JP5509352B2 - Information processing apparatus and output switching control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a video signal output control technique suitable for application to a personal computer having an image reproduction function capable of transmitting a video signal to, for example, a television broadcast receiver.

  In recent years, personal computers having functions for receiving and viewing television broadcast program data and playing back AV (Audio and Visual) content stored on a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) have become widespread. Thus, for example, if a notebook-type personal computer that can be driven by a battery is carried, image data (including sound) can be used even while moving or away from home.

  Recently, the definition of video has been increased, and personal computers capable of reproducing high-definition image data stored in a recording medium of the HD (High Definition) DVD standard have begun to spread. Since this type of personal computer is generally equipped with a mechanism for outputting high-definition video signals externally, it can be played back on the personal computer by connecting it to a large-screen high-definition television broadcast receiver, for example, at home. It is also possible to enjoy the high-definition video that has been made with a large-screen high-definition television broadcast receiver.

  As in the case where the personal computer and the television broadcast receiver are connected, there is an increasing use form in which a plurality of electronic devices each having a function of reproducing image data and audio data are connected. For this reason, for example, various proposals for efficiently performing source switching have been made (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-7-192443

  By the way, a television broadcast receiver normally has a plurality of input systems and can switch which video is displayed by a simple operation. Therefore, in the state where the video output destination of the personal computer connected to the television broadcast receiver is only the television broadcast receiver, the input target of the television broadcast receiver can be switched to other than the video from the personal computer. Although the personal computer is operating, the display remains off and the display screen is not displayed from anywhere until the user performs some operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and monitors the video input status of an externally connected television broadcast receiver, for example, and makes it possible to switch the output destination of the video signal in a timely manner. An object is to provide a processing device and an output switching control method.

  According to the embodiment, the information processing apparatus includes a display, an interface unit for outputting a video signal, a display driver, a command transmission / reception unit, a monitoring unit, and an output switching unit. The display driver controls output of a video signal to the display and the interface unit. The command transmission / reception means transmits / receives various commands for operation control and various statuses indicating the operation status via the interface unit. The monitoring means outputs the other party of the connection by the interface unit from the video unit other than the video signal output from the interface unit based on the status related to the video input switching received by the command transmission / reception unit. Monitor whether the input target is switched to a video signal. When the monitoring unit detects switching of an input target to the video signal output from the interface unit, the output switching unit causes the display driver to switch the output destination of the video signal from the display to the interface unit. Instruct.

The figure which shows the one utilization aspect of the information processing apparatus (personal computer) which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of the output switching control of the video signal which the information processing apparatus of the embodiment performs. The figure which shows the structure of the information processing apparatus of the embodiment. 2 is an exemplary diagram showing functional blocks related to video signal output switching control implemented in the information processing apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of video signal output switching control executed by the information processing apparatus of the embodiment. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of video signal output switching control (modification) executed by the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows one usage mode of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The information processing apparatus 1 is realized as a notebook personal computer (PC), for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, here, it is assumed that the information processing apparatus 1 is connected to the video equipment 2 via an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable A. The video equipment 2 is a large-screen high-definition television broadcast receiver (TV). Various software (application programs) for reproducing high-definition image data is installed in the information processing apparatus 1, and high-definition video reproduced by these application programs can be enjoyed by the video equipment 2 by connecting with the HDMI cable A. be able to. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 and the video equipment 2 connected by the HDMI cable A can mutually transmit and receive various commands for controlling the operation of the connection partner via the HDMI cable A.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 2, an outline of a mechanism provided by the information processing apparatus 1 for switching the output destination of the video signal in a timely manner (in response to the video input switching of the video equipment 2) will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a case is assumed in which a video reproduced by the information processing apparatus 1 is displayed on the video equipment 2 (without display display on the information processing apparatus 1 side). . Then, for example, it is assumed that the input of the video equipment 2 is switched to a device other than the information processing device 1 due to the end of the reproduction of the AV content.

  In this case, for example, a video to be switched to, such as a television broadcast program, is newly displayed on the video equipment 2, but as it is, the information processing apparatus 1 is in operation but is not displayed. The display screen does not appear anywhere. Therefore, in this case, the information processing apparatus 1 automatically switches the output of the video signal to the display display as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the information processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU 11, a north bridge 12, a main memory 13, a graphics controller 14, a VRAM 14A, a display 15, a south bridge 16, a BIOS-ROM 17, an HDD 18, a magneto-optical disk drive ( ODD) 19, sound controller 20, speaker 21, embedded controller / keyboard controller (EC / KBC) 22, keyboard 23, touch pad 24, network controller 25, HDMI connector 26, CEC (bidirectional control between devices) controller 27, etc. I have.

  The CPU 11 is a processor that controls the operation of each unit in the information processing apparatus 1. The CPU 11 executes various programs including an operating system (OS) 100 loaded from the HDD 18 to the main memory 13 and utilities that operate under the control of the OS 100 and applications that handle AV contents. As one of the utilities, there is a video output automatic switching utility 101 described later. The CPU 11 also executes a basic input / output system (BIOS) stored in the BIOS-ROM 17. Hereinafter, the basic input / output system itself stored in the BIOS-ROM 17 may be referred to as the BIOS 17.

  The north bridge 12 is a bridge device that connects the local bus of the CPU 11 and the south bridge 16. The north bridge 12 has a function of executing communication with the graphics controller 14 via a bus, and also includes a memory controller that controls access to the main memory 13. The graphics controller 14 is a display controller that controls the display 15 on the information processing apparatus 1 side. The graphics controller 14 generates a video signal to be sent to the display 15 from the image data written in the VRAM 14A. The graphics controller 14 also has a function of outputting a video signal from the HDMI connector 26 to the outside.

  The south bridge 16 is a controller that controls various devices on the PCI bus and the LPC bus. The south bridge 16 is directly connected to the BIOS-ROM 17, the HDD 18, the ODD 19, and the sound controller 20, and has a function of controlling them. The HDD 18 stores, for example, television broadcast program data and AV content downloaded via the Internet, and the ODD 19 stores, for example, an HD DVD storing AV content. The sound controller 20 is a sound source controller that controls the speaker 21. The sound controller 20 also has a function of outputting an audio signal from the HDMI connector 26 to the outside.

  The EC / KBC 22 is a one-chip microcomputer in which an embedded controller for power management and a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard 23 and the touch pad 24 are integrated. The network controller 25 is a communication device that executes communication with an external network such as the Internet. The EC / KBC 22 operates even when the information processing apparatus 1 is powered off. For example, the EC / KBC 22 monitors whether the power on operation is performed, and activates the information processing apparatus 1 when an event to be turned on occurs. Execute the control to make it happen. The EC / KBC 22 continues to supply power to the CEC controller 27 even when the information processing apparatus 1 is powered off.

  The HDMI connector 26 is a terminal provided for detachably connecting the HDMI cable A. The CEC controller 27 executes data transfer control for transmitting and receiving various commands for operation control via the HDMI connector 26 under the control of the EC / KBC 22. One of the events to be powered on monitored by the EC / KBC 22 is reception of a power-on request command by the CEC controller 27. The CEC controller 27 also has a function of notifying each other as a status of a state change that has occurred in its own device.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing functional blocks related to video signal output destination switching control realized in the information processing apparatus 1 having the above configuration.

  When an operation of switching the video input from the information processing apparatus 1 to another is performed on the video equipment 2 side, the state change is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 1 side via the HDMI cable A as a status. This status is guided into the information processing apparatus 1 via the HDMI connector 26, received by the CEC controller 27, and the receipt of the command is notified to the EC / KBC 22.

  Upon receiving this notification, the EC / KBC 22 generates a key code indicating the notification content as input data addressed to the video output automatic switching utility 101. This key code is passed to the OS 100 via the BIOS 17 and further passed from the OS 100 to the video output automatic switching utility 101.

  The video output automatic switching utility 101 is a program provided for automatically switching the output destination of the video signal from the HDMI connector 26 to the display 15 in response to the video input switching on the video equipment 2 side. When the apparatus 1 is powered on, it is registered as a resident program that always operates.

  The video output automatic switching utility 101, which is a resident type program, includes a TV output state monitoring module 1011 and an output destination switching control module 1012, and statuses related to state changes of the TV output state monitoring module 1011 and the video equipment 2. Is received from the OS 100, it is checked whether or not the input video has changed from the video from the information processing apparatus 1 to another video.

  If there is a change in which the input video is switched from the video from the information processing apparatus 1 to another video, that is, the input video in the video equipment 2 is switched from the video from the information processing apparatus 1 to another video. When detecting that, the TV output state monitoring module 1011 notifies the output destination switching control module 1012 to that effect.

  Upon receiving this notification, the output destination switching control module 1012 gives an instruction to the graphics driver 1001 to switch the output destination of the video signal from the HDMI connector 26 to the display 15. Thereby, although the information processing apparatus 1 is operating, it is possible to prevent a state in which the display screen remains undisplayed and the display screen does not appear anywhere.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of video signal output switching control executed by the information processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  When some state change occurs on the video equipment 2 side, the TV output state monitoring 1001 that receives a status notification indicating the state change from the OS 100 is more or less related to video input switching on the video equipment 2 side. (Step A1).

  If it is related to video input switching (YES in step A1), the TV output state monitoring 1001 subsequently changes the input video from the video from the information processing apparatus 1 to another video. It is checked whether or not it has occurred (step A2). If the input video has changed from the video from the information processing apparatus 1 to another video (YES in step A2), the TV output status monitor 1001 notifies the output destination switching control module 1012 to that effect. .

  Upon receiving this notification, the output destination switching control module 1012 gives an instruction to the graphics driver 1001 to switch the output destination of the video signal from the HDMI connector 26 to the display 15 (step A3).

  By the way, when the input video in the video device 2 is switched from the video other than the information processing device 1 to the video of the information processing device 1, on the contrary, from the video device 2 side in addition to the status change status. It is considered that a command requesting to switch the video output destination to the own device (video device 2) side is actively transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to switch the video output destination to the video equipment 2 side when this command is received. However, instead of relying entirely on the control of other devices, the information processing apparatus 1 sets the video output destination to the video device 2 when the status change status is notified in advance. It is also useful to switch to the side. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of video signal output switching control executed by the information processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment in this case.

  When some state change occurs on the video equipment 2 side, the TV output state monitoring 1001 that receives a status notification indicating the state change from the OS 100 is more or less related to video input switching on the video equipment 2 side. (Step B1).

  If it is related to the video input switching (YES in step B1), the TV output state monitoring 1001 subsequently changes the input video from the video from the information processing apparatus 1 to another video. It is checked whether or not it has occurred (step B2). When the input video has changed from the video from the information processing apparatus 1 to another video (YES in step B2), the TV output status monitor 1001 notifies the output destination switching control module 1012 to that effect. . Upon receiving this notification, the output destination switching control module 1012 gives an instruction to the graphics driver 1001 to switch the output destination of the video signal from the HDMI connector 26 to the display 15 (step B3).

  On the other hand, when the input video has changed from the video other than the information processing device 1 to the video of the information processing device 1 (NO in step B2), the TV output state monitoring 1001 notifies the output destination. Notify the switching control module 1012. Upon receiving this notification, the output destination switching control module 1012 gives an instruction to the graphics driver 1001 to switch the output destination of the video signal from the display 15 to the HDMI connector 26 (step B4).

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to switch the output destination of the video signal in a timely manner in response to the video input switching of the video equipment 2 connected by the HDMI cable A.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus (personal computer), 2 ... Video equipment (television broadcast receiver), 3 ... Remote controller, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... North bridge, 13 ... Main memory, 14 ... Graphics controller, 14A ... VRAM 15 ... Display, 16 ... South Bridge, 17 ... BIOS-ROM, 18 ... HDD, 19 ... Magneto-optical disk drive (ODD), 20 ... Sound controller, 21 ... Speaker, 22 ... Embedded controller / keyboard controller (EC / KBC), 23 ... keyboard, 24 ... touch pad, 25 ... network controller, 26 ... HDMI connector, 27 ... CEC controller, 100 ... operating system (OS), 101 ... automatic video output switching utility, 1011 ... TV Power status monitoring module, 1012 ... output destination switching control module, A ... HDMI cable.

Claims (3)

Display,
An interface unit for outputting a video signal;
A display driver for controlling output of a video signal to the display and the interface unit;
Command transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving various commands for operation control and various statuses indicating operation status via the interface unit;
Based on the status related to the video input switching received by the command transmission / reception means, the connection partner of the interface unit changes from the video signal other than the video signal output from the interface unit to the video signal output from the interface unit. And monitoring means for monitoring whether the input target is switched,
Output switching means for instructing the display driver to switch the output destination of the video signal from the display to the interface section when the monitoring means detects switching of an input target to the video signal output from the interface section. When,
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface unit detachably connects an HDMI (High-Definition-Multimedia Interface) cable. Output switching control of an information processing apparatus comprising a display, an interface unit for outputting a video signal, and command transmission / reception means for transmitting and receiving various commands for operation control and various statuses indicating operation status via the interface unit A method,
Based on the status related to the video input switching received by the command transmission / reception means, the connection partner of the interface unit changes from the video signal other than the video signal output from the interface unit to the video signal output from the interface unit. And monitor whether the input target is switched,
When switching of the input target to the video signal output from the interface unit is detected, the output destination of the video signal is switched from the display to the interface unit.
Output switching control method.

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