JP2012009958A - Sink device, control method of sink device, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sink device capable of easily switching the sink device displaying a content according to a type of the content in an HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices coexist.SOLUTION: A television 10 comprises: a display unit 113 which can display the content input via HDMI input devices 101, 102, a tuner unit 104, or a network input unit 105; an HDMI output device 103 which can output the content input via the HDMI input devices 101, 102, the tuner unit 104, or the network input unit 105 to a projector 20; and a cooperative control unit 107 which determines the type of the input content and selects whether to display the input content on the display unit 113 or to output the input content from the HDMI output device 103 to another sink device according to a determination result.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sink device that processes input content.

  In recent years, televisions and AV devices equipped with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) terminals as a standard have become widespread, and it has become common to connect televisions and AV devices with HDMI cables.

  When HDMI is used, video and audio can be transmitted with a single cable. Further, cooperation between various devices can be performed by a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) command defined in the HDMI standard. In order to link devices using the CEC command, each device connected by an HDMI cable is configured with a logical address that designates the device by indicating the type of the device and a device connected by the HDMI cable. A physical address that designates a device is assigned by indicating the location on the HDMI network.

  In addition, with the spread of HDMI, the number of sink devices such as televisions that receive content is increasing in an HDMI network.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a relay device that can correctly change a physical address even when an HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices are mixed is wirelessly relayed.

JP 2009-278262 A (released on November 26, 2009)

  However, the relay apparatus described in Patent Document 1 only changes the physical address of the source device that transmits content to each sink device, and sets the physical address of each sink device to the source device. It cannot be changed. In the HDMI standard, as shown in FIG. 3, only one type of physical address of the sink device (0.0.0.0) is defined, and two or more sink devices are defined. This is because they cannot be distinguished.

  Therefore, the relay device cannot automatically switch a sink device that receives and outputs content in an HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices (for example, a television and a projector) are mixed. For this reason, it is necessary to use a source device having a plurality of HDMI output terminals or to switch the output destination by a dedicated remote controller (remote controller) using an HDMI selector or the like that obtains a plurality of outputs from one input.

  For example, when the sink device that receives and outputs a broadcast TV program is switched from the TV to the projector, it is necessary to take measures such as separately preparing a source device (such as an HDD recorder) with a built-in tuner.

  As described above, in the HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices are mixed, there is a problem that the convenience is very low when switching the sink device that outputs the content.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and its main object is to easily switch the sink device that displays content in an HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices coexists according to the type of content. It is to provide a sink device that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, the sink device according to the present invention is a sink device having a display unit capable of displaying content input from the source device or from the outside, and content input from the source device or from the outside Output from the source device or from the outside according to the determination result of the determination unit Output destination selecting means for selecting whether to display the content to be displayed on the display unit or from the content output unit to the other sink device.

  According to the above configuration, first, the determination unit determines the type of content input from the source device or from the outside. Next, whether the output destination selection means displays the content on the display unit or outputs it to the other sink device via the content output unit according to the type of content determined by the determination unit. Select.

  As a result, the sink device of the present invention not only inputs content, but also automatically switches the sink device that displays the content between its own device and other sink devices according to the type of content. Can do. Therefore, the sink device that displays the content in the HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices are mixed can be easily switched according to the type of the content.

  According to the above configuration, since the content is input from the source device, the sink device of the present invention operates as a sink device for the source device, and the content is transmitted to the other sink device. Therefore, it operates as a source device for the other sink devices. Therefore, by using the sink device, a sink device that displays the content in an HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices are mixed without causing the source device and the other sink device to correspond to a special function or the like. Switching can be easily performed according to the type of the content.

  The “content input from the outside” is, for example, a broadcast signal selectively received by a tuner built in the sink device of the present invention, or content input via the Internet, This refers to content supplied from a content supply source other than the source device that is HDMI-connected to the sink device.

  A storage unit that stores output destination information in which the type of content input from the source device or the outside and the sink device that displays the content are associated; and the output destination selection unit is configured to output the content It is preferable to refer to the storage unit before selecting the destination.

  According to the above configuration, the sink device that performs display according to the type of content input from the source device or the outside can be stored in advance in the storage unit as the output destination information. Thereby, the output destination selection means can easily acquire output destination information corresponding to the type of content from the storage unit.

  In addition, you may comprise so that the output destination information of a memory | storage part can be rewritten at any time via the input part which receives user input.

  In the sink device according to the present invention, performance information is individually set for each of the display unit and the other sink device, and an acquisition unit that acquires the performance information of the other sink device and the performance of the output destination The presenting means for presenting information to the source device, the performance information of the output destination selected by the output destination selecting means, and the performance information presented by the presenting means do not coincide with each other. It is preferable that the information processing apparatus further includes rewriting means for rewriting the performance information that has been output to the performance information of the output destination.

  According to the above configuration, since the performance information presented to the source device can be rewritten based on the performance information of the output destination selected by the output destination selection unit, the sink device can receive input from the source device. The content can be acquired in a format suitable for the performance information of the output destination, that is, the display unit or the other sink device, and output to the output destination.

  The determination means in the sink device according to the present invention further determines the content type based on the type information added to the content input from the source device when determining the type of content input from the source device. It is preferable to determine.

  According to said structure, the said determination means determines the kind of content input from the said source device based on the classification information added to the content. As a result, the type of content input from the source device can be determined more accurately.

  In the sink device according to the present invention, when the type of content input from the outside is determined, the determination unit adds program type information input from the outside and content type information input from the outside It is preferable to determine the type of content based on the program information.

  According to said structure, the said determination means determines the kind of content input from the said exterior based on the classification information added to program information. As a result, the type of content input from the outside can be determined more accurately.

  The output destination selecting means in the sink device according to the present invention preferably further selects the output destination of the content based on an instruction from an input unit that receives user input.

  According to said structure, the said output destination selection means selects the output destination of a content based on the user's instruction | indication performed via the said input part. Thus, the user can easily switch the output destination of the content by an extremely simple operation of operating the input unit.

  The input unit can be externally attached to the sink device of the present invention, and the connection form with the sink device may be wireless or wired.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the sink device control method according to the present invention includes a display unit capable of displaying content supplied from the source device or from the outside, and the source device or content supplied from the outside to another sink. A sink device control method including a content output unit capable of outputting to a device, wherein a determination step for determining a type of content supplied from the source device or the outside, and a determination result of the determination step, An output destination selecting step for selecting whether the source device or content supplied from the outside is displayed on the display unit or output from the content output unit to the other sink device. It is said.

  According to the above configuration, first, the type of content input from the source device or the outside is determined. Next, it is selected whether to display the content on the display unit or to output to the other sink device via the content output unit according to the determined content type.

  As a result, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those already described for the sink device.

  Further, a program for operating the sink device according to the present invention, which is a program that causes a computer to function as each of the above-described means, and a computer-readable recording medium on which the program is recorded are also included in the present invention. Included in the category.

  The sink device and the control method thereof according to the present invention include a display unit capable of displaying content input from the source device or the outside, and a content output unit capable of outputting the input content to another sink device. Regarding the sink device, the input content is displayed on the display unit according to the determination result of determining the type of content input from the source device or the outside, or the content output unit transmits the other sink device to the other sink device. It is characterized by selecting whether to output to.

  As a result, the sink device that displays the content in the HDMI network in which a plurality of sink devices are mixed can be easily switched according to the type of the content.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the television which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the content reproduction system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of an HDMI cable. 5 is a table in which logical addresses are associated with source device types. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of a structure of a CEC command. It is a sequence diagram which shows the connection process performed when connecting a source device and a sink device with an HDMI cable. It is the block diagram which showed the connection of the data of the block relevant to operation | movement of the television which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the television which concerns on this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation | movement regarding the EDID rewriting process of the television which concerns on this embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the connection of the data of the block relevant to operation | movement of the television which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the television which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the connection of the data of the block relevant to operation | movement of the television which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the television which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of the television which concerns on the modification of embodiment of this invention.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a case where a sink device and a source device are connected via an HDMI network will be described as an example. In this embodiment, a television receiver (television) is exemplified as the sink device, a projector is exemplified as the other sink device, and a BD (Blu-ray Disc) player and an HDD recorder are exemplified as the source device. The present invention is not limited to this.

(System overview)
A content reproduction system including a television according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the content reproduction system 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the content reproduction system 1 includes a television 10 (sink device), a projector 20 (other sink device), a BD player 30 (source device), and an HDD recorder 40 (source device). .

  The television 10 operates as a sink device for the BD player 30 and the HDD recorder 40. That is, the television 10 performs processing such as playing content input from the BD player 30 and the HDD recorder 40.

  The television 10 operates as a source device for the projector 20. That is, the television 10 outputs content to the projector 20, and the projector 20 performs processing such as displaying the supplied content.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration and operation of the television 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

(Outline of HDMI)
First, prior to the description of the television 10, an outline of HDMI connecting the television 10, the projector 20, the BD player 30, and the HDD recorder 40 shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the television 10, the projector 20, the BD player 30, and the HDD recorder 40 are connected via an HDMI cable. The configuration of the HDMI cable will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the HDMI cable.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the HDMI cable includes a TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) channel for transmitting content (video signal and audio signal) and EDID (Extended Display Identification) indicating the performance and characteristics of the sink device. HPD (Hot Plug Detect) that is used to read the EDID from the source device by controlling the voltage of the DDC (Display Data Channel) line, the CEC line that transmits the CEC command, and the hot plug detection pin voltage. ) Voltage (vs. ground potential) is controlled to 5V by the HPD line that transmits the signal and the source device for connection detection And a V power line.

  Here, an outline of the CEC command will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. FIG. 4 is a table in which logical addresses are associated with source device types. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the CEC command.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the logical address is represented by 0 and a natural number from 1 to 15 indicating the device type (any of television, recorder, player, tuner, and audio). For example, the logical address “0” is allocated to the television, the logical address “1” is allocated to the first recorder, and the logical address “2” is allocated to the second recorder.

On the other hand, the physical address is expressed by a 4-digit 0 and a natural number indicating a path from the source device. For example, physical addresses (0, 0, 0, 0) are assigned to sink devices (television and projector). On the other hand, the physical address (x, 0, 0, 0) is allocated to the source device X connected to the xth HDMI input device of the sink device, and is connected to the yth HDMI input device of the sink device. A physical address (y, 0, 0, 0) is assigned to the source device Y.
In the configuration of the content reproduction system 1 shown in FIG. 2, a physical address (1, 0, 0, 0) is assigned to the HDD recorder 40 connected to the input terminal 1 of the television 10 which is a sink device, and the input terminal 2 (2, 0, 0, 0) is allocated to the BD player 30 connected to.

  Since the television 10 connected to the projector 20 that is a sink device operates as a source device, a physical address (1, 0, 0, 0) is assigned to the television 10.

  That is, in the content reproduction system 1, there are two HDMI networks (hereinafter also referred to as HDMI systems) in which the sink device and the source device operate as one system. One HDMI system includes a television 10 that operates as a sink device, a BD player 30 and an HDD recorder 40 as source devices, and the other HDMI system includes a projector 20 as a sink device and a television 10 that operates as a source device. Consists of.

  The CEC line is a common signal line that connects a sink device and a source device in one HDMI system. Therefore, within the definition of the HDMI standard, the address assigned to the television 10 operating as a sink device in one HDMI system and the address allocated to the projector 20 operating as a sink device in another HDMI system are the same ( That is, since it is a logical address 0 and a physical address (0, 0, 0, 0)), it is impossible to distinguish them.

  Therefore, in the present invention, since the television 10 is a common component in the two HDMI systems, CEC commands and the like input / output in each HDMI system, and the like, a CEC control unit 112 and a cooperation control unit 107 provided in the television 10 to be described later. Etc. are appropriately controlled. This makes it possible to operate two HDMI systems as one HDMI system, that is, the content reproduction system 1.

  The CEC command can transmit a CEC command to a desired device by storing information specifying the logical address of each device connected via the HDMI cable in the CEC command.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the CEC command is composed of a header (Header Block), an opcode (Opcode Block), and an operand (Operand Block). Specifically, the destination and source logical address of the CEC command are specified in the header, the specific command is specified in the opcode, and various data corresponding to the command specified in the opcode is added to the operand. To construct a CEC command.

(HDMI connection processing)
Next, a connection process performed when the source device and the sink device are connected with an HDMI cable will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a connection process performed when the source device and the sink device are connected by the HDMI cable.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the source device and the sink device are connected with an HDMI cable and the power of each device is changed to the ON state, first, the source device indicates 5 V to indicate that the source device is connected to the sink device. Control the power line to 5V.

  When the sink device detects that the 5V power supply line is controlled to 5V, it supplies the HPD signal to the source device by controlling the voltage of the hot plug detection pin from the low level (L level) to the high level (H level). To do.

  When the source device detects that the hot plug detection pin is controlled to the H level, the source device reads the EDID of the sink device via the DDC line. By reading the EDID, the source device grasps the performance and characteristics of the sink device. Specific examples of the performance and characteristics include a video format, an audio format, CEC compliance, a physical address assigned to a source device, and the like, but are not limited thereto. Model name, model number, etc. can also be mentioned.

  When the source device recognizes the physical address of the own device from the read EDID, the source device uses the CEC line and can use the logical address indicating the type of the own device assigned in advance in the HDMI standard as shown in FIG. The inquiry command which inquires is output. The inquiry command is output by designating the logical address to be inquired in the header constituting the inquiry command. When there is no response to the inquiry command, that is, when the response indicating that the inquired logical address is in use is not received from another device, the source device determines that the inquired logical address is usable.

  When the inquired logical address is adopted as the logical address of the own device, the physical address and logical address of the own device are notified to the sink device using the CEC line.

  The sink device receives the notification from the source device and recognizes the physical address and logical address of the source device.

  When a response to the inquiry command is made, the source device determines that the inquired logical address is unusable, and is the logical address indicating the type of the device shown in FIG. 4 usable? The inquiry command for inquiring whether or not is output again.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the content reproduction system 1 according to the present embodiment has a TV 10 that is a sink device, a BD player 30 and an HDD recorder 40 that are source devices, and a projector 20 and a projector 20 that are sink devices. Since the television 10 functioning as a source device is connected by an HDMI cable, the above-described HDMI connection processing is performed for each HDMI connection.

(TV configuration)
Next, the configuration of the television 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a television 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the television 10 according to the present embodiment includes an HDMI input device 101, an HDMI input device 102 (presentation means), an HDMI output device 103 (content output unit) (acquisition means), a tuner unit 104, a network input. Unit 105, type information acquisition unit 106, cooperation control unit 107 (determination unit) (output destination selection unit), cooperation information storage unit 108 (storage unit), switching control unit 109, EDID control unit 110 (rewriting unit), remote controller A reception / control unit 111, a CEC control unit 112, and a display unit 113 are provided.

  Further, the solid line arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of content data, the broken line arrows indicate the flow of CEC commands, and the alternate long and short dash line arrows indicate the flow of other control data.

  The HDMI input devices 101 and 102 and the HDMI output device 103 are means for communicating with a device connected by an HDMI cable. The HDMI input devices 101 and 102 include an LSI called an HDMI receiver shown in FIG. Reference numeral 103 denotes an LSI called an HDMI transmitter shown in FIG. The HDMI input devices 101 and 102 acquire content input from the connected source device. The HDMI receiver decodes the encoded video, audio, type information, and the like, and provides data to the display unit 113, the audio unit (not shown), and the like via the TMDS channel. Further, the EDID of the television 10 is set in each of the HDMI input devices 101 and 102, and the EDID is presented to the connected source device.

  As described above, the EDID of the television 10 includes its own physical address, the performance information of the display unit 113, and the physical address assigned to the source device. Therefore, the HDMI input devices 101 and 102 function as a presentation unit that provides the performance information of the display unit 113 to the source device.

  The HDMI output device 103 outputs content to the connected sink device. Also, the HDMI output device 103 reads the EDID set in the connected sink device. Therefore, the HDMI output device 103 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires performance information of sink devices other than the television 10.

  The tuner unit 104 and the network input unit 105 are means for acquiring content supplied from an external device other than a device connected by an HDMI cable. The tuner unit 104 acquires content such as a digital broadcast program, program information to which content type information such as a digital broadcast program is added, and the like. Further, the network input unit 105 acquires content input via a network such as the Internet or content with content type information added thereto.

  The display unit 113 is a means for displaying video out of the input content.

  The type information acquisition unit 106 is a unit that extracts type information of input content. Specifically, type information is extracted from content or control data input from the source device or the outside via the HDMI input devices 101 and 102, the tuner unit 104, and the network input unit 105, and is supplied to the cooperation control unit 107.

  For example, when content is supplied from the BD player 30 via the HDMI input device 102, the type information acquisition unit 106 extracts an information packet called “AVI InfoFramePacket”. This information packet is input to the HDMI input device 102 via the TMDS channel.

  Further, the type information acquisition unit 106 may extract the type information included in the vendor command when content is supplied from the HDD recorder 40 via the HDMI input device 101. In addition, when content of a broadcast program, Internet television, or the like is input via the tuner unit 104 and the network input unit 105, the type information acquisition unit 106 receives EPG (Electronic Program Guide) input together with the content, The identification information added to the content may be extracted.

  More specifically, the content type information is temporarily stored in a register or the like in the HDMI receiver, and the HDMI receiver driver that operates on the CPU functioning as the type information acquisition unit 106 and the cooperation control unit 107 or the like. Obtained from the register by software.

  The cooperation control unit 107 functions as a determination unit that determines the type of content to be input based on the type information supplied from the type information acquisition unit 106, and selects an output destination based on the determination result It functions as a selection means.

  Specifically, based on the type of input content determined based on the type information supplied from the type information acquisition unit 106, the input content is output to the sink device via the HDMI output device 103. Or display on the display unit 113. Note that selection of the output destination according to the type of content is performed by referring to the cooperation information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108. The cooperation control unit 107 notifies the switching control unit 109 of the output destination selection result.

  The content type defined in the information packet called “AVI InfoFramePacket” that is input when the content is supplied from the BD player 30 via the HDMI input device 102 includes, for example, “Graphics” and “Photo”. ”,“ Cinema ”,“ Game ”,“ No Data ”, and the like.

  The cooperation information storage unit 108 is means for storing cooperation information (output destination information) in which a content type and an output destination are associated with each other. As the linkage information, for example, among the type information defined in the information packet, type information indicating “Graphics”, “Cinema”, and the like are associated with the HDMI output device 103, and “Photo”, “Game”, “ A table in which type information indicating “No Data” or the like and the display unit 113 are associated with each other can be exemplified. Note that the cooperation information of the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the type information indicating “Game” and the HDMI output device 103 may be associated with each other.

  When content such as a broadcast program is input, type information indicating “movie”, “sports”, and the like are associated with the HDMI output device 103, and type information indicating “news”, “drama”, etc. A table associated with the display unit 113 can be cited. The linkage information of the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the type information indicating “drama” and the HDMI output device 103 may be associated with each other.

  By referring to the type information, the cooperation control unit 107 outputs the content type information to the sink device via the HDMI output device 103 when the content type information indicates, for example, “Cinema” or “Sports”. When “Game”, “News”, or the like is indicated, an output destination is selected so as to be output to the display unit 113.

  The switching control unit 109 is means for switching the output destination of the content. Specifically, based on the notification of the selection result in the cooperation control unit 107, switching is performed between whether the input content is output from the HDMI output device 103 or displayed on the display unit 113.

  The EDID control unit 110 is means for rewriting the EDID of the HDMI input devices 101 and 102 based on the EDID of the content output destination. Specifically, when the output destination is the HDMI output device 103, the EDID set in the HDMI input device 101 or the HDMI input device 102 that presents the EDID to the source device, and the sink device read by the HDMI output device 103 Compare with EDID. If the two EDIDs are different as a result of the comparison, the EDID set in the HDMI input device 101 or the HDMI input device 102 is rewritten to the EDID of the sink device read out by the HDMI output device 103. When the output destination is the display unit 113, the EDID set in the HDMI input device 101 or the HDMI input device 102 is compared with the EDID of the display unit 113. As a result of the comparison, if the two EDIDs are different, the EDID set in the HDMI input device 101 or the HDMI input device 102 is rewritten to the EDID of the display unit 113.

  The remote control reception / control unit 111 receives a remote control signal from a remote control (input unit) (not shown) that accepts user input. When the received remote control signal is a signal for selecting a broadcast station of a broadcast program, the remote control signal is supplied to the tuner unit 104, and when the received remote control signal is a signal for selecting content input via a network such as the Internet. A remote control signal is supplied to the network input unit 105. In addition, when the received remote control signal is a signal for setting cooperation information, the set cooperation information is stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108, and when it is a signal for switching the output destination of content, the remote control signal is linked. Directly supplied to the control unit 107.

  The CEC control unit 112 is a unit that outputs a CEC command to be output to a connected device and performs processing according to the CEC command input from the connected device. Specific CEC commands will be described later.

(TV operation)
Next, the operation of the television 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the data connection of only the blocks related to the operation of the television 10 according to the present embodiment in the configuration of the television 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the television 10 according to the present embodiment.

  Also, the solid line arrows in FIG. 7 indicate the flow of content data, the broken line arrows indicate the flow of CEC commands, and the alternate long and short dash line arrows indicate the flow of other control data.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the operation of the television 10 when content is input from the BD player 30 via the HDMI input device 102 will be described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case where a movie, that is, content whose type information is “Cinema” is input from the BD player 30 will be described as an example.

  In the following description, in the HDMI connection process described above, the BD player 30 has finished reading the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102, and the HDMI output device 103 has finished reading the EDID of the projector 20. It is assumed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when a playback instruction is given to the BD player 30, an information packet is input to the HDMI input device 102 together with the content data. The HDMI input device 102 supplies the input content data and information packet to the type information acquisition unit 106.

  The type information acquisition unit 106 extracts an information packet from the supplied content data and information packet, and acquires type information indicating the type of content from the extracted information packet. Since the input content is a movie, the type information acquisition unit 106 acquires the type information of “Cinema”. The type information acquisition unit 106 supplies the acquired type information to the cooperation control unit 107.

  The cooperation control unit 107 selects a content output destination for the type indicated by the acquired type information with reference to the cooperation information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108. In the cooperation information, when the output destination associated with the type information indicating “Cinema” is the HDMI output apparatus 103, the cooperation control unit 107 determines that the output destination is the HDMI output apparatus 103.

  When the HDMI output device 103 is selected as the output destination, the cooperation control unit 107 performs EDID rewriting processing for rewriting the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 with the EDID of the projector 20 read out in the HDMI output device 103. . Details of the EDID rewriting process will be described later.

  When the EDID rewriting process is completed, the cooperation control unit 107 notifies the CEC control unit 112 of a power ON command output instruction to output a CEC command for turning on the power of the sink device.

  Upon obtaining the power ON command output instruction, the CEC control unit 112 outputs a <Image View On> command, which is a CEC command for turning on the sink device, to the projector 20 via the HDMI output device 103.

  When the <Image View On> command is input, the projector 20 turns on the power of its own device. In the present embodiment, the <Image View On> command is output regardless of whether or not the projector 20 is powered off. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the projector 20 is powered off. A configuration that is output only in some cases may be employed.

  When the <Image View On> command is output, the cooperation control unit 107 notifies the CEC control unit 112 of a display command output instruction to output a CEC command for displaying the video data of the self device on the sink device. .

  Upon obtaining the display command output instruction, the CEC control unit 112 adds its own physical address to the <Active Source> command, which is a CEC command for displaying the video data of its own device on the sink device, and outputs it by broadcast.

  The projector 20 transitions to a state in which the display process of the content input from the HDMI output device 103, which is the source device having the physical address added to the input <Active Source> command, can be performed.

  When the <Active Source> command is output, the cooperation control unit 107 notifies the switching control unit 109 to switch the content output destination to the HDMI output device 103.

  The switching control unit 109 switches the content output destination to the HDMI output device 103. As a result, the content input from the BD player 30 is output to the projector 20 via the HDMI output device 103.

  When the input content is, for example, “Game” and the output destination associated with the type information indicating “Game” in the related information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108 is the display unit 113, the cooperation is performed. The control unit 107 selects the display unit 113 as an output destination.

  When the display control unit 107 is selected as the output destination, the cooperation control unit 107 performs EDID rewriting processing for rewriting the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 with the EDID of the display unit 113. Details of the EDID rewriting process will be described later.

  When the cooperation control unit 107 selects the display unit 113 as an output destination, the cooperation control unit 107 changes the display unit 113 to a state where power is supplied.

  When power is supplied to the display unit 113, the cooperation control unit 107 notifies the switching control unit 109 to switch the content output destination to the display unit 113.

  The switching control unit 109 switches the content output destination to the display unit 113. As a result, the content input from the BD player 30 is displayed on the display unit 113.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the output destination is determined by referring to the cooperation information stored in advance in the cooperation information storage unit 108 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which cooperation information set by the user using a remote controller or the like is stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108 and the output destination is determined by referring to the cooperation information set by the user.

(EDID rewriting process)
The EDID rewriting process of the television 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing operations related to the EDID rewriting process of the television 10.

  When selecting the output destination of the content, the cooperation control unit 107 checks the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 and compares it with the EDID of the selected output destination.

  For example, when the selected output destination is the HDMI output device 103, the EDID of the projector 20 read by the HDMI output device 103 in the HDMI connection process is compared with the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102. . When the selected output destination is the display unit 113, the EDID of the display unit 113 is compared with the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102.

  As a result of the comparison, if the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 matches the EDID of the output destination, the EDID rewriting process is terminated without changing the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102.

  As a result of the comparison, if the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 does not match the output EDID, the cooperation control unit 107 causes the CEC control unit 112 to stop outputting the content from the BD player 30. A stop command output instruction is notified to output a CEC command.

  Here, when the output destination is automatically switched in accordance with the viewing content, if the EDID set in the HDMI input device is different from the EDID of the output destination, the source connected to the HDMI input device each time It is necessary for the device to recognize the output EDID. For this reason, an EDID control unit is provided so that the source device re-recognizes the output EDID.

  Upon obtaining the stop command output instruction, the CEC control unit 112 adds “STOP” instruction content to stop the content output to the <Deck Control> command, which is a unicast CEC command for controlling the source device from the sink device. Then, the data is output to the BD player 30 via the HDMI input device 102.

  When the <Deck Control> command to which the instruction content “STOP” is added is input, the BD player 30 stops outputting the content.

  When the cooperation control unit 107 notifies the stop command output instruction, the cooperation control unit 107 notifies the EDID control unit 110 of a rewrite instruction so as to rewrite the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 to the output EDID.

  When the EDID control unit 110 acquires the rewrite instruction, the EDID control unit 110 rewrites the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 to the output EDID.

  For example, when the selected output destination is the HDMI output device 103, the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 is rewritten with the EDID of the projector 20 read out by the HDMI output device 103. If the selected output destination is the display unit 113, the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 is rewritten to the EDID of the display unit 113.

  When the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 is rewritten, the EDID control unit 110 notifies the HDMI input device 102 of a reacquisition instruction to cause the BD player 30 to reacquire EDID.

  When acquiring the reacquisition instruction, the HDMI input device 102 controls the voltage of the hot plug detection pin from the H level to the L level and then again controls the voltage from the L level to the H level.

  The BD player 30 determines that the connection with the HDMI input device 102 is released when the voltage of the hot plug detection pin of the HDMI input device 102 is controlled from the H level to the L level, and controls from the L level to the H level. At this point, it is determined that the HDMI input device 102 is connected again. When it is determined that the BD player 30 is connected to the HDMI input device 102 again, the HDMI connection process described above is performed again between the BD player 30 and the HDMI input device 102. As a notification of completion of the HDMI connection process, a physical address and a logical address are output from the BD player 30 to the HDMI input device 102 using a CEC command.

  The HDMI input device 102 supplies the input physical address and logical address to the CEC control unit 112, and the CEC control unit 112 notifies the cooperation control unit 107 of the acquired physical address and logical address.

  When the cooperation control unit 107 acquires the physical address and the logical address of the BD player 30, the cooperation control unit 107 notifies the CEC control unit 112 of an output command output instruction to output a CEC command for outputting content from the BD player 30.

  Upon obtaining the output command output instruction, the CEC control unit 112 adds the instruction content of “Forward” for reproducing the content to the <Play> command, which is a unicast CEC command for controlling the source device from the sink device, and HDMI. The data is output to the BD player 30 via the input device 102.

  A specific example of the EDID rewriting process will be described by rewriting the color depth. The color depth is information indicating the performance of how many bits each element can be displayed in a display device that supports color spaces such as YCbCr and RGB.

  For example, when the value related to the color depth of EDID is set to 24 bits / pixel for the display unit 113 and set to 30 bits / pixel for the projector 20, the output destination is switched from the display unit 113 to the projector 20. For example, the value regarding the color depth of EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 is rewritten from 24 bits / pixel to 30 bits / pixel. Conversely, when the output destination is switched from the projector 20 to the display unit 113, the value related to the color depth of the EDID set in the HDMI input device 102 is rewritten from 30 bits / pixel to 24 bits / pixel.

  Accordingly, the television 10 can acquire the content supplied from the BD player 30 in a format suitable for the color depth supported by the projector 20 and output the content to the projector 20.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the data connection of only the blocks related to the operation of the television 10 according to the present embodiment in the configuration of the television 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the television 10 according to the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, constituent elements having the same functions as those of the constituent elements according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  Also, the solid line arrows in FIG. 10 indicate the flow of content data, the broken line arrows indicate the flow of CEC commands, and the alternate long and short dash line arrows indicate the flow of other control data.

(TV operation)
As shown in FIG. 10, in the present embodiment, an operation of the television 10 when a broadcast program content is input to the tuner unit 104 will be described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case where content whose type information is “sports” is input will be described as an example.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the HDMI output apparatus 103 has finished reading the EDID of the projector 20 in the HDMI connection process described above.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the tuner unit 104 acquires content type information (such as genre information of a broadcast program) based on EPG included in a broadcast signal.

  When receiving a signal for selecting a broadcast station of a broadcast program, the remote control reception / control unit 111 supplies channel information of the broadcast station to the tuner unit 104.

  The tuner unit 104 that has acquired the channel information acquires information such as EPG including content and type information broadcast on the selected broadcast station, and supplies the information to the type information acquisition unit 106.

  The type information acquisition unit 106 acquires type information indicating the type of content from the supplied content and information such as EPG including the type information. Since the input content is sports, the type information acquisition unit 106 acquires type information of “sports”. The type information acquisition unit 106 supplies the acquired type information to the cooperation control unit 107.

  The cooperation control unit 107 determines the content output destination for the type indicated by the acquired type information with reference to the cooperation information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108. In the cooperation information, when the output destination associated with the type information indicating “sports” is the HDMI output device 103, the cooperation control unit 107 determines that the output destination is the HDMI output device 103.

  Thereafter, the process in which the cooperation control unit 107, the switching control unit 109, and the CEC control unit 112 select the HDMI output device 103 as the content output destination and display the content on the projector 20 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment. It is.

  When the input content is, for example, “news” and the output destination associated with the type information indicating “news” in the related information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108 is the display unit 113, the cooperation is performed. The control unit 107 determines that the output destination is the display unit 113.

  Thereafter, the process in which the cooperation control unit 107, the switching control unit 109, and the CEC control unit 112 select the display unit 113 as the content output destination and display the content on the display unit 113 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment. It is.

[Embodiment 3]
Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the data connection of only the blocks related to the operation of the television 10 according to this embodiment in the configuration of the television 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the television 10 according to the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, constituent elements having the same functions as those of the constituent elements according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 12, solid arrows indicate the flow of content data, broken arrows indicate the flow of CEC commands, and alternate long and short dash arrows indicate the flow of other control data.

  It is assumed that the HDD recorder 40 is a device that can cooperate with the television 10 by a vendor command (Vendor Command) that is a unicast command used for performing unique control between vendor devices. . The vendor command is a CEC command extension command specified by the HDMI standard, and the vendor command can include arbitrary information. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which content type information stored in the HDD recorder 40 is supplied to the television 10 by including content type information in the vendor command will be described as an example.

(TV operation)
As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the operation of the television 10 when content is input from the HDD recorder 40 via the HDMI input device 101 will be described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case where content whose type information is “sports” is input will be described as an example.

  In the following description, in the above-described HDMI connection process, the HDD recorder 40 has finished reading the EDID set in the HDMI input device 101, and the HDMI output device 103 has finished reading the EDID of the projector 20. It is assumed.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when a playback instruction is given to the HDD recorder 40, a vendor command including content type information together with content data is input to the HDMI input device 101. The HDMI input device 101 supplies the vendor command to the CEC control unit 112.

  When acquiring the vendor command, the CEC control unit 112 temporarily holds the acquired vendor command. Further, the CEC control unit 112 determines whether or not the acquired vendor command is a command that can be processed by the television 10, and if it is determined that the command can be processed, the command that can process the vendor command Is output to the HDD recorder 40 via the HDMI input device 101.

  When the <Ack> command is supplied, the CEC control unit 112 notifies the cooperation control unit 107 that the vendor command is held.

  Upon receiving the notification from the CEC control unit 112, the cooperation control unit 107 checks the vendor command temporarily held in the CEC control unit 112, and recognizes the type of content from the type information included in the vendor command. . Since the input content is a sport, the cooperation control unit 107 recognizes the type of “sport”.

  The cooperation control unit 107 determines the content output destination for the type indicated by the acquired type information with reference to the cooperation information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108. In the cooperation information, when the output destination associated with the type information indicating “sports” is the HDMI output device 103, the cooperation control unit 107 determines that the output destination is the HDMI output device 103.

  When the cooperation control unit 107 determines that the output destination is the HDMI output device 103, the cooperation control unit 107 performs EDID rewriting processing for rewriting the EDID set in the HDMI input device 101 with the EDID of the projector 20 read in the HDMI output device 103. .

  Note that the EDID rewriting process performed in the present embodiment is performed between the television 10 and the HDD recorder 40 instead of being performed between the television 10 and the BD player 30. This is the same as the EDID rewriting process described in.

  Thereafter, the process in which the cooperation control unit 107, the switching control unit 109, and the CEC control unit 112 select the HDMI output device 103 as the content output destination and display the content on the projector 20 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment. It is.

  When the input content is, for example, “news” and the output destination associated with the type information indicating “news” in the related information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 108 is the display unit 113, the cooperation is performed. The control unit 107 determines that the output destination is the display unit 113.

  Thereafter, the process in which the cooperation control unit 107, the switching control unit 109, and the CEC control unit 112 select the display unit 113 as the content output destination and display the content on the display unit 113 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment. It is.

[Modification]
A modification of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the television 10 according to this modification.

(TV operation)
In addition to the above-described configuration for automatically selecting an output destination, the embodiment of the present invention may include a configuration in which the user switches the output destination by operating a remote controller or the like.

  As illustrated in FIG. 14, in this modification, when content is input from the BD player 30 via the HDMI input device 102, when content of a broadcast program is input to the tuner unit 104, and the HDMI input device 101 The operation of the television 10 in any case where content is input from the HDD recorder 40 via the above will be described as an example.

  In the following description, it is assumed that the HDMI output apparatus 103 has finished reading the EDID of the projector 20 in the HDMI connection process described above.

  As illustrated in FIG. 14, when receiving an output destination switching instruction from the remote controller when the user operates the remote controller, the remote control reception / control unit 111 supplies the received output destination switching instruction to the cooperation control unit 107.

  When the cooperation control unit 107 acquires the output destination switching instruction, the cooperation control unit 107 determines whether the content input at the time when the output destination switching instruction is acquired is displayed on the display unit 113.

  When the cooperation control unit 107 determines that the content input when the output destination switching instruction is acquired is displayed on the display unit 113, the cooperation control unit 107 instructs the CEC control unit 112 to turn on the sink device. To output a power-on command.

  Thereafter, the process in which the cooperation control unit 107, the switching control unit 109, and the CEC control unit 112 select the HDMI output device 103 as the content output destination and display the content on the projector 20 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment. It is.

  Note that if the cooperation control unit 107 determines that the content input at the time of obtaining the output destination switching instruction is not displayed on the display unit 113, the cooperation control unit 107 transitions the display unit 113 to a state where power is supplied.

  Thereafter, the process in which the cooperation control unit 107, the switching control unit 109, and the CEC control unit 112 select the display unit 113 as the content output destination and display the content on the display unit 113 is the same as the process described in the first embodiment. It is.

(Program and recording medium)
The television 10 may be configured by hardware logic. Alternatively, it may be realized by software using a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as follows.

  That is, the television 10 includes a CPU such as an MPU that executes instructions of a program that realizes each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program into an executable format. And a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data.

  The object of the present invention is not limited to the case where the program memory of the television 10 is fixedly supported, but a recording medium on which the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, or source program) of the program is recorded. Can also be achieved by reading the program code recorded on the recording medium and executing the program code.

  The recording medium is not limited to a specific structure or type. That is, the recording medium includes, for example, a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. System, a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) / optical card, or a semiconductor memory system such as a mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Moreover, even if the television 10 is configured to be connectable to a communication network, the object of the present invention can be achieved. In this case, the program code is supplied to the television 10 via the communication network. This communication network is not limited to a specific type or form as long as it can supply program codes to the television 10. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, etc. may be used.

  The transmission medium constituting the communication network may be any medium that can transmit the program code, and is not limited to a specific configuration or type. For example, even with wired lines such as IEEE1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line, infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone It can also be used by radio such as a telephone network, a satellite line, and a terrestrial digital network. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in the embodiments are also included. It is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The sink device according to the present invention can be suitably applied to a television, a personal computer, and the like.

1 Content playback system 10 Television (sink device)
20 Projector (other sink device)
30 BD player (source equipment)
40 HDD recorder (source equipment)
101, 102 HDMI input device (presenting means)
103 HDMI output device (content output unit) (acquisition means)
104 Tuner unit 105 Network input unit 106 Type information acquisition unit 107 Cooperation control unit (determination unit) (output destination selection unit)
108 Cooperation information storage unit (storage unit)
109 switching control unit 110 EDID control unit (rewriting means)
111 Remote Control Reception / Control Unit 112 CEC Control Unit 113 Display Unit

Claims (9)

A sink device having a display unit capable of displaying content input from the source device or from the outside,
A content output unit capable of outputting content input from the source device or the outside to another sink device;
Determining means for determining the type of content input from the source device or from outside;
Output destination selection that selects whether content input from the source device or outside is displayed on the display unit or output from the content output unit to the other sink device according to the determination result of the determination unit And a sink device. A storage unit that stores output destination information in which the type of content input from the source device or the outside and the sink device that displays the content are associated;
The sink device according to claim 1, wherein the output destination selection unit refers to the storage unit before selecting an output destination of the content. Performance information is set individually for the display unit and the other sink devices,
Acquisition means for acquiring performance information of the other sink device;
Presenting means for presenting the output destination performance information to the source device;
If the performance information of the output destination selected by the output destination selection means and the performance information presented by the presentation means do not match, the presented performance information is changed to the performance information of the output destination. The sink device according to claim 1, further comprising rewriting means for rewriting. The determination unit, when determining the type of content input from the source device, determines the type of content based on type information added to the content input from the source device. Item 4. The sink device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. When determining the type of content input from the outside, the determination means is based on the program information input from the outside and the program information to which the type information of the content input from the outside is added. 4. The sink device according to claim 1, wherein the content type is determined. The sink device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the output destination selection unit selects an output destination of content based on an instruction from an input unit that accepts user input. A sink device control method comprising: a display unit capable of displaying content input from a source device or external; and a content output unit capable of outputting content input from the source device or external to another sink device. And
A determination step of determining the type of content input from the source device or the outside;
Output destination selection that selects whether content input from the source device or outside is displayed on the display unit or output from the content output unit to the other sink device according to the determination result of the determination step And a sink device control method.   A program for operating a computer as the sink device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the computer functions as each unit of the sink device.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 8 is recorded.

Images