WO1998037463A1 - Systeme et procede de commande d'un dispositif peripherique - Google Patents

Systeme et procede de commande d'un dispositif peripherique

Info

Publication number
WO1998037463A1
WO1998037463A1 PCT/US1998/003011 US9803011W WO9837463A1 WO 1998037463 A1 WO1998037463 A1 WO 1998037463A1 US 9803011 W US9803011 W US 9803011W WO 9837463 A1 WO9837463 A1 WO 9837463A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electronic device
peripheral device
entertainment system
home entertainment
control signal
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/003011
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Joseph Saib
Michael M. Lee
Original Assignee
Sony Electronics, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sony Electronics, Inc. filed Critical Sony Electronics, Inc.
Priority to AU62804/98A priority Critical patent/AU6280498A/en
Publication of WO1998037463A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998037463A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/40—Bus networks
    • H04L12/40052—High-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus
    • H04L12/40117—Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G15/00—Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals
    • G04G15/006—Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals for operating at a number of different times

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of information systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method to control operations by a peripheral device.
  • An example of the home entertainment system includes a conventional broadcast satellite system (BSS) including a digital satellite system (DSS).
  • the conventional DSS includes an antenna 100 that receives a digital bit stream from DSS satellites (not shown) and routes the bit stream to an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) 110.
  • IRD 110 is responsible for decoding the bit stream and processing the decoded bit stream to produce an output signal of an appropriate format.
  • the output signal is sent to one or more peripheral devices 120.
  • the peripheral device(s) 120 may include an analog-input peripheral device such as a television receiver and /or an analog video cassette recorder (VCR).
  • IRD 110 can be user controlled through a remote control 130.
  • the "programmed event” is a timed operation such as recording a desired "show,” possibly a television program, movie, documentary and the like.
  • the internal timing mechanism of the IRD 110 (IRD timer) involves firmware that performs two functions; namely, it (i) notifies executing hardware when a certain predetermined time period has elapsed, and (ii) configures the IRD to activate (i.e., turn-on) at a selected time, to tune to a selected channel in order to receive a digital bit stream associated with the desired show and to deactivate.
  • VCR timer operates independently from the IRD timer to activate and deactivate the analog VCR. This allows the analog VCR to receive the output signal from the IRD 110 in order to record the show onto a video cassette tape for subsequent viewing.
  • One disadvantage is that as the temporal relationship between the operations of the above-mentioned internal timing mechanisms diverge (i.e., becomes more asynchronous), inaccurate recordings of a desired show may result. For example, if the operations of the IRD timer and the VCR timer differ in time by a minute or even a few seconds, the show may be recorded after its opening scene or turned-off prematurely. Although this disadvantage may be avoided by synchronizing the IRD timer with the VCR timer, such synchronization is quite difficult to perform. One reason, among others, is that time is displayed on the IRD and analog VCR in terms of hours and minutes, not seconds. Another reason is that both timing mechanisms rely on different clocking supplies, and thus, will not remain synchronous. This would require the user to constantly synchronize the IRD timer and VCR timer to guarantee a synchronous relationship.
  • VCR timer after already setting the IRD timer is a redundant operation. This wastes time and increases the possibility of entering an incorrect programming parameter (e.g., show start-time, show end-time, channel number and date).
  • the present invention relates to a home entertainment system and method to control programmed events performed by a peripheral device.
  • One embodiment of the home entertainment system includes a peripheral device, a receiver decoder device (e.g., IRD) and a remote transmitter that receives signals from the IRD and generates commands to the peripheral device to service a programmed event.
  • the IRD is adapted with a transmitter controller to receive a first control signal indicative that the peripheral device is scheduled to perform a selected operation at a time of day currently detected by the IRD.
  • the first control signal is translated to a second control signal recognized by the remote transmitter and sent to the remote transmitter.
  • the remote transmitter Upon receiving and recognizing the second control signal, the remote transmitter sends a command corresponding to the second control signal, to the peripheral device to service the programmed event such as turn-on and begin recording.
  • Figure 1 is a general block diagram of a conventional home entertainment system adaptable to direct broadcasting systems.
  • Figure 2 is an illustrative embodiment of a home entertainment system utilizing a remote transmitter to control operations of an analog input peripheral device.
  • FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram featuring one embodiment of an integrated receiver decoder implemented within the home entertainment system of Figure 2.
  • Figure 4 is a more detailed block diagram featuring one embodiment of a main logic block of the integrated receiver decoder of Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating operational steps performed by the transmitter controller and the remote transmitter.
  • the present invention relates an integrated receiver decoder in which is implemented a transmitter controller to control programmed events by a peripheral.
  • this mechanism may be used in other applications using receiver decoder devices besides an integrated receiver decoder such as cable boxes for a Cable Broadcasting System, an Internet terminal, a digital satellite system (DSS) computer and the like.
  • DSS digital satellite system
  • a “communication line” is broadly defined as any communication path between a source and a destination.
  • the communication line may include one or more information-carrying lines (electrical wire, fiber optics, cable, etc.) or wireless communications through established techniques such as infrared (IR) and radio frequency (RF) signaling.
  • IR infrared
  • RF radio frequency
  • a “signal” is defined as one or more signals transmitted in a parallel or serial manner.
  • the home entertainment system 200 comprises an antenna 205, an integrated receiver decoder (IRD) 210, a television receiver (TV) 220, an analog recorder (e.g., analog video cassette recorder "VCR") 230 and a remote transmitter 240.
  • the antenna 205 receives a digital bit stream from an orbiting satellite.
  • the bit stream is formatted in accordance with any video compression function and encrypted under either a symmetric key cryptographic function or an asymmetric key cryptographic function.
  • the bit stream may includes video, audio, and control information such as programming data (e.g., show title, date, channel, show start- time, show end-time, etc.). It is contemplated, however, that if the bit stream is audio-only programming, it includes audio and programming data.
  • the antenna 205 transfers the bit stream to the IRD 210.
  • the IRD 210 processes the bit stream to be output in an analog format to TV 220 or analog recorder 230 via communication lines 225 or 235, respectively.
  • the analog format may be in accordance with a video format established by National Television Systems Committee (NTSC), or perhaps other video formats, including but is not limited to Phase Alternating Line (PAL), Sequential Couleur Marie Memoire (SECAM) and other recognized formats.
  • IRD 210 further signals the remote transmitter 240 to control programmed events of analog recorder 230.
  • the remote transmitter 240 includes processing circuitry to translate control signals from the IRD 210 into compatible commands recognized by analog recorder 230.
  • Examples of the remote transmitter 240 may include, but are not limited or restricted to an infrared transmitter such as those manufactured by and commercially available from Matsushita of Osaka, Japan (referred to as "VCR mouse").
  • the remote transmitter 240 is connected to an output port of the IRD 210 (e.g., a serial port) through a communication line 245 which, as previously mentioned above, may include wireless communications using IR or RF signaling.
  • the remote transmitter 240 may be implemented simply as a communication line connected to an output port of the IRD 210 and an input port of the analog recorder 230, provided no signal translation is necessary between IRD 210 and analog recorder 230. This usually occurs when both devices are provided by the same manufacturer or group of manufacturers (e.g., both the IRD and analog recorder are SONY® products).
  • the antenna 205 transfers the bit stream to a front-end unit 300 of the IRD 210.
  • the front-end unit 300 includes (i) amplification circuitry used to amplify any relatively weak signals received at antenna 205 and (ii) a tuner which allows a user to "tune" to a desired frequency channel.
  • the bit stream associated with the desired channel is routed from front-end unit 300 to a demodulator 305.
  • demodulator 305 the bit stream is initially processed before transferring to a main logic block 310 for further processing.
  • Such initial processing may include exposing the bit stream to demodulation and decoding functions such as QPSK-demodulation, viterbi- decoding, de-interleaving and Reed-Solomon decoding.
  • the IRD 210 is connected to other peripheral devices though an interface (IF) 315.
  • IF 315 includes a link layer integrated circuit (IC) and a physical layer IC (not shown) and complies with the IEEE standards document 1394 entitled “Standard for High Performance Serial Bus” (hereinafter referred to as "IEEE 1394").
  • IEEE 1394 Standard for High Performance Serial Bus
  • These peripheral devices supply control signals (e.g., IEEE 1394 commands) to a central processing unit (CPU) within main logic block 310 (see Figure 4) through IF 315 and extension bus 320. Audio and video data is transferred from these peripheral devices to main logic block 310 through an IEEE 1394 serial bus 325. From the CPU, all IEEE 1394 commands are transferred to IF 315 via extension bus 320.
  • the Transport Packet Parser (TPP) 400 receives the decoded bit stream and performs a parsing operation thereon in order to separate information having different characteristics (video, audio, control) from the bit stream. Then, the parsed bit stream is decrypted by a cryptographic engine 405 which may operate in accordance with a cryptographic function, for example Data Encryption Standard (DES). However, if the bit stream is received from IF 315 routed through communication line 415, cryptographic engine 405 will be precluded from decrypting the bit stream since it is already in a decrypted form. Thereafter, the decrypted bit stream is stored in an external volatile memory 330 (e.g., random access memory "RAM”) under the control of traffic controller 410.
  • an external volatile memory 330 e.g., random access memory "RAM”
  • traffic controller 410 retrieves at least portions of the stored decrypted bit stream from external volatile memory 330. Thereafter, traffic controller 410 distributes particular portions of the decrypted bit stream to either a video decoder 440 or an audio decoder 450 via communication lines 435 and 445, respectively.
  • decoders perform decompression operations in accordance with Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), Joint Picture Experts Group (JPEG) or any other video decompression function.
  • MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group
  • JPEG Joint Picture Experts Group
  • video output from video decoder 440 is transferred to a signal encoder 455.
  • the signal encoder 455 converts the video output into an analog signal having a recognized video format such as NTSC, PAL, SECAM and the like. This analog signal is transferred to analog recorder for recordation on a recording medium (e.g., video cassette tape).
  • the video output from video decoder 440 is mixed in mixer 460 after on-screen display (OSD) data (e.g., a programming table), present in the bit stream, is decoded by OSD logic block 465.
  • OSD logic block 465 performs decompression in accordance with a recognized video format.
  • the mixer 460 produces a mixed video output that is transferred to another signal encoder 470.
  • Signal encoder 470 converts the mixed video output into an analog signal having a recognized video format for use by a TV receiver.
  • the audio output from audio decoder 450 is transferred in a digital format to an audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 335 placed within the IRD 210.
  • the audio DAC 335 converts digital audio output into an analog signal.
  • the analog signal is then transferred to analog recorder to be recorded on recording medium in combination with corresponding analog signals associated with video.
  • CPU 425 controls all of the above mentioned processes.
  • CPU 425 communicates with a plurality of elements through an internal high-speed bus 475.
  • These elements may include, but are not limited or restricted to an optional on-chip volatile memory 480, at least one on-chip non-volatile memory element 485 (e.g., read only memory "ROM”, erasable programmable read only memory “EPROM”, electrically erasable programmable read only memory "EEPROM” and /or other flash memory), extension bus interface 490, and traffic controller 430.
  • CPU 425 also communicates with an external non-volatile memory element 340 (e.g., read only memory "ROM”, flash memory, etc.) which is capable of containing software programs including timer software described below, a transceiver device 345 (e.g., a modem), a remote command unit interface (RCU-IF) 350 and a transmitter controller 355.
  • the CPU 425 communicates with the transmitter controller 355 through extension bus interface 490 and extension bus 320.
  • the RCU-IF 350 receives commands from a remote control (not shown) and transfers these commands to CPU 425 via extension bus 340.
  • the remote control may include one described in U.S. Patent No. 5,453,758 assigned to Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, as well as any other types of remote control.
  • transmitter controller 355 includes an Applied Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) to perform a number of operations.
  • ASIC Applied Specific Integrated Circuit
  • One operation involves transmission of signals to the remote transmitter (e.g., the VCR mouse) via communication line 245 to control programmed events of the analog recorder.
  • the occurrence of a programmed event is detected by CPU 425 during execution of timer software.
  • the timer software usually is stored in external non-volatile memory 340 but may be stored in other locations such as on-chip non-volatile memory 485.
  • the firmware comprising two timing routines in this embodiment.
  • the first routine is normally executed in the background by the CPU 425 in order to provide an interrupt signal to indicate that a predetermined time period (e.g., one minute) has expired. It is contemplated that the first routine may be coded to interrupt CPU 425 just prior to or upon immediate detection of a programmed event.
  • the CPU 425 executes a second routine.
  • the second routine enable the CPU 425 to activate the IRD, tune the IRD to a certain channel and to deactivate the IRD after the programmed event has ended.
  • the second routine further causes CPU 425 to route a first control signal to the transmitter controller 355.
  • the ASIC within the transmitter controller 355 receives the first control signal and translates the signal into a second control signal capable of being recognized by the remote transmitter 240 of Figure 2. Thereafter, transmitter controller 355 outputs the translated second control signal to the remote transmitter 240.
  • the remote transmitter 240 translates the second control signal into one or more commands compatible with the analog recorder 230 to set up the analog recorder for the programmed event as shown in Figure 2.
  • These command(s) may be serial in format and may include, but are not limited or restricted to activation (power-on or toggling its power state), channel select, record, stop and deactivation (power-off or return to prior power state).
  • the remote transmitter 240 may not be required to translate the second control signal into one or more commands recognized by the analog recorder. Instead, the second control signal may simply be routed to the analog recorder.
  • the transmitter controller 355 may be in communication, via cable or wireless, with other peripheral devices to control their operations, instead of an analog input peripheral device (e.g., analog VCR) as described.
  • an analog input peripheral device e.g., analog VCR
  • it may be connected to a digital-input peripheral device to control its operations.
  • the CPU continues periodic execution of the timer software loaded in non-volatile memory of the IRD to determine whether the IRD should begin processing an incoming digital bit stream into an analog signal for recording by the analog VCR (Step 505).
  • the periodicity of the execution may vary from a fraction of a second to over a minute.
  • the CPU Upon the CPU determining that a selected show scheduled to be recorded is about to commence, it activates the IRD and tunes the IRD to receive the channel of the show to be recorded (Steps 510-515).
  • Step 520 CPU transfers one or more control signals to the transmitter controller to modify the current state of the VCR (Step 520). More specifically, the transmitter controller transfers control signals to the remote transmitter, requesting the remote transmitter to provide successive VCR start-up commands with a selected delay between start-up commands.
  • VCR start-up commands may include, but are not limited or restricted to, (i) activation of the VCR by a power-on or power toggle event, (ii) tuning of the VCR to a desired channel to be recorded, and (iii) starting "record”.
  • CPU continues to periodically execute timer software (e.g., the first routine) loaded in non-volatile memory to determine whether IRD should discontinue processing the incoming digital bit stream (Step 525). Upon determining that IRD should discontinue such processing, the CPU returns the IRD to its prior channel (optional) and deactivates IRD (Steps 530-535). Generally, concurrent with these operations, the transmitter controller receives signals from the CPU to request the remote transmitter to provide various VCR shut-down commands in succession (Step 540). These VCR shut-down commands may include, but are not limited to, (i) stop record of the VCR, and (ii) deactivation of the VCR. Thereafter, the CPU continues to periodically execute the timer software for subsequent programming requests. As a result, synchronization timing problems between the IRD and the analog VCR are substantially mitigated. Also, loading programming data of a programmed event only within the IRD would be sufficient to successfully perform the programmed event.
  • timer software e.g., the first routine
  • the present invention described herein may be designed in many different embodiments and using many different configurations.
  • the architecture of the IRD is flexible, provided it includes a output port to transmit appropriate signals to the remote transmitter to control the peripheral device.

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à un système et à un procédé permettant de limiter l'imprécision d'enregistrement d'une diffusion d'émission sur un système de divertissement domestique (200). Ce dernier peut comporter un dispositif électronique (210) incorporant une unité de commande d'émetteur (355), un émetteur éloigné (240) et un dispositif périphérique (230) servant à enregistrer l'émission. Selon une réalisation, on réduit la probabilité d'obtenir des enregistrements imprécis en produisant tout d'abord un signal de commande lorsque le dispositif électronique (210) reçoit des données de programmation associées à l'émission à une heure évaluée par le dispositif électronique (210), et ce afin d'indiquer que l'émission doit être enregistrée. Ledit signal de commande est envoyé à l'organe de commande de l'émetteur (355), puis traduit, et le résultat est acheminé vers l'émetteur éloigné (240). Lorsqu'il reçoit ce résultat, l'émetteur éloigné (240) répond en envoyant une commande au dispositif périphérique (230) visant à provoquer le démarrage de l'enregistrement de l'émission à l'heure évaluée par le dispositif électronique (210).
PCT/US1998/003011 1997-02-25 1998-02-11 Systeme et procede de commande d'un dispositif peripherique WO1998037463A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU62804/98A AU6280498A (en) 1997-02-25 1998-02-11 A system and method for controlling a peripheral device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US80465397A 1997-02-25 1997-02-25
US08/804,653 1997-02-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998037463A1 true WO1998037463A1 (fr) 1998-08-27

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/003011 WO1998037463A1 (fr) 1997-02-25 1998-02-11 Systeme et procede de commande d'un dispositif peripherique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6280498A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998037463A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1049276A1 (fr) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-02 Pace Micro Technology PLC Système de diffusion numérique
EP1143649A2 (fr) * 2000-03-07 2001-10-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Méthode et système pour la transmission d'informations à partir d'un fournisseur d'informations vers un appareil pour le stockage d'informations, en créant un horaire de transmission, indiquant les heures de transmission, qui est envoyé vers l'appareil prévu pour le stockage d'informations, après quoi le fournisseur d'informations transmet les informations
US8903306B2 (en) 2008-09-26 2014-12-02 Thomson Licensing Method for controlling signal transmission for multiple devices

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JPS60206299A (ja) * 1984-03-29 1985-10-17 Sony Corp リモ−トコントロ−ル装置
US4706121A (en) * 1985-07-12 1987-11-10 Patrick Young TV schedule system and process
JPH01106695A (ja) * 1987-10-20 1989-04-24 Nec Home Electron Ltd リモートコントローラーパッド
US5692214A (en) * 1981-12-14 1997-11-25 Levine; Michael R. System for unattended recording of video programs by remote control code transmitter module which receives user selections from a personal computer

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US5692214A (en) * 1981-12-14 1997-11-25 Levine; Michael R. System for unattended recording of video programs by remote control code transmitter module which receives user selections from a personal computer
JPS60206299A (ja) * 1984-03-29 1985-10-17 Sony Corp リモ−トコントロ−ル装置
US4706121A (en) * 1985-07-12 1987-11-10 Patrick Young TV schedule system and process
US4706121B1 (en) * 1985-07-12 1993-12-14 Insight Telecast, Inc. Tv schedule system and process
JPH01106695A (ja) * 1987-10-20 1989-04-24 Nec Home Electron Ltd リモートコントローラーパッド

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PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 348 (E - 799) 4 August 1989 (1989-08-04) *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1049276A1 (fr) * 1999-04-28 2000-11-02 Pace Micro Technology PLC Système de diffusion numérique
EP1143649A2 (fr) * 2000-03-07 2001-10-10 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Méthode et système pour la transmission d'informations à partir d'un fournisseur d'informations vers un appareil pour le stockage d'informations, en créant un horaire de transmission, indiquant les heures de transmission, qui est envoyé vers l'appareil prévu pour le stockage d'informations, après quoi le fournisseur d'informations transmet les informations
EP1143649A3 (fr) * 2000-03-07 2003-02-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Méthode et système pour la transmission d'informations à partir d'un fournisseur d'informations vers un appareil pour le stockage d'informations, en créant un horaire de transmission, indiquant les heures de transmission, qui est envoyé vers l'appareil prévu pour le stockage d'informations, après quoi le fournisseur d'informations transmet les informations
US8903306B2 (en) 2008-09-26 2014-12-02 Thomson Licensing Method for controlling signal transmission for multiple devices

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