JPH0730971A - Av system controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve handleability by selecting the AV equipment displayed on a display device and performing a connection or a release by a simple operation. CONSTITUTION:An AV selector 1 is a switching device for mutually connecting various kinds of AV equipment. At the inside of the selector, switches 11 to 44 are arranged in a matrix shape and they connect the inputs/outputs of the connected AV equipments. The ON/OFF states of the switches 11 to 44 are controlled by a selector control part 10. The control part 10 operates by the signal inputted from a light receiving part 9. A controller 2 displays diagrams 53 to 58 of an AV device to be controlled in a graphic by a display device 61. When a connection is possible, the designs 53 to 58 are connected by a dot line, for instance. When the equipments are connected to each other by the selector 1, the designs 53 to 58 on the device 61 are connected by the solid line arrow. A control instruction is directly inputted in the device 61 by fingers or a pen. When a release is performed, the arrow showing a connection state is crossed with a horizontal bar. Thus, the possibility of the connection and the connection state can be confirmed and handleability can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an AV system control device capable of easily selecting a plurality of AV devices and making complicated connections.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many AV (audio / visual) devices such as VTRs, video discs, BS tuners, and high-definition devices have been commercialized, but the types and functions of the devices continue to increase, and those devices are wired. At present, it is almost impossible to use functions freely except for some maniacs.

In order to improve the usability of an AV system, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-172089, a request signal is output from one AV device and the AV device that responds to the request signal is automatically connected. This makes it easy to connect devices.

However, in the above proposal, for example, V
When two or more lines of wiring are required at the same time, such as recording the image reproduced on the video disc on the VTR2 while watching the image reproduced on TR1 on the display, sufficient consideration has not been made. A user-friendly user interface was not considered.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an AV system control device capable of easily performing complicated wiring in an AV system to which a large number of AV devices are connected.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an AV selector for connecting the inputs and outputs of a plurality of AV devices, and a controller for a user to control the AV system, The controller is provided with a display device for displaying a diagram of the AV device, and the display device displays the connectable state and connection state of the AV device,
From the coordinate input device overlaid on the display device, a finger or a pen is used to directly input the designated AV device to the AV device design and the desired operation, and the controller detects the instructed device and command by the detection device. Then, a command is issued to the AV device and the AV selector.

By instructing the coordinate input device with a specific pattern, the AV equipment is operated according to the pattern.

When the number of connected AV devices is large, the AV device to be used is selected and controlled from among the designed AV devices displayed on the display device.

Further, each AV device has information about the function of each device and image information of a stylized figure, and at the time of setting, the above-mentioned information is transmitted to the AV selector and the image control device by the control signal line. , Controls the AV system.

[0010]

The controller in the user's hand causes the display device to display a diagram of the AV equipment connected to the AV selector. When the AV devices can be connected to each other, the AV devices displayed on the display device are connected by, for example, a dotted line to indicate that the AV devices can be connected to each other. Further, when AV devices are connected to each other, the diagram on the display device is connected by a solid line or a solid line arrow to display the connection state. A coordinate input device is superimposed on the display device, and a control command is directly input to the display device with a finger or a pen. For example, if you want to connect one AV device to another AV device, specify one AV device with your finger, and drag your finger against the design of the other AV device you want to connect to select which AV device. Enter which AV device you want to connect to. The controller makes it possible to easily control the user's thoughts by determining the command input by the finger by the detecting means and issuing the command to the AV device and the AV selector.

Further, when the connection between the AV devices is released, a specific pattern such as crossing the arrow indicating the connection state displayed on the display device with a horizontal bar or inputting an X mark is input. The control device can further improve the usability by determining the disconnection of the signal from the pattern input by the finger and operating the AV equipment.

When the number of connected AV devices is large, the AV device to be operated is selected by selecting the AV device to be used from the stylized AV devices displayed on the display device and performing the above-mentioned control. The number of device drawings can be reduced, making the operation easier to understand and improving usability.

Further, each AV device has information about the function of each device and image information of a stylized figure, and at the time of setting, the above-mentioned information is transmitted to the AV system control device by the control signal line, If the system is controlled, the user can perform the conventional operation even when a new device is connected, so that it is possible to realize a convenient AV system control device.

[0014]

1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, component 1 is an AV selector, 2 is a controller,
3 is a first VTR, 4 is a second VTR, 5 is a video disc player, 6 is a satellite broadcast tuner, 7 is a first monitor, 8 is a second monitor, 9 is a receiving unit, 10 is a selector control unit. 11 to 44 are switches, 53 is a stylized first
VTR, 54 is a stylized second VTR, 55 is a stylized video disc player, 56 is a stylized satellite broadcast tuner, 57 is a stylized first monitor, and 58 is a stylized Second monitor, 59 is a transmitter,
Reference numeral 60 is a controller control unit, and 61 is a display device.

The AV selector 1 is a switch for connecting various AV devices to each other. In this embodiment, the first VTR 3 and the second VT are used as an example of AV equipment to be connected.
It is assumed that R4, an optical video disc player 5, a satellite broadcast tuner 6, a first monitor 7 and a second monitor 8 are connected. Further, in this embodiment, the connection A
It is assumed that the type of V equipment is predetermined.
Inside the AV selector, the switches 11 to 11 are arranged in a matrix.
44 is arranged to connect the input and output of the connected AV equipment. The on / off state of the switches 11 to 44 is controlled by the selector control unit 10. The selector control unit 10 operates according to the signal input from the light receiving unit 9.

The controller 2 displays the AV devices to be controlled by the display device 61 as shown in FIGS.
When the AV devices can be connected to each other, the AV device patterns 53 to 58 displayed on the display device 61 are connected by, for example, a dotted line to indicate that the AV devices can be connected to each other. When AV devices are connected by the selector 1, the patterns 53 to 58 on the display device 61 are connected by solid lines or solid line arrows.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the controller 2. In the figure, 201 is a transparent touch panel, and 203 is a controller body. Reference numeral 61 denotes a flat display device to which liquid crystal or the like is applied, which is the same as the constituent element 61 of FIG. The touch panel 201 is, for example, a device that detects designated coordinates on the touch panel 201 by electric resistance or electromagnetic means. A stylized A displayed on the display device 61 by the user
By pressing the diagram of V equipment with a finger or a pen, the controller 2 informs the touch panel 2 that a particular AV equipment is selected.
01 can be detected.

For example, one AV device and another AV device
When the user wants to connect the devices, the controller 60 uses the connection between the two AV devices by transferring an instruction from the design of a specific AV device to the design of another AV device without releasing the finger from the touch panel 201. Determine that the person wants.

Thereafter, the controller 60 issues a command to the specified AV selector to connect the AV devices to each other and turn on the power of the two AV devices.

FIG. 3 shows the selector 1 and the controller 2.
It is a block diagram of. In the figure, the constituent elements having the same numbers as the constituent element numbers in the aforementioned drawings indicate the same elements. The component 301 is a CPU, 302 is a ROM, 303
Is a RAM, 304 is a CPU, 305 is a ROM, 306 is a RAM, and 307 is an interface.

The controller control unit 60 includes a CPU 301,
It is composed of a ROM 302 and a RAM 303. Further, the selector control unit 10 includes a CPU 304, a ROM 305, and an RA.
It is composed of an M306 and an interface 307.

The AV selector 1 controls on / off of the switches 11 to 44 formed of a buffer and a relay by the CPU 304 controlling the interface 307 according to a command received from the receiver 9. ROM30
5 and the RAM 306 store programs and data for the CPU 304 to operate.

The controller 2 interprets a command instructed through the touch panel 201 with respect to the pattern displayed on the liquid crystal display 61, and then transmits it to the selector 1 by the transmitter 59. The transmitter 59 and the receiver 9 can exchange signals wirelessly using infrared rays or electromagnetic waves.

The CPU 301 controls various devices with programs and data stored in the ROM 302. RAM
Data to be used by the CPU is stored in 303.

FIG. 4 is an example of a management table inside the controller 2. The leftmost column shows the AV device number, and the second column shows the device name. The third column indicates the coordinate position to be displayed on the display device of the figure in which the AV device is designed. The columns with numbers from 1 to 6 are
The information on the combination of the connection between the respective AV devices shown in the leftmost column and the AV devices shown by the numbers 1 to 6 is shown.
The upper row shows the possibility of combination, 0 indicates that combination is not possible, and 1 indicates that combination is possible. Furthermore, in the case of 2, it indicates that the connection is in progress. The lower row shows the number of the switch to pass through. For example, in the third row of the video disc (LD), the upper row of the first column of connection information is 1, which means that the video signal can be sent to the first VTR. Also, in that case, it can be known that the switch to be passed is the switch 31.

The table shown in FIG. 4 is the RAM 303.
Although stored above, display coordinate data and switch data are recorded in the ROM 302 and transferred from the ROM 302 to the RAM 303 when the controller 2 is started.

FIG. 5 shows an operation flow chart of the controller 2. In the figure, components 501 to 509 indicate processing contents.
Here, the operation of the controller 2 will be described. It is assumed that the selector 1 is turned on in advance.

When the controller 2 is powered on in the process 501, the data recorded in the ROM 302 in the process 502 is transferred to the RAM 303. CPU30
1 displays a diagram of each AV device on the display device 61 based on the coordinate data stored in the table in the process 503. Furthermore, for AV devices that can be connected to each other, connect the AV device diagrams with dotted lines.

If the user wants to dubb the reproduced video signal of the first VTR to the second VTR, the process 50 is performed.
4, touch a finger on the design 53 of the first VTR shown in FIG. 1 and then perform a second touch without releasing the finger from the touch panel.
It is dragged to the VTR design 54. CPU201 process 5
In 05, the coordinate initially input with the finger is compared with the coordinate of the AV device drawing stored in the management table, and the designated AV device is determined from the drawing of the AV device closest to the finger.
Next, in processing 506, the model of the AV device to be connected can be known by detecting that the finger is dragged to the target AV device without releasing the finger from the touch panel 201. After that, in processing 507, the CPU 30
1 transmits the signal of the first VTR from the management table to the second VT
Knowing that the switch 12 should be turned on in order to send to R. Therefore, the transmitter 59 issues a command to the selector 1 to turn on the switch 12, and
The VTR3 and the second VTR4 are turned on. In step 508, the selector 1 turns on the switch 12 to connect. Finally, the CPU 301 displays the first V in the display measure 61.
By connecting the TR design 53 and the second VTR design 54 with a solid arrow, the video signal of the first VTR is changed to the second VTR.
It displays that it was input to TR.

FIG. 6 shows a coordinate input pattern when the user gives an instruction to the drawing showing the AV equipment displayed on the display device 61. FIG. 6A shows two AVs.
The behavior of wiring two devices by pulling a finger or a pointer of a coordinate input device between the diagrams of the devices is shown. In this case, a finger or the like is placed on the left square, and the finger is dragged to the right square with the finger touching the touch panel. When the CPU 301 detects that there is the above-mentioned input between the two squares, it issues a command to the AV selector 1 to connect the AV devices represented by the two squares. 6B to 6G show input patterns for disconnecting the connected AV devices. The solid arrow in the horizontal direction in FIG. 6B indicates that the two AV devices are connected to each other. However, when the user desires disconnection, a finger or a pointing device is used to mark the solid line above the solid line. Draw a mark. When the CPU 301 detects that the X mark is drawn by the touch panel 201 which is the coordinate input means, the CPU 301 refers to the management table of FIG. 4 and determines which X mark is input between the drawings. If the cross mark is drawn on a solid line connecting the connected AV devices, a command is sent to the selector 1 to disconnect the AV devices, and then a diagram of the two AV devices displayed on the display device 61. The two are reconnected by a dotted line to express that there is a possibility of connection although they are not connected.

As an input pattern for expressing disconnection, in addition to FIG. 6B, a method of crossing the solid line as in FIG. 6C, and placing a finger for a specific time on the solid line in FIG. The method of expressing by, the method of splashing on the solid line of (E),
As in (F) and (G), a method of expressing by rubbing the solid line with the fingertip in the standing direction or the lateral direction is considered. The CPU 301 can identify the input pattern by comparing the input pattern input from the touch panel 201 with the recorded pattern. For example, in the case of (F) or (G), the input coordinates are in the X direction or Y.
Since the direction periodically increases / decreases, it is possible to identify that the touch panel 201 has been rubbed by examining the increase / decrease pattern.

FIG. 7 shows a display screen when an AV device is selected. As the number of AV devices used increases, the number of AV devices displayed on the display device 61 also increases, which may make it difficult for the user to easily understand. Therefore, by displaying only the AV equipment to be used among the AV equipment connected to the selector 1 on the display device 61, the usability can be improved.

FIG. 7A shows a state in which a diagram of all AV equipment connected to the selector 1 is displayed. Figure 7
Select the AV device marked with a circle from (A). The device is selected by causing the CPU 301 to recognize the AV device desired by the user by pressing on the AV device for a certain period of time or by pressing it twice at specific intervals, which is called double-click. You can When the selection of the AV device is completed, the user can notify the CPU 301 of the completion of the selection by pressing a place other than the figure of the AV device.

The CPU 301 refers to the management table and displays the diagram of the selected AV equipment on the display device 61 as shown in FIG. 6B. In this case, since the display coordinate data in the management table of FIG. 4 cannot be used, the CPU 301 arranges the display device 6 in an appropriate arrangement according to the number of selected AV devices.
1 is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, component 83 is a first VTR, 84 is a second VTR, 85 is a video disc player, 86 is a satellite broadcast tuner, 87 is a first monitor, 88 is a second monitor, 91 is an AV selector, 92 is a controller, 93
Is a signal line, 94 is a transmission / reception unit, and 95 is a transmission / reception unit. Elements having the same component number as in FIG. 1 have the same contents as in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, available A
The type and number of V-equipment were fixed in advance and they lacked flexibility. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the contents of the management table are built in each AV device, and the controller 9
By transferring the information of the management table from the AV device to the controller 92 at the time when the use of No. 2 is started,
An AV system control device in which the types and the number of usable AV devices are automatically set will be described.

The AV device information as shown in FIG. 9 is built in each of the AV devices 83 to 88. For example, when the AV device is a VTR, the presence / absence of a reproduction function, the presence / absence of a recording function, the presence / absence of a display function, the signal system, and the display method shown in the column of the VTR in FIG. Store the bit image data of the design.

When the user turns on the switch of the controller 92, the controller control unit 60 transmits a command for acquiring management information to the AV selector 91 by the transmitter / receiver 95. The transmitter / receiver 95 and the transmitter / receiver 94 are assumed to be capable of transmitting and receiving information by infrared rays or electromagnetic waves. The AV controller 91 that has received the management information acquisition command receives the signal line 93 connected to each of the AV devices 83 to 88.
The management information of each of the AV devices 83 to 88 is acquired by and is transmitted to the controller 92 by the transceiver 94. The controller 92, which has acquired the management information, displays the design data of each AV device on the display device 61 at appropriate coordinates according to the number of AV devices.
Displayed on the screen for user control.

[0039]

When the AV devices can be connected to each other,
The AV devices displayed on the display device of the controller at the user's hand are connected by dotted lines to show that the AV devices can be connected to each other. Further, when AV devices are connected to each other, the diagram on the display device is connected by a solid line or a solid line arrow to display the connection state, so that the user can easily determine the connection possibility and connection state between the AV devices. I can confirm. A coordinate input device is superimposed on the display device,
If you want to connect one AV device to another AV device, specify one AV device with your finger, and drag your finger to the design of the other AV device you want to connect to determine which AV device By inputting whether or not to connect to the device, it is possible to easily control the user's thoughts.

Further, when disconnecting the connection between the AV devices, if a specific pattern such as crossing the arrow indicating the connection state displayed on the display device with a horizontal bar or inputting an X mark is input, Since the signal line between AV devices can be easily disconnected, the usability can be further improved.

When the number of connected AV devices is large, the AV device to be operated is selected by selecting the AV device to be used from the designed AV devices displayed on the display device and performing the above-mentioned control. The number of device drawings can be reduced, making the operation easier to understand and improving usability.

Further, each AV device has information about the function of each device and image information of a stylized figure, and at the time of setting, the above-mentioned information is transmitted to the AV system control device by the control signal line, If the system is controlled, the user can perform the conventional operation even when a new device is connected, so that it is possible to realize a convenient AV system control device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a controller.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a management table.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of input patterns.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a display example of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of management data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... AV selector, 2 ... Controller, 3 ... 1st VTR, 4 ... 2nd VTR, 5 ... Video disc player, 6 ... Satellite broadcast tuner, 7 ... 1st monitor, 8 ... 2nd monitor, 9 ... reception unit, 10 ... selector control unit, 53 ... first VTR design, 54 ... second VTR design, 55 ... video disc player design, 56 ... satellite broadcasting tuner design, 57 ... first monitor 58 ... Second monitor design, 59 ... Transmission unit, 60 ... Controller control unit, 61 ... Display device, 201 ... Touch panel, 203 ... Controller main body, 301 ... CPU, 302 ... ROM, 303 ... RAM, 304 ... CPU, 305 ... ROM, 306 ... RAM, 501-509 ... Processing contents, 83 ... First VTR, 84 ... Second VTR, 85 ... Bidet Disc player, 86 ... satellite broadcast tuner, 87 ... first monitor, 88 ... second monitor, 91 ... AV selector, 92 ... controller, 93 ... signal line, 94 ... transceiver unit, 95 ... transceiver unit.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An AV selector for connecting the input and output of a plurality of AV devices, and a display unit for displaying a diagram of the AV device and the connectability and connection state of the designed AV device. A coordinate input device superimposed on the display device, a detection unit for detecting a design specified by the coordinate input device, and an operation detection for detecting an operation desired by the user for AV equipment corresponding to the specified design. Department and A
An AV system control device, comprising: a signal generator for issuing a command to a V selector. 2. The AV according to the pattern according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate input device is provided with a pattern detection unit for detecting that the coordinate is input in a specific pattern, and the coordinate is input in the specific pattern. An AV system control device characterized by operating a device and an AV selector. 3. The stylized A displayed on the display device according to claim 1, when the number of connected AV devices is large.
An AV system control device characterized in that an AV device to be used is selected from V devices and controlled. 4. The AV device according to claim 1, wherein each AV device has information about a function of each device and image information of a stylized drawing, and at the time of setting, the above-mentioned information is transmitted to a controller, An AV system control device characterized by performing control.