JP3337843B2 - Audio-visual system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an audio-visual system, and more particularly to an audio-visual system in which an audio source and a video source, a commander, and possibly a system management unit are connected by a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of audio and video sources,
There is an audio-visual system in which an operation unit (commander) as a user interface and a central management unit are connected by a communication line. In such a system,
A source switching instruction from the operation unit, a power on / off instruction for each source, and an individual operation instruction for each source are all performed via the central management unit. FIG. 3 is a conceptual representation of a conventional system, where 11a is an operation unit, 12 is a central management unit, 13a, 13b, 13c... Are a plurality of audio sources or video sources.

In such a system, when it is desired to activate an AM / FM tuner (assuming the source 13a), the operator presses an AM / FM tuner key on the operation unit 11a. By this key operation, the operation unit 11a requests the central management unit 12 to start the AM / FM tuner 13a, and the central management unit 12 switches the other audio source when another audio source is operating. Off and then
Activate the AM / FM tuner 13a.

[0004]

Since such a control system is configured so as to be able to control even when any unit of audio system or video system is connected, an increase in software for performing such an operation is required. Invite
There is a problem that causes cost increase. In particular, the central control unit is very effective in a large system with many connected sources, but in a small system with not many devices connected, as described above, the increase in software is necessary. The resulting cost increase is problematic and can be very meaningless.

For example, in a system including only an audio system including a head unit and a CD changer, a processing function for a video system is not required, and a cost reduction can be expected by omitting the processing function. Also, a special management system such as a navigation system and a CD changer does not require a central control unit.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an audio-visual system having a control method suitable for a system in which the central management unit does not have a full function or a system in which the central management unit is not connected and omitted. It is in.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an audio source, a video source, a central control unit, and a commander are connected by a bus line, and switching of the source from the commander is performed by the central control unit. If the request is a command in the range of the function held by the central control unit, the central control unit controls the start and stop of the source via the bus line based on the request to switch the source. When the request is a command relating to a function not possessed by itself, the central management unit returns a response indicating that the command is not recognized to the commander, and the commander sends the request to the source via the bus line. It is solved by direct instruction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an audio source, a video source, and a commander are connected by a bus line, and the source is switched by the commander to a central management unit that is not connected. Upon request, the commander recognizes that there is no response from the central management unit, and the commander is resolved by directing the request to the source via the bus line.

[0009]

In the case where the central control unit connected to the bus line is of a small scale and does not correspond to a video system unit, when a command for switching to the video system is sent from the commander, the command is issued. The central management unit returns a response that the command is not known or not recognized to the commander, and the commander directly sends an instruction such as power-on to the video unit.

In a small-scale system in which a central management unit is not connected to a bus line, when a command for switching a video system or the like from the commander to the central management unit is sent, the central management unit does not exist. So there is no response. Therefore, the commander recognizes that there is no response, and the commander directly sends an instruction such as power-on to the video unit. As described above, the source can be switched even when the central management unit does not have a full function, or even in a small-scale system in which the central management unit is not connected.

[0011]

【Example】

(A) First Embodiment of the Present Invention The first embodiment of the present invention is for a case where the central management unit does not have a full function, in other words, does not support a specific mode. FIG. 1 is an explanatory configuration diagram of the embodiment, and the configuration of the devices and the transmission and reception of signals between the devices are described in the diagram for easy understanding. Reference numeral 1 denotes a commander (operation unit) serving as a user interface. Reference numeral 2 denotes a centralized management unit, which is provided as an independent unit. As described above, the central management unit 2
Has no full function, and in this embodiment,
It is assumed that there is no function corresponding to the video mode.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a cassette tape player as a first audio source, and reference numeral 4 denotes a CD player or CD changer as a second audio source. Other audio sources include AM /
Although there are sources such as an FM tuner, a mini disk, and a DCC, they are not shown. In many cases, an AM / FM tuner and a cassette tape player are collectively configured as a head unit. However, in the description of the present invention, it is easier to describe the head unit separately, and thus such a head unit is illustrated. . Further, a configuration relating to a process for processing an audio signal output from each audio source is not shown.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a TV tuner as a video source. The video source can also have an arbitrary configuration like the audio source. Also, the configuration relating to the process of processing the video signal output from the video source is not shown.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a bus line (communication line), and the above-mentioned units are connected to the bus line. The bus line 6 is connected to the inside of each unit and connected to a controller (not shown) of each unit. The controller takes in data transmitted from another unit via the bus line, performs predetermined control, and transmits the data to the other unit via the bus line. With this configuration, all units connected by the bus line 6 can communicate with each other. Data is transferred bidirectionally on the bus line.

Data transfer on the bus line 6 is performed in frame units. That is, the transmission source unit adds a destination address, a transmission source address, an error detection code, and the like to the transmission data to generate a frame, and transmits the frame to the bus line 6. The frame is transmitted on the bus line 6, and a unit having the same address as the destination address included in the frame captures the frame and performs a predetermined operation.

The centralized control unit 2 is provided with a controller having a microcomputer configuration, and performs centralized control such as source switching and power on / off. The controller fetches data or broadcast data addressed to itself, sends out a frame in a predetermined format to the bus line 6, and transmits audio and video sources via the bus line 6 according to a switching request of each source or the commander 1. The switching control is executed, and the power on / off control of the entire system is executed.

The commander 1 includes a controller having a microcomputer, a key input unit for instructing start / stop of each source (source switching), a start / stop of a function unique to each source, a display unit, and the like. Is provided. The controller fetches data addressed to itself and, in accordance with a predetermined format, data corresponding to a key operation (source activation request or start / stop of a function unique to the source). Create and send to bus line 6.

The cassette tape player 3 is provided with a controller having a microcomputer structure.
Is activated when the activation of the device is instructed via the bus line 6,
The audio signal output from the tape player is output through an audio signal line (not shown).

The CD player 3 is provided with a controller having a microcomputer configuration, which is activated when the activation of the CD player is instructed via the bus line 6, and converts the audio signal output from the CD player into an audio signal (not shown). Output through the line.

The TV tuner 5 is provided with a controller having a microcomputer configuration. The TV tuner 5 is started when the start of the TV tuner is instructed via the bus line 6, and an audio signal output from the TV tuner is output to an audio signal (not shown). And the video signal is also output through a video signal line (not shown).

In a system having such a configuration, if the user operates a key input unit provided in the commander 1 and operates a key for selecting the CD player 4, a command A for requesting a switch is issued from the commander 1. The request is sent to the central management unit 2, and the central management unit 2 returns a response to the request to the commander 1. Then, the central management unit 2 issues a command to turn off the power to any other currently operating unit, if any,
Further, a command B for turning on the power and outputting an audio signal is sent to the CD player 4 to the CD player. The CD player 4 turns on its power and outputs an audio signal.

Next, it is assumed that the user operates the key input unit provided in the commander 1 and the TV tuner 5 is selected. A command C for requesting switching to a video TV source is sent from the commander 1 to the central management unit 2, but the central management unit 2 does not have a full function as described above. Since it has no function corresponding to the mode, it cannot respond to the switching request command C. Therefore, a response not knowing the command is returned to the commander 1.

The commander 1 can determine that the central management unit 2 is not compatible with the video system by receiving the returned response that the commander does not know the command. Turn on,
An on command D is output so as to output a video signal. The TV tuner 5 turns on the power and outputs a video signal. In this way, even a centralized management unit that does not have a function corresponding to the video system can switch to the video system.

(B) Second Embodiment of the Present Invention The second embodiment of the present invention has no central management unit.
For example, the present invention relates to a very small-sized device such as a commander and a TV tuner alone. FIG. 2 is an explanatory configuration diagram of the embodiment, and the configuration of the devices and the transmission and reception of signals between the devices are described in FIG. 2 for easy understanding. 1 is commander, 5 is TV
A tuner 6 and a bus line 6 are the same in structure and function as those of the first embodiment, and therefore are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.

Now, it is assumed that the user operates the key input unit of the commander 1 and the TV tuner 5 is selected. The commander 1 sends a command E for requesting switching to the video TV source to the central control unit.
As described above, since the central management unit does not exist in the present embodiment, it cannot respond to the switching request command E. The command on the bus line is composed of the data on the sending side and the frame response on the receiving side. Therefore, since there is no frame response, the central control unit is connected to the bus line by the commander 1. You can recognize that it is not.

By recognizing that the central control unit is not connected to the bus line, the commander 1 directly turns on the power to the TV tuner 5 and outputs an ON command F so as to output a video signal. Is output. The TV tuner 5 turns on the power and outputs a video signal.

As described above, it is possible to cope with a case where the function of the central management unit is partially reduced or a case where the central management unit is not connected.

In the above description, it is assumed that a certain unit is selected and the power is turned on and output. On the contrary, even when the unit is turned off, a response indicating that no command is known is received. Because there is no response, the commander can recognize the state of the central management unit and take appropriate measures.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the centralized management unit has a low cost without full functions, the system is small and the connection of the centralized management unit is omitted. Even in such a case, the units can be switched, and the entire apparatus can be made inexpensive.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a state diagram of signal transmission and reception between devices is added.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a signal transmission / reception state diagram between devices is added.

FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually expressing a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Commander 2 Central management unit 3 Tape player (audio source) 4 CD player (audio source) 5 TV tuner (video source) 6 Bus line (communication line)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An audio source, a video source, a central control unit, and a commander are connected by a bus line, and a source switching is requested from the commander to the central control unit. In the case of the command within, the source is switched by controlling the start and stop of the source via the bus line based on the request, and the central control unit issues a command related to the function that the request does not own. In some cases, the command returns a response not recognizing the command to the commander, and the commander directs the request to the source via a bus line. 2. An audio source, a video source, and a commander are connected by a bus line, and the commander requests a source switching from a central management unit that is not connected,
An audio-visual system, wherein the commander recognizes that there is no response from the central control unit, and the commander directs the request to the source via a bus line.