U.S. patent application number 16/780317 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-04 for remote control system and method for portable terminals.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yeong-Hyo JEON, Jong-Hi Sung.
Application Number | 20200175849 16/780317 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39263068 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200175849 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JEON; Yeong-Hyo ; et
al. |
June 4, 2020 |
REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PORTABLE TERMINALS
Abstract
Provided are a remote control system and method for controlling
portable terminals. The remote control system includes a control
terminal which is a portable terminal that performs a remote
control operation, a target terminal which is a portable terminal
that is subject to the remote control operation performed by the
control terminal, and a remote control management server which
determines whether the control terminal and the target terminal are
heterogeneous, and if the two terminals are heterogeneous, converts
messages respectively transmitted from the control terminal and the
target terminal to a format conforming to corresponding receiving
terminals.
Inventors: |
JEON; Yeong-Hyo;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Sung; Jong-Hi; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
39263068 |
Appl. No.: |
16/780317 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15925288 |
Mar 19, 2018 |
10553106 |
|
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16780317 |
|
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|
14021285 |
Sep 9, 2013 |
9922546 |
|
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15925288 |
|
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|
12001789 |
Dec 11, 2007 |
8548453 |
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14021285 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08C 2201/40 20130101;
G08C 2201/50 20130101; G08C 2201/61 20130101; G08C 17/02 20130101;
G08C 2201/93 20130101; H04M 1/72533 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08C 17/02 20060101
G08C017/02; H04M 1/725 20060101 H04M001/725 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 11, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0125533 |
Claims
1. A communication device comprising: an input device; an output
device; wireless communication circuitry to establish a
communication connection between an external electronic device and
the communication device via a server; and a processor adapted to:
transmit, via the communication connection, a request for
controlling the external electronic device to the external
electronic device; receive, via the communication connection, a
grant message with respect to the request from the external
electronic device; transmit, via the communication connection, a
remote control command to the external electronic device based at
least in part on receiving the grant message, the remote control
command to control a specified operation of the external electronic
device based at least in part on an input to be received via the
input device of the communication device; receive, via the
communication connection, a response corresponding to a result of
the specified operation of the external electronic device and being
modified by the server to conform to a type of the communication
device; and present, via the output device of the communication
device, the received response.
2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is
adapted to: receive, when the communication device is a first type,
a response modified by the server to have a first format; or
receive, when the communication device is a second type, a response
modified by the server to have a second format.
3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is
adapted to: generate the request including identification
information corresponding to the external electronic device, as at
least part of the transmitting of the request.
4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the identification
information corresponding to the external electronic device
includes a phone number.
5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the input device
comprises a touch sensor, and wherein the processor is adapted to:
receive a user input via the touch sensor to control the specified
operation of the external electronic device.
6. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the response
comprises at least a part, which is determined based on the type of
the communication device, of a plurality of output information.
7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the response of the
first format includes audio information, and wherein the processor
is adapted to: output, via the output device, the audio
information.
8. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the response of the
second format includes graphical information, and wherein the
processor is adapted to: display, via the output device, the
graphical information.
9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor is
adapted to: transmit, via the communication connection, an
authentication information received through the input device to the
external electronic device when the authentication information is
requested from the external electronic device.
10. An apparatus comprising: at least one communication circuitry;
and a processor adapted to: transmit, using the at least one
communication circuitry, a remote control command received from a
first electronic device to a second electronic device, the remote
control command to control a specified operation of the second
electronic device by the first electronic device; receive, using
the at least one communication circuitry, a response corresponding
to a result of the specified operation of the second electronic
device from the second electronic device based at least in part on
the remote control command; modify the response to conform to a
type of the first electronic device; and transmit, using the at
least one communication circuitry, the modified response to the
first electronic device.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is adapted to:
modify, when the first electronic device is a first type, the
response to have a first format; or modify, when the first
electronic device is a second type, the response to have a second
format.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is adapted to:
identify, prior to the transmitting of the remote control command,
the second electronic device among a plurality of electronic
devices using identification information corresponding to the
second electronic device received from the first electronic
device.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the identification
information corresponding to the second electronic device includes
a phone number.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is adapted to:
adjust at least one portion of the remote control command to
conform to a key map corresponding to the second electronic device
as at least part of transmitting the remote control command.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is adapted to:
modify the response based on an operation system or a codec
available at the first electronic device.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is adapted to:
modify the response to include at least a part, which is determined
based on the type of the first electronic device, of a plurality of
output information.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is adapted to:
generate the response of the first format including audio
information when the first electronic device is the first type.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is adapted to:
generate the response of the second format including graphical
information when the first electronic device is the second
type.
19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor is adapted to:
receive, using the at least one communication circuitry, a request
for controlling the second electronic device from the first
electronic device, and transmit the request to the second
electronic device; and receive, using the at least one
communication circuitry, a grant message with respect to the
request from the second electronic device and transmit the grant
message to the first electronic device.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processor is adapted to:
determine the type of the first electronic device based on a
database (DB) included in the apparatus, or receive the type of the
first electronic device from the first electronic device.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a Continuation Application of, and
claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 to, U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/925,288, which was filed in the U.S. Patent & Trademark
Office on Mar. 19, 2018, which is a Continuation Application of,
and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 to, U.S. application
Ser. No. 14/021,285, which was filed in the U.S. Patent &
Trademark Office on Sep. 9, 2013, issued on Mar. 20, 2018 as U.S.
Pat. No. 9,922,546, and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120
to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/001,789, which was filed in the
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on Dec. 11, 2007, issued as U.S.
Pat. No. 8,548,453 on Oct. 1, 2013, and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to an application filed in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 11, 2006 and assigned Serial
No. 10-2006-0125533, the contents of all of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a remote control
system and method for portable terminals, and in particular, to a
remote control system and method in which portable terminals can be
remotely accessed and controlled by providing a remote control
management server so that a remote control command is relayed
between the portable terminals.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] With the recent proliferation of portable terminals, a
mobile phone providing wireless voice call and data exchange is
beginning to be regarded as personal necessity. Conventional
portable terminals have generally provided only wireless calls.
However, along with technical advances and introduction of the
wireless Internet, portable terminals are now used for many
purposes in addition to telephone calls or schedule management. For
example, images can be captured by using a digital camera included
in a portable terminal. Further, the portable terminal provides a
variety of functions such as viewing a satellite broadcasting
program, games and Web surfing using the wireless Internet.
[0004] A typical portable terminal is used to receive services by
accessing a server. These days, however, various contents can be
generated and stored by the use of a portable terminal, and a large
data size can be handled by a large capacity storage device
included in the portable terminal. Moreover, the portable terminal
is emerging as a tool for providing services with the growing
processing capability and network speed.
[0005] A large amount of data stored in the portable terminal
cannot be utilized when the portable terminal is lost or when a
user does not carry it. This problem can be easily addressed using
a remote control method in which a portable terminal can be
remotely accessed and controlled.
[0006] For example, remote control is used when one Personal
Computer (PC) (i.e., control PC) accesses another PC (i.e., target
PC) operating under the same Operation System (OS). By performing
the remote control between PCs, the control PC can access the
target PC and thus can see a screen of the target PC and directly
execute programs stored in the target PC. In addition, the control
PC can use peripheral devices of the target PC. Further,
communication can be achieved between peripheral devices of the
control PC and those of the target PC. This is possible because the
peripheral devices of either the control PC or the target PC are
implemented conforming to several standards, and thus have
relatively good hardware compatibility. However, the remote control
between the PCs is valid only when the PCs operate under the same
OS and with a high-speed network bandwidth.
[0007] Since a User Interface (UI) is different among portable
terminal manufacturers, it is difficult to meet the requirement
that the PCs have to operate under the same OS. Further, even if
that requirement is met, a specific data transfer rule has to be
defined to share data between the PCs.
[0008] Therefore, there is a demand for a remote control system and
method for providing remote control to not only homogeneous
portable terminals but also heterogeneous portable terminals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a remote control system and
method for portable terminals.
[0010] The present invention provides a remote control system and
method in which portable terminals can be remotely accessed and
controlled by providing a remote control management server so that
a remote control command is relayed between the portable
terminals.
[0011] The present invention provides a remote control system and
method in which not only homogeneous portable terminals but also
heterogeneous portable terminals can be remotely accessed and
controlled by providing a remote control management server so that
a remote control command is relayed between the portable
terminals.
[0012] The present invention provides a remote control system and
method in which a remote control management server converts a
remote control command message to a format conforming to a target
terminal, and thus remote control can be achieved between
heterogeneous portable terminals.
[0013] The present invention provides a remote control system and
method in which a remote control management server converts a
remote control response message to a format conforming to a control
terminal, and thus remote control can be achieved between
heterogeneous portable terminals.
[0014] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is
provided a communication device that includes an input device, an
output device, wireless communication circuitry to establish a
communication connection between an external electronic device and
the communication device via a server, and a processor adapted to
transmit, via the communication connection, a request for
controlling the external electronic device to the external
electronic device; receive, via the communication connection, a
grant message with respect to the request from the external
electronic device; transmit, via the communication connection, a
remote control command to the external electronic device based at
least in part on receiving the grant message, the remote control
command to control a specified operation of the external electronic
device based at least in part on an input to be received via the
input device of the communication device; receive, via the
communication connection, a response corresponding to a result of
the specified operation of the external electronic device and being
modified by the server to conform to a type of the communication
device; and present, via the output device of the communication
device, the received response.
[0015] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is
provided an apparatus that includes at least one communication
circuitry and a processor that is adapted to transmit, using the at
least one communication circuitry, a remote control command
received from a first electronic device to a second electronic
device, the remote control command to control a specified operation
of the second electronic device by the first electronic device;
receive, using the at least one communication circuitry, a response
corresponding to a result of the specified operation of the second
electronic device from the second electronic device based at least
in part on the remote control command; modify the response to
conform to a type of the first electronic device; and transmit,
using the at least one communication circuitry, the modified
response to the first electronic device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a remote control system according to the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control terminal shown in
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a target terminal shown in FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a remote control management
server shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a remote control process performed by the
control terminal shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates a remote control process performed by the
target terminal shown in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 7 illustrates a relay process performed by the remote
control management server shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 8 illustrates a relay process performed by the remote
control management server shown in FIG. 1 when a remote control
process is carried out between two heterogeneous terminals; and
[0025] FIG. 9 illustrates a relay process performed by the remote
control management server shown in FIG. 1 when a remote control
process is carried out between two homogeneous terminals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the following description, well-known functions or constructions
are not described in detail for the sake of clarity and
conciseness.
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a remote control system according to the
present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the remote control system
includes a control terminal 110, a remote control management server
120 and a target terminal 130. The control terminal 110 is a
portable terminal that performs a remote control operation. The
remote control management server 120 relays a remote control
command. The target terminal 130 is a portable terminal that is
subject to the remote control operation.
[0028] The control terminal 110 and the target terminal 130 may be
heterogeneous. In this case, upon receiving the remote control
command from the control terminal 110, the remote control
management server 120 transmits the remote control command to the
target terminal 130 after converting it to a format conforming to
the target terminal 130. Upon receiving a remote control response
message from the target terminal 130, the remote control management
server 120 transmits the remote control response message to the
control terminal 110 after converting it to a format conforming to
the control terminal 110. Details of components constituting the
remote control system will be described below.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control terminal 110 of
FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the control terminal 110 includes a
controller 211, a display unit 212, an audio output unit 213, an
input unit 214, a communication unit 215, a memory 216 and a
control request processor 217.
[0030] The display unit 212 displays state information (or
indicator) of the control terminal 110, alphanumerical characters,
moving pictures and still pictures. Further, the display unit 212
displays image data included in the remote control response message
received from the target terminal 130. The display unit 212 may be
a color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
[0031] The audio output unit 213 is a speaker for outputting audio
sound. Under the control of the control request processor 217,
audio data is received from the target terminal 130 according to
the remote control response message, and the received audio data is
output through the audio output unit 213.
[0032] The remote control command is received through the input
unit 214 using a keypad or a touch screen by a user, thereby
controlling the control terminal 110 and the target terminal
130.
[0033] The communication unit 215 communicates with the remote
control management server 120 to transmit/receive the remote
control message. In this case, in a receiving process, a frequency
of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal received through an antenna is
decreased, and then the received signal is de-spread and
channel-decoded. In addition, in a transmitting process, the
received signal is channel-coded and spread, and then the frequency
thereof is increased for transmission through the antenna.
[0034] The memory 216 stores a program for controlling an overall
operation of the control terminal 110, an application program and
data (e.g., phone numbers, Short Message Service (SMS) messages,
compressed images and moving pictures). Optionally, the memory 216
stores product information (i.e., product spec) of the control
terminal 110.
[0035] When a remote control event is detected, the control request
processor 217 generates a remote control request message and
transmits it to the remote control management server 120. When a
remote control grant message is received from the target terminal
130 after performing an authentication process, the control request
processor 217 generates a remote control command message including
the remote control message received through the input unit 214 and
transmits it to the remote control management server 120. When the
remote control response message is received from the target
terminal 130, the control request processor 217 respectively
outputs video and audio data to the display unit 212 and the audio
output unit 213.
[0036] During the authentication process, the target terminal 130
may send a password request. Then, the control request processor
217 receives a password through the input unit 214 and transmits it
to the target terminal 130 via the remote control management server
120.
[0037] In addition to providing the overall control to the control
terminal 110, the controller 211 controls the control request
processor 217. Although the controller 211 and the control request
processor 217 are separately implemented herein, the present
invention is not limited thereto. Thus, in practice, a function of
the control request processor 217 may be performed by the
controller 211.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the target terminal 130 of
FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the target terminal 130
includes a controller 311, a display unit 312, an audio output unit
313, an input unit 314, a communication unit 315, a memory 316 and
a control response processor 317.
[0039] The display unit 312 displays state information (or
indicator) of the control terminal 110, alphanumerical characters,
moving pictures and still pictures. The display unit 312 may be a
color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).
[0040] The audio output unit 313 is a type of speaker for
generating or receiving audio data, and outputting audio sound.
[0041] The remote control command is received through the input
unit 314 using a keypad or a touch screen by the user.
[0042] The communication unit 315 communicates with the remote
control management server 120 to transmit/receive the remote
control message. In this case, in a receiving process, a frequency
of an RF signal received through an antenna is decreased, and then
the received signal is de-spread and channel-decoded. In addition,
in a transmitting process, the received signal is channel-coded and
spread, and then the frequency thereof is increased for
transmission through the antenna.
[0043] The memory 316 stores a program for controlling an overall
operation of the target terminal 130, an application program and
data (e.g., phone numbers, SMS messages, compressed images and
moving pictures). Further, the memory 316 stores a password for
authentication and a control grant list that contains information
regarding which terminal has granted the use of the remote control.
Optionally, the memory 316 stores product information (i.e.,
product spec) of the target terminal 130.
[0044] Upon receiving a remote control request message, the control
response processor 317 determines the validity of the remote
control request by performing an authentication process. If the
remote control request is valid, a remote control grant message is
generated. Upon receiving a remote control command message, the
control response processor 317 executes the remote control command
included in the received remote control command message. Further, a
remote control response message including video/audio data is
generated under the control of the control response processor 317,
wherein the video/audio data is periodically output within a time
interval. The generated remote control response message is
transmitted to the remote control management server 120.
[0045] Instead of being periodically generated, the remote control
response message may be generated only when the video data is
modified or when the audio data is output. This is because last
received video data can be continuously displayed only when there
is no audio data output and no video data modification in the
control terminal 110.
[0046] Various authentication methods may be used by the control
response processor 317 in the authentication process. Three
representative examples of the authentication methods are performed
as follows. First, a password is requested, and a received password
is compared with a pre-stored password. Second, the control
terminal 110 sends the remote control request message, and the
control grant list stored in the memory 316 is checked to determine
whether the control terminal 110 has granted remote control. Third,
a user of the target terminal 130 directly grants the use of the
target terminal 130 using the input unit 314 when the remote
control request message is received.
[0047] In addition to providing the overall control to the target
terminal 130, the controller 311 controls the control response
processor 317. Although the controller 311 and the control request
processor 317 are separately implemented herein, the present
invention is not limited thereto. Thus, in practice, a function of
the control request processor 317 may be performed by the
controller 311.
[0048] Furthermore, although the control terminal 110 and the
target terminal 130 are distinctively depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, in
practice, however, one portable terminal may be used for both the
control terminal 110 and the target terminal 130. That is, the
configurations depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be integrated into one
system.
[0049] Accordingly, the controllers 211 and 311 control the control
request processor 217 and the control response processor 317.
Although the processors 217 and 317 and the controller 211 and 311
are separately implemented herein, the present invention is not
limited thereto. Thus, functions of the processors 217 and 317 may
be entirely or partially performed by the controllers 211 and
311.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the remote control management
server 120 of FIGS. 1 to 3. Referring to FIG. 4, the remote control
management server 120 includes a relay processor 421, a terminal
information DataBase (DB) 422, a key mapper 423, a video converter
424 and an audio converter 425.
[0051] The terminal information DB 422 stores spec information such
as information on an OS of a portable terminal and information on a
Codec for outputting video and audio data. The terminal information
DB 422 may be incorporated into the remote control management
server 120 or may be stored in a server provided by a portable
terminal manufacturer.
[0052] When the control terminal 110 and the target terminal 130
are heterogeneous, according to the spec information of the target
terminal 130, the key mapper 423 converts input key information,
which is included in a remote control command message received from
the control terminal 110, to a format conforming to the target
terminal 130.
[0053] Also in this case, according to the spec information of the
control terminal 110, the video converter 424 converts video data,
which is included in the remote control response message received
from the target terminal 130, to a format conforming to the control
terminal 110.
[0054] In addition, according to the spec information of the
control terminal 110, the audio converter 425 converts audio data,
which is included in the remote control response message received
from the target terminal 130, to a format conforming to the control
terminal 110.
[0055] The relay processor 421 relays a message
transmitted/received between the control terminal 110 and the
target terminal 130. The spec information of the two terminals 110
and 130 is read from the terminal information DB 422. If the spec
information shows that the two terminals 110 and 130 are
homogeneous terminals, the relay processor 421 simply delivers the
message received. Otherwise, the message is converted to a format
conforming to a receiving terminal, and then is transmitted to the
receiving terminal via the key mapper 423, the video converter 424
and the audio converter 425.
[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates a remote control process performed by the
control terminal 110.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 5, it is determined whether a remote
control event occurring at the request of a user is detected in
step 500. If so, in step 502, a remote control request message
including information (e.g., phone number) of the target terminal
130 is generated and transmitted to the target terminal 130 via the
remote control management server 120. In step 504, the target
terminal 130 is subject to an authentication process, which may be
performed using various conventional schemes. For example, a
password based authentication process may be used in which a
password is requested when the control terminal 110 performs the
authentication process, the user then inputs the password, the
input password is then transmitted to the target terminal 130 via
the remote control management server 120.
[0058] In step 506, it is determined whether remote control is
granted. The remote control is regarded as being granted when a
remote control grant message is received.
[0059] If a remote control error message is received in step 506
instead of receiving the remote control grant message, in step 520,
the received remote control error message is output, and the
procedure is ended.
[0060] Otherwise, in step 508, it is determined whether a remote
control command is generated to control the target terminal 130. If
no remote control command is generated, the procedure goes to step
512, as will be described below.
[0061] Upon detecting the remote control command in step 508, a
remote control command message including the remote control command
is generated and transmitted to the target terminal 130 via the
remote control management server 120 in step 510.
[0062] In step 512, it is determined whether a remote control
response message is received. If no message is received, the
procedure goes to step 516, as will be described below.
[0063] Upon receiving the remote control response message in step
512, video or audio data included in the remote control response
message is output in step 514. Then, in step 516, it is determined
whether remote control is completed. If the remote control is not
completed, the procedure returns to step 508.
[0064] Upon detecting the completion of the remote control in step
516, the procedure goes to step 518, and thus a remote control end
message is transmitted to the target terminal 130 via the remote
control management server 120. The procedure is then ended.
[0065] In the flow of FIG. 5, the remote control process is ended
when the completion of remote control is detected by the control
terminal 110, and this is informed to the target terminal 130.
Alternatively, however, when a remote control end event occurs in
the target terminal 130, the control terminal 110 may receive the
remote control end message from the target terminal 130 via the
remote control management server 120, thereby completing the remote
control. In this case, prior to completing the remote control, a
message indicating the completion of remote control is displayed on
the display unit of the control terminal 110.
[0066] FIG. 6 illustrates the remote control process performed by
the target terminal 130.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 6, upon receiving a remote control request
message in step 600, an authentication process is performed in step
602 using one of various conventional schemes. For example, a
password based authentication process may be used in which a
password request is sent to the control terminal 110 via the remote
control management server 120 when the target terminal 130 performs
the authentication process, and a password is input from the
control terminal 110 via the remote control management server 120
and is compared with a pre-stored password.
[0068] In step 604, authentication of the requested remote control
is checked in response to the result of the authentication process
of step 602. If the authentication is not valid in step 604, the
procedure goes to step 616 and thus a remote control error message
is generated and transmitted to the control terminal 110 via the
remote control management server 120.
[0069] However, if the authentication is valid in step 604, a
remote control grant message is generated and transmitted to the
control terminal 110 via the remote control management server 120
in step 606. Then, in step 608, it is determined whether a remote
control command message is received. If no message is received in
step 608, the procedure goes to step 612, as will be described
below.
[0070] Upon receiving the remote control command message in step
608, the procedure goes to step 610 and thus a remote control
command included in the remote control command message is executed.
Then, in step 612, a remote control response message including
video/audio data output from the target terminal 130 is generated
and transmitted to the control terminal 110 via the remote control
management server 120.
[0071] The remote control response message may be periodically
generated in step 612 within a time interval or may be generated
only when video data is modified or audio data is output.
[0072] In step 614, a remote control end message is received to
detect a remote control end event. If no message is received, the
procedure returns to step 608. Otherwise, the procedure is
ended.
[0073] In the flow of FIG. 6, the remote control process is ended
when the remote control end message is received through the remote
control management server 120. Alternatively, however, when the
remote control end event occurs at the request of a user or due to
power shortage, the target terminal 130 may generate a remote
control end message and transmit it to the control terminal 110 via
the remote control management server 120, thereby ending the remote
control process.
[0074] FIG. 7 illustrates the relay process performed by the remote
control management server 120.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 7, upon the remote control management
server 120 receiving a remote control request message from the
control terminal 110 in step 700, the remote control management
server 120 selects in step 702 the target terminal 130 and
transmits the received remote control request message to the target
terminal 130.
[0076] An authentication process in step 704 is performed on the
control terminal 110 that attempts to access the target terminal
130. In this case, information required for authentication is
relayed. The authentication process may be performed using various
conventional schemes. For example, a password based authentication
process may be in which the remote control management server 120
relays a password request. The password based authentication
process is achieved such that, upon receiving a password request
for the target terminal 130, the password request is sent to the
control terminal 110, and a password transmitted from the control
terminal 110 is sent to the target terminal 130.
[0077] In step 706, it is determined whether a remote control grant
message is received from the target terminal 130. If a remote
control error message is received instead of receiving the remote
control grant message, the received remote control error message is
transmitted to the control terminal 110, and the procedure is then
ended.
[0078] However, upon receiving the remote control grant message in
step 706, the received remote control grant message is transmitted
to the control terminal 110 in step 708. Then, spec information of
the control terminal 110 and the target terminal 130 is checked in
step 710. The spec information may be obtained by searching the
terminal information DB in the remote control management server
120. Alternatively, the spec information may be provided by a
mobile terminal manufacturer or directly received from a
terminal.
[0079] In step 712, by using the spec information, it is determined
whether the two terminals 110 and 130 are homogeneous or
heterogeneous. If the result of step 712 shows that the two
terminals 110 and 130 are heterogeneous, in step 714, a received
message is converted to a format conforming to a receiving terminal
and is then transmitted to the receiving terminal. Details of step
714 will be described below with reference to FIG. 8. Otherwise, in
step 716, the received message is simply delivered to the receiving
terminal. Details of step 716 will be described below with
reference to FIG. 9.
[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates a relay process performed by the remote
control management server 120 when a remote control process is
carried out between two heterogeneous terminals.
[0081] Referring to FIG. 8, upon a remote control command message
being received in step 800, by using spec information of the two
heterogeneous terminals, a remote control command, which
corresponds to input key information and is included in the
received remote control command message, is converted in step 802
to a format conforming to the target terminal 130. In step 804, the
converted message is transmitted to the target terminal 130.
[0082] In step 806, it is determined whether a remote control
response message is received. Upon receiving the remote control
response message, in step 808, by using the spec information,
video/audio data included in the remote control response message is
converted to a format conforming to the control terminal 110. In
step 810, the converted message is transmitted to the control
terminal 110.
[0083] In step 812, it is determined whether a remote control end
message is received from the control terminal 110 or the target
terminal 130. If the remote control end message is not received,
the procedure goes to step 800. If the remote control end message
is received, the process goes to step 814. In step 814, if it is
received from the control terminal 110, the remote control end
message is transmitted to the target terminal 130 upon being
received from the control terminal 110, whereas it is transmitted
to the control terminal 110 upon being received from the target
terminal 130. The procedure is then ended.
[0084] FIG. 9 illustrates a relay process performed by the remote
control management server 120 when a remote control process is
carried out between two homogeneous terminals.
[0085] Referring to FIG. 9, when a remote control command message
is received in step 900, the received remote control command
message is transmitted to the target terminal 130 in step 902. Upon
receiving a remote control response message in step 904, the
received remote control response message is transmitted to the
control terminal 110 in step 906.
[0086] In step 908, it is determined whether a remote control end
message is received from the control terminal 110 or the target
terminal 130. Upon receiving the remote control end message, in
step 910, the received remote control end message is transmitted to
the target terminal 130 when it is received from the control
terminal 110, whereas it is transmitted to the control terminal 110
upon being received from the target terminal 130. The procedure is
then ended.
[0087] According to the present invention, there is provided a
remote control system including a control terminal which is a
portable terminal (i.e., a subject of remote control) that controls
another portable terminal (i.e., an object of remote control), a
target terminal which is a portable terminal (i.e., an object of
remote control) that is controlled by the control terminal, and a
remote control management server which determines whether the
control terminal and the target terminal are heterogeneous, and if
the two terminals are heterogeneous, converts messages respectively
transmitted from the control terminal and the target terminal to a
format conforming to corresponding receiving terminals. Therefore,
there is an advantage in that remote control can be provided to
heterogeneous portable terminals, thereby providing convenience in
use.
[0088] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to a certain preferred embodiment thereof, it is a mere
exemplary application. Thus, it will be understood by those skilled
in the art that various changes in form and details may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
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