Electronic device and method for automatically controlling operation of the electronic device

1. A method for automatically controlling operation of an electronic device, said method being adapted for use in an active device that is connected to a plurality of controlled devices, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) setting a preset time in the active device, and selecting, and setting an operation mode for, at least one of the active device and the controlled devices;

(b) detecting whether the preset time matches a reference time, and if so, executing step (c);

(c) controlling operation of the selected at least one of the active device and the controlled devices; and

(d) detecting whether the selected at least one of the active device and the controlled devices has received a forcing signal, and if so, controlling operation of the selected at least one of the active device and the controlled devices that has received the forcing signal according to the forcing signal.

2. The method for automatically controlling operation of an electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein, step (d) is executed after step (a) and before step (b).

3. The method for automatically controlling operation of an electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein, if it is detected that the preset time does not match the reference time in step (b), step (d) is executed.

4. The method for automatically controlling operation of an electronic device according to claim 3 , further comprising, between step (b) and step (c):

(e) detecting whether the operation of the selected at least one of the active device and the controlled devices that has received the forcing signal is consistent with an operation specified by the forcing signal; and if so, removing the selected at least one of the active device and the controlled devices that has received the forcing signal from the settings made in step (a) before executing step (c); and if not, directly executing step (c).

5. The method for automatically controlling operation of an electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein each of the active device and the controlled devices supports the consumer electronic control (CEC) communication protocol.

6. The method for automatically controlling operation of an electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein the active device is connected to each of the controlled devices via high definition multimedia interface (HDMI).

7. An electronic device adapted to be connected to a plurality of peripheral devices, said electronic device comprising:

a storage unit for storing a preset time and a control list, the control list listing at least a selected one of said electronic device and the peripheral devices and an operation mode therefor; and

a control circuit for detecting whether the preset time matches a reference time, and if so, controlling operation of the selected one of said electronic device and the peripheral devices according to the control list;

wherein said control circuit first detects whether the selected one of said electronic device and the peripheral devices in the control list has received a forcing signal, and if so, controls operation of the selected one of said electronic device and the peripheral devices that has received the forcing signal according to the forcing signal before detecting whether the preset time matches the reference time.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein, when the preset time matches the reference time, said control circuit first detects whether the operation of the selected one of said electronic device and the peripheral devices that has received the forcing signal is consistent with an operation specified by the forcing signal, and if so, removes the selected one of said electronic device and the peripheral devices that has received the forcing signal from the control list, said control circuit subsequently controlling operation of another selected one of said electronic device and the peripheral devices in the control list according to the control list.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein each of said electronic device and the peripheral devices supports the consumer electronic control (CEC) communication protocol.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9 , wherein said electronic device is adapted to be connected to the peripheral devices via high definition multimedia interface (HDMI).