Abstract:
A control apparatus for controlling a controlled apparatus connected to a computer network via the computer network, the control apparatus including: a detection unit that detects a type of the controlled apparatus; a storage unit that stores operation guide information for generating an operation guide as a graphical user interface to control the controlled apparatus; an operation image display unit that displays the operation guide, in which a function among a plurality of functions defined by the operation guide information is activated in accordance with the type detected by the detection unit, the function being operative in the controlled apparatus; and a transmission unit that transmits to the controlled apparatus via the computer network a control signal for performing a control responsive to a user operation input through the operation guide displayed by the operation image display unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-178152, filed on Jun. 17, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field  
         [0003]     One embodiment relates to a control apparatus and a control method for controlling a device connected to a computer network.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Hitherto, there is known a technique that displays a control panel of a multimedia device and a state of the multimedia device on a control screen automatically when the multimedia device is simply connected to a computer network such as LAN (Local Area Network). The technique enables the user to turn on/off a power of the multimedia device, to control the multimedia device in various manners, and to switch input source and output destination device in the multimedia device. Refer to JP-A-07-044477 for an example of such technique.  
         [0006]     In a conventional control apparatus used in the technique, a remotely controlled device sends GUI (Graphical User Interface) data used for operating the remotely controlled device and characteristic information describing items to examine the features of the remotely controlled device to a remotely controlling device. The remotely controlling device uses the GUI data and the characteristic information to remotely control the remotely controlled device. Thus, in the conventional control apparatus, it is necessary for the remotely controlled device to transmit a large number of pieces of data and information to the remotely controlling device.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     A general architecture that implements the various feature of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate an embodiment of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary drawing to schematically show the appearance of a digital TV broadcast receiver incorporating a control apparatus of the invention and an example of a network system configured centering on the digital TV broadcast receiver;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary block diagram to show the main signal processing channel of the digital TV broadcast receiver;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary drawing provided by extracting the configuration of a part shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary drawing to show an example of a GUI displayed on a video display;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary flowchart to describe the operation of the digital TV broadcast receiver; and  
         [0013]      FIGS. 6A-6D  are exemplary drawings to show examples of the GUI displayed on the video display.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     An embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  schematically shows the appearance of a digital TV broadcast receiver  111  as shown as an embodiment and an example of a network system configured centering on the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 .  
         [0016]     The digital TV broadcast receiver  11  includes a slim cabinet  112  and a stand  113  that supports the cabinet  112  upright. The cabinet  112  is installed with: a flat panel display  114  implemented as a display such as an SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display) panel and a liquid crystal display panel; speakers  115 ; an operation panel  116 ; and a photoreceiver unit  118  that receives operation information transmitted from a remote controller  117 .  
         [0017]     For example, a first memory card  119 , such as an SD (Secure Digital) memory card, an MMC (Multimedia Card), or a Memory Stick, can be attached to and detached from the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 , and information of a program, a photo, etc., is recorded and is played back on the first memory card  119 .  
         [0018]     Further, a second memory card (IC card)  120  recording information, such as contract information, can be attached to and detached from the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 , and information is recorded and is played back on the second memory card  120 .  
         [0019]     The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  includes a first LAN (Local Area Network) terminal  121 , a second LAN terminal  122 , a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal  123 , and an IEEE1394 (i.LINK) terminal  124 .  
         [0020]     The first LAN terminal  121 , which is used as a LAN compatible HDD dedicated port, is used to record and play back information through Ethernet (registered trademark) on a LAN compatible HDD  125  of connected NAS (Network Attached Storage).  
         [0021]     The first LAN terminal  121  as the LAN compatible HDD dedicated port is provided. Accordingly, information of a program based on HDTV image quality can be stably recorded on the HDD  125  without being affected by any other network environment, or the network use situation.  
         [0022]     The second LAN terminal  122 , which is used as a general LAN compatible port using Ethernet (registered trademark), is used to connect devices such as a video recorder  127 , a video recorder  128 , and an HDD embedded DVD (digital versatile disk) recorder  129 , for example, through a hub  126  for transferring information to and from the devices.  
         [0023]     The video recorder  128  is implemented as a UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) compatible device having a function to operate as a content server in the home network and further including service for providing URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) information required for accessing content.  
         [0024]     A dedicated analog transmission line  130  is provided for the DVD recorder  129  to transfer analog video and audio information to and from the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 . This is because digital information communicated through the second LAN terminal  122  is information of only the control channel.  
         [0025]     Further, the second LAN terminal  122  is used to connect a network  132 , such as the Internet, through a broadband router  131  connected to the hub  126  for transferring information to and from a devices, such as a PC  133  and a mobile telephone  134 , through the network  132 .  
         [0026]     The PC  133  is implemented as a UPnP compatible device having a function to operate as a content server and further including service for providing URI information required for accessing content.  
         [0027]     The USB terminal  123 , which is used as a general USB compatible port, is used to connect USB devices such as a mobile telephone  136 , a digital camera  137 , a card reader/writer  138  for a memory card, an HDD  139 , and a keyboard  140 , for example, through a hub  135  for transferring information to and from the USB devices.  
         [0028]     Further, the IEEE1394 terminal  124  is used to connect an AV-HDD  141 , a D (Digital)-VHS (Video Home System)  142 , etc., for example, in series for transferring information to and from the devices.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows the main signal processing channel of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 . That is, a satellite digital TV broadcast signal received at an antenna  243  for receiving BS/CS digital broadcasting is supplied through an input terminal  244  to a satellite digital broadcasting tuner  245 , whereby the broadcast signal of any desired channel is selected.  
         [0030]     The broadcast signal selected by the tuner  245  is supplied to a PSK (Phase Shift Keying) demodulator  246  and is demodulated into digital video and audio signals, which are then output to a signal processing section  247 .  
         [0031]     A terrestrial digital TV broadcast signal received at an antenna  248  for receiving terrestrial broadcasting is supplied through an input terminal  249  to a terrestrial digital broadcasting tuner  250 , whereby the broadcast signal of any desired channel is selected.  
         [0032]     The broadcast signal selected by the tuner  250  is supplied to an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) demodulator  251 , for example, in Japan and is demodulated into digital video and audio signals, which are then output to the signal processing section  247 .  
         [0033]     A terrestrial analog TV broadcast signal received at the antenna  248  for receiving terrestrial broadcasting is supplied through the input terminal  249  to a terrestrial analog broadcasting tuner  252 , whereby the broadcast signal of any desired channel is selected. The broadcast signal selected by the tuner  252  is supplied to an analog demodulator  253  and is demodulated into analog video and audio signals, which are then output to the signal processing section  247 .  
         [0034]     The signal processing section  247  selectively performs predetermined digital signal processing for the digital video and audio signals supplied from the PSK demodulator  246  and the OFDM demodulator  251 , and outputs the signals to a graphic processing section  254  and an audio processing section  255 .  
         [0035]     A plurality of (in the figure, four) input terminals  256   a ,  256   b ,  256   c , and  256   d  are connected to the signal processing section  247 . The input terminals  256   a  to  256   d  make it possible to input analog video and audio signals from the outside of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 .  
         [0036]     The signal processing section  247  selectively digitizes the analog video and audio signals supplied from the analog demodulator  253  and the input terminals  256   a  to  256   d  and performs predetermined digital signal processing for the digitized video and audio signals and then outputs the signals to the graphic processing section  254  and the audio processing section  255 .  
         [0037]     The graphic processing section  254  has a function of superposing an OSD (On Screen Display) signal generated by an OSD signal generation section  257  on the digital video signal supplied from the signal processing section  247  and outputting the resultant signal. The graphic processing section  254  can selectively output the output video signal of the signal processing section  247  and the output OSD signal of the OSD signal generation section  257  and can output both output signals in combination so as to form each a half of a screen.  
         [0038]     The digital video signal output from the graphic processing section  254  is supplied to a video processing section  258 . The video processing section  258  converts the input digital video signal into an analog video signal in a format that can be displayed on the video display  114  and then outputs the analog video signal to the video display  114  for displaying video and also outputs the signal to the outside through an output terminal  259 .  
         [0039]     The audio processing section  255  converts the input digital audio signal into an analog audio signal in a format that can be played back in the speakers  115  and then outputs the analog audio signal to the speakers  115  for playing back audio and also outputs the signal to the outside through an output terminal  260 .  
         [0040]     All operation of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  including the various types of reception operation described above is controlled by a control unit  261 . The control unit  261 , which contains a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc., receives operation information from the operation panel  116  or receives operation information sent from the remote control  17  through the photoreceiver unit  118  and controls the sections so as to reflect the operation description.  
         [0041]     In this case, the control unit  261  uses mainly ROM (Read-Only Memory)  261   a  storing a control program executed by the CPU, RAM (Random Access Memory)  261   b  for providing a work area for the CPU, and nonvolatile memory  261   c  for storing various pieces of set information, control information, etc.  
         [0042]     The control unit  261  is connected through a card I/F (Interface)  265  to a card holder  266  in which the first memory card  119  can be placed, whereby the control unit  261  can transfer information to and from the first memory card  119  placed in the card holder  266  through the card I/F  265 .  
         [0043]     Further, the control unit  261  is connected through a card I/F  267  to a card holder  268  in which the second memory card  120  can be placed, whereby the control unit  261  can transfer information to and from the second memory card  120  placed in the card holder  268  through the card I/F  267 .  
         [0044]     The control unit  261  is connected to the first LAN terminal  121  through a communication I/F  269 , whereby the control unit  261  can transfer information to and from the LAN compatible HDD  125  connected to the first LAN terminal  121  through the communication I/F  269 . In this case, the control unit  261  has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function and assigns an IP (Internet Protocol) address to the LAN compatible HDD  125  connected to the first LAN terminal  121  for control.  
         [0045]     Further, the control unit  261  is connected to the second LAN terminal  122  through a communication I/F  270 , whereby the control unit  261  can transfer information to and from the devices connected to the second LAN terminal  122  (see  FIG. 1 ) through the communication I/F  270 .  
         [0046]     The control unit  261  is also connected to the USB terminal  123  through a USB I/F  271 , whereby the control unit  261  can transfer information to and from the devices connected to the USB terminal  123  (see  FIG. 1 ) through the USB I/F  271 .  
         [0047]     Further, the control unit  261  is connected to the IEEE1394 terminal  124  through an IEEE1394 I/F  272 , whereby the control unit  261  can transfer information to and from the devices connected to the IEEE1394 terminal  124  (see  FIG. 1 ) through the IEEE1394 I/F  272 .  
         [0048]     In the embodiment, a registration file describing the storage IDs (each containing IP address and device name) assigned to the HDD  125 , the video recorder  127 , the video recorder  128 , and the DVD recorder  129  at the initial registration time is stored in the HDD  125 .  
         [0049]     The storage IDs of the HDD  125 , the video recorder  127 , the video recorder  128 , and the DVD recorder  129  are stored in the nonvolatile memory  261   c.    
         [0050]     The control unit  261  includes (1) server finding function  261   d  using UPnP, (2) content information acquisition function  261   e  using UPnP, and (3) content access control function  261   f.    
         [0051]     (1) The control unit  261  finds a UPnP compatible device on the network using a UPnP discovery function by the server finding function  261   d . For example, the server finding function  261   d  finds the video recorder  128  using the UPnP discovery function.  
         [0052]     (2) The control unit  261  controls a UPnP compatible device using a UPnP control function by the content information acquisition function  261   e  and acquires URI information required for accessing the content in the UPnP compatible device. For example, the content information acquisition function  261   e  controls the video recorder  128  and acquires the URI information required for accessing the content stored in the HDD, etc., in the video recorder  128  from the video recorder  128 .  
         [0053]     (3) The control unit  261  determines whether or not access to content is permitted by the content access control function  261   f  based on the IP address information of the server acquired by the server finding function  261   d , the IP address information obtained from the URI information acquired by the content information acquisition function  261   e , and the IP address and net mask assigned to the second LAN terminal  122  of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 . If the control unit  261  determines that access is permitted, the control unit  261  permits content access; if the control unit  261  does not determine that access is permitted, the control unit  261  displays a message to the effect that access cannot be permitted on the video display  114  as OSD.  
         [0054]      FIG. 3  is a drawing provided by extracting the configuration of a part of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0055]     In  FIG. 3 , the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 , the video recorder  127 , and the video recorder  128  are network apparatus connected to a local area network.  
         [0056]     The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  receives an MPEG2 transport stream and an MPEG2 program stream transmitted from the video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128  of other network apparatus connected to the local area network via the local area network, and produces video display and audio provided by decoding the received data. The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  may be a digital broadcast tuner, etc., as well as a digital broadcast TV receiver.  
         [0057]     The video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128  exist on the local area network recognized by the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  and can be controlled via the local area network from the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  in accordance with a communication protocol between the apparatus.  
         [0058]     The video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128  can record the MPEG2 transport stream and the MPEG2 program stream input via the local area network from other network apparatus connected to the local area network in a record DVD, an internal HDD, etc., included in the video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128 .  
         [0059]     The video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128  can transmit the MPEG2 transport stream and the MPEG2 program stream recorded in the record DVD, the internal HDD, etc., included in the video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128  to other network apparatus connected to the local area network via the local area network.  
         [0060]     For example, a DVD record-playback device, an HDD record-playback device, and the like are available as specific products of the video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128 .  
         [0061]     The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  is connected to the video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128  through a wired or wireless local area network for controlling the video recorder  127  and the video recorder  128  via the local area network in accordance with the communication protocol between the apparatus. A “DLNA (digital living network alliance) guideline” is known as the communication protocol technique between the apparatus.  
         [0062]     The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  presents a GUI as shown in  FIG. 4  on the video display  114  of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  as means for controlling other network apparatus connected to the local area network, enabling the user to remotely control the apparatus using the remote controller  117 , etc.  
         [0063]      FIG. 4  shows a GUI screen displayed on the video display  114  of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 ; in this example, the GUI screen is provided for the user to operate the video recorder  127  or the video recorder  128 .  
         [0064]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a playback button, a record button, a stop button, a pause button, a fast-forward button, a fast-backward button, a one-touch replay button, a one-touch skip button, and a digest playback button are placed as the GUI. Further, a counter  401 , a time bar  402 , and the like for presenting progress information during the playback operation and the record operation are also presented on the GUI. The GUI presentation is generated by the OSD signal generation section  257  in  FIG. 2  and is superposed on the decoded video signal by the graphic processing section  254 . The operation buttons such as the playback button, the record button, the stop button, the pause button, the fast-forward button, the fast-backward button, the one-touch replay button, the one-touch skip button, and the digest playback button of the GUI generating data (operation guide information) are not provided by the controlled device. The GUI generating data are previously recorded on a storage unit such as memory device in the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 .  
         [0065]     Next, the operation of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111 , the control apparatus according to the embodiment, will be discussed with a flowchart of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0066]     The operation of the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  for the user to control the video recorder  127  found from the local area network using the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  is as follows:  
         [0067]     Block S 501 : The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  acquires the server type number of the video recorder  127  through the communication protocol. For example, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  checks whether or not the video recorder  127  is supported with RANGE GET request (Get with range request) in HTTP protocol through the communication protocol. To make possible special playback other than playback or stop, the apparatus needs to be supported with RANGE GET request in HTTP protocol. To execute skip of special playback, it is impossible to acquire data with any desired byte or any desired time specified as the start position and the end position if the apparatus is not supported with RANGE GET request in HTTP protocol.  
         [0068]     At block S 501 , if the video recorder  127  is supported with RANGE GET request in HTTP protocol, the server type number is determined as “1” or “2”; if the video recorder  127  is not supported with RANGE GET request in HTTP protocol, the server type number is determined as “3” or “4”.  
         [0069]     To make the time bar effective, the total time of content needs to be able to be acquired. If the video recorder  127  can provide information of the total time of content, the server type number is determined as “1” or “2”; if the video recorder  127  cannot provide information of the total time of content, the server type number is determined as “3” or “4”.  
         [0070]     Block S 502 : The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  determines the server type number acquired at block S 501  to determine whether or not there is a restriction on the functions operated from any other network apparatus. According to the determination result, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  proceeds the process to block S 503  when the server type number is “1”; block S 504  when the server type number is “2”; block S 505  when the server type number is “3:; or block S 506  when the server type number is “4”.  
         [0071]     The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  determines the server type from the server type number and determines which function is effective by the determined type. As an example in the embodiment, it is assumed that the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  determines that when the server type number is “1”, “all functions are effective” and “time bar function is effective”, that when the server type number is “2”, “all functions are effective” and “time bar function is ineffective”, that when the server type number is “3”, “functions other than playback/stop are ineffective” and “time bar function is effective”, and that when the server type number is “4”, “functions other than playback/stop are ineffective” and “time bar function is ineffective.” 
         [0072]     Block S 503 : The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  determines that “all functions are effective” and “time bar function is effective” because the server type number is “1”.  
         [0073]     Block S 504 : The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  determines that “all functions are effective” and “time bar function is ineffective” because the server type number is “2”.  
         [0074]     Block S 505 : The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  determines that “functions other than playback/stop are ineffective” and “time bar function is effective” because the server type number is “3”.  
         [0075]     Block S 506 : The digital TV broadcast receiver  111  determines that “functions other than playback/stop are ineffective” and “time bar function is ineffective” because the server type number is “4”.  
         [0076]     Block S 507 : If it is determined that the time bar display function is effective in response to the determination result at block S 503  to block S 506 , the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  proceeds the process to block S 508  and displays the time bar; if it is determined that the time bar display function is ineffective, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  does not display the time bar and proceeds the process to block S 509 .  
         [0077]     Block S 508 : The time bar is displayed.  
         [0078]     Block S 509 : For example, if all functions are operative like “all functions effective” in response to the determination result at block S 503  to block S 506 , the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  proceeds the process to block S 510 ; if not all functions are operative as “functions other than playback/stop are ineffective,” the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  proceeds the process to block S 511 .  
         [0079]     Block S 510 : All operation buttons are allowed to function and are displayed.  
         [0080]     Block S 511 : Operation buttons of ineffective functions are displayed to be toned-down (displayed to be disabled, invalidated, or inactivated, in other words) and are not allowed to function (or are not displayed) and other effective operation buttons are displayed. The tone-down displayed buttons, etc., do not function even if the user presses a selection determination key when operating an operation guide by remote control operation.  
         [0081]     That is, when the server type number is “1”, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  draws all buttons of the operation guide and the time bar  402  as the GUI on the video display  114  finally as shown in  FIG. 6A .  
         [0082]     When the server type number is “2”, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  draws all buttons of the operation guide as the GUI on the video display  114  finally as shown in  FIG. 6B , but tone-down displays the time bar  402  and does not allow the time bar  402  to function (or does not display the time bar  402 ).  
         [0083]     When the server type number is “3”, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  draws the playback button and the stop button of the operation guide and the time bar  402  as the GUI on the video display  114  finally as shown in  FIG. 6C . At this time, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  tone-down displays other buttons than the playback button or the stop button and does not allow other buttons to function (or does not display other buttons), as shown in  FIG. 6C .  
         [0084]     When the server type number is “4”, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  draws the playback button and the stop button of the operation guide and tone-down displays the time bar  402  and does not allow the time bar  402  to function (or does not display the time bar  402 ) as the GUI on the video display  114  finally as shown in  FIG. 6D . At this time, the digital TV broadcast receiver  111  tone-down displays other buttons than the playback button or the stop button and does not allow other buttons to function (or does not display other buttons), as shown in  FIG. 6D .  
         [0085]     Since the server type number “4” means that other functions than playback/stop are ineffective, other buttons than playback/stop in the operation guide are tone-down drawn.  
         [0086]     The tone-down drawn ineffective functions do not work even if the user presses the selection determination key when operating the operation guide by remote control operation.  
         [0087]     As a modified example of the embodiment described above, the design of the operation guide may be changed in accordance with the combination of the restricted functions (ineffective functions) for enabling the user to understand the operative functions through intuition rather than tone-down display of the buttons of the ineffective functions, etc.  
         [0088]     The embodiment typically is implemented as a computer controlled by software. The software in this case includes a program and data, the functions and effects of the invention are provided by making the most of computer hardware physically, and appropriate related arts are applied to portions where the related arts can be applied. Further, the specific types and configurations of hardware and software for embodying the invention, the software processing range, and the like can be changed as desired. Therefore, in the description that follows, a virtual function block diagram indicating the component functions of the invention as blocks is used. A program for operating a computer to embody the invention is also one form of the invention.  
         [0089]     As described above with reference to the embodiment, there is provided a control apparatus for enabling the user to understand whether or not control of a controlled apparatus is effective by function according to GUI display without transmitting a large number of pieces of data or information.  
         [0090]     The invention relating to the apparatus and device also hold as the invention relating to a method and the invention relating to the method also holds as the invention relating to the apparatus. Accordingly, the user can operate only the effective functions through intuition.  
         [0091]     The invention relating to the apparatus or the method also holds as a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure corresponding to the invention (or causing a computer to function as means corresponding to the invention or causing a computer to provide functions corresponding to the invention) and also holds as a computer-readable record medium recording the program.  
         [0092]     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described above and that the invention can be embodied with the components modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention can be embodied in various forms according to appropriate combinations of the components disclosed in the embodiment described above. For example, some components may be deleted from all components shown in the embodiment. Further, the components in different embodiments may be used appropriately in combination.  
         [0093]     While certain embodiment of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.