Patent Publication Number: US-11388466-B2

Title: Control device and method for control of broadcast receiver

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/884,727, filed on May 27, 2020, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/193,850, filed on Feb. 28, 2014, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/241,360, filed on Sep. 23, 2011, which was issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,687,131 on Apr. 1, 2014, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0140240, filed on Dec. 31, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a control device and a method for controlling of a broadcast receiver, and more particularly, to a control device and a method for controlling a broadcast receiver with the control device by using a unidirectional wireless communication when the broadcast receiver cannot be controlled by a bi-directional wireless communication. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A broadcast receiver is a device receiving digital satellite broadcasting. The broadcast receiver converts audio/video signals input from a digital broadcasting or an analog broadcasting transmitted from a broadcast station into a TS (transport stream) signal and displays the TS signal or transmits the TS signal to an external display device. For example, the broadcast receiver may be an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) including a digital TV and a Video On Demand player and a set-top box. 
     Such broadcast receiver is usually controlled by a control device such as a remote control, but recently, a technology has developed so that the broadcast receiver can be controlled by a general portable device using wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi). 
     In the case of a portable device using Wi-Fi, a sleep mode is used to reduce battery consumption. However, when the portable device is in a sleep mode, a waiting time for using the Wi-Fi is necessary in order to control the broadcast receiver. Accordingly, a device demanding a prompt action by a user (such as a remote controller) may be inconvenient for a user. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the exemplary embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment may not overcome any of the problems described above. 
     The exemplary embodiments provide a control device and a method of controlling a broadcast receiver with the control device by using a unidirectional wireless communication when the broadcast receiver cannot be controlled by a bi-directional wireless communication. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, a control device which controls a broadcast receiver includes a first communication interface unit which transmits a control command in a first communication mode which uses a bi-directional wireless communication, a second communication interface unit which transmits a control command in a second communication mode which uses a unidirectional wireless communication, a state determination unit which determines a communication mode of the control device, a user interface unit which displays a user interface window which corresponds to the determined communication mode and receives a control command with respect to the broadcast receiver, and a control unit which transmits the received control command according to the determined communication mode. 
     The state determination unit may determine the communication mode of the control device to be a second communication mode if it is impossible for the control device to communicate with the broadcast receiver via the first communication mode and determines the communication mode of the control device to be a first communication mode if it is possible for the control device to communicate with the broadcast receiver via the first communication mode. 
     The state determination unit may determine that the first communication mode is not in a communication able state if the control device is in a sleep mode or a wake-up mode. 
     The user interface unit where a user selects the first communication mode or the second communication mode and the state determination unit may determine the communication mode of the selected communication mode to be the communication mode of the control device. 
     The control device may further include a storing unit which stores at least one user interface window between a first user interface window which corresponds to a first communication mode and a second user interface window which corresponds to a second communication mode, and the second user interface window comprises a selection region in order to receive a mode conversion command into the first communication mode. 
     The user interface unit may indicate that the control device operates in a first communication mode, if the first communication mode is in a communication able state while the second user interface window is being displayed. 
     The user interface unit may display a same user interface window as displayed before the control device entered into a sleep mode or an off mode, if the determined control mode is a first communication mode. 
     The second interface unit may be a low-power communication interface unit which operates at a lower power than a first interface unit. 
     The first communication mode may become a non-communication able state if the control device entered into a sleep mode. 
     The bi-directional wireless communication may be at least one among a Wi-Fi, radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth, and Wireless high-definition multimedia interface-consumer electronic control (HDMI-CEC), and the unidirectional wireless communication is an infrared data association. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling a broadcast receiver in a control device comprising determining a communication mode of the control device between a first communication mode which uses a bi-directional wireless communication and a second communication mode which uses a unidirectional wireless communication, displaying a user interface window which corresponds to the determined communication mode, receiving a control command with respect to the broadcast receiver via the displayed user interface window, and transmitting the input control command to the broadcast receiver according to the determined communication mode. 
     The determining the communication mode may determine a communication mode of the control device to be a second communication mode if it is impossible for the control device to communicate with the broadcast receiver via the first communication mode, and determine a communication mode of the control device to be a first communication mode if it is possible for the control device to communicate with the broadcast receiver via the first communication mode. 
     The determining the communication mode may determine that the first communication mode is in a non-communication able state if the control device is in a sleep mode or a wake-up mode. 
     The determining the communication mode may determine a communication mode which is selected by a user as a communication mode of the control device. 
     The displaying the user interface window may display at least one pre-stored user interface window between a first user interface window which corresponds to a first communication mode and a second user interface window which corresponds to a second communication mode, and comprise a selection area in order to receive a mode conversion command into the first communication mode. 
     The method for controlling the broadcast receiver further includes indicating that it is possible to operate in a first communication mode if the first communication mode is in a communication able state while the second user interface window is displayed. 
     The displaying the user interface window may display a user interface window which is equal to a user interface window which is displayed by the control device before entering into one mode between a sleep mode and an off mode, if the determined control mode is a first communication mode. 
     The second communication mode may use a communication interface which operates at a lower power than a first communication mode. 
     The method for controlling the broadcast receiver may further include the first communication mode becoming a non-communication able state if the control device enters into a sleep mode. 
     The bi-directional wireless communication may be at least one among RF, Bluetooth, and Wireless HDMI-CEC, and the unidirectional wireless communication may be an Infrared Data Association. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects will be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating an example of a connection of a home network system  1000  according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3 to 5  are views illustrating an example of a user interface window which may be displayed on a control device; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart to explain a method of controlling a broadcast receiver according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments. Thus, it is apparent that the exemplary embodiments can be carried out without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the exemplary embodiments with unnecessary detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a home network system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the home network system  1000  comprises a broadcast receiver  100  and a control device  200 . The broadcast receiver  100  is a device providing a user with an image or audio/video information and may comprise a digital TV, a set-top box, a PC, a notebook, and a personal media player (PMP). Specifically, the broadcast receiver  100  may comprise a display unit  110 , a storing unit  120 , a first communication interface unit  130 , a second communication interface unit  140 , and a control unit  150 . 
     The display unit  110  may display information provided from the broadcast receiver  100 . The display unit  110  may include a device, such as a touch pad, which is capable of receiving and outputting data and may be an image display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), and a cathode ray tube (CRT). Accordingly, a user may view on a screen of the device, information received from the broadcast receiver  100 . 
     If the broadcast receiver  100  is a device such as a digital TV, the display unit  110  may be an internal component of the digital TV and if the broadcast receiver  100  is a set-top box, the display unit  110  may be an external device (for example: a TV or a monitor connected to the set-top box). 
     The storing unit  120  may store content corresponding to a variety of services provided by the broadcast receiver  100 . The storing unit  120  may be an internal storing medium and an external storing medium of the broadcast receiver  100  such as a Removable Disk including a USB memory, a storing medium connected to a separate host, and a web server via a network. 
     The first communication interface unit  130  receives a control command via a bi-directional wireless communication. Specifically, the first communication interface unit  130  may form a link with the first communication interface unit  210  of the control device  200 , and transmit a variety of information which the control device  200  requests, or receive the control command of a user from the control device  200 . Herein, the bi-directional wireless communication may include all existing communication technologies such as BT (Bluetooth), RF, Wi-Fi, HDMI-CEC, and Wireless HDMI-CEC and all bi-directional wireless communication technologies in the future. 
     The second communication interface unit  140  receives a control command via a unidirectional wireless communication. Specifically, the second communication unit  140  may receive the control command using the unidirectional wireless communication of the second communication interface unit  220  of the control device  200 . Herein, the unidirectional wireless communication may include all existing communication technologies such as Infrared Data Association and all unidirectional wireless technologies in the future. 
     The control unit  150  controls each configuration in the broadcast receiver  100 . Specifically, the control unit  150  may execute a service or operation in response to a control command received from the first communication interface unit  130  or the second communication interface unit  140 , thereby providing a service or executing the control command. For example, if the broadcast receiver  100  receives a ‘TV channel up’ control command from the control device  200 , the control unit  150  may execute the control command and change the channel of the TV. 
     The control unit  150  may transmit information related to a currently provided service to the control device  200 . Specifically, the control unit  150 , may transmit information which will be helpful for a user, (for example, channel information, current volume, play time, remaining play time, current time, and Electronic Program Guide (EPG)), to the control device  200  in a process of controlling operations of the broadcast receiver  100 . Such an operation of transmitting information related to the service may be performed via the first communication interface unit  130 . 
     The control device  200  is a device which may control the broadcast receiver  100  by using the bi-directional wireless communication or the unidirectional wireless communication and may comprise a remote control, a mobile phone, an MP3, a PMP, a navigation, and a digital frame. Specifically, the control device  200  may include the first communication interface unit  210 , the second communication interface unit  220 , a user interface unit  230 , a storing unit  240 , a state determination unit  250 , and a control unit  260 . 
     The first communication interface unit  210  transmits a control command in a first communication mode using the bi-directional wireless communication. Specifically, the first communication interface unit  210  may form a link for performing the bi-directional wireless communication with the broadcast receiver  100  and transmit a control command received from a user interface unit  230 , which will be described later, to the broadcast receiver  100  via the formed link. In addition, the first communication interface unit  210  may receive information which will be useful for a user from the broadcast receiver  100 . 
     The second communication interface unit  220  transmits a control command in a second communication mode using the unidirectional wireless communication. Specifically, if the first communication interface unit  210  is not in a communication able state, the second communication interface unit  220  may transmit a control command received via a user interface unit  230  which will be described later. The control command transmitted via the second communication interface unit  220  is received from the second communication interface unit  140  of the broadcast receiver  100 . Herein, since the second communication interface unit  220  uses the unidirectional wireless communication, the second communication interface unit  220  operates at a lower power than the first communication interface unit  210  using the bi-directional wireless communication. 
     The user interface unit  230  displays a user interface (UI) window for selecting a communication mode. Specifically, the user interface unit  230  provides a plurality of function keys that a user may set or select a variety of functions provided by the broadcast receiver  100  and may display the user interface window for selecting one between the first communication mode or the second communication mode. The user interface unit  230  may comprise a device, such as a touch pad, allowing the selection of the communication mode as well as the input of control commands. Furthermore, the device may include a keypad which can be coupled to a displaying device. Accordingly, a user may select one communication mode. Such an operation of selecting a communication mode may be automatically performed by a state determination unit  250  which will be described later. 
     The user interface unit  230  may display a user interface window according to the type of communication mode. Specifically, the user interface unit  230  may display the user interface window according to the determined communication mode performed by the state determination unit  250  which will be described later, or selected by a user. For example, if the control device  200  operates in the second communication mode, the user interface unit  230  may display the second user interface window receiving relatively a simple control command only. Herein, the second user interface window may include a selection region for receiving a command to convert a current communication mode into the first communication mode from a user. A specific shape of the second user interface window will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The user interface unit  230  may indicate that the control device  200  may operate in the first communication mode, if the first communication mode is in a communication able state while the second user interface window is displayed. Specifically, if it is determined that the communication mode is converted from the second communication mode into the first communication mode by the state determination unit  250  which will be described later, the user interface unit  230  may indicate that the broadcast receiver  100  may be controlled using the first communication mode. In addition, the user interface unit  230  may be automatically converted into the first interface window and displayed as such without additional information displaying operations. 
     If the control device  200  operates in the first communication mode, the user interface unit  230  may display the first user interface window corresponding to the first communication mode. The first user interface window may include a user interface window according to the operation mode of the broadcast receiver  100 . For example, according to a feature of the broadcast receiver  100 , the user interface window may display a user interface window responding to a variety of modes such as a TV control mode, a VTR control mode, and a search control mode. Namely, if the user watches a TV by using a broadcast receiver, the user interface unit  230  may display the specialized user interface window in controlling a TV. In case where the user performs an internet search by using the broadcast receiver, the user interface unit  230  may display the specialized user interface window for internet searches. 
     The user interface unit  230  may display a same user interface window as the one displayed in the previous normal mode. Specifically, when the user interface unit  230  displays the first interface window, the user interface unit  230  may display the same user interface window as the one displayed before the display device  200  entered into one mode between a sleep mode and an off mode. For example, if the control device  200  entered into the sleep mode or the off mode while the user interface unit  230  displays the user interface window for controlling a TV screen, the user interface unit  230  may display the user interface window for controlling the TV screen which was displayed in the first communication mode when the control device  200  operates in the first communication mode again. 
     The user interface unit  230  receives a control command. Specifically, the user interface unit  230  may receive the control command for controlling the broadcast receiver  100  via the user interface window as described above. 
     The user interface unit  230  may display information useful for a user. Specifically, the user interface unit  230  may display information which is received via the first communication interface unit  210  and will be useful for the user. 
     The storing unit  240  may store a plurality of user interface windows according to the type of communication mode. The storing unit  240  may store information on the user interface window displayed by the user interface unit  230  before entering into the at least one mode between the sleep mode and the off mode by the control device  200 . The storing unit  240  may store information received from the first communication interface unit  210 . Such storing unit  240  may be in the form of an internal and/or an external storing medium, for example, a Removable Disk including a USB memory and a Web server via a network. The user interface window according to the communication mode may be provided by the broadcast receiver  100 . 
     The state determination unit  250  may determine a communication mode of the control device  200 . Specifically, when the state determination unit  250  determines that the control device  200  is in the first communication mode, the state determination unit  250  may communicate with the broadcast receiver  100  via the bi-directional wireless communication, or, if the control device  200  is in the normal mode. Conversely, when the state determination unit  250  determines that the control device  200  may not communicate with the broadcast receiver  100  via the bi-directional wireless communication, or, if the control device  200  is in the off-mode, the sleep-mode, and the wake-up mode, the state determination unit  250  determines that the control device  200  is in the second communication mode. 
     Herein, the off-mode is a state where a power of the control device  200  is off, the sleep-mode is a state where the bi-directional wireless communication is stopped in order to reduce a battery consumption, the wake-up mode is a process of re-operating the stopped bi-directional wireless communication, and a normal mode is a state where Wi-Fi between the control device  200  and the broadcast receiver  100  is connected. The normal mode may include a TV mode for controlling a TV, such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a VTR mode for controlling a VTR, such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 5 , and a search mode for an internet search. 
     The state determination unit  250  may determine a communication mode of the control device  200  according to a selected communication mode by a user via the user interface unit  230 . Specifically, although the control device  200  may communicate in the first communication mode, the state determination unit  250  may determine a communication mode of the control device  200  as the second communication mode if the user wants the control device  200  to operate in the second communication mode. 
     The control unit  260  controls each configuration of the control device  200 . Specifically, the control unit  260  may determine an operation mode of the control device  200  via the state determination unit  250  and control the user interface unit  230  so that the user interface window may be displayed according to the determined operation mode. 
     If the control device unit  260  receives a request for changing a communication mode from a user via the user interface unit  230 , the control unit  260  may control the user interface unit  230  so that the user interface window may be displayed according to the requested communication mode. 
     In addition, if the control unit  260  receives a control command of the broadcast receiver  100  from a user, the control unit  260  may transmit the control command according to the current communication mode. Specifically, when the control device  200  is in the first communication mode, the control unit  260  may control the first communication interface unit  210  so that the control command input via the bi-directional wireless communication may be transmitted. In addition, when the control device  200  is in the second communication mode, the control unit  260  may control the second communication interface unit  220  so that the control command input via the unidirectional wireless communication may be transmitted. 
     In case where the control device  200  has not been operated for a long time, or, in case where the control device  200  is in the sleep mode, the control unit  260  may control the first communication interface unit  210  so that the first communication mode may not be in a communication able state. 
     In case where the control unit  260  receives information from the broadcast receiver  100 , the control unit  260  may control the user interface unit  230  so that the received information may be displayed with the user interface window corresponding to the current operation mode. Specifically, the broadcast receiver  100  may transmit information (for example: channel information, current volume, playing time, left playing time, current time, and Electronic Program Guide) which will be useful for a user. Thus, the control unit  260  may control the user interface unit  230  so that the information may be displayed on the user interface window according to the current operation mode. The received information related to the services may be displayed continuously, displayed according to a predetermined period, or displayed according to the user&#39;s control. 
     Accordingly, the control device  200  according to an exemplary embodiment may control the broadcast receiver  100  by using the unidirectional wireless communication even when bi-directional wireless communication is impossible, thereby enhancing a user convenience. In addition, since the control device  200  displays the optimized user interface window according to a communication mode, the user may control of the broadcast receiver more conveniently. 
     In the description of  FIG. 1 , the control device  200  is described to control only one broadcast receiver  100 , but the control device  200  may control a plurality of broadcast receivers, which will be described in the following description with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of a home network system  1000  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the control device  200  according to  FIG. 1  is a remote control and may communicate with a plurality of broadcast receivers in the home network such as a TV  100 - 1 , a BDP (Blue-ray Disk Player,  100 - 2 ) and a HTS  100 - 3  in a unidirectional wireless communication and a bi-directional wireless communication. 
     Accordingly, if the control device  200  operates in the normal mode, the control device  200  may control the plurality of broadcast receivers by using the bi-directional wireless communication. If the control device  200  operates in the sleep mode and the wake-up mode, the control device  200  may control the broadcast receiver by using the unidirectional wireless communication. For example, if a user wakes up the control device  200  which has entered into a sleep mode, the control device  200  may transmit a control command to the TV  100 - 1  by using the unidirectional wireless communication when the controlled device was the TV  100 - 1 . In addition, when the controlled device was the BDP  100 - 2 , the control device  200  may transmit a control command to the BDP  100 - 2  by using the unidirectional wireless communication. 
     In the description of  FIG. 2 , the control device  200  controls a broadcast receiver connected to the TV  100 - 1  in the bi-directional wireless communication and the unidirectional wireless communication mode, but the control device  200  may also control the Blu-ray Disk Player (BDP)  100 - 2  and the HTS  100 - 3 . 
       FIG. 2 , illustrates three components or broadcast receivers in the home network as an example, but there is no limit to the number of the broadcast receivers which may be connected in the home network. In addition, in the description of an exemplary embodiment, the control device  200  is described as a device controlling only the broadcast receiver  100 , but the control device  200  may be used to control any number of devices in the home network capable of communicating in the unidirectional wireless communication and the bi-directional wireless communication. 
       FIGS. 3 to 5  are views illustrating a variety of examples of the user interface windows which may be displayed on the control device  200 . 
     Specifically,  FIG. 3  is a view illustrating an example of the user interface window where a user selects a communication mode. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the user interface window  300  includes a first region  320  where the user selects a communication mode. Herein, a ‘general mode’ represents the second communication mode, and an ‘exclusive mode’ represents the first communication mode. By using a slide bar as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the user may convert the communication mode from the second communication mode into the first communication mode. 
     In  FIG. 3 , only regions where a user selects the communication mode are illustrated, but regions having a simple remote control shape (for example, a channel up-down and a volume up-down) may be also illustrated. 
     On the other hand, if the control device  200  e wakes-up and operates in the first communication mode, or the user converts the second communication mode into the first communication mode via the user interface window illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the user display window as illustrated in  FIG. 4  may be displayed. 
       FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are views illustrating an example of the user interface window displayed on the user interface unit  130  if the control device  200  operates in the first communication mode. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the user interface window  400  includes the first region  410  displaying a TV mode which is a current operation mode and the second region  420  for receiving a control command for the TV from a user. 
     When the control device  200  controls the VTR device instead of the TV, the user interface window  500  may be displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the user interface window  500  includes the first region  510  displaying the VTR which is the current operation mode and the second region  520  for receiving the control command for the VTR from the user. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart describing a control method of the broadcast receiver  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     First, at operation S 610  a communication mode of the control device between the first communication mode using the bi-directional wireless communication and the second communication mode using the unidirectional wireless communication is determined. Specifically, if the control device  200  is in the sleep mode or the wake-up mode, the first communication mode carrying out the bi-directional wireless communication may be determined to be in a non-communication able state. If the control device  200  is in the normal mode, the first communication mode may be determined to be in an operable state. These determinations may be selected by a user. 
     If the bi-directional wireless communication is determined to be in a non-operable state S 620 -N, the second user interface window corresponding to the second communication mode is displayed S 630 , and a control command is received via the displayed user interface window, and then the received control command is transmitted S 640  via the unidirectional wireless communication. 
     If the bi-directional wireless communication is determined to be in an operable state S 620 -Y, the user interface window corresponding to the current operation mode is displayed S 650 , and the control command is received via the displayed user interface window and then the received control command is transmitted via the bi-directional wireless communication S 660 . 
     Therefore, the method of controlling the broadcast receiver according to an exemplary embodiment may control the broadcast receiver by using the unidirectional wireless communication even when bi-directional wireless communication is impossible, thereby enhancing a user convenience. The method of controlling the broadcast receiver as illustrated in  FIG. 6  may be carried out on the control device having a configuration of  FIG. 1  as well as on the broadcast receiver having other configurations. 
     The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the exemplary embodiments. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.