Patent Publication Number: US-2005125081-A1

Title: Main body apparatus, remote control apparatus, and control method for remote control system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a main body apparatus, a remote control apparatus, and a control method for a remote control system including plural remote control apparatuses (remote controllers) for changing a setting in a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      In recent years, in accordance with an increase in losses due to burglary in cars and theft of cars, necessity for a vehicle security apparatus has been rapidly increasing. As a vehicle security apparatus most widely available in the market, there is a vehicle security apparatus of a type that includes a function for detecting abnormality of a vehicle such as illegal opening of a door or tilt of a vehicle and, when abnormality occurs, threats an intruder into the vehicle using a siren. As a more expensive vehicle security apparatus, there is a vehicle security apparatus of a type that transmits an abnormality signal to an operation center simultaneously with detection of occurrence of the abnormality.  
      In “ATOZ FORCE  2000 ”, [online], [retrieved on Oct. 17, 2003], Internet, &lt;URL: http://www.kami-station.co.jp/security/F2000/index.htm&gt;, a vehicle security system including a remote controller for operating a main body apparatus attached to a vehicle is described. In this vehicle security system, a security level of the main body apparatus can be set from the remote controller. In addition, when the main body apparatus detects abnormality, in the case in which the remote controller is within a communication zone, the main body apparatus informs the remote controller of a risk level on a real time basis. On the other hand, in the case in which the remote controller is not within the communication zone, when communication is established, the main body apparatus can confirm using the remote controller that abnormality occurred at the time when the remote controller was out of the communication zone. In addition, the main body apparatus indicates whether reception is possible with “out-of-zone indication”.  
      In “a security apparatus preventing theft of a car (car security) Marksman Security System”, [online], Marksman, [retrieved on Oct. 17, 2003], Internet, &lt;URL: http://www.south.ne.jp/˜marksman/lineup.html&gt;, a vehicle security system, in which a main body apparatus and a remote controller are capable of communicating with each other, is described. In this vehicle security system, an operation state of the main body apparatus and generation of an alarm is sent to the remote controller by answerback according to mutual communication between the main body apparatus and the remote controller. In addition, even in the case in which the main body apparatus has detected abnormality, on a vehicle side, it is possible to inform only the remote controller of generation of an alarm without generating an alarm in a form of a siren or a light flash. Note that this reference mentions that plural main body apparatuses are registered for one remote controller to control the main body apparatuses mounted on plural cars, respectively.  
      In addition, there are vehicle security systems that include plural remote controllers for operating a main body apparatus attached to a vehicle as described in the above-mentioned references as well as the following three references: “SUPER BARRICADO”, [online], Car Mate, [retrieved on Oct. 17, 2003], Internet, URL:http://www.carmate.co.jp/networkbarricado/super/sq5000.html, “HORNET 719G”, [online], Kato Denki, [retrieved on Oct. 17, 2003], Internet, URL:http:www.kato-denki.com/products/hornet/719g.html, and “HORNET 728M”, [online], Kato Denki, [retrieved on Oct. 17, 2003], Internet, URL:http://www.kato-denki.com/products/hornet/728m.html.  
      However, in the conventional vehicle security system including plural remote controllers, there is a problem in that a setting in a main body apparatus and settings stored in remote controllers as a result of change differ from each other.  
      In the case in which one remote controller is used, completion of an operation by the remote controller can be confirmed through two-way communication between the remote controller and a main body apparatus. However, in the case in which plural remote controllers are used, it is difficult to always synchronize a setting in a main body apparatus and a setting in a remote controller out of a communication zone because the setting in the main body apparatus can also be changed by the other remote controllers. Thus, it is likely that an inconsistency occurs between the setting in the main body apparatus and the setting in the remote controller.  
      If the setting in the main body apparatus and the setting in the remote controller differ from each other in this way, not only inconvenience but also an accident may be caused. Thus, it is desired to solve this problem. Note that, even if a user uses a remote controller that does not store a setting, since the user remembers a setting made by the user himself/herself, when the setting is changed to a different setting in another remote controller, it is not preferable not to notify the user of the change.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention has been devised in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the invention to, in a remote control system in which a setting in a main body apparatus can be changed from plural remote controllers, provide a main body apparatus, a remote control apparatus, and a control method for the remote control system that can prevent an inconsistency from occurring between a setting in the main body apparatus and settings in the respective remote controllers.  
      In order to solve the problems, a main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a main body apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a changing apparatus holding unit that stores apparatus identification information, which is capable of specifying a remote control apparatus that has changed a setting to a present setting, in a storage unit; a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the other remote control apparatuses excluding the remote control apparatus, which has changed the setting to the present setting, is possible; and a setting notifying unit that, when communication with the other remote control apparatuses has become possible, transmits setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus itself to the remote control apparatuses.  
      A remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a remote control apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a setting acquiring unit that receives setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus from the main body apparatus; and a presentation unit that presents the setting information to a user.  
      A remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a remote control apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a setting acquiring unit that receives setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus from the main body apparatus; and a setting managing unit that stores the setting information in a storage unit.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a changing apparatus holding step of storing apparatus identification information capable of specifying a remote control apparatus that has changed a setting to a present setting; a communication possibility judging step of judging whether communication between the main body apparatus and the other remote control apparatuses excluding the remote control apparatus, which has changed the setting to the present setting, is possible; and a setting notifying step of, when communication with the other remote control apparatuses has become possible, transmitting setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus to the remote control apparatuses.  
      A main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a main body apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a setting notification request acquiring unit that receives a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus itself from a remote control apparatus; and a setting notifying unit that, when the notification request for setting information is received by the setting notification request acquiring unit from a remote control apparatus, transmits the setting information to the remote control apparatus.  
      A remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a remote control apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a setting notification requesting unit that transmits a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus to the main body apparatus; and a setting acquiring unit that receives the setting information from the main body apparatus.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by further including a presentation unit that presents the setting information received from the main body apparatus to a user.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by further including a setting managing unit that stores the setting information received from the main body apparatus in a storage unit.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a setting notification requesting step of transmitting a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus from a remote control apparatus to the main body apparatus; and a setting notifying step of transmitting the setting information from the main body apparatus to the remote control apparatus.  
      A main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a main body apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the remote control apparatuses is possible; and a setting changing unit that, when a state in which communication with any one of the remote control apparatuses is impossible continues for a predetermined time, changes the setting in the main body apparatus itself to a defined value setting determined in advance.  
      A remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a remote control apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the main body apparatus is possible; and a presentation unit that, when a state in which it is impossible to communicate with the main body apparatus continues for a predetermined time, presents an indication that the setting in the main body apparatus has been changed to a defined value setting determined in advance to a user.  
      A remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a remote control apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the main body apparatus is possible; and a setting managing unit that, when a state in which it is impossible to communicate with the main body apparatus continues for a predetermined time, stores a defined value setting determined in advance in a storage unit as setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a communication possibility judging step of judging whether communication between the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses is possible; and a setting changing step of, when a state in which communication between the main body apparatus and any one of the remote control apparatuses is impossible continues for a predetermined time, changing the setting in the main body apparatus to a defined value setting determined in advance.  
      A remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a remote control apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a change order managing unit that stores change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by another remote control apparatus, in a storage unit; a change order information exchanging unit that exchanges the change order information with the another control apparatus; a change order comparing unit that specifies a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by the another remote control apparatus on the basis of the change order information; and a presentation unit that, when the change made by the another remote control apparatus is later than the change made by the remote control apparatus itself, presents an indication that the setting in the main body apparatus has been changed by the another remote control apparatus to a user.  
      A remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a remote control apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a change order managing unit that stores change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by another remote control apparatus, in a storage unit together with setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus according to the change made by the remote control apparatus itself; a change order information exchanging unit that exchanges the change order information with the another remote control apparatus; a change order comparing unit that specifies a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by the another remote control apparatus on the basis of the change order information; and a setting information correcting unit that, when the change made by the another remote control apparatus is later than the change made by the remote control apparatus itself, updates the setting information and the change order information in the storage unit according to setting information and change order information in the remote control apparatus.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a change order managing step of, in each of the remote control apparatuses, storing change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by another remote control apparatus; a change order information exchanging step of, in each of the remote control apparatuses, exchanging the change order information with the another remote control apparatus; and a change order comparing step of, in each of the remote control apparatuses, specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by the another remote control apparatus on the basis of the change order information.  
      A main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a main body apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a priority holding unit that stores a priority given to a remote control apparatus, which has changed a setting to a present setting, in a storage unit; and a priority comparing unit that, when a request for a setting change is received from a remote control apparatus, compares a priority given to the remote control apparatus and the priority stored in the storage unit and permits the setting change only when the priority given to the remote control apparatus is higher.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a priority holding step of storing a priority given to a remote control apparatus that has changed a setting to a present setting; and a priority comparing step of, when the main body apparatus receives a request for a setting change from a remote control apparatus, compares a priority given to the remote control apparatus and the priority stored in the storage unit and permits the setting change only when the priority given to the remote control apparatus is higher.  
      A main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a main body apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, a range of a setting changeable from the remote control apparatus having been set as an authority in each of the remote control apparatuses, characterized by including: an authority judging unit that, when a request for a setting change is received from a remote control apparatus, permits the change when the remote control apparatus has an authority for the change; and a setting change unit that changes the setting when the change is permitted by the authority judging unit.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: an authority setting step of setting, in each of the remote control apparatuses, a range of setting changeable from the remote control apparatus as an authority; an authority judging step of, when the main body apparatus receives a request for a setting change from a remote control apparatus, permitting the change when the remote control apparatus has an authority for the change; and a setting change step of changing the setting when the change is permitted in the authority judging step.  
      A main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a main body apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a distance measuring unit that measures a distance between a remote control apparatus, which has transmitted a request for a setting change, and the main body apparatus itself; a distance judging unit that, when requests for a setting change are received from the plural remote control apparatuses, specifies a remote control apparatus closest to the main body apparatus itself; and a setting changing unit that changes the setting in accordance with the request for a setting change from the closest remote control apparatus specified by the distance judging unit.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a distance measuring step of measuring a distance between a remote control apparatus, which has transmitted a request for a setting change, and the main body apparatus; a distance judging step of, when requests for a setting change are received from the plural remote control apparatuses, specifying a remote control apparatus closest to the main body apparatus; and a setting changing step of changing the setting in accordance with the request for a setting change from the closest remote control apparatus specified in the distance judging step.  
      A main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a main body apparatus for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a request counting unit that holds requests for a setting change received from the remote control apparatuses and permits the setting change when a predetermined number of requests for a setting change with the identical contents are collected; and a setting changing unit that changes the setting when the change is permitted by the request counting unit.  
      A control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is a control method for a remote control system including a main body apparatus that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote control apparatuses that change a setting in the main body apparatus from remote locations, characterized by including: a request counting step of holding requests for a setting change received from the remote control apparatuses in the main body apparatus and permitting the setting change when a predetermined number of requests for a setting change with the identical contents are collected; and a setting changing step of changing the setting when the change is permitted in the request counting step. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the accompanying drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIGS. 2A  to  2 C are explanatory diagrams showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are explanatory diagrams showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are explanatory diagrams showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are explanatory diagrams showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIGS. 9A  to  9 C are explanatory diagrams showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 13  is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of an operation authority table that is used in the remote control system shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  are explanatory diagrams showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 15  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 16  is an explanatory diagram showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 15 ;  
       FIG. 17  is a functional block diagram schematically showing structures of a main body apparatus and remote controllers for a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  are explanatory diagrams showing operations of the remote control system shown in  FIG. 17 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Embodiments of the invention will be hereinafter explained with reference to FIGS.  1  to  18 .  
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram schematically showing a structure of a remote control system  1  in accordance with the embodiment.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the remote control system  1  includes a main body apparatus  10  that performs a predetermined operation and plural remote controllers (remote control apparatuses)  20  . . . ( 20 A and  20 B) that change a setting in the main body apparatus  10  from remote locations. Note that, although two remote controllers  20  are shown in  FIG. 1 , the number of remote controllers may be three or more.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least a communication unit  11  that performs radio communication with the remote controllers  20 , a main body side setting control unit  12  that controls setting for the main body apparatus  10 , and a main body side storage unit (storing means)  13  that stores setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  and information to be used for setting control. Further, the main body side setting control unit  12  includes a changing apparatus holding unit  31 , a main body side communication possibility judging unit  32 , a setting notifying unit  33 , a setting notification request acquiring unit  34 , a setting changing unit  35 , a priority holding unit  61 , a priority comparing unit  62 , an authority judging unit  63 , a distance measuring unit  64 , a distance judging unit  65 , and a request counting unit  66 . However, blocks corresponding to functions, which are not implemented, among functions (1-1) to (2-4) to be described later can be omitted ( FIGS. 1, 4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12 ,  15 , and  17 ).  
      The remote controllers  20  include at least a communication unit  21  that performs radio communication with the main body apparatus  10 , a remote controller side setting control unit  22  that performs control for storing a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  so as not to differ from an actual state, and a remote controller side storage unit (storing means)  23  that stores setting information indicting the setting state of the main body apparatus  10  and information on a change made by the remote controller  20 . Further, the remote controller side setting control unit  22  includes a setting acquiring unit  41 , a presentation unit  42 , a setting managing unit  43 , a setting notification requesting unit  44 , a remote controller side communication possibility judging unit  45 , a change order managing unit  46 , a change order information exchanging unit  47 , a change order comparing unit  48 , and a setting information correcting unit  49 . However, blocks corresponding to functions, which are not implemented, among functions (1-1) to (2-4) to be described later can be omitted ( FIGS. 1, 4 ,  6 ,  8 ,  10 ,  12 ,  15 , and  17 ). Note that a display panel, a speaker, and an operation button, and the like (not shown) serving as a user interface are provided in the remote controllers  20 .  
       FIG. 1  shows blocks for a setting change and synchronization of setting information, and other functional blocks are omitted. In other words, although not shown in  FIG. 1  for example, in the case in which the remote control system  1  is a vehicle security system, the main body apparatus  10  includes a function for performing an operation for security, the remote controllers  20  include a function for receiving a signal, which is transmitted by the main body apparatus  10  at the time when abnormality is detected, and issuing an alarm to a user.  
      Here, a pattern in which settings differ between the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20  in the remote control system  1  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 2A  to  2 C.  
       FIG. 2A  shows a normal pattern in which settings do not differ between the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20 . First, the remote controller  20 A transmits setting information to the main body apparatus  10  to change a setting in the main body apparatus  10  (S 1 ). At this point, the main body apparatus  10  transmits setting information (which may be the same as the setting information received from the remote controller  20 A) indicating a changed state to the other remote controller  20 B. Then, the other remote controller  20 B rewrites a record of the remote controller  20 B itself according to the setting information received from the main body apparatus  10 . Consequently, a setting in the main body apparatus  10 , a setting stored in the remote controller  20 A, and a setting stored in the remote controller  20 B are consistent with one another.  
       FIG. 2B  shows a pattern in which settings differ between the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20 . First, the remote controller  20 A transmits setting information to the main body apparatus  10  to change a setting in the main body apparatus  10  (S 1 ). At this point, it is assumed that the main body apparatus  10  performs processing for transmitting setting information indicating a changed state to the other remote controller  20 B but fails to transmit the setting information (S 2   f ). As a result, the other remote controller  20 B cannot receive setting information indicating a present setting state from the main body apparatus  10 , and a setting in the main body apparatus  10  and a setting stored in the remote controller  20 A differ from a setting stored in the remote controller  20 B.  
      Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 2C , the remote controller  20 B transmits setting information to the main body apparatus  10  to change a setting in the main body apparatus  10  (S 3 ). In this case, it is assumed that the main body apparatus  10  performs processing for transmitting setting information indicating a change state but fails to transmit the setting information (S 4   f ). As a result, the other remote controller  20 A cannot receive setting information indicating a present setting state from the main body apparatus  10 , and a setting in the main body apparatus  10  and a setting stored in the remote controller  20 B differ from a setting stored in the remote controller  20 A. In other words, a setting made by a user of the remote controller  20 A is changed while the user does not notice the change.  
      [1] Correct a Difference in States of the Main Body Apparatus and the Remote Controllers  
      In the remote control system  1 , a difference in setting information of the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20  is corrected as indicated by the following (1-1) to (1-4). Note that, in the following explanation, it is assumed that the remote controller  20 , which has changed the setting of the main body apparatus  10  lastly, is the remote controller  20 A, and the other remote controllers  20  are the remote controllers  20 B.  
      (1-1) When a Main Body Apparatus and a Remote Controller Have Become Capable of Communicating with Each Other, a Setting in the Main Body Apparatus is Notified to the Remote Controller  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20  specifically have structures described below.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least the changing apparatus holding unit (changing apparatus holding means)  31 , the main body side communication possibility judging unit (communication possibility judging means)  32 , and the setting notifying unit (setting notifying means)  33  in the main body side setting control unit  12 .  
      The changing apparatus holding unit  31  stores apparatus identification information, which is capable of specifying the remote controller  20 A that has changed a setting to a present setting, in the main body side storage unit  13 .  
      The main body side communication possibility judging unit  32  judges whether it is possible to communicate with the other remote controllers  20 B excluding the remote controller  20 A that has changed a setting to a present setting.  
      When communication with the other remote controllers  20 B has become possible, the setting notifying unit  33  transmits setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  to the other remote controllers  20 B.  
      It is also possible that, in the main body apparatus  10 , a change set lastly is stored for each of the remote controllers  20 , possibility of communication with the remote controllers  20  having a present setting different from the setting is judged, and setting information is transmitted only to those remote controllers  20 .  
      In addition, the remote controllers  20  include at least the setting acquiring unit (setting acquiring means)  41 , the presentation unit (presentation means)  42 , and the setting managing unit (setting managing means)  43  in the remote controller side setting control unit  22 .  
      The setting acquiring unit  41  receives setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  from the main body apparatus  10 .  
      The presentation unit  42  presents setting information to a user using a display panel, an LED, or the like.  
      The setting managing unit  43  stores setting information in the remote controller side storage unit  23 .  
      The remote controller side storage unit  23  stores setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10 . However, although setting information in the main body side storage unit  13  is always consistent with a setting state of the main body apparatus  10 , setting information in the remote controller side storage unit  23  may differ from an actual setting state of the main body apparatus  10  according to circumstances.  
      With the above-mentioned structure, the remote control system  1  stores apparatus identification information that is capable of identifying the remote controller  20 A that has changed a setting to a present setting (changing apparatus holding step), judges whether communication between the other remote controllers  20 B excluding the remote controller  20 A, which has changed a setting to a present setting, and the main body apparatus  10  is possible (communication possibility judging step), and when communication between the other remote controllers  20 B and the main body apparatus  10  has become possible, transmits setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  to the remote controllers  20 B (setting notifying step).  
      Here, examples of an operation with the above-mentioned structure will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 .  
      First, the remote controller  20 A transmits a setting A to the main body apparatus  10 , and the main body apparatus  10  stores the setting A (S 1 ). At this point, since the main body apparatus  10  attempts to transmit the setting A to the remote controller  20 B but fails in the transmission, an inconsistency occurs (S 2   f ). Thus, a setting in the remote controller  20 B is not changed to the setting A.  
      Next, the main body apparatus  10  detects that communication with the remote controller  20 B has become possible and transmits the setting A to the remote controller  20 B. The setting A is overwritten on the setting in the remote controller  20 B. Thus, the inconsistency of the setting in the main body apparatus  10  and the setting in the remote controller  20 B can be eliminated.  
      Note that, when the setting A is transmitted to the remote controller  20 B, the remote controller  20 B (a) may present an indication of an inconsistency to a user to cause the user to select a measure, (b) may write back the setting in the remote controller  20 B to the main body apparatus  10  (the remote controller  20 B takes priority), or (c) may compare a time of day of the received setting A and a time of day of a stored setting X to give priority to the latest one.  
      (1-2) When a User Performs a Specific Operation Using a Remote Controller, a Setting in a Main Body Apparatus is Notified to the Remote Controller  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20  specifically have structures described below.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least the setting notification request acquiring unit (setting notification request acquiring means)  34  and the setting notifying unit (setting notifying means)  33  in the main body side setting control unit  12 .  
      The setting notification request acquiring unit  34  receives notification requests for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  from the remote controllers  20 .  
      When the setting notification request acquiring unit  34  receives the notification requests for setting information from the remote controllers  20 , the setting notifying unit  33  transmits the setting information to the remote controllers  20 .  
      The remote controller  20  includes at least the setting notification requesting unit (setting notification requesting means)  44 , the setting acquiring unit (setting acquiring means)  41 , the presentation unit (presentation means)  42 , and the setting managing unit (setting managing means)  43  in the remote controller side setting control unit  22 .  
      The setting notification request unit  44  transmits a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  to the main body apparatus  10 .  
      The setting acquiring unit  41  receives setting information from the main body apparatus  10 .  
      The presentation unit  42  presents the setting information received from the main body apparatus  10  to a user using a display panel, an LED, or the like.  
      The setting managing unit  43  stores the setting information received from the main body apparatus  10  in the remote controller side storage unit  23 .  
      The remote controller side storage unit  23  stores the setting information indicating the setting state of the main body apparatus  10 . However, although setting information in the main body side storage unit  13  is always consistent with a setting state of the main body apparatus  10 , setting information in the remote controller side storage unit  23  may differ from an actual setting state of the main body apparatus  10  according to circumstances.  
      With the above-mentioned structure, the remote control system  1  transmits a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  from the remote controllers  20  to the main body apparatus  10  (setting notification requesting step) and transmits the setting information from the main body apparatus  10  to the remote controllers  20  (setting notifying step).  
      Here, examples of an operation with the above-mentioned structure will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5 .  
      First, the remote controller  20 A transmits a setting A to the main body apparatus  10 , and the main body apparatus  10  stores the setting A (S 1 ). At this point, since the main body apparatus  10  attempts to transmit the setting A to the remote controller  20 B but fails in the transmission, an inconsistency occurs (S 2   f ). Thus, a setting in the remote controller  20 B is not changed to the setting A.  
      Next, the remote controller  20 B transmits a notification request for setting information to the main body apparatus  10  according to an operation by a user (S 21 ) and stores the acquired setting A (S 22 ). Thus, the inconsistency between a setting in the main body apparatus  10  and a setting in the remote controller  20 B can be eliminated.  
      Note that, when the setting A is transmitted to the remote controller  20 B, the remote controller  20 B (a) may issue a comparison order for comparing settings in the remote controller  20 A and the main body apparatus  10  to find whether the settings are consistent and, after presenting a result of the comparison to a user, leave a measure to be taken to the user or (b) may issue a setting readout order to the main body apparatus  10  and compare a time of day of the setting A and a time of day of a setting X to give priority to the latest one.  
      (1-3) When a State in Which a Main Body Apparatus and a Remote Controller Cannot Communicate Continues for a Fixed Time, to Settings in the Main Body Apparatus and the Remote Controller are Changed to a Defined Value  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20  specifically have structures described below.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least the main body side communication possibility judging unit (communication possibility judging means)  32  and the setting changing unit (setting changing means)  35  in the main body side setting control unit  12 .  
      The main body side communication possibility judging unit  32  judges whether communication with the remote controllers  20  is possible.  
      When a state in which communication with one of the remote controllers  20  is impossible continues for a predetermined time, the setting changing unit  35  changes a setting in the main body apparatus  10  to a defined value setting determined in advance. Note that contents of the defined setting, which should be stored as setting information, are stored in the main body side storing unit  13  in advance.  
      The remote controllers  20  include at least the remote controller side communication possibility judging unit (communication possibility judging means)  45 , the presentation unit (presentation means)  42 , and the setting managing unit (setting managing means)  43  in the remote controller side setting control unit  22 .  
      The remote controller side communication possibility judging unit  45  judges whether communication with the main body apparatus  10  is possible.  
      When a state in which communication with the main body apparatus  10  is impossible continues for a predetermined time, the presentation unit  42  presents an indication that the setting in the main body apparatus  10  has been changed to the defined value setting determined in advance to a user using a display panel, an LED, or the like.  
      When a state in which communication with the main body apparatus  10  is impossible continues for a predetermined time, the setting managing unit  43  stores the defined value setting determined in advance in the remote controller side storage unit  23  as setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10 . Note that contents of the defined value setting, which should be stored as the setting information, are stored in the remote controller side storage unit  23  in advance.  
      The remote controller side storage unit  23  stores the setting information indicating the setting state of the main body apparatus  10 . However, although setting information in the main body side storage unit  13  is always consistent with a setting state of the main body apparatus  10 , setting information in the remote controller side storage unit  23  may differ from an actual setting state of the main body apparatus  10  according to circumstances.  
      Here, as the defined value setting, a setting selected by the user in advance may be used or a most general setting or a safest setting may be used.  
      With the above-mentioned structure, the remote control system  1  judges whether communication between the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controller  20  is possible (communication possibility judging step) and, when a state in which communication between the main body apparatus  10  and one of the remote controllers  20  is impossible continues for a predetermined time, changes a setting in the main body apparatus  10  to the defined value setting determined in advance (setting changing step).  
      Here, examples of an operation with the above-mentioned structure will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B .  
      First, the remote controller  20 A transmits a setting A to the main body apparatus  10 , and the main body apparatus  10  stores the setting A (S 1 ). At this point, since the main body apparatus  10  attempts to transmit the setting A to the remote controller  20 B but fails in the transmission, an inconsistency occurs (S 2   f ). Thus, a setting in the remote controller  20 B is not changed to the setting A.  
      Next, when a fixed time has elapsed in a state in which the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controller  20 B cannot communicate, all settings in the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20 A and  20 B are changed to a setting B (S 31 ). Thus, the inconsistency of the setting in the main body apparatus  10  and the setting in the remote controller  20 B can be eliminated.  
      Note that, when the fixed time has elapsed in a state in which the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controller  20 B cannot communicate, the settings in the remote controller  20 A and the main body apparatus  10  may be kept to be the setting A, (a) an indication that a setting is invalid in the remote controller  20 B may be displayed or (b) at a point when the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controller  20 B become capable of communicating with each other, the remote controller  20 B automatically may read and store the setting in the main body apparatus  10 .  
      (1-4) When a Remote Controller and a Remote Controller Become Capable of Communicating with Each Other, Contents of a Remote Controller Set Last is Notified to the Other Remote Controller  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the remote controllers  20  specifically have a structure described below.  
      The remote controllers  20  include at least the change order managing unit (change order managing means)  46 , the change order information exchanging unit (change order information exchanging means)  47 , the change order comparing unit (change order comparing means)  48 , and the presentation unit (presentation means)  42 .  
      The change order managing unit  46  stores change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote controller  20 A and a change made by the other remote controller  20 B, in the remote controller side storage unit  23 .  
      The change order information exchanging unit  47  exchanges change order information with the other remote controller  20 B.  
      The change order comparing unit  48  specifies a sequencing relation between the change made by the remote controller  20 A and the change made by the other remote controller  20 B.  
      In the case in which the change made by the other remote controller  20 B is later than the change made by the remote controller  20 A, the presentation unit  42  presents an indication that the setting in the main body apparatus  10  has been changed by the other remote controller  20 B to a user using a display panel, an LED, or the like.  
      The remote controller side storage unit  23  stores setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10 . However, although setting information in the main body side storage unit  13  is always consistent with a setting state of the main body apparatus  10 , setting information in the remote controller side storage unit  23  may differ from an actual setting state of the main body apparatus  10  according to circumstances.  
      The change order information may be any information as long as a temporal order between changes can be specified. The change order information may be times of day of requests for a change. It is also possible that, when the main body apparatus  10  changes a setting, the main body apparatus  10  transmits information on an order of change, and the remote controllers  20  having received the information store the information as change order information.  
      Consequently, even in the case in which a difference occurs in settings in the remote controllers  20 A and  20 B, it is possible to notify contents of the remote controller  20 A set lastly to the other remote controller  20 B when communication between the remote controllers  20 A and  20 B has become possible.  
      In addition, the remote controllers  20  may include the setting information correcting unit (setting information correcting means)  49  in the remote controller side setting control unit  22  instead of the presentation unit  42 .  
      In the case in which a change made by the other remote controller  20 B is later than a change made by the remote controller  20 A, the setting information correcting unit  49  updates setting information and change order information in the remote controller side storage unit  23  according to setting information and change order information in the remote controller  20 B.  
      At this point, the change order managing unit  46  stores change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote controller  20 A and a change made by the other remote controller  20 B, in the remote controller side storage unit  23  together with setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus  10  according to the change made by the remote controller  20 A.  
      Consequently, even in the case in which a difference has occurred in settings in the remote controllers  20 A and  20 B, it is possible to store contents of the remote controller  20 A set lastly in the other remote controller  20 B when communication between the remote controllers  20 A and  20 B has become possible.  
      With the above-mentioned structure, in the remote control system  1 , each of the remote controllers  20  stores change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote controller  20  and changes made by the other remote controllers  20  (change order managing step), each of the remote controllers  20  exchanges change order information with the other remote controllers  20  (change order information exchanging step), and each of the remote controllers  20  specifies a sequencing relation between the change made by the remote controller  20  and the changes made by the other remote controllers  20  on the basis of the change order information (change order comparing step).  
      Thereafter, in the case in which the changes made by the other remote controllers  20  are later than the change made by the remote controller  20 , an indication that a setting in the main body apparatus  10  has been changed by the other remote controllers  20  is presented to a user or setting information and change order information in the remote controller side storage unit  23  are updated according to setting information and change order information in the other remote controller  20 .  
      Here, examples of an operation with the above-mentioned structure will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 9A  to  9 C.  
      First, the remote controller  20 A transmits a setting A to the main body apparatus  10  as a second change (S 1 ). However, since the remote controller  20 A fails to transmit the setting A to the remote controller  20 B, an inconsistency occurs (S 2   f ) Note that it is assumed that the remote controller  20 B transmitted a setting C as a first change.  
      Next, the remote controller  20 B transmits a setting B to the main body apparatus  10  as a third change (S 3 ). However, since the remote controller  20 B fails to transmit the setting B to the remote controller  20 A, inconsistency occurs (S 4   f ).  
      Next, when communication between the remote controller  20 A and the remote controller  20 B has become possible, the setting B of the remote controller  20 B set lastly is notified to the remote controller  20 A (S 43 ).  
      Note that,  FIG. 9C  shows a case in which setting information is exchanged between the remote controllers  20 A and  20 B together with setting order information. In this way, the setting information may be exchanged between the remote controllers  20 A and  20 B simultaneously with exchange of the change order information.  
      Note that the remote controller  20  having acquired the last setting (a) may change a setting to the acquired setting, (b) may transmit a request for a setting change to the main body apparatus  10 , or (c) may present the acquired setting to a user as a setting in the main body apparatus  10  to cause the user to select a measure to cope with the setting.  
      In general, in the case in which the plural remote controllers  20  are present but there is no distinction such as limitation on functions among the remote controllers  20 , that is, in the case in which the main body apparatus  10  treats the plural remote controllers  20  without distinction, the main body apparatus  10  adopts a last setting change that is operated from a remote controller. In this system, it is necessary to synchronize settings stored by the remote controllers  20  as results of changes made by the remote controllers  20  and a setting in the main body apparatus  10 .  
      In this regard, the remote control system  1  can correct a difference between the settings as described above to synchronize the settings in the remote controllers  20  and the main body apparatus  10 . Note that it is likely that the settings in the remote controllers  20  and the main body apparatus  10  cannot be synchronized simply by presenting a difference between the settings to a user. However, an amount of communication can be controlled as long as there is no problem in terms of operation and application.  
      [2] Make Different Settings in Plural Remote Controllers  
      Next, a method of performing a setting change such that an inconsistency does not occur between the main body apparatus  10  and the plural remote controllers  20  by setting a rule in a setting change from the remote controllers  20  in the main body apparatus  10  will be explained. In (2-1) to (2-4) described below, since the main body apparatus  10  performs control for a setting change, the remote controllers  20  only have to include a change acceptance receiving unit  51  that receives an indication on whether a request for a change has been accepted.  
      (2-1) Give Priorities of Settings to Remote Controllers  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the main body apparatus  10  specifically has the following structure.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least the priority holding unit (priority holding means)  61  and the priority comparing unit (priority comparing means)  62  in the main body side setting control unit  12 .  
      The priority holding unit  61  stores a priority (changing apparatus priority), which is given to the remote controller  20  that has changes a setting to a present setting, in the main body side storage unit  13 .  
      When the priority comparing unit  62  receives a request for a setting change from the remote controller  20 , the priority comparing unit  62  compares a priority given to the remote controller  20  and the priority stored in the main body side storage unit  13  and permits the setting change only when the priority given to the remote controller  20  is higher.  
      Priorities are set for the respective remote controllers  20  in advance. Information on the priorities may be stored as a priority table in the main body side storage unit  13  of the main body apparatus  10  in association with the respective remote controllers  20  or may be received from the remote controllers  20  together with setting requests.  
      With the above-mentioned structure, the remote control system  1  stores a priority given to the remote controller  20  that has changed a setting to a present setting (priority holding step) and, when the main body apparatus  10  receives a request for a setting change from the remote controller  20 , compares a priority given to the remote controller  20  and the stored priority and permits the setting change only when the priority given to the remote controller  20  is higher (priority comparing step).  
      Here, examples of an operation with the above-mentioned structure will be explained with reference to  FIG. 11 .  
      In the case in which there are two remote controllers, namely, a main remote controller  20 A and a sub-remote controller  20 B, when the remote controllers are operated simultaneously, a setting instruction from the main remote controller  20 A is adopted. Even in the case in which temporal deviation occurs, a setting changed by the main remote controller  20 A cannot be changed by the sub-remote controller  20 B. A setting changed by the sub-remote controller  20 B can be changed again by the main remote controller  20 A. Note that, in the case in which a priority of the sub-remote controller  20 B is low in a comparison by the main body apparatus  10 , the sub-remote controller  20 B receives notification to the effect that a request for a change has not been accepted.  
      (2-2) Set a Functional Limit for a Setting  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the main body apparatus  10  specifically includes a structure described below.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least the authority judging unit (authority judging means)  63  and the setting changing unit (setting changing means)  35  in the main body side setting control unit  12 .  
      When the authority judging unit  63  receives a request for a setting change from the remote controller  20 , the authority judging unit  63  permits the change when the remote controller  20  has an authority for the change. More specifically, the authority judging unit  63  controls a changeable function for each remote controller in accordance with an operation authority table shown in  FIG. 13 .  
      In the case in which the change is permitted by the authority judging unit  63 , the setting changing unit  35  changes the setting.  
      In each of the remote controllers  20 , a range of a setting changeable from the remote controller  20  is set as an authority in advance. This information is stored in the main body side storage unit  13  of the main body apparatus  10  as an operation authority table.  
      With the above-mentioned structure, the remote control system  1  sets, in each of the remote controllers  20 , a range of a setting changeable from the remote controller  20  (authority setting step), when the main body apparatus  10  receives a request for a setting change from the remote controller  20 , permits the change when the remote controller  20  has an authority for the change (authority judging step), and changes the setting (setting changing step).  
      Here, examples of an operation with the structure will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 14A and 14B .  
      For example, in the case in which two remote controllers, namely, the main remote controller  20 A and the sub-remote controller  20 B, are registered, the main remote controller  20 A can change all settings with respect to the main body apparatus  10  but the sub-remote controllers  20 B can only perform a setting change for a basic function ( FIGS. 14A and 14B ). In the case in which there are three or more remote controllers, it is possible that one remote controller has a main function and the other remote controllers have a sub-function, or ranges of a setting may be provided for the respective remote controllers.  
      The same function can be realized by locking a part or all of settings in the main remote controller  20 A. In this case, a setting operation from the sub-remote controller  20 B is not accepted from the time when the lock is set in the main remote controller  20 A until the time when the lock is released ( FIG. 14B ). During this period, it is possible to make an arrangement such that all setting operations can be made from the main remote controller  20 A or a setting for releasing the lock can be made from the main remote controller  20 A.  
      In the case in which it is judged in the main body apparatus  10  that the sub-remote controller  20 B does not satisfy an authority, the sub-remote controller  20 B receives notification to the effect that a request for a change has not been accepted. Note that, in the remote controllers  20 , it is also possible to make a setting such that a user can operate only a function corresponding to an authority.  
      (2-3) Give Priority to a Remote Controller Closer to a Main Body Apparatus  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the main body apparatus  10  specifically has a structure described below.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least the distance measuring unit (distance measuring means)  64 , the distance judging unit (distance judging means)  65 , and the setting changing unit (setting changing means)  35  in the main body side setting control unit  12 .  
      The distance measuring unit  64  measures a distance between a remote controller  20 , which has transmitted a request for a setting change, and the main body apparatus  10 .  
      When the distance judging unit  65  receives requests for a setting change from the plural remote controllers  20 , the distance judging unit  65  specifies the remote controller  20  closest to the main body apparatus  10 .  
      The setting changing unit  35  changes a setting in accordance with a request for a setting change from the closest remote controller  20  specified by the distance judging unit  65 .  
      With the above-mentioned structure, the remote control system  1  measures a distance between the remote controller  20 , which has transmitted a request for a setting change, and the main body apparatus  10  (distance measuring step), when requests for a setting change are received from the plural remote controllers  20 , specifies the remote controller  20  closest to the main body apparatus  10  (distance judging step), and changes a setting in accordance with a request for a setting change from the specified closest remote controller  20  (setting changing step).  
      Here, examples of an operation with the above-mentioned structure will be explained with reference to  FIG. 16 .  
      In the case in which there are the two remote controllers  20 A and  20 B within a distance for communication with the main body apparatus  10 , an operation for the remote controller  20 A closer to the main body apparatus  10  is given priority. In this system, if a remote controller is in a car or near the car, an operation of the remote controller is given priority, and an operation cannot be performed from other distant remote controllers. Therefore, only a user, who has a remote controller, in a car or getting on or off the car can operate the remote controller, and an unexpected change for a setting from a distant location is not accepted.  
      Note that a distance between the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controller  20  can usually be measured according to an intensity of a radio wave from a target remote controller. The distance may be measured according to a time lag of transmission and reception of a radio wave or a round-trip time of communication by completely synchronizing internal clocks of the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controllers  20  or may be judged using positional information according to a GPS (global positioning system). In addition, the distance may not be strict as long as the distance is measured by the same scale, and it does not matter if there is an error between the distance and an actual distance.  
      (2-4) Setting Cannot be Made Unless Plural Remote Controllers Make the Same Setting  
      In this case, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the main body apparatus  10  specifically has a structure described below.  
      The main body apparatus  10  includes at least the request counting unit (request counting means)  66  and the setting changing unit (setting changing means)  35  in the main body side setting control unit  12 .  
      The request counting unit  66  holds received requests for a setting change and permits the setting change when a predetermined number of requests for a setting change of identical contents are collected.  
      In the case in which the change is permitted by the request counting unit  66 , the setting changing unit  35  changes the setting.  
      With the above-mentioned structure, the remote control system  1  holds requests for a setting change received from the remote controllers  20  in the main body apparatus  10  and, when predetermined number of requests for a setting change of identical contents are collected, permits the setting change (request counting step) and changes a setting (setting changing step).  
      Here, examples of an operation with the above-mentioned structure will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 18A and 18B .  
      In the remote control system  1 , a setting cannot be changed unless plural remote controllers perform the same setting operation at the same timing ( FIGS. 18A and 18B ). In other words, in the case in which the two remote controllers  20 A and  20 B are registered in the main body apparatus  10 , a setting cannot be changed by only one remote controller.  
      Note that, as a setting suitable for such control, there is an important setting change that is to be confirmed by all the remote controllers  20  when the setting change is made. In other words, all the settings in the main body apparatus  10  may not be subjected to the control.  
      In addition, it is unnecessary that a setting change is performed at completely the same timing by the plural remote controllers. It is possible that one remote controller  20  performs an operation and then another remote controller  20  performs an operation within a fixed time after the operation by the remote controller  20 . Finally, a setting is changed at a point when it can be confirmed that the identical operation has been performed in all the remote controllers  20  registered in the main body apparatus  10 . In the case of an answerback remote controller, a setting change can be notified to all remote controllers.  
      Here, as a supplement, it will be explained that the remote control system in accordance with the invention is preferable in a case in which plural multi-function remote controllers, which are capable of making detailed settings, are included in the remote control system.  
      For example, in a vehicle security system, in the case in which there are plural users who use vehicles mounted with a main body apparatus (on-vehicle apparatus), it is desirable that remote controllers with the same function can be used as many as the number of users. In such a system, settings can be synchronized when the main body apparatuses and the remote controllers perform two-way communication. However, since a range, in which communication is possible, is limited in the case in which radio such as specified low power radio is used for communication, synchronization of settings cannot be guaranteed between the main body apparatuses and all remote controllers registered in the system.  
      As a specific example, a case in which an operation for changing a setting is performed by the two remote controllers A and B with respect to one main body apparatus will be examined. It is assumed that three setting changes ((1) ON/OFF of a car buzzer at the time when abnormality has occurred, (2) ON/OFF of an alarm setting, and (3) ON/OFF of remote controller/vibrator notification at the time when abnormality has occurred) are possible from the remote controllers A and B, respectively, and a present setting in the main body apparatus is displayed on the remote controllers A and B.  
      First, the alarm setting in the main body apparatus is turned ON from the remote controller A. At this point, if the remote controller B is within a range in which communication with the main body apparatus is possible, it is notified to the remote controller B that the alarm setting has been turned ON. However, if the remote controller B is not within the range in which communication with the main body apparatus is possible, it is not notified to the remote controller B that the alarm setting has been changed. Therefore, when the alarm setting in the main body apparatus is ON, whereas it is indicted in the remote controller A that the alarm setting is ON, it is indicated in the remote controller B that the alarm setting is OFF. This is a phenomenon in which, in a system using plural remote controllers, setting operations of the remote controllers and a main body apparatus cannot be synchronized.  
      As a solution for this problem, there is a method in which a main body apparatus and remote controllers perform synchronization processing at all times. This method is disadvantageous in terms of power consumption because the remote controllers are always in a reception state and the main body apparatus is required to perform transmission until settings are synchronized after processing for changing the settings. Therefore, unless a battery has enough power, it is extremely difficult to adopt the method of continuous synchronization in, in particular, a remote controller carried by a user.  
      In the above-mentioned example, there are classifications in settings in the main body apparatus according to significance and functions such as “a setting for which an operation is not changed usually” ((1) in the above description), “a setting that is always synchronized desirably” ((2) in the above description), and “a setting that does not have to be synchronized” ((3) in the above description). Thus, it is necessary to perform synchronization processing taking into account these classifications in order to synchronize settings in the main body apparatus and the remote controllers.  
      Thus, in the invention, various rule settings are proposed with respect to a setting change which is likely to include an inconsistency. Note that, in the case in which there is no rule in synchronization processing, a user does not even known whether settings in a remote controller and a main body apparatus are synchronized. In other words, the user is unable to even grasp that there is a possibility of a setting change and confused.  
      In the invention, a rule is set for a setting change such that inconsistent setting operations are not performed. Thus, if a user grasps that settings are not synchronized, the user can perform an operation corresponding to the settings. For example, in the above-mentioned example, operations described below are possible. (1) Concerning a setting, for which an operation change is not performed usually, such as ON/OFF of a car buzzer at the time of occurrence of abnormality, a person requiring a setting change performs the setting change without confirming the setting. (2) Concerning a setting, which is always synchronized desirably, such as ON/OFF of an alarm setting, the setting is confirmed before a change, and operations by other users are confirmed. (3) Concerning a setting, which is not required to be synchronized, such as ON/OFF of remote controller/vibrator notification at the time of occurrence of abnormality, since the setting is not synchronized with a main body apparatus, it is unnecessary to consider the setting at all.  
      Note that this embodiment is not meant to limit a scope of the invention, and various alterations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the invention can be constituted as described below.  
      The main body side setting control unit  12  of the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controller side setting control unit  22  of the remote controller  20  can be realized by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing programs for realizing processing operations in respective functional blocks in the inside of the main body apparatus  10  and the remote controller  20 . In addition, these programs are stored in, for example, storages (which may be the main body side storage unit  13  and the remote controller side storage unit  23 ) and are read out to a work area storage unit such as a RAM and executed by the CPU when the programs are required to be executed. The storages storing the programs can be constituted by a nonvolatile IC memory such as a flash EEPROM or a nonvolatile recording medium such as a hard disk. In addition, it is also possible that the programs are stored in various removable media, and the programs are executed by being read out from the removable media when the programs are required to be executed. In addition, the programs may be downloaded from the outside via a communication network and executed. Moreover, the main body side setting control unit  12  and the remote controller side setting control unit  22  may be constituted by ICs realizing the respective functional blocks.  
      As described above, the main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention includes: a changing apparatus holding unit that stores apparatus identification information, which is capable of specifying a remote control apparatus that has changed a setting to a present setting, in a storage unit; a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the other remote control apparatuses excluding the remote control apparatus, which has changed the setting to the present setting, is possible; and a setting notifying unit that, when communication with the other remote control apparatuses has become possible, transmits setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus itself to the remote control apparatuses.  
      Consequently, contents of a setting in the main body apparatus is notified to the remote control apparatuses when the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses have become capable of communicating with each other. Thus, it is possible to synchronize settings in the remote control apparatuses with the setting in the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a setting acquiring unit that receives setting information indicating a setting state of a main body apparatus from the main body apparatus; and a presentation unit that presents the setting information to a user.  
      Consequently, when the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses have become capable of communicating with each other, the remote control apparatuses acquire contents of a setting in the main body apparatus and present the contents of a setting to a user. Thus, even in the case in which a setting in the main body apparatus and settings in the remote control apparatuses differ from each other, it is possible to cause the user to select a measure for coping with the difference.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a setting acquiring unit that receives setting information indicating a setting state of a main body apparatus from the main body apparatus; and a setting managing unit that stores the setting information in a storage unit.  
      Consequently, when the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses have become capable of communicating with each other, the remote control apparatuses acquire contents of a setting in the main body apparatus and change settings in the remote control apparatuses to a setting in the main body apparatus. Thus, even in the case in which a setting in the main body apparatus and settings in the remote control apparatuses differ from each other, it is possible to automatically synchronize the settings in the remote control apparatuses to the setting in the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a changing apparatus holding step of storing apparatus identification information capable of specifying a remote control apparatus that has changed a setting to a present setting; a communication possibility judging step of judging whether communication between the main body apparatus and the other remote control apparatuses excluding the remote control apparatus, which has changed the setting to the present setting, is possible; and a setting notifying step of, when communication with the other remote control apparatuses has become possible, transmitting setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus to the remote control apparatuses.  
      Consequently, when the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses have become capable of communicating with each other, contents of a setting in the main body apparatus is notified to the remote control apparatuses. This makes it possible to synchronize settings in the remote control apparatuses to a setting in the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a setting notification request acquiring unit that receives a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus itself from a remote control apparatus; and a setting notifying unit that, when the notification request for setting information is received by the setting notification request acquiring unit from a remote control apparatus, transmits the setting information to the remote control apparatus.  
      Consequently, contents of a setting in the main body apparatus is notified to the remote control apparatus according to an operation by a user of the remote control apparatus. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the remote control apparatus to the setting in the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a setting notification requesting unit that transmits a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus to the main body apparatus; and a setting acquiring unit that receives the setting information from the main body apparatus.  
      Consequently, the remote control apparatus acquires contents of a setting in the main body apparatus according to an operation by a user of the remote control apparatus. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the remote control apparatus to the setting in the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by further including a presentation unit that presents the setting information received from the main body apparatus to a user.  
      Consequently, the remote control unit presents acquired contents of a setting in the main body apparatus to a user. Thus, in the case in which a setting in the main body apparatus and settings in the remote control apparatuses differ from each other, it is possible to cause the user to select a measure for coping with the difference.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by further including a setting managing unit that stores the setting information received from the main body apparatus in a storage unit.  
      Consequently, the remote control apparatus stores acquired contents of a setting in the main body apparatus in the storage unit. Thus, it is possible to automatically eliminate a difference between a setting in the main body apparatus and a setting in the remote control apparatus.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a setting notification requesting step of transmitting a notification request for setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus from a remote control apparatus to the main body apparatus; and a setting notifying step of transmitting the setting information from the main body apparatus to the remote control apparatus.  
      Consequently, the remote control apparatus acquires contents of a setting in the main body apparatus according to an operation by a user of the remote control apparatus. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the remote control apparatus to a setting in the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the remote control apparatuses is possible; and a setting changing unit that, when a state in which communication with any one of the remote control apparatuses is impossible continues for a predetermined time, changes the setting in the main body apparatus itself to a defined value setting determined in advance.  
      Consequently, when a state in which communication between the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatus is impossible continues for a fixed time, a setting in the main body apparatus is changed to the defined value setting. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the main body apparatus and a setting in the remote control apparatus by also changing a setting to the defined value setting in the remote control apparatus simultaneously.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the main body apparatus is possible; and a presentation unit that, when a state in which it is impossible to communicate with the main body apparatus continues for a predetermined time, presents an indication that the setting in the main body apparatus has been changed to a defined value setting determined in advance to a user.  
      Consequently, when a state in which communication between the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatus is impossible continues for a fixed time, an indication that the setting in the main body apparatus has been changed to the defined value setting is presented to a user. Thus, even in a state in which communication between the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatus is impossible, it is possible to cause the user to select a measure for coping with the state.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a communication possibility judging unit that judges whether communication with the main body apparatus is possible; and a setting managing unit that, when a state in which it is impossible to communicate with the main body apparatus continues for a predetermined time, stores a defined value setting determined in advance in a storage unit as setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus.  
      Consequently, when a state in which communication between the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatus is impossible continues for a fixed time, a setting in the remote control apparatus is changed to the defined value setting. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the main body apparatus and a setting in the remote control apparatus by also changing a setting to the defined value setting in the remote control apparatus simultaneously.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a communication possibility judging step of judging whether communication between the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses is possible; and a setting changing step of, when a state in which communication between the main body apparatus and any one of the remote control apparatuses is impossible continues for a predetermined time, changing the setting in the main body apparatus to a defined value setting determined in advance.  
      Consequently, when a state in which communication between the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatus is impossible continues for a fixed time, a setting in the remote control apparatus is changed to the defined value setting. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the main body apparatus and a setting in the remote control apparatus by also changing a setting to the defined value setting in the remote control apparatus simultaneously.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a change order managing unit that stores change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by another remote control apparatus, in a storage unit; a change order information exchanging unit that exchanges the change order information with the another control apparatus; a change order comparing unit that specifies a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by the another remote control apparatus on the basis of the change order information; and a presentation unit that, when the change made by the another remote control apparatus is later than the change made by the remote control apparatus itself, presents an indication that the setting in the main body apparatus has been changed by the another remote control apparatus to a user.  
      Consequently, a last setting is specified among the remote control apparatuses and, if the setting is not made by the remote control apparatus itself, the remote control apparatus presents an indication to that effect to a user. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the remote control apparatus with a setting in the main body apparatus even in a state in which the remote control apparatus cannot communicate with the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The remote control apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a change order managing unit that stores change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by another remote control apparatus, in a storage unit together with setting information indicating a setting state of the main body apparatus according to the change made by the remote control apparatus itself; a change order information exchanging unit that exchanges the change order information with the another remote control apparatus; a change order comparing unit that specifies a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by the another remote control apparatus on the basis of the change order information; and a setting information correcting unit that, when the change made by the another remote control apparatus is later than the change made by the remote control apparatus itself, updates the setting information and the change order information in the storage unit according to setting information and change order information in the remote control apparatus.  
      Consequently, a last setting is specified among the remote control apparatuses and, if the setting is not made by the remote control apparatus itself, the remote control apparatus records the setting in the remote control apparatus itself. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the remote control apparatus with a setting in the main body apparatus even in a state in which the remote control apparatus cannot communicate with the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a change order managing step of, in each of the remote control apparatuses, storing change order information, which is capable of specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by another remote control apparatus; a change order information exchanging step of, in each of the remote control apparatuses, exchanging the change order information with the another remote control apparatus; and a change order comparing step of, in each of the remote control apparatuses, specifying a sequencing relation between a change made by the remote control apparatus itself and a change made by the another remote control apparatus on the basis of the change order information.  
      Consequently, a last setting is specified among the remote control apparatuses. This makes it possible to synchronize a setting in the remote control apparatus with a setting in the main body apparatus even in a state in which the remote control apparatus cannot communicate with the main body apparatus.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be eliminated.  
      The main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a priority holding unit that stores a priority given to a remote control apparatus, which has changed a setting to a present setting, in a storage unit; and a priority comparing unit that, when a request for a setting change is received from a remote control apparatus, compares a priority given to the remote control apparatus and the priority stored in the storage unit and permits the setting change only when the priority given to the remote control apparatus is higher.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a priority holding step of storing a priority given to a remote control apparatus that has changed a setting to a present setting; and a priority comparing step of, when the main body apparatus receives a request for a setting change from a remote control apparatus, compares a priority given to the remote control apparatus and the priority stored in the storage unit and permits the setting change only when the priority given to the remote control apparatus is higher.  
      Consequently, the main body apparatus accepts only a request for a change from a remote control apparatus having a priority higher than the priority given to the remote control apparatus that has changed the setting to the present setting. Thus, a setting in the main body apparatus can be changed in accordance with a request for a change from a remote control apparatus having a highest priority.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, since a setting in the main body apparatus can be changed in accordance with a rule, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be prevented.  
      The main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention, in which a range of setting changeable from the remote control apparatus is set in each of the remote control apparatuses in advance as an authority, is characterized by including: an authority judging unit that, when a request for a setting change is received from a remote control apparatus, permits the change when the remote control apparatus has an authority for the change; and a setting change unit that changes the setting when the change is permitted by the authority judging unit.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: an authority setting step of setting, in each of the remote control apparatuses, a range of setting changeable from the remote control apparatus as an authority; an authority judging step of, when the main body apparatus receives a request for a setting change from a remote control apparatus, permitting the change when the remote control apparatus has an authority for the change; and a setting change step of changing the setting when the change is permitted in the authority judging step.  
      Consequently, the main body apparatus receives only a request for a change in accordance with an authority given to a remote control apparatus. Thus, a setting in the main body apparatus can be changed in accordance with the request for a change from the remote control apparatus having the authority.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, since a setting in the main body apparatus can be changed in accordance with a rule, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be prevented.  
      The main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a distance measuring unit that measures a distance between a remote control apparatus, which has transmitted a request for a setting change, and the main body apparatus itself; a distance judging unit that, when requests for a setting change are received from the plural remote control apparatuses, specifies a remote control apparatus closest to the main body apparatus itself; and a setting changing unit that changes the setting in accordance with the request for a setting change from the closest remote control apparatus specified by the distance judging unit.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a distance measuring step of measuring a distance between a remote control apparatus, which has transmitted a request for a setting change, and the main body apparatus; a distance judging step of, when requests for a setting change are received from the plural remote control apparatuses, specifying a remote control apparatus closest to the main body apparatus; and a setting changing step of changing the setting in accordance with the request for a setting change from the closest remote control apparatus specified in the distance judging step.  
      Consequently, the main body apparatus accepts a request for a change from the closest remote control apparatus and does not accept a request for a change from the other distant remote control apparatuses. Thus, an unexpected setting change from a remote control apparatus in a distant location can be prevented.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, since a setting in the main body apparatus can be changed in accordance with a rule, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be prevented.  
      The main body apparatus for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a request counting unit that holds requests for a setting change received from the remote control apparatuses and permits the setting change when a predetermined number of requests for a setting change with the identical contents are collected; and a setting changing unit that changes the setting when the change is permitted by the request counting unit.  
      The control method for a remote control system in accordance with the invention is characterized by including: a request counting step of holding requests for a setting change received from the remote control apparatuses and permitting the setting change when a predetermined number of requests for a setting change with the identical contents are collected; and a setting changing step of changing the setting when the change is permitted in the request counting step.  
      Consequently, when the main body apparatus receives requests for a setting change with identical contents from a predetermined number of remote control apparatuses, the main body apparatus executes the change. Thus, a request for a change from remote control apparatuses which do not satisfy the predetermined number is not executed.  
      Therefore, there is an advantage that, in the remote control system in which the plural remote control apparatuses are capable of making a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus and the main body apparatus and the remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, since a setting in the main body apparatus can be changed in accordance with a rule, a difference in settings in the main body apparatus and the respective remote control apparatuses can be prevented.  
      According to the remote control system in accordance with the invention, a setting in a main body apparatus and settings in respective remote control apparatuses can be synchronized. Thus, plural remote control apparatuses are capable of performing a setting change independently with respect to the main body apparatus. The invention can be used preferably in a remote control system in which a main body apparatus and remote control apparatuses may not be capable of communicating with each other, for example, a vehicle security system.