U.S. patent application number 13/532320 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-18 for portable terminal and method for remote control of electronic products.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Soon-Jin Kim, Jae-Ser Lee.
Application Number | 20120263477 13/532320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33411758 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120263477 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Jae-Ser ; et
al. |
October 18, 2012 |
Portable Terminal and Method for Remote Control of Electronic
Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for remote control of electronic products
using a portable terminal. The portable terminal performs a remote
control function in the remote control mode. When communication is
tried during the remote control mode, the portable terminal
terminates the remote control mode and displays the communication
state to provide a communication service upon a user's selection.
When the communication ends, the portable terminal returns to the
remote control mode.
Inventors: |
Lee; Jae-Ser; (Kumi-shi,
KR) ; Kim; Soon-Jin; (Kumi-shi, KR) |
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
33411758 |
Appl. No.: |
13/532320 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10681107 |
Oct 9, 2003 |
8207883 |
|
|
13532320 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
398/112 ;
340/12.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C 17/02 20130101;
G08C 2201/93 20130101; G08C 2201/20 20130101; H04N 21/42226
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
398/112 ;
340/12.24 |
International
Class: |
H04B 10/04 20060101
H04B010/04; G05B 11/01 20060101 G05B011/01 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 18, 2003 |
KR |
2003-39421 |
Claims
1. A method for remote control of electronic products using a
portable terminal, which comprises the steps of: 1) performing a
remote control mode for establishing a remote controller setting
suitable for a plurality of electronic product; 2) converting the
portable terminal to a remote control setting mode; 3) selecting
one of the plurality of electronic products controllable by a
remote control mode; 4) selecting one of manufactures controllable
by the remote control mode; 5) displaying the selected electronic
product and the selected manufacturer; and 6) establishing a
suitable remote controller setting for the selected electronic
product and the selected manufacturer, wherein the suitable remote
controller setting conforms properties of the selected electronic
product and the selected manufacturer.
2. The method according to the claim 1, further comprising the
steps of: repeating the 3)-5) steps until the remote control
setting mode is terminated.
3. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the electronic
products include at least one of video cassette recorders (VCR),
television (TV), cable television (CATV), audio systems and
radios.
4. The method according to the claim 1, wherein the step of 3)
comprises the steps of: 3-1) selecting one of the plurality of
electronic products controllable by a remote control mode; and 3-2)
displaying a plurality of manufactures of the selected electronic
products.
5. The method according to the claim 1, further comprising the
steps of: determining whether the remote control setting mode has
been terminated; and implementing a remote control function
according to the suitable remote controller setting when the remote
control setting mode has been terminated.
6. A portable terminal for remote control of electronic products,
which comprises: a display section; a generalized programming
input/output port for oscillating a remote control pulse according
to a selected manufacturer; an infrared (IR) modulating/sending
section for modulating the oscillated remote control pulse to an
infrared ray and sending the infrared ray; and a control section is
adapted to, perform a remote control mode for establishing a remote
controller setting suitable for a plurality of electronic product,
convert to a remote control setting mode, select one of the
plurality of electronic products controllable by a remote control
mode, select one of manufactures controllable by the remote control
mode, display the selected electronic product and the selected
manufacturer and establish a suitable remote controller setting for
the selected electronic product and the selected manufacturer,
wherein the suitable remote controller setting conforms properties
of the selected electronic product and the selected
manufacturer.
7. The apparatus according to the claim 6, wherein the control
section is adapted to repeat the selecting the electronic products
and one of manufactures and displaying the selected electronic
product and the selected manufacturer until the remote control
setting mode is terminated.
8. The apparatus according to the claim 6, wherein the electronic
products include at least one of video cassette recorders (VCR),
television (TV), cable television (CATV), audio systems and
radios.
9. The apparatus according to the claim 6, wherein the control
section is adapted to select one of the plurality of electronic
products controllable by a remote control mode and display a
plurality of manufactures of the selected electronic products.
10. The apparatus according to the claim 6, wherein the control
section is adapted to determine whether the remote control setting
mode has been terminated and implement a remote control function
according to the suitable remote controller setting when the remote
control setting mode has been terminated.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application Serial No. 2003-39421 entitled "Portable Terminal and
Method for Remote Control of Electronic Products" filed in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 18, 2003, and U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/681,107, filed Oct. 9, 2003, the
content of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a portable terminal having
a remote control function, and more particularly to a portable
terminal having a remote control function and a method for remote
control of electronic products using the portable terminal
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As generally known in the art, a remote controller refers to
a device for controlling an instrument or a machine from a
distance. Many currently available electronic products are provided
with a remote controller. A user can control various functions of
an electronic product using a remote controller from a distance,
without the need to directly operate the product. In most cases,
however, different remote controllers are used to control different
kinds of electronic products or the same kinds of electronic
products of different manufacturers. In other words, the user can
control only a single product using one remote controller.
Different remote controllers should be used according to the kinds
of electronic products, such as an audio system and a video system,
and the manufacturers of the products. Accordingly, when a remote
controller for a particular electronic product of a particular
manufacturer has been lost, the user typically must purchase a new
remote controller for the same product. Also, users can be
inconvenienced when urgently seeking a lost remote controller for
operating a particular electronic product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-mentioned problems. One object of the present invention
is to provide a portable terminal and a method for remote control
of electronic products, regardless of the kinds or manufacturers of
the products. Another object of the present invention is to provide
a method for enabling communication during the remote control of
electronic products using a portable terminal.
[0007] In order to accomplish the above objects, embodiments of the
present invention provide a method for remote control of electronic
products using a portable terminal, said method comprising the
steps of performing a remote control of functions of the electronic
products in a remote control mode; when communication is tried
during the remote control mode, terminating the remote control mode
and displaying the communication standby state to provide a
communication service upon a user's selection; and when the
communication ends, returning to the remote control mode.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method for performing a remote control in a
remote control mode of a portable terminal, said method comprising
the steps of displaying the kinds of electronic products
controllable by a remote controller; displaying the manufacturers
of the electronic products; selecting at least one kind of the
displayed electronic products; selecting at least one of the
displayed manufacturers; setting a remote control mode suitable for
the selected electronic product of the selected manufacturer;
performing a remote control function in the remote control mode;
and terminating the remote control mode to terminate the remote
control function.
[0009] In accordance with still another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a portable terminal for remote control
of various functions of electronic products, which comprises a
display section for displaying the kinds and manufacturers of
electronic products controllable by a remote controller; a
generalized programming input/output port for oscillating a remote
control pulse according to a selected manufacturer; an infrared
(IR) modulating/sending section for modulating the oscillated
remote control pulse to an infrared ray and sending the infrared
ray; and a control section for determining whether communication is
tried during implementation of a remote control function,
terminating the remote control function to implement a
communication function when the communication is initiated, and
performing the remote control function again when the communication
ends.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing
figures, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal having a
remote control function according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a process of performing a
remote control function in a portable terminal according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the information displayed on a display section
of a portable terminal according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a process of performing a
remote control function in a portable terminal according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of a control
section of a portable terminal to perform a communication function
during a remote control mode according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 shows the function of a key input section of a
portable terminal according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing
figures. In the following description of embodiments of the present
invention, a detailed description of known functions and
configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make
the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal having a
remote control function according to the first embodiment of the
present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an RF section 110 performs
a communication function of a portable terminal The RF section 110
comprises an RF transmitter for performing upward conversion and
amplification of the frequency of a signal, which is being
transmitted, and an RF receiver for amplifying a signal, which is
being received, with low noise and performing downward conversion
of the frequency of the signal. A data processing section 109
comprises a transmitter for coding and modulating a signal which is
being transmitted and a receiver for demodulating and decoding a
signal which is being received. The data processing section 109 may
be composed of a modem and a codec.
[0019] An audio processing section 107 reproduces an audio signal
outputted from the data processing section 109 or transmits an
audio signal generated from a microphone to the data processing
section 109. A key input section 103 is provided with keys for
inputting numbers and characters and function keys for setting up
various functions.
[0020] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
functions keys may refer to a remote controller setting key, a
product setting key, a product selection key, a manufacturer
setting key, a manufacturer selection key, an OK key, a cancel key
and so on. The functions keys may include a navigation key for
moving a cursor on the display, a selection key, an OK key for
confirmation, a cancel key for cancellation, and so on. As will be
appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, it is possible
to implement a particular function by pressing a combination of two
or more function keys.
[0021] A memory 105 may be composed of a program memory and a data
memory. The program memory includes programs for controlling
general operations of the portable terminal. The data memory stores
information for performing a remote control function according to
embodiments of the present invention. Also, the data memory can
temporarily store data generated during implementation of the above
programs.
[0022] A control section 111 controls the overall operation of the
portable terminal. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill
in the art, the control section 111 may optionally include the data
processing section 109. The control section 111 may also include a
generalized programming input/output port ("GPIO port"). The GPIO
port generates a frequency, for example, in the range of 30 KHz to
60 KHz. When provided outside of the control section 111, the GPIO
port can be connected to an inside element of the portable terminal
The GPIO port oscillates a remote control pulse suitable for the
selected kind and manufacturer of electronic product in accordance
with a key signal inputted from the key input section 103. An IR
modulating/sending section 120 modulates the remote control pulse
oscillated by the GPIO port to an infrared ray and transmits the
infrared ray from the portable terminal (preferably to the
electronic product to be remote-controlled). The process of
modulating a remote control pulse to an infrared ray can be
performed at the control section 111. A display section 101, which
may comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD), displays information
relating to the remote control mode under the control of the
control section 111.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a process of performing a
remote control function in a portable terminal according to the
first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the
information displayed on a display section of a portable terminal
according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6
shows the function of a key input section of a portable terminal
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the remote control mode and function according to
embodiments of the present invention will be explained with
reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6.
[0024] At step 201, the control section 111 determines whether the
portable terminal is in a remote control mode. If the portable
terminal is in the remote control mode, the control section 111
will proceed with step 205. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
maintain the initial state of the portable terminal. The remote
control mode is a mode for implementing functions required for
remote control, for example, a remote controller setting suitable
for a selected electronic product of a selected manufacturer, a
remote control implementation and a remote control termination.
[0025] At step 205, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for setting the remote controller is inputted, the control
section 111 will proceed with step 207. Otherwise, the control
section 111 will proceed with step 227. At step 207, the control
section 111 converts the portable terminal to a remote controller
setting mode and controls the display section 101 to display the
remote controller setting mode. The display section 101 can display
the remote controller setting mode as shown in FIG. 3(a).
[0026] At step 209, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for product setting is inputted, the control section 111
will proceed with step 211. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
proceed with step 219. At step 211, the control section 111
controls the display section 103 to display the kinds of electronic
products controllable by a remote controller and proceeds with step
213. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the display section 103 can display
various kinds of electronic products, including televisions (TV),
cable televisions (CATV), video cassette recorders (VCR), audio
systems, radios and others which can be any kind of electronic
products controllable by a remote controller, including air
conditioners and refrigerators.
[0027] At step 213, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for product selection is inputted, the control section will
set a kind of electronic product as selected by the user at step
215 and will proceed with step 217. Otherwise, the control section
will repeat step 211.
[0028] At step 219, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for setting the manufacturer is inputted, the control
section 111 will control the display section 101 to display the
manufacturers at step 221 and will proceed with step 223. The
display section 101 can display the manufacturers as shown in FIG.
3(c). If no key signal for manufacturer setting is inputted, the
control section 111 will repeat step 207.
[0029] At step 223, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for manufacturer selection is inputted, the control section
will set a manufacturer as selected by the user at step 225 and
will proceed with step 217. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
repeat step 221.
[0030] At step 217, the control section 111 establishes a remote
controller setting suitable for the selected electronic product of
the selected manufacturer and repeats step 201. Generally, a remote
controller controls an electronic product from a distance by
generating a signal. For the remote control, the remote controller
uses a frequency and a remote control pulse, both varying depending
on the kinds and manufacturers of electronic products. Accordingly,
a suitable remote controller setting means a suitable remote
control mode which conforms to the properties of a selected
electronic product of a selected manufacturer.
[0031] At step 227, the control section 111 determines whether the
remote control mode has been terminated. If so, the control section
111 will proceed with step 229 to terminate the remote control
function for operating a remote controller. If the remote control
mode is maintained, the control section 111 will proceed with step
241. At step 241, the control section 111 determines whether the
user still uses the remote control function. If so, the control
section 111 will proceed with step 243 to implement a function
according to the established remote controller setting. Otherwise,
the control section 111 will repeat step 201.
[0032] In the process of implementing a function according to the
established remote controller setting, the control section 111
receives a key signal from the key input section 103. The preferred
structure of the key input section 103 can be displayed as shown in
FIG. 6(a), 6(b) or 6(c). Referring to FIG. 6, the remote controller
setting varies depending on the kinds of electronic products, such
as a TV/CATV, a VCR and an audio/radio. For example, the user can
use the navigation key for selecting a channel and adjusting a
volume in a VCR as shown in FIG. 6(b). Also, the number keys can be
pressed to operate the VCR. For example, number keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6 can be used to perform rewind, play, fast-forward, pause and
record functions, respectively. The control section 111 generates a
frequency (for example, 30 to 60 KHz) and a remote control pulse
using the GPIO port and transfers them to the IR modulating/sending
section 120. The frequency and the remote control pulse may vary
depending on the kinds and manufacturers of electronic products.
Also, the control section 111 controls the IR modulating/sending
section 120 to generate an infrared wavelength based on the
frequency and the remote control pulse. The infrared wavelength is
outputted to the electronic products of the selected manufacturer.
For example, the infrared wavelength can be 940 nm The electronic
products of the manufacturer selected at the remote controller
setting operate upon receiving the infrared wavelength.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a process of performing a
remote control function in a portable terminal according to a
second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the remote
control mode and function according to the second embodiment of the
present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1, 3
and 4.
[0034] At step 401, the control section 111 determines whether the
portable terminal is in the remote control mode. If the portable
terminal is in the remote control mode, the control section 111
will proceed with step 405. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
maintain the initial state of the portable terminal. The remote
control mode is a mode for implementing functions required for
remote control, for example, a remote controller setting suitable
for a selected electronic product of a selected manufacturer, a
remote control implementation and a remote control termination.
[0035] At step 403, the display section 101 is controlled to
display a remote control mode. Next, step 405 is implemented.
[0036] At step 405, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for remote controller setting is inputted, the control
section 111 will proceed with step 407. Otherwise, the control
section 111 will proceed with step 427. At step 407, the control
section 111 controls the display section 101 to display the kinds
of electronic products controllable by a remote controller and
proceeds with step 409. The display section 103 can display the
kinds of electronic products as shown in FIG. 3(d).
[0037] At step 409, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for product selection is inputted, the control section will
proceed with step 411. Otherwise, the control section will repeat
step 407. At step 411, the control section 111 controls the display
section 101 to display the manufacturers and proceeds with step
413. The display section 101 can display the manufacturers as shown
in FIG. 3(e).
[0038] At step 413, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for manufacturer selection is inputted, the control section
will proceed with step 415. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
repeat step 411. The control section 111 controls the display
section 101 to display the selected product and manufacturer at
step 415 and proceeds with step 417. For example, when the user
wishes to use the remote control function of the portable terminal
to watch TV, he or she should select first "TV" from the displayed
kinds of electronic products and then the manufacturer of the TV to
be remote controlled.
[0039] At step 417, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for confirmation is inputted, the control section 111 will
proceed with step 419. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
proceed with step 421. The control section 111 sets a remote
control condition suitable for the selected electronic product of
the selected manufacturer at step 419 and repeats step 401. To be
specific, when a particular kind of electronic product is selected
among a plurality of electronic products controllable by a remote
controller and then a manufacturer of the selected electronic
product is selected, the control section 111 sets a remote control
condition which conforms to the properties of the selected
electronic product of the selected manufacturer. More specifically,
a frequency, a remote control pulse and so on are set to conform to
the properties of the selected electronic product of the selected
manufacturer.
[0040] At step 421, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for cancellation is inputted, the control section 111 will
proceed with step 423. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
repeat step 415. Also, if no key signal for cancellation or
confirmation is inputted during a predetermined period of time, for
example, within a minute, the control section 111 will terminate
the remote control mode. At step 423, the control section 111
controls the display section 101 to display a message informing
termination of the remote control mode and proceeds with step
425.
[0041] At step 425, the control section 111 determines whether a
key signal is inputted from the key input section 103. If a key
signal for termination is inputted, the control section 111 will
repeat step 401 to allow the user to select another kind or
manufacturer of electronic products. If no key signal for
termination is inputted, the control section 111 will repeat step
407.
[0042] At step 427, the control section 111 determines whether the
remote control mode has been terminated. If the remote control mode
has been terminated, the control section 111 will proceed with step
429 to stop the remote control function for operating a remote
controller. Otherwise, the control section 111 will proceed with
step 441. At step 441, the control section 111 determines whether
the user still uses the remote control function. If not, the
control section 111 will repeat step 401. If the remote control
function is still used, the control section 111 will proceed with
step 443 to implement a function according to the established
remote controller setting, which is similar to step 243 in the
process shown in FIG. 2.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of a control
section of a portable terminal to perform a communication function
during the remote control mode according to the first embodiment of
the present invention. The operation of the control section 111
will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5.
[0044] At step 501, the control section 111 determines whether the
portable terminal is in a remote control mode. If the portable
terminal is in the remote control mode, the control section 111
will proceed with step 503. Otherwise, the control section 111 will
proceed with step 502 to implement a required function other than
the remote control function. For example, the required function may
relate to a voice communication, a text message service and a short
message service. At step 503, the control section 111 implements
the remote control function. The remote control mode is an
operation mode of the portable terminal. The control section 111
can perform operations in the remote control mode as shown in FIG.
2 or FIG. 4.
[0045] At step 505, the control section 111 determines whether
communication is initiated during the remote control mode. If
communication is initiated, the control section 111 will terminate
the remote control function and will proceed with step 507.
Otherwise, the control section 111 will repeat step 503 to
implement the remote control function. Although termination of the
remote control function to initiate communication is described
herein, it will be understood that the remote control function can
be terminated to implement any other function. At step 507, the
control section 111 determines whether the communication relates to
an outgoing call. If so, the control section 111 will proceed with
step 509 to perform an outgoing call service. If not, the control
section 111 will proceed with step 511. A communication relating to
an outgoing call, which means a call initiated by the user, refers
to making a call or sending a text or voice message. Also, the
outgoing call service refers to a service for performing
communication relating to an outgoing call. At step 511, the
control section 111 determines whether the communication relates to
an incoming call. If so, the control section 111 will perform an
incoming call service at step 513 and will proceed with step 515. A
communication relating to an incoming call refers to answering a
call or receiving a text or voice message. If the communication
does not relate to an incoming call, the control section 111 will
recognize the initiated communication as an error at step 521 and
will proceed with step 517. An error is unexpected communication
which is neither an outgoing call nor an incoming call.
[0046] At step 515, the control section 111 determines whether the
communication ends. If so, the control section 111 will proceed
with step 517. If not, the control section 111 will repeat step
505. At step 517, the control section 111 determines whether the
remote control mode has been terminated. If so, the control section
111 will terminate the remote control function. If the remote
control mode is maintained, the control section 111 will repeat
step 503.
[0047] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications,
additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *