JP2007274375A - Av system, source apparatus, and receiving apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an AV system which is capable of updating the firmware of a receiving apparatus without using a dedicated jig etc. <P>SOLUTION: A source apparatus 1 divides an update file into two or more update packets (UD packets) and gives the UD packets packet numbers respectively. The source apparatus 1 forms header packets containing packet information for identifying the UD packets. The source apparatus 1 transmits the header packets and the UD packets repeatedly. A sink apparatus 2 judges whether all the UD packets are registered in a memory 27 or not resting on the basis of the packet information in the received header packets. When all the UD packets are registered, the sink apparatus 2 turns hot plug signals from active to nonactive. The source apparatus 1 stops transmitting the UD packets when the hot plug signals are turned nonactive. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an AV system, a source device, and a receiving device, and more specifically, an AV system including a source device that supplies content data and a receiving device that receives content data, and a source device and a reception device used in the AV system. Regarding equipment.

  In recent years, an AV system including a source device that supplies content data such as video data and audio data and a receiving device such as a sink device and a repeater device that receives the content data has become widespread. The source device is, for example, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) player, a BD (Blu-ray Disc) player, an HDDVD (High Definition DVD) player, a CD player, or the like. The sink device is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), a projector, or the like. The repeater device is, for example, an AV amplifier or an AV receiver.

  Receiving devices such as sink devices and repeater devices are controlled by firmware incorporated therein. The firmware is written in the memory in the receiving device and is read into the microcomputer in the receiving device to control the receiving device. Conventionally, firmware is stored in a non-rewritable memory such as a ROM. However, in recent years, firmware has been stored in a rewritable memory represented by flash memory, assuming that the firmware is upgraded. Many receiving devices have appeared.

  When updating the firmware of the receiving device, it is necessary to connect the receiving device to a dedicated jig or computer device and download the update file to the receiving device. For this reason, the user of the receiving device cannot update the firmware by himself / herself, and must request the update from a manufacturer having a dedicated jig or the like.

  The manufacturer has to collect the user's receiving device or dispatch an employee to the place where the receiving device is used, and update the firmware using a dedicated jig or the like, resulting in a heavy workload. The manufacturer also has to make a dedicated jig corresponding to the receiving device in order to update.

Also, when updating the firmware, it is necessary to connect the receiving device to a dedicated jig or the like, so the receiving device must be disconnected from the source device. Therefore, it is impossible to download the update file to the receiving device while reproducing the content in the AV system.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-31998

  An object of the present invention is to provide an AV system capable of updating firmware of a receiving device without using a dedicated jig or the like.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an AV system capable of normally downloading an upload file to a receiving device even during reproduction of content.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

The AV system according to the present invention includes a source device that supplies content data, a receiving device that receives the content data, and a digital transmission path connected between the source device and the receiving device.
The digital transmission line includes a hot plug signal line and a data signal line. The hot plug signal line is a signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device. The data signal line is a one-way communication type signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device.
The source device includes content data transmission means, packetization means, packet information creation means, packet information transmission means, and packet transmission means. The content data transmission means transmits content data when the hot plug signal is active. The packetizing means divides an update file for updating the firmware of the receiving device into a plurality of update packets. The packet information creating means creates packet information for the receiving device to identify each update packet. The packet information transmitting means transmits the packet information to the receiving device via the data signal line. The packet transmission means repeatedly transmits a plurality of update packets to the receiving device via the data signal line after transmitting the packet information and while the hot plug signal is active.
The receiving device includes storage means, content data receiving means, registration means, determination means, hot plug control means, and update means. The storage means stores firmware. The content data receiving means receives the transmitted content data. The registration unit registers the transmitted packet information and a plurality of update packets in the storage unit. The determination unit determines whether all of the plurality of update packets are registered in the storage unit based on the registered packet information. The hot plug control means activates the hot plug signal when connected to the source device via the digital transmission line, and deactivates the hot plug signal when the judgment means judges that all of the plurality of update packets are registered. . The update means updates the firmware based on a plurality of registered update packets after deactivating the hot plug signal.

  Here, the content data is, for example, video data, audio data, still image data, or the like. The receiving device in the present invention is a device that is connected to the source device and receives the supply of content data from the source device, such as a repeater device or a sink device.

  In the AV system according to the present invention, the source device divides the update file into update packets, and transmits the update packet to the receiving device using a data signal line used when transmitting content data. Therefore, when updating the firmware of the receiving device, there is no need to use a dedicated jig or computer device as in the prior art.

  In addition, since the update file can be transmitted while the source device and the receiving device are connected via the digital transmission path, the update file can be downloaded to the receiving device while the content is being reproduced in the AV system.

  When the update file is downloaded to the receiving device while the content is being played back, the operation load on the receiving device increases, so that there is a high possibility that the receiving device will miss the update packet. Therefore, in the AV system of the present invention, it is confirmed whether or not the receiving device has registered all of the plurality of update packets, and the source device repeatedly transmits the update packet until all of the update packets are registered. Thereby, even if the receiving device misses the update packet, the missed update packet is transmitted again. Therefore, even when the content is being played back, the receiving device can register all the update files.

  As described above, when the source device repeatedly transmits the update packet, it is necessary to have a mechanism for stopping the transmission of the update packet of the source device when the receiving device registers all the update files. Therefore, the receiving device changes the hot plug signal from active to non-active when all update packets are registered. As a result, the source device stops transmitting the update packet.

  Furthermore, since the data transmission from the source device to the receiving device is blocked by changing the hot plug signal from active to inactive, the receiving device can update the firmware while being physically connected to the source device.

  Preferably, the packet information transmitting means repeatedly transmits the packet information a predetermined number of times.

  When downloading firmware during content playback, there is a high possibility that the receiving device will miss the packet information. However, since the AV system according to the present invention repeatedly transmits the packet information a predetermined number of times, the receiving device acquires the packet information. This makes it easier to suppress packet information loss.

The AV system according to the present invention includes a source device that supplies content data, a receiving device that receives the content data, and a digital transmission path connected between the source device and the receiving device.
The digital transmission line includes a hot plug signal line, a data signal line, and a command signal line. The hot plug signal line is a signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device. The data signal line is a one-way communication type signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device. The command signal line is a signal line for transmitting a command from the receiving device to the source device.
The source device includes content data transmission means, packetization means, packet information creation means, packet information transmission means, and packet transmission means. The content data transmission means transmits content data when the hot plug signal is active. The packetizing means divides an update file for updating the firmware of the receiving device into a plurality of update packets. The packet information creating means creates packet information for the receiving device to identify each update packet. The packet information transmitting means transmits the packet information to the receiving device via the data signal line. The packet transmission means sequentially transmits each update packet every time an ACK notification is received from the receiving device after transmitting the packet information, and the same update packet until receiving the next ACK notification after receiving the ACK notification Is sent repeatedly.
The receiving device includes storage means, content data receiving means, registration means, ACK notification means, determination means, hot plug control means, and update means. The storage means stores firmware. The content data receiving means receives the transmitted content data. The registration unit registers the transmitted packet information and a plurality of update packets in the storage unit. The ACK notification means transmits an ACK notification to the source device via the command signal line every time an update packet is registered. The determination means determines whether all of the plurality of update packets are registered in the storage means based on the registered packet information. The hot plug control means activates the hot plug signal when connected to the source device via the digital transmission line, and deactivates the hot plug signal when the judgment means judges that all of the plurality of update packets are registered. . The update means updates the firmware based on a plurality of registered update packets after deactivating the hot plug signal.

  In the AV system according to the present invention, the source device divides the update file into update packets, and transmits the update packet to the receiving device using a data signal line used when transmitting content data. Therefore, when updating the firmware of the receiving device, there is no need to use a dedicated jig or computer device as in the prior art.

  In addition, since the update file can be transmitted while the source device and the receiving device are connected via the digital transmission path, the update file can be downloaded to the receiving device while the content is being reproduced in the AV system.

  When the update file is downloaded to the receiving device while the content is being played, the operation load on the receiving device increases, so that the possibility of missing the update packet increases. Therefore, in the AV system of the present invention, each time the receiving device registers each updater file, the receiving device transmits an ACK notification, and the source device repeatedly transmits the same updater packet until receiving the ACK notification. Even if the receiving device misses the update packet, the source device repeatedly transmits the same update packet until receiving an ACK notification from the receiving device, so that the receiving device can reliably register the update packet.

  Further, since the data transmission from the source device to the receiving device is blocked by changing the hot plug signal from active to inactive, the receiving device can update the firmware while being physically connected to the source device.

  Preferably, each of the plurality of update packets includes a packet identifier. The packet information includes information regarding the packet identifier. The ACK notification means notifies the ACK notification of the packet identifier of the update packet to be transmitted next based on the packet information. The packet transmission means repeatedly transmits an update packet corresponding to the packet identifier included in the received ACK notification.

  In this case, the source device can determine an update packet to be transmitted next based on the ACK notification.

  Preferably, the determination unit further determines whether or not the reception of the content data is completed. The hot plug control means further deactivates the hot plug signal when the determination means registers all of the plurality of update packets and completes reception of the content data.

  When the hot plug signal changes from active to inactive, data transmission from the source device to the receiving device is blocked. When the content is being played back, if the hot plug signal becomes inactive before the playback of the content is completed, the source device cannot transmit the content data to the receiving device, and thus the user of the AV system is interrupted to view the content. . In the present invention, when the receiving device registers all of the plurality of update packets and completes reception of the content data, the hot plug signal is deactivated. Therefore, after the user of the AV system has viewed the content to the end, the firmware update is started.

  Preferably, the source device further includes transmission completion notification means. The transmission completion notification means notifies the reception device of the transmission completion notification when the transmission of the content data is completed. The determination means determines that the reception of the content data has been completed when the transmission completion notification is received.

  In this case, the receiving device can easily determine the content reproduction completion time based on the transmission completion notification.

  The source device according to the present invention is a source device used in the AV system, and the receiving device according to the present invention is a receiving device used in the AV system.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

1. First Embodiment [Overall Configuration]
Referring to FIG. 1, an AV system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a source device 1 that supplies content data and a sink device 2 that is a receiving device that receives the content data. The source device 1 is, for example, a DVD player, a BD player, an HDDVD player, an HDD player, or the like. The sink device 2 is, for example, an LCD, a PDP, or a repeater device.

  The source device 1 and the sink device 2 are connected via an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable 3 that is a digital transmission path. The HDMI cable 3 includes two signal lines (TMDS channel and hot plug channel). The TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) channel is a channel for transmitting content data compliant with the HDMI standard from the source device 1 to the sink device 2. The hot plug channel is a channel for outputting a hot plug signal (hereinafter referred to as HPD) from the sink device 2 to the source device 1. The HDMI cable 3 further includes a display data channel (DDC) not shown. The DDC is a channel for the source device 1 to acquire information (EDID: Extended Display Identification Data) related to the sink device 2.

[Source device]
The source device 1 includes a drive 11, a transmission processing unit 13, a control unit 14, a packet processing unit 15, and a connector 16. The drive 11 drives a storage medium 12 such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a BD (Blu-ray Disc), an HDDVD (High Definition DVD), or a CD.

  The packet processing unit 15 reads an update file for updating the firmware of the sink device 2 from the storage medium 12 stored in the drive 11 and converts the read update file into a plurality of update packets (hereinafter referred to as UD packets). To divide. In this embodiment, the UD packet is transmitted as an HDMI-compliant InfoFrame packet via the TMDS channel. Since the number of bytes of the info frame packet is determined to be 30 bytes or less, the packet processing unit 15 packetizes the update file so that each UD packet is 30 bytes or less.

The transmission processing unit 13 reads content data from the storage medium 12 stored in the drive 11 and converts the content data into data conforming to the HDMI standard. The transmission processing unit 13 further transmits the converted content data to the sink device 2 via the TMDS channel. Similarly, the transmission processing unit 13 receives a UD packet from the packet processing unit 15 and transmits it to the sink device 2 via the TMDS channel. The transmission processing unit 13 can output content data and UD packets to the TMDS channel when the hot plug signal HPD is active, but stops outputting these data to the TMDS channel when the hot plug signal HPD is inactive. .
The control unit 14 controls the entire source device 1, and specifically controls the drive 11, the transmission processing unit 13, the packet processing unit 15, and the connector 16.

[Sink device]
The sink device 2 includes a connector 21, a reception processing unit 22, a control unit 23, a display 25, a speaker 26, and a memory 27.

  The reception processing unit 22 generates video data from content data transmitted via the TMDS channel, and transmits the video data to the display 25. The reception processing unit 22 also generates audio data from the transmitted content data and transmits the audio data to the speaker 26. The reception processing unit 22 further reconstructs the update file by combining the UD packets transmitted via the TMDS channel.

  The control unit 23 controls the entire sink device 2, and specifically controls the reception processing unit 22, the display 25, the speaker 26, and the memory 27. The memory 27 stores firmware. The control unit 23 reads the firmware from the memory 27 and controls the entire sink device 2. The control unit 23 further activates or deactivates the hot plug signal HPD.

[Operation of AV system]
The AV system 10 according to the present embodiment can update the firmware of the sink device 2 without using a special jig or the like. Furthermore, the update file can be downloaded to the sink device while reproducing the content. Details of the operation of the AV system 10 will be described below.

[Content playback]
First, the operation of the AV system 10 when reproducing content will be described. When the sink device 2 is connected to the source device 1 via the HDMI cable 3, the control unit 23 in the sink device 2 activates the hot plug signal HPD. The control unit 14 in the source device 1 detects an active hot plug signal HPD and determines that data can be transmitted via the TMDS channel. The transmission processing unit 13 reads content data from the storage medium 12 stored in the drive 11 and transmits the content data converted into the HDMI standard to the sink device 2 via the TMDS channel.

  The reception processing unit 22 in the sink device 2 receives content data, outputs video data to the display 25, and outputs audio data to the speaker 26. The display 25 receives video data and displays video, and the speaker 26 receives audio data and outputs audio. During the content reproduction, the control unit 23 keeps the hot plug signal HPD active.

[Firmware update]
The operation of the AV system 10 when the firmware in the sink device 2 is updated when the AV system 10 is reproducing content as described above will be described.

[Operation of source device]
Referring to FIG. 2, when starting the update file distribution process, the source device 1 first determines whether or not the hot plug signal HPD is active (S1). Since the hot plug signal HPD is active when the sink device 2 is connected to the source device 1 (YES in S1), the source device 1 starts an update file distribution process.

  The source device 1 first packetizes the update file (packetization processing: S2). Details of the packetization process are shown in FIG. The source device 1 reads an update file from the storage medium 12 in advance and stores it in a memory (not shown) before reproducing the content. The packet processing unit 15 in the source device 1 adds error detection data to the update file stored in the memory (S21). From the error detection data, the sink device 2 can confirm whether or not the update file has been successfully downloaded.

  After adding the error detection data, the packet processing unit 15 packetizes the update file and divides it into a plurality of UD packets (S22). The UD packet is output to the TMDS channel as an InfoFrame packet of the HDMI standard. Therefore, the packet processing unit 15 packetizes the update file so that each UD packet is 30 bytes or less.

  The packet processing unit 15 assigns a packet number to each UD packet sequentially. When the packet processing unit 15 divides the update file into 100 UD packets, packet numbers 0 to 99 are assigned sequentially from the top UD packet. As shown in FIG. 4, the UD packet generated by the above processing includes a packet number, the number of bytes of the UD packet, and packet data.

  After packetizing the update file, the packet processing unit 15 creates a header packet HP (S23). The header packet HP includes packet information used by the sink device 2 to identify each UD packet. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the header packet HP includes the total number of UD packets as packet information. The header packet HP further includes the version of the update file, the name of the target device of the update file, that is, the name of the sink device 2, and the number of bytes of the header packet HP.

  The sink device 2 generates a packet number based on the total number of UD packets in the header packet HP, and determines whether all UD packets have been received based on the generated packet number.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the source device 1 transmits the packetized update file to the sink device 2 after executing the packetization process (S2). The transmission processing unit 13 first transmits the header packet HP (header packet transmission processing: S3), and transmits the header packet HP and then transmits the UD packet (UD packet transmission processing: S4). At this time, the transmission processing unit 13 transmits the header packet HP and the UD packet in parallel with the transmission of the content data. At this time, the header packet HP and the UD packet are appropriately interrupted between the content data so that the display and output of the content are not interrupted by the sink device 2 and are sequentially transmitted.

  In the header packet transmission process (S3), the source device 1 repeatedly transmits the header packet HP repeatedly for a predetermined number of times. This is to prevent the sink device 2 from failing to acquire the header packet HP. First, the source device 1 sets the count value N = 0 (S31), confirms that the count value N is less than a predetermined number of times PN (Predetermined Numbers) (NO in S32), and then synchronizes the header packet HP. The data is transmitted to the device 2 (S33). After transmission, the count value N = 0 is incremented to N = 1 (S34), and the process returns to step S32. In short, the source device 1 repeatedly transmits the header packet HP until the count value reaches the predetermined number of times PN. When the count value N reaches the predetermined number of times PN (YES in S32), the source device 1 ends the header packet transmission process and executes the UD packet transmission process (S4).

  In the UD packet transmission process (S4), the source device 1 transmits UD packets in the order of packet numbers while the hot plug signal HPD is active. If the hot plug signal HPD remains active after transmitting the last (that is, last packet number) UD packet, the source device 1 again starts from the first (that is, first packet number) UD packet. UD packets are transmitted in numerical order. In short, the UD packet is repeatedly transmitted until the hot plug signal HPD becomes non-active. Details of the UD packet transmission process will be described below.

  The source device 1 first sets the count value K = 0 (S41). After confirming that the hot plug signal HPD is active (YES in S42) and confirming that the count value K is less than the total number of UD packets (NO in S43), the source device 1 determines that the packet number K (= 0) is transmitted to the sink device 2 (S44).

  After the transmission, the packet number K = 0 is incremented to K = 1, the process returns to step S42, and the operations after step S42 are repeated. In short, the source device 1 transmits all UD packets. When the packet number K becomes equal to the total number of UD packets (YES in S43), all the UD packets have been transmitted. Therefore, the process returns to step S41, and the UD packet is transmitted again in order from the beginning with the packet number K = 0 (S42- S45). When the hot plug signal HPD becomes inactive (NO in S42), the source device 1 stops transmitting the UD packet (S46), and ends the update file distribution process.

[Operation of sink device]
Referring to FIG. 6, when connected to source device 1 via HDMI cable 3, sink device 2 activates hot plug signal HPD (S10).

  While the hot plug signal HPD is active, the sink device 2 monitors reception of the header packet HP (S11). When the reception processing unit 22 receives the header packet HP (YES in S11), the control unit 23 creates the packet list 50 shown in FIG. 7 based on the total number of UD packets that are packet information included in the header packet HP. (S12). As shown in FIG. 7, the packet list 50 includes a field to which a packet number is input and a field to which a registration flag for confirming that a UD packet having the packet number is registered in the memory 27 is input. The

  When the packet list 50 is created, all the registration flags are “0”. Each time the sink device 2 registers the received UD packet in the memory 27, the sink device 2 sets the flag of the corresponding packet number to “1”. The packet list 50 is registered in the memory 27.

  After creating the packet list 50, the sink device 2 monitors the reception of the UD packet constituting the update file (S13). When a UD packet is received (YES in S13), a packet number is read from the received UD packet (S14). After reading the packet number, the sink device 2 executes a registration process (S30).

  In the registration process (S30), the sink device 2 registers or discards the received UD packet. The sink device 2 first refers to the packet list 50 and determines whether or not the registration flag corresponding to the read packet number is “0” (S15). When the registration flag is “0” (YES in S15), since the received UD packet is not registered in the memory 27, the sink device 2 registers the received UD packet in the memory 27 (S16). The registration flag corresponding to the packet number of the received UD packet is set to “1”. On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S15, if the corresponding registration flag is “1” (NO in S15), the received UD packet has already been registered in the memory 27, so the UD packet is discarded (S17). ).

  After executing the registration process (S30), the sink device 2 determines whether all the registration flags in the packet list 50 are “1” (S19). If even one registration flag “0” exists in the packet list 50, there is an unregistered UD packet, so the process returns to step S13 to continue receiving the UD packet. Since the hot plug signal HPD is active while the sink device 2 repeats the processes of steps S13 to S19, the source device 1 transmits UD packets in the order of packet numbers as described above, and transmits the last UD packet. Then, it transmits again in the order of the packet number from the first UD packet (S4). In short, the source device 1 repeatedly transmits a plurality of UD packets until all the registration flags in the packet list become “1”.

  As a result of the determination in step S19, when all the UD packets are registered (YES in S19), the sink device 2 combines the UD packets registered in the memory 27 and reconstructs the update file (S20). After reconstructing the update file, the sink device 2 determines whether an error exists in the reconstructed update file based on the error detection data (S21). If there is an error (YES in S21), the update file could not be downloaded normally, so the reconstructed update file is discarded and the process returns to step S12. That is, the packet list is created again and all UD packets are reacquired.

  If there is no error in the reconstructed update file as a result of the determination in step S21 (NO in S21), since the update file has been downloaded normally, the sink device 2 deactivates the hot plug signal HPD (S22). ). Thereby, the source device 1 stops the transmission of the UD packet (S46). After deactivating the hot plug signal HPD, the sink device 2 updates the firmware file stored in the memory 27 based on the reconstructed update file (S23).

  With the above operation, the AV system 10 can update the firmware of the sink device 2 without using a dedicated jig or a computer device.

  In addition, since the update file can be transmitted while the source device 1 and the sink device 2 are connected by the HDMI cable 3, the sink device 2 can be updated from the source device 1 even while the content is being played back in the AV system. You can download the file.

  Also, when downloading an update file while playing back content, the sink device 2 must generate video and audio from the received content data and receive a header packet HP and a UD packet. For this reason, the load on the control unit 23 in the sink device 2 increases, and the transmitted UD packet may be missed. In the AV system 10, it is confirmed whether or not the sink device 2 has registered all the UP packets, and the source device 1 repeatedly transmits UD packets until the sink device 2 registers all the UD packets. Therefore, even if the sink device 2 misses the UD packet, the missed UD packet is transmitted again. Therefore, the sink device 2 can register all the UD packets even while the content is being reproduced.

  In the AV system 10, since the source device 1 repeatedly transmits UD packets, when the sink device 2 registers all UD packets, it is necessary to stop transmission of UD packets by the source device 1. Therefore, in the AV system 10, when the sink device 2 registers all UD packets, the hot plug signal HPD is changed from active to non-active. The source device 1 stops the transmission of the UD packet when the hot plug HPD becomes inactive. That is, the source device 1 can determine the timing for stopping the transmission of the UD packet by the hot plug signal HPD. Therefore, even if the digital transmission path between the source device 1 and the sink device 2 is a unidirectional communication method from the source device 1 to the sink device 2, the source device 1 when the sink device 2 registers all UP packets. The device 1 can stop the transmission of the UD packet.

  Further, in the AV system 10, since the source device 1 continuously transmits a predetermined number of header packets HP to the sink device 2, it is possible to suppress the header device HP from being missed by the sink device 2.

  When the sink device 2 executes the firmware update in step S23 in FIG. 6 and the firmware update is completed, the control unit 23 in the sink device 2 changes the hot plug signal HPD from non-active to active. Therefore, the AV system 10 can reproduce the content after updating the firmware.

2. Second Embodiment In the first embodiment, the source device 1 confirms whether or not the sink device 2 has registered all UD packets by the hot plug signal HPD. However, the UD packet is registered by another method. May be confirmed. Hereinafter, the AV system 20 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[overall structure]
Referring to FIG. 8, in AV system 20, a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) channel is newly added to HDMI cable 3 as compared with AV system 10 in FIG. The CEC channel is a bidirectional communication signal line, and not only transmits a command from the source device 1 to the sink device 2, but also transmits a command from the sink device 2 to the source device 1. That is, the control unit 23 of the sink device 2 can transmit a command to the control unit 14 of the source device 1 via the CEC channel.
Other configurations of the AV system 20 are the same as those of the AV system 10.

[Operation of AV system]
In the AV system 20, every time the sink device 2 registers the header packet and the UD packet in the memory 27, an ACK notification is transmitted to the source device 1 via the CEC channel. The source device 1 receives the ACK notification and transmits a UD packet to be transmitted next.

  When the AV system 20 executes the content reproduction process and the firmware update process in parallel, the load on the control unit 23 of the sink device 2 increases as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the source device 1 repeatedly transmits the same header packet and UD packet to the sink device 2 until receiving an ACK notification. Hereinafter, content reproduction processing and firmware update processing according to the second embodiment will be described.

[Content playback processing]
First, the operation of the AV system 20 when reproducing content will be described. Referring to FIG. 9, after confirming that hot plug signal HPD is active (YES in S51), source device 1 starts reproduction of content (S52). Specifically, the transmission processing unit 13 in the source device 1 reads the content data from the storage medium 12 stored in the drive 11 and converts it into HDMI standard data. The transmission processing unit 13 outputs the converted content data to the TMDS channel.

  When the reproduction is completed, that is, when the transmission of the entire content data is completed (S53), the source device 1 transmits a transmission completion notification to the sink device 2 (S54). Based on the transmission completion notification, the sink device 2 determines that the content reproduction has been completed.

[Firmware update process]
A firmware update process executed in parallel with the above-described content reproduction will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the sink device 2 activates the hot plug signal HPD from when it is connected to the source device 1 via the HDMI cable 3 (S10). After confirming that the hot plug signal HPD is active (YES in S1), the source device 1 executes packetization processing (S2). Details of the packetization processing are the same as those in FIG.

  After executing the packetization process (S2), the source device 1 executes a header packet transmission process (S60). Specifically, the source device 1 transmits a header packet HP to the sink device 2 (S61), and determines whether or not an ACK notification is received from the sink device 2 after transmission (S62). If no ACK notification has been received (NO in S62), the process returns to step S61 to transmit the header packet HP again (S60). In short, the source device 1 repeatedly transmits the header packet HP until receiving an ACK notification from the sink device 2.

  When the sink device 2 receives the transmitted header packet HP (YES in S11), the sink device 2 creates a packet list 50 (S12). After creating the packet list 50, the sink device 2 creates and notifies an ACK notification (S81 and S82).

  When the firmware update process is executed in parallel with the content reproduction process, the load on the control unit 23 increases. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the sink device 2 will miss the header packet HP. In the AV system 20, the source device 1 repeatedly transmits the header packet HP until the sink device 2 registers without missing the header packet HP, in other words, until the source device 1 receives an ACK notification. Therefore, the sink device 2 can surely register the header packet.

  The ACK notification includes the packet number of the UD packet that requests transmission next. In short, the sink device 2 notifies the source device 1 that the header packet and the UD packet from the source device 1 have been normally received by ACK notification, and requests a UD packet to be received next. The sink device 2 sets the count value M = 0 (S81), and transmits an ACK notification including the packet number M = 0 to the source device 1 via the CEC channel (S82).

  When the source device 1 receives the ACK notification (YES in S62), the source device 1 stops transmitting the header packet HP, and transmits the UD packet of the packet number M (= 0) included in the ACK notification to the sink device 2 (S63). ). After transmission, the source device 1 monitors whether or not an ACK notification has been received (S64), and repeatedly transmits a UD packet with the same packet number M until an ACK notification is received. This is because the sink device 2 can reliably register the UD packet.

  When the sink device 2 receives the UD packet (S83), it reads the packet number of the received UD packet (S84), and the read packet number is the same as the packet number M (= 0) requested in step S82. It is determined whether or not there is (S85). When the read packet number is the same as the requested packet number M, the sink device 2 registers the received UD packet in the memory 27 (S87), and the received UD packet in the packet list 50 is received. The registration flag corresponding to the packet number is set to “1” (S88). On the other hand, when the read packet number is different from the requested packet number M (NO in S85), the sink device 2 discards the received UD packet (S86) and returns to step S83. In short, the sink device 2 repeats the operations of steps S83 to S86 until the UD packet having the requested packet number is registered.

  After setting the registration flag to “1” in step S88, the sink device 2 determines whether all the registration flags in the packet list are “1” (S89). If even one registration flag “0” exists in the packet list (NO in S89), since there is an unregistered UD packet, the sink device 2 increments the count value M = 0 and M = 1 (S90), the process returns to step S82, and an ACK notification including the packet number M (= 1) is transmitted to the source device 1 via the CEC channel (S82). That is, the sink device 2 transmits an ACK notification to the source device 1 every time each UD packet is registered. Since the sink device 2 includes the packet number of the UD packet to be received next in the ACK notification, the sink device 2 can receive the next UD packet. In this way, the AV system 20 checks for each UD packet whether or not the sink device 2 has registered the UD packet.

When it is determined in step S89 that all the registration flags are “1” (YES in S89), the sink device 2 reconstructs the update file by combining the UD packets registered in the memory 27 (S94). After reconstructing the update file, the sink device 2 determines whether an error exists in the reconstructed update file based on the error detection data (S96). If there is an error (YES in S96), the update file could not be downloaded normally, so the reconstructed update file is discarded and the process returns to step S12. That is, the packet list is created again and all UD packets are reacquired.
If there is no error in the reconstructed update file as a result of the determination in step S96 (NO in S96), since the update file has been successfully downloaded, the sink device 2 sends a download completion notification via the CEC channel to the source device. 1 (S91). When the source device 1 receives the download completion notification (YES in S65), the source device 1 ends the update file distribution processing.

  After transmitting the download completion notification (S91), the sink device 2 determines whether or not the content reproduction has been completed (S92). The sink device 2 cannot update the firmware while receiving the content data. The reception of the content data may be interrupted when executing the firmware update. In this case, the user of the AV system 20 is interrupted to view the content. In order to avoid such a situation, the sink device 2 updates the firmware after the reproduction of the content is completed (S92, S93, S95).

  The sink device 2 first determines whether or not reception of content data is complete (S92). A transmission completion flag is registered in the memory 27 of the sink device 2. When receiving the transmission completion notification (S54 in FIG. 9) from the source device 1, the sink device 2 changes the transmission completion flag from “0” to “1”. If the result of the determination in step S92 is that the playback completion flag is “0” (NO in S92), the content data transmission by the source device 1 has not been completed, so the sink device 2 monitors the reception of the transmission completion notification. (S92). On the other hand, as a result of the determination in S92, if the transmission completion flag is “1” (YES in S92), the sink device 2 has received the transmission completion notification and the content reproduction process has been completed. Update (S93, S95).

  In order to update the firmware, the sink device 2 deactivates the hot plug signal HPD and disconnects the connection with the source device 1 (S93). This is to prevent data from being transmitted from the source device 1 during the update.

  After deactivating the hot plug signal HPD, the sink device 2 updates the firmware file stored in the memory 27 based on the reconstructed update file (S95).

  With the above operation, the AV system 20 according to the present embodiment can update the firmware of the sink device 2 without using a jig or computer device dedicated to firmware update.

  Further, since the update file can be transmitted while the source device 1 and the sink device 2 are connected via the digital transmission path, the update file can be downloaded to the sink device 2 while the AV system 20 is playing back the content. In this case, since the operation load of the sink device 2 increases, the possibility of missing the header packet HP and the UD packet increases. Therefore, in the AV system 20, the sink device 2 transmits an ACK notification every time the header packet HP and the UD packet are registered. The source device 1 repeatedly transmits the same header packet HP and UD packet until an ACK notification is received. Even if the sink device 2 misses the header packet HP or the UD packet, the source device repeatedly transmits the header packet HP or the same UD packet until receiving the ACK notification from the sink device. A UD packet can be registered.

  Further, since the data transmission from the source device 1 to the sink device 2 is blocked by changing the hot plug signal HPD from active to non-active, the sink device 2 is connected to the source device 1 while being physically connected to the firmware. Can be updated.

  In addition, since the ACK notification includes the packet number of the UD packet to be transmitted next, if the source device 1 simply transmits a UD packet corresponding to the packet number in the ACK packet, the sink device transmits all UP packets. Can be registered.

  The sink device 2 registers all UD packets and deactivates the hot plug signal HPD when the reception of the content data is completed. Therefore, after the user of the AV system 20 views the content to the end, the firmware update is started.

  In the first and second embodiments, a sequential packet number is assigned to each UD packet, but a packet identifier composed of non-sequential numbers or codes may be assigned to each UD packet. In this case, the packet identifiers of all UD packets may be included in the header packet HP as packet information. The sink device 2 reads all UD packet packet identifiers from the header packet HP, and can determine whether or not all UD packets have been registered based on the read packet identifiers.

  In addition, when a packet number starting from packet number = 0 is assigned to each UD packet by a sequential number, the packet number of the last UD packet may be used as packet information. In this case, the sink device 2 can calculate the packet numbers of all the UD packets based on the packet numbers in the header packet HP.

  In short, the packet information may be information that allows the sink device 2 to acquire the packet identifiers of all the UD packets.

In the first embodiment, the digital transmission path connecting the source device 1 and the sink device 2 is the HDMI cable 3. For example, in the AV system 10, instead of the HDMI cable 3, DVI (Digital A DVI cable conforming to the Visual Interface standard may be adopted. Similar to the HDMI cable, the DVI cable has a TMDS channel and a hot plug channel. Further, another digital transmission path including a signal line for transmitting digital data and a signal line for outputting a static signal output from the sink device 2 to the source device may be employed.
In the present embodiment, the AV system is configured by the source device 1 and the sink device 2, but the AV system may be configured by the source device 1 and the repeater device, and the firmware of the repeater device may be updated. In this case, the repeater device can update its own firmware by executing the same operation as the sink device 2.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented by appropriately modifying the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit thereof.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the AV system by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing details of update file distribution processing by a source device in the AV system shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step S2 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the update packet produced by step S22 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the header packet produced by step S23 in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing details of firmware upload processing by a sink device in the AV system shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the packet list 50 produced by step S12 in FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the AV system by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the content reproduction process of the AV system shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of update file distribution processing by a source device in the AV system shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of firmware upload processing by a sink device in the AV system shown in FIG. 8.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Source device 2 Sink device 3 HDMI cable 10, 20 AV system 13 Transmission processing unit 14, 23 Control unit 15 Packet processing unit 16, 21 Connector 22 Reception processing unit 25 Display 26 Speaker 27 Memory PN Predetermined number of times

Claims (13)

A source device supplying content data;
A receiving device for receiving the content data;
A hot plug signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device, and a one-way communication type data signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device; A digital transmission line connected between the device and the receiving device,
The source device is
Content data transmitting means capable of transmitting the content data when the hot plug signal is active;
Packetizing means for dividing an update file for updating the firmware of the receiving device into a plurality of update packets;
Packet information creating means for creating packet information for the receiving device to identify each update packet;
Packet information transmitting means for transmitting the packet information to the receiving device via a data signal line;
Packet transmission means for repeatedly transmitting the plurality of update packets to the receiving device via a data signal line after transmitting the packet information and while the hot plug signal is active,
The receiving device is
Storage means for storing the firmware;
Content data receiving means for receiving the transmitted content data;
Registration means for registering the transmitted packet information and a plurality of update packets in the storage means;
Determination means for determining whether or not all of the plurality of update packets are registered in the storage means based on the registered packet information;
The hot plug signal is activated when connected to the source device via the digital transmission path, and the hot plug signal is deactivated when the determination unit determines that all of the plurality of update packets have been registered. Hot plug control means;
An AV system comprising: update means for updating the firmware based on the plurality of registered update packets after deactivating the hot plug signal. The AV system according to claim 1,
The AV system characterized in that the packet information transmitting means repeatedly transmits the packet information a predetermined number of times. A source device supplying content data;
A receiving device for receiving the content data;
A digital transmission line connected between the source device and the receiving device;
The digital transmission line is
A hot plug signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device;
A one-way communication data signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device;
A command signal line for transmitting a command from the receiving device to the source device;
The source device is
Content data transmitting means capable of transmitting the content data when the hot plug signal is active;
Packetizing means for dividing an update file for updating the firmware of the receiving device into a plurality of update packets;
Packet information creating means for creating packet information for the receiving device to identify each update packet;
Packet information transmitting means for transmitting the packet information to the receiving device via a data signal line;
After transmitting the packet information, each time an ACK notification is received from the receiving device, each update packet is sequentially transmitted to the receiving device via a data signal line, and the next ACK notification is received after receiving the ACK notification. A packet transmission means for repeatedly transmitting the same update packet until
The receiving device is
Storage means for storing the firmware;
Content data receiving means for receiving the transmitted content data;
Registration means for registering the transmitted packet information and a plurality of update packets in the storage means;
ACK notification means for transmitting an ACK notification to the source device via the command signal line each time an update packet is registered;
Determining means for determining whether or not all of the plurality of update packets are registered in the storage means based on the registered packet information;
The hot plug signal is activated when connected to the source device via the digital transmission path, and the hot plug signal is deactivated when the determination unit determines that all of the plurality of update packets have been registered. Hot plug control means;
An AV system comprising: update means for updating the firmware based on the plurality of registered update packets after deactivating the hot plug signal. The AV system according to claim 3,
Each of the plurality of update packets includes a packet identifier;
The packet information includes information regarding the packet identifier;
The ACK notification means, based on the packet information, notifies the ACK notification of a packet identifier of an update packet to be transmitted next,
The AV system characterized in that the packet transmission means repeatedly transmits an update packet corresponding to a packet identifier included in the received ACK notification. The AV system according to claim 3 or claim 4,
The determination means further determines whether or not the reception of the content data is completed;
The AV system characterized in that the hot plug control means further makes the hot plug signal inactive when the judging means registers all of the plurality of update packets and completes reception of content data. . The AV system according to claim 5,
The source device further includes
A transmission completion notification means for notifying the receiving device of a transmission completion notification when transmission of the content data is completed;
The AV system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the reception of the content data is completed when the transmission completion notification is received. An AV system comprising a source device for supplying content data, a receiving device for receiving the content data, and a digital transmission path connected between the source device and the receiving device, wherein the digital transmission path is: The AV system comprising: a hot plug signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device; and a one-way communication type data signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device. Source equipment in
Content data transmitting means capable of transmitting the content data when the hot plug signal is active;
Packetizing means for dividing an update file for updating the firmware of the receiving device into a plurality of update packets;
Packet information creating means for creating packet information for the receiving device to identify each update packet;
Packet information transmitting means for transmitting the packet information to the receiving device via a data signal line;
After the packet information is transmitted, until the receiving device registers all of the plurality of update packets and deactivates the hot plug signal, the plurality of update packets are connected to the receiving device via a data signal line. A source device comprising: a packet transmission unit that repeatedly transmits the packet through the source device. The source device according to claim 7,
The packet information transmitting means repeatedly transmits the packet information a predetermined number of times. An AV system comprising a source device for supplying content data, a receiving device for receiving the content data, and a digital transmission path connected between the source device and the receiving device, wherein the digital transmission path is: The AV system comprising: a hot plug signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device; and a one-way communication type data signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device. A receiving device in which
Storage means for storing firmware;
Content data receiving means for receiving content data supplied from the source device;
Configuring an update file for updating the firmware, registering a plurality of update packets transmitted from the source device in the storage means, and before registering the plurality of update packets, the plurality of update packets Registration means for registering in the storage means packet information created by the source device to identify each of the packet information and transmitted from the source device;
Determination means for determining whether or not all of the plurality of update packets are registered in the storage means based on the registered packet information;
The hot plug signal is activated when connected to the source device via the digital transmission path, and the hot plug signal is deactivated when the determination unit determines that all of the plurality of update packets have been registered. Hot plug control means;
And a updating unit configured to update the firmware based on the plurality of registered update packets after deactivating the hot plug signal. An AV system comprising a source device for supplying content data, a receiving device for receiving the content data, and a digital transmission path connected between the source device and the receiving device, wherein the digital transmission path is: A hot plug signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device, a one-way communication type data signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device, and from the receiving device A source device in the AV system, including a command signal line for transmitting a command to the source device,
Content data transmitting means capable of transmitting the content data when the hot plug signal is active;
Packetizing means for dividing an update file for updating the firmware of the receiving device into a plurality of update packets;
Packet information creating means for creating packet information for the receiving device to identify each update packet;
Packet information transmitting means for transmitting the packet information to the receiving device via a data signal line;
After transmitting the packet information, each time an ACK notification is received from the receiving device, each of a plurality of update packets is sequentially transmitted to the receiving device via a data signal line, and the next ACK is received after receiving the ACK notification. A source device comprising: a packet transmission unit that repeatedly transmits the same update packet until the notification is received. The source device according to claim 10,
Each of the plurality of update packets includes a packet identifier;
The packet information includes information regarding the packet identifier;
The ACK notification includes a packet identifier of an update packet that the receiving device next requests to transmit,
The source device characterized in that the packet transmission means repeatedly transmits an update packet corresponding to a packet identifier included in the received ACK notification. An AV system comprising a source device for supplying content data, a receiving device for receiving the content data, and a digital transmission path connected between the source device and the receiving device, wherein the digital transmission path is: A hot plug signal line for outputting a hot plug signal from the receiving device to the source device, a one-way communication type data signal line for transmitting data from the source device to the receiving device, and from the receiving device A receiving device in the AV system, including a command signal line for transmitting a command to the source device,
Storage means for storing the firmware;
Content data receiving means for receiving content data supplied from the source device;
Configuring an update file for updating the firmware, registering a plurality of update packets transmitted from the source device in the storage means, and before registering the plurality of update packets, the plurality of update packets Registration means for registering in the storage means packet information created by the source device to identify each of the packet information and transmitted from the source device;
ACK notification means for transmitting an ACK notification to the source device via the command signal line each time the update packet is registered;
Determining means for determining whether or not all of the plurality of update packets are registered in the storage means based on the registered packet information;
The hot plug signal is activated when connected to the source device via the digital transmission path, and the hot plug signal is deactivated when the determination unit determines that all of the plurality of update packets have been registered. Hot plug control means;
And a updating unit configured to update the firmware based on the plurality of registered update packets after deactivating the hot plug signal. The receiving device according to claim 12,
The determination means further determines whether or not the reception of the content data is completed;
The hot-plug control means further comprises: a non-active hot plug signal when the judging means registers all of the plurality of update packets and completes reception of content data. .

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