JP2002372962A - Information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a process, which is not desired or not expected by a user not to be implementated in an information processing system having a PIP(Picture In Picture) function even though the region being PIP-displayed is specified by an inputting device such as a mouse. SOLUTION: An information processing device 200 has a storage device 208 which stores a display device control application to control internal functions of a display device 250, and assigns a picture in picture(PIP) region to an operation region of the display device control application stored in the storage device based on the position information of the picture in picture(PIP) in the display screen received from the display device and conducts a control so that no operation of control programs other than the display device control application in the PIP region can be carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, and an image input from a TV tuner, a video input terminal or the like inserted into a partial area of an image from the information processing apparatus and displayed. The present invention relates to an information processing system including a display device having a picture-in-picture (hereinafter, referred to as PIP) function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of a conventional information processing system. 1, this type of information processing system includes an information processing device 100 and a display device 150.

An information processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU 101 and a C
HIPSET102, MainMemory103, B
IOS (Basic Input Output System) 104, power supply control IC 105, display controller 106, VideoM
memory 107, storage device 108, sound LSI1
09, other circuit 110, input device 111, power supply SW1
12, etc.

[0004] The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that controls the entire system. CHIPSET102 is C
This is a functional element that connects the PU 101 to a memory and other logic circuits.

[0005] MainMemory103 is a CPU1
01 is a memory managed. This memory stores programs, data, and the like.

[0006] The BIOS 104 includes an information processing apparatus 100.
When the power of the information processing apparatus 100 is turned on, the setting data and the program are read from the BIOS 104 into the Main Memory 103 to start the information processing apparatus 100.

[0007] The power supply control IC 105 is
This is a logic circuit composed of a one-chip microcomputer that controls a portion that supplies power of 0, and is a logic circuit that operates first.

[0008] The display controller 106 is a logic circuit that controls when the information processing apparatus 100 performs display, and outputs a display signal and a synchronization signal to the display apparatus 150.

A video memory 107 is a memory managed by the display controller 106 and stores display data. This memory is built in the display controller 106, MainMemory, or the like.
It may be shared with y103.

A storage device 108 is a memory that stores a large-capacity program and an OS (Operating System).
It is composed of a DD, a large-capacity Flash memory or the like.

The sound LSI 109 is provided in the information processing device 1.
This is a logic circuit that controls the input and output of the audio of 00.

The other circuit 110 is an interface section for controlling the input device 111 and input / output devices such as parallel, serial, and USB.

The input device 111 includes a keyboard, a mouse,
An input device handled by the user, such as a remote controller.

The power switch 112 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the information processing apparatus 100.

On the other hand, the display device 150 is a TV tuner 1.
51, MTSC decoder 152, display control unit 153, system control unit 154, display unit 155, AMP unit 156,
An input device 157 is provided.

The TV tuner 151 divides a specific frequency portion selected from an antenna input into a video signal and an audio signal and outputs the video signal and the audio signal.

The MTSC decoder 152 converts the Video signal input from the TV tuner 151 into the display control unit 15.
3 and digital data that can be handled by the system control unit 154.

The display control unit 153 includes a display content (scaling and timing generation in the case of an LCD) on the display unit 155, an OSD function (a function of displaying a menu screen on a display screen and adjusting various settings of the display device 150). ,
Controls the PIP function.

The system controller 154 includes a display device 150
The entire system is controlled (control of channels, volume, brightness, black level, contrast, etc., based on signals from the input device 157).

The display unit 155 is a video output device such as a CRT or LCD. The AMP unit 156 is a logic circuit that amplifies the audio output of the display device 150.

The input device 157 is an input device handled by the user, such as a switch (SW) and a remote controller.

The conventional information processing system configured as described above operates as follows.

First, the operation of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described. When the power switch 112 is turned on, the power control IC
105 supplies power to each block of the information processing apparatus 100. CPU101 reads the necessary program and data, etc. from the BIOS 104, the initial setting of each block, controlling the CHIP _ SET102 and, power control I
This is performed via C105.

Further, the operation may be performed by reading all programs and data of the BIOS 104 into the Main Memory 103. Thereafter, the Boot-OS is started from the storage device 108.

When the activation of the OS is completed, the storage device 108
Application can be started. BIOS 104, CPU according to the operating state of the OS
From 101, data to be displayed on the display controller 106 is sent via the CHIPSET 102, and the display controller 106 outputs the data to the display device 150.

When the input device 111 is operated, the CPU 1
Reference numeral 01 interprets operation contents via the other circuit 110 and the CHIPSET 102, reads an application program from the storage device 108 into the MainMemory 103, and performs various control operations according to the program. C
When the PU 101 controls the sound LSI 109, the display controller 106, and the like, an audio signal and an image signal according to an application program and a user operation are output. Thereby, the user can use various applications.

Next, the operation of the display device 150 will be described. When the power of the display device 150 is turned on by the input device 157, the system control unit 154 causes the TV tuner 1
51, the NTSC decoder 152, the display unit 155, and the display control unit 153 are set. Then, the information processing device 100
When displaying the input image from, the image is converted into a format suitable for the display unit 155 and displayed.

When displaying a TV image, an image signal is input to a display control section 153 via a TV tuner 151 and an NTSC decoder 152, and the display section 155 is displayed there.
Convert to a format that matches the full screen display,
By using the PIP function, a TV image is displayed in a partial area of an image input from the information processing apparatus 100.

In the case of an input from a video input terminal, a D terminal, or the like, an image signal is input to the display control unit 153 via the NTSC decoder 152, where it is converted into a format suitable for the display unit 155 and displayed on a full screen. Or PI
The TV function is displayed in a partial area of the image input from the information processing apparatus 100 by using the P function.

The audio signal input from the TV tuner 151 or the audio input terminal is amplified by the AMP unit 156 and output to the speaker, so that the audio is output from the speaker.

The user can determine whether the input image from the information processing apparatus 100 is to be displayed as it is, whether a video such as a TV or a video is to be displayed on a full screen, or whether a PIP display is to be performed.
7 can be selected by operating. That is, when the user operates the input device 157 to select one of the display modes, the display mode is switched by the system control unit 154 issuing a display switching command corresponding to the display mode to the display control unit 153.

[0032]

However, in the conventional information processing system described above, the PI
Since the information processing apparatus 100 does not recognize the P function and the PIP area, the information processing apparatus 100 does not display the input image from the information processing apparatus 100 in the PIP area on the display device 150 side. On the side, a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as “GUI”) of some program may be operating in the area. Therefore, when the area of the PIP is designated by an input device such as a mouse, the information processing apparatus 100 may execute a process that the user does not want or expects.

In the above-described conventional information processing system, the display device 15 is controlled by an instruction from the information processing device 100 side.
0 cannot change the position of the PIP display unit and cannot control the volume, channel, and the like.
There is also a problem that it is not convenient for a user who is working using 0.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. An information processing apparatus recognizes an area where a PIP is displayed on a display device side, and the area is recognized by an input device such as a mouse. Even if it is specified, the processing that is not desired or unexpected by the user is not executed, and the PIP of the display device is
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing system capable of changing a position of a display unit and controlling a volume, a channel, and the like.

[0035]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. A first gist of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that outputs an image signal for displaying a computer image, and an external device that is provided in a part of an insertion image area of a display screen that displays the computer image input from the information processing device. A display device having a picture-in-picture function of displaying an image input from an input terminal as an insertion image, wherein the display device enables communication with the information processing device. One information communication unit, the information processing device stores a second information communication unit that enables communication with the display device, and a display device control program for controlling an internal function of the display device. And an information processing control unit that executes the display device control program, wherein the information processing control unit stores the first information communication unit and the second information communication unit. Assigning the insertion image area to an operation area of the display device control program stored in the storage area based on position information of the insertion image area on the display screen received from the display device; The information processing system is characterized in that control is performed such that operation of a control program other than the display device control program is not allowed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the information processing control unit can execute the display device control program for controlling the insertion image area, it takes precedence over other control programs controlled by the information processing control unit. Then, the display device control program can be assigned to the insertion image area. Therefore, even if the insertion image area for performing the picture-in-picture function is designated by an input device such as a mouse, it is possible to prevent the control program processing not desired or unexpected by the user from being executed. Further, a display device control program for controlling an image to be displayed is assigned to the inserted image area, so that the user working on the information processing control unit side has improved usability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information processing device indicates a state of an internal function of the display device from the display device via the first information communication means and the second information communication means. Receiving the internal function information, storing it in the storage area,
The information processing control unit executes the display device control program to control an internal function in the display device based on the internal function information of the storage area, and controls an internal function of the display device. By transmitting a signal to the display device through the second information communication means and the first information communication means, the internal function of the display device is controlled from the information processing device side. The information processing system described above.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to store internal function information indicating a state of an internal function of the display device in a storage area, the information processing control unit controls an internal function of the display device, and Since the information can be transmitted to the display device, the internal functions of the display device can be controlled in real time from the information processing device side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the information processing control section allocates an operation area of an internal function of the storage area to the display screen by using, for example, a GUI. In the information processing system.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the internal functions of the display device can be easily controlled in real time on the display screen.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to the second or third aspect, wherein an internal function of the display device controlled by the information processing control unit is a control function of the inserted display image. In the system.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily control the position, image quality, volume, channel, and the like of an insertion image area in real time on an insertion display image on a display screen. Usability is improved.

A fifth subject of the present invention is that the internal function of the display device controlled by the information processing control unit is a designated time control function for driving the internal function at a designated time. In the information processing system described in the above.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily control the insertion display image for a specified time within the display screen, for example, to watch a specified TV at a specified time, or to increase the backlight brightness during the day. However, it is possible to make settings such as lowering it at night.

A sixth gist of the present invention is characterized in that the internal function information of the storage area is updated periodically or in synchronization with a change of the internal function information in the display device. The information processing system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the internal functions of the display device are controlled from the information processing device side, there is no inconsistency in the control of the display device by the information processing device. An erroneous operation or an erroneous operation can be avoided due to a mismatch between the data on the display side and the data on the display device side. Therefore, the internal function of the display device can be correctly controlled from the information processing device.

[0047]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the entire information processing system according to the present invention. As illustrated, the information processing system includes an information processing device 200 and a display device 250.

The information processing apparatus 200 includes a CPU 201 and a C
HIP_SET202, MainMemory203,
BIOS (Basic Input Output System) 204, power supply control IC 205, display controller 206, Video
Memory 207, storage device 208, sound LSI
209, other circuit 210, input device 211, power supply SW
212, a communication control unit (display area information receiving means, control signal transmitting means, control content receiving means) 213 and the like.

The CPU 201 is a central processing unit that controls the entire system. CHIP_SET 202 is
This is a functional element for connecting the CPU 201 to a memory and other logic circuits.

The Main Memory 203 is a CPU 2
01 is a memory managed. This memory stores programs, data, and the like.

The BIOS 204 includes an information processing device 200
When the power of the information processing apparatus 200 is turned on, the setting data and the program are read from the BIOS 204 into the Main Memory 203, so that the information processing apparatus 200 is started. Power supply control IC 20
Reference numeral 5 denotes a logic circuit configured by a one-chip microcomputer that controls a portion of the information processing apparatus 200 that supplies power, and is a logic circuit that operates first.

The display controller 206 is a logic circuit for controlling when the information processing device 200 performs display, and outputs a display signal and a synchronization signal to the display device 250.

The Video Memory 207 is a memory managed by the display controller 206, and stores display data. This memory may be built in the display controller 206 or may be MainMemory.
It may be shared with y203.

The storage device 208 is a memory that stores a large-capacity program and an OS (Operating System).
It is composed of a DD, a large-capacity Flash memory, and the like. An application program attached to the display device 250 (hereinafter, referred to as “display device control application”) is also stored in the information processing device 200 by being installed in the information processing device 200.

The display device control application is recorded on a portable recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk or CD-ROM, and provided to the user together with the display device 250.
The portable recording medium is set in the information processing apparatus 200, and the installer is started, whereby the information processing apparatus 20
0, the display device control application is installed. In addition,
It may be a state in which the information processing apparatus is installed from the beginning (preinstalled state).

The sound LSI 209 is connected to the information processing device 2
This is a logic circuit that controls the input and output of the audio of 00.

The other circuit 210 is an interface unit for controlling the input device 211 and an input / output device such as parallel, serial, or USB.

The input device 211 includes a keyboard, a mouse,
An input device handled by the user, such as a remote controller.

The power switch 212 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the information processing apparatus 200.

The communication control unit 213 communicates with the display device 250, and communicates with the display device 250. The communication control unit 213 performs serial, parallel, USB,
Communication means such as 2C and wireless communication is used.

On the other hand, the display device 250 is a TV tuner 2
51, MTSC decoder 252, display control unit 253, system control unit 254, display unit 255, AMP unit 256,
The input device 257, a communication control unit (display area information transmitting unit,
Control signal receiving means, control content transmitting means) 258 and the like.

The TV tuner 251 separates a specific frequency portion selected from the antenna input into a video signal and an audio signal and outputs them.

The MTSC decoder 252 converts the Video signal input from the TV tuner 251 to the display control unit 25.
3 and converted into digital data that can be handled by the system control unit 254.

The display control unit 253 includes a display content (scaling and timing generation in the case of an LCD) on the display unit 255, an OSD function (a function of displaying a menu screen on a display screen and adjusting various settings of the display device 250). ,
Controls the PIP function.

The system control unit 254 includes the display device 250
The entire system is controlled (control of channels, volume, brightness, black level, contrast, etc., based on signals from the input device 257).

The display unit 255 is a video output device such as a CRT or LCD. The AMP unit 256 is a logic circuit that amplifies the audio output of the display device 250. Input device 2
Reference numeral 57 denotes an input device handled by the user, such as a switch (SW) and a remote controller.

The communication control unit 258 controls the information processing device 200
This is a part that performs communication with the display device 250, and is a part that performs communication with the communication control unit 213 of the information processing device 200, such as serial, parallel, USB,
Communication means such as I2C and wireless communication is used.

The information processing system configured as described above operates as follows. First, the operation of the information processing device 200 will be described. When the power switch 212 is turned on,
The power control IC 205 supplies power to each block of the information processing device 200. The CPU 201 is a BIOS 204
The necessary programs and data are read from the CPU and the initial setting and control of each block are performed by the CHIP_SET 202 and
This is performed via the power supply control IC 205.

The operation may be performed by reading all programs and data of the BIOS 204 into the Main Memory 203. After that, the Boot-OS is started from the storage device 208. When the activation of the OS is completed, various application programs including the display device control application stored in the storage device 208 can be activated. At that time, the display device control application can be set to start automatically.

Data to be displayed on the display controller 206 is sent from the CPU 201 via the CHIP_SET 202 according to the operation states of the BIOS 204 and the OS, and the display controller 206 outputs the data to the display device 250.

When the input device 211 is operated, the CPU 2
01 interprets the operation content via the other circuit 210 and the CHIP_SET 202, reads an application program from the storage device 208 into the Main Memory 203, and performs various control operations according to the program.
When the CPU 201 controls the sound LSI 209, the display controller 206, and the like, an audio signal and an image signal according to an application program and a user operation are output. Thereby, the user can use various applications.

Next, the operation when the display device 250 functions alone will be described. When the power of the display device 250 is turned on by the input device 257, the system control unit 254
Sets the TV tuner 251, the NTSC decoder 252, the display unit 255, and the display control unit 253. And
When displaying an input image from the information processing device 200,
The data is converted into a format suitable for the display unit 255 and displayed.

When displaying a TV image, an image signal is input to the display control unit 253 via the TV tuner 251 and the NTSC decoder 252, and the display unit 255 is displayed there.
Convert to a format that matches the full screen display,
By using the PIP function, a TV image is displayed in a partial area of an image input from the information processing apparatus 200.

In the case of input from a video input terminal, a D terminal, or the like, an image signal is input to the display control unit 253 via the NTSC decoder 252, where it is converted into a format suitable for the display unit 255 and displayed on a full screen. Or PI
The TV function is displayed in a partial area of the input image from the information processing device 200 using the P function.

Further, the audio signal input from the TV tuner 251 or the audio input terminal is amplified by the AMP unit 256 and output to the speaker, so that the audio is output from the speaker.

The user can determine whether the input image from the information processing apparatus 200 is to be displayed as it is, whether a video such as a TV or a video is to be displayed on a full screen, or whether a PIP display is to be performed.
7 can be selected by operating. That is, when the user operates the input device 257 to select one of the display modes, the display mode is switched by the system control unit 254 issuing a display switching command corresponding to the display mode to the display control unit 253.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the display control unit 253. ADC_I / F section 301 includes:
This interface is used when an analog RGB signal is output from the information processing apparatus 200. The input analog RGB, HS, and VS are converted to digital data RGB,
The data is converted into a synchronous clock signal of HS, VS data and digital data.

The LCD_I / F unit 302 is an interface used when a signal for an LCD (liquid crystal display) is output from the information processing apparatus 200, and converts an input signal into digital RGB data, a horizontal synchronization signal, a vertical synchronization signal, The signal is converted into a synchronization signal, a data valid period signal, a data synchronization signal for LCD, and the like.

As an input method, TMDS (Transmissi
on Minimized Differential Signaling, LVDS (L
There are a differential serial transfer method such as an ow voltage differential signaling method, a direct digital RGB method, and the like. The input method can be switched by switching an external terminal of a logic circuit or the like.

The memory unit 303 is a memory managed by the memory IF unit 307, and stores video data and screen data. The display control unit 253 may be externally mounted or may be incorporated inside the display control unit 253.

The external I / F unit 304 is connected to the system control unit 2
An interface for exchanging commands and the like with the H.54.

The NTSC input unit 305 receives digital data from the NTSC decoder (RGB for the purpose of reducing the data amount).
Rather than using luminance and color difference YUV data) with the internal clock, it is possible to set the black level, contrast, hue, vividness, etc. for the input signal, and the external I / F unit 304, which can be operated by the system control unit 254 via the internal bus.

The YUV → RGB converter 306 is constituted by a logic circuit that converts the input YUV data into RGB data that can be displayed on a CRT or LCD.

The conversion coefficient of YUV → RGB is determined by the external I / F
The unit 304 can be operated by the system control unit 254 via the internal bus.

The memory I / F unit 307 has a function of writing data from the ADC_IF unit 301, the LCD_IF unit 302, and the YUV → RGB conversion unit 306 to the memory unit 303, and reads data from the memory unit 303 at a timing corresponding to the output. And a function of outputting to the resolution conversion unit 308. Further, the coordinate value, resolution, and the like of the PIP function can be set. The external I / F unit 304 and the system control unit 254 can control which coordinate value is to be read via the internal bus, at which speed the reading is performed, and the like.

The resolution conversion unit 308 receives the input RGB
It is composed of a logic circuit capable of arbitrarily converting the resolution of data. For resolution conversion, there are methods such as linear interpolation,
The external I / F unit 304 and the system control unit 254 can perform resolution conversion, output resolution, and the like via the internal bus.

The RGB correction unit 309 is provided for the resolution conversion unit 30.
8 is a block having a function of performing correction on the RGB data output from the controller 8. As the correction content, γ correction, RGB black level, contrast, and the like can be adjusted. The external I / F unit 304 and the contents of correction can be operated by the system control unit 254 via the internal bus. In the case of the PIP function, it is also possible to correct only the video area by another coefficient.

The OSD control section 310 is a block for controlling an OSD (On Screen Display) function (a function of displaying a menu screen on a display screen and performing various setting adjustments of the display apparatus 250) output to the display apparatus 250. The display contents can be operated from the system control unit 254 via the external I / F unit 304 and the internal bus.

The CRT output unit 311 is a logic circuit that performs conversion for outputting to an analog CRT.

The LCD output unit 312 is a logic circuit that performs conversion for outputting to the LCD, and can be selected from the TMDS system, the LVDS system, the direct digital RGB system, and the like by switching the external terminals of the logic circuit.

The case where the LCD display from the information processing apparatus 200 is output as it is will be described.
54, an instruction reaches each block via the external I / F 304 and the internal bus, and the LCD_I / F 302
The data is converted into GB digital data and temporarily stored in the memory unit 303 via the memory IF unit 307. Then, in accordance with the internal display rate, the memory unit 303
The data is read out via the unit 307, and the data passes through the resolution conversion unit 308 and the RGB correction unit 309,
The data is output from the output unit 312 to the LCD. At this time, if resolution conversion and RGB correction are necessary, the system control unit 2
The data is processed according to the contents set from 54.

A case in which data from the NTSC decoder is displayed on the LCD on the entire screen will be described. An instruction is sent from the system control unit 254 to each block via the external I / F 304 and the internal bus, and the NTSC input I / F is received. / F part 3
05, the data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 303 via the YUV → RGB unit 306 and the memory IF unit 307. Then, data is read from the memory unit 303 in accordance with the vertical synchronization and the horizontal synchronization input to the resolution conversion unit 308,
After the resolution conversion by the resolution conversion unit 308, the RGB
The signal passes through the correction unit 309 and is output from the LCD output unit 312 to the LCD. At this time, if the correction to the NTSC signal and the correction of RGB are necessary, the data is processed with the contents set by the system control unit 254.

At the time of PIP, both of the above operations are performed at the same time, and it becomes possible by the memory IF unit 307 changing the address read from the memory unit 303 according to the output coordinate value.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the system control unit 254 realized by a one-chip microcomputer or the like.

The CPU 401 is a central processing unit that controls the display device 250.

The ROM 402 stores setting data and programs related to the most basic operation of the display device 250. When the power of the display device 250 is turned on, the RO
The setting data and the program are stored in the RAM 40 from the M402.
3, the display device 250 becomes operable. The ROM 402 includes a flash memory, a mask ROM, an EPROM, and the like.

The RAM 403 is a memory managed by the CPU 401 and stores programs, data, and the like.

[0098] The timer unit 404 operates the CPU 40 for a certain period of time.
It has a function of interrupting 1 and a function of storing information such as date and time.

The function control register 405 is provided for the display device 25
0 is a register that controls the entire function of the display device 250. Various functions of the display device 250 are controlled by setting the register.

The serial interface 406 controls the internal command bus of the display device 250. The system control unit 254 controls other function blocks inside the display device 250 by a general-purpose I2C path or the like.

The general-purpose register 407 is used as an input / output port, and is used for input of a switch (SW) or the like,
Manage the output of D etc.

The A / D-D / A converter 408 is an interface between an analog signal and a digital signal. The A / D-D / A converter 408 converts a digital signal into an analog signal and outputs it, or converts an analog signal into a digital signal and inputs it. Or have a function.

The operation of the information processing system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the power of the information processing device 200 and the display device 250 is turned on, the display device control application installed in the information processing device 200 starts, and the DD
C or other known means (for example, Enhanced Extended Disp. Standardized by VESA).
lay Identification Data Standard) (S1), and determines whether the display device is controllable (S2).

If it is determined that control is possible, the display device control application communicates with the communication control unit 258 of the display device 250 via the communication control unit 213. Here, a case is described in which communication between the information processing device 200 and the display device 250 is performed by a PC using USB, which is a general communication means. When using another communication method, if there is no periodic communication protocol for a certain period, the display device control application must implement a function to periodically perform polling operation for a certain period using a timer interrupt, etc. It does not matter.

The display device control application is a communication control
, An instruction to read the state of the function control of the display device 250 is issued. At this time, a read instruction is issued by USB interrupt transfer, so that the read is performed while performing an error retry (Ack / Nack) periodically for a predetermined period (S3, S4).

When the display device 250 detects the command for reading the function control status via the communication control unit 258, the system control unit 254 returns the function control status (S
5, S6). The information processing device 200 reads this reply via the communication control unit 213, and stores the function control state in the display device control application (S7).

The function control states include the use / non-use of the PIP function of the display device 250, volume, video input, TV channel, contrast with video image, black level,
Examples include the hue, the γ table, the contrast for the information processing apparatus 200, the black level, the luminance of the γ table and the backlight, and other functional controls may be included.

At this time, if PIP is being performed (S8, yes), the display device control application
3, an instruction to read the function control state including an instruction to read the PIP area of the display device 250 is issued by interrupt transfer (S9, S10).

When the display device 250 detects a function control state read command including a PIP castle read command via the communication control unit 258, the system control unit 254 sends a function including the PIP area as a coordinate value. The control state information is returned to the information processing device 200 (S11, S12).

[0111] The returned information is stored in the information processing apparatus 200.
Is read via the communication control unit 213, and the display device control application stores the function control state and the coordinate values of the PIP, and performs drawing control for always displaying the PIP area on the near side (S13 to S15). ).

As described above, the information processing apparatus 200 periodically reads the information on the function control state of the display device 250 at a fixed time interval, so that the PIP
When the area is changed, the display device control application can perform drawing in accordance with the area.

Further, an interruption by a fixed time or O
Always use the drawing message received from S as a trigger,
By performing redrawing so that the PIP is always displayed on the front side, even if another application program attempts to display on the front side of the PIP, the PIP is always displayed on the front side and the area of the PIP is controlled by the display device control application. Can be put down. The display device control application performs control so that the PIP area is not used for the GUI area of another application program.

Therefore, even if the area of the PIP is designated (clicked) with an input device such as a mouse, it is possible to prevent the user from performing undesired or unexpected processing.

Here, a method of always displaying the PIP at the front will be described. For example, it is possible to call the “SetWindowPos” function of the Microsoft Foundation Class Library, and to set the SetWindowPos function of the Win32 API as the second argument. It is also possible to always display the desired window (window) on the foreground by designating HWND_TOPMOST and calling.

As a method for the information processing device 200 to recognize the function control state of the display device 250, the USB and the polling from the information processing device 200 have been described as an example. It is naturally possible to notify from the display device 250 side when there is a change in the function control contents.

Further, as described below, the information processing apparatus 200
It is also possible to control the function of the display device 250 from the display device control application.

FIG. 6 is a screen display example of the display device control application. In the state of the upper display screen image in FIG.
When the P area PA is pointed with an input device such as a mouse and clicked, the display device control application causes the display device 250 to display.
A program for performing the function control of FIG. 6 is started, and an operation menu screen (GUI) as shown in the lower display screen image of FIG.
(Screen) M1 is displayed around the PIP area PA (in the example shown below).

When the user clicks an arbitrary function selection button (icon for volume-related, channel-related, input switching, video adjustment, timer setting, etc.) in the operation menu screen M1, the information processing device 200 The display device control application can perform function control on the display device 250.

For example, when the “CH6” portion of the operation menu screen M1 in FIG. 6 is clicked, function control data is transmitted from the display device control application to the display device 250 so as to set the channel 6, and the display is displayed. Channel 6 is set in the TV tuner unit 251 via the system control unit 254 in the device 250.

FIG. 7 is another screen display example of the display device control application. In the state of the display screen image in the upper part of FIG. 7,
Display device control application icon A on taskbar TB
When the button is clicked, the program for controlling the functions of the display device 250 is started by the display device control application, and the operation menu screen M2 as shown in the lower display screen image of FIG. 7 is displayed (pop-up display). Then, when an arbitrary function selection button in the operation menu screen M2 is clicked, the display device control application of the information processing device 200 controls the function of the display device 250 for the function.

For example, when "Channel-UP-" is selected on the operation menu screen M2 in FIG. 7, the function control contents stored in the display device control application enable the current channel. (No skip setting)
Function control data is transmitted to the display device 250 so as to select the next higher channel in the channel, and the channel is set in the TV tuner 251 via the system controller 254 in the display 250.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart exemplifying a transfer procedure of function control content data by the display device control application of the information processing device 200 and an operation procedure of the display device 250 corresponding thereto.

When an arbitrary function selection button in the operation menu screen (M1, M2) by the display device control application is clicked (S21, Yes), the display device control application of the information processing device 200 is transmitted via the communication control unit 213. And USB
Communication control unit 25 of the display device 250 in the bulk transfer mode
8 and transmits function control content data (command) for the function selected on the operation menu screen (M1, M2) to the display device 250 (S22, S2).
3).

The display device 250 receives the command via the communication control unit 258, and sends the command to the system control unit 254.
Interprets the command and changes the function control contents (S24, S25).

The system control unit 254 issues a command to the TV tuner unit 251, the NTSC decoder unit 252, the display control unit 253, the AMP unit 256, or the inside of the system control unit 254 according to the set function control contents. The communication at this time is based on the US
Unlike reading using the interrupt transfer of B, communication is performed only when necessary.

The display device control application of the information processing apparatus 200 uses the timer setting icon TS of the operation menus M1 and M2 shown in FIGS. It also has a timer setting function for performing a specific function control at a specified timing based on a time interval or the like. This timer setting function can be realized by transmitting, for example, a TV channel and volume command to the display device 250 at a time designated by the user. With this function, the user can view a specified TV at a specified time, or set such that the backlight brightness is set high during the day and low during the night.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a main screen dialog display of the designated time setting menu M3 of the display device control application.
10 shows an example of a detailed screen dialog display of the specified time setting menu M3 of the display device control application. By specifying the timer setting icon TS on the operation menu screen in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the screen in FIG. 9 is activated. When starting from the display screen of FIG. 7, the PIP screen need not be displayed.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the timer setting for decreasing the brightness is selected, and the user can specify addition, reduction, or deletion of the detailed contents of the timer setting on this main screen. . When the addition or reduction of the detailed contents of the timer setting is designated on the main screen, the screen moves to the detailed screen of the setting menu.

The detailed screen of the setting menu is shown in FIG.
And a schedule screen M3B shown in FIG. 10B. In the setting screen M3A, input,
The user can specify the volume and video adjustment settings. In the schedule screen M3B, the execution timing and time can be specified.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the luminance is specified to be 60% of the maximum on the setting screen, and it is specified to execute at 19:00 every day on the schedule screen M3B. This means that, at 19:00 every day, the function control data for reducing the brightness is transmitted to the display device 250 by the display device control application of the information processing device 200.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, the display device control application of the information processing device 200
It is possible to always read and store the change in the function control contents of 50, and transmit the function control contents to the display device 250. Therefore, even if the function control content is changed by the input device 257 on the display device 250 side, the function control content of the display device 250 and the function control content by the display device control application can always be synchronized.

[0133]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the display device control program for controlling the insertion image area can be executed by the information processing control unit, another control program controlled by the information processing control unit is used. , And a display device control program can be assigned to the insertion image area. Therefore,
Even if the insertion image area for performing the picture-in-picture function is specified by an input device such as a mouse, it is possible to prevent the control program processing not desired or unexpected by the user from being executed. Further, a display device control program for controlling an image to be displayed is assigned to the inserted image area, so that the user working on the information processing control unit side has improved usability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information processing control unit controls the internal function of the display device to store the internal function information indicating the state of the internal function of the display device in the storage area. Since the information can be transmitted to the display device, the internal functions of the display device can be controlled in real time from the information processing device side.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the internal functions of the display device can be easily controlled in real time on the display screen.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, the position of the inserted image area, image quality, volume, channel, etc. can be controlled easily in real time on the display screen. Usability is improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily control the insertion display image for a specified time within the display screen, for example, to watch a specified TV at a specified time or to increase the backlight brightness during the day. However, it is possible to make settings such as lowering it at night.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the internal functions of the display device are controlled from the information processing device side, there is no inconsistency in the control of the display device by the information processing device. An erroneous operation or an erroneous operation can be avoided due to a mismatch between the data on the display side and the data on the display device side. Therefore, the internal function of the display device can be correctly controlled from the information processing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of a conventional information processing system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration example of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a display control unit in the display device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a system control unit in the display device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the information processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of screen display by an application program attached to the display device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of screen display by an application program attached to the display device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for transferring function control content data and an operation procedure of the display device by an application program attached to the display device of the information processing device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a main screen dialog display of a designated time setting menu by an application program attached to the display device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a detailed screen dialog display of a designated time setting menu by an application program attached to the display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 200 information processing device 201 CPU 208 storage device 213 communication control unit 250 display device 258 communication control unit PA PIP area M1, M2 operation menu screen TS timer setting icon A icon TB task bar M3 designated time setting menu M3A setting screen M3B schedule screen

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/45 H04N 5/45 (72) Inventor Mizuki Sakuta 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 5B087 AC00 BB23 DD09 5C025 AA28 BA21 BA30 CA06 DA10 5C056 AA07 BA01 CA06 CA11 CA19 DA06 DA11 EA09 5C082 AA01 AA02 AA13 BB02 BB03 CA52 CA56 CA62 CB05 DA51 DA86 MM09

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information processing device for outputting an image signal for displaying a computer image, and an input from an external input terminal to a part of an insertion image region of a display screen for displaying the computer image input from the information processing device. A display device having a picture-in-picture function of displaying a selected image as an inserted image, wherein the display device has a first information communication enabling communication with the information processing device. Means, the information processing device, a second information communication means enabling communication with the display device, a storage area for storing a display device control program for controlling the internal function of the display device, An information processing control unit that executes the display device control program, wherein the information processing control unit is connected to the first information communication unit and the second information communication unit via the first information communication unit. Assigning the insertion image area to the operation area of the display device control program stored in the storage area based on the position information of the insertion image area on the display screen received from the display device; An information processing system for controlling a control program other than the display device control program so as not to be operated. 2. The information processing device receives internal function information indicating a state of an internal function of the display device from the display device via the first information communication unit and the second information communication unit, Stored in the storage area, the information processing control unit, based on the internal function information of the storage area, to execute the display device control program to control the internal functions in the display device, Controlling the internal function of the display device from the information processing device side by transmitting an internal function signal for controlling the internal function to the display device via the second information communication means and the first information communication means; The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the information processing control unit allocates an operation area of the internal function information of the storage area in the display screen. 4. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein an internal function of the display device controlled by the information processing control unit is a control function of the insertion display image. 5. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the internal function of the display device controlled by the information processing control unit is a designated time control function for driving the internal function at a designated time. . 6. The information according to claim 2, wherein the internal function information of the storage area is updated periodically or in synchronization with a change in the internal function information in the display device. Processing system.