speed to the transmission.
[0070] In a transport layer (A/V protocol 505), there are
prescribed music data in BT communication, transmission and
reception of video data, and commands for controlling an A/V
device, and an A/V protocol packet is generated as shown in FIG. 6,
where destination ID, source ID, response/command, contents of
command, and control command information composed of CH, NO and so
forth are subdivided for transmission and are contained in a
payload area of the baseband packet in BT communication. With
regard to music and video data, a format is determined inclusive of
the kinds of data (MP3, ATRAC, MPEG4) to be transferred as a
stream, quality (transfer rate, compression ratio) and so forth,
and a data packet is generated as shown in FIG. 7, where the format
and the data are contained in a payload area of the baseband packet
in BT communication. As for control commands, there are defined
those relevant to controlling the states of the A/V device, such as
reproduction, stop, temporary pause, fast-forward and so forth.
[0071] In an application layer (506) above the transport layer (A/V
protocol 505), a program is described with regard to the operation
performed actually in each device. This portion is different
depending on the individual device.
[0072] According to the telephone set 100 in this embodiment where
the A/V device is remote-controlled, the peripheral A/V device is
brought to a stop upon arrival of an incoming call, so that the
user of the A/V device is notified of the incoming call.
[0073] The CD player unit 210 transmits the reproduced music to the
remote-control headphone 240, and further functions to pause or
mute the CD player in response to a control command from the
remote-control headphone 240 or the telephone set 100.
[0074] The remote-control headphone 240 reproduces the music
received from the CD player unit 210, and further transmits, as an
A/V control command, the result of manipulation of the command
button 249 by the user, to the CD player unit 210.
[0075] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of communication executed between
the telephone set 100 and the portable CD player 200 in conformity
with the BT protocol. This routine is separated into the first half
for establishing a link and enabling data communication, and the
latter half for sending a remote control signal from the telephone
set 100 to the CD player unit 210.
[0076] First, the telephone set 100 sends an inquiry message and
acquires information of the peripheral devices (S1).
[0077] The device having received the inquiry message makes a reply
with an FHS packet (S2).
[0078] As shown in FIG. 9, the FHS packet contains BD_ADDR
(Bluetooth Device Address) and CoD (Class of Device). BD_ADDR is
48-bit ID assigned to the relevant device. A unique code is
assigned solely to each device. CoD represents the class of the
relevant device. Such information is used for identifying the
telephone set 100, the CD player unit 210, the headphone 240 and so
forth.
[0079] When the telephone set has completely acquired the
information of the peripheral devices, a link is established to the
target device to be controlled (i.e., CD player unit 210 in this
example).
[0080] A step to be executed first is transmission of a page
message (S3). The page message includes BD_ADDR of the target
device to be connected.
[0081] Upon reception of the page message, the device specified by
BD_ADDR, i.e., the CD player unit 210, sends back a response
therefrom (S5).
[0082] When the telephone set 100 has received the response from
the CD player unit 210, the telephone set 100 transmits information
which is contained in an FHS packet and relates to participation of
the CD player unit 210 in a piconet where the telephone set 100
serves as a master (S5). "Piconet" is a term employed in BT
communication, and it signifies a star type network formed with one
central master device. Any other device than the master is called a
slave. The FHS packet contains intra-piconet ID assigned by the
master telephone set 100 to the slave CD player unit 210. This ID
corresponds to AM_ADDR (Active Member Address), and a maximum of
seven (from 1 to 7) ID are assigned within one piconet. The FHS
packet further contains some other information including the
frequency hopping sequence of the master and the clock phase
thereof. In subsequent data communication, the CD player unit 210
uses such frequency hopping and clock information notified by the
FHS packet.
[0083] Due to the processing mentioned above, coincidence is
attained between the telephone set 100 and the CD player unit 210
with regard to the frequency hopping sequence and the clock phase,
thereby achieving a physically communicable state. Such a state
ready for communication with assignment of AM_ADDR is termed an
active mode.
[0084] Next, a connection request for actually controlling the CD
player unit 210 is sent from the telephone set 100 (S7).
[0085] The CD player unit 210 sends an authentication request for
permitting control from only the known telephone set 100 (e.g., of
the user of the CD player) notified previously (S8).
[0086] In the authentication, the telephone set 100 sends an
obtained authentication value based on a password preset between
the telephone set 100 and the CD player unit 210 (S9).
[0087] In BT, PIN (Personal Identification Number) corresponds to
this password.
[0088] Upon success of the authentication procedure, the CD player
unit 210 notifies the telephone set 100 of such a result (S10).
[0089] Subsequently, it becomes actually possible to control the CD
player unit 210 from the telephone set 100.
[0090] In this embodiment, however, control of the CD player unit
210 by the telephone set 100 is executed only at the time of an
incoming call. Then, BT communication of the CD player unit 210 to
the telephone set 100 is placed in a park mode (S11, S12).
[0091] In the park mode, the CD player unit 210 is disconnected
from the piconet where the telephone set 100 serves as a master,
and AM_ADDR assigned thereto is released. The frequency hopping
sequence and the clock phase are still left in synchronism with the
intra-piconet communication so as to be readily returned to the
piconet later.
[0092] When it becomes necessary to control the CD player unit 210
from the telephone set 100 upon arrival of an incoming call, BT
communication of the CD player unit 210 to the telephone set 100 is
returned from the park mode to the active mode (S13, S14). In this
case, AM_ADDR unused in the piconet with the telephone set 100
serving as a master is assigned to the CD player unit 210.
[0093] Subsequently, transmission of the A/V control command from
the telephone set 100 (S15) and reception of the response from the
CD player unit 210 (S16) are executed repeatedly and, after
termination thereof, the CD player unit 210 is placed in the park
mode again (S17, S18).
[0094] Next, the communication procedure carried out among three BT
communication devices will be described below with reference to
FIG. 10 which shows a flowchart of communication executed among the
three BT communication devices, i.e., the telephone set 100, the CD
player unit 210 and the remote-control headphone 240.
[0095] It is premised here that, as shown in FIG. 11, two piconets
P1 and P2 are existent among the three devices, and the CD player
unit 210 belongs to both of such piconets. In BT communication, a
group of piconets where some devices are partially duplicate is
termed a scatter-net. One is a piconet P1 where the CD player unit
210 serves as a master, while the remote-control headphone 240
serves as a slave. Its fundamental operation is to transmit music
data from the CD player 210 to the remote-control headphone 240. In
case the user has manipulated the remote controller, an A/V control
command is sent from the remote-control headphone 240 to the CD
player unit 210. The other is a piconet P2 where the telephone set
100 serves as a master, while the CD player unit 210 serves as a
slave.
[0096] As shown in the communication flowchart of FIG. 8, the CD
player unit 210 in the piconet P2 is placed basically in the park
mode. And only when it becomes necessary, upon arrival of an
incoming call, to stop the CD player unit 210 by manipulating the
remote controller from the telephone set 100, the CD player unit
210 is switched to the active mode to perform transmission and
reception of data.
[0097] Placing the CD player unit 210 in the park mode relates
merely to BT communication with the telephone set 100, and it is
different in regard to BT communication with the remote-control
headphone 240.
[0098] First, the CD player unit 210 is transmitting music data to
the remote-control headphone 240 (S21).
[0099] If an incoming call arrives during such transmission, the
telephone set 100 switches the CD player unit 210 from the park
mode to the active mode (S22, S23).
[0100] Then a pause command is sent (S24).
[0101] The CD player unit 210 executes its operation in compliance
with the command, and notifies the result thereof (S25). At this
point of time, transmission of data from the CD player unit 210 to
the headphone 240 is brought to a stop.
[0102] Thereafter the telephone set 100 switches the CD player unit
210 to the park mode again (S26, S27).
[0103] When the CD player unit 210 held in its pause is to be
placed in a playing state for reproduction, the user manipulates
the remote-control headphone 240. Then a play command is sent to
the CD player unit 210 (S28). And upon start of play (S29),
transmission of the music data is resumed from the CD player unit
210 to the remote-control headphone 240 (S30).
[0104] As described above, arrival of an incoming call is rendered
noticeable by utilizing the telephone set 100 and the A/V device
equipped with a function of BT communication. When it is possible
to transmit, from the telephone set 100, a command for controlling
the A/V device, the playing operation of the peripheral audio
device can be paused upon arrival of an incoming call, thereby
enabling the user to easily perceive the ringing of the telephone
set 100.
[0105] Further, in case an A/V stream can be transmitted from the
telephone set, the ringing tone emitted upon arrival of an incoming
call may be sent to the speaker or headphone of the peripheral A/V
device to thereby realize an incoming-call notice function.
[0106] The arrangement may be so modified that, when an incoming
call has arrived at the user's home telephone set for example, a
ringing tone is emitted from the speaker of a stereo apparatus
installed in some other place than the room with the telephone set.
In this case, it is supposed that all the telephone set, the stereo
apparatus and the speaker are adapted for BT communication. The
telephone set transmits a ringing tone to the speaker after pause
of music reproduction in the stereo apparatus by a manipulation of
its remote controller. In this manner, it becomes possible for the
user to perceive arrival of an incoming call from a separate room
without the necessity of increasing the ringing tone volume in the
telephone set.
[0107] The above-described advantage is achievable also by
combining the telephone set 100, the CD player unit 210 and the
remote-control headphone 240 explained in regard to the embodiment.
Upon arrival of an incoming call, reproduction of music in the CD
player unit 210 is first brought to a stop by remote control from
the telephone set 100, and then a ringing tone is transmitted to
the headphone 240. As a result, even if the ringing tone of the
telephone set 100 is kept in an off-state, the user with the
headphone 240 is enabled to perceive arrival of an incoming
call.
[0108] According to the result of the inquiry (S2) made in the
communication flow of FIG. 8 mentioned above, the target device to
be controlled from the telephone set 100 is merely one CD player
unit 210 alone.
[0109] In case there are a plurality of target devices to be
controlled from the telephone set 100 and the entire devices need
to be controlled upon arrival of an incoming call, the processes
from S3 to S12 are executed, after reception of the result of the
inquiry (S2), with regard to each target device to be controlled.
And upon arrival of an incoming call, the processes from S13 to S18
are executed with regard to each target device to be
controlled.
[0110] In the communication flow of FIG. 8, if the telephone set
100 previously knows, from the beginning, the information of the
opposite device to be connected, then the process of searching the
device can be omitted.
[0111] That is, the communication at steps S1 and S2 is
omissible.
[0112] It is also possible to contrive such use that the CD player
unit 210 accepts control from the entire devices without
authentication. In this case, steps S8 and S9 are skipped.
[0113] It is further possible to omit the process of switching the
connection between the telephone set 100 and the CD player unit 210
to the park mode. FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of communication in
this case. It is premised here that the telephone set 100
previously knows BD_ADDR, CoD and so forth of the CD player unit
210. For establishing a link with the CD player unit 210, the
telephone set 100 starts its operation from issue of a page command
(S51).
[0114] Upon reception of such a page command, the CD player unit
210 returns a response (S52).
[0115] Then, the telephone set 100 having received the response
sends to the CD player unit 210 an FHS packet which contains the
information of AM_ADDR, frequency hopping sequence, clock phase and
so forth, thereby notifying the CD player unit 210 of such
information (S53).
[0116] After the CD player unit 210 having received the FHS packet
returns a response (S54), a physical link is established between
the telephone set 100 and the CD player unit 210, so that BT
communication is rendered possible.
[0117] Next, a request for logical connection is sent to enable
actual control of the CD player unit 210 from the telephone set 100
(S55).
[0118] Subsequently, the CD player unit 210 returns a request for
authentication to the telephone set (S56), so as to prevent
non-permitted control from any unspecified device.
[0119] In reply to the authentication request, the telephone set
100 sends an authentication value calculated with regard to the CD
player unit 210 (S57), and then the CD player unit 210 executes
authentication in accordance with the received value.
[0120] Upon success of the procedure for authentication, the CD
player unit 210 notifies the telephone set 100 of the result
(S58).
[0121] After the above process, actual control of the CD player
unit 210 from the telephone set 100 is rendered possible.
[0122] In this embodiment, however, such control of the CD player
unit 210 from the telephone set 100 is performed merely at the time
of arrival of an incoming call. In any other case, a POLL packet is
sent periodically from the telephone set 100 to the CD player unit
210 (S59). The CD-player unit 210 having received a POLL packet
returns a response (S60).
[0123] The POLL packet is used when the master device (telephone
set 100 in this example) executes a check as to whether the slave
device (CD player unit 210 in this example) is within a
communicable area or not.
[0124] In case the telephone set 100 controls the CD player unit
210, there are executed transmission of an AV control command (S61)
and reception of a command response (S62).
[0125] In the communication flow of FIG. 12, as described above, a
BT link is previously established between the telephone set 100 and
the CD player 210, and upon arrival of an incoming call, the CD
player unit 210 is controlled from the telephone set 100.
[0126] Differing from the above, there may be contrived another
method which establishes a BT link between the telephone set 100
and the CD player unit 210 upon arrival of an incoming call, and
disconnecting the link after control of the CD player unit 210 from
the telephone set 100.
[0127] FIG. 13 shows a communication flow in such a case.
[0128] At first, the CD player unit 210 is transmitting music data
to the speaker (S83).
[0129] If an incoming call arrives during the above transmission,
the telephone set 100 sends a page command to the CD player unit
210 (S71). After this step, the communication between the telephone
set 100 and the CD player unit 210 is executed in the interval of
the communication between the CD player unit 210 and the
speaker.
[0130] The CD player unit 210 having received the page command
returns a response (S72).
[0131] Then, the telephone set 100 having received the response
sends an FHS packet to the CD player unit 210, thereby notifying it
of the information inclusive of AM_ADDR, frequency hopping
sequence, clock phase and so forth (S73).
[0132] After the CD player unit 210 having received the FHS packet
returns a response (S74), a physical link is established between
the telephone set 100 and the CD player unit 210, whereby BT
communication is rendered possible.
[0133] Subsequently, a request for logical connection is sent to
enable actual control of the CD player unit 210 from the telephone
set 100 (S75).
[0134] When necessary, if the CD player unit 210 permits connection
with the telephone set 100 after termination of the authentication
procedure, the telephone set 100 is notified of the result
(S76).
[0135] After this step, control of the CD player unit 210 from the
telephone set 100 is rendered actually possible.
[0136] Then the telephone set 100 sends a pause command to the CD
player unit 210 (S77).
[0137] The CD player unit 210 having received the command returns a
response (S78), and stops its playing operation temporarily
(S84).
[0138] In this situation, the user is enabled to perceive the
ringing tone of the telephone set 100 and can therefore answer the
call. In this embodiment, the connection between the telephone set
100 and the CD player unit 210 is continuously maintained during
such period of time.
[0139] When the user has hung up the telephone set 100, the
telephone set 100 sends a play command to the CD player unit 210
(S79).
[0140] Upon reception of this command, the CD player unit 210
returns a response (S78), and then resumes its playing operation
(S85).
[0141] In reply to this response, the telephone set 100 sends a
request for disconnecting the link with the CD player unit 210
(S81), and thus the entire processing routine is completed at the
time of receiving the OK response (S82).
[0142] In the aforementioned communication flow shown in FIG. 10,
pausing the playing operation of the CD player unit 210 is
performed from the telephone set 100, while resuming the playing
operation thereof is performed from the remote-control headphone
240. However, as in the communication flow of FIG. 13, it is also
possible to control both pause and resumption of the operation of
the CD player unit 210 from the telephone set 100.
[0143] Further in the communication flow of FIG. 13, the telephone
set 100 merely pauses the playing operation of the CD player unit
210 upon arrival of an incoming call. However, the configuration
may be so modified that, in addition thereto, the telephone set 100
also sends a ringing tone to the speaker.
[0144] In this case, the connection between the devices is such as
shown in FIG. 14, wherein two piconets constitute the system.
[0145] One is a piconet where the CD player unit 210 serves as a
master, while the speaker 300 serves as a slave. And the other is a
piconet where the telephone set 100 serves a master, while the CD
player unit 210 and the speaker 300 serve as two slaves.
[0146] The speaker 300 is capable of receiving audio data from both
of the telephone set 100 and the CD player unit 210, and reproduces
the received data.
[0147] The CD player unit 210 is controllable from the telephone
set 100 and, in case a control command is sent from the telephone
set 100, performs its operation in compliance with the command.
[0148] It is supposed here that the connection between the devices
in the above piconet is formed in advance through the processes at
steps S1 to S10 in the processing flow of FIG. 8. FIG. 15 shows the
operation performed upon arrival of an incoming call.
[0149] At first, the CD player unit 210 is transmitting music data
to the speaker (S106).
[0150] If an incoming call arrives during the above transmission,
the telephone set 100 sends a pause command to the CD player unit
210 (S101).
[0151] The CD player unit 210 having received the pause command
returns a response (S102), and stops its playing operation
temporarily (S107).
[0152] Subsequently, the telephone set 100 sends an incoming-call
notice tone to the speaker 300 (S103), so that the tone is
reproduced from the speaker 300. The sound thus reproduced is
brought to a stop automatically after a lapse of a predetermined
time.
[0153] When the user has hung up the telephone set 100, the
telephone set 100 sends a play command to the CD player unit 210
(S104).
[0154] Upon reception of this command, the CD player unit 210
returns a response (S105), and then resumes its playing operation
(S109).
[0155] The example mentioned above is premised on that the packet
format of control commands is standardized in the detail. In this
case, it is ensured that any control command sent from the
telephone set 100 can be interpreted by the CD player unit 210.
[0156] However, there may exist some cases where the packet format
of the control commands is different, either entirely or partially,
depending on the types of devices or makers thereof.
[0157] One exemplary case is such that, in the AV protocol packet
of FIG. 6, the area relative to the contents of commands (play,
stop, mute, etc.) is common but the format of option parameters is
different.
[0158] FIG. 16 shows a setup procedure executed in such a case.
[0159] The flow from inquiry to authentication (S121-S130) in FIG.
16 is exactly the same as that from inquiry to authentication
(S1-S10) in FIG. 8.
[0160] In this example, however, the telephone set 100 sends, after
connection through authentication, a request to the CD player unit
210 for acquiring details of a command packet to be transmitted at
the time of control (131).
[0161] This request packet contains data signifying the contents of
commands (play, stop, mute, etc.). And a command packet containing
default values in its option area is returned as a reply packet
(S132).
[0162] Communications at steps S131 and S132 are executed
correspondingly to the number of commands required for subsequent
control.
[0163] When the telephone set 100 controls the CD player unit 210
hereafter, the packet returned here is sent as a command packet.
The communication flow at the time of control is exactly the same
as that in FIGS. 10, 13 and 15.
[0164] According to the present invention, a remote control signal
is sent, upon arrival of an incoming call, either directly from a
telephone set or via a communication adaptor to a home appliance
such as an audio device which is remote-controllable by radio
communication, and thus the output of the home appliance can be
brought to a stop under such control, thereby enabling the user to
easily notice arrival of the incoming call.
[0165] In the present invention, therefore, if the home appliance
such as an audio device is remote-controllable through radio
communication and is adapted for BT communication, it is possible
to execute desired control from a telephone set in response to
arrival of an incoming call. Consequently, it is not necessary to
design the home appliance for complying with notice of an incoming
call or to use the home appliance in combination with any
additional unit. Further, due to employment of an authentication
function in BT communication, only the specified home appliance
alone can be stopped upon arrival of an incoming call. Thus, there
exists no anxiety about erroneous response to any telephone call
for some other person. And in case a plurality of home appliances
are existent in the peripheral vicinity of the telephone set, it is
possible to modify the arrangement in a manner to prohibit the
telephone set from stopping a certain appliance or device.
* * * * *