Sony Corporation

Taketoshi Shimizu

Mitsuhiro Suzuki

Kazuhiro Sato

Masahiro Nakano

Remote control data is securely transmitted to a device under control. A remote control device transmits an acknowledge request for A ch to the device under control (S). When the device under control has assigned A ch as the reception channel, acknowledge ACK is received. A ch is assigned as the transmission channel (S), and a command frame is transmitted through A ch (S). When acknowledge ACK has not been received, an acknowledge request for B ch is transmitted to the device under control (S). When the device under control has assigned B ch as the reception channel, acknowledge ACK is received. B ch is assigned as the transmission channel (S), and a command frame is transmitted through B ch (S). The remote control device can transmits a command through a channel through which the device under control can receive the command, so that secure remote control can be accomplished.

Communication apparatus and communication system

A remote control method for remotely controlling a plurality of electronic apparatuses connected to an apparatus control device using a remote control device includes the following steps. The remote control device sends the apparatus control device control data necessary for an infrared control operation, which includes a port number, assigned to a port of the apparatus control device, associated with a selected electronic apparatus and an infrared code for the selected apparatus control device. The apparatus control device then receives the control data sent from the remote control device. The apparatus control device generates an infrared signal based on the infrared code included in the received control data. An infrared-transmitting unit, connected to the port specified by the port number included in the control data, transmits the infrared signal to the electronic apparatus corresponding to the infrared-transmitting unit.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Taketoshi Shimizu