Patent Publication Number: US-2005122649-A1

Title: Remote control system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a remote control system, and more specifically, to a remote control system using a multifunctional remote control device capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Conventionally, for many kinds of electric appliances such as a television, an audio and the like, respective remote control devices capable of remote-controlling them are included, and hence, each home has a plurality of remote control devices corresponding to respective electrical appliances.  
      With this being the situation, in recent years, a multifunctional remote control device capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances by itself, has been put into use.  
      This type of remote control device includes a type in which control data for controlling each operation of each electrical appliance is stored in advance, and a type into which control data for each electrical appliance is manually inputted and stored (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-224290).  
      However, the former type, i.e., the remote control device having control data stored therein in advance, can remote-control only specified electrical appliances in which control data is stored in advance, and, disadvantageously, cannot adapt to a new electric appliance.  
      On the other hand, the latter type, i.e., the remote control device into which control data is manually inputted, can indeed adapt to a new electric appliance by inputting control data, but undesirably requires much expense in time and effort to input control data for every electrical appliance.  
      Regarding such remote control devices, which are included with televisions, audios, air conditioners, and the like, as described above, the methods for operating them have been complicated as these electrical appliances have grown more sophisticated.  
      Accordingly, instrument manuals for explaining methods for operating an electrical appliance and a remote control device, are included with each electrical appliance and corresponding remote control device. For the electrical appliance having a display screen, such as a television, an electrical appliance has been proposed in which explanation data on the method for operating a remote control device is stored in the television in advance, and in which the explanation for operation is displayed on the display screen. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of improving the operability of a remote control device, a remote control device has been proposed in which explanation data on the method for operating the remote control device is stored in the remote control device in advance, and in which the explanation for operation is displayed on the display screen of the remote control device (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-191080).  
      In recent times, since each home has been provided with lots of remote control devices corresponding to respective electrical appliances, each home has been suffered from confusion. In order to eliminating this inconvenience, as described above, a multifunctional remote control device capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances has been developed and put in service.  
      However, regarding the multifunctional remote control device, in the case where the explanation data on an operating method therefor is stored in advance, the explanation for operation that can be displayed on the display screen of the remote control device has been restricted to the explanation for the operation with respect to a remote control device, corresponding to a specified electrical appliance having the explanation data stored therein in advance, and it has been impossible to display the explanation for the operation with respect to the remote control device of a new electrical appliance.  
      Also, because of an increased complexity of the operating method for the remote control device, the remote control device of which the explanation data is stored in advance has had to store a large amount of explanation data on the operating method. In particular, the multifunctional remote control device has undesirably required a memory for storing a large amount of explanation data on the remote control device concerning each corresponding electrical appliance.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control system using a multifunctional remote control device that saves a user from having to manually input control data on each electrical appliance, and that is capable of adapting to the operation with respect to a new electrical appliance.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote control device that, even if no explanation data on the operating method therefor is stored in the remote control device in advance, is capable of improving its operability by allowing an explanation for operation to be identifiable on the display screen of the remote control device, as well as to provide a remote control system having the same.  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, a remote control system includes a plurality of electrical appliances, and a remote control device capable of remote-controlling the plurality of electrical appliances. Herein, each of the plurality of electrical appliances includes: a memory in which the control data of the control signal corresponding to each operation of each of the electrical appliances has been stored; an output section for outputting the control data to the remote control device; and a receiving section for receiving a control signal from the remote control device. The remote control device includes: an input section for inputting the control data from each of the electrical appliances; a memory for storing the control data; an operation section for selecting a desired operation of each of the electrical appliances; and a transmitting section for transmitting the control signal corresponding to the selected operation, to each of the electrical appliances.  
      According to another aspect of the present invention, a remote control system includes: a remote control device capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances; and a control data storage device in which the control data of the control signal corresponding to each operation of each of the electrical appliances has been stored. Herein, the remote control device includes: an input section for inputting the control data from the control data storage device; a memory for recording the control data; an operation section for selecting a desired operation of each of the electrical appliances; and a transmitting section for transmitting the control signal corresponding to the selected operation, to each of the electrical appliances.  
      The remote control system according to the present invention preferably has a display section for displaying each operation of each of the electrical appliances, based on the control data inputted to the remote control device.  
      In the remote control system according to the present invention, the display section is preferably provided to the remote control device.  
      According to the remote control system of the present invention, inputting control data outputted from each electrical appliance or the control data storage device into the remote control device, allows the remote control device to become a multifunctional remote control device easily adaptable to a plurality of electrical appliances.  
      According to still another aspect of the present invention, a remote control device capable of remote-controlling an electrical appliance includes: an input section for inputting explanation data for explaining the method for operating the remote control device, from another electrical appliance having communication means through the communication means; and a display section for displaying the inputted explanation data.  
      According to a further aspect of the present invention, a remote control system includes: an electrical appliance; and a remote control device capable of remote-controlling the electrical appliance. Herein, the electrical appliance includes: a memory in which the explanation data for explaining the method for operating the remote control device has been stored; an output section for outputting the explanation data to the remote control device; and a receiving section for receiving the control signal for requiring the output of the explanation data of the remote control device. The remote control device includes: a transmitting section for transmitting the control signal for requiring the output of the explanation data of the remote control device; an input section for inputting the explanation data from the remote control device; and a display section for displaying the inputted explanation data.  
      According to the remote control device and the remote control system of the present invention, the explanation for the operation with respect to remote control functions can be displayed on the display section of the remote control device, by inputting the explanation data from another electrical appliance having communication means, or a corresponding electrical appliance.  
      In the remote control device and the remote control system according to the present invention, it is preferable that the remote control device be a multifunctional remote control device capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances.  
      Furthermore, according to the remote control device and the remote control system of the present invention, even for a new electric appliance of which the explanation data is not stored in advance in a multifunctional remote control device, the explanation for operation can be displayed by inputting the explanation data. This makes it possible to adapt to the new electric appliance.  
      As described above, the remote control system according to the present invention can save a user from having to manually input control data for every electrical appliance, and allows its remote control device to be easily adaptable to a plurality of electrical appliance. Moreover, since this remote control system allows control data on a new electrical appliance to be inputted into the remote control device, it can cope with a new electrical appliance.  
      Also, since the remote control device can display, on the display section, each-operation for every electrical appliance, it is not necessary to provide the remote control device with an operation button for every operation of an electrical appliance. This allows the number of operation buttons to be reduced, resulting in the improvement in operability of the remote control device.  
      Moreover, it is not necessary to store the control data for each electrical appliance into the remote control device in advance when producing a remote control device, but it suffices to store only the control data for an electrical appliance to be remote-controlled. Thus, by virtue of the absence of function unnecessary for an operator of the remote control device, the operability of the remote control device can be even more improved.  
      According to the remote control device and the remote control system of the present invention, even if no explanation data is stored in the remote control device in advance, the explanation for operation can be identified on the display section of the remote control device, so that the remote control device can be operated while identifying the explanation for the operation with respect to the remote control functions, on the display section. This allows the moving frequency of sight line to be reduced as compared with the case where the remote control device is operated while identifying an instruction manual or the explanation for operation displayed on the display screen of an electrical appliance, and also enables mistakes in pushing an operation button to be reduced, thereby enhancing the operability of the remote control device.  
      Moreover, even for an electrical appliance without a display screen, the explanation for operation based on explanation data can be displayed on its display section, and even if an instruction manual becomes lost, the explanation for operation can be identified. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of display screens in the display section of a remote control device used for the remote control system in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a further display screen in the display section of the remote control device used for the remote control system in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a remote control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a remote control system according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of display screens in the display section of a remote control device used for the remote control system in  FIG. 5 ; and  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of a remote control device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     First Embodiment  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , this remote control system  1  includes a multifunctional remote control device  2  capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances, and electrical appliances that are each remote-controlled by a control signal from the remote control device  2 . In the first embodiment, a television  3  and a DVD (digital versatile disc)  4  are taken as examples of the electrical appliances.  
      The television  3  and the DVD  4 , respectively, perform operations such as the selection of a channel or the adjustment of a volume level; and a replay or recording, by receiving their respective control signals different for each of the operations.  
      Memories  3   a  and  4   a  each comprising a RAM or the like, of the television  3  and the DVD  4 , have control data  3   e  and  4   e  stored therein, respectively, in order to output the control data of each control signal to the remote control device  2 .  
      The television  3  and the DVD  4 , respectively, include output sections  3   b  and  4   b  outputting the control data  3   e  and  4   e  to the remote control device  2  using respective infrared (IR) codes, and receiving sections  3   c  and  4   c  receiving respective control signals from the remote control device  2 .  
      CPUs (central processing units)  3   d  and  4   d  of the television  3  and the DVD  4 , respectively, take out the control data  3   e  and  4   e  from the memories  3   a  and  4   a,  and output them from the output sections  3   b  and  4   b  to the remote control device  2 . Once the CPUs  3   d  and  4   d,  respectively, have received control signals from the remote control device  2 , in the receiving sections  3   c  and  4   c,  the CPUs  3   d  and  4   d  control so that the television  3  and the DVD  4  perform any operations based on the control signals, respectively.  
      A rewritable memory  2   a  comprising RAM or the like, of the remote control device  2 , stores the control data  3   e  and  4   e  inputted from the television  3  and the DVD  4 , respectively.  
      The remote control device  2  has a display section  2   b  comprising a liquid crystal display device or the like, and displaying the kinds of electrical appliances (in this embodiment, the television  3  and the DVD  4 ) that have control data  3   e  and  4   e  inputted therein, as shown in (a) of  FIG. 2 , and each operation of each of the television  3  and the DVD  4  based on a respective one of the inputted control data  3   e  and  4   e,  as shown in (b) and (c) in  FIG. 2 .  
      The remote control device  2  has operation buttons  2   c  and a pointing device  2   d  that serve as an operation section for selecting a desired operation of the television  3  or the DVD  4 . By the operation button  2   c  or the pointing device  2   d  being operated, the remote control device  2  can select each operation of the television  3  or the DVD  4 , each operation being displayed on the display section  2   b.    
      Also, the remote control device  2  includes a transmitting section  2   e,  which transmits the control signal for an operation selected by the operation button  2   c  or the like to the television  3  or the DVD  4  by wireless communication means such as infrared, radio frequency (RF), or Bluetooth; and an input section  2   f,  which inputs control data outputted by IR codes from the output sections  3   b  and  4   b  of the television  3  and the DVD  4 .  
      Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the output sections  3   b  and  4   b  of the television  3  and the DVD  4  output the control data  3   e  and  4   e,  respectively, to the remote control device  2  by using respective IR codes, serving as wireless communication means. However, the wireless communication means in this case is not limited to the IR codes. Here, the wireless communication means may include RF, Bluetooth, and the like. Furthermore, the control data  3   e  and  4   e  may be outputted to the remote control device  2  by using cable communication means by connecting the output sections  3   b  and  4   b  of the television  3  and the DVD  4 , with the input section  2   f  of the remote control device  2  using USB (universal serial bus) cables or the like.  
      Once the control data  3   e  or  4   e  from the television  3  or the DVD  4  has been inputted into the input section  2   f,  the CPU  2   g  of the remote control device  2  causes the control data  3   e  or  4   e  to be stored in the memory  2   a.  Also, once each operation of the television  3  or the DVD  4  has been selected by the operation button  2   c  or the pointing device  2   d,  the CPU  2   g  transmits the selected control signal from the transmitting section  2   e  to the television  3  or the DVD  4 .  
      Next, the operations in this embodiment will be described.  
      First, a start operation for starting the output of the control data  3   e  or  4   e  from the television  3  or the DVD  4  to the remote control device  2 , is performed. This start operation may also performed by using the operation button or the like provided to the main body of the television  3  or the DVD  4 , or a remote control device (not shown) included with them. Alternatively, the start operation may performed by transmitting the control signal for start operation from the remote control device  2  of the present remote control system  1  to the television  3  or the DVD  4 .  
      Thereupon, the CPU  3   d  or  4   d  of the television  3  or the DVD  4  takes out the control data  3   e  or  4   e  from the memory  3   a  or  4   a,  and outputs the control data  3   e  or  4   e  from the output section  3   b  or  4   b  to the remote control device  2  by the corresponding wireless communication means.  
      Next, the CPU  2   g  of the remote control device  2  inputs the control data  3   e  or  4   e  from the television  3  or the DVD  4  into the input section  2   f,  and stores the control data  3   e  or  4   e  into the memory  2   a.    
      Also, as shown in (a) of  FIG. 2 , the CPU  2   g  of the remote control device  2  performs a display of the television  3  and the DVD  4  on the display section  2   b,  in order to make it determinable which is to be remote-controlled out of the television  3  and the DVD  4  in which the control data  3   e  and  4   e  have been inputted, respectively.  
      Next, when performing a remote control of the television  3  using the remote control device  2 , once the television  3  has been selected using the pointing device  2   d  and the operation button  2   c  in the display in (a) of  FIG. 2  on the display section  2   b,  the display section  2   b  displays each operation of the television  3  as shown in (b) of  FIG. 2  on the display section  2   b.  An desired operation of the television  3 , therefore, is selected on this display using the pointing device  2   d  and the operation button  2   c.  Thereupon, the CPU  2   g  of the remote control device  2  takes out the control signal for the selected operation from the control data  3   e  of the television  3  stored in the memory  2   a,  and transmits it from the transmitting section  2   e  to the television  3 . The CPU  3   d  of the television  3  receives the control signal in the receiving section  3   c,  and performs the desired operation based on the control signal. Thereby, the remote control of the television  3  can be achieved using the remote control device  2 .  
      On the other hand, when performing a remote control of the DVD  4  using the remote control device  2 , once the DVD  4  has been selected using the pointing device  2   d  and the like in the display in (a) of  FIG. 2  on the display section  2   b,  the display section  2   b  displays each operation of the DVD  4  as shown in (c) of  FIG. 2  on the display section  2   b.  An desired operation of the television  3 , therefore, is selected on this display using the pointing device  2   d  and the like, and thereby the remote control of the DVD  4  can be achieved using the remote control device  2 .  
      Furthermore, when performing a remote control of an audio device (not shown) as a new electrical appliance, control data for controlling the audio device is outputted from the audio device in which the control data is stored in advance, to the remote control device  2 , and this control data is stored into the memory of the remote control device  2 . Thereby, as an electrical appliance that is remote-controllable by the remote control device  2 , an audio device is newly added to the display in the display section  2   b  as shown in  FIG. 3 , thus allowing the remote-control of an audio device to be additionally performed using the remote control device  2 .  
      According to this embodiment, inputting control data  3   e  and  4   e  outputted from the television  3  and the DVD  4  into the remote control device  2 , enables the remote control device  2  to become a multifunctional remote control device  2  easily adaptable to a plurality of electrical appliances.  
      Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to save a user from having to manually input control data  3   e  and  4   e  for every electrical appliance, and cause the remote control device  2  to easily adapt to a plurality of electrical appliance. Moreover, since the remote control system  1  according to this embodiment allows the remote control device  2  to input control data on a new electrical appliance, it can also cope with a new electrical appliance.  
      Also, since the remote control device  2  can display, on its display section, each operation for each of the electrical appliances, i.e., the television  3  and the DVD  4 , it is not necessary to provide the remote control device  2  with an operation button  2   c  for every operation of each of the television  3  and the DVD  4 . This allows the number of operation buttons to be reduced, leading to the improvement in operability of the remote control device  2 .  
      When producing a remote control device  2 , it is not necessary to store the control data of each electrical appliance into the remote control device  2  in advance, but it suffices to store only the control data  3   e  and  4   e  for an electrical appliance to be remote-controlled. Thus, by virtue of the absence of function unnecessary for an operator of the remote control device  2 , the operability of the remote control device  2  can be even more improved.  
     Second Embodiment  
      Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . In the second embodiment, the same or equivalent components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , a remote control system  1  according to the second embodiment includes a multifunctional remote control device  2  capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances, an electrical appliance (in this embodiment, the television  3 ) that is remote-controlled by a control signal from the remote control device  2 , and a control data storage device  8  in which control data for controlling the television  3  has been stored.  
      The control data storage device  8  has an output section  8   b  for outputting control data  6  to the remote control device  2 . The output section  8   b  is connected with the input section  2   f  of the remote control device  2  by an USB cable  9 . In the memory  8   a  of the control data storage device  8 , control data for at least one electrical appliance (in this embodiment, the control data  3   e  for the television  3 ) has been stored.  
      The control data storage device  8  outputs the control data  3   e  stored in its memory  8   a  from its output section  8   b  to the remote control device  2  through a USB cable.  
      Here, the output section  8   b  of the control data storage device  8  outputs the control data  3   e  by cable communication means. However, the communication means in this case is not limited to the cable communication means. Here, the control data  3   e  may be outputted by wireless communication means, as in the case of the first embodiment. Alternatively, the control data  3   e  may be outputted by inserting the output section  8   b  of the control data storage device  8  into the input section  2   f  of the remote control device  2 , that is, by directly connecting them.  
      Because other constructions of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, they are omitted from a detailed description. However, as in the second embodiment, when the control data  3   e  can be outputted to the remote control device  2  using the control data storage device  8 , the television  3  itself corresponding to the control data  3   e  does not need to store the control data  3   e,  and does not need to have the output section  3   b  for outputting the control data  3   e.    
      According to this embodiment, by outputting the control data  3   e  from the control data storage device  8  to the remote control device  2 , the remote control device  2  can perform a remote-control of the television  3  corresponding to the control data  3   e.    
      This can save a user from having to manually input control data  3   e  for every electrical appliance, and allows the remote control device  2  to be easily adaptable to a plurality of electrical appliance. Moreover, since this remote control system  1  according to this embodiment allows the control data on a new electrical appliance to be inputted into the remote control device  2 , it can cope with a new electrical appliance. Furthermore, even if the electrical appliance itself, such as the television  3 , has no stored control data, the remote control device  2  allows a remote control of the television  3  to be performed, so that the remote control system  1  enables the remote control device  2  to cope with even more electrical appliances.  
      The present invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments, but can be variously changed as required.  
      The electrical appliances to be used in the remote control system  1  according to the present invention are not limited to the television  3  and the DVD  4  described above, but may include other various electrical appliances such as an audio device, an air conditioner, etc.  
      Also, in the above-described embodiments, a display section  2   b  for displaying each operation of the television  3  or the DVD  4  is provided to the remote control device  2 , but the method for displaying each operation thereof is not restricted to this method. For example, the method for displaying each operation of the television  3  or the DVD  4  may be such one wherein the display screen of the television  3  or the DVD  4  is utilized as the display section  2   b,  wherein the above display screen is caused to display thereon each operation of the television  3  or the DVD  4  based on the control data  3   e  or  4   e  inputted into the remote control device  2 , and wherein each displayed operation is selected by the operation button  2   c  or the pointing device  2   d  of the remote control device  2 , whereby the control signal of the selected operation can be transmitted from the remote control device  2  to the television  3  or the DVD  4 .  
     Other Embodiments  
      Next, other embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a remote control system according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a remote control system  11  according to this embodiment, includes a multifunctional remote control device  12  capable of remote-controlling a plurality of electrical appliances, and electrical appliances each remote-controlled by a control signal from the remote control device  12 . In this embodiment, the television  13  and an air conditioner  14  are taken as examples of electrical appliances.  
      The television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , respectively, perform operations such as the selection of a channel or the adjustment of a volume level; and the selection of function such as cooling, heating, or the like by receiving their respective control signals different for each of the operations.  
      Stored in advance in memories  13   a  and  14   a  of the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , respectively, are explanation data  13   f  and  14   f,  which include: (1) explanations for the operations with respect to the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , and (2) explanations for the operations with respect to the remote control functions corresponding to the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , of the remote control device  12  for coping with the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 .  
      The television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , respectively, include output sections  13   b  and  14   b  outputting the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  to the remote control device  2  using respective IR codes, and receiving sections  13   c  and  14   c  for receiving a control signal from the remote control device  12 .  
      CPUs  13   d  and  14   d  of the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , respectively, take out the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  from the memories  13   a  and  14   a,  and output them from the output sections  13   b  and  14   b  to the remote control device  12 . Once the CPUs  13   d  and  14   d,  respectively, have received control signals from the remote control device  12 , in the receiving sections  13   c  and  14   c,  the CPUs  13   d  and  14   d  control so that the television  13  and the air conditioner  14  perform any operations based on the control signals, respectively.  
      In the memory  12   a  of the remote control device  12 , the control data  13   e  and  14   e  for controlling the television  13  and the air conditioner  14  are stored, respectively. Also, the remote control device  12  has a memory  12   h  for temporarily storing the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  inputted from the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 .  
      The remote control device  12  has a display section  12   b  comprising a liquid crystal display device, or the like for displaying the kinds of adaptable electrical appliances having control data  13   e  and  14   e  in the remote control device  12  (in this embodiment, the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 ), and displaying each operation of each of the television  13  and the air conditioner  14  based on a respective one of the control data  13   e  and  14   e.  Based on the explanation  13   f  and  14   f  inputted from the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , respectively, the display section  12   b  also displays the explanation for operation with respect to the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , as well as the explanation for operation with respect to the remote control functions corresponding to the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 .  
      The remote control device  12  has operation buttons  12   c  and a pointing device  12   d  that serve as an operation section for selecting a desired operation of the television  13  or the air conditioner  14 . By the operation button  12   c  or the pointing device  12   d  being operated, the remote control device  12  can select each operation of the television  13  or the air conditioner  14 , each operation thereof being displayed on the display section  12   b.  Moreover, by the operation button  12   c  or the like being operated, the remote control device  12  can perform the operation to require the output of the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  of the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 .  
      The remote control device  12  includes a transmitting section  12   e,  which transmits the control signal for an operation selected by the operation button  12   c  or the like to the television  13  or the air conditioner  14  by wireless communication means such as infrared, RF, or Bluetooth; and an input section  12   f,  which inputs explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  outputted using IR codes from the output sections  13   b  and  14   b  of the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 .  
      In this embodiment, the output sections  13   b  and  4   b  of the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , respectively, output the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  to the remote control device  12  by using IR codes, serving as wireless communication means. However, the wireless communication means in this case is not limited to the IR codes. Here, the wireless communication means may include RF, Bluetooth, and the like. Furthermore, the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  may be outputted to the remote control device  12  by using cable communication means by connecting the output sections  13   b  and  14   b  of the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , with the input section  12   f  of the remote control device  12  using USB cables or the like.  
      Once the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  from the television  3  or the air conditioner  14  has been inputted into the input section  12   f,  the CPU  12   g  of the remote control device  12  causes the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  to be stored in the memory  12   h  on a temporary basis or a continuous basis.  
      Also, once each operation of the television  13  or the air conditioner  14  has been selected by the operation button  12   c  or the pointing device  12   d,  the CPU  12   g  of the remote control device  12  transmits the control signal for the selected operation from the transmitting section  12   e  to the television  13  or the air conditioner  14 , and transmits also the control signal for requiring the output of the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  from the transmitting section  12   e  to the television  13  or the air conditioner  14 .  
      Now, the operations in this embodiment will be described.  
      When attempting to cause the display section  12   b  of the remote control device  12  to display the explanation for usage of the remote control functions corresponding to the television  13  or the air conditioner  14 , on the display section  12   b  of the remote control device  12 , firstly the operation for requiring the output of the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  is performed by the operation button  12   c  or the pointing device  12   d  of the remote control device  12 .  
      For example, using the operation button  12   c  or the like, the selection is made as to which explanation for usage is to be displayed, out of the explanations for usage of television  13  and the air conditioner, controllable by the remote control device  12  and displayed on the display section  12   b  as shown in (a) of  FIG. 6 . Then, with respect to the display of each operation of the television  13  as shown in (b) of  FIG. 6 , or the display of each operation of the air conditioner  14  as shown in (c) of  FIG. 6 , the operation for causing the display section  12   b  to display the explanation for usage is selected using the operation button  12   c  or the like.  
      Thereupon, the CPU  12   g  of the remote control device  12  transmits the control signal for requiring the output of the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f,  from the transmitting section  12   e  to the television  13  or the air conditioner  14 .  
      Then, once the CPU  13   d  or  14   d  of the television  13  or the air conditioner  14  has received the control signal for requiring the output of the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f,  in the receiving section  13   c  or  14   c,  the CPU  13   d  or  14   d  takes out the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  from the memory  13   a  or  14   a,  and outputs the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  from the output section  13   b  or  14   b  to the remote control device  12  by the corresponding wireless communication means.  
      Furthermore, the CPU  12   g  of the remote control device  12  inputs the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  outputted from the television  13  or the air conditioner  14 , in the input section  12   f,  and stores the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  into the memory  12   h.    
      The CPU  12   g  of the remote control device  12  takes out the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  from the memory  12   h,  and displays, on the display section  12   b,  the explanation for the operation with respect to the television  13  or the air conditioner  14  based on the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f.    
      According to this embodiment, by inputting the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  stored in the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , into the remote control device  12 , the explanations for the operations with respect to the television  13  and the air conditioner  14 , and that with respect to remote the control functions corresponding to the television  13  and the air conditioner  14  can be displayed on the display section  12   b  of the remote control device  12 .  
      Therefore, even if the explanation data  13   f  or  14   f  is not stored in advance in the remote control device  12 , the corresponding explanation for operation can be identified on the display section  12   b  of the remote control device  12 .  
      Also, it is possible to cause the display section  12   b  of the remote control device  12  to display the explanation for operation, and to operate the remote control device  12  while identifying the explanation for the operation with respect to the remote control functions, on the display section  12   b.  This makes it possible to reduce the moving frequency of sight line to be reduced as compared with the case where the remote control device  12  is operated while identifying an instruction manual, or the explanation for operation displayed on the display screen of the television  13  or the like. Furthermore, this reduces mistakes in pushing the operation button  12   c,  thereby enhancing the operability of the remote control device  12 .  
      Moreover, even for an electrical appliance such as the air conditioner  14  without a display screen, the explanation for operation based on the explanation data  14   f  can be displayed on the display section  12   b,  and even if an instruction manual becomes lost, the explanation for operation can be identified.  
      The present invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments, but can be variously changed as required.  
      Although, as an example of the remote control device  12 , a type in which the explanation data  13   f  and  14   f  are to be inputted from the corresponding electrical appliance has been taken, the remote control device  12  is not limited to this type. The remote control device  12  may include a type that is connectable to a personal computer  16  through a USB cable  15  or the like as shown in  FIG. 7 , that inputs necessary explanation data  17  on the remote control functions downloaded from the Internet, into the input section  12   f,  that stores the explanation data  17  into the memory  12   h,  and that displays the explanation for operation based on the explanation data  17 , on the display section  12   b.