JPH0744290A - System control method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize an environment in which a multi-media equipment can be transmissibly used from the other controller through an LAN without necessitating any special software such as an application soft or a device driver in the control of a multi-media equipment. CONSTITUTION:This system is constituted of plural peripheral equipments 2, 2,... being objects, and a controller 1 connected through a common communication line with the plural peripheral equipments 2, 2,..., which synthetically controls the plural peripheral equipments 2, 2,.... The controller 1 reads control information stored in the peripheral equipment side through the communication line in a prescribed configuration in a prescribed memory area in the controller 1 according to the connection of each peripheral equipment 2 with the controller 1, controls the peripheral equipments 2 at the controller 1 side, and transmits a command issued at the controller 1 side through the communication line to each peripheral equipment 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to characters, voices, still images,
It is suitable for system control of multimedia equipment that handles various information such as moving images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, AV equipment such as audio / video / TV, which has been mainly based on analog technology, has been rapidly digitized. Further, along with the spread of digitization of character / still image information, character / sound / still image / moving image information has been comprehensively handled in computers as so-called multimedia.

[0003]

However, multimedia devices (digital cameras, CD-ROMs, etc.) are currently being used.
When using audio input / output devices such as players, scanners, sound boards, video boards, video input / output devices, etc.) in a computer, dedicated application software or device driver software for driving them must be installed in the computer. There wasn't.

Therefore, according to this method, new application software or device driver is provided for each new computer for each new multimedia device.
Since it has to be prepared for each S (Operating System), there is a problem that the software development load is large and efficient and high-speed control is impossible.

Further, according to this method, generally, the multimedia device cannot be transparently used from another computer connected to the LAN, so that each computer can access each peripheral device via the LAN. It was impossible to realize the concept of multimedia system that can be done.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the control system of the present invention, a plurality of object-oriented peripheral devices and a communication line common to the plurality of peripheral devices are used. It is connected and consists of a controller that controls the multiple peripheral devices in a unified manner.
The controller reads control information stored in the peripheral device side in a predetermined form into a predetermined memory area in the controller in accordance with a connection between the peripheral device and the controller, through the communication line. It is possible to control the peripheral device on the side, and to transmit a command issued on the controller side to each of the peripheral devices via the communication line.

In order to solve the same problem, according to the present invention, a plurality of object-oriented peripheral devices, one controller for uniformly controlling the peripheral devices, the controller and the plurality of peripheral devices. Connect and
A common bi-directional interface for controlling the peripheral device or inputting / outputting data is provided, and each peripheral device can be controlled by the controller via the common bi-directional interface. The system control method as described above is used.

[0008]

As a result, in controlling the multimedia device, the special software such as the application software and the device driver is not required, and the multimedia device is transparently and commonly used from other controllers via the LAN. A usable environment can be realized.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, in the present invention, a multimedia device is
The controller uses a system control method that treats each object as an object and manages those objects in an integrated manner.

Since each object is managed by the controller, it has a function of sending its own function / control means to the controller. As a result, there is no need to prepare a control program on the controller side in advance as in the past, and control can be realized simply by connecting to the controller.

Further, the controller has means for displaying and operating the above-mentioned control means sent from the connected object by a person who actually instructs control.
As a result, the controller can centrally manage the multimedia equipment, and can realize flexibility and expandability that can cope with new multimedia equipment without making new preparations.

The object-oriented concept itself used in the present invention is described in, for example, "Ishizuka: Object-Oriented Programming, ASCII Publishing, 1988. , "Sakai: Object-Oriented Primer, Ohmsha, 1990. , BJ Cox: Object-Oriented Programming, Toppan, 19
88. , Etc., the basic technical description will be omitted in the following description of the embodiments of the present invention.

This object orientation has been attracting attention from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of programming development environments in recent years, but it can also be widely used for OS and multimedia databases. , (1) Encapsulation (2) Inheritance (3) Messaging, and based on these concepts, the present invention has been developed and expanded so that it can be applied to control of multimedia equipment.

FIG. 1 shows a logical connection form of a multimedia controller and multimedia equipment, which incorporates the object-oriented concept of the present invention. Centered on the multimedia controller 1, the multimedia devices 2 have communication channels established so that they can directly interact with each other on a one-to-one basis, and messages are mutually communicated through the communication channels. It is controlled by things. The multimedia device specifically targets all devices that handle multimedia data, such as CD players, digital VTRs, digital cameras, AV devices such as digital TVs, OA devices such as digital fax machines, digital copiers and printers. There is.

Although the controller is assumed to be a dedicated device here, it can be realized by mounting a dedicated OS and application software on a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer or a word processor WS.

Next, FIGS. 2A to 2C show physical connection forms for establishing a bidirectional communication path between the multimedia controller and the multimedia equipment.

FIG. 1A shows a SCSI bus (ANSI X3.131-1986).
The daisy chain connection method used in
Shows the star type connection method adopted in Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) 10BaseT, and Fig. 6 (c) shows the serial type connection method adopted in Ethernet 10Base2 / 5.

In the connection form, GPIB (IEEE 488)
(A) ~ (c) mixed method, and Ethernet (b),
There is a mixing method of (c). Also, as for the communication system, various combinations and selections other than those shown in FIG. 2, such as a system using an optical cable or ISDN, are possible.

In the present invention, no particular reference is made to the method of establishing the bidirectional communication path and which is selected. However, physical restrictions (transfer rate, number of connections,
(Connection length, connector shape, etc.) is not a problem because the protocol layers are different for message mutual communication,
In order to securely connect peripheral devices, it is necessary to have at least one physical (mechanical / electrical) common interface.

In order to realize high-speed data communication such as moving images, FDDI (Fiber Distrib
uted Data Interface) or B-ISDN optical communication, but for the sake of explanation, it is assumed that Ethernet 10Base2 (/ T), which is cheap and popular, is used as a common communication connector. I will proceed with the explanation.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an internal block diagram of a general multimedia device in terms of hardware.

Each of the plurality of multimedia devices is connected to the controller via four LANs. LA now
N is Ethernet, so its communication protocol (TCP / IP)
An interface unit 20 for processing the is provided.
This can be realized by using a dedicated LSI. Here, the sent message itself is taken out, or conversely, the message is sent out to the controller. As an example of a message, in Objective-C, the general form is represented below.

[Target object method name: argument]
The expressions are different in other languages, but basically the same, and the following specifications are made.

(1) Designation of target object (2) Designation of method (process to be executed) (3) Designation of argument (parameter) if present Handling of this message will be described in the flow of software in FIG.

Inside the multimedia device, 11 CPUs that perform all software processing and hardware control via 12 internal buses, and 12 ROMs that store programs, initial values and unique information, 13 RAMs that are used as a work area for storing internal parameters such as temporary data and device status, and for executing programs
14 data I / Os that access 15 multimedia data stored on internal or external media
There are 16 mechanical system drive parts for controlling mechanical parts such as 17 motors, and 18 electric system drive parts for controlling electrical parts of the display system such as 19 switches SW and LEDs. Also, 15
The multimedia data of is the part that stores digital data such as images, sounds and characters.
There may be various forms such as an optical disk such as a magnetic tape medium such as DCC / DAT, or a semiconductor memory card.

Next, FIG. 4 shows an internal block diagram in terms of hardware of the multimedia controller. In the figure, it is connected to a multimedia device via a LAN 4. Since the LAN is Ethernet now, there is an interface unit 31 that processes the communication protocol (TCP / IP). This can be realized by using a dedicated LSI or the like. The message itself sent here is retrieved, or conversely, the message is sent to the multimedia device.

Inside the multimedia controller,
All software processing via 30 internal buses
21 CPUs that control hardware, 22 ROMs that store programs, initial values and unique information, and 23 ROMs that store internal parameters such as temporary data and device status, and that are used as work areas when executing programs. R
I have AM. The multimedia filing apparatus 25 stores, retrieves, reproduces, edits multimedia data regardless of whether it is an internal medium or an external medium. 24 data I / Os perform the access control.
Then, 28 electric system drive units for controlling electric parts of the display system such as 29 switches SW and LEDs, 27 displays for configuring a man-machine interface, and 26 display controllers for controlling the display, There is a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

FIG. 6 shows a system hierarchy diagram in terms of software of multimedia equipment. The internal block diagram shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the hardware 57. 58 OSs perform the basic control for controlling these hardware
Is. The OS itself is not particularly limited, but it is desirable to have a multitasking function for executing a plurality of programs in parallel at the same time as real time. On this OS, a class library 59 unique to each multimedia device is provided in order to realize the objectization of the multimedia device.

Although not shown in the figure, it has its own control panel for controlling from the controller and a library relating to the control, and by transmitting this when connecting to the controller, the control peculiar to the multimedia device is performed on the controller side. To realize from. There is also a C function 60 that performs timers and arithmetic operations.

At the highest level, there are 61 application softwares for controlling the multimedia device main body and for communicating with the multimedia controller and a user interface. With this application, the multimedia device main body can perform various controls and executions by exchanging messages from the controller as one object, and internal parameters can be read and changed as instance variables.

FIG. 5 shows a system hierarchy diagram in terms of software of the multimedia controller. The internal block diagram shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to 50 pieces of hardware. It is 5 to perform the basic control for controlling these hardware.
It is the first OS. Here too, the OS itself is not particularly limited, but it is desirable that it has real-time characteristics and multitasking functions.

On this OS, a general GUI (Graphical Users Interface) such as display of control screens of a plurality of connected multimedia devices, display of the overall system connection state, control and switching of data input / output is performed. There is Window Server. The common class library 53 stores basic and common parts (objects) that are prepared in advance on the controller side and are related to user interfaces and controls such as buttons, slide volumes, and text display areas.

On the contrary, the 55 unique class library stores a group of parts (object group) relating to panel display and control unique to the connected multimedia device. As described above, each time a multimedia device is connected to the system, this unique library is sent from the device and increases. These specific procedures will be described later. There is also a C function 54 that performs timers and arithmetic operations. At the highest level, 56 controls all the connected multimedia devices and is responsible for communication with the multimedia devices and user interface.
There is application software.

A specific control flow and message exchange between the controller and the multimedia device will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state before the multimedia device is connected to the multimedia controller. In FIG. 7, 4 is an LA for communication of digital data.
N and 1 are multimedia controllers for controlling the operation of the entire system. 2 is a generalized structure of the multimedia device connected to the LAN 4. Reference numeral 205 denotes a system director object which is a software object (hereinafter abbreviated as an object) resident in the multimedia controller 1 and managing the entire system.

Reference numeral 1064 denotes a multimedia device object which is an object that functions as a multimedia device that is an object for other objects on the LAN 4. Multimedia device object 10
64 is three more objects 1065, 1066.
It is composed of 1067.

Reference numeral 1065 denotes a multimedia device controller object which controls hardware to realize most of the functions of the multimedia device 2, and 1066 denotes a multimedia device which receives input of digital data from another device via the LAN 4. Device data input object, 1067 is a LAN4 for digital data to other devices
It is a multimedia device data output object that is in charge of output via.

Reference numeral 1061 denotes a multimedia device proxy object description file which describes the specifications of the multimedia device proxy object generated in the multimedia controller 1 when the multimedia device 2 is connected to the multimedia controller 1 via the LAN 4. is there. Multimedia device proxy object description file 106
Reference numeral 1 denotes a multimedia device control panel object description unit 1062 that describes the specifications of the operation panel of the multimedia device 2 and data input / output that describes the specifications of a data input / output proxy object that acts as a proxy for data input / output to / from the multimedia device 2. Proxy object description part 1063
It consists of Especially, multimedia device control panel object description part is multimedia device 2
It realizes the function of the GUI description language that describes the control panel for performing the operation of GUI with the GUI.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the state when the multimedia device 2 is connected to the LAN 4. In FIG. 8, 1068 is an object generated in the multimedia controller 1.
It is a multimedia device proxy object 1068 that functions as a proxy for the multimedia device 2 inside.
The multimedia device proxy object 1068 is a multimedia device control panel object 10 that functions as a control panel for the multimedia device 2.
69, a multimedia device data input proxy object 1070 which functions as a proxy for the multimedia device data input object 1066 at the time of data input, and a multimedia device data output proxy object 1071 which similarly functions as a proxy for the multimedia device data output object 1067. Composed of.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the structure of a general class library. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1079 is a first class which is one of the classes that defines common properties and functions for objects having similar properties and functions as a template for object generation. A class library 1086 is a collection of p classes from the first class 1079 to the p-th class 1085 as a library, and all objects belong to a specific class. Reference numeral 1080 is a class definition unit that defines the data type and name of an internal variable of an object belonging to a class, the data type and name of an internal function (generally called a class method) that represents a data processing unit, and 1081 is an access to the class method. A class method table in which pointers to the respective code of the class method are made into a table in order to enable the above, and a code portion 1082 stores the function codes of k class methods from the first function code 1083 to the kth function code 1084. Is.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of a general object. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 234 denotes an object, which is a pointer storage unit 2 for the class method table.
44, message communication means 245, processing search means 24
6, a method section 239, and an internal data section 235. The method unit 239 is the first data processing means 24.
0, the second data processing means 241 and the m-th data processing means 242 are constituted by m data processing means. Reference numeral 235 denotes an internal data section, which is composed of n pieces of internal data up to the nth internal data 238 including the first internal data 236 and the second internal data 237.

Since each internal data forming the internal data part 235 is unique to each object, it is held inside the object, but the data processing means of the method part can be shared between objects if the class is the same. The data processing means from the first data processing means 240 to the mth data processing means 242 are managed for each class by the class method table 243 and shared by a plurality of objects belonging to the same class. The class method table 243 is referred to from each object by the pointer stored in the class method table pointer storage unit 244.

The message communication means 245 receives a message from another object and sends it to the processing search means 246. The processing search means 246 analyzes the message and determines the data processing means corresponding to the message as the method part 239.
It is searched (actually from the class method table 243) and executed. The data processing means executes a predetermined process on the data attached to the message, the internal data existing in the internal data section 235, and the external data. Depending on the processing, there is one that sends a message to another object. In that case, the message is sent by the message communication means 24.
5 to another object.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the structure of the system director object 205. In the figure, 1072
Is a pointer storage section for the class method table, and points to the system director class class method table 1073. Reference numeral 1047 is a multimedia device proxy object generation means for generating a multimedia device proxy object 1068 based on the description of the multimedia device proxy object description file 1061. Reference numeral 343 is a data input / output management means for managing data input / output between objects, and 380 is an application object generation means for generating application objects for various purposes. Reference numeral 1074 is a message communication unit, 342 is a process search unit, and 1075 is a method unit. Reference numeral 1076 denotes an internal data section, which is an object I
D, 344 is inter-device link information management data when a certain operation is performed using a plurality of multimedia devices, 107
Reference numeral 8 is object registration information regarding the connected multimedia device and the created object.

System Director Object 205
Is a multimedia device proxy object generation means 104
When the multimedia device 2 is connected to the LAN 4 using 7, the multimedia device proxy object description file 1061 is read and the class to which the object to be generated belongs is selected from the information described in the multimedia device proxy object description file 1061. , Class definition part 1 of the corresponding class in the class library 1081
Multimedia device proxy object 1 based on 080
068 is generated.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the structure of the control panel description part of the proxy object description file. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 247 denotes a control panel object description section, which is composed of i pieces of object description information from the first object description information 248 to the i-th object description section 249. One piece of object description information is composed of object recognition information 250, object drawing information 254, and object link information 260.

The object recognition information 250 includes a class name 251 indicating a class to which the object belongs, an object ID 252 that is an ID unique to the i-th object, and an i-th object.
It is composed of a belonging object ID 253 indicating the ID of the object to which the object directly belongs.

The object drawing information 254 is information for drawing an object such as a button that constitutes the control panel display screen 231, and includes first object drawing information 255 to jth object drawing information 259.
Up to j object drawing information. 1
One object drawing information is drawing position / size information 25
6, shape / color information 257, and an object image 258.

The object link information 261 is a description for providing link information with objects corresponding to the objects constituting the control panel object such as the controller object 207. The first object link information 261 to the kth object link information 2
It is composed of up to 64 pieces of object link information. One object link information is the corresponding object ID 262 and the message 26 sent to the corresponding object.
It consists of 3.

FIG. 13 shows the structure of the data input / output proxy object description part of the proxy object description file. In FIG. 13, 650 is a data input / output proxy object description part, 651 is first input proxy object information, and 655 is m-th input proxy object information.
Each input proxy object information is its own object ID
652, link destination corresponding data input object ID 653 indicating the ID of the data input object of the link destination, and a matching file type list 654 which is a list of file types that can be input. 65
Reference numeral 9 is first output proxy object information, and 663 is nth output proxy object information. Each output proxy object is composed of its own object ID 660, a corresponding data output object ID indicating the ID of the corresponding data output object, and a matching file type list 662 that is a list of file types that can be output.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described by taking a digital VTR as an example of a concrete control system of the multimedia device 2 based on the above system control method.

FIG. 14 shows an objectized digital V
It is a figure which shows the state before connecting TR to a multimedia controller. In FIG. 14, 203 is a digital V
The TRs and 206 are resident in the digital VTR 203 and are digitalized as an object as seen from other devices on the LAN.
It is a digital VTR object that functions as R.
The digital VTR object 206 is further composed of three objects. 207 is a digital VTR
A digital VTR controller object that controls the hardware of 203.

Reference numeral 208 is a digital VTR data input object which is in charge of inputting digital data from another device via the LAN 4. 209 is a digital V that is in charge of output of digital data to another device via the LAN 4.
It is a TR data output object. 210 is a digital VTR 203 is a multimedia controller 1 LAN
Multimedia controller 1 when connected via 4
It is a digital VTR proxy object description file which describes the specifications of the digital VTR proxy object generated in the file.

The digital VTR proxy object description file 210 is a specification of the digital VTR control panel object description part 211 which describes the specifications of the operation panel of the digital VTR 203, and the specifications of the digital VTR data input / output proxy object which proxy data input / output to the digital VTR 203. , Which is a digital VTR data input / output proxy object description section 212.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the structure of the VTR controller object 207. In the figure, reference numeral 1009 denotes a pointer storage unit for a class method table, which stores a pointer for the class method table 1018. Class method table 1018 is a digital VTR
Playback executing means 1019 for controlling the hardware of 203 to execute the playback operation, and recording execution means 1 for executing the recording operation
It is composed of many data processing means such as 020. 1
Reference numeral 010 is a message communication means, and 1011 is a processing search means. 1012 is a method part, but the actual data processing means is indicated by the class method table 1018. Reference numeral 1015 denotes an internal data section, which is composed of a number of variables and status information necessary for controlling the digital VTR 203, such as the tape running state 1016 and the tape current position 1017.

First, the operation when the digital VTR 203 is connected to the LAN 4 will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a flow of operations when the digital VTR 203 is connected to the LAN 4. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a screen of the multimedia controller 1. 228 in FIG.
Is the display of the multimedia controller 1, 22
Reference numeral 9 is an icon display indicating that the digital VTR 203 is connected, and reference numeral 230 is a cursor indicating a position designated by a pointing device such as a mouse. Although the pointing device is not shown, the pointing device is provided with a button, and the operation of the user pressing and releasing the button is generally referred to as clicking.
A double-click operation is called a double-click operation.
As other connected devices, various devices such as a camera (still image input), a tuner, a television, various databases, and a CD can be connected.
Control can also be performed by displaying icons on the screen 228.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a state when the objectized digital VTR 203, which is an example of a multimedia device, is connected to the LAN 4. In FIG. 18, 220 is an object generated in the multimedia controller 1
It is a digital VTR proxy object 220 that functions as a proxy for the digital VTR 203 inside. The digital VTR proxy object 220 is the digital VTR 20.
Digital VTR that functions as a control panel for 3
A control panel object 221, a digital VTR data input proxy object 222 that functions as a proxy for the data input object 208 at the time of data input,
Similarly, a digital VTR data output proxy object 223 that functions as a proxy for the data output object 209.
Composed of.

LAN4 according to FIGS. 16, 17 and 18.
The operation when the objectized digital VTR 203, which is an example of a multimedia device, is connected to the device will be described below. When the digital VTR 203 is connected to the LAN (63
6) The system director object 205 recognizes the connection of the digital VTR 203 (637). Next, the system director object 205 is a digital VTR.
The device ID is sent to 203 (638).

Next, the system director object 2
Reference numeral 05 is a multimedia device proxy object generation means 1
Digital VT from Digital VTR 203 using 047
The R proxy object description file 210 is loaded (639). Next, System Director Object 2
Reference numeral 05 is a multimedia device proxy object generation means 1
A digital VTR proxy object 220 is generated in the multimedia controller 1 based on the digital VTR proxy object description file 210 by using 047 (640). As a result, the connection state shown in FIG. 18 is obtained.
Next, the digital VTR proxy object 220 displays the icon display 229 of the digital VTR 203 on the display 228 of the multimedia controller 1 (64
1). After that, it waits for the user's instruction (642).

After that, the operator operates the digital VTR based on the operation screen displayed based on the digital VTR control panel object 221 of the multimedia controller, whereby the digital VTR proxy object 220 in the multimedia controller 1 is operated. The digital VTR can be controlled via.

Next, the relationship between the description of the digital VTR proxy object description file 210 and the generated object will be described in more detail.

FIG. 19 shows an icon of the digital VTR 203, and FIG. 20 shows an example of the control panel display screen. FIG. 19 shows an icon 229 displayed when the digital VTR 203 connects to the LAN 4.
FIG. 20 shows a default display screen drawn by the digital VTR control panel object 221. In FIG. 20, 232 is a control panel display selection menu displayed on the display, and 265 is a time counter display for displaying the elapsed time of the tape. Reference numeral 266 denotes a control mode selection unit 267 for selecting the control mode of the digital VTR 203, and 1st switch button display for setting the default control mode, and 268 second switch button for selecting a more detailed control mode. Display 269 is a rewind button display, 270 is a reverse playback button display, 271 is a pause button display, 272 is a playback button display, 273 is a fast forward button display, 274 is a stop button display, and 275 is a recording button display.

FIG. 21 shows the class to which the object belongs and the digital VTR control panel object 221.
It is a figure explaining correspondence of the component of. The class to which each basic component belongs is defined in advance in the class library 1081 and is held in the multimedia controller 1. As shown in FIG. 21, each constituent element of the digital VTR control panel object 221 functions as an object forming the digital VTR control panel object 221.

In FIG. 21, the frame of the control panel display screen 231 corresponds to the VTR control panel object 284 (ID = 1) of the panel class. The display selection menu 232 of the control panel corresponds to the panel view setting menu object 285 (ID = 2) of the menu class. The time counter display 265 corresponds to the time counter object 286 (ID = 3) of the form class. The rewind button display 269 corresponds to the rewind button object 287 (ID = 4) of the button class. The reverse playback button display 270 corresponds to the reverse playback button object 288 (ID = 5) of the button class. The pause button display 271 corresponds to the pause button object 289 (ID = 6) of the button class. The play button display 272 is the play button object 2 of the button class.
It corresponds to 90 (ID = 7). Fast forward button display 2
73 is a fast forward button object 291 of the button class
It corresponds to (ID = 8). The stop button display 274 is a stop button object 292 (ID =
9), the record button display 275 corresponds to the record button object 293 (ID = 10) of the button class.

The control mode selection unit 266 corresponds to the control mode switching object 294 (ID = 11) of the button group class. The first switch button 267 corresponds to the default button object 295 (ID = 12) of the radio button class. The second switch button 268 corresponds to the advanced button object 296 (ID = 13) of the radio button class.

Next, of the objects forming the digital VTR control panel object 221 shown in FIG. 21, the generation of a play button object play button object 290 will be described as an example.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram relating to the generation of the play button object 290. In FIG. 22, 297 and 2
98, 299, 300, 601, 602, 603, 60
4, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 61
Reference numerals 0 and 611 denote elements described in the object control panel object description part 247 of the digital VTR proxy object description file 210.

Reference numeral 297 is object recognition information, which includes a class name 298, an object ID 299, and a belonging object ID 300. Reference numeral 601 denotes the first object drawing information, which includes drawing position / size information 602, shape / color information 603, and an object image 604. Reference numeral 605 denotes second object drawing information, which includes drawing position / size information 606, shape / color information 607, and an object image 608. Reference numeral 609 denotes object link information, which is a link destination object ID 610.
And a send message 611.

A button object playback button object 290 is generated from the class and information of the object control panel object description section 247 of the digital VTR proxy object description file 210.
Reference numeral 613 denotes a pointer storage unit for a class method table, which stores a pointer pointing to the button class class method table 625. The button class class method table has a button initialization means 626 for initializing the internal variables of the button object when the button class object is generated, a button drawing means 627 for drawing the display of the button object, and a user drawing the button object. When a click operation is performed by instructing a position with the cursor 230 of a pointing device such as a mouse, the button display is temporarily changed to indicate that the button object is clicked in response to the operation, and other objects are displayed. It consists of a click reaction means for sending a message to.

The definition of each data processing means held by these button class method tables is described in the class, and is commonly used not only by the playback button object 290 but also by all objects belonging to other button classes. 614 is a message communication means, 6
Reference numeral 15 is a processing search means. 616 is a method part, and 620 is an internal data part. Internal data section 620
Is an object ID 621, button state data 622,
It is composed of drawing parameters 623 and link data 624. The type of internal data that not only the playback button object 290 but also all button objects belonging to the button class should have is described in the class.

System Director Object 205
Is a digital VTR proxy object description file 210
22 is generated and each object is generated, but in the example of FIG. 22, the button class object is generated by the description of the class name 298 of the object recognition information 297. When the system director object 205 generates the play button object 290, the button initialization means 62.
6 initializes the internal data section 620. According to the example of FIG. 22, the object ID is the object I
ID = 7 is set by the description of D299. According to the description of the belonging object ID 300, the system director object 205 becomes the play button object 29.
0 is digital VTR control panel object 2
It turns out that it belongs to 21. Based on the belonging object information of each object, the system director object 205 knows the inclusive relation between objects and creates an object composed of a plurality of objects as a composite object.

The button drawing means 627 draws the drawing parameter 6
The play button object 290 is drawn based on the 23 and the button state data 622. Button drawing means 627
Is automatically executed when the button object is created and the belonging object is moved.

The first object drawing information 601 describes the button drawing information 625 when the button is not pressed.
The drawing position / size information 602 describes rectangular frame information indicating the drawing position and size in the digital VTR control panel object 221 when the play button object 290 is drawn. The rectangular frame information is (X1, Y1) of the drawing information 625 of the button when not pressed,
It is represented by coordinate information that defines the rectangular information in the coordinate system of the digital VTR control panel object 221 such as (X2, Y2), for example, upper left and lower right coordinates. The drawing of the playback button object when it is not pressed is performed based on the shape / color information 603 or the object image 604. Shape / color information 603
Is written in a language for drawing objects such as how to draw lines and how to paint colors. The object image 604 is represented by bitmap data. In general, the former expresses less data, but the latter expresses more freedom.

The second object drawing information 605 describes button drawing information 626 when the button is pressed in the same manner as the first object drawing information 601. First object drawing information 601 and second object drawing information 60
Based on 5, the drawing parameter 623 is determined. The link data 624 is set on the basis of the object link information 609, and is'play 'as a transmission message.
However, the link destination object ID is set as the link destination object ID, but when the message is sent, the object of the recipient is uniquely determined in the entire system, and the system director when the digital VTR 203 is connected to the LAN4. The object ID is set by adding the device ID assigned to the digital VTR by the object 205 to the link destination object ID.

Therefore, the message can be correctly transmitted even if the IDs in which the objects are duplicated between the devices are used. The button state data holds the state of whether or not the button is pressed.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a flow chart showing the operation when the user moves the cursor 230 to the icon display 229 of the digital VTR 203 and double-clicks it, and the flow chart of the operation when the user operates the control panel. .

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a display screen of the multimedia controller 1 when the user double-clicks the icon display 229 of the digital VTR 203. Figure 2
In FIG. 4, 231 is a default control panel display screen of the digital VTR 203, and 272 is a play button.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the relationship between the structure of a panel class digital VTR control panel object and the object description information.

In FIG. 29, reference numeral 1401 is a pointer storage section for a class method table, and shows a panel class class method table 1402. The panel class method table is composed of a panel initialization means 1403 for initializing a panel object, a panel drawing means 1404 for drawing a panel, and a click reaction means 1405 for indicating an operation when a panel is double-clicked.
Reference numeral 1406 is a message communication unit, 1407 is a process search unit, 1410 is an internal data section, 1411 is an object ID, 1412 is panel state data, and 1413 is a drawing parameter. The internal data part 1410 is initialized according to the description of the digital VTR proxy object description file 210, but the digital VTR control panel object description part 211 of the digital VTR proxy object description file 210 has object recognition information 1414 and an icon image 142 of the digital VTR 203.
6 and the second object drawing information 1422 indicating the frame 1427 of the control panel of the digital VTR. The object recognition information 1414 includes a class name 1415 (panel class), an object ID 1416 (ID = 1), and a belonging object ID. The first object drawing information 1418 includes drawing position / size information 1419, shape /
It is composed of color information 1420 and an object image 1421. The second object image 1422 includes drawing position / size information 1423, shape / color information 1424, and object image 1425.

Digital VT according to FIGS. 23 and 29.
A method of instructing the control panel display operation and the reproduction operation of R203 will be described. In the operation described in FIG. 16, the system director object 205 is the digital VTR.
Digital VT when proxy object 220 is generated
The R proxy object 220 displays the icon display 229 based on the icon image 1426, but when the user points to the icon 230 of the digital VTR with the cursor 230 and double-clicks (643), the control panel object of the digital VTR proxy object 220 is displayed. Reference numeral 221 sends a message instructing drawing to all the objects forming the control panel object 221. According to the message, FIG.
All objects shown in 1 execute the drawing means,
The control panel object then draws the frame of the control panel of the digital VTR based on the second object drawing information. As a result, digital V
A digital VTR control panel display 231 for operating the TR203 is displayed as shown in FIG. 24 (64
4) Wait for the user's instruction (645). In this state, when the user designates and clicks the play button 272 of the control panel 231 with the cursor 230 (646),
The control panel object 221 is a digital VT
The message'PLAY 'is sent to the controller object 214 of R203 (647). Accordingly, the controller object 214 of the digital VTR 203
Responds to the message and activates the playback executing means (6
48). The digital VTR 2 is activated by activating the reproduction executing means.
03 playback operation is started.

As described above, according to the present invention, the multimedia device proxy object necessary for operating the multimedia device is automatically connected to the multimedia controller simply by connecting the multimedia device to the multimedia controller via LAN. The control panel required for operating the multimedia device is automatically displayed on the display of the multimedia controller, and when the user operates the control panel, an appropriate message is displayed in the controller object of the multimedia device. Is transmitted and desired operation can be performed. Since the information required to generate the multimedia device proxy object required to operate the multimedia device is obtained from the multimedia device proxy object description file read from the multimedia device, the multimedia controller has a basic class live. You just need a rally and you don't have to have any information about a particular multimedia device in advance.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the relationship between the structure of the digital VTR data input proxy object and the object description information. In FIG. 25, 222 is a digital VTR
A data input proxy object, 668 is a pointer storage unit for a class method table, and shows a data input proxy class class method table 679. The data input proxy class class method table 679 includes data input proxy object initialization means 680, link information update means 681, and matching file type response means 678.

Reference numeral 669 is a message communication means, 670 is a processing search means, and 671 is a method section. Reference numeral 674 is an internal data section, 675 is an object ID, and 676 is a corresponding data input object ID which is the ID of the corresponding data input object. 677 is a matching file type indicating the file type of the data that can be input, and 1006 is link information with the data output object.

A digital VTR data input proxy object is generated based on the digital VTR data input / output proxy object description part 212 of the digital VTR proxy object description file 210, but 682 is a digital VT.
The input proxy object information described in the R data input / output proxy object description part 212 is the object I
D (ID = 1 in this example) 683, corresponding data input object ID (ID = 1 in this example) 684, and matching file type list 685 (in this example, a format called AV1, AV2). With these descriptions, the input proxy object initialization means 680 initializes the data of the internal data part 674.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the relationship between the structure of the digital VTR data output proxy object and the object description information. In FIG. 26, 223 is a digital VTR
A data output proxy object, 690, is a pointer storage unit for a class method table, and shows a data output proxy class class method table 1048. The data output proxy class class method table 1048 includes a data output proxy object initialization means 694, a link information update means 695, and a consistent file type response means 700.

Reference numeral 691 is a message communication means, 692 is a processing search means, and 693 is a method section. Reference numeral 696 is an internal data section, 697 is an object ID, and 698 is a corresponding data output object ID which is the ID of the corresponding data output object. 699 is a matching file type indicating the file type of data that can be output, and 688 is link information with the data output object.

A digital VTR data output proxy object is generated based on the digital VTR data input / output proxy object description part 212 of the digital VTR proxy object description file 210, but 1001 is the digital VTR data output proxy object.
This is the data output proxy object information described in the TR data input / output proxy object description part 212, which is an object ID (ID = 1 in this example) 1002, a corresponding data output object ID (ID = 1 in this example) 1003,
Matching file type list 1004 (AV1 in this example,
The format is called AV2).
With these descriptions, the data output proxy object initialization means 694 initializes the data in the internal data part 696.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the structure of a digital VTR data input object. In FIG. 22, 20
8 is a digital VTR data input object, 1022
Is a pointer storage part to the class method table, and is a data input class class method table 1031
Indicates. Data input class Class method table 10
31 comprises a file writing means 1032, a data receiving means 1033, and a link information updating means 686.
Reference numeral 1023 is a message communication unit, 1024 is a process search unit, and 1025 is a method unit. 1028 is an internal data part, 1029 is an object ID, and 1030 is link information.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the structure of a digital VTR data output object. In FIG. 28, 20
9 is a digital VTR data output object, 1035
Is a pointer storage part to the class method table, and is a data output class class method table 1044.
Indicates. Data output class Class method table 10
Reference numeral 44 is composed of a file reading means 1045, a data transmitting means 1046, and a link information updating means 687.
Further, 1036 is a message communication unit, 1037 is a process search unit, and 1038 is a method unit. 1041 is an internal data part, 1042 is an object ID, 104
3 is link information.

Data input proxy object 222 and data output proxy object 223 of digital VTR 203
Are generated in the multimedia controller and function as if they were digital VTR data input objects 208 and digital VTR data output objects 209. For example, when copying files from another multimedia device to a digital VTR, the system director object 205 queries the digital VTR data input proxy object 222 for the types of files that can be input. In response to the inquiry of the system director object 205, the matching file type reply means of the digital VTR data input proxy object 222 returns the file type that the digital VTR 203 can accept.

Digital VTR data input proxy object 22 from the output proxy object of the multimedia device having the file to be copied if the file type of the file to be copied is present therein.
The link to 2 is set. The link information updating means 681 of the digital VTR data input proxy object 222 sends a message to the digital VTR data input object 208 to send the digital VTR data input object 2
The link updating means 08 is activated to update the link information 688 of the digital VTR data input object 208.

At the same time, the data output proxy object of the multimedia device having the file to be copied sends a message to update the link information of the data output object and the multimedia having the file to be copied by the link information being updated. A link between the device data output object and the digital VTR data input object 208 is set.

Thereafter, the data transmitting means of the data output object of the multimedia device having the file to be copied is activated, and the data output object of the multimedia device having the file to be copied sends a message to the digital VTR data input object. The file is copied by sending and activating the data receiving means 1033 and the file writing means 1032. That is, when the data input proxy object and the data output proxy object in the multimedia controller are instructed to copy, etc., the data input proxy object and the data output proxy object respectively send a message to the data input object and the data output object of the multimedia device body. It is not necessary for the multimedia controller to be directly involved in the actual copying of data and the like for sending and setting the data link between the multimedia devices.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, when controlling the entire system to which a plurality of multimedia devices are connected, a device for performing the control in advance on the controller side as before. There is no need to install and prepare drivers and application software. Simply connect a multimedia device to the LAN and the control panel and device status will be automatically displayed on the controller screen. There is a great effect that it is easy to perform control and input / output switching on the screen.

Further, among the parts group of the control panel sent from the multimedia device to the controller side, the parts group having the same definition previously held on the controller side can be replaced by the user's preference, It is possible to unify different user interfaces for different manufacturers. Further, it has become possible to transparently perform control from a remote controller and access to multimedia equipment via a LAN.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a logical connection form of a multimedia controller and multimedia equipment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a physical connection form of a multimedia controller and multimedia devices.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal structure of an object-type multimedia device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal structure of an object-type multimedia controller.

FIG. 5 is a system hierarchy diagram of a multimedia controller.

FIG. 6 is a system hierarchy diagram of multimedia equipment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state before the multimedia device is connected to the multimedia controller.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state when a multimedia device is connected to a LAN.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a general class library.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of an object.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a structure of a system director object.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control panel description part of a proxy object description file.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data input / output object description part of a proxy object description file.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state before an objectized digital VTR is connected to a multimedia controller.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a structure of a VTR controller object.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the operation when the digital VTR is connected to the LAN.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a screen of the multimedia controller.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a state in which a digital VTR that is an object as a multimedia device is connected to a LAN.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an icon of a digital VTR.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a control panel display screen.

FIG. 21: Class to which the object belongs and Digital V
It is a figure explaining correspondence of the component of a TR control panel object.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram related to generation of a reproduction button object.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the operation when the control is selected by placing the cursor on the icon display of the digital VTR.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a display screen of the multimedia controller when the operator selects control from the icon display of the digital VTR.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the relationship between the structure of a digital VTR data input proxy object and the object description information.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the relationship between the structure of a digital VTR data output proxy object and the object description information.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the structure of a digital VTR data input object.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the structure of a digital VTR data output object.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the relationship between the structure of a panel-class digital VTR control panel object and the object description information.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page (72) Inventor Fumiaki Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Kenji Hatori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Takashi Aizawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A controller comprising: a plurality of objectized peripheral devices; and a controller that is connected to the plurality of peripheral devices through a common communication line and integrally controls the plurality of peripheral devices. The control information stored in the peripheral device side is read in a predetermined form into a predetermined memory area in the controller via the communication line in accordance with the connection between each peripheral device and the controller, and the controller side reads the control information. A control system, which enables control of peripheral devices, and is configured to transmit a command issued on the controller side to each of the peripheral devices via the communication line. 2. A plurality of object-oriented peripheral devices, a controller for controlling the peripheral devices in a unified manner, the controller and the plurality of peripheral devices are connected, and control of the peripheral devices or data transfer is performed. A system control method comprising: a common bidirectional interface for inputting / outputting, wherein each of the peripheral devices can be controlled by the controller via the common bidirectional interface. 3. The object-oriented peripheral device and the controller according to claim 2, wherein the message (
A system control method characterized by comprising message transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving control commands and data input / output commands. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the objectized peripheral device and controller are methods (execution procedures, functions, subroutines) specified by the message.
A system control method having a group and an execution environment thereof. 5. The object-oriented peripheral device and controller according to claim 4, which conceal internal data such as an internal state and a variable parameter, and indirectly access the internal data by calling a method. Similarly, a system control method characterized by being encapsulated. 6. The object-oriented peripheral device according to claim 5, which has an operation panel, a display device, and the like as a graphical user interface (GUI) so that an external controller can perform its own operations and displays. A system control method that has means for sending the GUI to an external controller. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the objectized peripheral device has a table that defines a method corresponding to the operation of the operation panel of the graphical user interface (GUI), and the external controller stores the table. A system control method that has means for sending out. 8. The object-oriented peripheral device according to claim 7, wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) and a method definition table are integrated and realized as a GUI object, and the GU is provided to an external controller.
I A system control method that has means for sending out objects. 9. The object-oriented peripheral device according to claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface (GUI) and the method definition table are realized in a GUI description language that is summarized, and the GUI description language is sent to an external controller. System control method having means. 10. The system control method according to claim 2, wherein the controller has a display unit for displaying a physical connection state of a plurality of objectified peripheral devices. 11. The system control method according to claim 2, wherein the controller has a display unit and a change unit for displaying the operating states of a plurality of object-oriented peripheral devices. 12. The system control method according to claim 4, wherein the controller has a graphical user interface for controlling from a plurality of peripheral devices made into objects and a means for reading and displaying a method definition table. . 13. The system control method according to claim 12, wherein the controller has a function realized by a GUI object. 14. The system control method according to claim 12, wherein the controller has a function realized by a GUI description language. 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the controller searches the definition table for a method corresponding to an operation of a GUI button or the like of an objectized peripheral device, and a target object
A system control method that includes means for sending to peripheral devices. 16. The system control method according to claim 2, wherein the controller has a function of downloading a program or data from an external peripheral device in order to improve the function of itself or to correct the function such as a bug countermeasure. .