JP5280070B2 - User interface providing apparatus, digital television, user interface system, user interface providing apparatus control method, user interface providing program, and computer-readable recording medium recording the program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To operate a device to be operated by displaying a user interface picture for operating the device to be operated on a remote operation device having a display screen even in the situation where the user interface picture cannot be displayed on a display section such as a television screen. <P>SOLUTION: A digital television 1 includes a UI picture generation section 14 for determining whether a user interface picture can be displayed on a display section 40 of the digital television 1, displaying the user interface picture on the display section 40 when the user interface picture can be displayed on the display section 40 as a result of the determination, and displaying the user interface picture on a display section 5 of a remote controller 2B with a screen when the user interface picture cannot be displayed on the display section 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a user interface providing device that provides a user interface screen for operating a device to be operated, a digital television, a user interface system, a control method for the user interface providing device, a user interface providing program, and a computer recording the program The present invention relates to a readable recording medium.

  In recent years, audio visual (AV) devices capable of recording and reproducing video and audio have become widespread. Examples of AV devices include DVR (Digital Video Recorder), MDVR (Mobile DVR), and BDP (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disk Player).

  In the home, it is common to use such AV equipment by connecting it to a display processing device such as a television. Then, the user can not only view the television broadcast but also operate each AV device connected to the television by using the remote control or the like to record the television broadcast or play the recorded content. It can be done.

  At this time, a user interface (UI) screen for performing a remote operation on the television or each AV device is generally displayed on the television screen. That is, the user can give instructions to the TV and each AV device by operating the menus, buttons, and the like on the UI screen displayed on the TV screen with a remote controller or the like.

  By the way, generally, televisions and AV devices used at home are often shared by a plurality of users. Therefore, when a certain user is operating a television or AV device, another user may want to operate the same television or AV device at the same time. In addition, there may be a case where an operation content that a certain user intends to perform on a television or AV device conflicts with an operation result that another user has already performed on the television or AV device.

  As described above, there has been disclosed a technique for notifying a user of a user operation for an AV device that competes (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In Patent Document 1, when a command for controlling an AV device such as a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) is transmitted from a communication device such as a PC (Personal Computer) connected to a home network, another user has already set the television. When the VTR is controlled via a TV, the user using the PC indicates that the control from the PC cannot be accepted because the VTR is currently controlled via a television. This technique is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, 1) when a power source of an AV device is turned on, an identification code unique to the remote control is transmitted from the remote controller to the AV device. 2) The AV device is operated by a user who operates the remote controller. 3) If it is determined that the user has the right to use, the AV device restricts the operation from another remote controller and the right to use the other remote controller. A technique of displaying that there is no such information is disclosed.

  In addition, there is disclosed a technique for prioritizing each operation based on a predetermined user priority when user operations performed on the AV device compete (see Patent Documents 3 and 4). ).

  Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for determining a program reservation in accordance with a priority order among a plurality of reserved users when a plurality of users make a reservation for a program having overlapping broadcast time zones.

  Further, in Patent Document 4, when the broadcast time zone of the existing program reservation information and the broadcast time zone of the program reservation information of the logged-on user overlap, the user of the existing program reservation information and the logged-on time A technique for determining program reservation information based on the priorities of the users is disclosed.

On the other hand, there is disclosed a technique for acquiring operation information and operation screen information of a terminal to be controlled from a terminal to be controlled or a network and displaying the operation information and operation screen information on a remote control screen (see Patent Documents 5 to 9).
JP 2000-196636 A (publication date: July 14, 2000) JP 2007-251349 A (publication date: September 27, 2007) JP 2001-298686 A (publication date: October 26, 2001) JP 2007-228182 A (publication date: September 6, 2007) JP 2004-194011 A (publication date: July 8, 2004) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-12652 (Publication date: January 13, 2005) JP 2004-166193 A (publication date: June 10, 2004) JP 2005-26740 A (publication date: January 27, 2005) JP 11-3314 A (publication date: January 6, 1999)

  By the way, in recent years, with the increase in the types of AV devices, an AV network is realized in which a display processing device such as a television centrally controls AV devices. For this reason, in general homes, there are many forms in which a plurality of AV devices are connected to a single television for use. In such a usage pattern, all UI screens for operating each AV device are displayed on the one television set. Therefore, although the AV device itself is not used by other users, the UI screen of the unused AV device cannot be displayed because the other user is using the television. A situation may occur in which a non-operating AV device cannot be operated.

  Specifically, for example, when a certain user X is watching a television broadcast on a television connected to a DVR that is not currently used by any user, another user Y broadcasts the television broadcast on the DVR. You may want to make a recording reservation. In this case, as seen in Patent Documents 1 to 4, it may be possible to give priority to the user X who is already using the television screen, or to prevent the user Y from displaying the UI screen for operating the DVR. . However, in this case, the user Y cannot make a recording reservation unless the user X finishes watching the TV. Therefore, the convenience of the user Y will be impaired.

  Similarly, for example, when a user Z is performing an operation of copying content on a DVR connected to a television, another user W may want to operate a BDP connected to the same television. . Also in this case, as can be seen in Patent Documents 1 to 4, priority is given to the user Z who has already displayed the UI screen for operating the DVR on the TV screen, or the UI for the user W to operate the BDP. It may be possible not to display the screen. However, also in this case, the user W cannot operate the BDP unless after the copy operation of the user Z is completed. For this reason, the convenience of the user W is impaired.

  On the other hand, according to the method of acquiring a UI screen from a terminal to be controlled or a network as shown in Patent Documents 5 to 9 and displaying the UI screen on the screen of the remote controller, the AV screen is used without using the TV screen. The device can be operated. However, the remote control screen is generally smaller in screen size than the television screen, and generally has poor operability and visibility. Therefore, if the user tries to operate the AV device on the UI screen displayed on the remote control screen but cannot operate because the other user is using it, the user's convenience is impaired. In addition, it is preferable for the user to display the UI screen on the television screen rather than displaying the UI screen on the remote control screen when other users do not occupy the television screen.

  Furthermore, there is a case where another user wants to operate a UI screen displayed on a television screen by another user. For example, when content is selected by operating an electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) displayed on a television screen by another user, another user wants to continue operation from there. There is a case. However, operations with multiple bidirectional remote controls have the advantage of not being affected by other users 'operations by managing the status of each remote control individually, while taking over the results of other users' operations from the middle. Was difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to display a user interface screen for operating an operation target device even in a situation where the display unit such as a television screen cannot be displayed. User interface providing apparatus, digital television, user interface system, control method for user interface providing apparatus, and user interface provision capable of displaying the user interface screen on a remote operation device having a screen and enabling the operation target device to be operated An object of the present invention is to provide a program and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  In order to solve the above problems, a user interface providing apparatus according to the present invention is a user interface that accepts an input operation from a remote operation device for a user interface screen displayed on the first display unit for operating an operation target device. When the display device is a providing device and the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit as a result of the determination, the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit. When the user interface screen is displayed on the first display unit and the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen is displayed on the second remote control device including the second display unit. And a display control means for displaying on the display unit.

  The user interface providing device control method according to the present invention includes a user interface providing device that accepts an input operation from a remote operation device for a user interface screen displayed on the first display unit for operating the operation target device. A control method for determining whether or not the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit; and as a result of the determination, when the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit. The user interface screen is displayed on the first display unit, and when the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen is displayed on the remote control device including the second display unit. And a control step.

  According to said structure, it can be determined first whether the said user interface screen can be displayed on the said 1st display part. As a result of the determination, when the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen is displayed on the first display unit, and the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit. The user interface screen can be displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit.

  Therefore, the user can operate the operation target device using at least the user interface screen displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit.

  Therefore, even in a situation where the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user can operate the operation target device using the remote operation device including the second display unit. There is an effect that the convenience of the user is improved without falling into a situation where the operation target device cannot be operated.

  Furthermore, in the user interface providing apparatus according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the display availability determination unit displays the user interface screen that allows an input operation from the first remote operation device on the first display unit. In this case, the user interface screen that allows input operation from the second remote control device may be determined to be unable to be displayed on the first display unit.

  According to the above configuration, when the user interface screen capable of input operation from the first remote operation device is displayed on the first display unit, the input operation from the second remote operation device is performed. Since it is determined that the possible user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen capable of an input operation from the second remote control device is provided with the second display unit. It can be displayed on the second display portion of the operating device.

  Therefore, when a certain user is operating the operation target device by performing an input operation from the first remote operation device on the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit. However, another user inputs from the remote operation device including the second display unit to the user interface screen displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit. By performing the operation, the operation target device can be operated.

  Therefore, even when a user is using the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit, the user does not wait for the user to finish using the first display unit. Since the user can operate the operation target device using the remote operation device including the second display unit, user convenience is improved and the operation target device is used efficiently. There is an effect that can be.

  Furthermore, the user interface providing device according to the present invention is the above-described configuration, wherein the display availability determination unit displays the result of the input operation from the first remote operation device on the first display unit. It is good also as a structure which determines with the said 1st display part not being able to display the said user interface screen in which input operation from the said 2nd said remote operation apparatus is possible.

  According to the above configuration, the display propriety determining means is configured to display the input from the second remote control device when displaying the result of the input operation from the first remote control device on the first display unit. Since it is determined that the user interface screen that can be operated cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen that can be input from the second remote operation device is provided with the second display unit. It can be displayed on the second display unit of the remote control device.

  Therefore, the result of the user operating the operation target device by performing an input operation from the first remote operation device on the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit is the result of the first operation. Even when displayed on one display unit, another user may select the second user interface screen displayed on the second display unit of the remote control device including the second display unit. The operation target device can be operated by performing an input operation from the remote operation device having two display units.

  Therefore, even when a certain user displays and uses the result of operating the operation target device on the first display unit, the user waits for the certain user to finish using the first display unit. Therefore, another user can operate the operation target device using the remote operation device including the second display unit, so that user convenience is improved and the operation target device is efficiently operated. There is an effect that it can be used.

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, the user interface providing apparatus according to the present invention displays the user interface screen so that the user can only perform an effective operation on the operation target device when the user interface screen is displayed. It is good also as a structure.

  According to the above configuration, among the display items that can be operated by the user such as buttons and menus constituting the user interface screen, the display is effective for the operation target device at the time of displaying the user interface screen (ie, the operation Only the display items corresponding to user operations (acceptable by the target device) can be displayed.

  Therefore, the user interface screen can be displayed so that the user cannot operate buttons, menus, and the like corresponding to functions that are invalid even if operated among the functions of the operation target device.

  Therefore, among the functions of the operation target device, for example, functions that are currently used and that cannot be used simultaneously (that is, invalid even if operated) are not erroneously accessed, which is convenient for the user. This improves the performance and reduces the number of unnecessary user operations.

  Furthermore, in the user interface providing apparatus according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the display control means displays the user interface displayed on the first display unit when the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit. A user interface screen capable of the same operation as the screen may be displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit so that an input operation can be performed.

  According to the above configuration, even if the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen capable of performing the same operation as the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit is It can display so that input operation is possible on this 2nd display part of the said remote control apparatus provided with a 2nd display part.

  Therefore, when another user is operating the operation target device by performing an input operation from the first remote operation device on the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit, For a user interface screen that is displayed on the second display unit of the remote control device including the second display unit and can be operated in the same manner as the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit, The operation target device can be operated by performing an input operation from the remote operation device including the second display unit.

  Accordingly, a plurality of users can operate the user interface screen that can be operated in the same manner as the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit. There is an effect that it can be performed.

  Furthermore, the user interface providing device according to the present invention is configured so that, in the above configuration, the display control means displays on the first display unit in response to a request from the remote control device including the second display unit. A user interface screen that can be operated in the same manner as the existing user interface screen may be displayed on the requested remote operation device so that an input operation can be performed.

  According to the above configuration, even if the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen is displayed on the first display unit in response to a request from the remote operation device including the second display unit. A user interface screen that can be operated in the same manner as the user interface screen is displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit so that an input operation can be performed.

  Therefore, a user interface screen that can be operated in the same manner as the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit by making a request at a necessary timing from the remote operation device including the second display unit is provided. It can be displayed on the second display unit.

  Therefore, the user can operate the user interface screen, which can be operated in the same manner as the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit, in cooperation with other users at a necessary timing. There is an effect.

  The digital television according to the present invention includes the user interface device and a tuner unit as the operation target device, and displays a television broadcast received by the tuner unit on the first display unit. .

  According to said structure, a television broadcast other than a user interface screen can be displayed on said 1st display part.

  Therefore, for example, even if the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit by displaying a television broadcast on the first display unit, the remote control device including the second display unit The device to be operated can be operated using.

  Therefore, even when a certain user displays a television broadcast on the first display unit, other users can not operate the operation target device, and the convenience of the user is improved.

  A user interface system according to the present invention includes the user interface providing device and one or more remote target devices.

  According to the above configuration, first, a user using the remote operation device performs an input operation from the first remote operation device on the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit. The operation target device can be operated. Further, when there are a plurality of remote target devices, the remote operation device including the second display unit is displayed when the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit. Can be displayed on the second display section.

  Therefore, in the user interface system, the operation target device can be operated using at least the user interface screen displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit.

  Therefore, even if one user uses the first display unit, another user can operate the operation target device using the remote operation device including the second display unit. There is an effect that the convenience of the user is improved without falling into a situation where the operation target device cannot be operated.

  The user interface providing apparatus may be realized by a computer. In this case, a control program for the user interface providing apparatus that causes the user interface providing apparatus to be realized by the computer by causing the computer to operate as each of the means. And a computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the user interface providing apparatus according to the present invention is a user interface providing apparatus that receives an input operation from a remote operation device with respect to a user interface screen for operating the operation target device displayed on the first display unit. And a display availability determination unit that determines whether or not the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit; and as a result of the determination, when the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit, the user When the interface screen is displayed on the first display unit and the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen is displayed on the second display unit of the remote control device including the second display unit. Display control means for displaying.

  The user interface providing device control method according to the present invention includes a user interface providing device that accepts an input operation from a remote operation device for a user interface screen displayed on the first display unit for operating the operation target device. A control method for determining whether or not the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit; and as a result of the determination, when the user interface screen can be displayed on the first display unit. The user interface screen is displayed on the first display unit, and when the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user interface screen is displayed on the remote control device including the second display unit. Control steps.

  Therefore, the user can operate the operation target device using at least the user interface screen displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit.

  Therefore, even in a situation where the user interface screen cannot be displayed on the first display unit, the user can operate the operation target device using the remote operation device including the second display unit. There is an effect that the convenience of the user is improved without falling into a situation where the operation target device cannot be operated.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[Overall configuration of AV equipment operation system]
An audio visual (AV) device operating system 800 (user interface system) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the AV device operating system 800.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the AV device operation system 800 includes a digital television 1 (user interface providing device, digital television), a remote controller 2 (remote operation device), and an AV device 9 (operation target device). Is done. The digital TV 1 and the AV device 9 are communicably connected. Further, the digital television 1 and the remote controller 2 are connected so as to communicate with each other.

(AV equipment 9)
The AV device 9 is a device capable of recording and playing back content such as video and audio. The AV device 9 is connected to the digital television 1 via a communication medium such as a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) cable, for example, and receives audio / video signals and control signals from the digital television 1. Communicate.

  FIG. 2 shows a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) 91, an MDVR (Mobile DVR) 92, and a BDP (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disk Player) 93 as specific examples of the AV device 9. However, the number of AV devices 9 constituting the AV device operating system 800 is not limited to three. In addition, AV equipment 9 other than DVR 91, MDVR 92, and BDP 93 may be connected to digital television 1.

  The AV device 9 is a general AV device for recording and playback of content, as well as fast-forwarding of content, content copying, content editing, recording reservation, list display of recorded content, display of remaining disk capacity, etc. It is assumed that each of these functions can be executed based on a control signal from the outside.

  The AV device 9 can also execute a plurality of functions simultaneously when there is no resource contention.

  For example, in the DVR 91, even when content is being copied, recording reservation and playback and editing of content that is not being copied can be executed, but simultaneous copying of a plurality of content and editing of content being copied cannot be executed.

(Digital TV 1)
The digital television 1 according to the present embodiment includes a user interface providing device according to the present invention and a tuner as an operation target device.

  The digital television 1 accepts a user operation from the remote controller 2 in addition to displaying the television broadcast received by the tuner from a broadcast station (not shown) on the display unit. The user uses the remote controller 2 to perform operations on the digital television 1 (such as channel selection for television broadcasting) and operations on the AV equipment 9 (function execution instructions).

  At this time, the digital television 1 displays on the display unit a user interface (UI) screen for the user to perform a remote operation on the digital television 1 and each AV device 9. Then, the digital television 1 determines the behavior of the device or transmits a control signal for instructing the execution of the function to the AV device 9 according to the content of the user operation on the UI screen.

  The digital television 1 generates UI screen data as data for displaying the UI screen. The UI screen data includes an object such as image data representing a button and the like, and a control script that defines how to display the object. The control script is text data described in, for example, HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

  The control script is generally composed of a layout definition script and an action definition script. The layout definition script defines how and where an object such as image data is displayed. That is, the layout definition script describes a correspondence relationship between an object such as an image to be displayed and layout information such as a display position and a display size of the object. The layout definition script may be described in SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).

  The action definition script defines a predetermined action to be executed in response to a predetermined event (for example, a button pressed by a user operation). The definition method of the operation definition script is not particularly limited. For example, when an event occurs, which UI screen data is displayed next or which AV device 9 is controlled is defined. Alternatively, a predetermined control code to be processed when an event occurs may be defined. When defining a control code, when an event occurs, the control code is notified to the control unit 10 of the digital television 1, and the control unit 10 of the digital television 1 interprets the contents of the control code. By doing so, the behavior can be determined.

(Remote control 2)
The remote controller 2 is a device that is used by a user to remotely operate the digital television 1 and the AV device 9. When the user operates an operation key provided on the surface of the main body of the remote controller 2, the remote controller 2 transmits a control signal corresponding to the operation (including the remote controller ID of the remote controller 2) to the digital television 1. The remote controller ID is identification information of the remote controller 2.

  The operations performed by the user using the remote controller 2 include operations on the digital television 1 and operations on the AV device 9. For example, for the digital television 1, an operation for selecting a 4-channel television broadcast in the electronic program guide, and for the AV device 9, an operation for reserving a recording can be cited.

  By the way, in this embodiment, two users use different types of remote controllers 2, respectively. Therefore, FIG. 2 shows two remote controllers 2 of different types. However, the number of remote controllers 2 is not limited to two as a component of the AV device operation system 800. Note that one user may use the two remote controllers 2 of different types.

  One of the two units is a remote controller 2 of a type that does not include a display unit in its own device (hereinafter referred to as a screenless remote controller 2A). For example, it is a (legacy) remote control attached to the digital television 1. Therefore, the screenless remote controller 2A cannot display the UI screen. A user using the screenless remote control 2A (hereinafter referred to as user A) operates the UI displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 when the user operates an operation key provided on the main body surface of the screenless remote control 2A. Operate menus and buttons on the screen.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the screenless remote controller 2A can communicate with the digital television 1 by infrared communication. However, the communication method is not limited to this, and any communication method capable of transmitting a control signal to the digital television 1 may be used.

  The other is a remote controller 2 (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller with a screen 2B) of the type provided with its own display unit 5 (second display unit). For example, a mobile phone having a remote control function can be the screen-equipped remote control 2B. The screen-equipped remote control 2B can receive UI screen data from the digital television 1, and can display a UI screen on the display unit of the own apparatus based on the received UI screen data.

  Therefore, a user who uses the remote controller 2B with a screen (hereinafter referred to as user B) can operate menus and buttons on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1, and has a screen. Menus and buttons on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the remote controller 2B can be operated.

  In particular, even when the user A is already using the display unit 40 of the digital television 1, the user B operates the menus and buttons on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B. One of the features of the present invention is that the AV device 9 can be operated without using the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 used by the user using the screenless remote control 2A.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the remote controller with screen 2B can communicate with the digital television 1 through BlueTooth (registered trademark) in addition to infrared communication. However, the communication method is not limited to these, and any communication method capable of transmitting and receiving control signals and UI screen data to and from the digital television 1 may be used.

[Flow of Processing in AV Device Operation System 800]
Next, an overview of the processing flow in the AV device operating system 800 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an overview of the flow of processing in the AV device operating system 800.

  Here, in a situation where there is no user using the digital television 1, first, the user A operates the BDP 93 using the screenless remote controller 2A (process P1), and then the user B operates the remote controller with screen 2B. An example of the flow of processing will be described by taking as an example the case where the user A tries to operate the DVR 91 using the remote controller 2A without a screen (processing P3). .

(Process P1)
Process P1 is a process in which user A requests playback and fast-forwarding of content recorded in the BDP 93. First, when the user A presses a predetermined button of the screenless remote control 2A to request the playback of the content recorded in the BDP 93, the screenless remote control 2A displays a control signal (the remote control 2A (Including the remote control ID) is transmitted to the digital television 1 (step S101).

  Next, the digital television 1 performs a process (remote control identification process) for identifying whether the remote controller that has transmitted the control signal is the remote controller without screen 2A or the remote controller with screen 2B (step S102). ). Details of the remote control identification processing will be described later. Here, the remote controller that has transmitted the control signal is identified as the screen-less remote controller 2A.

  Further, the digital television 1 switches the external input to the BDP 93 and transmits a control signal for reproducing the content to the BDP 93 (step S102).

  At this time, only the user A intends to use the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. Therefore, the digital television 1 enables the user A to exclusively use the display unit 40 of the digital television 1.

  Then, in order to manage that the user A is a user who can exclusively use the display unit 40 of the digital television 1, the digital television 1 grants “screen usage right” to the screenless remote control 2A used by the user A. And manage. Details of the screen usage right grant will be described later. In this embodiment, the right to use the screen has an exclusive property and is not given to a plurality of remote controllers 2 at the same time.

  Next, the BDP 93 that has received the control signal from the digital television 1 starts to reproduce the content in accordance with the control signal, and transmits the video / audio signal of the reproduced content to the digital television 1 (step S103). The digital television 1 that has received the video / audio signal displays the content on the display unit (step S104).

  Further, FIG. 3 illustrates a case where the user A requests the fast-forwarding of the content being reproduced following the above. When the user A presses a predetermined button on the screenless remote control 2A, the screenless remote control 2A transmits a control signal (including the remote control ID of the remote control 2A) to fast-forward the content to the digital television 1 (step S105). .

  At this time, by referring to the remote control ID included in the control signal, the digital television 1 receives a control signal for fast-forwarding the content from the same remote control that has transmitted the control signal for reproducing the content. Therefore, the digital television 1 can determine that it is instructed to fast-forward the content according to the control signal. Then, the digital television 1 transmits a control signal indicating that the content is fast-forwarded to the BDP 93 (step S106).

  Then, the BDP 93 that has received the control signal fast-forwards the content in accordance with the control signal (step S107).

(Process P2)
Next, the process P2 will be described. Process P2 is a process in which user B obtains a list of contents and a remaining disk capacity from DVR 91, and requests recording reservation and copy from DVR 91.

  First, in order to display a menu for operating the AV device 9, when the user B presses a predetermined button of the remote controller 2B with a screen, the remote controller 2B with a screen displays a control signal (a remote control of the remote controller 2B) requesting menu display. (Including ID) is transmitted to the digital television 1 (step S201).

  Next, the digital television 1 performs a process (remote control identification process) for identifying whether the remote controller that has transmitted the control signal is the remote controller without screen 2A or the remote controller with screen 2B. Here, the remote controller with screen 2B is identified.

  Next, the digital television 1 generates UI screen data for displaying a menu UI screen in accordance with the above request (step S202).

  By the way, in the process P1, the digital television 1 grants a screen use right to the screenless remote control 2A. That is, when the user B performs the process P2, since the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 is exclusively used by the user A, the user B cannot use the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. Therefore, the digital television 1 does not output the UI screen data generated according to the menu display request from the user B to the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. Instead, since the remote controller 2 used by the user B is the remote controller with screen 2B, the digital television 1 transmits the generated UI screen data to the remote controller with screen 2B (step S202).

  Then, the screen-equipped remote control 2B that has received the UI screen data displays a menu UI screen on the display unit of the device itself based on the received UI screen data (step S203).

  As described above, even when the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1 is exclusively used by the user A, the digital TV 1 transmits the UI screen data to the screen-equipped remote control 2B. The user B can view the UI screen necessary for the user B without competing with the user A.

  Further, in FIG. 3, the user B continues to instruct to display the content list (steps S204 to S208), to display the remaining amount of the disc (steps S209 to S213), to record recording (steps S214 to S216), and to copy the content. In the example, instructions (steps S217 to S219) are performed on the DVR 91. Each process will be described below.

  First, when the user B operates a button or the like on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B, a control signal indicating that the screen-equipped remote control 2B requests display of the content list of the DVR 91. (Including the remote control ID of the remote control 2B) is transmitted to the digital television 1 (step S204). Then, the digital television 1 transmits a control signal for requesting display of the content list to the DVR 91 (step S205), and as a response, the DVR 91 transmits the program list to the digital television 1 (step S206). The digital television 1 generates UI screen data for displaying the received program list.

  Since the screenless remote control 2A currently has the right to use the screen and the content list display request is from the screen-equipped remote control 2B, the digital television 1 displays the generated UI screen data on the screen. This is transmitted to the remote controller 2B (step S207). The remote controller with screen 2B that has received the UI screen data displays a UI screen of the content list (step S208).

  Next, similarly to the above, when the user B operates a button on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B, the screen-equipped remote control 2B displays the remaining disk capacity of the DVR 91. A control signal for requesting (including the remote control ID of the remote control 2B) is transmitted to the digital television 1 (step S209). Then, the digital television 1 transmits a control signal for requesting display of the remaining disk capacity to the DVR 91 (step S210), and in response, the DVR 91 transmits the remaining disk capacity to the digital television 1 (step S211). The digital television 1 generates UI screen data for displaying the received remaining disk capacity.

  Since the screen-less remote control 2A currently has the right to use the screen and the request for displaying the remaining disk capacity is from the screen-equipped remote control 2B, the digital television 1 uses the generated UI screen data as It transmits to remote control 2B with a screen (step S212). Then, the remote controller with screen 2B that has received the UI screen data displays a UI screen of the remaining disk capacity (step S213).

  Next, when the user B operates a button or the like on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B, the control signal (remote control 2B) that the screen-equipped remote control 2B requests recording reservation. Are transmitted to the digital television 1 (step S214). Then, the digital television 1 transmits a control signal for requesting a recording reservation to the DVR 91 (step S215), and in response, the DVR 91 makes a recording reservation (step S216).

  Next, in the same manner as described above, when the user B operates a button on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the remote controller with screen 2B, the remote controller with screen 2B allows the content of the DVR 91 to be transferred to another AV. A control signal for copying to the device 9 (including the remote control ID of the remote control 2B) is transmitted to the digital television 1 (step S217). Then, the digital television 1 transmits a control signal for copying to the DVR 91 (step S218), and the DVR 91 copies the content as a response (step S219).

  As described above, even when the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1 is exclusively used by the user A, the digital TV 1 transmits UI screen data to the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Using the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the remote controller 2B, the AV device 9 can be operated without competing with the user A.

(Process P3)
Subsequently, the process P3 will be described. Note that at the time point when the user A starts the process P3, the content copy operation in the DVR 91 performed by the user B in the process P2 is ongoing.

  First, when the user A presses a predetermined button of the screenless remote control 2A to display a menu for operating the DVR 91, the screenless remote control 2A displays a control signal (request for the remote control 2A) to request the menu display. (Including the remote control ID) is transmitted to the digital television 1 (step S301).

  By the way, at this time, the copy operation in the DVR 91 performed by the user B in the process P2 is continuing. As described above, the DVR 91 can copy only when there is no resource contention. Therefore, at this time, the user A cannot perform copying with the DVR 91.

  At this time, the digital television 1 generates UI screen data so that the user cannot operate buttons and menus corresponding to functions that are currently in use and cannot be used simultaneously. Here, UI screen data is generated for a menu in which copying cannot be performed with the DVR 91 (for example, the copy button is displayed in a non-selectable (inactive) state, or the copy button itself is not displayed). Then, since the menu display request is a request from the screenless remote controller 2A to which the right to use the screen is granted, the digital television 1 outputs the generated UI screen data to the display unit of its own device (Step S1). S302). Accordingly, the user A of the screenless remote controller 2A can operate the UI screen of the menu in a state where the copy on the DVR 91 cannot be selected on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. Therefore, the user A will not accidentally operate the copy in the DVR 91 that is currently being used by the user B.

  As described in the processes P <b> 1 to P <b> 3, according to the AV device operating system 800, the UI screen for the user who exclusively uses the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 is displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. In addition, the user B of the screen-equipped remote control 2B can operate the UI screen with the screen-equipped remote control 2B even when the screen use right is not granted to the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Furthermore, when the digital TV 1 generates UI screen data, operations that are not currently valid (operations such as buttons and menus corresponding to functions that are currently in use and cannot be used simultaneously) Control so that the user can not do.

  Therefore, the user A of the screenless remote control 2A to which the screen usage right is given and the user B of the screened remote control 2B operate the UI screens displayed on the display unit 5 of the digital television 1 and the screened remote control 2B, respectively. As a result, the AV device 9 can be operated at the same timing. Also, since the digital TV 1 generates UI screen data so that buttons and menus corresponding to functions that are currently in use and cannot be used simultaneously cannot be operated, the user can use such functions. You will never accidentally access

  Thus, even when a plurality of users operate the AV device 9 connected to the digital television 1 at the same timing, the user B of the screen-equipped remote control 2B does not wait for the end of the operation of another user. Since the UI screen can be operated, user convenience is improved and the AV device 9 can be used efficiently.

  In addition, since the buttons and menus that can be selected on the UI screen are only the buttons and menus corresponding to the currently usable functions, the functions cannot be used as a result of selecting the buttons or menus. Therefore, user convenience is improved and unnecessary user operations can be reduced.

  Unlike the above-described process flow, in the situation where there is no user using the digital television 1, first, when the user B operates using the screen-equipped remote control 2B, the screen is used for the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Since the right is granted, the user B of the screen-equipped remote control 2B can operate the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1.

[Configuration of digital TV 1]
Next, the configuration of the digital television 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital television 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital television 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, a broadcast reception processing unit 30, a display unit 40 (first display unit), an audio output unit 50, a remote control communication unit 60, and external device communication. A unit 70 is provided.

  First, the control unit 10 controls the storage unit 20, the broadcast reception processing unit 30, the display unit 40, the audio output unit 50, the remote control communication unit 60, and the external device communication unit 70, and performs predetermined arithmetic processing. Is. Examples of the predetermined calculation process include a process for receiving a control signal from the remote controller 2 and a process for displaying a UI screen. The detailed configuration of the control unit 10 will be described later.

  Next, the storage unit 20 stores various data used in the control unit 10 and data obtained by executing a program. The storage unit 20 stores volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM ( This is realized by a non-volatile memory such as a read-only memory or flash memory. The various data are stored in various storage units inside the storage unit 20. Note that the storage unit 20 is not necessarily provided in the digital television 1 and may be configured to be connected to the digital television 1 as an external storage device in a writable and readable state.

  The storage unit 20 includes a remote control information storage unit 21, an operation state storage unit 22, an external device usage state storage unit 23, an operation state transition storage unit 24, and a UI screen data storage unit 25, and will be described below. To do.

  The remote control information storage unit 21 indicates a result of performing processing (remote control identification processing) for identifying whether the remote control 2 communicating with the digital television 1 is the screenless remote control 2A or the screen-equipped remote control 2B. And stored in association with the remote control ID. Therefore, by referring to the remote control information storage unit 21 using the remote control ID as a key, it is known whether the remote control 2 having the remote control ID as the key is the screenless remote control 2A or the screen-equipped remote control 2B. be able to. The table structure of the remote control information storage unit 21 will be described later.

  Next, the operation state storage unit 22 determines whether or not the user of the remote controller 2 communicating with the digital television 1 occupies the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 (in other words, assigns a screen use right to the remote controller 2. And the current operation state of the user of the remote controller 2 is stored in association with the remote controller ID. Therefore, by referring to the operation state storage unit 22 using the remote control ID as a key, whether or not the user of the remote control 2 having the remote control ID used as the key occupies the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 (in other words, It is possible to know whether or not the right to use the screen is given to the remote controller 2) and the operation state of the user. The table structure of the operation state storage unit 22 will be described later.

  The “operation state” indicates the state of the UI screen operated by the remote controller 2 and is managed by the operation state transition storage unit 24. The operation state management unit 13 rewrites the state of the operation state transition storage unit 24 when the operation state transitions due to an input operation from the remote controller 2.

  As an example of the operation state, 1) “a remote control connection waiting state” in which communication with the digital television 1 is connected and an input operation with the remote controller 2 is not yet possible, and 2) an operation target. “External device selection waiting state” in which the AV device 9 can be selected, and 3) “Functions” in which the AV device 9 can be selected (play, record, edit, copy, etc.). "Waiting for selection".

  Next, the external device use state storage unit 23 stores whether or not the function provided in each AV device 9 connected to the digital television 1 is currently in use. Therefore, by referring to the external device usage state storage unit 23 using the function as a key, it is possible to know whether or not the function used as the key is currently in use. The table structure of the external device usage state storage unit 23 will be described later.

  Next, the operation state transition storage unit 24 manages the state transition of the operation state described above. That is, a combination of the current operation state, the control code notified to the digital television 1 according to the operation, and the operation state of the transition destination is managed. Therefore, the operation state of the transition destination can be known by referring to the operation state transition storage unit 24 using the current operation state and the control code as keys. The structure of the operation state transition storage unit 24 will be described later.

  Next, the UI screen data storage unit 25 manages a function group operable on the UI screen for each operation state. For example, in an operation state in which a selection operation of a function (playback, recording, editing, copying) provided in a certain AV device 9 is possible, on the UI screen presented to the user, “playback, recording, editing, and copying” It must be user-operable. Therefore, the UI screen data storage unit 25 manages “playback, recording, editing, and copying” as a function group that can be operated on the UI screen in the operation state.

  The UI screen generation unit 14 to be described later acquires a function group that can be operated on the UI screen according to the operation state using the key by referring to the UI screen data storage unit 25 using the operation state as a key. To do. The table structure of the UI screen data storage unit 25 will be described later.

  Subsequently, the broadcast reception processing unit 30 performs digital broadcast reception processing. For this purpose, the broadcast reception processing unit 30 includes a tuner and demodulation unit 31 (tuner unit), a TS decoder 32, and an AV decoder 33.

  When a digital broadcast signal is supplied from an unillustrated broadcast station through an antenna, the tuner and demodulator 31 selects a received signal, performs demodulation and error correction according to the signal form, and performs multiplexed digital Form data. The channel selection is performed based on a control signal from the remote controller 2. Then, the tuner and demodulator 31 outputs the multiplexed digital data to the TS decoder 32.

  Then, the TS decoder 32 decodes the multiplexed digital data and extracts a TS (transport stream). Then, the extracted TS is output to the AV decoder 33, and TS packets (broadcast data) including video and audio signals, and an electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) for output to the control unit 10 are output. And the like and TS packets (information data) including various information signals.

  The AV decoder 33 decodes the TS packet (broadcast data) from the TS decoder 32 and separates the video signal and the audio signal. The AV decoder 33 outputs the decoded video signal and audio signal to the display unit 40 and the audio output unit 50, respectively.

  Note that the broadcast reception processing unit 30 is not necessarily provided in the digital television 1, and may be configured to be communicably connected to the digital television 1 as an external broadcast reception processing device.

  Next, the display unit 40 is a device that outputs a video signal and display data included in the digital television 1. The display unit 40 is realized by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (plasma display panel), or a CRT (cathode-ray tube) display. Examples of the video signal output to the display unit 40 include a video signal output from the AV decoder 33 and a video signal acquired from the AV device 9. The display data output to the display unit 40 includes UI screen data generated by the UI screen generation unit 14 described later.

  Although not shown, the display unit 40 is appropriately provided with a configuration necessary for displaying video signals and display data such as a VDP (Video Display Processor) and a VRAM (Video RAM).

  In addition, the display unit 40 is not necessarily provided in the digital television 1 and may be configured to be communicably connected to the digital television 1 as an external display device.

  Next, the audio output unit 50 outputs an audio signal of the digital television 1 as audio, and is realized by a speaker, for example. Examples of the audio signal output to the audio output unit 50 include an audio signal output from the AV decoder 33 and an audio signal acquired from the AV device 9.

  Note that the audio output unit 50 is not necessarily provided in the digital television 1, and may be configured to be communicably connected to the digital television 1 as an external audio output device.

  Next, the remote controller communication unit 60 receives a control signal transmitted from the remote controller 2. Then, the received control signal is transmitted to the control unit 10. The remote controller communication unit 60 includes a light receiving unit for exchanging signals with the remote controller 2, but is not illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Furthermore, the remote control communication unit 60 exchanges UI screen data generated by a UI screen generation unit 14 (to be described later) and data held by the remote control 2 with BlueTooth (registered trademark) with the remote control with screen 2B.

  Next, the external device communication unit 70 exchanges video / audio signals and control signals with the AV device 9 via a communication medium such as an HDMI cable. Therefore, the external device communication unit 70 includes, for example, an HDMI cable terminal and an HDMI signal processing unit. Then, the external device control processing unit 15 described later exchanges the video signal and the control signal via the external device communication unit 70, so that the digital television 1 receives the video signal recorded in the AV device 9 or the like. Conversely, the video signal or the like of the digital television 1 is transmitted to the AV device 9.

(Control unit 10)
Next, the control unit 10 will be described in detail. The control unit 10 includes an event processing unit 11, a remote control identification unit 12, an operation state management unit 13, a UI screen generation unit 14 (display availability determination unit, display control unit), and an external device control processing unit 15. It is out.

(Event processing unit 11)
The event processing unit 11 detects various events occurring in the digital television 1 and notifies each unit of the control unit 10 of a predetermined instruction signal. In particular, the event processing unit 11 analyzes the control signal from the remote control 2 received by the remote control communication unit 60, and gives an instruction according to the analysis result to the remote control identification unit 12, the operation state management unit 13, the UI screen generation unit 14, This is given to the external device control processing unit 15.

(Remote control identification unit 12)
The remote control identification unit 12 performs a process (remote control identification process) for identifying whether the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal via the remote control communication unit 60 is the screenless remote control 2A or the screened remote control 2B. ) And the result is stored in the remote control information storage unit 21. The remote control identification process performed by the remote control identification unit 12 will be described later.

(Operation status management unit 13)
The operation state management unit 13 manages the operation state of the user of the remote controller 2 using the operation state storage unit 22 and the operation state transition storage unit 24. That is, A) whether or not the user of the remote controller 2 occupies the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 (that is, whether or not the remote controller 2 has the right to use the screen), and B) the user who uses the remote controller 2 The current operation state is managed in association with the remote control ID.

  As for A), first, when a control signal is received from the remote controller 2, whether or not the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 has already been used exclusively (in other words, the right to use the screen has already been granted). This can be determined by checking whether or not the remote control 2 is present.

  In other words, if the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 is not yet used exclusively (unless there is a record in the operation state storage unit 22 whose value in the screen availability column (described later) is “available”). The user of the remote controller 2 determines that the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 may be used exclusively. Therefore, in this case, the operation state management unit 13 stores the remote control ID of the remote controller 2 in the operation state storage unit 22 with the value of the screen availability column as “available”. The table structure of the operation state storage unit 22 will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 is already used exclusively (when there is a record in the operation state storage unit 22 where the value of the screen availability column is “available”), the operation state management unit 13 stores the remote control ID of the remote controller 2 in the operation state storage unit 22 with the value of the screen availability column set to “impossible”. It is assumed that a record whose screen availability column value is “impossible” is a record having a lower priority than a record whose screen availability column value is “possible”. In addition, when there are a plurality of records having a screen use availability column value of “impossible”, it is assumed that the record registered earlier is a record having a higher priority.

  By the way, since the operation state management unit 13 manages the current operation state of the user, the operation state storage unit 22 does not manage the operation state of the user who has already finished the operation.

  Therefore, the operation state management unit 13 deletes the record stored in the operation state storage unit 22 in response to a predetermined trigger. The predetermined trigger is, for example, when the user does not perform a remote control operation for a certain period, when a predetermined button is pressed on the remote controller 2, or when the remote controller 2 deviates from a range where the remote controller 2 can communicate with the digital television 1 for a certain period. And so on. A record in which an operation state column (described later) of the operation state management unit 13 has not been updated for a certain period may be a deletion target.

  Then, the operation state management unit 13 raises the priority by one while maintaining the priority for each record having a priority lower than the priority of the deleted record.

  By the way, if the user of the remote controller 2 to which the right to use the screen is granted does not use the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1 exclusively, other users may use the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1. Absent.

  Therefore, when the operation state management unit 13 deletes a record whose screen useability column value is “available” from the operation state storage unit 22, the operation status management unit 13 sets the screen useability column of the second highest priority record to “ By updating to “permitted”, the right to use the screen is granted to the remote controller 2 managed by the record.

  Next, B) can be determined by referring to the operation state transition storage unit 24. That is, the operation state management unit 13 determines the operation state of the transition destination by referring to the operation state transition storage unit 24 based on the current operation state and the control code notified to the digital television 1. The operation state column of the operation state storage unit 22 is updated with the determined operation state.

  As described above, the operation state management unit 13 manages the operation state of the user of the remote controller 2 using the operation state storage unit 22.

(UI screen generation unit 14)
As a result of analyzing the control signal received from the remote controller 2, when the UI screen needs to be displayed, the UI screen generation unit 14 includes the remote control information storage unit 21, the operation state storage unit 22, the UI screen data storage unit 25, and the external UI screen data is generated based on the records stored in the device usage state storage unit 23. Below, the process which produces | generates UI screen data is demonstrated.

  1) First, the UI screen generation unit 14 searches for a record stored in the operation state storage unit 22, and obtains the current operation state of the user using the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal from the operation state column. .

  2) Next, the UI screen generation unit 14 searches the UI screen data storage unit 25 using the acquired operation state as a key, and displays a function group operable on the UI screen to be generated as a UI screen configuration data column. Get from.

  3) Next, the UI screen generation unit 14 excludes from the acquired function group those functions whose usage state column (described later) is “in use” in the external device usage state storage unit 23. As a result, functions currently in use can be excluded, and buttons, menus, and the like corresponding to such functions can be prevented from being displayed on the UI screen. Therefore, on the UI screen, only user operations that are valid for the AV device 9 (acceptable by the AV device 9) can be performed.

  4) Next, the UI screen generation unit 14 generates UI screen data based on the function group after the exclusion.

  There are various methods for generating UI screen data. For example, it is conceivable to store a control script corresponding to each function in the storage unit 20 in advance. Specifically, for example, a control script describing that the “playback” function is operably displayed, a control script describing that the “recording” function is operably displayed, and a “copy” function are operated. A control script or the like described to be displayed is stored in the storage unit 20 in advance. Furthermore, a control script describing that a background portion used in common on each UI screen is displayed may be stored in the storage unit 20 in advance.

  Then, the UI screen generation unit 14 acquires a control script corresponding to the function group after the exclusion from the storage unit 20. Further, if necessary, a control script used in common on each UI screen is acquired from the storage unit 20. Then, the UI screen generation unit 14 may generate a control script as UI screen data based on the acquired control script group. For example, it is conceivable to merge the acquired control script group into one control script and add a predetermined header, a predetermined tag, or the like.

  Note that the UI screen generation unit 14 considers whether the UI screen data to be generated is displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and / or the display unit of the remote controller 2 and UI screen data. Generate. If the UI screen data to be generated is displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and / or displayed on the display unit of the remote controller 2, refer to the operation state storage unit 22 and the remote control information storage unit 21. I can know.

  That is, if the value of the screen availability column in the operation state storage unit 22 is “permitted”, UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 is generated. UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit 40 is not generated. Furthermore, if the value of the screen presence / absence column in the remote control information storage unit 21 is “present”, UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit of the remote controller 2 is generated. In generating UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit of the remote controller 2, it is desirable to refer to the value of the Capability information column in the remote controller information storage unit 21 and to consider the screen size of the UI screen to be generated.

  5) Finally, when the UI screen generation unit 14 generates UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1, the UI screen generation unit 14 outputs the UI screen data to the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1, while the remote controller When the UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit 2 is generated, the UI screen data is transmitted to the remote control 2 via the remote control communication unit 60.

  Therefore, when only the user A using the screenless remote control 2A performs the remote control operation, the UI screen is displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1.

  When only the user B who uses the remote controller with screen 2B performs the remote control operation, the UI screen is displayed on each of the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the remote controller with screen 2B.

  Further, when the user A using the screen-equipped remote control 2B performs the remote control operation while the user A using the screenless remote control 2A to which the screen use right is given is performing the remote control operation, the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 is used. The UI screen for the user A is displayed, and the UI screen for the user B is displayed on the remote control 2B with the screen.

  As described above, the UI screen generation unit 14 is based on the records stored in the remote control information storage unit 21, the operation state storage unit 22, the UI screen data storage unit 25, and the external device usage state storage unit 23. Generate screen data.

  Since the UI screen data is composed of a control script written in HTML, XML, or the like as described above, the UI screen generation unit 14 outputs UI screen data to the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. Alternatively, it may be displayed on the display unit 40 via a general Web browser or the like.

(External device control processing unit 15)
The external device control processing unit 15 exchanges video / audio signals and control signals with the AV device 9 via the external device communication unit 70 in accordance with instructions from the event processing unit 11. Specifically, a control signal for instructing execution of a function such as recording or reproduction is transmitted to the AV device 9. Then, the audio / video signal and the control signal are exchanged with the AV device 9 in accordance with the function instructed to execute. In addition, the external device control processing unit 15 receives a control signal indicating the execution state of the function from the AV device 9.

  Then, the external device control processing unit 15 updates the external device use state storage unit 23 in accordance with the function execution instruction. That is, when the execution of the function is instructed, the value in the use state column of the external device use state storage unit 23 corresponding to the instructed function is updated to “in use”. A control signal indicating the execution state of the function may be received from the AV device 9, and the value of the usage status column in the external device usage status storage unit 23 may be updated according to the content of the received control signal. The table structure of the external device usage state storage unit 23 will be described later.

  Further, when the execution of the function is finished, the external device control processing unit 15 updates the value of the use state column of the external device use state storage unit 23 corresponding to the finished function to “unused”.

  As described above, which function is currently being used is managed by the external device control processing unit 15.

[Structure of each part in the storage unit 20]
(Structure of remote control information storage unit 21)
Next, the table structure of the remote control information storage unit 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the table structure of the remote control information storage unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the remote control information storage unit 21 has a remote control ID column that is a column for storing a remote control ID, a screen presence / absence column that is a column for storing whether or not the remote control is a screen, and the capability of the remote control with a screen. It includes a capability information column which is a column for storing (capability).

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which two remote controllers 2 are stored in the remote controller information storage unit 21. First, the remote controller 2 in which the value in the remote control ID column is “ID1” and the value in the screen presence / absence column is “none” is stored. That is, it can be seen that the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID1 is the screenless remote controller 2A.

  Second, the remote controller 2 in which the value in the remote control ID column is “ID2” and the value in the screen presence / absence column is “present” is stored. That is, it can be seen that the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2 is a remote controller 2B with a screen. Further, according to the value of the capability information column, it can be seen that the screen size of the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2 is 1024 bits wide and 680 bits long.

(Structure of the operation state storage unit 22)
Next, the table structure of the operation state storage unit 22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the table structure of the operation state storage unit 22.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the operation state storage unit 22 includes a priority column that is a column for storing the priority of the record, a remote control ID column that is a column for storing the remote control ID, and a user using the remote control 2 by the digital television 1. A user who uses the remote control 2 and the screen use availability column, which is a column for storing whether or not the display unit 40 is occupied (in other words, whether or not the class 2 has been given a screen use right). The operation state column which is a column for storing the operation state is included. In the operation state column, one of operation states managed by the operation state transition storage unit 24 described later is stored.

  FIG. 5A shows a state where the operation state storage unit 22 stores a record of the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is “ID1”. The remote controller 2 stores information indicating that the value of the screen availability column is “permitted” (in other words, the screen usage right is given). The priority column value is set to 1 (indicating that the record has the highest priority). Further, according to the value of the operation state column, it is stored that the current operation state of the user who uses the remote controller 2 is the state S2 (the state S2 is a state waiting for external device selection as will be described later). Yes.

  FIG. 5B shows a state where a record of the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is “ID2” is further stored in the operation state storage unit 22 shown in FIG.

  At this time, since there is a record in the operation state storage unit 22 shown in FIG. 5A where the value of the screen availability column is “OK”, the operation state management unit 13 has the remote control ID of ID2. The remote control 2 is stored in the operation state storage unit 22 in a state where the right to use the screen is not given and the priority is low. For this reason, in FIG. 5B, the record of the remote control 2 whose remote control ID is ID2 has a value of “unusable” in the screen availability column, and the value of the priority column is “2” (priority “1”). ”Is assumed to be lower in priority).

  Therefore, when the UI screen generation unit 14 generates a UI screen with reference to the operation state storage unit 22 shown in FIG. 5B, the remote control 2 to which the screen use right is given (the remote control ID is ID1). The UI screen data generated for the user using the remote controller 2) is output to the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. On the other hand, the UI screen data generated for the user who uses the remote controller 2 to which the right to use the screen is not granted (the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2) is not output to the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the screen is used. If the remote controller 2 to which the right is not given is the remote controller with screen 2B, the UI screen data is transmitted to the remote controller with screen 2B.

  FIG. 5C shows a state in which a record whose value in the remote control ID column is “ID1” is further deleted from the operation state storage unit 22 shown in FIG.

  In this case, since the record in which the screen availability column value is “possible” is deleted, the operation state management unit 13 has the second highest priority and the screen of the record in which the remote controller ID column value is “ID2”. The value of the availability column is updated to “available”, and the value of the priority column is updated to “1”. Therefore, the screen use right is given to the remote controller 2 managed by the record.

(Structure of external device use state storage unit 23)
Next, the table structure of the external device usage state storage unit 23 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a table structure of the external device usage state storage unit 23.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the external device use state storage unit 23 is a device column that stores the name of the AV device 9, a function column that stores a function, and a more detailed function of the function indicated by the function column. A detail function column that is a column for storing (detail function), and a use state column that is a column for storing whether or not the function and the detail function are currently in use.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which records of three AV devices 9 (DVR, MDVR, and BDP) are stored in the external device usage state storage unit 23.

  For example, the AV device 9 whose device column value is “DVR” has functions “function f11 (for example, playback)”, “function f12 (for example, recording)”, “function f13 (for example, editing)”, and “ Function f14 (for example, copy) "is stored, and it is stored that the function f14 (for example, copy) is currently in use.

  Further, in the “function f12 (for example, recording)”, as the detailed functions, “detailed function f121 (for example, time-specified recording)”, “detailed function f122 (for example, electronic program guide recording)”, and “detailed function” f123 (for example, recommended program recording) ”is stored.

  Similarly, the AV device 9 whose device column value is “MDVR” has “function f21 (eg, playback)”, “function f22 (eg, recording)”, and “function f23 (eg, copy)” as functions. It is stored that the function f21 (for example, reproduction) is currently in use.

  Similarly, the AV device 9 whose device column value is “BDR” includes “function f31 (for example, playback)” and “function f32 (for example, recording)” as functions. It is remembered that it is in use.

  As described above, it is possible to know which function is currently in use by referring to the external device use state storage unit 23.

(Structure of the operation state transition storage unit 24)
Next, the management content of the operation state transition storage unit 24 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the management content of the operation state transition storage unit 24.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the operation state transition storage unit 24 manages the operation state to which the transition is made in accordance with the control code notified to the digital television 1.

  In FIG. 7, for example, when the control code A is notified in the state S1 in which the remote control connection is in a waiting state, it is managed to transition to the state S2 in the selection waiting state for an external device. Similarly, when the control code B is notified in the state S2, it is managed to transit to the state S3 that is a function selection waiting state. Similarly, when the control code C is notified in the state S3, it is managed to transit to the state S4, which is a detailed function selection waiting state.

  As described above, referring to the operation state transition storage unit 24, the operation state of the transition destination can be known based on the current operation state and the control code notified to the digital television 1.

(Structure of UI screen data storage unit 25)
Next, the table structure of the UI screen data storage unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a table structure of the UI screen data storage unit 25.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the UI screen data storage unit 25 includes an operation state column that is a column that stores a current operation state of a user who uses the remote controller 2, and data that forms a UI screen provided according to the operation state. It includes a UI screen configuration data column which is a column for storing groups. In the operation state column, one of operation states managed by the operation state transition storage unit 24 is stored.

  Here, the data group configuring the UI screen managed in the UI screen configuration data column is a set of functions that can be operated by the user in the operation state. Based on these, the UI screen generation unit 14 generates UI screen data corresponding to the operation state.

  For example, when a predetermined AV device 9 is selected in the state S2 (external device selection waiting state), according to the state transition stored in the operation state transition storage unit 24, the state S3 (function selection waiting state) ). In this state, it is desirable for the user to present functions that can be operated on the selected AV device 9 on the UI screen. Therefore, the UI screen configuration data column in the state S2 stores functions (for example, reproduction, recording, copying, etc.) that can be operated on the selected AV device 9.

  As described above, when generating UI screen data, among the functions managed in the UI screen configuration data column, functions that are currently in use and cannot be used redundantly are displayed on the UI screen data. Exclude from components. What function is currently in use may be determined by referring to the external device use state storage unit 23.

  As described above, a UI screen can be generated using information stored in the UI screen data storage unit 25.

[Remote control identification processing]
Next, remote control identification processing performed by the remote control identification unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of remote control identification processing performed by the remote control identification unit 12.

  First, the remote control identification unit 12 receives a control signal transmitted from the remote control 2 by infrared communication through the remote control communication unit 60 (step S401). Then, the remote control identification unit 12 checks whether or not the remote control ID included in the received control signal is stored in the remote control information storage unit 21 (step S402).

  If the remote control ID included in the control signal received in step S401 is not stored in the remote control information storage unit 21 (YES in step S402), the remote control identification unit 12 performs BlueTooth (registration) via the remote control communication unit 60. (Trademark) communication is started, and it is searched whether or not there is a BlueTooth (registered trademark) -compatible remote control 2 having the remote control ID included in the control signal in the vicinity of the digital television 1 (step S403).

  If there is a response from remote controller 2 (YES in step S404), remote controller identifying unit 12 identifies that remote controller 2 is remote controller 2B with a screen, and the control received in step S401 that there is a screen. The remote control information storage unit 21 stores the remote control ID in association with the remote control ID included in the signal. The presence / absence of a response from the remote controller 2 may be determined based on, for example, whether or not an ACK (Acknowledge) is received through communication using BlueTooth (registered trademark).

  Furthermore, when capability information is received from the remote controller 2, the received capability information is also stored in the remote control information storage unit 21 (step S405).

  On the other hand, if there is no response from remote controller 2 for a predetermined period (NO in step S404), remote control identifying unit 12 identifies that remote controller 2 is remote controller 2A without a screen and receives that there is no screen in step S401. The remote control ID is stored in the remote control information storage unit 21 in association with the remote control ID included in the control signal (step S406).

  If the remote control ID included in the control signal received in step S401 is stored in the remote control information storage unit 21 (NO in step S402), the remote control identification unit 12 does not perform any particular processing.

[Processing flow when receiving control signal]
Next, the flow of processing performed by the digital television 1 that has received a control signal from the remote controller 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed by the digital television 1 that has received a control signal from the remote controller 2. Here, illustration and description of the remote control identification processing by the remote control identification unit 12 are omitted.

  In FIG. 10, the processing performed by the digital television 1 that has received the control signal from the remote controller 2 can be roughly divided into the following three. 1) processing related to the grant of screen usage rights (processing P11), 2) processing related to control of AV equipment (processing P12), and 3) processing related to UI screen display (processing P13).

  First, the process P11 will be described. When the control signal is received from the remote controller 2, the operation state management unit 13 checks whether or not the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 has already been used (step S501). Specifically, it is examined whether or not there is a record in the operation state storage unit 22 whose screen use availability column value is “available”.

  If there is no record in the operation state storage unit 22 where the value of the screen availability column is “permitted” (NO in step S501), the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal already has the screen usage right. It is checked whether or not it is assigned (step S502). Specifically, it is checked whether or not the remote control ID included in the control signal is registered in the operation state storage unit 22 with the value of the screen use availability column being “available”. If such remote control ID does not exist in operation state storage unit 22 (NO in step S502), the right to use the screen is already granted to remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal (step S503). Specifically, the remote control ID included in the control signal is stored in the operation state storage unit 22 with the value of the screen availability column as “available”.

  On the other hand, if there is a record in the operation state storage unit 22 where the value of the screen availability column is “Yes” (YES in step S501), the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal has already been operated. Is registered (step S504). Specifically, it is checked whether or not the remote control ID included in the control signal is registered in the operation state storage unit 22. If such a remote control ID does not exist in the operation state storage unit 22 (NO in step S504), the operation state storage unit does not grant the screen use right to the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal. 22 (step S505). Specifically, the remote control ID included in the control signal is stored in the operation state storage unit 22 with the value of the screen availability column set to “impossible”.

  Next, process P12 will be described. As a result of analyzing the control signal received from the remote controller 2, if an instruction to execute the function to the AV device 9 is necessary (YES in step S 506), the external device control processing unit 15 causes the AV device 9 to execute the function. A control signal for instructing is transmitted (step S507). Further, the value in the usage status column of the external device usage status storage unit 23 corresponding to the instructed function is updated (step S508).

  Next, process P13 will be described. As a result of analyzing the control signal received from the remote controller 2, if the UI screen needs to be displayed (YES in step S509), the UI screen generating unit 14 generates a UI screen.

  Specifically, first, it is checked whether or not the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal has a right to use the screen (step S510). That is, the UI screen generation unit 14 refers to the operation state management unit 13 and checks whether or not the value of the screen availability column corresponding to the remote control ID included in the control signal is “enabled”. If the screen availability column value is “permitted” (YES in step S510), since the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal has the right to use the screen, the UI screen generation unit 14 uses the digital television 1 UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit 40 is generated and output to the display unit 40 (step S511). On the other hand, if the value of the screen availability column is “impossible” (NO in step S509), since the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal does not have the right to use the screen, the UI screen generation unit 14 performs the digital television 1 UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit 40 is not generated.

  Further, the UI screen generation unit 14 checks whether or not the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal has a screen (step S512). That is, the UI screen generation unit 14 refers to the remote control information storage unit 21 and checks whether the value of the screen presence / absence column corresponding to the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal is “present”. If the value of the screen presence / absence column is “present” (YES in step S512), since the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal is the remote controller 2B with a screen, the UI screen generator 14 sends the remote controller 2 UI screen data to be displayed is generated and transmitted to the remote controller 2 (step S513). On the other hand, if the value of the screen presence / absence column is “none” (NO in step S512), the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal is the remote controller 2A without a screen, and therefore the UI screen generator 14 sends the remote controller 2 Does not generate UI screen data to be displayed.

  Note that the processing related to the control of the AV device (steps S506 to S508) may be performed after the processing related to the display of the UI screen (steps S509 to S513).

[Example UI screen]
Next, an example of a UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Screen example 1-1)
First, when the user A is fast-forwarding the content being played back on the digital TV 1, the user B makes a recording reservation for the content using the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B. A screen example showing the above will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, it is assumed that the screen use right has already been given to the screenless remote control 2A.

  1) First, FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a state in which the user A fast-forwards the content being reproduced on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. A mark indicating that fast-forwarding is being performed at 20 times speed is displayed in the lower right portion of the display unit 40.

  2) Next, FIG. 11B shows a state in which the user B performs an operation on the remote controller with screen 2B while the user A is fast-forwarding the content being reproduced on the digital television 1. FIG. Since the remote control with screen 2B has no right to use the screen, the digital television 1 transmits UI screen data to the remote control with screen 2B. Therefore, a UI screen is displayed on the remote controller 2B with a screen as shown in the figure. Hereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects the “record” menu.

  3) Next, FIG. 11C is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects the “Record” menu on the UI screen shown in FIG. 11B. As shown in FIG. 11C, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B is changed to a UI screen for selecting content to be recorded. Hereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects “news” content.

  4) Next, FIG. 11D is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects “news” content on the UI screen shown in FIG. 11C. As shown in the figure, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B is changed to a UI screen for confirming whether or not news content can be recorded.

  Thus, even when the user A is already using the digital television 1, the user B who uses the remote controller with screen 2B uses the UI screen transmitted from the digital television 1 to the remote controller with screen 2B. The AV device 9 can be operated.

(Screen example 1-2)
Next, when the user A is not using the digital television 1, the user B uses the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B to display a content recording reservation. An example will be described with reference to FIG.

  1) First, FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a state when the user B performs an operation on the remote controller with screen 2B. Since there is no user who has used the digital television 1 first, the right to use the screen is given to the remote controller with screen 2B. Therefore, since the digital television 1 displays the UI screen on the display unit 40 and transmits UI screen data to the remote controller with screen 2B, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 also on the remote controller with screen 2B. A UI screen capable of the same operation is displayed. Hereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects the “record” menu.

  2) Next, FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects the “record” menu on the UI screen shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, both the UI screens displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B are transitioned to a UI screen for selecting content to be recorded. As described above, when the operation is performed by the screen-equipped remote control 2B to which the right to use the screen is granted, a UI screen capable of performing the same operation is displayed on both the digital television 1 and the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Hereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects “news” content.

  3) Next, FIG. 12C is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects “News” content on the UI screen shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, both the UI screens displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B are UI screens for confirming whether or not news content can be recorded. There is a transition.

  As described above, when the digital television 1 is not used by anyone, the user B who uses the remote controller with screen 2B is displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the remote controller with screen 2B. The AV device 9 can be operated using the UI screen.

(Screen example 2-1)
Next, when user A is fast-forwarding the content being played back on the digital television 1, the user B uses the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B to copy the content. Will be described with reference to FIG. The flow is basically the same as the screen example described with reference to FIG. In this example, it is assumed that the screen use right has already been given to the screenless remote control 2A.

  1) First, FIG. 13A shows a situation when user B performs a copy operation on the remote controller 2B with a screen while the user A is fast-forwarding the content being reproduced on the digital television 1. FIG. Since the remote control with screen 2B has no right to use the screen, the digital television 1 transmits UI screen data to the remote control with screen 2B. Therefore, a UI screen is displayed on the remote controller 2B with a screen as shown in the figure. Thereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects the “copy” menu.

  2) Next, FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects the “Copy” menu on the UI screen shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13B, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B is changed to a UI screen for selecting content to be copied. Hereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects “drama” content.

  3) Next, FIG. 13C is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects “drama” content on the UI screen shown in FIG. 13B. As shown in the figure, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B has transitioned to a UI screen for selecting which AV device 9 is to be copied. Hereafter, it is assumed that user B selects “MDVR”.

  4) FIG. 13D is a diagram showing a state after user B selects “MDVR” on the UI screen shown in FIG. 13C. As illustrated, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B has transitioned to a UI screen for confirming whether or not to copy to the MDVR.

  Thus, even when the user A is already using the digital television 1, the user B who uses the remote controller with screen 2B uses the UI screen transmitted from the digital television 1 to the remote controller with screen 2B. The AV device 9 can be operated.

(Screen example 2-2)
Next, when the user A is not using the digital television 1, an example of a screen in which the user B uses the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2 </ b> B to copy the content. Will be described with reference to FIG. The flow is basically the same as the screen example described with reference to FIG.

  1) First, FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a state when the user B performs an operation on the remote controller with screen 2B. Since there is no user who has used the digital television 1 first, the right to use the screen is given to the remote control with screen 2B. Therefore, since the digital television 1 displays the UI screen on the display unit 40 and transmits UI screen data to the remote controller with screen 2B, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 also on the remote controller with screen 2B. A UI screen capable of the same operation is displayed. Thereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects the “copy” menu.

  2) Next, FIG. 14B is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects the “Copy” menu on the UI screen shown in FIG. As illustrated, both of the UI screens displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B are transitioned to the UI screen for selecting content to be copied. As described above, when the operation is performed by the screen-equipped remote control 2B to which the right to use the screen is granted, a UI screen capable of performing the same operation is displayed on both the digital television 1 and the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Hereafter, it is assumed that the user B selects “drama” content.

  3) Next, FIG. 14C is a diagram showing a state after the user B selects the “drama” content on the UI screen shown in FIG. 14B. As shown in the figure, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B transitions to a UI screen for selecting which AV device 9 is to be copied. doing. Hereafter, it is assumed that user B selects “MDVR”.

  4) Next, FIG. 14D is a diagram illustrating a state after the user B selects “MDVR” on the UI screen illustrated in FIG. 14C. As shown in the drawing, both the UI screens displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B transition to the UI screen for confirming whether or not to copy to the MDVR. Yes.

  As described above, when the digital television 1 is not used by anyone, the user B who uses the remote controller with screen 2B is displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the remote controller with screen 2B. The AV device 9 can be operated using the UI screen.

(Screen example 3-1)
Next, when the user A is fast-forwarding the content being played back on the digital television 1, the user B performs a content copy operation using the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Subsequently, an example of a screen showing a state in which the user A intends to operate the DVR using the screenless remote controller 2A will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, it is assumed that the screen use right has already been given to the screenless remote control 2A.

  1) FIG. 15A shows that copy is started when the user B selects “Yes” on the UI screen shown in FIG. 13D, and the current copy is displayed on the remote controller with screen 2B. It is a figure which shows a mode that the effect is being displayed.

  2) Next, FIG. 15B shows a UI screen which is a menu for selecting a DVR function when the user A tries to operate the DVR in the situation shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that it displayed on the part. Since the right to use the screen is given to the screenless remote controller 2 </ b> A, the UI screen is displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. At this time, if the copy of the content performed by the user B is ongoing, the copy is currently being used among the DVR functions, and simultaneous use is impossible. Therefore, for example, as shown in the figure, among the menus for selecting the DVR function, the “copy” menu is displayed in a state where it cannot be selected (inactive).

  As described above, the digital television 1 prevents the user from selecting a function that is currently in use and cannot be used simultaneously when generating a UI screen.

  Note that when the user A intends to operate the DVR using the screenless remote controller 2A when the content copy operation is not performed in the DVR, as shown in FIG. All menus for selecting are displayed in a selectable (active) state.

(Screen example 3-2)
Next, contrary to the above, after the user A performs a copy operation of the content in the DVR, the user B tries to operate the DVR using the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the remote controller 2B with the screen. An example of the screen in this case will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, it is assumed that the screen use right has already been given to the screenless remote control 2A.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state in which user B attempts to operate DVR using remote controller 2B with a screen after user A performs a content copy operation using DVR. At this time, if the copy of the content performed by the user B is ongoing, the copy is currently being used among the DVR functions, and simultaneous use is impossible. Therefore, for example, as shown in the drawing, the “copy” menu is not displayed in the menu for selecting the DVR function.

  As described above, the digital television 1 prevents the user from selecting a function that is currently in use and cannot be used simultaneously when generating a UI screen.

[UI screen data example]
Next, an example of UI screen data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically illustrating a description example of a control script as UI screen data described in XML.

  The control script shown in FIG. 17A is an example in which three functions that can be selected by the user on the UI screen are described using “func” tags. In the first function, the name (name) is “play”, the image file (image) displayed on the UI screen is “saisei.jpg”, and the description (desc) of this function is “play video. It describes that the control code (code) processed when selecting the function is “code1”.

  Further, “recording” is described in the same manner as the second function, and “editing” is described in the same manner as the third function.

  Note that the layout definition script that defines how and where objects such as image data are to be displayed should be described in a generally used manner, such as the coordinate position and size. The description is omitted.

  When a function is selected on the UI screen, the control code processed when the function is selected may be notified to the control unit 10 of the digital television 1. Furthermore, when a function is selected on the UI screen displayed on the remote controller 2, not only the control code but also the data and remote controller ID of the remote controller 2 may be notified to the control unit 10 of the digital television 1.

  Next, FIG. 17B is a diagram schematically showing a UI screen example based on the UI screen data represented by the control script shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, each of the three functions (playback, recording, editing) described in the control script shown in FIG. 17A is displayed as a selectable function on the UI screen.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment described above, when there is a user who exclusively uses the display unit 40 of the digital television 1, other users cannot use the display unit 40 of the digital television 1. did.

  However, when there is a user who uses the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1 exclusively, other users want to operate the operations that can be performed on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1. It can also be considered. For example, when a user who exclusively uses the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1 operates an electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1, the content is selected. There may be a case where another user wants to continue the operation when the user is in a situation. In such a case, it is preferable for the other user if the other user can also operate the UI screen that allows the same operation as the user from the continuation.

  Therefore, in the following, even if there is a user who exclusively uses the display unit of the digital television, other users can perform the same operation as the UI screen operated by the user as necessary. A mode for enabling use of the UI screen will be described.

  This embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Further, the description of the same processing as that described in Embodiment 1 is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a mode in which other users cannot use the display unit of the digital TV in a situation where there is a user who exclusively uses the display unit of the digital TV is referred to as a “normal mode”. Called. Then, in a situation where there is a user who exclusively uses the display unit of the digital television, another user operates a UI screen that can be operated in the same manner as the UI screen that can be operated by the user. The mode in which the user can do this is called “share mode”.

  In addition, it is assumed that a control signal including a request for shifting from the normal mode to the share mode is transmitted from the remote control 2 to the digital television when the user presses a predetermined button on the remote control 2. Further, the remote controller 2 used by the user who has requested to shift to the share mode is referred to as a “share remote controller” during the share mode.

  In the present embodiment, the share remote controller treats the right to use the screen already granted to another remote controller 2 as being shared with the other remote controller 2. Therefore, the share remote controller also has the right to use the screen.

  The configuration of the AV device operation system 800b (user interface system) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment again. The AV device operating system 800b has substantially the same configuration as the AV device operating system 800 described in the first embodiment, but includes a digital TV 1b (user interface providing device) instead of the digital TV 1.

  The digital television 1b has substantially the same function as the digital television 1 described in the first embodiment, but further accepts a request for shifting to the share mode from a user using the remote controller 2. Then, in a situation where there is a user who exclusively uses the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b, processing is performed so that other users can shift to the share mode.

[Flow of Processing in AV Device Operation System 800b]
Next, the outline of the processing flow in the AV device operating system 800b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing an overview of the flow of processing in the AV device operating system 800b. The processes P1 to P3 are the same as those described with reference to FIG.

  Here, following the process P3, the outline of the process flow will be described by taking as an example a case where the user B shifts to the share mode using the remote controller with screen 2B (process P4). At the end of the process P3, the user A of the screenless remote controller 2A to which the right to use the screen is given looks at the UI screen of the menu in a state where the copy on the DVR 91 cannot be selected on the display unit of the digital television. State.

  First, when the user B presses a predetermined button of the remote controller with screen 2B in order to request the shift to the share mode, the remote controller with screen 2B causes the control signal (the remote controller 2B to request the shift to the share mode). (Including the remote control ID) is transmitted to the digital television 1b (step S601).

  Then, the digital television 1b manages the screen-equipped remote control 2B that has transmitted the control signal as a share remote control (step S602). The details of the management method as the share remote controller will be described later.

  Since the remote controller 2 used by the user B is the remote controller with screen 2B, the digital television 1b transmits the UI screen data of the menu in a state where the copy cannot be selected with the DVR 91 to the remote controller with screen 2B (step S602).

  Then, the screen-equipped remote control 2B that has received the UI screen data displays a menu UI screen in a state in which copying cannot be selected by the DVR 91 on the display unit of the own apparatus based on the received UI screen data (step S603). ).

  Therefore, the user B can operate the UI screen of the menu that is displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B and cannot be copied by the DVR 91 (step S604).

  As described above, even when the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b is exclusively used by the user A, the digital television 1b manages the remote controller with screen 2B as a shared remote controller by shifting to the share mode. Then, the digital television 1b transmits UI screen data of a UI screen that can be operated in the same manner as the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40, to the remote controller with screen 2B.

  Therefore, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b and the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B are UI screens that allow the same operation. Therefore, the user A and the user B can operate the UI screens that can be operated in the same manner with the respective remote controllers 2 at the same timing.

  Therefore, since a plurality of users can operate the UI screens that can be operated in the same manner, it is possible for the plurality of users to operate together, improving the convenience for the user and improving the AV equipment 9. Can be used efficiently.

  Note that the cursor (pointer) on the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b can be operated only by the user A with the screenless remote control 2A, and the UI displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Only the user B can operate the cursor (pointer) on the screen by the screen-equipped remote control 2B.

[Configuration of Digital TV 1b]
The configuration of the digital television 1b according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 described in the first embodiment again. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital television 1 b has substantially the same function as the digital television 1 described in Embodiment 1, but includes a control unit 10 b instead of the control unit 10. Further, a storage unit 20 b is provided instead of the storage unit 20.

  The storage unit 20 b has substantially the same function as the storage unit 20, but includes an operation state storage unit 22 b instead of the operation state storage unit 22.

  In addition to the data stored in the operation state storage unit 22, the operation state storage unit 22b further stores a share remote controller in association with the remote controller 2 to which the screen use right is given. That is, in the operation state storage unit 22b, it is possible to know whether or not there is a shared remote controller by searching for a record whose screen availability column is “available”. The table structure of the operation state storage unit 22b will be described later.

  Next, the control unit 10 b has substantially the same function as the control unit 10, but includes an operation state management unit 13 b instead of the operation state management unit 13. Further, a UI screen generation unit 14b (display availability determination unit, display control unit) is included instead of the UI screen generation unit 14. Further, an external device control processing unit 15b is included instead of the external device control processing unit 15.

(Operation status management unit 13b)
In addition to the functions provided in the operation state management unit 13, the operation state management unit 13b further manages the share remote controller. Specifically, when a remote control 2 to which a screen use right has already been granted exists when receiving a control signal for requesting a shift to the share mode from the remote control 2 (that is, in the operation state storage unit 22b). When there is a record in which the value of the screen usability column is “possible”), the operation state management unit 13b uses the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal as a share remote control and is given a screen use right. 2 in association with management.

  More specifically, the remote control ID of the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal is stored in the “share remote control ID” column of the record in which the screen availability column value is “enabled” in the operation state storage unit 22b. The table structure of the operation state storage unit 22b will be described later.

  Similarly to the case where the operation state management unit 13 according to the first embodiment deletes the record stored in the operation state storage unit 22 in response to a predetermined trigger, the operation state management unit 13b also stores the operation state storage. The record stored in the part 22b is deleted according to a predetermined trigger.

  However, in the case where the shared remote control is managed in the operation state storage unit 22b, when the record of the remote control 2 to which the screen use right is granted is to be deleted, it is managed as a shared remote control instead of deleting the record. The screen remote control 2 is given a screen usage right and managed again.

  Specifically, when a record whose screen availability column value is “possible” is to be deleted, the operation state management unit 13b sets the remote control ID column value of the record to the shared remote control ID column of the record. The record is updated with the stored remote controller ID replaced and the value of the shared remote controller ID column of the record set to NULL. A specific example of a table illustrating this state will be described later.

  Note that, as a result of the above, since the share remote controller is not managed in the operation state storage unit 22b, the share mode is changed to the normal mode.

(UI screen generation unit 14b)
Next, the UI screen generation unit 14b generates UI screen data by the same processing as the UI screen generation unit 14 of the first embodiment. However, the current operation state of the user using the remote controller 2 is acquired from the operation state storage unit 22b.

  Furthermore, the UI screen generation unit 14b generates UI screen data for a user who uses the share remote controller. Below, the process which produces | generates UI screen data with respect to the user who uses a share remote control is demonstrated.

  1) First, when it is necessary to display the UI screen as a result of analyzing the control signal received from the remote controller 2, the UI screen generation unit 14b searches the record stored in the operation state storage unit 22b, and performs the above control. It is checked whether or not the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the signal is managed as a share remote controller. That is, it is checked whether or not the record stored in the share remote control ID column for the remote control ID of the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal exists in the operation state storage unit 22b. If the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal is not managed as a share remote controller, UI screen data is generated in the same process as the UI screen generation unit 14 of the first embodiment.

  2) When the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal is managed as a share remote controller (the remote controller ID of the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal is a record stored in the share remote controller ID column is an operation state storage unit. 22b), the UI screen generation unit 14b acquires the current operation state of the user using the remote controller 2 from the operation state column of the record.

  3) Next, similarly to the UI screen generation unit 14, the UI screen generation unit 14b can search the UI screen data storage unit 25 using the acquired operation state as a key and can operate on the UI screen to be generated. The function group is acquired from the UI screen configuration data column.

  4) Next, as with the UI screen generation unit 14, the UI screen generation unit 14 b indicates that the value of the usage state column is “in use” in the external device usage state storage unit 23 from the acquired function group. Exclude functions.

  5) Next, the UI screen generation unit 14b generates UI screen data based on the function group after the exclusion. The UI screen data generation method is the same as the method exemplified in the first embodiment.

  The UI screen generation unit 14b uses the share remote control in addition to displaying the generated UI screen data on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b because the remote control 2 that has transmitted the control signal is a share remote control. If a certain remote controller 2 is a remote controller 2B with a screen, UI screen data is generated in consideration of display on the display unit of the remote controller 2 as well. At this time, the UI screen displayed on the display unit of the remote controller 2 that is a shared remote controller is a UI screen that can be operated in the same manner as the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b.

  Whether or not the remote controller 2 is the remote controller 2B with the screen is determined by referring to the remote controller information storage unit 21 using the remote controller ID of the remote controller 2 as a key and determining whether or not the value of the screen presence / absence column is “Yes”. That's fine.

  6) Finally, the UI screen generation unit 14b outputs the UI screen data generated for display on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b to the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b, and the remote control 2 is a share remote controller. When the UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit is generated, the UI screen data is transmitted to the remote control 2 via the remote control communication unit 60.

  Therefore, the user B who uses the remote controller with screen 2B as the shared remote controller can operate the UI screen that can be operated in the same manner as the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b with the remote controller with screen 2B. it can.

  As described above, in the share mode, a UI screen capable of the same operation is displayed on both the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b and the remote controller with screen 2B. Therefore, the user A and the user B can operate the UI screens that can be operated in the same manner with the respective remote controllers 2 at the same timing.

(Structure of the operation state storage unit 22b)
Next, the table structure of the operation state storage unit 22b will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically illustrating the table structure of the operation state storage unit 22b.

  As shown in FIG. 19, operation state storage unit 22b includes a share remote control ID column that is a column for storing the remote control ID of the share remote control in addition to the columns included in operation state storage unit 22 of the first embodiment. Yes.

  Referring to FIGS. 19A to 19C, data stored in the operation state storage unit 22b when shifting from the normal mode to the share mode and when shifting from the share mode to the normal mode. Will be described.

  FIG. 19A shows the operation state of the remote control 2 with the remote control ID “ID1” and the remote control 2 with the remote control ID “ID2” stored in the operation state storage unit 22b in the normal mode. It shows how it is. Note that the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID1 stores the fact that the value of the screen usability column is “possible” (in other words, the screen use right is given). Further, the value of the share remote control ID column of any record is NULL, and the share remote control is not managed.

  FIG. 19B shows the operation after the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2 is requested to shift to the share mode when the operation state storage unit 22b is in the state shown in FIG. The state of the state storage unit 22b is shown. At this time, in order to manage the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2 as a shared remote controller, “ID2” is stored in the shared remote controller ID column of the record whose screen availability column value is “enabled”.

  Therefore, referring to the operation state storage unit 22b shown in FIG. 19B, it can be seen that the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2 is a share remote controller. In addition, the current operation state of the user who uses the remote control 2 whose remote control ID is ID2 is the same as the current operation state of the user who uses the remote control 2 whose remote control ID is ID1, and the state S2 (waiting for external device selection) State).

  Further, FIG. 19C shows a state after the remote control 2 with the remote control ID ID1 to which the screen use right is given from the operation state storage unit 22b shown in FIG. Is shown. In FIG. 19B, since the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2 is managed as a shared remote controller, the operation state management unit 13b gives the screen use right to the remote controller 2 whose remote controller ID is ID2, as described above. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19C, the record in which the remote controller ID column is ID1 is updated with the remote controller ID column replaced with “ID2” and the value of the shared remote controller ID column is set to NULL. ing.

[Processing flow when receiving control signal]
Next, the flow of processing performed by the digital television 1b that has received a control signal from the remote controller 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the digital television 1b that has received a control signal from the remote controller 2. The description of the same processing as that shown in FIG. 10 of Embodiment 1 is omitted.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 20, the process P11 'is performed instead of the process P11 included in the flowchart described with reference to FIG. 10 in the first embodiment, and the process P13' is performed instead of the process P13.

  In the process P11 ', first, when a control signal is received from the remote controller 2, the operation state management unit 13b checks whether the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b is already used (step S501). Specifically, it is checked whether or not there is a record in the operation state storage unit 22b where the value of the screen availability column is “available”. Then, when there is a record in the operation state storage unit 22b where the value of the screen availability column is “Yes” (YES in Step S501), the control signal received from the remote controller 2 makes a transition to the share mode. If requested (YES in step S701), remote controller 2 is managed as a shared remote controller (step S702). Specifically, the remote controller ID of the remote controller 2 that has transmitted the control signal to the shared remote controller ID column of the record in which the operation state management unit 13b has the value of the screen availability column in the operation state storage unit 22b of “OK”. Is stored.

  Note that the other processes included in the process P11 'are the same as the processes in the process P11 shown in FIG. However, the operation state storage unit 22 is replaced with the operation state storage unit 22b.

  Next, in process P13 ′, first, as a result of analyzing the control signal received from the remote controller 2, if display of the UI screen is necessary (YES in step S509), it is checked whether or not there is a current share remote controller. (Step S703). Specifically, the UI screen generation unit 14b checks whether or not a record whose value is stored in the share remote control ID column exists in the operation state storage unit 22b.

  If the record whose value is stored in the share remote control ID column does not exist in the operation state storage unit 22b (NO in step S703), the processing described in steps S510 to S513 is performed.

  On the other hand, if a record whose value is stored in the share remote control ID column is present in the operation state storage unit 22b (YES in step S703), the share remote control is present, so the UI screen generation unit 14b First, UI screen data to be displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b is generated and output to the display unit 40 (step S704).

  Further, the UI screen generation unit 14b checks whether or not the share remote controller is the screen-equipped remote controller 2B (step S705). That is, the UI screen generation unit 14b refers to the remote control information storage unit 21 using the remote control ID of the share remote control as a key, and checks whether the value of the screen presence / absence column is “present”. If the value of the screen presence / absence column is “Yes” (YES in step S705), since the share remote controller is the remote controller with screen 2B, the UI screen generation unit 14b displays the UI screen data displayed on the share remote controller. Is transmitted to the share remote controller (step S706). Note that the UI screen displayed on the share remote controller and the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b in step S704 are UI screens that can be operated in the same manner.

  On the other hand, if the value of the screen presence / absence column is “none” (NO in step S705), since the share remote controller is the screenless remote controller 2A, the UI screen generation unit 14b displays the UI screen data to be displayed on the share remote controller. Do not generate.

[Example UI screen]
Next, referring to FIG. 21, the UI displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1 and the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B in the share mode and when shifting from the share mode to the normal mode. A screen example will be described.

  Here, when the user A is operating the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b, the user B requests the shift to the share mode, and the user A An example of a screen when the user B can operate the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) operated by the user with the screen-equipped remote control 2B will be described. It is assumed that the screen use right is initially granted to the screenless remote control 2A.

  1) First, FIG. 21A shows a screen displayed when the user A using the screenless remote controller 2A operates the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b. It is a figure which shows a mode after the user B using the attached remote control 2B requests | requires the transfer to a share mode. At this time, the digital television 1b manages the remote controller with screen 2B as a shared remote controller. Further, as shown in the figure, the digital television 1b transmits UI screen data capable of the same operation as the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b to the remote controller 2B with a screen. The screen-equipped remote control 2B displays the UI screen based on the UI screen data.

  Hereafter, it is assumed that the user A gives an instruction to make a recording reservation for news content in the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b.

  2) Next, FIG. 21 (b) shows a state after user A has instructed recording reservation of news content in the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) described in FIG. 21 (a). FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 21B, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b is changed to a UI screen for confirming recording reservation of news content. Further, the digital TV 1b provides UI screen data that can be operated in the same manner as the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital TV 1b to the screen remote controller 2B that is a share remote controller. 2B, the UI screen displayed on the display unit 5 of the screen-equipped remote control 2B is also changed to the UI screen for confirming the recording reservation of news content.

  Therefore, in this state, the user B who uses the remote controller with screen 2B that is a share remote controller can operate the UI screen for confirming the recording reservation of news content on the remote controller with screen 2B.

  It is assumed that the user A does not operate the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)) thereafter.

  3) Next, FIG. 21C is a diagram showing a state after the user A no longer operates the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)).

  Therefore, at this time, the record of the screenless remote controller 2A to which the screen use right is granted is the target to be deleted from the operation state storage unit 22b. However, since the remote controller with screen 2B is managed as a shared remote controller, The state management unit 13b gives a screen use right to the remote control with screen 2B managed as the share remote control instead of the remote control without screen 2A, and manages again in the operation state storage unit 22b. Thereby, the remote controller with screen 2B is not a share remote controller and shifts from the share mode to the normal mode.

  Therefore, even after the user A no longer operates the electronic program guide (EPG (registered trademark)), the user B using the screen-equipped remote control 2B displays the UI screen for confirming the recording reservation of news content. It is possible to continue to operate on the remote control with screen 2B.

  As described above, even when the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b is exclusively used by the user A, the digital television 1b manages the remote controller with screen 2B as a shared remote controller by shifting to the share mode. Therefore, the user B can operate the UI screen that can be operated in the same manner as the UI screen displayed on the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b on the screen-equipped remote control 2B. Further, after that, even when the user A no longer performs the operation, the user B can exclusively use the display unit 40 of the digital television 1b, and the user B can continue to operate the UI screen. It becomes.

[Additional Notes]
The user interface providing device according to the present invention may be any device that can operate the operation target device in accordance with the input operation received from the remote operation device. The user interface providing apparatus according to the present invention is particularly suitable for a digital television capable of operating an AV device in accordance with an input operation received from a remote controller.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b hold the control script constituting the UI screen data in its own device, and the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b generate the UI screen data. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b may acquire a control script held by an external device and generate UI screen data. Furthermore, the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b may acquire UI screen data generated by an external device. The external device may be the AV device 9 or an external server device on a communication network (not shown).

  In the second embodiment, the control signal including the request to shift from the normal mode to the share mode is transmitted from the remote controller 2 to the digital television when the user presses a predetermined button on the remote controller 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if there is no explicit button press for requesting transition to the share mode, general-purpose keys (such as the enter key and the up / down / left / right keys) on the remote controller 2 are pressed until the user selects the AV device 9. Then, the same operation as in the share mode may be performed.

  Further, since the screenless remote control 2A does not include a display unit in its own device, a screen use right may be granted to the screenless remote control 2A as necessary. That is, even when the user B has already exclusively used the display unit of the digital television using the screen-equipped remote controller 2B, for example, the user A subsequently presses a predetermined button of the screenless remote controller 2A. For example, the user A may exclusively use the display unit of the digital television by using the screenless remote controller 2A by making a predetermined request.

  Finally, the control units 10 and 10b may be realized by software using a CPU or may be configured by hardware logic. When implemented by software, the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b include a CPU that executes instructions of a control program that implements each function, a ROM that stores the program, a RAM that develops the program, the program and various data. A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing is provided. The object of the present invention is to record the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program of the digital television 1 and digital television 1b, which is software that realizes the above-described functions, in a computer-readable manner The recording medium is supplied to the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) in the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b reads out and executes the program code recorded on the recording medium. Is possible.

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the digital television 1 and the digital television 1b may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited, and for example, an infrared ray such as IrDA, Bluetooth (Bluetooth) (IEEE1394 cable, USB cable, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc.) (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention displays the user interface screen on a remote operation device having a display screen even when the user interface screen for operating the operation target device cannot be displayed on the display unit of the TV screen, The present invention can be suitably used for a user interface providing apparatus that can operate a target device.

It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) in the AV apparatus operation system (user interface system) shown in FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an AV equipment operation system (user interface system) according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an outline of a processing flow in the AV device operating system (user interface system) shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows typically the table structure of the remote control information storage part in the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the table structure of the operation state memory | storage part in the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the table structure of the external device use condition memory | storage part in the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the management content of the operation state transition memory | storage part in the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the table structure of the UI screen data storage part in the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the remote control identification process which the remote control identification part in the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) shown in FIG. 1 performs. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing performed when the digital television (user interface providing apparatus) shown in FIG. 1 receives a control signal from a remote controller. When a user fast-forwards the content being played on the digital TV (user interface providing device) shown in FIG. 1, the other user records the content using the UI screen displayed on the screen-equipped remote control. It is a figure which shows a mode that a reservation is performed. When a user is not using the digital television (user interface providing device) shown in FIG. 1, another user makes a reservation for recording a content using a UI screen displayed on a remote controller with a screen. FIG. When a user fast-forwards the content being played on the digital television (user interface providing device) shown in FIG. 1, another user copies the content using the UI screen displayed on the screen-equipped remote control. It is a figure which shows a mode that it performs. 1 shows a situation in which when a user is not using the digital television (user interface providing device) shown in FIG. 1, another user copies content using a UI screen displayed on a remote controller with a screen. FIG. When a user fast-forwards the content being played back on the digital television (user interface providing device) shown in FIG. 1, another user uses the UI screen displayed on the screen-equipped remote control to copy the content. It is a figure which shows a mode that the said certain user tries to operate DVR using a screenless remote control after performing this. It is a figure which shows a mode that another user tries to operate DVR using UI screen displayed on a remote control with a screen, after a certain user performs content copy operation by DVR. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a description example of a control script as UI screen data described by XML, which is handled by the AV device operation system (user interface system) shown in FIG. 2. It is a sequence diagram which shows the outline | summary of the flow of a process in AV equipment operation system (user interface system) in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the table structure of the operation state memory | storage part in the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process performed when the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) in one Embodiment of this invention receives a control signal from a remote control. The figure which shows the example of a display of UI screen displayed on the digital television (user interface provision apparatus) and remote control with a screen in one Embodiment of this invention at the time of share mode and when changing to share mode from share mode It is.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital TV (Digital TV, user interface provider)
1b Digital TV (Digital TV, user interface providing device)
2 Remote control (remote control device)
2A Remote controller without screen (remote control device)
Remote control with 2B screen (remote control device)
5 Display part (second display part)
9 AV equipment (operation target equipment)
12 remote control identification unit 13 operation state management unit 13b operation state management unit 14 UI screen generation unit (display availability determination unit, display control unit)
14b UI screen generation unit (display availability determination means, display control means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 External apparatus control processing part 15b External apparatus control processing part 21 Remote control information storage part 22 Operation state storage part 22b Operation state storage part 23 External apparatus use state storage part 24 Operation state transition storage part 25 UI screen data storage part 31 Tuner and demodulation Department (Tuner Department)
40 display section (first display section)
91 DVR (operation target device)
92 MDVR (operation target device)
93 BDP (Operation target device)
800 AV equipment operation system (user interface system)
800b AV equipment operation system (user interface system)

Claims (9)

A user interface providing device that accepts an input operation from a remote operation device with respect to a user interface screen for operating an operation target device displayed on a first display unit,
Determination means for determining whether or not the remote control device is authorized to use the first display unit exclusively;
When it is determined by the determination means that the authority is given to the remote operation device, the user interface screen is displayed on the first display unit, and the authority is given to the remote operation device by the determination means. And a display control means for displaying the user interface screen on the second display unit of the remote operation device provided with a second display unit when it is determined that the user interface screen is not provided. .   The user interface providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when displaying the user interface screen, the user interface screen is displayed so that the user can perform only an effective operation on the operation target device. The display control unit is a user who can perform the same operation as the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit when the determination unit determines that the authority is not granted to the remote operation device. 3. The user interface providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an interface screen is displayed on the second display unit of the remote operation device including the second display unit so that an input operation can be performed. In response to a request from the remote control device including the second display unit, the display control unit displays a user interface screen that can be operated in the same manner as the user interface screen displayed on the first display unit. 4. The user interface providing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the requested remote operation device is displayed so that an input operation is possible. A user interface providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a tuner unit as the operation target device, wherein a television broadcast received by the tuner unit is displayed on the first display unit. A featured digital TV. User interface system characterized in that it comprises a user interface providing device according to any one of claims 1 4, 1 or more and the remote control device. A control method of a user interface providing apparatus that accepts an input operation from a remote operation device for a user interface screen for operating an operation target device displayed on a first display unit,
A determination step of determining whether or not the remote operation device is authorized to use the first display unit exclusively;
If it is determined in the determination step that the authority is granted to the remote control device, the user interface screen is displayed on the first display unit, and the remote control device is configured to display the user interface screen in the determination step. A user interface comprising: a display control step for displaying the user interface screen on the second display unit of the remote operation device having a second display unit when it is determined that the authority is not granted . Control method of providing device. A user interface providing program for causing a computer to function as a user interface providing apparatus according to claim 1, any one of 4, the user interface providing program for causing a computer to function as each means described above. A computer-readable recording medium on which the user interface providing program according to claim 8 is recorded.

Images