Device control method and electric device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016005404-A1
Application number	US-201514743704-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2015
Priority date	Jul 1, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for controlling an operation of a target device using a plurality of input devices is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving from one of the plurality of the input devices a first operation instruction issued to the target device, with a first data format; recognizing the first operation instruction and the first data format; determining that the one of the plurality of the input devices is a first input device corresponding to the first data format; and providing to a user of the target device a recommendation for a second input device, a type of the second input device being different from a type of the first input device, when it is determined that a type of the first operation instruction is identical to a type of a second operation instruction received from the second input device earlier than the reception of the first operation instruction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for controlling an operation of a target device using a plurality of input devices, the method comprising:
receiving, from one of the plurality of the input devices, a first operation instruction issued to the target device, with a first data format; recognizing the received first operation instruction and the first data format; determining that the one of the plurality of the input devices is a first input device corresponding to the recognized first data format; and providing to a user of the target device a recommendation for a second input device, a type of the second input device being different from a type of the first input device, when it is determined that a type of the first operation instruction is identical to a type of a second operation instruction that is received from the second input device earlier than the reception of the first operation instruction from the first input device.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the first input device includes a speech input device, a remote controller, or a mobile phone, the first data format includes a data format for a communication using at least one of a speech input device, a remote controller, or a mobile phone.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the type of the first operation instruction and the type of the second operation instruction includes a control for turning on/off power of the target device.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the type of the first operation instruction and the type of the second operation instruction includes a volume control when the target device is a television set.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the type of the first operation instruction and the type of the second operation instruction includes an airflow control when the target device is an air conditioner.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the type of the first operation instruction is identical to the type of the second operation instruction, when a second time when the second operation instruction is received from the second input device falls within a predetermined time period prior to a first time when the first operation instruction is received from the first input device.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the type of the first operation instruction is identical to the type of the second operation instruction, when the second operation instruction is received from the second input device immediately before a first time when the first operation instruction is received from the first input device.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
storing recommended input device information about the type of the second input device suitable to the type of the first operation instruction; and determining that the type of the first operation instruction is suitable to the type of the second input device based on the recommended input device information.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target device can receive the first operation instruction from the second input device.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the second input device includes at least one of a speech input device, a remote controller, or a mobile phone.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein a sound stating that the second input device is the speech input device, the remote controller, or the mobile phone is outputted toward the user.

12 . The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the target device is a television set, and the second input device includes a remote controller, wherein the recommendation for the second input device is provided to the user by displaying on a display device of the television set an image i) indicating an appearance of the remote controller and ii) highlighting an operation portion capable of performing the first operation instruction, of the remote controller.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
storing time information indicating a time when each of operation instructions has been received; and calculating a receiving frequency of the same type of operation instruction as the first operation instruction in a predetermined period of time, on the basis of the time information, to present to the user the recommendation for the second input device on the basis of the calculated receiving frequency.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein if the calculated receiving frequency is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the second input device is provided to the user.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
recognizing whether the first input device is the speech input device; recognizing whether the first instruction does not include an operating range for an operation indicated by the first operation instruction; when the first input device is recognized to be the speech input device and when the first instruction does not include the operating range, determining that the speech input device is not suitable to the type of the first operation instruction.

16 . An electric device, operation of the electric device capable to be controlled using a plurality of input devices, the electric device comprising:
a processor; and a non-transitory memory storing thereon a program, which executed by the processor, causes the processor to: receive, from one of the plurality of the input devices, a first operation instruction issued to the electric device, with a first data format; recognize the received first operation instruction and the first data format; determine that the one of the plurality of the input devices is a first input device corresponding to the recognized first data format; and provide to a user of the electric device a recommendation for a second input device, a type of the second input device being different from a type of the first input device, when it is determined that a type of the first operation instruction is identical to a type of a second operation instruction that is received from the second input device earlier than the reception of the first operation instruction from the first input device.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling an electric device, operation of the electric device capable to be controlled using a plurality of input devices, the computer program causing a computer of the electric device to:
receive, from one of the plurality of the input devices, a first operation instruction issued to the electric device, with a first data format; recognize the received first operation instruction and the first data format; determine that the one of the plurality of the input devices is a first input device corresponding to the recognized first data format; and provide to a user of the electric device a recommendation for a second input device, a type of the second input device being different from a type of the first input device, when it is determined that a type of the first operation instruction is identical to a type of a second operation instruction that is received from the second input device earlier than the reception of the first operation instruction from the first input device.

18 . A method for controlling an operation of a target device using a plurality of input devices including a speech input device, the method comprising:
acquiring, from the speech input device, spe

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Corp America

Inventors

• Yokoya Mayu
• Yamagami Katsuyoshi
• Ishii Yasunori

Classifications

• H04N21/4882

  for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders (arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895) · CPC title

• H04N21/4394

  involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams (arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58) · CPC title

• H04N21/4222

  Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy (remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415) · CPC title

• G08C2201/31

  Voice input · CPC title

• H04N21/4312

  involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations · CPC title