BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control data downloading system which is equipped with a mobile communication terminal having a remote controller function, and is configured to download desired remote control data to the mobile communication terminal via the Internet, and thus, to use the mobile communication terminal as a desired remote controller, and to provide the mobile communication terminal having the remote controller function for use in the remote control data downloading system.

Description of the Related Art In general, remote controllers are used to control diverse functions of an electronic or electric appliance such as a video tape recorder, an audio set, an air conditioner, a cable broadcast receiver, a satellite broadcast receiver, or an electric fan at a position remote from the electronic or electric appliance through wireless transmission of control signals at a control frequency. Typically, remote controllers of different frequency bands are used for different electronic or electric appliances and different manufacturers manufacturing the same kind of electronic or electric appliances, respectively, in order to prevent each electronic or electric appliance from being erroneously operated by remote controllers for other electronic or electric appliances. Thus, a remote controller using a particular frequency band is used for each electronic or electric appliance. Where a user uses a plurality of remote controllers to remotely control a plurality of associated electronic or electric appliances (hereinafter, simply referred to as "electronic appliances") , there is a problem in that difficulty or complexity occurs in selecting desired functions from the remote controllers because the methods for operating the remote controllers may be different from one another. In order to enable remote control for a plurality of electronic appliances using a single remote controller, accordingly, a universal remote controller has been developed in which a variety of control frequency codes respectively associated with a variety of electronic devices manufactured by the same manufacturer or different manufacturers are stored. For setting of a control frequency of such a universal remote controller for an optional electronic appliance manufactured by an optional manufacturer, a general search method is used. In order to search for a control frequency for an optional electronic appliance manufactured by an optional manufacturer and to set the searched control frequency, it is necessary to repeatedly extract the control frequency codes stored in the universal remote controller one by one until the control frequency code matching the electronic appliance is detected. If it is assumed that about 300 control frequency codes are stored in the universal remote controller, it may be necessary to perform the frequency search operation even about 300 times in order to set, in the universal remote controller, a control frequency for an optional electronic appliance manufactured by an optional manufacturer. For example, when it is necessary to set, in the universal remote controller, a control frequency for a television set manufactured by Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd. in Korea, the control frequency codes stored in the universal remote controller must repeatedly be extracted one by one until the control frequency code matching the electronic appliance is detected. Since it is necessary to repeatedly perform the control frequency code search operation for setting of the control frequency for the electronic appliance, as described above, the conventional universal remote controller has problems in that the repeated control frequency code search operation requires a lot of time, causes much inconvenience of the user, and exhibits a low success rate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control data downloading system which is equipped with a mobile communication terminal having a remote . controller function, and is configured to download desired remote control data to the mobile communication terminal via the Internet, and thus, to use the mobile communication terminal as a desired remote controller, and to provide the mobile communication terminal having the remote controller function for use in the remote control data downloading system. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a system for downloading remote control data, comprising: an information server which is connected to the Internet, and manages remote control data; and a mobile communication terminal which accesses the information server via the Internet, downloads desired remote control data from the information server, stores the downloaded remote control data in a database, and remotely controls appliances using the stored remote control data. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication terminal comprising: a main controller which controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal; an input unit which receives a key input from a user; a storage which stores programs and data required for various operations; a wireless communication unit which performs wireless communication with a mobile communication network to which an information server is connected via the Internet, to access the information server and to download remote control data from the information server; a remote control data controller which controls a remote controller function; a remote control data communication unit which outputs pieces of the downloaded remote control data to appliances associated with the remote control data pieces, respectively, under a control of the remote control data controller; a remote control data database which stores the downloaded remote control data; and a display which displays information, whereby the mobile communication terminal downloads remote control data from the information server via the Internet, and performs a remote controller function using the downloaded remote control data. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for downloading remote control data in a remote control data downloading system including an information server which is connected to the Internet, and manages remote control data, and a mobile communication terminal which accesses the information server via the Internet, downloads desired remote control data from the information server, stores the downloaded remote control data in a database, and remotely controls appliances using the stored remote control data, the method comprising the steps of: (a) connecting the mobile communication terminal to the information server, and sending a request for remote control data from the mobile communication terminal to the information server; (b) downloading the remote control data from the information server; and (c) registering the downloaded remote control data in the database.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating connection of a mobile communication terminal having a remote controller function according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the information server according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller registration procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller registration procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller registration procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller setting/controlling procedure according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating connection of a mobile communication terminal having a remote controller function according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile communication terminal 100 according to the present invention has access to an information server 400 via a mobile communication network 200, to download remote control data from the information server 400. The mobile communication network 200 includes a base transceiver station (BTS) 210 which perform wireless communication with the mobile communication terminal 100, a base station controller (BSC) 220 which controls the BTS 210, a mobile switching center (MSC) 230 which is connected to the BSC 210, to perform call switching, a short message service center (SMSC) 260 which is connected to the MSC 230, to control short message services, and a home location register (HLR) 250 which manages information as to the location of the mobile communication terminal 100. In accordance with the present invention, the mobile communication network 200 also includes a packet data service node (PDSN) 240 which is connected to the BSC 220, to provide packet data services, and a data core network (DCN) 270 which is connected to the PDSN 240. The DCN 270 of the mobile communication network 200 is connectable to the information server 400 via the Internet 300 or is directly connectable to the information server 400. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile communication terminal according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile communication terminal 300 according to the present invention includes a main controller 120 which controls the overall operation of the mobile communication terminal 100, an input unit 110 which receives a key input from the user, a storage 130 which stores programs and data required for various operations, and a wireless communication unit 140 which performs wireless communication with the mobile communication network 200. In accordance with the present invention, the mobile communication terminal 100 also includes a remote control data controller which controls a remote controller function, a remote control data communication unit 160 which outputs pieces of remote control data to appliances associated with the remote control data pieces, respectively, under the control of the remote control data controller 150, a remote control data database 170 which stores the remote control data, and a display 180 which displays information. The remote control data communication unit 160 may be implemented by a communication device using infrared rays. In this case, when the user inputs a key signal through the input unit 110, the remote control data communication unit 160 outputs data corresponding to the key input in the form of an infrared ray under the control of the remote control data controller 150. The remote control data controller 150 has access to the mobile communication network 200 through the wireless communication unit 140, to download remote control data from the information server 400. The remote control data controller 150 stores the downloaded remote control data in the remote control data database 170, and manages the stored remote control data. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the information server according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the information server 400 according to the present invention includes a controller 410 which controls the overall operation of the information server 400, a network connector 420 which is connected to the mobile communication network 200 via the Internet 300, a Web service provider 430 which provides Web services to the mobile communication terminal 100 connected to the network connector 420 for download of remote control data, a short message controller 440 which receives a short message transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 100, analyzes the received short message, produces a short message, based on the results of the analysis, and transmits the produced short message, an information manager 450 which manages remote control data, and a remote control data database 460 which stores remote control data. The mobile communication terminal 100, which has the above-described configuration, downloads remote control data

in the form of a data packet from the information server 400.

The data packet includes parameters as described in the

following Table 1.

Table 1

The parameter λXequip_num" of the above-described data packet

is an equipment No. representing the kind of appliance to be

remotely controlled, and is defined as follows.

Table 2

Also, the parameter "re-frequency" of the above- described data packet represents a signal frequency at which

data is transmitted during a remote control operation, and is

defined as follows.

Table 3

The mobile communication terminal 100 downloads remote

control data in the form of the above-described data packet

from the information server 400, and stores the downloaded

remote control data in the remote control data database 170,

and manages the stored remote control data. In accordance

with a remote control menu selected by the user, the main

controller 120 activates the remote control data controller

150.

The remote control data controller 150 extracts from the

remote control data database 170 remote control data

corresponding to the kind of remote controller selected by the

user. The remote control data controller 150 outputs, through the remote control data communication unit 160, a signal corresponding to information of a key signal input by the user through the input unit 110. Hereinafter, operations according to the present invention will be described with reference to the annexed flow charts. FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller registration procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the user first inputs a remote controller registering command through the input unit 110 of the mobile communication terminal 100 (SlO) . Subsequently, the user selects the kind of appliance to be remotely- controlled and the manufacturer of the appliance (S20 and S30) . In response to the input signal, the mobile communication terminal 100 accesses the mobile communication network 200 through the wireless communication unit 140, so as to access the information server 400 via the mobile communication network 200 (S40) . Although not shown, a certain log-in process may be executed in the access process. After being connected to the information server 400, the mobile communication terminal 100 transmits a message requesting download of remote control data (S50) . The message includes information as to the appliance selected by the user. The information server 400 receives the message, and the information manager 450 of the information server 400 extracts desired remote control data from the remote control data database 460 (S60) . The information server 400 transmits the extracted remote control data in the form of a data packet to the mobile communication terminal 100 (S70) . The mobile communication terminal 100 receives the remote control data transmitted from the information server 400, and the remote control data controller 150 of the mobile communication terminal 100 stores the received xemote control data in the remote control data database 170 (S80) . FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller registration procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the user first inputs a remote controller registering command through the input unit 110 of the mobile communication terminal 100 (SIlO) . In response to the input command, the mobile communication terminal 100 accesses the mobile communication network 200 through the wireless communication unit 140, so as to access the information server 400 via the mobile communication network 200 (S120) . Although not shown, a certain log-in process may¬ be executed in the access process. In response to the access of the mobile communication terminal 100, the information server 400 extracts remote controller menu information for selection of a desired remote controller (S130) . The information server 400 then transmits the extracted remote controller menu information to the mobile communication terminal 100 (S140) . The mobile communication terminal 100 displays the remote controller menu information received from the information server 400 at step S140 on the display 180 (S150) . The user selects the kind of appliance to be remotely controlled and the manufacturer of the appliance from the displayed remote controller menu information, through the input unit 110 (Sl60) . The mobile communication terminal 100 then transmits the information selected by the user to the information server 400 (S170) . The information server 400 receives the information transmitted at step S170, and the information manager 450 of the information server 400 extracts desired remote control data from the remote control data database 460 (S180) . The information server 400 transmits the extracted remote control data in the form of a data packet to the mobile communication terminal 100 (S190) . The mobile communication terminal 100 receives the remote control data transmitted from the information server 400, and the remote control data controller 150 of the mobile communication terminal 100 stores the received remote control data in the remote control data database 170 (S200) . FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller registration procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the mobile communication terminal 100 produces a short message requesting remote control data (S310) , and transmits the produced short message to the mobile communication network 200, together with information as to a predetermined number to be called (S320) . The production of the short message may be achieved through direct inputting of a desired short message by the user or extraction of a desired short message selected from a menu by the user. The SMSC 260 of the mobile communication network 200 transmits the short message transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 100 to the short message controller 440 of the information server 400 in accordance wJth the called number (S330) . At this time, the SMSC 260 also transmits the number of the mobile communication terminal 100, that is, the caller number, to the information server 400. The short message controller 440 of the information server 400 analyzes the short message (S341) , and thus, determines remote control data requested by the user (S342) . Based on the results of the determination at step S342, the short message controller 440 produces a confirmation short message, and transmits the confirmation short message to the mobile communication terminal 100 through a callback URL (S350) . The mobile communication terminal 100 displays the short message transmitted from the information server 400 at step S350 on the display 180 (S360) . When the user subsequently inputs a confirmation command through the input unit 110 (S370) , the mobile communication terminal 100 transmits information selected by the user to the information server 400 through the callback URL (S380) . The information server 400 receives the information transmitted at step S380, and the information manager 450 of the information server 400 extracts desired remote control data from the remote control data database 460 (S390) . The information server 400 transmits the extracted remote control data in the form of a data packet to the mobile communication terminal 100 (S400) . The mobile communication terminal 100 receives the remote control data transmitted from the information server 400, and the remote control data controller 150 of the mobile communication terminal 100 stores the received remote control data in the remote control data database 170 (S410) . FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a remote controller setting/controlling procedure according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the mobile communication terminal 100 first determines whether or not a remote controller setting command has been input (S510) . At step S510, the user may select the appliance to be remotely controlled. Also, the user may select desired data from the data stored in the mobile communication terminal 100, to set a desired remote controller function. When it is determined at step S510 that a remote controller setting command has been input, the remote control data controller 150 extracts desired remote control data from the remote control data database 170, and sets up the extracted remote control data (S530) . The remote control data controller 150 initializes the remote communication unit 160 which is an ; infrared device (S540) . The initialization at step S540 is carried out to enable generation of signals at the above-described remote control frequency re_frequency. Thereafter, the remote control data controller 150 determines whether or not there is a key input generated through the input unit 110 (S550) . When it is determined that there is a key input, the remote control data controller 150 sets a command corresponding to the key input (S560) , and generates an infrared signal corresponding to the set command through the remote control data communication unit 160 (S570) . In accordance with the above-described procedure, remote control for the appliance can be executed. The remote control is repeatedly executed until a remote control end command is input. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. As apparent from the above description, in accordance with the remote control data downloading system and the mobile communication terminal having a remote controller function which is used in the remote control data downloading system, ib is possible to incorporate a remote controller function in a mobile communication terminal and to download a desired remote controller function from the Internet. Accordingly, a desired remote controller function can be effectively used regardless of time and place.