Information signal transmission system and remote control device for the same

Abstract

An information signal transmission system and a remote control device for such a system for allowing a viewer to continuously watch, for example, in a bedroom a program the viewer has watched in a living room. A recipient of information is detected referring to identification information set in a remote command device, and monitor devices are alternately switched for continuously providing the viewer with an information signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An information signal transmission system, comprising:
 a network interface connected to a plurality of presentation devices and a reproduction device through a network, 
 wherein said information signal transmission system provides an information signal reproduced by the reproduction device via one of the presentation devices, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of presentation devices comprises a remote control receiver, 
 wherein said remote control receiver is operable to receive a remote control signal sent by a remote control device, 
 wherein the remote control signal comprises identification data; 
 a destination object detecting module for detecting a destination object by detecting the identification data associated with a control request in conjunction with controlling the reproduction device, 
 wherein said identification data is used for identifying a destination object of said information signal; 
 a storage module for storing the identification data; 
 a determination module for determining the identification data detected by the destination object detecting module and the identification data stored by the storage module; 
 a control module for controlling output of the information signal via one of the plurality of presentation devices as a function of the identification data, 
 wherein, when the identification data of the remote control signal is detected and a different destination object is identified, reproduction of the reproduction device is suspended, the output of the information signal is switched to a second of the plurality of presentation devices, and suspension of the corresponding reproduction device is released. 
 
     
     
       2. The information signal transmission system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein, when said control module receives a reserve request from one of said plurality of presentation devices through said network interface and said reserve request includes identification data indicating said identification code identifying a user, and 
 when said control module receives said pause command indicating said first presentation device, said control module terminates outputting said information signal to said first presentation device through said network interface, such that an information signal module outputs said information signal to a second presentation device from the point in said information signal when said control module stopped outputting said information signal to said first presentation device. 
 
     
     
       3. The information signal transmission system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein in response to a control request received via the presentation device except of one of the presentation devices if the determine component determines that the identification data detected by said destination object detecting component matches the identification data stored by said store component. 
 
     
     
       4. The information signal transmission system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein an identification module determines that the identification code of said identification module in said reserve request matches the identification code of said identification data stored by said identification module and sends a pause command to said control module, said pause command indicating a first presentation device. 
 
     
     
       5. A method of transmitting an information signal, comprising:
 connecting a plurality of presentation devices to a reproduction device through a network, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of presentation devices comprises a remote control receiver, 
 wherein said remote control receiver is operable to receive a remote control signal sent by a remote control device, 
 wherein the remote control signal comprises identification data, 
 providing an information signal reproduced by the reproduction device via one of the plurality of said presentation devices; 
 detecting a destination object by detecting the identification data associated with a control request in conjunction with controlling said reproduction device, 
 wherein said identification data is used to identify a destination object of said information signal; 
 storing the identification data; 
 determining the identification data detected by the destination object detecting step and the identification data stored in said storing step; 
 controlling output of the information signal, 
 wherein the controlling step controls the storing step to store the identification data and to output the information signal via the presentation device related to a control request; 
 detecting the identification data; 
 wherein the controlling step outputs the information signal via the presentation device as a function of the identification data, 
 wherein, when the identification data of the remote control signal is detected and a different destination object is identified, reproduction of the reproduction device is suspended, the output of the information signal is switched to a second of the plurality of presentation devices, and suspension of the corresponding reproduction device is released. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of transmitting an information signal of  claim 5 ,
 wherein, when said control step receives a reserve request from one of said plurality of presentation devices through said network interface and said reserve request includes identification data indicating said identification code identifying said user, an identification step determines that the identification code of said identification data in said reserve request matches the identification code of said identification data stored by said identification step and sends a pause command to said control step, said pause command indicating said first presentation device, and 
 when said control step receives said pause command indicating said first presentation device, said control step causes an information signal outputting step to stop outputting said information signal to said first presentation device through said network interface, such that said information signal outputting step begins to output said information signal to a second presentation device from a point in said information signal when said control step stopped outputting said information signal to said the presentation device. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of displaying an information signal on different destination display devices connected in a network, comprising:
 storing identification data used to identify a destination display device of said information signal;   outputting an information signal to a first destination display device via said network;   receiving a control request from a second destination display device through said network, said control request including identification data;   comparing the identification data in said control request with said stored identification data to detect a match; and   suspending the outputting of said information signal to said first destination display device and releasing the outputting of said information signal to said second destination display device via said network if a match is detected;   wherein said first destination display device and said second destination display device each includes a control block and a control receiver operable to receive a control signal generated by a user-activated operation and to feed a result of said received control signal to said control block.    
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, wherein said supply of said information signal to said first destination display device is terminated after said information signal has been supplied to said second destination display device.  
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7, wherein said supply of said information signal to said first destination display device is terminated after said control request has been received from said second destination display device.  
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining if said second destination display device is operable to display said information signal and then, if it is determined that said second destination display device is operable to display said information signal, supplying said information signal to said second destination display device.  
     
     
       11. The method of claim 7, wherein said identification data is generated by circuitry in said second destination display device.  
     
     
       12. The method of claim 7, wherein said first and second destination display devices are located in different rooms in a house.  
     
     
       13. The method of claim 7, wherein said information signal is provided by a source of audio/video content.  
     
     
       14. Apparatus for displaying content on different destination display devices connected in a network, comprising:
 a memory configured to store identification data used to identify a destination display device of said information signal;   a content source configured to output content to a first destination display device via said network;   a receiver configured to receive a request from a second destination display device through said network, said request including identification data;   a comparator configured to compare the identification data in said request with said stored identification data to detect a match;   said content source suspending the supply of said content to said first destination display device and releasing said content to said second destination display device via said network if a match is detected;   wherein said first destination display device and said second destination display device each includes a control block and a control receiver operable to receive a control signal generated by a user-activated operation and to feed a result of said received control signal to said control block.    
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said supply of said content to said first destination display device is terminated after said content has been supplied to said second destination display device.  
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said supply of said content to said first destination display device is terminated after said request has been received from said second destination display device.  
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said content source includes a control block configured to determine if said second destination display device is operable to display said content and then, if it is determined that said second destination display device is operable to display said content, said content source supplies said content to said second destination display device.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said second destination display device includes circuitry to generate the identification data.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second destination display devices are located in different rooms in a house.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said content is audio/video content.  
     
     
       21. A method of changing over the display of content supplied to a first destination display device connected in a network to display said content on a second destination display device connected in the network, comprising:
 transmitting from said second destination display device to said network, a control request including identification data used to identify the second destination display device of said content for determining if said second destination display device is permitted to display said content; and   suspending the supply of said content to said first destination display device and releasing the supply of said content from said network to said second destination display device if said second destination display device is permitted to display said content;   wherein said second destination display device includes a control block and a control receiver operable to receive a control signal generated by a user-activated operation and to feed a result of said received control signal to said control block; and   whereby the display of said content is changed over from said first destination display device that had been displaying said content up until the time said control request is transmitted from said second destination display device.    
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, wherein said identification data is generated by circuitry in said second display device.  
     
     
       23. The method of claim 21, wherein said second destination display device and said first destination display device are located in different rooms in a house.  
     
     
       24. The method of claim 21, wherein said content is provided by a source of audio/video content.  
     
     
       25. A first destination display device connected to a network for displaying content that is being supplied to and displayed on a second destination display device, comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit to said network a request including identification data used to identify the first destination display device of said content for use in determining if said first destination display device is permitted to display said content; and   a receiver configured to receive said content from said network if said first destination display device is permitted to display said content;   wherein said first destination display device includes a control block and a control receiver operable to receive a control signal generated by a user-activated operation and to feed a result of said received control signal to said control block; and   whereby the display of said content on said second destination device is suspended to change over the display of said content from said second destination display device that had been displaying said content up until the time said control request is transmitted from said first destination display device, and the display of said content is released to said first destination display device.    
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said supply of said content to said second destination display device is terminated after said content has been supplied to said first destination display device.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said first destination display device includes circuitry to generate said identification data.  
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said first destination display device and said second destination display device are located in different rooms in a house.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said content is audio/video content.