RU2223531C2 - Method and system for remote control of equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer-based control over remote access networks. SUBSTANCE: method involves connection of personal computer and/or mobile phone to server through Internet, dialing of commands, and their transfer to processing server to generate formalized instruction batch, this instruction batch being stored in temporary queue for execution; if data and current time coincide with data corresponding to data and time of formalized instruction batch, the latter is relayed to transceiver for converting respective data of formalized instruction batch into signals corresponding to those identical to control signals of remote control console, and amplified control signals are conveyed toward sensor mechanisms of equipment. EFFECT: provision for remote control of user s domestic appliances. 2 cl, 5 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to the field of computer control, in particular control carried out using remote networks. The invention relates to the field of remote control of equipment having a sensor element for receiving external, for example, infrared (IR) control commands.

 Currently, control of equipment using a remote control (RC) is widespread, providing remote control of the equipment (TVs, VCRs, CD players, air conditioners, electrical switches, etc.) Pressing one of the buttons on the remote control keyboard generates an IR command received and processed by the sensor element of the device to be controlled. All the many control commands, as well as the buttons on the remote control keyboard that lead to their generation, form a "protocol" for full remote access. In one remote control, several “protocols” can be combined to control several devices (universal remote control). The disadvantage of this control method is that remote access is limited to a distance of several meters (the requirement of direct "visibility").

 Less common are control systems using the X10 protocol, which allow transmitting control commands over a 220 V power supply network (http: // www. X10. Ru /). In these systems, in addition to breaking the IR channel, a data transmission channel is additionally established using the X10 protocol, which was specially created for broadcasting control commands over the communication lines already existing in the user's home - wiring. The control range is within the building. The increase in range is achieved by installing in the room where the controlled device is located, a "responder" - a device that receives control commands via a telephone line from a telephone operating in tone dialing mode. The "Responder" is able to broadcast external tone commands to the wiring line in the format of the X10 protocol. Further, the commands are transmitted according to the X10 protocol via power voltage lines through a special adapter (adapter) directly to the equipment.

 Using a telephone "responder" provides control of the equipment from anywhere in the world, however, it "allows" to use only those commands that are valid within the protocol with which it is paired. So, within the framework of the X10 protocol, for example, only commands to supply / remove power from a special adapter (adapter) installed in the open circuit of the power supply of controlled equipment are permissible. We are not talking about a fully accessible, intelligent full-screen interface with the ability to implement target macros.

 A known method of remote control of equipment, which consists in the formation on a computerized control panel of commands in the form of control signals and transmitting them via computer lines to a device for receiving commands and addressing control signals to actuators of the equipment (DE, application 4125839, G 05 B 15/00, published . 04/04/1993).

 From the same source, adopted as a prototype for both the method and the device, a remote control system for apparatus is known that contains a computerized control panel connected via a computer network to a device for receiving commands and addressing control signals to actuators of the apparatus.

 The disadvantages of both the method and the system are that they provide control of the equipment exclusively in the mode of constant monitoring and direct impact on the actuators. The known solution does not allow pre-forming command packages with delayed execution, which is important for the user, especially in relation to household appliances. In addition, the well-known solution in its implementation requires the use of special, rather than serial, already available to the user, technical means of home consumption as control objects, which also seems important, especially in relation to household appliances. The inability to pre-cook and centrally offer externally to the user ready-made and created in the future ready-made services and integrated command macros is also a significant limitation and disadvantage of the prototype.

 The present invention is directed to solving the technical problem of providing remote control of mass-produced equipment available to a user (televisions, video recorders, music centers, air conditioners, electrical switches, etc.) from anywhere in the world, both in a mode corresponding to a separate "button" on the remote control and in the transmission mode of the target macro commands (for example, when recording a TV program to a VCR, a number of commands are required: turn on the VCR into the network, select the desired TV channel, enable the R function EC, turn on the STOP function after a specified time, turn off the power) using a fully accessible, intelligent full-screen interface in both direct (operational) control mode and delayed mode (for certain: year, month, day, hour and minute) control.

 The technical result achieved in this case is to expand the user's ability to manage, regardless of his location, locally located equipment.

 The specified technical result is achieved by the fact that in the method of remote control of the apparatus, which consists in generating commands on the computerized control panel in the form of control signals and transmitting them via computer communication lines to the command receiving device and addressing control signals to the actuators of the apparatus for remote control of the apparatus with touch mechanisms controlled from remote controls at a distance exceeding the radius of action of the specified control panels, connect the personal computer via the Internet to a network server made with the appropriate software for generating commands and macros in the virtual control mode of the equipment, carry out a set of commands or macros and send them to the processing server to create a formalized command package in the form of a data set, including at least the date of execution of the elementary command, the time of execution of the elementary command, the identifier of the elementary command, t the receiver to which the elementary command is to be transferred, the priority of the elementary command to ensure that the specified instruction package is stored in the time queue for its execution, and if the date and current time coincide with the data corresponding to the date and time of the formalized instruction package, the specified command package is broadcast to the transceiver for conversion corresponding data of the formalized command packet into signals corresponding to signals identical to the control signals of the remote control I, and the issuance of amplified control signals in the direction of the sensor mechanisms of the equipment.

 The specified technical result is also achieved by the fact that in the remote control system of the equipment containing the computerized control panel, connected via the lines of the computer network to the device for receiving commands and addressing the output of control signals to the actuators of the apparatus, sensory mechanisms controlled by remote controls are used as actuators of the apparatus control, the Internet is used as a computer network, while the system is equipped with a network server connected via the Internet, to form at least one command or macro on a network server’s website to control at least one equipment, a processing server connected to a network server to receive signals corresponding to commands or macros, and process them into a formalized package instructions and transmitting the specified packet to the storage device and issuing formalized command packets located in a temporary queue to the radio transmitter configured to transmit said packets according to the corresponding the protocol for the exchange of radio data in the form of radio signals, as well as a transceiver designed to receive the indicated radio signals, process them by generating control signals corresponding to signals identical to the control signals of the remote control, and transmitting these control signals to the device for issuing amplified control signals in the direction of the sensor mechanisms of the equipment .

 The present invention is illustrated by specific examples, which, however, are not the only possible, but clearly demonstrate the ability to achieve the above set of features of the desired technical result.

Figure 1 - block diagram of a system for remote control of equipment;
figure 2 is an example of an oscillogram of a control command synthesized by the transceiver from the source data from the database of the SQL server;
in FIG. 3 is a diagram of the processing of the oscillograms of each of the control commands from the original full-time remote control devices, their subsequent formalization and recording the received data in the SQL server;
figure 4 - diagram of the emulation of macros, pre-prepared in the system;
figure 5 - diagram of the emulation of many control commands to create a user’s own scenarios of devices.

 According to the present invention, a method for remote control of equipment consists in generating commands in the form of control signals on a computerized control panel and transmitting them via computer communication lines to a command receiving device and addressing control signals to the actuators of the equipment.

 For remote control of equipment made with sensor mechanisms controlled from remote controls at a distance exceeding the radius of action of these control panels, any computerized means (personal computer, mobile phone) is connected via the Internet to a network server made with appropriate software for the formation of commands and macros in the virtual control mode of the apparatus, carry out a set of commands or macros and send them to the processing server to create a formalized package of commands in the form of a data set including at least the date of execution of the elementary command, the time of execution of the elementary command, the identifier of the elementary command, the number of the transceiver to which the elementary command is to be transmitted, the priority of the elementary command with security storing the specified package of commands in the time queue for its execution, and if the date and current time coincide with the data corresponding to the date and time of the formalized com and, carry out the broadcast of the specified command package to the transceiver to convert the corresponding data of the formalized command package into signals corresponding to signals identical to the control signals of the remote control, and issuing amplified control signals in the direction of the sensor mechanisms of the equipment.

 The system for remote control of equipment, which is based on the implementation of this method, contains a computerized control panel, connected through a computer network line to a device for receiving commands and addressing control signals to actuators of the equipment.

 At the same time, a personal computer was used as a computerized control panel, sensor mechanisms controlled by remote controls were used as the actuating mechanisms of the equipment, and the Internet was used as a computer network.

 The system is equipped with at least one network server with which a personal computer is connected via the Internet to form on a www site (wap site) a network server for at least one command or macro command to control at least one hardware server processing associated with the network server to receive signals corresponding to commands and (or) macro commands and process them into a formalized command package, transfer the specified package to the storage device and issue formalized temporary queues x command packets to a radio transmitter configured to transmit said packets according to an appropriate protocol for exchanging radio data in the form of radio signals, as well as to a transceiver configured to receive said radio signals, process them by generating control signals corresponding to signals identical to the control signals of the remote control, and transmitting of these control signals to the device for issuing amplified control signals in the direction of the sensor mechanisms of the apparatus.

 The following is a description of a specific system and method for remotely controlling equipment.

 According to the present invention (see FIG. 1), the device remote control device includes at least one Internet access point 1 for connecting a personal computer or other laptop device, or a device with computer functions, for example a mobile phone, the Internet with a www-Internet server 3 (wap-Internet server), in which, with authorized access, a www-site (wap-site) is opened with tool pages, which are a virtual button mechanism a mode control operation of the apparatus, fitted with touch control mechanisms. This Internet server 3 is connected to SQL server 4, in which it is performed automatically and (or) using operator 5 to generate a database of control control signals of various types of equipment equipped with remote controls and touch control signal receivers. The signals coming from the tool (s) of the page (s) of the www-Internet server 3 (wap-Internet server) are processed by the SQL server 4 with the formation of a package of commands transmitted for execution in a temporary standby mode to the device 6 for storage, distribution and issuance queued command packages (machine "Monitor"). When the specified time begins to execute the command packet or command from the command packet, the device 6 transmits this packet or command with conversion to the corresponding radio protocol to the transmitter 7, which transmits control signals corresponding to the command packet or command, to the receiver of the transceiver 8, which receives the signals, transformation into signals corresponding to signals identical to the control signals of the remote control, and transmission of these control signals to the device 9 in cottages and amplification of signals (device "Soler") in the direction of sensor devices 10 apparatus.

 By accessing the Internet at the specified address, the user, passing authorization, gains access to the instrumental pages on which he generates equipment control commands. Editing them, according to pre-agreed rules, the user, thus, generates an order to control his equipment. An order is either a separate command or a macro command consisting of a number of elementary control commands for equipment. An example of a separate command: "pressing" a button on a virtual keyboard, such as a TV. Macro example: pressing a script button, for example, VIEW VIDEO RECORDING, causes a series of actions: first turning on the TV and then the VCR, putting the TV into AV mode, pressing the PLAY button on the VCR. At the end of viewing (after time t) - shutdown in the reverse order.

In the system of remote control of equipment, all elementary commands are numbered. All macros are described through the rules of their compilation from elementary commands. All this information is structured in an SQL server environment and stored on the appropriate computer. Thus, having received a page edited by the user through the Internet server (s), the SQL server converts the received information into a sequence of elementary commands that are described by a set of formal features:
- date of the elementary team;
- runtime of an elementary team;
- identifier of the elementary team;
- number (ID) of the transceiver to which you want to transfer an elementary command;
- priority of elementary team execution, etc.

 Elementary commands are “lined up” in line with the date, time of their execution and priority in the “stack” of the “Monitor” machine. If the current date and time coincides with the date and time specified in the order for the elementary command, the “Monitor” machine issues a radio message to the transmitter for the transceiver with the corresponding order number. The transceiver receives the radio message, processes it and issues control commands in the encoding soler, understandable for the equipment that the user has. Soler strengthens the IR command and feeds it to the touch input of the user's equipment, which leads to the operation of the equipment. The transceiver "communicates" with the equipment in the same terms of commands as the "native" remote control of the TV (VCR, air conditioner, etc.). In the memory of the transceiver is a "library" of command codes of controlled equipment. The "library" is previously hard-wired to the transceiver, and installation on specific user equipment is carried out from the transceiver keyboard by typing the required library address codes, by which the command codes for the equipment of one or another manufacturer are stored in the transceiver memory. So, to initialize the transceiver with the commands of the brand’s TVs, for example, Sony needs to enter the code “01” from the keyboard. A variant is possible that excludes a “hard” dependence on a “wired” code library, according to which the entire code structure of commands can be “sewn” into a transceiver of a specific user over the air, thereby adapting the universal transceiver to a specific configuration of specific equipment for a particular consumer. The command structure will be read from the "native" console, taken to the technical service of the system from a potential client for 1-2 days.

 With this embodiment of the transceiver, it becomes possible to apply the positive properties of the present invention to the equipment already at the disposal of the user (televisions, video recorders, etc.). Those. No need to buy a special TV or VCR. Moreover, since the transceiver has the universality property, the positive properties of the invention can be extended not only to one device, for example, a TV, but to all devices available to the consumer (he can actually have several TVs and several air conditioners, etc.).

 Due to the fact that the radio transmitter creates some information field, being in which you can receive a control signal for the transceiver everywhere, you can control the equipment not only, for example, at home, but also, for example, in a summer house in suburban areas, etc.

 The present invention allows for remote control of the equipment, since this control is carried out over the Internet. Moreover, the presence of a computer connected to the Internet in the user's home is not necessary. There is no need to have a telephone channel at home in comparison, for example, with the X10 system or to have a computer working at home and connected via a dedicated channel to the Internet.

 The familiar to many users of personal computers interface for working with home equipment is made in the form of an Internet browser. At the same time, the interface is full-screen, color, with a high reaction speed and interactivity, prompts, the ability to directly contact the screen for help by e-mail, and the ability to access the technical documentation located here right on the Internet server.

 This control method allows you to get the target complex effect, and not just "pressing" the elementary "button". It is necessary to clarify - all the elementary functions of all controlled devices are considered in terms of "buttons" of control as a single multidimensional space of elementary control functions. This makes it possible to compile and implement the most diverse macro commands for integrated control of home equipment, i.e. use any devices in any order. Technically, this is also achievable due to the fact that the system provides for the presence of solera - a device that can simultaneously "see" all the equipment in the room. For simultaneous control of equipment located in different rooms (multi-room mode), it is necessary to use several transceivers (you can use the same ID, or you can use different IDs).

 For control, any technique that has a sensor, such as an IR input, can be integrated into the system for its control. We can talk about some protocol, based on the borrowing of IR commands, “from birth” inherent in the equipment integrated into the system. It is not necessary to create, for example, a television set for some remote access protocol, for example X10, and vice versa - only new IR control commands are added to the open "protocol". It is those that the developer of the serial equipment for his equipment provided for. Such commands are "read" from the original remote control of the new device and stored in the memory of the SQL server of the system, making up the library of the system code space. When a new device is connected to the system, the codes for IR control that are required for such a new device are sent to the universal transceiver at the required ID address via the radio channel. In a word, everything that can be controlled, for example, via the IR input, can be added to the system. Here, the IR input is considered as a special case. In general terms, only the presence of any sensor for control (IR, radio, etc.) is required. The main thing here is that control commands are taken from the finished device, and not vice versa.

 An external remote control system for devices that have a special touch, for example, an IR input or a special regular touch, for example, an IR input, is characterized by the fact that they connect from the Internet access point (s) using a personal computer or mobile phone, with a www-Internet server (wap-Internet server) and enter the site (s), on the pages of which (all) all the virtual device controls are formed, having for this at least one special regular touch, for example, an IR input for connect I have a full-time remote control (RC). At the same time, the virtual controls on the Internet server (s) are the essence of the command (target sequence of commands) of the control generated by the user editing certain pages of the site (s) on the Internet. Each of these control commands has its own unique identifier (address) in the SQL server database. Formalized data for the transceiver command generator is stored at this address, providing, for the latter, the ability to synthesize exactly the one, for example, the IR command, which will be unambiguously and correctly received by the controlled device through its touch input, authentically interpreted and executed by it. An example of the oscillogram of the control command synthesized by the transceiver from the source data from the SQL server database is shown in FIG. 2, where T = 14 is the period of the IR command for controlling the device; t = 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 - standard IR sendings of the instrument control command code generated by the transceiver command generator. In this case, s is the standard duration of the restoring IR pulse of the transceiver during the synthesis of the control command.

Formalized data from the SQL server is transmitted to the transceiver over the air during its installation to work with a specific brand of a particular device, which is supposed to be controlled. The transceiver is installed according to all commands of all devices that are at the user's disposal and are simultaneously stored in the SQL server database. The initial creation and further replenishment of the SQL server database is carried out by reading and processing the oscillograms of each of the control commands (each button on the keyboard (s) of the remote control) from the original standard remote control of devices, their subsequent formalization and recording of the received data in the SQL server - each according to its own unique addresses, for example: n1, n2, n3, n4, n5 (figure 3), where
n1 is the horizontal coordinate of the control button in the coordinate system of the remote control keyboard;
n2 is the vertical coordinate of the control button in the coordinate system of the remote control keyboard;
n3 - keyboard number (for multi-function remote control keyboards);
n4 is the brand number of the controlled equipment (for example, a sony-vrl237 VCR);
n5 - type number of controlled equipment (for example, TVs).

 Further, in order to reduce the dimension of code messages transmitted over the air from the SQL server to the transceiver, each of the control commands (each button of the keyboards (s) of each remote control of each device has its own end-to-end number: k = 1 (1) K, where: k is the current number of the control command; 1 is the step-by-step numbering of the control commands; K is the last number of the last control command of the latest version of the SQL server database.

 Thus, “pressing” the virtual control button on the page of the Internet server (s) causes the SQL server to generate a command with the number “k”. This number "k" is transmitted to the transceiver over the air for execution. In the library of transceiver command codes, at the addresses from end-to-end number k1 to end-to-end number k2, formal parameters transmitted during installation of the transceiver over the air are stored, for example: T, t (...) - necessary and sufficient for each of the transceivers to synthesize control commands for each of the devices available to the user. Thus, the receipt of the number “k” by the transceiver ensures that the transceiver generates and the required device executes the required control command.

 In addition to "pressing" the virtual control button on the page (s) of the Internet server (s) in "real time" mode, it is possible to activate the required button on the remote control keyboard (control command) in the delayed execution mode - by using the system timer of the "stack" of system orders by corresponding editing of the relevant parameters in the appropriate settings fields of the corresponding pages of the Internet server (s), namely: year, month, day, hour and minute. In this case, the selection of control commands from the system "stack" and their issuance to the radio channel for execution are carried out taking into account the current time and priorities of the control commands.

 End-to-end synchronization of all system elements, including the transceivers of users themselves, is realized by connecting the Internet server (s), via the Internet, to an external server of accurate astronomical time.

 To prevent unauthorized access to control devices, the system provides for the authorization of each of its users by checking the Internet server (s), when entering the site (s), client ID and PW (password). Radio commands are encoded and encrypted. Each transceiver has its own unique ID.

 The formation of management tools based on the pages of the Internet server (s) and SQL server credentials allows you to organize at least three types of management tools, discussed below.

 Emulation of the original remote control keyboard. For each new remote control, scripting tools for WEB pages create "emulation pictures" of the remote control keyboards in all its modes. "Pressing" the control button leads to updating the corresponding script of the remote control virtual keyboard. This, in turn, leads to access to the corresponding account of the corresponding table of the SQL server, in which one required control command is indicated. This emulation is used for direct (operational) control of user devices.

 Emulation of macros prepared in advance in the system. To obtain a generalized target effect, macro launch means are created. Examples: “Record a telecast to a VCR”, “View video”, etc. “Pressing” the control button updates the corresponding script of the corresponding Internet application. This, in turn, leads to a call to the appropriate account in the corresponding table of the SQL server, in which a series of necessary and sufficient control commands to obtain the target effect is indicated. In this case, the control commands will be executed in the order in which they are listed there. To configure for work, with a specific configuration of devices of a specific user, filtering is performed here: from the entire set of control commands of the required target orientation, only those control commands are selected that are inherent in the devices of the particular user who accessed the system. The filter is formed on the basis of data on the instrumentation of the user, on the one hand, and the results of user authorization when he logs into the system, on the other. A file with data on the specific composition of user devices, as well as a list of users with their ID, should be stored in the SQL server. An illustration of what is happening is shown in figure 4.

 Macros can be launched either directly when accessing them, or using the system timer: for the desired year, month, day, hour and minute.

 Emulation of many control commands to create your own instrument scenarios (create your own macros). It is carried out similarly to the previously considered emulation of macros prepared in advance in the system. The difference is that a series of commands can be composed by the user himself from the many commands that are available to him from all of his many devices. Figure 5 shows an example of the organization of this management tool.

 Compiled macros can be launched both directly when accessing them, and using the system timer: for the desired year, month, day, hour and minute.

Below are the main points of the system:
1. Login to the website (s) of the system.

 2. Authorization as a user of the system.

 3. Selecting a device control method (selecting the appropriate page).

 4. Page editing - creating a message for the SQL server.

5. SQL server generating the order (s) for execution by the transceiver:
- user ID (transceiver);
- priority of the team;
- time parameters: year, month, day, hour and minute;
- end-to-end number of the management team requiring execution;
and etc.

 In the system, the user and transceiver IDs are the same.

 6. Installing the order (s) in the general queue of orders ready to be sent to transceivers by users over the air, i.e. formation of a "stack" of orders. Ordering in the "stack" is done by execution time. If the execution times coincide, the order with the highest priority is executed. When it comes to order execution time (the coincidence of the order time with the current time, as well as taking into account priority) - sending the order to the transceiver with the required ID.

 7. Receiving an order with a transceiver, highlighting the end-to-end control command number.

 8. By the selected end-to-end number — launch the IR command generator taking into account the library data of the IR command for controlling the transceiver.

 9. Issuing a synthesized control command to the user device.

 The present invention is industrially applicable, since it is based on the use of widely used computer technology, the Internet, methods for creating www and (or) wap sites with interactive pages, radio exchange devices and transformers of some signals to others, corresponding to the type used in specific equipment (matching converters).

Claims (2)

1. The method of remote control of the apparatus, which consists in forming on a computerized control panel commands in the form of control signals and transmitting them via computer lines to the device for receiving commands and addressing the output of control signals to the actuators of the apparatus, characterized in that for remote control of apparatus made with touch mechanisms controlled by remote controls at a distance exceeding the radius of action of these control panels connection of the computerized control panel via the Internet with a network server made with the corresponding software for generating commands and macros in the virtual control mode of the equipment, a set of commands or macros is sent and transmitted to the processing server to create a formalized command package in the form of a data set including at least the runtime of the elementary command, the time of execution of the elementary command, the identifier of the elementary command, the transceiver number on which It is necessary to transmit the elementary command, the priority of the elementary command, ensuring that the specified instruction package is stored in the time queue for its execution, and if the date and current time coincide with the data corresponding to the date and time of the formalized instruction package, the specified instruction packet is broadcast to the transceiver to convert the corresponding formalized data a packet of commands into signals corresponding to signals identical to the control signals of the remote control, and issuing signals in the direction of the sensor mechanisms of the equipment using an amplifier of IR commands: solera. 2. The system of remote control of the apparatus, containing a computerized control panel, connected through the lines of a computer network to a device for receiving commands and addressing control signals to actuators of the apparatus, characterized in that sensory mechanisms controlled from remote controls are used as actuators of the apparatus in The Internet is used as a computer network, and the system is equipped with at least one network server with which it is computerized This control panel is connected via the Internet to form at least one command or macro on a network server’s website to control at least one equipment, a processing server connected to a network server to receive signals corresponding to commands or macros and process them into a formalized one. a package of commands and transmitting the specified package to the storage device and issuing located in the temporary queue of formalized packets, commands to the radio transmitter, performed with the broadcast function specified x packets according to the corresponding protocol for the exchange of radio data in the form of radio signals, as well as a transceiver designed to receive the indicated radio signals, process them by generating control signals corresponding to signals identical to the control signals of the remote control, and transmitting these control signals to the device for issuing amplified control signals to direction of sensory mechanisms of equipment.

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