MXPA06006994A - Method for automatically setting up data connections between network subscriber stations in a network of distributed stations, and network subscriber station as a user interface appliance for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of data communication in a network of distributed stations, particularly in a home network. A home network of this type allows AV data streams to be transmitted between network subscriber stations. The aim of the invention is to assist the user of a network of this type when he wishes to start a recording procedure for the audio and/or video data. In line with the invention, a data connection is automatically set up between that data source appliance (11, 16) which has already set up a connection to a data sink appliance (10, 18) or to a user interface appliance (10) and the recording appliance (12, 17). The automatic set-up of a data connection takes place directly after the user interface for the recording appliance (12, 17) has been called up. Alternatively, the automatic set-up of a data connection may take place only specifically after selection of the recording function on the recording appliance (12, 17). The measure assists the implementation of an instant-recording function on the recording appliance (12, 17) in the network.

Description

METHOD. TO AUTOMATICALLY ESTABLISH DATA CONNECTIONS AMONG THE SUBSCRIBER STATIONS OF THE NETWORK IN A NETWORK OF DISTRIBUTED STATIONS, AND SUBSCRIBER STATION OF THE NETWORK AS USER'S IN ERFAZ DEVICE TO PERFORM THE METHOD The invention relates to the technical field of data communication in a network of distributed stations, particularly in a home network. This includes, in particular, the field of establishing the automatic connection between the subscriber stations of the network.

Environment ds the invention. 5 There are now different standards of home network • available for network devices in the home field.

In the field of consumer electronics, the IEEE-1394 connector standard has been established in particular. This allows communication between the 0 consumer electronic devices and a very high data range. Data ranges of 100, 200 and 1 400 Mbit / s. Meanwhile, the original IEEE-1394-1995 standard has been extended, and the current version, IEEE-1394b, specifies even higher data rates, 5- S800, S1200 and S1600. This is sufficient to transmit both of the asynchronous data packets in parallel to control the subscriber stations of the network (in • next calls network stations, for short) and isochronous audio and video data streams. The typical device for exchanging data between consumer electronic devices involves a title, either a video movie or a piece of music that is played from a video data source • or audio, and the associated data stream that is being transmitted to another consumer electronic device. For this device example, a logical data connection is established between the devices in question, which exchange data with each other. This data connection is then used to transmit data packets on a regular basis. This form of data transmission is called, in the IEEE-1394-1995 standard, transmission of isochronous data, which involves packets of data that are transmitted from the data source to the data container or the data containers on a regular basis, at particular intervals of time.

In addition, the transmission of asynchronous data also takes place in the IEEE-1394 network. In this case, the data packets are sent as required, so to speak. The number of such asynchronous data packets that is sent via the connector depends on the volume of data that originates. Asynchronous data transmission is used predominantly to identify and control a device in the network using another device that is present in the network.

However, the IEEE-1394-1995 standard specifies only the background layers of the reference ISO / OSI model for data communication, namely the physical layer, the data link layer, and parts of the data layer. net. However, the highest layers are not specified, namely the transport layer, the session layer, the presentation layer and the device layer. . A consortium of consumer electronics companies has established itself in defining also the highest layers for the exchange of data between consumer electronic devices. This standard is known by the acronym HAVi, where HAVi stands for - English Audio / Video Interoperability for Home ('Home Audio / Video interoperability' '). This standard specifies the "interoperability middleware", which ensures that the products of several manufacturers understand one another, i.e., that they cooperate with one another, to perform tasks together through the network.

As mentioned, the typical example of a device for the electronic consumer equipment network involves a device from a data source that sends AV data, i.e. audio or video data., towards one or more of other consumer electronic devices. The target devices are typically known as a data receiving device. The user wants to be able to directly select the device from which he wishes to send data and the device to which the data needs to be delivered within the network. This selection of devices needs to be as convenient as possible for the user. Up to this point, the user interface known from computer technology is currently used very frequently. A user interface comprises one or more operating menus (which can be displayed in a projection unit) in which the user can use either a mouse cursor or the buttons of a remote control (particularly the cursor control buttons) to directly select the individual elements of the menu and can make particular entries using the keyboard.

To establish a logical data connection between two network stations, it is possible for the user to directly select the source device of the data and the device receiving the data. Only after this selection the data connection is established and it is possible for an audio and / or video data stream to be transmitted through this data connection, an example mentioned is that of a user who wishes to advance them. AV data received via a decoder box to a television to watch and listen to the video program on television. To do so, the user would need to select both devices directly. If, similarly, AV data is now also designed to be recorded by a recording device, then the . The user would need to re-select the source device of the data and the target device of the data (ie, the recording device) and start the recording function.

Invention • An object of the invention is to assist the user in the procedure of establishing data connections for recording. In line with the invention, this is done by virtue of a logical data connection from the data source device that already has a data connection that has been established towards a data reception device, being established anyway to the recording device in the standard way.

A typical example of a device is when the data receiving device matches the projection device in which the user interface for controlling the recording device (user interface device in the claims) is being displayed. In that case, a suitable data source device is the aforementioned decoder box, for example, which provides the AV data for a television program. In this context, the immediate establishment of the data connection between the decoder box and the recording device helps in the implementation of one. Recording function instantly on the recording device. The user often wants to be able to record what he is currently watching as a television program on the projection device, as quickly as possible and without major complications, because, at that moment, he finds it interesting. In this case, the user simply needs to request the recording device from the user interface, e.g. ex. , from the main menu, after which the data connection between the decoder box and the recording device would be established.

This can be displayed in the user interface for the recording device. Then the user only has to select the recording function to start the recording procedure. 5 Another typical example of a device is when a data connection has already been established between a sound source device, e.g. ex. , a player of. CD, and an audio data reception device, p. ex. , an amplifying device for radio signals, in a network. If the user now selects the user interface for a recording device for digital audio signals, the invention establishes a data connection between the audio data source device and the audio device. . audio recording in a standard way. Therefore, it is assumed, in the standard manner, that the user wishes to record the audio data stream coming from the data source and that at that moment it is already having output on the speakers. Again, the user does not need to make any direct selection of the source device of the data and the • data receiving device if the data connection that has been established in the standard manner corresponds at that time with its recording requirement. In this case, too, the inventive measure serves not only to make the operation more convenient in the network, but additionally. also to help in the implementation of a recording function - instantly.

The dependent claims contain other advantageous measures and improvements of the method of the invention and of the subscriber station of the network of the invention. As an example, it is possible to establish the connection between the source device of the data and the recording device only after the user has activated the recording function on the recording device. This prevents superfluous data connections from being established when the user does not want to establish a data connection in the standard manner. On the other hand, the recording would start a little later, which does not exactly support the recording function instantly.

Drawings . The exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, and are explained in more detail in the description below. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a first example of a home network; Figure 2 shows the home network that is shown in Figure 1 with a data connection that has been established; Figure 3 shows the home network shown in Figure 2 with a data connection that has been established between the data source device and the recording device; Figure 4 shows the main menu in a user interface to control the stations of the network; Figure 5 shows the interface of the. user to control the recording device based on a first exemplary representation of the invention; Figure 6 shows the user interface for controlling the recording device in the initial state, based on a second exemplary representation of the invention; Figure 7 shows the user interface for controlling the recording device immediately after an automatic data connection establishment based on the second example representation of the invention; Figure 8 shows the software components of a projection device in the network; Figure 9 shows the interaction between the software components of the network stations during the establishment of the automatic connection. based on the invention; Figure 10 shows a second example of a home network with a data connection - which has been set; Y Figure 11 shows the home network shown in Figure 10 immediately after the automatic establishment of the data connection between the source device of the data and the recording device.

Description of the invention Figure 1 schematically shows an example of a home network. The reference number (10). indicates a digital TV device. This can be a commercially available television with a digital video input. The reference number (11) indicates a decoder box. It receives digital television signals either via satellite or terrestrial or through the broadband cable. The reference number (12) indicates a digital video recorder. Various types of devices are suitable as a video recorder. First, it must be a "DVHS recorder", which records the digital video signals on a tape. Second, it can also be a DVD recorder, which records the digital video signals on an optical storage disc. It can also be an "HDD recorder", which contains a hard drive and records digital video data in it. The reference number (13) indicates a DVD player. Figure 1 shows - that all the devices are connected to each other by means of a common collector connection. An example of a collector connection is the IEEE-1394 collector system. According to this collector system, however, the specific topology of the network can be changed to be different from the one shown in Figure 1. The collector topology allowed in the I? EE-1394-1995 standard is based on a tree structure.

Figure 2 shows the same network as Figure 1, but with a data connection that has been established between the decoder box (11) and the digital TV device (10). Therefore, Figure 2 shows the example of a device in which the user is watching a television program on the digital TV set (10). Up to this point, you have established a data connection (14) between the decoder box (11) and the television (10).

Figure 3 shows the same network after 'another data connection has been established. The situation corresponds to the device example in which the user wishes not only to see the current television program that 'is being received via the decoder box (11), but also recorded on the digital video device at the same time. Up to this point, another data connection (15) has been established between the decoder box (11) and the digital video recorder (12).

The text below gives a more detailed illustration of how the connection (15) of data can be automatically established in a manner convenient to the user, in line with the invention.

Up to this point, Figure 4 shows first of all the main menu to operate the devices in the network. In this context, Figure 4 shows the image that appears on the video screen of the digital TV device (10), which shows the structure of the network. The image that is appearing shows a similar shape which current connections have been established at this moment in the network.

In Figure 4, a dotted line indicates that a data connection between the decoder box and the digital television is currently established. To explain the flow of data from the decoder box to the digital TV set, the illustration may be in animated form, ie, for example, a data stream is shown from the decoder box to the digital TV set, for example. example by virtue of the dotted lines that move from the decoder box to the digital TV set. The shaded border around the digital video recorder is designed to indicate that the user requests control of the digital video recorder in the main menu. He can do it by using the cursor control buttons, for example, which he can use to move a pointer on the steps on the screen. The shaded edge around the digital video recorder indicates that the latter is highlighted, as an indication that the current selection of the devices refers to the digital video recorder. By pressing the confirmation button (OK button), the user can call the operation menu for the digital recorder.

Figure 5 shows the operation menu for the digital video recorder after it has been called. This is equivalent to a graphical user interface (Ul) to control the digital video recorder. The reference number (20) indicates a display field to set the time and date. The reference number (21) - indicates a representation of the playback button. The reference number (22) indicates a representation for the forward button and the reference number (23) indicates' a representation for the return button. The reference number (24) indicates a representation for the stop button. A representation for the pause button is provided with the reference number (25). The reference number (2-6) indicates a representation for the button, record. The reference number (27) indicates a display field for the current operating state of the device. This display field contains a display field (28) to set the playing time of a current movie title. The reference number (29) indicates a display field that contains a list of other devices with which a data connection has been established. As shown in Figure 5, after the user interface has been called - for the digital video recorder, the display field (29) indicates that there is a connection to the decoder box, and the deployment field (28) indicates that no movie title is currently being played or recorded. The word STOP is displayed in the display field (28) to indicate that the recording device is in standby state. Therefore, when the user interface for the digital video recorder has been called, an additional connection is automatically established towards the decoder box (11). Then the user can start recording instantly by selecting. the representation of the recording button (26).

Figure 6 again shows the user interface to control the digital video recorder "directly after it has been called in. In this case, a data connection has not yet been established directly, as shown, in the deployment field (29) for the existing data connections. Digital video recorder is in standby state If the user now starts the recording function instantly by selecting the representation of the record button, the connection to the source device of the data in the existing data connection (1.4) is established. automatically in the network, in line with this second exemplary representation of the invention. In Figure 6, the selection of the representation (26) for the record button is indicated with a shaded edge.

Now, Figure 7 shows the status after the selection of this recording function instantly. This Figure - shows that the decoder box (11) - has been entered in the field (29) of deployment for data connections. Therefore, in this case, the establishment of the automatic connection has not taken place until after the selection of the recording function. The display field (28) for the current playing time shows that they have been recorded longer than 3 seconds of the current television program.

The procedure to establish automatically . a connection is explained below in more detail for the network HAVi here is assumed. In this case, Figure 8 shows the software components of the digital television (10). ,. As mentioned, this is a network designed on the basis of the HAVi standard. The HAVi specification has been published. Currently it is in version 1.1. Title - Exact is: The HAVi specification, "Audio / Video Interoperability Specification (HAVi Architecture)", version- 1.1, May 15, 2001. To describe the invention, therefore, this specification is also expressly referred to HAVí.

Since not all components of the HAVi system are of importance in explaining the present invention, the text below more selectively explains only the fundamental components.

The interface is shown at the lowest level of the HAVi software components (from the HAVi stack) (41) IEEE-1394. This typically does not occur as a software component. Instead, the IEEE-1394 standard stipulates that both the physical layer and the data link layer need to be produced in the hardware. Typically, two separate IC's are used for this. On top of that, there is the "Media Manager" (42) as a component of the software. This forms parts of the network layer and the transport layer, and forms an interface between the other software elements and the IEEE.-1394 collector system.

Above the "Media Manager" (42) is the "Messaging System" (43). This component is a very important component in the HAVi standard, since the "Messaging System" is used whenever two different software modules want to exchange data with each other. The "Messaging System" is independent of the network and transports layers in the ISO / OSI reference model.

Another module in the HAVi stack is a. "Event Manager" (44). The "Event Manager" (44) has the task of informing the different software elements in the network about the 5. changes / events that have occurred. These events appear, in particular, whenever a device is added to the network or removed from the network. Another software component in the • HAVi stacking is a "Registry" (45). The "Registry" (45) contains a list of available software elements 0 in the network. The "Registry" provides the service to search for particular software elements. A piece of software that wants to communicate with other software elements in the network needs to have been registered in the - "Registry".

Another piece of software in the HAVi stack is a "DCM Manager" (46). This has the task of installing the "DCM Code Units" for the respective stations of the network in the FAV and IAV devices. A 'FAV device (acronym in English cié "Audio / Full Video Device") is equipped with the largest number of HAVi software components. The particular representation is that a FAV device also has a "JAVA Virtual Machine" incorporated. This means that the device is capable of converting the JAVA code into the code of an executable program and then executing it accordingly. An FAV device has the option of loading a "DCM Code Unit" from another HAVi device in the network. The "DCM Code Unit" is then installed in the FAV device 5 next to the "DCM Code Unit" for the FAV device.

An IAV device (acronym in English for "AV Intermediate Device") contains fewer software components 10 than an AVF device.

In the example representation given, the digital TV set (10) is considered as a FAV device. 15. The "/ Resource Manager" (47) has the task of monitoring if the particular resources in the network are still available for a respective requested task, or if they have already been located. Then locate the appropriate resources 0 for the application programs, provided that • these resources are free.

As an additional component, the HAVi stack also contains a "Current Manager" (48). This 5 is responsible for establishing the connections between the subscriber stations of the network. The stations that have been established can then be used to transmit the AV data streams.

'Above the software elements in the HAVi stack that has been described so far, there is also a "DCM Code Unit" (49), which is displayed for the * Digital TV set (10). This comprises a DCM for the digital TV (50) apparatus and an FCM (AV display). In this context, DCM stands for "Device Control Module" and FCM stands for "Functional Component Module" (both acronym in English). A DCM forms an interface to control the general functions of a device. If a network station provides different functionalities, such as a video recorder, which may have the functionality of a tuner and also of a recording device, then a "DCM Code Unit" will contain a number of the FCM 's in addition to the DCM if it is appropriate The HAVi standard itself specifies the functionalities of several types of FCM 's. These include an "FCM Tuner", "VCR FCM", "FCM Clock", "FCM Camera", "AV FCM Disk", "FCM Amplifier", "FCM Deployment", "AV FCM Deployment", "FCM Modem" "and" FCM Network Proxy ".

As shown, there is also another software component (52) installed above the "DCM Code Unit" (49) in the digital TV set (10). This software component corresponds to the program for the user interface for the control of devices in the network.

In addition to this, similarly to the same level as the program for the user interface (52), the "Havlets" (53 to 55) are installed. A Havlet is a piece of JAVA byte code that a device in the network contains in stored form. This JAVA byte code can be loaded from a FAV device in the network. In the practice, it represents an application program that is made available to the FAV device in order to control the corresponding network device. Therefore, it is possible that a device in the network known hitherto is controlled with a fully functional competence by a HAVi-FAV device. The reference number (53) indicates the Havlet to control the decoder box (eleven) . The number (54) indicates the Havlet to control the digital video recorder (12). Finally, the number (55) indicates the Havlet to control the DVD player (13).

Figure 9 shows the software components of the devices involved in establishing the automatic connection shown in Figure 3. The same reference numbers indicate the same components as in Figure 8. The two stations in the network involved - the decoder box (11) and the video recorder (12) are designed as BAV devices. 5 _ They lack the run time environment for the JAVA byte code and also the other HAVi software components of the Resource Manager, the Current Manager, the DCM Manager, the registry, the Event Manager, the Messaging System and the Media Manager. Similarly, no . they have a program at the application program level to provide a user interface for a network device. They have a respective DCM Code Unit 'for the decoder box and for the digital video recorder, installed in them, respectively. However, in the case of the decoder box (11) only the • "FCM tuner" (56), and in the case of the digital video recorder (12) only the "VCR-FCM", have been shown from this DCM Code Unit. This serves to simplify the drawing . and increase clarity.

To establish and terminate a connection • data in the network, the software component "Current Manager" (48) is responsible in line with the HAVi specification. A connection is always established between two FCM 's. The starting point for a data connection is therefore an FCM and the terminal point is another FCM. The HAVi standard distinguishes between internal and external connections. There is an internal connection between the FCM'-s that are installed in a device. Therefore the FCM 's that are in different stations of the network are connected by means of external data connections. In the case of the example representation shown in Figure 9, the starting point for the connection is therefore the "Tuner-FCM" (56) and the terminal point for the connection is the "VCR-FCM" (57).

As described above, in the example representation shown in Figure 2 there was already a data connection between the decoding box (11) and the digital TV set 810). Next to the selection for the user interface for the digital video recorder (12), the data connection between the decoder box (11) and the digital video recorder (12) is automatically established; see Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5. In this case, the subsequent software components interact. The user interface for the digital video recorder (12) is selected under the control of the program to generate the user interface (52) on the digital TV apparatus 810). When the user interface for the digital video recorder (12) has been selected, the user interface program (52) sends a request to the local "Local Manager" (48) of the digital TV set (10) via of the local data connections that have been established towards the device (10). of digital TV; see step ®. In this regard, the "Current Manager" (48) provides the service Current Manager:: Get Map Global Connection. 'The answer is obtained through the user interface program (52) in step @. In addition, the answer contains all the existing data connections in the network. The user interface program. Reviews if there is a data connection to the digital TV set 810). If this is the case, an order is sent to the "Current Manager" (48) in the digital TV set (10) in step ® under the control of the user interface program (52). This is possibly done using the "Messaging System" (43) on the digital TV set. This command indicates that a new data connection needs to be established. between the decoder box (11) and the digital video recorder (12). Up to this point, the Current Manager Current Manager Service is called:: FlowToWet, which can be used to establish a point-to-point connection between two FCM's. The Current Manager (48) establishes the connection to the "FCM Tuner" (56) in the decoder box (11) and the VCR-FCM (57) in the recorder. - digital video This is done by establishing "entries of Plug Registration "in a defined way, this is specified in the HAVi standard. . complete the connection, it may be necessary for the "Current Manager" call other services to establish the "Current (s)". This practice is • stipulated in the HAVi standard and therefore does not need further explanation at this point. 0 When the new data connection has been established, the user interface program (52) transfers the control to the Havlet for the digital video recorder (53), the display changes according to the interface / operation menu of the digital video recorder. user to control the digital video recorder, as shown in Figure 5. If the user now selects the representation for the record button (56), the Havlet (53) sends an appropriate command to the "VCR-FCM" ( 57) and recording is started, since the data connection has already been established in the previous step, the data received in this way can be recorded immediately after the recording function has been activated.

The establishment of the data connection only after the recording functionality has been selected, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, can be implemented so that the establishment of the connection is scheduled directly on the Havlet itself. that the recording function has been called.

Another option is that the data connection is established under the control of the Havlet, but directly after the Havlet has actually started but before the recording starts.

Figure 10 shows another example representation of the invention. In this Figure, the reference number (16) indicates a CD player. The reference number (17) indicates a minidisk player. The reference number (18) indicates an amplifying device for audio signals. Figure 10 also shows a data connection (19a) that has been established between the CD player (16) and the amplifier device (18).

If the user interface for controlling the minidisk player (17) is now called on the digital TV set (10), a data connection between the player is automatically established. (16) CD and the minidisk player (17). This is shown in Figure 11. The data connection that has just been established is indicated by the reference number (19b) in that case. Here the concept of the invention is similarly realized. In the example of the device, the MD player (17) is used as a recording device for the audio signals. The CD player (16) is used as a data source device for the audio signals. Since there is already an existing connection to the unit (18) of the amplifier, it is assumed that the user wants to start recording from this data source. Then you only have to start the recording function in the operation menu to control the MD player (17). It is not necessary to manually establish the data connection. In a similar way an instantaneous recording function is implemented to record the audio signals. this solution can be used in a particularly appropriate manner when the network does not contain more than one data connection between an audio data source device and an audio data receiving device. Otherwise, the user would have to make a selection in advance ..

It is not necessary to mention that the representation previously modified to establish the data connection can be implemented in a similar way automatically only after the recording function has been selected.

The invention is not limited to the example representations described above. It is not absolutely necessary that an IEEE-1394 collector system be used to network the devices. As an example, it is also possible to use a wireless collector connection between the devices in a similar way. * Following a connection establishment, the user can be additionally provided with an option 'of respective correction, - for the case in which the user does not in fact want to record from the data source to which the connection has been automatically established. Then you should be able to manually select another data source.

Claims (10)

REIVI DICACIONES

1. Method for automatically establishing data connections between network subscriber stations in a network of distributed stations, where the network contains at least one recording device, a data source device and a data receiving device, characterized by the following steps: selection activated by the user of a user interface for the recording device in a user interface device; review of existing data connections that have been established for the data reception device or for the user interface device in the network; establishing a connection between the data source device for which a connection has been established to the data receiving device or to the user interface device and the recording device, to assist in the implementation of an instantaneous recording function in the recording device.

2 . Method according to claim 1, wherein the data connection between the data source device and the recording device is established only after the recording function in the recording device has been activated by the user. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user interface device is a projection device for video images, and the user interface is based on a graphical user interface. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data receiver device is an amplifier device for audio signals. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the recording device is a digital video recorder or a digital audio recorder. 6. Network subscriber station as a user interface device for performing the method according to one of the preceding claims, having program means for providing user interfaces to control. subscriber stations of the network, characterized in that the user interface device also has program means which, upon user activation of the user interface for the control of a recording device in the network, means of a call review program, which triggers a revision concerning the existing data connections that have been established for a data receiving device or the user interface device, automatically establishes a data connection between the data source device for which a data connection has been established towards the data receiving device or towards the user interface device, and the recording device, to assist in the implementation of an instantaneous recording function in the device of recording on the network. 7. Network subscriber station according to claim 6, characterized in that the means of • program are further designed so that they establish the data connection between the data source device and the recording device in the network only after the recording function in the recording device has been activated by the user. 8. Network subscriber station according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the user interface device is a projection device for video images, and the user interface is based on a graphical user interface. 9. Network subscriber station according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the data receiver device is an amplifier device for audio signals. 10. Network subscriber station according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the recording device is a digital video recorder or a digital audio recorder. R? SUM The invention relates to the technical field of • data communication in a network of distributed stations, particularly in a home network. Such a home network allows AV data streams to be transmitted between subscriber stations in the network. The object of the invention is to assist the user of a network of this kind when he wishes to initiate a recording procedure for audio and / or video data. In line with . In the invention, a data connection is automatically established between the data source device (11, 16) which has already established a connection to a data receiver device (10, 18) or an interface device (10). of the user, and the recording device (12, 17). The automatic establishment of a data connection takes place directly after the user interface for the recording device has been called (12, 17). Alternatively, the automatic establishment of a data connection can take place only after the selection of the recording function of the recording device (12, 17). The measure helps the implementation of an instantaneous recording function in the device. or recorder (12, 17) in the network.