Patent Grant
7516001
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is made to solve the problems in the above-described conventional technologies. In particular, this invention provides a control apparatus for an in-vehicle device, a control method for an in-vehicle device, and a control program for an in-vehicle device, which can record a broadcasting program of a broadcasting receiver which corresponds to a position of a vehicle and record images captured by a camera in preference to a broadcasting program during recording of the broadcasting program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an apparatus for an in-vehicle device for remotely controlling a device mounted on a vehicle on the basis of instructions by a communication terminal device connected thereto over wireless has been known widely. For example, JP-A-2002-34085 discloses a technology for remotely controlling an in-vehicle audio device by a wireless communication terminal. In addition, JP-A-2001-65212 discloses a technology for displaying image data of an intruder into a vehicle as an image, through a communication network.
In the technology of JP-A-2002-34085, it is possible to remotely control an in-vehicle audio device by a wireless communication terminal. However, the technology of JP-A-2003-34085 cannot record a broadcasting program of a television or a radio in which a correspondence of channels to broadcasting stations differs depending on an area. That is, with regard to broadcastings of a television or a radio, a correspondence of channels to broadcasting stations differ depending upon an area in which a vehicle runs. Therefore, it is not possible for the technology of JP-A-2003-34085 to record a desired broadcasting program.
In addition, in the technology of JP-A-2001-65212, it is possible to display image data of an intruder into a vehicle through a communication network. However, the technology of JP-A-2001-65212 cannot record image data of an intruder into a vehicle, when a broadcasting program of a television or a radio is being recorded. That is, in the technology of JP-A-2001-65212, it is impossible to record images, which show inside and outside a vehicle and are captured by a camera, in preference to a broadcasting program during recording of the broadcasting program.
This invention is made to solve the problems in the above-described conventional technologies. In particular, this invention provides a control apparatus for an in-vehicle device, a control method for an in-vehicle device, and a control program for an in-vehicle device, which can record a broadcasting program of a broadcasting receiver which correspond to a position of a vehicle and record images captured by a camera in preference to a broadcasting program during recording of the broadcasting program.
In order to solve the above-described problem, according to one embodiment of this invention, a control apparatus for an in-vehicle device includes an acquisition/transmission unit and a recording unit. The acquisition/transmission unit acquires a program guide corresponding to a position of a vehicle and transmits the acquired program guide to a communication terminal device. The recording unit selects at least one program from the acquired program guide on a basis of an instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device and records at least one of video and audio of the selected program.
With this configuration, the control apparatus can acquire the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle; transmit the acquired program guide to a communication terminal device, select the at least one program from the acquired program guide on the basis of the instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device; and record the at least one of video and audio of the selected program.
Therefore, the control apparatus thus configured has an advantage that it is possible to record a program, which a broadcasting receiver receives and corresponds to the position of the vehicle.
Also, in addition to the above-described configuration, the control apparatus may further include a program-guide database. The program-guide database stores information indicating a correspondence relation at least among areas, broadcast stations, and frequencies; and the program guide for each area. In this case, the acquisition/transmission unit acquires the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle from the program-guide database and transmits the acquired program guide to the communication terminal device.
With this configuration, it is possible to acquire the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle from program-guide data base and to transmit it to the communication terminal device.
Therefore, the control apparatus thus configured has an advantage that it is possible to easily acquire the program guide at any time and to record a program corresponding to the position of the vehicle.
Also, in addition to the above-described configuration, the acquisition/transmission unit may acquire the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle, which is pinpointed by a navigation system of the vehicle, and transmit the acquired program guide to the communication terminal device.
With this configuration, it is possible to acquire the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle, which is pinpointed by the navigation system of the vehicle, from program-guide data base, and to transmit it to the communication terminal device.
Therefore, the control apparatus thus configured has an advantage that it is possible to easily identify the position of the vehicle and to record the program corresponding to the position of the vehicle.
Also, in addition to the above-described configuration, the control apparatus may further include an image capturing unit and an interruption control unit. The image capturing unit captures at least one of an inside and an outside of the vehicle. The interruption control unit controls the recording unit to record the image captured by the image capturing unit in preference to the video and audio of the selected program, on a basis of the instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device.
With this configuration, it is possible to capture at least one of an inside and an outside of the vehicle, and record the image captured by the image capturing unit in preference to the video and audio of the selected program on the basis of the instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device.
Therefore, the control apparatus thus configured has an advantage that it is possible to control the recording unit to record the image captured by the image capturing unit in preference to the video and audio of the selected program, on a basis of the instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device.
In addition, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling an in-vehicle device includes acquiring a program guide corresponding to a position of a vehicle; transmitting the acquired program guide to a communication terminal device; selecting at least one program from the acquired program guide on a basis of an instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device; and recording at least one of video and audio of the selected program.
According to this control method, it is possible to acquire a program guide corresponding to a position of a vehicle; transmit the acquired program guide to a communication terminal device; select at least one program from the acquired program guide on a basis of an instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device; and record at least one of video and audio of the selected program.
Therefore, the above-described control method has an advantage that it is possible to record the program corresponding to the position of the vehicle.
In addition, according to one embodiment of the invention, a program causes a computer to execute a procedure including: acquiring a program guide corresponding to a position of a vehicle; transmitting the acquired program guide to a communication terminal device; selecting at least one program from the acquired program guide on a basis of an instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device; and recording at least one of video and audio of the selected program.
According to this control program for an in-vehicle device, it is possible to acquire a program guide corresponding to a position of a vehicle; transmit the acquired program guide to a communication terminal device; select at least one program from the acquired program guide on a basis of an instruction transmitted from the communication terminal device; and record at least one of video and audio of the selected program.
Therefore, the above-described control program has an advantage that it is possible to record the program corresponding to the position of the vehicle.
Hereinafter, with reference to accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of a control apparatus for an in-vehicle device according to this invention, will be described in detail. In an embodiment 1, described will be a case where the control apparatus for an in-vehicle device is applied to a control system for an in-vehicle device, and the control apparatus for an in-vehicle device records video/audio of a broadcasting program of a television mounted on a vehicle. In an embodiment 2, described will be a case where during recording of a broadcasting program of a television mounted on a vehicle, a control apparatus for an in-vehicle device executes control to record images, which show an inside/outside of a vehicle and are captured by a camera. In addition, finally, various modification examples will be described as another embodiment.
Therefore, the control system for an in-vehicle device, according the embodiment 1 acquires a program guide corresponding to a position of a vehicle; and transmits the acquired program guide to a mobile communication terminal; selects a program from the acquired program guide on the basis of an instruction by the portable communication terminal; and records video/audio of the selected program.
Specifically, the control system for an in-vehicle device, performs control to acquire the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle from a program-guide data base of the control apparatus for an in-vehicle device; transmits the acquired program guide to a portable communication terminal; selects a program from the acquired program guide on the basis of the instruction by the portable communication terminal; and records the video/audio of the selected program.
For example, the control system for an in-vehicle device acquires a program guide corresponding to a position of a vehicle, which a navigation system of the vehicle pinpoints, from program-guide data base; transmits the acquired program guide to the portable communication terminal; selects a program from the acquired program guide on the basis of the instruction by the portable communication terminal; and records the video/audio of the selected program.
Next, a configuration of the control system for an in-vehicle device according to embodiment 1 will be described.
The control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device includes a communication section 11, a navigation system 12, a television tuner 13, a display 14, a speaker 15, a storage section 16, and a control section 17. The communication section 11 communicates with the portable communication terminal 1 through the wireless network. The communication section 11 includes a communication antenna 11a. The communication antenna 11a is used for communicating with the portable communication terminal. Specifically, the communication antenna 11a is a rod antenna.
The navigation system 12 receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite to pinpoint a position of a vehicle and provides road information of a road on which a vehicle runs to a driver. The navigation system 12 includes a GPS antenna 12a. The GPS antenna 12a receives the GPS signal from the GPS satellite.
The television tuner 13 receives electromagnetic waves of television broadcasting; and demodulates and reproduces digital signals; and separates the digital signals into analog video signals and analog audio signals. The television tuner 13 includes a television antenna 13a. The television antenna 13a receives television electromagnetic waves of a UHF (Ultra High Frequency or VHF (Very High Frequency) band.
The display 14 displays an image output from the navigation system 12 and the analog video signals separated by the television tuner 13. Specifically, the display 14 is a liquid crystal display device such as LCD. In addition, the speaker 15 outputs the analog audio signals separated by the television tuner 13, as audio.
The storage section 16 includes a program-guide data base 16a and recorded video/audio-data 16b. Specifically, the storage section 16 is an external storage device such as HDD. The program-guide database 16a stores a program guide of a television corresponding to the position of the vehicle, which the navigation system 12 pinpoints. In addition, the recorded video/audio-data 16b is recorded data into which the analog video signals and the analog audio signals are digitized.
Here, one example of the program-guide database 16a shown in
Returning to explanation of
The video/audio recording section 18b selects a program from the program guide acquired by the program-guide acquisition section 17a on the basis of an instruction by the portable communication terminal 1, and records video/audio of the program. Specifically, the video/audio recording section 17b digitizes the analog video/audio signals, and records the digitalized data into the recorded video/audio-data 16a. In addition, the recording-state check section 17c checks a recording state of the video/audio of the program.
Next, video/audio recording procedures of television program executed by the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device shown in
Further, the program-guide acquisition section 17a transmits the television program guide to the portable communication terminal 1 through the communication section 11 (step S404). Then, upon receiving the television program guide, the portable communication terminal 1 selects a television program (step S405), and transmits a recording request of the selected television program to the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device (step S406). For example, a user of the portable communication terminal 1 operates the portable communication terminal 1 to select a desired program from the received television program guide and to transmit the recording request to the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device.
Further, when the video/audio recording section 17b receives the recording request of the television program, the video/audio recording section 17b switches over to the required television program or activates the television (step S407) and records video/audio in the recorded video/audio data 16b (step S408). Specifically, when the video/audio recording section 17b receives the recording request, the video/audio recording section 17b controls the television tuner 13 to receive the selected television program. If necessary, the video/audio recording section 17b activates the television tuner 13. Then, the recording-state check section 17c transmits video/audio for monitoring to the portable communication terminal 1 (step S409). Further, the portable communication terminal 1 displays the video/audio for monitoring, and a user checks a recording state (step S410).
As described above, in embodiment 1, the program-guide acquisition section 17a acquires the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle, for a television mounted on the vehicle. The communication section 11 transmits the acquired program guide to the portable communication terminal 1. The video/audio recording section 17b selects a program of the television mounted on the vehicle from the program guide on the basis of an instruction by the portable communication terminal 1, and records the video/audio of the selected program. Accordingly, it is possible to record a broadcasting program of a television channel corresponding to a position of a vehicle.
Also, the program-guide acquisition section 17a acquires the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle from the program-guide database 16a, and transmits the acquired program guide to the portable communication terminal 1. Therefore, it is possible to easily acquire a program guide at any time, and to record a broadcasting program of a television channel corresponding to the position of the vehicle.
In addition, the program-guide acquisition section 17a acquires the program guide corresponding to the position of the vehicle, which the navigation system 12 pinpoints, from the program-guide database 16a, and transmits the acquired program guide to the portable communication terminal 1. Accordingly, it is possible to easily pinpoint the position of the vehicle, and to record a broadcasting program of a television channel corresponding to the position of the vehicle.
In the meantime, in embodiment 1, described is the case where the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device is applied to a control system for an in-vehicle device, and the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device records video/audio of a program. However, this invention is not limited to this. The control apparatus for an in-vehicle device may record an image captured by a camera in preference to a broadcasting program during the recording of the broadcasting program. In embodiment 2, a case where the control apparatus for an in-vehicle device is applied to a control system for an in-vehicle device and records images of an inside and an outside of a vehicle captured by a camera in preference to a broadcast program during the recording of the broadcasting program of a television mounted on a vehicle, will be described.
First, a configuration of the control system for an in-vehicle device according to embodiment 2will be described.
A camera 18 is an image capturing device that captures images of an inside and an outside of a vehicle and is attached to the vehicle for the purpose of security. If necessary, a plurality of cameras 18 maybe attached to a vehicle. In addition, an interruption control section 17d controls each section so as to record images captured by the camera 18 in preference to video/audio of a broadcasting program of a television on the basis of an instruction by the portable communication terminal 1. Specifically, even if the video/audio recording section 17b is recording the video/audio of the broadcasting program of a television, the interruption control section 17d controls each section so as to temporarily interrupt the recording of the video/audio of the broadcasting program of a television and record images captured by the camera 18 in preference to the video/audio of the broadcasting program of the television
Next, an interruption control procedure of camera images executed by the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device shown in
Then, when the control section 17 receives the recording request of the image of the camera from the portable communication terminal 1, the control section 17 identifies that the received request is the recording request of the image of the camera (step S602), activates a power supply of the camera, and starts capturing (step S603). Further, the interruption control section 17d interrupts recording of video/audio of a broadcasting program of a television channel, and records the image of the camera in the recorded video/audio-data 16b (step S604).
Then, the recording-state check section 17c transmits a monitoring video to the portable communication terminal 1 (step S605). Further, the portable communication terminal 1 displays the monitoring video, and checks a recording state (step S606).
As described above, in embodiment 2, the camera 18 captures images of an inside and an outside of a vehicle. The interruption control section 17d executes interruption control so as to record an image captured by the camera in preference to the video/audio of the program of the television on the basis of an instruction by the portable communication terminal 1. Therefore, it is possible to record images of an inside and an outside of a vehicle, which are captured by the camera 18, in preference to a broadcast program during the recording of the broadcasting program.
In the meantime, in the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, described is a case that communication is carried out between the portable communication terminal 1 and the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device, and a request for a program guide, a recording request of video/audio, check of a recording state, etc. are transmitted and received. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The control system for an in-vehicle device may be configured that a base station is interposed between the portable communication terminal 1 and the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device; that communication is carried out from the portable communication terminal 1 to the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device through the base station; and that a request for a program guide, a recording request of video/audio, check of a recording state, etc. are transmitted and received. In this case, the portable communication terminal 1 may receive program guides of a television and a radio etc. from the base station.
In addition, in the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, described is a case that communication is carried out between the portable communication terminal 1 and the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The invention may be applied to a case that communication is carried out between a communication terminal other than the portable communication terminal, e.g., a personal computer equipped with a wireless communication function, and the control apparatus 10 for an in-vehicle device.
In addition, in the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, described is a case that video/audio of a broadcasting program of a television are recorded. However, the invention is not limited thereto alone. This invention may be applied to a case that video/audio of another broadcasting program, e.g., audio of a broadcasting program of a radio is recorded.
In addition, in the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, described is a case that a television is analog receiver. However, the invention is not limited thereto alone. This invention is also applicable to a case that a television is a digital receiver.
In addition, in the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, described is a case that recording of video/audio is carried out in a single channel. However, the invention is not limited thereto alone. The invention is also applicable to a case that recording of video/audio is carried out in a plurality of channels. In this case, even in case of recording an image captured by the camera 18 in preference to video/audio of a broadcasting program of a television, it is possible to carry out picture recording (so-called, backside picture recording) without interrupting video/audio of a broadcasting program of a television.
As described above, a control apparatus for an in-vehicle device is useful for controlling an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, such as a television, a radio, a camera, etc. In particular, the control apparatus for an in-vehicle device is suitable for control of displaying, recording, capturing etc. of an in-vehicle device such as a television, a radio, a camera, etc.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P2003-284525 | Jul 2003 | JP | national |
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| A 2003-158690 | May 2003 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050060072 A1 | Mar 2005 | US |
