JP2001184188A - Network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network system to enable the use of ability of equipment with high graphic performance in equipment with low graphic performance and to enable display of high-definition image data within the limit of its ability even in the case of equipment with low graphic performance. SOLUTION: Graphic performance of plural pieces of equipment (TV, STB) connected by a network is compared among them. When the graphic performance of a working display (TV) is relatively inferior, the high-definition image data (GUI data) is created by using equipment (STB) with higher graphic performance and the data is displayed on the working display (TV).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a network system in which a plurality of devices having various graphics performances are mixed and connected.

In particular, when a high graphics performance device and a low graphics performance device are connected to a network via an IEEE 1394 (a shortened expression of the IEEE Standard 1394-1995 standard) interface, the capability of the high graphics performance device is reduced. The present invention relates to a network system that can be appropriately used by a device.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computers have been used not only in offices but also in homes. It is a well-known fact in the computer world that data exchange, arithmetic processing, and the like can be efficiently performed by interconnecting a plurality of computers to form a network.

[0004] There has been a movement to develop such a network of computer systems so that various devices used in homes (such as audio / video devices, home appliances, communication devices, and personal computers) are networked and operated efficiently. It is getting active.

[0005] At present, several specifications and standards for networking home devices have been proposed. As a specific example, HAVi (Home A) that determines a protocol when an audio / video device (hereinafter abbreviated as AV device) is connected via a high-speed IEEE 1394 interface is used.
Home API (Home Applicati), which is a specification for networking devices including udio / Video Interoperability) and personal computers (PCs for short)
ons Programming Interface) specification, Echonet (Energy Conservat) when networking white goods (washing machine, rice cooker, kettle pot, air conditioner, etc.)
Various specifications such as the ion and Homecare Network standard are being determined.

Here, assuming a case where the current AV equipment is simply connected, its operation will be considered. First, a video signal supply device (referred to as a source device) and a video signal display device (referred to as a sink device) are connected.

As a specific example of the source device, a DVD
(Digital Versatile Disc) Video Player, Video C
D (Compact Disc) players. Further, specific examples of the sink device include a television receiver (hereinafter abbreviated as TV) with a video input terminal, and a monitor display (hereinafter, referred to as a video monitor) that receives video signals from various devices and displays various video images. Etc.).

[0008] A set-top box (abbreviated as STB) used for receiving a digital broadcast can be a source device or a sink device depending on the situation. For example, a sink device is used when receiving an MPEG-encoded data stream from a broadcasting station, and a source device when sending a decoded video signal to a TV.

Similarly, a video cassette recorder (VC
R) or a DVD video recorder can also be a source device (during playback) or a sink device (during recording) depending on the operating conditions.

On a screen of a sink device (for example, a TV), a moving image (for example, a main video video of a DVD) and a still image (for example, a DV)
To display an image in which a subtitle or a menu pattern of the D sub-image is superimposed, a sink device (TV)
Video / video on the source device (DVD player)
A composite image of the still image is created. The data of the composite image is stored in one port (composite video signal line, S port
The video signal is sent from the source device (DVD player) to the sink device (TV) via the video signal line or the component video signal line, and a composite image of a moving image / still image is displayed on the sink device (TV) side.

When only a still image file such as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) is displayed on a display screen of a sink device (display device such as a TV), the definition of the screen is determined by the graphics of the sink device (display device). Depends on performance. Therefore, even if the GUI data to be displayed is originally high-definition still image data, if the display is performed on a sink device with low graphics performance (such as a normal resolution TV other than a high-resolution HDTV), the low-definition still image data is displayed. GU
The I image is displayed.

[0012]

When a user wants to display high-definition still image data on a low graphics performance device (normal resolution TV or the like), the user has high graphics performance from various devices connected to the network. A device (for example, an STB or a PC equipped with a high-performance graphics board) is searched. Then, the found high graphics performance device is manually selected, and high definition still image data is created there. Next, the input port of the device (TV or the like) having the low graphics performance is switched to the input (high-definition still image data) from the manually selected high graphics performance device. By doing so, it is possible to display high-definition still image data with the maximum quality within the limits of the display capability of the low graphics performance device. However, this requires manual intervention by the user,
It takes time and effort.

A display device such as a normal TV or a video monitor does not have a function of superimposing a plurality of moving image data. Therefore, when displaying a plurality of moving images on one screen, it is necessary to display the plurality of moving images side by side or to input an image obtained by superimposing the moving images in advance on a display device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to appropriately use the capability of a high graphics performance device in a low graphics performance device, and to realize high definition within the limits of the capability even in a low graphics performance device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a network system capable of displaying various image data.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, in a network system according to the present invention, the graphics performance of a plurality of devices connected to a network is compared. If the graphics performance of the display device currently used for display is relatively poor,
High-definition image data (GUI data) is created by using a device having high graphics performance, and is displayed on the display device currently used for display.

Further, the graphics performances of a plurality of devices connected to the network are compared. Then, by automatically switching the image input port of the display device currently used for display to the input from the high-performance graphics device, the user can save high-resolution image data (high-definition GUI data ) Screen display.

Further, a controlled device (C
When a D player, a DVD player, or the like is connected, data necessary for the control (control of stop, reproduction, search, and the like) is obtained from the controlled device. Then, the control GUI data (data providing a control area invisible to the user) stored in the acquired data is converted to high-definition GUI data (icons and the like visible to the user) created by the high graphics performance device. Data)
Display on the screen of the display device currently used for display. By using the displayed GUI (high-definition icon and invisible control area thereunder), the controlled device can be controlled.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a controlled device to which a plurality of graphics processing devices (TV, STB) including at least one display device (TV) are connected and which can be controlled by a graphical user interface GUI. The present invention can be applied to a network system (FIG. 1) to which a (CD) can be appropriately connected.

In this network system, the graphics performance of devices (TV, STB) in the network system is investigated, and each device (T
V, STB) are compared to obtain a comparison result (FIGS. 7 and 8) (ST120 in FIG. 13).
1). Next, based on the comparison result (FIG. 8), it is determined that the graphics performance is relatively high (ST1202: Yes). The high graphics performance device (STB) converts the GUI data of the controlled device (CD) on the network into the moving image GUI data (STB). Generated as moving image deemed GUI data (ST1)
203, ST1204). Next, the generated moving image GUI
Data is transmitted over the network (ST120
4). Next, the moving image GUI data and another moving image transmitted on the network are superimposed, and the composite image is displayed on the display screen of the display device (TV) (ST12).
06).

In the above network system, the following processing can be performed. That is, a GUI for controlling the controlled device (CD) in the display device (TV).
Data (control area invisible to user; GUI in FIG. 4)
# 1) is generated (ST1208 in FIG. 13). And
At a predetermined position on the display screen of the display device (TV), the moving image GUI is displayed so that the image of the moving image GUI data can be seen by the user.
The I data (data such as icons visible to the user; GUI # 2 in FIG. 4) and the control GUI data (control area invisible to the user; GUI # 1 in FIG. 4) are displayed in an overlapping manner (ST1209 in FIG. 13). FIG. 4). The controlled device (CD) is controlled using the control GUI data displayed in this manner (ST1207).

Alternatively, in a network system (FIG. 10) according to the present invention to which a plurality of graphics processing devices (A to E) including one or more display devices are connected, the graphics performance of the devices (A to E) in the network system Is investigated (ST1301 in FIG. 14). The graphics performance of each device (A to E) is compared based on the survey result, and the comparison result (FIG. 11) is obtained (ST130).
1). Next, the data input port of the display device (for example, A) is determined to have relatively high graphics performance based on the comparison result (FIG. 11) (Yes in step ST1302). The input port (IEEE 1394 specific channel)
(Automatically regardless of user operation) (ST
1304).

In the above-mentioned graphics performance survey, the devices (TVs and STBs in FIG. 1; or A to E in FIG. 10) to be investigated are used to determine the device (LSI type, graphics memory size, etc.) used for graphics generation. Graphics performance can be digitized (FIGS. 7, 8, and 11), and a correspondence table (FIGS. 8 and 11) between the graphics performance and the device to be investigated can be created from the numerical value.

The data transfer between the devices on the network can use the IEEE 1394 standard.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a graphical control screen (GU in FIG. 4) for outputting moving image data and controlling itself.
I or a device capable of generating data of a button on a DVD menu, etc., and has a configuration (IEEE1394 interface) for outputting moving image data and graphical control screen data through separate ports. The present invention can be applied to a device (such as a DVD player).

Alternatively, in the multimedia device according to the present invention, different ports (different channels) in synchronous transfer (isochronous transfer) according to the IEEE 1394 standard.
Can be used in a configuration for separately outputting moving image data and control screen data.

In addition, a plurality of devices (A to A in FIGS. 10 and 11)
In the network system according to the present invention to which E) is connected, when one or more devices (A to E) are displaying moving image data (such as a television broadcast program) specified in the display area, a plurality of devices are displayed. (A to E) Each graphics performance is examined (ST1301 in FIG. 14). Based on the results of the graphics performance survey, each device (A to E)
Each graphics performance is compared (ST130).
1: ST1302).

On the other hand, broadcast data receivable by a plurality of devices (A to E) in the network system is examined (ST1303).

The designated moving image data (television broadcast program) can be output using the result of the comparison of the graphics performance and the result of the survey of the receivable broadcast data, and the relatively high graphics performance can be obtained. The device (for example, B) possessed is selected from the plurality of devices (A to E) (YES in ST1302, YES in ST1303).

If the device (for example, A) currently displaying the specified moving image data (television broadcast program) is different from the selected device (for example, B), the device (A) currently displayed is displayed. An input port (IEEE 1394 isochronous transfer channel # 1) receives data from the selected device (B) through a port (IEEE 1394).
Is automatically switched to the isochronous transfer channel # 2) (ST1304).

As a result, the data (high-definition GUI data as moving image data) created by the selected device (B) having high graphics performance + the specified moving image data (television broadcast program) are transferred to the currently used device (A ).

Further, a plurality of devices (A in FIGS. 10 and 11)
In the network system according to the present invention to which (E) to (E) are connected, the graphics performance of each of the plurality of devices (A to E) is obtained and compared (ST1401).

On the other hand, a device capable of receiving the designated broadcast channel is selected from the plurality of devices (A to E) in the network system, and the moving image data of the designated broadcast channel is transmitted by the selected device (ST1402). .

A device having the highest graphics performance is selected based on the comparison of the graphics performance, and the moving image data of the GUI is transmitted from the selected device (ST1403).

Then, the transmitted moving image data of the designated broadcast channel and the transmitted moving image data of the GUI are superimposed and displayed on a screen (ST1404).

[0035]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This network system is a television (hereinafter referred to as TV) 1 each having an IEEE1394 interface.
01, set-top box (hereinafter referred to as STB) 10
3 and the CD player 102 are connected by a connection line (serial bus) based on IEEE1394.

The TV 101 is a sink device capable of receiving a broadcast (analog broadcast or digital broadcast) or directly receiving an external video input. And
The TV 101 performs an appropriate decoding process on received data (for example, digital broadcast data encoded by MPEG2) or directly input data (for example, video CD data encoded by MPEG1), and displays the display screen of the TV 101 itself. It has a video monitor function to display video on a computer.

Although the TV 101 can display graphics such as an electronic program guide (EPG), its graphics performance is assumed to be low (requiring high graphics performance increases its manufacturing cost). , It would be expensive). The internal configuration of the TV 101 will be described later with reference to FIG.

The STB 103 has a function of receiving various broadcast data including a scrambled digital data stream, performing an appropriate decoding process, and transmitting the decoded data to a network.
It is assumed that the device has a graphics performance higher than that of device 1.
The STB 103 has both a function as a sink device that receives broadcast data and the like and a function as a source device that sends out decoded data.

The CD player 102 is a source device for reproducing not only a music CD but also a video CD on which MPEG-encoded digital video data is recorded or a CD on which computer data is recorded. The reproduced data is transmitted over a network. Is done.

Further, the CD player 102 can control its operations (playback start, pause, stop, fast forward, fast reverse, track forward / backward skip, etc.) by control commands based on a predetermined protocol. ing.

Each of the devices (101 to 103) has an IE
They are connected by a connection line (IEEE 1394 serial bus) based on the EE standard 1394-1995 standard. Not only video data but also bi-directional transfer of various commands, etc.
This is performed via the IEEE 1394 serial bus.

The TV 101 or the STB 103 acquires data necessary for the control from the CD player 102.
Subsequently, a GUI for controlling the CD player 102 is displayed on the display screen, and the CD player 102 is controlled using the GUI.

Here, the graphics performance of the TV 101 is relatively low, and the graphics performance of the STB 103 is relatively high. Therefore, the STB 103 generates a high-definition GUI image (moving image data format) from the GUI data as moving image deemed GUI data, and generates the generated moving image deemed G
Sends UI data to the IEEE 1394 bus. TV1
No. 01 displays a high-definition GUI image (a GUI icon or the like) using the high-definition moving image deemed GUI data (using its own display capability).

Further, in the devices connected to the network as described above (for example, between the STB and the TV),
Video data (broadcast programs, etc.) and graphical data (G
(E.g., UI icons, etc.) and output them separately (for example,
By transferring moving image data and graphical data via separate channels in the IEEE 1394 isochronous transfer, a low graphics performance device (T
In V), a high-definition image can be displayed.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the internal configuration of the TV 101 (low graphics performance device) shown in FIG.

The broadcast receiving section 201 has a built-in TV tuner for receiving broadcast waves such as terrestrial waves and satellite broadcast waves.

The input I / F section 202 is an IEEE 1394
Remote control input, video input, DV sent from the bus
Process each external input including the D input. The output I / F unit 203 processes each external output such as a video output and a DVD output sent to the IEEE 1394 bus. These input / output I / F units are based on IEEE1394.
Configure the interface.

The IEEE 1394 interface is:
It has hardware and software (firmware) necessary for processing based on the IEEE Standard 1394-1995 standard (determination of the following items, etc.).

That is, in the IEEE 1394, the following items are determined after the reset until the state where the normal packet transfer is performed.

(1) Identification of nodes connected to the IEEE 1394 bus (determining parent-child relationship between nodes); (2) root node; (3) self-identification (determination of node ID); (4) isochronous resources (5) cycle master; (6) bus manager.

When the nodes (devices 101 to 103 in FIG. 1) connected to the IEEE 1394 bus are determined, normal packet transfer (isochronous transfer or asynchronous transfer) is started.

Here, the isochronous transfer refers to a transfer method in which data is transmitted and received at regular intervals (125 μs). In the format of the packet transferred by isochronous transfer, the ID of the transfer destination is not added, but the channel number is added. On the other hand, the asynchronous transfer is a transfer method for transmitting and receiving data at an arbitrary time, and the priority of the asynchronous transfer is lower than that of the isochronous transfer.

The graphics performance comparison unit 205 shown in FIG.
Investigate the graphics performance of each device connected to the IEEE 1394 bus. Then, from the result of the investigation, the performance comparison unit 205 creates, refers to, searches or processes graphics performance data of each device.

The result of the investigation by the graphics performance comparison unit 205 (data corresponding to performance values between various graphics LSIs, graphics performance data, etc.) is stored in the memory 208 as a kind of database.

The display processing unit 204 includes an input I / F unit 202
Video data input from the outside via the PC and / or data received by the broadcast receiving unit 201 (such as an MPEG transport stream of digital broadcast) is appropriately decoded. Then, the display processing unit 204
Sending the decoded result to the display screen as a video signal in accordance with the display synchronization signal; creating moving image deemed GUI data from the GUI data; generating an image in which two or more moving image data are superimposed; Video signal to the display screen according to the video;
Create a video signal with the size and position of the GUI data adjusted based on the UI data and send it to the display screen; change the display screen in response to user input (user operation on the GUI screen); .

Here, the above "moving picture deemed GUI data"
The term “data” refers to data obtained by converting GUI data (eg, bitmap data such as icons) into a moving image signal format similar to a video signal (video signal).

In other words, the above-mentioned “moving picture deemed G
The “UI data” means that a device having a high graphics performance (eg, STB) transmits a GU of a certain number of frames within a certain time.
Display I data repeatedly (for example, 30 times a second)
G created to display frame GUI data)
It can also be said that it is UI data.

In the following description, this “moving picture deemed GUI data” may be appropriately referred to as “moving picture GUI data”.

The controlled device control unit 206 communicates with the controlled device (CD player in FIG. 1) via the input I / F unit 202 and the output I / F unit 203 (IEEE 1394 interface) using a fixed protocol. Acquiring data necessary for controlling the controlled device; extracting GUI data used for control from the data and sending it to the display processing unit; controlling the controlled device in response to a user input; I do.

The display screen 207 has a CRT or a liquid crystal panel (not shown) as a display means, and a video circuit (not shown) for driving the display means at a predetermined resolution and a predetermined gradation (or number of colors). ). A screen corresponding to the video signal input from the display processing unit 204 to the video circuit is displayed on the display screen 207.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually explaining an example of the system operation of FIG. 1 in a time series. Specifically, I
T connected to the network using the IEEE 1394 bus
The operations of various devices (source devices and / or sink devices) such as a V (low graphics performance device) 101, a CD player (controlled device) 102, and an STB (high graphics performance device) 103 are schematically illustrated in time series. It is expressed in.

In the initial state (time t10), the TV
(Low graphics performance device) 101 receives the broadcast wave of channel 1 and displays the image on the screen.

At the same time, the TV 101 (internal configuration example shown in FIG. 2) investigates and compares the graphics performance of each device connected to the network (time t12).

As a result, the STB 103 is more
STB10
3 communicates with the CD player (controlled device) 102,
Data necessary for the control is obtained from the CD player 102 (time t14).

The STB 103 obtains a GU from the acquired data.
Extract I data and create high-definition moving image deemed GUI data (bitmap data visible to the user)
It is sent to the TV 101 (time t20).

At the same time, the TV 101 also acquires data necessary for controlling the controlled device (CD player) 102, and extracts GUI data (control area data, etc., invisible to the user) from the data.

The TV 101 adjusts the position and size of the extracted GUI data and the moving image deemed GUI data from the STB 103, and superimposes the two with the moving image deemed GUI data in front. Furthermore, TV101
Superimposes the superimposed GUI data on the moving image data of channel 1 (moving image of a broadcast program) and displays the superimposed GUI data on the display screen 207 of FIG. 2 (time t20 to t30).

In the meantime, the STB 103 performs the
I data and moving image data of channel 1 are transferred to IEEE1
The transmission is continued to the TV 101 via the 394 bus (time t20 to t30).

In this way, even a low graphics performance device (TV 101) can use only the processing capability of the high graphics performance device (STB 103) connected to the network, so that High-definition screen display that cannot be performed is enabled.

Note that the TV 101 uses the deemed moving image GUI data from the STB 103, but the broadcast program (moving image data) of channel 1 may use the data received by itself.

According to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for performing the processing of the flow as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of devices (TV,
When the graphics performance of the currently used display device (TV) in the STB) is relatively poor, the device (STB) having higher graphics performance is automatically used to provide a high-definition GU.
I data can be displayed.

Further, the control GUI data (which does not need to be seen by the user) is displayed on the high-definition GUI display (visible to the user).
Can be controlled to control the controlled device (CD player / DVD player) via the high-definition GUI display.

Further, a high-definition GUI is created by a high-performance graphics machine (high-speed, large-capacity VRAM) and is transferred to a low-performance graphics machine (low-speed, small-capacity VRAM).
It is also possible to send an I image as moving image video data and display a high definition GUI image as a moving image on a low-performance graphics machine. In other words, the low-performance graphics machine has the high-performance graphics machine take over the creation of the high-definition GUI, and receives only the resulting high-definition (high-quality) GUI in the form of video data.

In this way, if a low-performance graphics machine is made by itself, only a low-definition GUI icon can be obtained.
It is possible to display a high-definition GUI icon created by a high-performance graphics machine within the frame of its own display resolution.

Further, when not only high-definition GUI icons but also moving image data (video program) can be created on the high-performance graphics machine side, a method of creating high-definition GUI data + high-quality moving image data on the high-performance graphics machine is also considered. Can be

In this case, high-definition GUI data and high-quality moving image data can be transmitted from a high-performance graphics machine (STB or the like) to a low-performance graphics machine (TV or the like) via the IEEE 1394 bus. In this case, the display capability of the low-performance graphics machine (TV, etc.) is fully used, and high-quality (high-quality) high-definition GUI data + high-quality moving image data is obtained as compared with the case where the image is created by itself (TV, etc.). , Can be displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a process of superposing and displaying a high-definition GUI # 2 icon for a user interface on the control GUI # 1 of the controlled device (CD) in the system of FIG. 1 (see ST1209 of FIG. 13). Is conceptually illustrated.

That is, moving picture data such as a broadcast program or DVD video is added to a GU on a low graphics performance machine (TV, etc.).
I # 1 (control area invisible to the user) is displayed overlapping. Further, on this GUI # 1 (control area), G created by a high graphics performance machine (STB, etc.)
UI # 2 (high-definition icon visible to the user) is displayed in an overlapping manner.

Then, a low graphics performance machine (TV
) On the GUI # 1 (control area)
A GUI image on which I # 2 (high-definition icon) overlaps is displayed together with the moving image.

The user can operate a cursor key of a remote controller (not shown) or a mouse (not shown) or a joystick (not shown) to operate a desired portion of a high-definition icon (for example, a rightward triangle mark). One part), and press the enter key or double-click the selected part.
Then, the control GUI corresponding to the position of one high-definition icon on the screen with one right-pointing triangle mark is displayed on the controlled device (CD).
Control data for starting the reproduction of the player or the like is generated, and the reproduction operation is started in the controlled device.

In the example of FIG. 4, the control GUI #
The first control area is not displayed on the screen, and an embodiment in which only two pieces of moving image data (moving image deemed GUI data GUI # 2 and another moving image data) are overlapped (combined) and displayed is also conceivable. In this case, only a high-definition GUI icon is displayed, and it is not possible to interactively control a controlled device (such as a CD player) with the user using the GUI icon.

When it becomes necessary to interactively control a device with the user, data to be used for the control is obtained from the controlled device, and the GUI stored in the data is associated with the user's input. Then, the size and position of the GUI are adjusted behind the high-definition moving image deemed GUI data, and displayed at the same position. As described above, by displaying the high-definition GUI and the GUI used for control in the same position, the user can control the controlled device via the high-definition GUI display.

That is, the control GUI # 1 and the display GUI
It is not always necessary to be inseparable from # 2.
Even if a high-definition beautiful GUI icon is normally displayed on the screen without the control GUI # 1, there is something that appeals to the user, and the commercial value increases.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the contents of the controlled device control data (104) of FIG. Here, control data necessary for controlling the controlled device (the CD player to which the device ID = A is assigned) is stored.

That is, the data stored in FIG.
"GUI file name" (here, AGUI.bm) which is the file name of a GUI image (bitmap) used for device control
p); “controlled device ID” for identifying the controlled device (here, ID = A); “GUI number” for identifying the button (icon) displayed in the GUI file (here, 1 to 1)
4); "User input" for identifying what input the user has made (here, a keyboard is assumed for control and user input is identified by the number of times the return key is hit); a command for controlling the controlled device Control commands (rewind, stop, play, pause fast-forward, rewind / fast-forward in song units, etc.).

This control data is stored in the controlled device (the memory 104 of the CD player in FIG. 1), and is transmitted to the control device (TV) in accordance with a request from the network-connected control device (eg, the TV 101). You. Then, the GUI stored in the data (for example, GUI # 1 + GUI # 2 in FIG. 4) is displayed on the screen of the control device (TV).

A control unit (20 in FIG. 2) of the control device (TV)
6) monitors the input from the user. Then, when there is a user input, the control unit (206 in FIG. 2)
The control data (right column in FIG. 5) is searched using the input (GUI number in FIG. 5) as a key. Then, the controlled device (CD player 102) is controlled by transmitting the searched corresponding control command to the controlled device via the IEEE 1394 bus, for example, by an asynchronous transfer method.

FIG. 6 is a screen display example of a GUI file (AGUI.bmp) stored in the control data of FIG. Such screens (high-definition GUs with GUI numbers 1-4)
I icon) is displayed on the display screen (207 in FIG. 2) of the control device (TV 101).

Then, for example, the display processing unit 204+ shown in FIG.
The controlled device control unit 206 controls the controlled device (the CD player 102 in FIG. 1) in accordance with the input from the user via the icon in FIG.

FIG. 7 exemplifies device names and processing performance values of various graphics processing LSIs that can be used in each device of FIG.

The IEEE 1394 interface is an IEEE
It has a function of mutual authentication with each device on the EE1394 bus (such as a function of exchanging information about what specifications and functions the other party has). Using this mutual authentication function, IEEE
Each device connected via E1394 is examined, and a device having a graphics display function is extracted. Subsequently, graphics hardware information of each device having a graphics display function is examined, graphics performance data as shown in FIG. 8 is created, and the memory 20 in the TV 101 is created.
8 is stored.

FIG. 8 illustrates the graphics performance and the like of each device (TV, STB) on the network of FIG. 1 using a part of the graphics processing LSI listed in FIG.

In preparing the graphics performance data shown in FIG. 8, first, the graphics LSI name and the graphics memory size of each device having the graphics processing function are checked. Based on the survey results, Graphics L
The graphics LSI-LSI performance value correspondence data (FIG. 7) is searched using the SI name as a key, and the corresponding LSI performance value is extracted. Next, a value obtained by multiplying the LSI performance value by the graphics memory size (MB) is set as the graphics performance value of the device.

Then, the device name,
A table of graphics performance data (FIG. 8) in which graphics LSI names, graphics memory sizes, graphics performance values, and the like are associated is stored.

From the graphics performance data of FIG. 8, for example, (a) the graphics LSI 1 of the TV 101 is LS based on the graphics LSI-LSI performance value corresponding data of FIG.
It can be seen that the I performance value is 50 and the (b) graphics memory size is 2 MB.

In this case, in order to evaluate the graphics performance of the TV 101 numerically, a value obtained by multiplying the LSI performance value by the graphics memory size (MB) can be used as the graphics performance value.

That is, the graphics performance value becomes 100 by the calculation of 50 * 2 = 100 (Equation 1).

Further, the broadcast channels that can be received by the TV 101 are also investigated and stored in the graphics performance data (right column in FIG. 8) in association with each device.

A similar process is performed for each device (S
TB103) and is stored in a table of graphics performance data.

In this way, before the processing of FIGS. 13 to 15 to be described later is started, the internal memory (such as the memory 208 in FIG. 2) of each device stores the graphics LSI for each graphics LSI used in each device. Graphics LSI-LSI performance value correspondence data (FIG. 7) in which a graphics LSI name is associated with its performance value is stored in advance based on benchmark test results such as graphics display speed and acceleration performance value comparison.

Further, a table of graphics performance data (FIG. 8) created based on the data of FIG. 7 and the like is stored in advance in an internal memory (such as the memory 208 of FIG. 2) of each device.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the system operation of FIG.

Now, it is assumed that the user is displaying the broadcast channel 1 on the TV 101 in the network system as shown in FIG. In such a situation, when the user operates the CD player 102 as the controlled device, the processing in FIG. 13 is started.

First, the graphics performance comparing section 20 shown in FIG.
5 obtains the graphics performance of each device (such as the STB 103) on the network via the IEEE 1394 interface, and performs a performance comparison including the graphics performance of itself (TV 101) (step ST120).
1).

For this performance comparison, data (data in FIGS. 7 and 8) stored in advance in the memory 208 in FIG.
Can be used.

In this performance comparison, the GUI file is extracted by referring to the GUI file name item in FIG.
The graphics parameters of the GUI file (parameters such as the angle of view, the number of colors, and the number of pixels, not shown) and the TV 10
A comparison with the processing capability of one graphics engine (graphics LSI) may be made.

Next, while the user receives the broadcast channel (channel 1) and displays the video on the screen of the TV 101 in FIG. 1, the graphics performance value item of the graphics performance data is referred to, and the graphics performance value is displayed. The highest device (or at least a device having a higher graphics performance value than the TV 101) is extracted.

The devices (eg, STB1) extracted in this way
03) is compared with the graphics performance value of the TV 101 currently displaying the image (step ST1201).

The comparison result indicates that if the graphics performance value of the extracted device is higher than the graphics performance value of the TV 101 currently in use (step ST1202: YES), the graphics performance value of the extracted device is higher than the TV 10
1 or less than the graphics performance value (step ST12).
02 No).

If the graphics performance value of the extracted device is equal to or less than the graphics performance value of the TV 101 currently in use (No in step ST1202), the case where the graphics performance value is the same value is included.

First, when the extracted device has the same graphics performance value as the TV 101 (or when both the extracted device and the TV 101 have the highest graphics performance value among the devices on the network) (step ST1)
202 No), the TV 101 communicates with the controllable CD player 102 (controlled device) using a certain protocol, and acquires control data (FIG. 5) (step ST12).
05).

Subsequently, GUI data is extracted from the obtained control data, and the GUI data and the moving picture data of the broadcast channel (channel 1) currently displayed on TV 101 are displayed in a superimposed manner (step ST1206).
FIG. 9 shows an example of the display screen at that time.

The controlled device control unit 206 in FIG. 2 monitors the user's input to the GUI data displayed on the screen as shown in FIG. 9 (see the fourth column in FIG. 5).

When a user input is made on this GUI screen (step ST1207), control data (FIG. 5) is searched using data corresponding to the input (for example, the GUI number in FIG. 6) as a key, and a corresponding control command is retrieved. Is IEEE
The data is transmitted to the controlled device (CD player 102) based on, for example, the asynchronous transfer method of E1394.

Then, the controlled device (CD player 10)
2) operates according to the control command (right column in FIG. 5) received via the IEEE 1394 bus.

When the graphics performance value of the extracted device is lower than the TV 101 in No in step ST1202, the extracted device is not used, and the same processing (TV101) as in steps ST1205 to ST1207 is performed.
Of a GUI image and control using the GUI image.

On the other hand, the extracted devices (for example, STB10
If 3) has a graphics performance value higher than that of the TV 101 (step ST1202: YES), the extracted device (STB) is controlled by the controllable CD player 102.
It communicates with the (controlled device) using a certain protocol to acquire control data (FIG. 5) (step ST120).
3).

Subsequently, the extracted device (STB) refers to the GUI file name item of the acquired control data and extracts the corresponding GUI file (FIG. 5). Graphics engine (Graphics LS) of the extracted device (STB)
I) uses the graphics parameters (angle of view, number of colors, number of pixels, etc., not shown) of this GUI file to display TV
A GUI image (icon or the like) with higher definition than when the graphics engine 101 is used is generated. The generated high-definition GUI image is converted into moving image data inside the extracted device (STB).

The conversion into the moving image data can be specifically performed as follows. That is, TV10
If the graphics performance of the first TV is lower,
The number of frames per second of the video displayed at 101 is examined. As a result, if an NTSC video image is displayed on the TV 101, it can be understood that the number of frames per second is 30 frames / second. Utilizing this survey result (30 frames / sec), GUI data is extracted 30 seconds per second inside the extracted device (STB).
High-definition moving image GUI data to be displayed by repeating the frame is generated.

The moving image GUI data thus converted is
It is transmitted to the TV 101 via the IEEE1394 bus as moving image deemed GUI data (step ST120).
4). At this time, display size information and display position information are also added to the transmitted moving image GUI data.

The moving image GUI data and the moving image data of the currently displayed broadcast channel (channel 1) are
According to the synchronous transfer (isochronous transfer) protocol on EE1394, the image can be transmitted to the TV 101 currently displaying the image on a separate channel (step S).
T1204).

Subsequently, the display processing unit 20 inside the TV 101
4 (FIG. 2), the extracted device (STB) or the moving image of the broadcast program (channel 1) received by the TV 101 with its receiving function and the extracted device (STB)
Is generated by superimposing the moving image GUI data from. Then, a display synchronization signal is added to the image generated by the display processing unit 204, and the image is transmitted to the display screen 207 (FIG. 2) as a normal video signal.

In this manner, on display screen 207 (FIG. 2), an image (for example, FIG. 9) in which a moving image of a broadcast program (channel 1) is superimposed on a high-definition GUI image is displayed (step ST1206).

When there is a user input on the displayed GUI screen (step ST1207), control data (FIG. 5) is searched using data corresponding to the input (for example, the GUI number in FIG. 6) as a key, and Is transmitted to the controlled device (CD player 102) based on IEEE1394. Then, the controlled device (C
The D player 102) operates according to the control command (the right column in FIG. 5) received via the IEEE 1394 bus.

Note that the display in step ST1206 is G
When only the display of the UI image is performed and the processing of the control GUI data is not included, the processing including the control GUI data can be performed as follows.

That is, the corresponding GUI file is extracted from the control data acquired in step ST1203 or ST1205 by referring to the corresponding GUI file name item (FIG. 5). From the corresponding GUI number (FIG. 6) and the corresponding control command of the GUI file thus extracted,
Control GUI data is generated (step ST120).
8).

The control GUI data generated in this way is superimposed on the moving picture GUI data created in step ST1204, whereby the control GUI data as shown in FIG.
The image of the high-definition GUI # 2 with I # 1 behind it is displayed together with other moving images on the display screen 207 of the TV 101 currently in use.
Can be displayed (step ST1209).

In the embodiment described above, the graphics performance is evaluated based on the graphics LSI name and the graphics memory size. However, other performances may be considered in evaluating the graphics performance.

Also, as a method of calculating the evaluation value of the graphics performance value, a method (Equation 1) of multiplying the graphics performance value by the memory size usable by the graphics engine has been exemplified. However, another calculation method such as adding the graphics performance value and the memory size or taking an average value may be used for the evaluation value calculation method of the graphics performance value.

The items used for evaluating the graphics performance value are not limited to those described above. Further, the configuration of the network for connecting a plurality of devices is not limited to the configuration described above.

For example, the connection lines of the network are not limited to those based on the IEEE1394 standard, but may be based on other standards such as Ethernet.
Similarly, the data transmission / reception method is not necessarily based on the IEEE 1394 standard, but may be based on another standard such as TCP / IP.

The control data of the controlled device is transmitted by the controlled device in response to a request from the control device. However, the controlled device sends out control data according to the network configuration, or sends control data to a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
ator) may be configured to be placed on an address, and a device on the network may download control data from the URL address as needed.

Further, the TV 101 not only displays the received moving image data (broadcast program, etc.) and the moving image GUI data (high definition icon, etc.) created by the STB 103, but also displays the moving image data (broadcast program, etc.) received by the STB. )
And the moving image GUI data (high-definition icons, etc.) created by the STB 103 are separately sent to the TV 101, and the
In (1), these (moving image data and moving image GUI data) may be superimposed and displayed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a network system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 10, a source device or a sink device 901 or 903 to 906 is connected to a source device (a DVD player as a controlled device) 902 by an IEEE1394.
1 illustrates a configuration connected to a network via a bus.

In the configuration of FIG. 10, as in the case of FIG.
The graphics performance of each device is examined, and graphics performance data (FIG. 11) is created. The graphics performance data (FIG. 11) is stored in, for example, a sink device A (display device such as a TV) 901.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the system operation shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. here,
The following description is given with the system of FIG. 10 in mind.

When the user receives a broadcast channel (channel 1) using the reception function of device A 901 in FIG. 10 and displays the image of the received program on the screen, device A 90
1 refers to a receivable broadcast channel item and a graphics performance value item in the graphics performance data of FIG. 11 (not shown, but having a function corresponding to 205 in FIG. 2) (step ST1301).

From this reference target, another device (here, device B 903) having a higher graphics performance value than the display device A 901 and capable of receiving the broadcast channel (channel 1) received by device A 901 is searched. (Step ST1301).

The search result indicates that there is a corresponding device (YES in step ST1302 or ST1303) and that there is no corresponding device (step ST1302 or ST1302).
No. 1303).

When there is no corresponding device (step ST1)
In 302 or NO in ST1303), the processing in FIG. 14 ends.

If there is a corresponding device (step ST1)
302 or YES in ST1303), for example, device B
If (STB) 903 is the corresponding device, device B9
03 communicates with the controllable DVD player 902 (controlled device) using a certain protocol, and acquires control data of the controlled device.

Subsequently, the device B 903 extracts the GUI file by referring to the GUI file name item in the control data (similar to that of FIG. 5), and creates moving image GUI data. Display size information and display position information are also added to the moving image GUI data.

The moving picture GUI data thus obtained and the moving picture data of the currently displayed broadcast channel (channel 1) are superimposed on one piece of moving picture data to form device B903.
Generated in Then, the generated moving image data is transferred on one IEEE 1394 channel according to a synchronous transfer protocol (isochronous transfer).
Is transmitted to the device A 901 currently displaying the image.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, on the display screen of the device A 901, a dialog box for notifying “switch the input to the display device B ... yes / no” is displayed.

When the user selects “yes” or does not make any selection and a certain time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses, the current input channel of the device A 901 automatically changes to the display device B 903.
Is switched to the channel to which the data from is input (step ST1304).

According to this method, the channel (data input port) can be automatically switched to a device having high graphics performance (or manually by the user).

That is, data (high-definition GUI data or the like as moving image data) created by the device B having higher graphics performance (having no display function) + specified moving image data (DVD reproduction data or TV broadcast program ) Can be displayed on the device A currently in use (having a display function).

In the above-described embodiment, a character is displayed on the screen (FIG. 12) at the time of automatic channel switching, and the notification is made.
However, the user may be notified of the channel switching by another method such as notifying by voice or icon.

In FIG. 10, six source / sink devices are connected in a daisy chain format, but the network configuration is not limited to this.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of the system operation of FIG. 1 or FIG. Here, as in the case of FIG. 14, the following description is made with the system of FIG. 10 in mind.

As in the case of FIG. 14, the graphics performance of each display device is examined, graphics performance data (FIG. 11) is created, and the created data is stored in the device A 901.
(Step ST1401).

The device A 901 receives a broadcast channel (channel 1) with its receiving function and displays it on the screen. When the user designates the display of the broadcast channel CS1, the receivable broadcast channel item (right column in FIG. 11) of the graphics performance data (FIG. 11) is referred to. Then, a device that can receive the broadcast channel CS1 (here, the device D having the CS tuner function) is searched, and the searched device D905 is extracted.

The device D905 converts the moving picture data of the broadcast channel CS1 received by the receiving function into the IEEE 1394
Is transmitted to the device A 901 on one channel by a method according to the synchronous transfer protocol (step ST14).
02).

At the same time, the device B 903 having the maximum graphics performance value is extracted by referring to the graphics performance value item in the graphics performance data.

The display device B 903 communicates with the controllable DVD player 902 (controlled device) using a certain protocol, and acquires control data of the DVD player 902.

Subsequently, the display device B 903 extracts the GUI file by referring to the GUI file name item in the obtained control data, and creates moving image GUI data. Display size information and display position information are also added to the moving image GUI data. The moving image GUI data is IEEE1394
In accordance with the above synchronous transfer protocol, it is transmitted to device A 901 over one channel (step ST1403).

Subsequently, the device A 901 generates an image in which the moving image data of the channel CS1 from the device D 905 and the moving image GUI data from the device B 903 are superimposed, and adds a display synchronizing signal as a video signal. Device A901
(Step ST1404).

Further, the device A 901 is provided with a controllable DV.
It communicates with the D player 902 (controlled device), acquires control data of the DVD player 902, and extracts a GUI file by referring to the GUI file name item.

The size and the position of the GUI file are adjusted based on the display size information and the display position information added to the moving image GUI data from the device B 903, and the GUI file is superimposed on the back of the moving image GUI data at the same size and position. To display.

In this manner, high-definition moving image GUI data is displayed on the foreground. FIG. 4 or 9 shows an example of the display screen at that time.

Also, the user input to the GUI file is monitored, and when there is a user input, control data (FIG. 5) is searched using the user input data as a key, and the corresponding control command is transmitted to the IEEE 1394 asynchronous transfer method. Based on this, it can also be transmitted to the controlled device. Then, the controlled device (DVD player 902) operates according to the received control command.

In this embodiment, the case where the moving image data from device D and the moving image GUI data from device B are superimposed and displayed on device A has been described. However, moving image data or moving image GUI data input from another device (for example, device C and device E) may be superimposed and displayed on device A.

Further, moving picture data created by superimposing moving picture data or moving picture GUI data inputted from another apparatus (for example, apparatus C and apparatus E) on another apparatus (for example, apparatus B) is transmitted to apparatus A. It can also be displayed above.

The features of the embodiment described above are summarized as follows.

(1) The graphics performance of each device connected to the network is investigated and compared. If the graphics performance of the device displaying the current image is inferior, the device having the high graphics performance converts the high-definition moving image deemed GUI data that repeatedly displays the GUI data of a fixed number of frames within a fixed time. Create and send. Then, even if the device that is currently displaying an image has low graphics performance, the input moving image deemed GUI data and another moving image data are superimposed to provide a high-definition GUI.
Can be displayed.

(2) Although only the display of a high-definition GUI is enabled in the above (1), it is also possible to control the controlled device using the high-definition GUI. That is,
In the method of displaying two moving image data (moving image deemed GUI data and another moving image data) in an overlapping manner, a high-definition GUI is used.
Only an image is displayed, and the GUI cannot be used to interactively control the controlled device with the user.

Therefore, data used for the control is obtained from the controlled device, and the GUI stored in the data is associated with the user's input. Then, the size and position of the GUI are adjusted behind the high-definition moving image deemed GUI data and displayed at the same position. As described above, by displaying the high-definition GUI and the GUI used for control in the same position, the user can control the controlled device via the high-definition GUI display.

(3) If, among the devices connected to the network, there is a device having better graphics performance than the display device which is currently displaying an image, the input of the display device is input from the high-performance graphics device. By automatically switching to the input, a high-definition image can be displayed on the display device without any trouble for the user.

(4) In the multimedia device in the network-connected device, the moving image data and the graphical data are separately processed and output (for example, IEEE
By performing data transfer via another channel in the isochronous transfer of E1394), it is possible to realize the display of a high-definition image on a low graphics performance device.

[0172]

As described above, according to the network system of the present invention, when the graphics performance of the display device is inferior among the devices connected to the network, the device having the high graphics performance is automatically used. And high-definition GUI data can be displayed.

Furthermore, by displaying the GUI data required for control in a manner superimposed on the high-definition GUI data, the controlled device can be controlled via the high-definition GUI image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of the internal configuration of the low graphics performance device (TV) in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of the system operation of FIG. 1 in chronological order;

FIG. 4 shows a controlled device (CD) in the system of FIG.
Of displaying a high-definition GUI # 2 icon for a user interface over the control GUI # 1 (FIG. 13)
FIG. 1 conceptually explains ST1209).

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying the contents of control data (104) for the controlled device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view exemplifying a control GUI corresponding to the control data in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view exemplifying device names and processing performance values of various graphics processing LSIs that can be used in each device in FIG. 1;

8 is a diagram exemplifying the graphics performance and the like of each device (TV, STB) on the network in FIG. 1 using a part of the graphics processing LSI listed in FIG. 7;

9 is a diagram exemplifying a state in which a control GUI of a controlled device is displayed over a video moving image such as a broadcast program in the system of FIG. 1 (see ST1206 in FIG. 13).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a network system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view exemplifying a list of graphics performance data of each device connected by the network of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying a GUI screen when a user switches an input port (input channel) of a device currently in use in the network of FIG. 1 or FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a system operation in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the system operation of FIG. 1 or FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating still another example of the system operation of FIG. 1 or FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

101: Television receiver TV (IEEE1394I
/ F and low graphics performance sink device); 102 ... Compact disc CD player (IEEE1)
A source device that has a 394 I / F and is GUI controllable; a controlled device);
104: control data memory (database) for controlled equipment; 201: broadcast receiving unit (analog broadcast tuner and / or digital broadcast tuner); 202: IEEE 1394 input I / F unit; 203 ... IEEE 1394 output I / F unit; 204 ... display processing unit (including a function of combining moving image data and GUI data); 205 ... graphics performance comparison unit; 206 ... controlled device 207: display screen (CRT, liquid crystal panel, etc.); 208: database memory (graphics LSI-L)
901: device A on the network (for example, digital TV as a sink device); 902: controlled device on the network (for example, a DVD player or a source device) 903: Device B on the network (for example, STB corresponding to both functions of a source device and a sink device); 904: Device C on the network (for example, HDTV as a sink device); 905: Device D on the network 906: Device E on the network (eg, VCR or DVD_RTR recorder or streamer functioning as a source device during playback and functioning as a sink device during recording)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B069 DD15 DD16 KA06 LA03 5C082 AA01 AA02 BA12 BA41 BB01 CB05 MM05 MM10 5K032 BA16 CA11 DA11

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A network system in which a plurality of graphics processing devices including at least one display device are connected and controlled devices that can be controlled by a graphical user interface GUI can be connected as appropriate. A process of examining the performance, comparing the graphics performance of each device based on the survey result, and obtaining a comparison result; and a high graphics performance device determined to have relatively high graphics performance from the comparison result. A process of generating GUI data of a controlled device on a network as moving image GUI data; a process of transmitting the generated moving image GUI data to the network; a process of transmitting the moving image GUI data and another moving image transmitted to the network Superimpose images and combine them Displaying an image on a display screen of the display device. 2. A network system in which a plurality of graphics processing devices including at least one display device are connected and controlled devices that can be controlled by a graphical user interface GUI are connected as appropriate. A process of examining the performance, comparing the graphics performance of each device based on the survey result, and obtaining a comparison result; and a high graphics performance device determined to have relatively high graphics performance from the comparison result. A process of generating visual GUI data of a controlled device on a network as moving image GUI data; a process of transmitting the generated moving image GUI data to the network; and a control GUI data of the controlled device on the display device. Generating a;
A process of superimposing and displaying the moving image GUI data and the control GUI data so that a user can see the image of the moving image GUI data at a predetermined position on the display screen of the display device; and using the control GUI data. And a process for controlling the controlled device. 3. In a network system to which a plurality of graphics processing devices including at least one display device are connected, the graphics performance of the devices in the network system is investigated, and the graphics performance of each device is determined based on the survey result. Comparing and obtaining a comparison result; and switching a data input port of the display device to a port to which data is input from a high graphics performance device determined to have relatively high graphics performance from the comparison result. A network system comprising: 4. In the graphics performance survey, the graphics performance is quantified from a device used for graphics generation in each of the surveyed devices, and a correspondence table between the quantified graphics performance and the surveyed device is created. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IEEE 1394 standard is used for data transfer between devices on the network. 6. A device capable of outputting moving image data and generating data of a graphical control screen controlling itself, wherein the moving image data and the data of the graphical control screen are transmitted through separate ports. A multimedia device, comprising: 7. The multimedia apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the output via the separate ports uses different ports in synchronous transfer of the IEEE 1394 standard. 8. In a network system to which a plurality of devices are connected, when one or more of the devices are displaying moving image data specified in a display area, the graphics performance of each of the plurality of devices is investigated. Processing; comparing the graphics performance of each device based on the results of the graphics performance investigation; and investigating broadcast data receivable by the plurality of devices in a network system;
Utilizing the comparison result of the graphics performance and the survey result of the receivable broadcast data, it is possible to output the specified moving image data, and to output a device having relatively high graphics performance from the plurality of devices. A process of selecting; if the device currently displaying the specified moving image data is different from the selected device, the input port of the currently displayed device receives data from the selected device. Automatically switching to a port. 9. In a network system to which a plurality of devices are connected, a process of acquiring and comparing graphics performance of each of the plurality of devices; and a process of receiving a broadcast channel designated among the plurality of devices in the network system. A process of selecting a possible device and transmitting video data of a designated broadcast channel by the device; a process of selecting a device having the highest graphics performance based on the comparison of the graphics performance and transmitting GUI video data from the device And the transmitted video data of the designated broadcast channel and the transmitted GUI
And displaying the moving image data on the screen.