Patent Publication Number: US-2015078753-A1

Title: Remote control system and method

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to remote control technologies, and particularly to a remote control system and method using infrared communication. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Nowadays, home appliances, for example, televisions and air conditioners, are usually controlled by infrared remote controllers. Each home appliance needs a fixed remote controller. If the fixed remote controller is lost, users need to buy a new one. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a remote control system, the remote control system including a data process device for connecting to an input device. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the data process device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a control unit, a storage unit, a first communication device, and a second communication device of the data process device of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating an interface of a smart input device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating the smart input device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 6-10  are flowcharts illustrating an embodiment of a remote control method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a remote control system  100  includes an input device  500 , a wireless communication network  30 , a cable communication network  50 , a data process device  10 , and a plurality of controlled devices  40 . The data process device  10  can communicate with the input device  500  through the wireless communication network  30  or the cable communication network  50  and can communicate with the controlled devices  40  through infrared communication. In the illustrated embodiment, the input device  500  includes smart devices  20  and computer servers  70 . The smart devices  20  can communicate with the data process device  10  through BLUETOOTH communication, near field communication (NFC) or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication. The computer servers  70  can communicate with the data process device  10  through RJ45 ports, such that the computer severs  70  can communicate with the data process device  10  through the cable communication network  50 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the data process device  10  includes a first communication device  104 , a second communication device  105 , a transceiver  109 , a storage unit  102 , and a controller  101 . The controller  101  is in communication with the first communication device  104 , the second communication  105 , the transceiver  109  and the storage unit  102 . The transceiver  109  includes an infrared transmitter  106  and an infrared receiver  108 . 
     The first communication device  104  is used to communicate with the smart devices  20  through the wireless network  30 , and the second communication device  105  is used to communicate with the computer severs  70  through the cable communication network  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first communication device  104  includes an NFC sensor  140 , a BLUETOOTH adapter  142 , and a wireless network unit  144 . The second communication device  105  includes a cable network unit  146 . The input device  500  includes at least one of NFC sensors, BLUETOOTH adapter, wireless network units, and cable network units. 
     The NFC sensor  140  includes three working modes: card emulation mode, point to point mode, and reader/writer mode. In the card emulation mode, the NFC sensor  140  does not generate a frequent field, while another NFC sensor generates the frequent field and communicates with the NFC sensor  140  when the NFC sensor  140  is in the frequent field. In the point to point mode, the NFC sensor  140  and the another NFC sensor each generate a frequent field, when they are close, they are in communication with each other. In the reader/writer mode, the NFC sensor  140  generates the frequent field, while the another NFC sensor does not generate the frequent field, the another NFC sensor communicates with the NFC sensor  140  when the another NFC sensor is in the frequent field. 
     The BLUETOOTH adapter  142  communicates with the input device  500  through BLUETOOTH communication. The BLUETOOTH adapter  142  includes two working modes: master mode and slave mode. In the master mode, the BLUETOOTH adapter  142  searches for eligible devices having BLUETOOTH communication units. 
     The wireless network unit  144  communicates with the input device  500  with wireless fidelity. The wireless network unit  144  includes two working modes: server mode and client mode. In the server mode the wireless network unit  144  can build a wireless hotspot, such that other wireless communication modules in the client mode can connect to the wireless hotspot. In the client mode, the wireless network unit  144  can connect to other wireless hotspots. 
     The cable network unit  146  communicates with the input device  500  when the cable network unit  146  connects to the input device  500  through cables. 
     The storage unit  102  stores an identification table  120 , a command mapping table  122 , and a priority table  124 . The identification table  120  stores the identifications of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70 . The command mapping table  122  stores commands for controlling the controlled devices  40 . The priority table  124  stores an identification order for selecting one of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70  to connect to the data process device  10 . When more than one of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70  has a same instruction for a same controlled device  40 , the controller  101  selects one of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70  having the highest priority to control the controlled device  40  by reading the priority table  124 . 
     The controller  101  includes a first code unit  110 , a first decode unit  112 , a network detection unit  114 , an identification unit  116 , an authority setting unit  118 , a mode setting unit  117 , an anomaly process unit  115 , an infrared transmitting unit  113 , and an infrared receiving unit  119 . 
     The mode setting unit  117  is used for setting the working mode of the NFC sensor  140 , the BLUETOOTH adapter  142 , and the wireless network unit  144 , for example, setting the NFC sensor  140  to one of the card emulation mode, the point to point mode and the reader/writer mode, setting the BLUETOOTH adapter  142  to one of the master mode and the slave mode, or setting the wireless network unit  144  to one of the server mode and the client mode. 
     The network detection unit  114  is used to detect whether the data process device  10  can communicate with the input device  500  through the cable communication network  50 . When the network detection unit  114  detects that a specific one of the computer servers  70  wants to connect to the data process device  10  through the cable communication network  50 , the network detection unit  114  obtains a control signal output by the specific computer server  70 , and then the network detection unit  114  outputs a connection signal to the identification unit  116 . The control signal and the connection signal each include the identification of the specific computer server  70 . In the illustrated embodiment, the network detection unit  114  can output a data request through the cable network unit  146 . When the specific computer server  70  communicates with the data process device  10  through the cable communication network  50 , the network detection unit  114  receives a response to the data request from the specific computer server  70  and then the network detection unit  114  outputs the connection signal with the identification of the specific computer server  70  to the identification unit  116 . If the network detection unit  114  does not receive the response to the data request, it is determined that no computer server  70  connects to the data process device  10 . 
     The network detection unit  114  can also detect whether any of the smart devices  20  are around it. In the illustrated embodiment, the mode setting unit  117  sets the NFC sensor  140  to the point to point mode or the reader/writer mode, sets the BLUETOOTH adapter  142  to the master mode, and sets the wireless network unit  144  to the server mode. And then the network detection unit  114  detects whether any of the smart devices  20  are around it through the NFC sensor  140 , the BLUETOOTH adapter  142  and the wireless network unit  144 . For example, the NFC sensor  140  works in the reader/writer mode, if the network detection unit  114  detects there is a specific smart device  20  working in the card emulation mode around it, the NFC sensor  140  would obtain the identification of the specific smart device  20 . And then the network detection unit  114  outputs a detection signal to the identification unit  116 . The detection signal includes the identification of the specific smart device  20 . 
     The identification unit  116  obtains the identification of the specific computer sever  70  through the connection signal and obtains the identification of the specific smart device  20  through the detection signal, and further determines whether the identification of the specific computer sever  70  or the identification of the specific smart device  20  exists in the identification table  120 . When the identification of the specific computer sever  70  or the identification of the specific smart device  20  exists in the identification table  120 , the identification unit  116  outputs an authentication signal to the network detection unit  114 . Otherwise, the identification unit  116  outputs a first abnormal signal to the anomaly process unit  115 . 
     When receiving the authentication signal, the network detection unit  114  communicates with the computer sever  70  or the specific smart device  20 . The network detection unit  114  transmits the control signal output from the specific computer sever  70  or the specific smart device  20  to the first decode unit  112 . The first decode unit  112  decodes the control signal to obtain a control instruction corresponding to the control signal. The first decode unit  112  obtains a control command response to the control instruction from the command mapping table  122  and outputs the control command to the first code unit  110 . In one embodiment, the first decode unit  112  can also transmits the control command to the authority setting unit  118 . 
     The first code unit  110  codes the control command to obtain a code signal and transmits the code signal to the infrared transmitting unit  113 . 
     The infrared transmitting unit  113  transmits the code signal to the infrared transmitter  106 , and then the infrared transmitter  106  transmits the code signal to a specific one of the controlled devices  40 , such that the specific controlled device  40  performs an action in response to the code signal, for example, the specific controlled device is turned on. 
     The authority setting unit  118  sets the authorities corresponding to the identifications stored in the identification table  120 . When the authority setting unit  118  receives the control command from the first decode unit  112 , the authority setting unit  118  determines whether the control command has the authority in response to the identification of the input device  500 . When the control command has the authority, the authority setting unit  118  transmits an authority signal to the first code unit  110 . The first code unit  110  codes the control command upon a condition that the first code unit  110  receives the authority signal, and then transmits the code signal corresponding to the control command to the specific controlled device  40  through the infrared transmitting unit  113  and the infrared transmitter  106 . When the control command does not have the authority, the authority setting unit  118  outputs a second abnormal signal to the anomaly process unit  115 . 
     In one embodiment, the authority setting unit  118  determines whether there are at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  communicating with the data process device  10 . For example, if receiving at least two control commands, then the authority setting unit  118  determines there are at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70  communicating with the data process device  10 . If there are at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  communicating with the data process device  10 , then the authority setting unit  118  further determines whether the data process device  10  is receiving at least two control signals from the at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  to control a same controlled device  40 . If there are at least two identifications to obtain the control commands for controlling the same controlled device  40 , then it is determined that there are at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  intending to control the same controlled device  40 . And then the authority setting unit  118  determines which one of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  has the highest priority from the priority table  124  and transmits the control command from the one of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  having the highest priority to the first code unit  110 . The first code unit  110  codes the control command from the one of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  having the highest priority to obtain a code signal and transmits the code signal to the controlled device  40  through the infrared transmitting unit  113  and the infrared transmitter  106 . The authority setting unit  118  can also determine whether the data process device  10  is receiving control commands for controlling the same function of a same controlled device  40  from at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70 . When there are at least two identifications to obtain control commands for controlling the same function of the same controlled device  40 , the authority setting unit  118  selects the one of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  having highest priority by reading the priority table  124  and transmits the control command corresponding to the identification of the one of the smart devices  20  and the computer server  70  having highest priority to the first code unit  110 , and then the first code unit  110  codes the control command into a code signal and transmits the code signal to the controlled device  40  through the infrared transmitting unit  113  and the infrared transmitter  106 . 
     For example, the priority table  124  stores an identification order. In one embodiment, the priority table  124  contains a list of device identifiers. Each device identifier provides an identification of either a specific one of the smart devices  20  or a specific one of the computer servers  70 . A device identifier closer to the head of the list identifies a device having higher priority than a device identified by a device identifier further from the head of the list. Therefore the priority table  124  can be searched for the device identifiers of two of the devices in order to determine which of the two devices has a higher priority by a comparison of the locations in the list where the device identifiers are found. 
     When a specific one of the smart devices  20  connects to the data process device  10 , the mode setting unit  117  can change the working mode of the NFC sensor  140 , a wireless network unit  144  or the working mode of the BLUETOOTH adapter  142  depending on different demands. For example, when the data process device  10  receives a control signal from the specific smart device  20 , the NFC sensor  140  can be set to the card emulation mode and the BLUETOOTH adapter  142  can be set to the slave mode. 
     When receiving the first abnormal signal from the identification unit  116 , the anomaly process unit  115  reminds users through the input device  500  whether to store the identification of the input device  500 . When the users decide to store the identification of the input device  500 , the anomaly process unit  115  stores the identification of the input device  500  in the identification table  120 . When the users decide not to store the identification of the input device  500 , the input device  500  outputs a first abnormal information, for example, “the identification cannot be verified.” When receiving the second abnormal signal from the authority setting unit  118 , the input device  500  outputs a second abnormal information, for example, “the authority fails to match.” 
     The infrared receiving unit  119  receives a first state signal about the state of a specific controlled device  40  from the specific controlled device  40  through the infrared receiver  108 , and transmits the first state signal to the first decode unit  112 . The first decode unit  112  decodes the first state signal to obtain the state of the specific controlled device  40  and transmits the state of the specific controlled device  40  to the first code unit  110 . The first code unit  110  codes the state of the specific controlled device  40  into a second state signal and transmits the second state signal to the input device  500 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the input device  500  includes a displayer  200 , a processer  230 , a third communication device  220 , a fourth communication device  260 , and a storage module  240 . The displayer  200 , the third communication device  220 , the fourth communication device  260 , and the storage module  240  all connect to the processer  230  through the bus  270 . 
     The third communication device  220  includes an NFC unit  221 , a BLUETOOTH unit  223 , a wireless communication unit  225 . The NFC unit  221 , the BLUETOOTH unit  223  and the wireless communication unit  225  all work in slave mode. When the third communication device  220  enters the frequent field generated by the data process unit  10 , the third communication device  220  communicates with the first communication device  104 . 
     The fourth communication device  260  includes a cable communication unit  227 . The input device  500  communicates with the cable network unit  146  of the second communication device  105  through the cable communication unit  227 , so as to transmit the identifications of the input device  500  to the data process device  10  through the cable communication network  50 . 
     The processer  230  includes a communication select unit  231 , an instruction generation unit  233 , a second code unit  235 , a second decode unit  237 , and a display drive unit  239 . 
     The display drive unit  239  is used to drive the displayer  200  to display an operation interface. The operation interface can include a state interface  201  displaying the state of the specific controlled device  40 , for example, on or off. The operation interface can also include a communication manner interface  202  displaying the communication manner between the input device  500  and the data process device  10 , for example, BLUETOOTH, NFC, Wi-Fi or cable. 
     The communication select unit  231  is used to select the communication manner between the input device  500  and the data process device  10 , for example, BLUETOOTH, NFC, or Wi-Fi. In one embodiment, when users select the BLUETOOTH through the communication manner interface  202 , the communication select unit  231  selects the BLUETOOTH unit  223  to communicate with the BLUETOOTH adapter  142  of the data process device  10 . When the users select NFC, the communication select unit  231  selects the NFC unit  221  to communicate with the NFC sensor  140  of the data process device  10 . When the users select Wi-Fi, the communication select unit  231  selects the wireless communication unit  225  to communicate with the wireless network unit  144  of the data process device  10 . When the users select cable, the communication select unit  231  selects the cable communication unit  227  to communicate with the cable network unit  146  of the data process device  10 . 
     The instruction generation unit  233  is used to generate an instruction for controlling the controlled devices  40 . When the users select the button “On” through the state interface  201 , the instruction generation unit  233  generates an instruction for powering the controlled device  40  on. 
     The second code unit  235  is used to code the instruction generated by the instruction generation unit  233  to obtain the control signal and transmits the control signal to the data process device  10  through the third communication device  220  or the fourth communication device  260 . 
     The second decode unit  237  is used to decode the second state signal from the data process device  10  to obtain the state of the controlled device  40  and further transmits the state of the controlled device  40  to the display drive unit  239 . And then the display drive unit  239  drives the displayer  200  to display the state of the controlled device  40 , for example, the state interface  201  displays “power off.” 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , one embodiment of a remote control method includes the following steps. 
     In step S 1 , the network detection unit  114  determines whether the input device  500  intends to communicate with the data process device  10  through the cable communication network  50 . If yes, step S 4  is performed; if not, step S 2  is performed. 
     In step S 2 , the network detection unit  114  determines whether the input device  500  intends to communicate with the data process device  10  through the wireless communication network  30 . If yes, step S 4  is performed; if not, step S 1  is performed. 
     In step S 4 , the network detection unit  114  obtains an identification of the input device  500  from the input device  500  and transmits the identification to the identification unit  116 . 
     In step S 5 , the identification unit  116  determines whether or not the identification from the input device  500  is matching. If not, step S 18  is performed; if yes, step S 6  is performed. In one embodiment, the identification unit  116  determines if the identification from the input device  500  is stored in the identification table  120 . If the identification from the input device  500  is stored in the identification table  120 , the identification unit  116  transmits an authentication signal to the network detection unit  114 . Otherwise, the identification unit  116  transmits a first abnormal signal to the anomaly process unit  115 . 
     In step S 6 , the data process device  10  obtains a control signal having a control instruction from the input device  500  and outputs a code signal corresponding to the control instruction to a specific controlled device  40 , so as to control the specific controlled device  40 . In one embodiment, when receiving the authentication signal from the identification unit  116 , the network detection unit  114  obtains the control signal having the control instruction from the input device  500 . 
     In step S 7 , the input device  500  receives and displays the state of the specific controlled device  40 . 
     In step S 18 , when the identification of the input device  500  does not exist in the identification table  120 , the anomaly process unit  115  receives a first abnormal signal from the identification unit  116  and then outputs a reminder to the input device  500  through the network detection unit  114 , so as to remind users whether to store the identification from the input device  500 . If the users decide not to store the identification from the input device  500 , step S 20  is performed; if the users decide to store the identification from the input device  500 , step S 19  is performed. 
     In step S 19 , the anomaly process unit  115  stores the identification from the input device  500  in the identification table  120 . 
     In step S 29 , the anomaly process unit  115  outputs the first abnormal signal to the input device  500 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment, the remote control method further includes the following steps between step S 5  and step S 6 . 
     In step S 32 , the authority setting unit  118  determines whether or not there are at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70  intending to connect the data process device  10 . If yes, step S 34  is performed; if not, step S 33  is performed. 
     In step S 33 , the authority setting unit  18  and the first decode unit  112  process the control signal from the input device  500 . 
     In step S 34 , the authority setting unit  118  determines whether receiving at least two control commands for controlling the same controlled device  40  from the at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70 . If yes, step S 36  is performed; if not, step S 35  is performed. 
     In step S 35 , the authority setting unit  118  processes each of the control commands from the at least two of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70 . 
     In step S 36 , the authority setting unit  118  selects one of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70  having highest priority from the priority table  124  and processes the control command from the one of the smart devices  20  and the computer servers  70  having highest priority. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment, the step S 6  further includes the following steps. 
     In step S 50 , the network detection unit  114  obtains the control signal having the control instruction from the input device  500 . 
     In step S 52 , the first decode unit  112  decodes the control signal to obtain the control instruction. 
     In step S 54 , the first decode unit  112  obtains a control command corresponding to the control instruction from the command mapping table  122 . 
     In step S 56 , the first decode unit  110  codes the control command to obtain a code signal. 
     In step S 58 , the infrared transmitting unit  113  transmits the code signal to the specific controlled device  40  through the infrared transmitter  106 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in one embodiment, the remote control method further includes the following steps between step S 54  and step S 56 . 
     In step S 70 , the authority setting unit  118  sets an authority to each identification stored in the storage unit  102 . 
     In step S 72 , the authority setting unit  118  determines whether the control command from the command mapping table  122  has the authority of the identification. If yes, step S 56  is performed; if not, step S 74  is performed. 
     In step S 74 , the anomaly process unit  115  outputs a second abnormal information to the input device  500 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , in one embodiment, step S 7  further includes the following steps. 
     In step S 80 , the infrared receiving unit  119  receives a first state signal from the specific controlled device  40 . 
     In step S 82 , the first decode unit  112  decodes the first state signal to obtain the state of the specific controlled device  40 . 
     In step S 84 , the first code unit  110  codes the state of the specific controlled device  40  into a second state signal. 
     In step S 86 , the second decode unit  237  receives the second state signal and decodes the second state signal to obtain the state of the specific controlled device  40 . 
     In step S 88 , the display drive unit  239  drives the displayer  200  to display the state of the specific controlled device  40 . 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.