Patent Publication Number: US-7212792-B2

Title: Receiving device executing operation of kind corresponding to kind of received signal

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a receiving device, and more particularly to a receiving device that is capable of receiving information transmitted from an external transmission device such as a remote controller and operates based on the received information. 
   2. Description of the Background Art 
   Conventionally, a remote controller provided with a plurality of keys may sometimes suffer failures of frequently used keys. In order to solve such a problem, the functions associated with the keys may be changed in the remote controller. 
   A technique for changing functions associated with keys in a remote controller is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-359179 (document 1) wherein the functions associated with the keys on the remote controller are displayed on a monitor on the side of a receiving device that receives a signal output by the remote controller, so that the user operates a key associated with a desired function with reference to the display image on the monitor. 
   Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 7-95662 (document 2) and 6-189374 (document 3) disclose a technique for changing functions associated with keys by executing, at a remote controller, a process of changing a correspondence between keys and signals output to a receiving device. 
   It cannot be said, however, that the technique disclosed in document 1 is a technique that compensates for a function of a defective key on a remote controller with the other key or the like thereby eliminating the need to use the defective key. In other words, it is hard to say that this technique perfectly accommodates key defects in a remote controller. 
   Furthermore, documents 2 and 3 appear to increase the functions to be provided on a remote controller, resulting in increased size and poor operability of the remote controller. Moreover, when the remote controller suffers a key defect, the process of changing the correspondence between keys and output signals must be performed with the defective key left as it is, which is far from user-friendly. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is therefore made in view of the foregoing situation and aims to provide a receiving device that allows a function of a possible defective key on a remote controller to be taken over by another key without increasing the remote controller in size. 
   In accordance one aspect of the present invention, a receiving device receives a signal transmitted from an external transmission device to execute an operation of a kind corresponding to a kind of the received signal. The receiving device includes: a receiving unit receiving a signal transmitted from the external transmission device; a converting unit converting the signal received by the receiving unit into a kind of operation which the receiving device must execute; a first storage unit storing kinds of the received signals and kinds of operations to be executed in accordance with the kinds of the received signals by the receiving unit in association with each other; a storage changing unit changing, based on a request from the transmission device, a correspondence in the first storage unit between a kind of the received signal and a kind of operation to be executed in accordance with the kind of the received signal; a second storage unit storing a kind of signal, among the kinds of the received signals, of which correspondence with a kind of operation should not be changed. The converting unit converts the signal received by the receiving unit into a kind of operation based on the correspondence in the first storage unit. If the request from the external transmission device is intended to change the kind of signal stored in the second storage unit, of which correspondence with a kind of operation should not be changed, the storage changing unit announces, before changing the correspondence in the first storage unit, that the correspondence should not be changed. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a receiving device receives a signal transmitted from an external transmission device to execute an operation of a kind corresponding to a kind of the received signal. The receiving device includes: a receiving unit receiving a signal transmitted from the external transmission device; and a converting unit converting the signal received by the receiving unit into a kind of operation which the receiving device must execute. The converting unit changes a kind of operation converted from the signal received from the external transmission device according to a request from the external transmission device. 
   Preferably, the receiving device further includes: a first storage unit storing kinds of the received signals and kinds of operations to be executed in accordance with the kinds of the received signals by the receiving unit in association with each other; and a storage changing unit changing, based on a request from the transmission device, a correspondence in the first storage unit between a kind of the received signal and a kind of operation to be executed in accordance with the kind of the received signal. The converting unit converts the signal received by the receiving unit into a kind of operation based on the correspondence in the first storage unit. 
   Preferably, the receiving device further includes a second storage unit storing a kind of signal, among the kinds of the received signals, of which correspondence with a kind of operation should not be changed. If the request from the external transmission device is intended to change the kind of signal stored in the second storage unit, of which correspondence with a kind of operation should not be changed, the storage changing unit announces, before changing the correspondence in the first storage unit, that the correspondence should not be changed. 
   In accordance with the present invention, when a key defect or the like occurs at a remote controller, the remote controller needs only to make a request to a receiving device for a process of changing the correspondence between kinds of received signals and kinds of operations to be executed and may not execute a process of changing the correspondence between keys and kinds of signals to be transmitted. Therefore, a function of any possible defective key on the remote controller can be taken over by another key without increasing the remote controller in size. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a configuration of a receiving device with peripheral units thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a planar view of a remote controller shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate contents stored in a database shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a process for the receiving device to execute a process corresponding to an IR (Infrared Radiation) code of the received signal when a control unit of  FIG. 1  receives a signal from the remote controller. 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a key allocation change process executed in the control unit of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an exemplary allocation change display appearing during execution of the key allocation change process. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a table shown in  FIG. 3A  as being modified. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the FIGS. It is noted that in the following description, the same parts will be denoted with the same reference characters and provided with the same names and functions, unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will not be repeated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a receiving device  1  receives broadcast signals from an antenna  2  and performs a variety of processing on a signal of the received broadcast signals that corresponds to a desired channel, for on-screen display in a display unit  3  such as a television receiver. 
   Receiving device  1  includes a tuner  11  for selectively extracting a signal corresponding to a channel as desired by a user from the received broadcast signals via antenna  2 , a control unit  12  including a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  17  and a memory  18 , a reception processing unit  13  for converting the signal corresponding to the desired channel extracted by tuner  11  into a signal processible in receiving device  1 , an operation unit  14  such as buttons provided on a front panel (not shown) to be operated by the user, a remote controller reception unit  15  receiving infrared signals from a remote controller  50 , and a display processing unit  16  including an OSD (On Screen Display). Receiving device  1  further includes a database  10  storing kinds of signals received from remote controller  50  in association with kinds of operations including selecting channels. 
   When the user operates operation unit  14  or operates remote controller  50  via remote controller reception unit  15  to selectively designate a desired channel, information of the designated channel is supplied to control unit  12 . CPU  17  of control unit  12  controls tuner  11  based on the supplied information of the desired channel such that a signal corresponding to the desired channel is extracted from the received broadcast signals. 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , remote controller  50  includes a plurality of keys  500 – 523 . Key  500  is operated to turn on/off receiving device  1 . Keys  501 – 512  basically correspond to channels  1 – 12 , respectively. To input a numerical value to receiving device  1 , keys  501 – 512  each are used to input a value corresponding to a numerical value of a channel. Key  520  is used to make a variety of settings on display unit  3 . 
   By operating keys  500 – 523 , remote controller  50  of the present embodiment can transmit infrared signals different for each operated key. In the present embodiment, receiving device  1  can change the correspondence between keys operated at remote controller  50  and operations to be executed by performing a process in receiving device  1  as described later. 
     FIG. 3A  shows a table representing a correspondence between IR codes received from remote controller  50  and key codes, i.e. codes corresponding to kinds of processes to be executed in receiving device  1 .  FIG. 3B  shows a table in which the key codes are associated with the contents of the actual processes. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3A , in receiving device  1 , IR codes corresponding to respective keys on remote controller  50  are respectively associated with key codes. As shown in  FIG. 3B , the key codes are respectively associated with the details of specific processes (as represented by the symbols “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, etc. in  FIG. 3B  for the sake of convenience) in receiving device  1 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , first, control unit  12  receives a signal from remote controller  50  to convert an IR code included in the signal into a key code with reference to the table shown in  FIG. 3A . Control unit  12  then converts the key code obtained by the conversion into the content of the actual process with reference to the table shown in  FIG. 3B  and executes the detailed process as obtained by the conversion. 
   Turning to the flow chart shown in  FIG. 5 , a key allocation change operation to be executed by control unit  12  will be described. The key allocation change process is a process to be executed to change the correspondence between kinds of keys operated on remote controller  50  and kinds of operations executed in receiving device  1 . 
   When an operation to execute the key allocation change process is performed in operation unit  14  or remote controller  50 , at step S 1  (step will be abbreviated as S hereinafter), control unit  12  causes display unit  3  to show a display image for changing the key code to which the key of remote controller  50  is allocated (as abbreviated hereinafter as an allocation change display). An exemplary display as shown at this time is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the allocation change display on a screen  30  includes a key-to-be-changed display section  31 , a currently-set-key code display section  32 , a key code-to-be-set display section  33 , a decide button  34 , a cancel button  35 , and a reset button  36 . 
   Key-to-be-changed display section  31  shows a name of a key, among keys  501 – 523 , of which allocation is to be changed. Currently-set-key code display section  32  shows a key code that is currently set for the key shown in key-to-be-changed display section  31 . Key code-to-be-set display section  33  shows a key code that will be associated with the key shown in key-to-be-changed display section  31 . Decide button  34  is a button operated to confirm a change with the combination of the key shown in key-to-be-changed display section  31  and the key code shown in key code-to-be-set display section  33 . Cancel button  35  is a button operated to terminate the key allocation change process at present. Reset button  36  is a button operated to reset the key codes associated with all of keys  501 – 523  to those as set at the time of shipment. 
   It is noted that a cursor (not shown) is displayed on screen  30 . The user operates operation unit  14  or remote controller  50  as appropriate to move the cursor to determine which of key-to-be-changed display section  31 , currently-set-key code display section  32 , key code-to-be-set display section  33 , decide button  34 , cancel button  35 , and reset button  36  will be a user&#39;s operation target. 
   Returning to  FIG. 5 , after the process at S 1 , control unit  12  determines whether or not the user&#39;s operation target is set to key-to-be-changed display section  31  at S 2 . If yes, the process goes on to S 6 . If no, the process goes on to S 3 . 
   At S 3 , control unit  12  determines whether or not the user&#39;s operation target is set to key code-to-be-set display section  33 . If yes, the process goes on to S 7 . If no, the process goes on to S 4 . 
   At S 4 , control unit  12  determines whether or not the user&#39;s operation target is set to reset button  36 . If yes, the process goes on to S 11 . If no, the process goes on to S 5 . 
   At S 5 , control unit  12  determines whether or not the user&#39;s operation target is set to cancel button  35 , and terminates the key allocation change process. If no, the process returns to S 2 . 
   At S 6 , control unit  12  receives from the user an input of a kind of key corresponding to key-to-be-changed display section  31 , and the process then goes on to S 8 . It is noted that at S 6  control unit  12  allows the kind key input by the user to appear on key-to-be-changed display section  31  and also allows the key code that corresponds to the kind of key (IR code) shown in key-to-be-changed display section  31  in the table of  FIG. 3A  to appear on currently-set-key code display section  32 . 
   At S 7 , control unit  12  receives from the user an input of a key code corresponding to key code-to-be-set display section  33 , and the process goes on to S 8 . 
   At S 8 , control unit  12  determines whether or not the user&#39;s operation target is set to decide button  34 . If yes, the process goes on to S 9 . If no, the process returns to S 2 . 
   At S 9 , control unit  12  determines whether or not the key that has been input as the kind of key corresponding to key-to-be-changed display section  31  is a key other than those keys which are prohibited from the key code allocation change in remote controller  50 . Such keys include, for example, key  500  for turning on/off receiving device  1  and a key for starting the key allocation change process. In receiving device  1 , the keys prohibited from the key code allocation change, among the keys on remote controller  50 , are stored in database  10  or memory  18 . When it is determined as the key other than the keys prohibited from the key code allocation change, the process proceeds to S 10 . When it is determined as the key prohibited from the change, the process returns to S 2 . It is noted that when it is determined at S 9  that the kind of key corresponding to key-to-be-changed display section  31  is a key prohibited from the change, control unit  12  causes display unit  3  to show that the correspondence should not be changed. The process then returns to S 2 . 
   At S 10 , control unit  12  sets the correspondence between the IR code and the key code in database  10  to be changed with the combination of the key shown in key-to-be-changed display section  31  and the key code shown in key code-to-be-set display section  33  and then terminates the key allocation change process. In other words, the process at S 10  causes the content of the table shown in  FIG. 3A  to be modified. Specifically, for example, as shown in screen  30  of  FIG. 6 , when the key code corresponding to the key “Disp” among keys  501 – 523  is to be changed to “ 6 ”, the table shown in  FIG. 3A  is modified as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   While the IR code “Disp” corresponds to the key code “Disp” in the table shown in  FIG. 3A , the IR code “Disp” corresponds to the key code “ 6 ” in the table shown in  FIG. 7 . Therefore, when the key corresponding to “Disp” is operated on remote controller  50 , before modification of the table, the signal received in response to the operation is converted to the key code “Disp” in receiving device  1  followed by execution of the process corresponding to the key code “Disp”, whereas, after modification of the table, the signal received in response to the operation is converted to the key code “ 6 ” in receiving device  1  followed by execution of the process corresponding to the key code “ 6 ”. 
   Meanwhile, at S 11 , control unit  12  resets the key codes associated with all of keys  501 – 523  to those as set at the time of shipment. Specifically, control unit  12  resets the table shown in  FIG. 3A  to that at the time of shipment. It is noted that database  10  separately stores the state at the time of shipment of the table shown in  FIG. 3A . 
   Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.