Patent ID: 6348956
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A remote controller comprising structure information supply unit for holding structure information for various types of appliances in advance, and portable remote control unit for controlling said appliances,(1) said structure information supply unit including: a transmitter's structure information storage unit for storing the structure information, the structure information including control information for each appliance and object information, said control information being used by said remote control unit in controlling said appliances, said object information representing manipulation objects forming a manipulation unit of said remote control unit; and a structure information transmission unit for retrieving the control information and the object information from said transmitter's structure information storage unit to send the retrieved information to said remote control unit, (2) said remote control unit including: a structure information receipt unit for receiving the control information and the object information from said structure information transmission unit; a receiver's structure information storage unit for storing the control information and the object information received by said structure information receipt unit, a display unit for displaying a picture having a manipulation area used for manipulating said appliances; a first display control unit for controlling said display unit to place the manipulation objects on the manipulation area based on the object information stored in said receiver's structure information storage unit; a manipulation detection unit for detecting which manipulation object is manipulated on the manipulation area; a first control signal transmission unit for transmitting a control signal assigned for the manipulation object detected by said manipulation detection unit to said appliances based on the control information stored in said receiver's structure information storage unit, whereby said appliances operate in accordance with the control signal from said remote control unit; and, wherein said structure information supply unit is installed in each appliance controlled by the control signal from said remote control unit.