JP2001103075A - Information-processing device and method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily understand a transmitting state of data on an IEEE1394 serial bus. SOLUTION: When data are reproduced by a DVCR 3, an STB 1 reads a transmission band out of the DVCR 3 for transmitting the data. Then the STB 1 subtracts the transmission band necessary for the DVCR 3 from the transmission band (a remaining transmission band available for the isochronous transmission) that is read out of a band width register of an isochronous resource manager (IRM) (shown as an STB 2 in Fig. 1) to calculate an available transmission band (a remaining band), that remains when the transmission of data is started to the DVCR 3. When the remaining band is less than 0, i.e., the current remaining transmission band is smaller than the transmission band necessary for transmitting the data thereafter to the DVCR 3, the STB 1 shows this fact on a monitor 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a system in which a plurality of devices are connected via a serial bus or the like. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a recording medium that enable the state of data transmission via a computer to be easily understood.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, one of the serial bus standards.
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engin
eers) 1394 standard communication is data isochronous
Since it can perform (isochronous) transfer, it is suitable for transferring data that needs to be reproduced in real time, such as images and sounds, and has received much attention due to recent demands for multimedia communication.

[0003]

[0005] 125 μs between devices connected via an IEEE1394 serial bus.
It is possible to perform isochronous transfer of data using a transmission band (time but called a band) of 100 μs at the maximum in (microsecond) cycle. In addition, isochronous transfer can be performed on a plurality of channels within the above-described transmission band.

By the way, for example, now two DVCRs
(Digital Video Cassette Recoder) and two STBs
(Set Top Box), connect with IEEE1394 serial bus,
DV (Digital Video) signal is reproduced by one DVCR,
In a case where the DVCR is transferred to one STB, a DV signal is also reproduced from another DVCR and transferred to another STB.
If the transmission band required to transfer the DV signal exceeds 50 μs with respect to B, the transmission band required for data transmission between each of the two sets of DVCRs and STBs is an isochronous transmission band. Since it exceeds 100 μs, which is the maximum transmission band for performing the transfer, another 1
From one DVCR to one other STB
Unable to transfer signal.

However, in general, the user often does not recognize such a mechanism of data transmission by the IEEE1394 serial bus, so that the user may mistakenly think that another DVCR or STB has failed. There is.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and enables a user to easily grasp the state of data transmission via an IEEE1394 serial bus or the like. It is intended to prevent the user from misunderstanding that the device is malfunctioning.

[0007]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention stores used band information from storage means for storing used band information relating to a transmission band used for data transmission via a predetermined bus. It is characterized by including acquisition means for acquiring, and control means for causing a presentation device that presents information to present a data transmission state via a predetermined bus based on the used bandwidth information.

[0008] The control means transmits to the presentation device a total bandwidth obtained by summing a transmission bandwidth used for data transmission via a predetermined bus and a transmission bandwidth used for data transmission to be performed. It can be presented. Further, the control means can cause the presentation device to emphasize and present the total band when the total band exceeds the transmission band of the data transmission that can be performed by the predetermined bus.

[0009] The predetermined bus may be a serial bus.

Further, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is connected to the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
(Electronics Engineers) It is possible to perform communication conforming to the 1394 standard.

An information processing method according to the present invention comprises: an acquiring step of acquiring used bandwidth information from storage means for storing used bandwidth information relating to a transmission bandwidth used for data transmission via a predetermined bus; Based on bandwidth usage information,
And a control step of presenting a data transmission state via a predetermined bus to a presentation device for presenting information.

[0012] The recording medium of the present invention comprises: an obtaining step of obtaining used bandwidth information from storage means for storing used bandwidth information relating to a transmission band used for data transmission via a predetermined bus; And a control step of causing a presentation device that presents information to present a data transmission state via a predetermined bus based on the band information.

[0013] In the information processing apparatus, the information processing method, and the recording medium of the present invention, the storage means for storing the used band information related to the transmission band used for the data transmission via the predetermined bus is used. Band information is acquired, and based on the used band information, a data transmission state via a predetermined bus is presented by a presentation device that presents the information.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an AV (A) to which the present invention is applied.
1 shows an exemplary configuration of an embodiment of an udio Visual) system.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two STBs having an IEEE1394 interface and two DVBs are provided.
The CRs are serially connected via an IEEE1394 serial bus to form an AV system. Note that STB
The monitor 1 or 2 is connected to a monitor 5 or 6 for displaying and outputting the image data and the audio data supplied thereto.

Here, the layer structure of the IEEE1394 serial bus will be described with reference to FIG.

The IEEE 1394 protocol has a three-layer structure including a transaction layer, a link layer, and a physical layer.
Each layer communicates with each other, and each layer communicates with Serial Bus Management.
Further, the transaction layer and the link layer also communicate with higher-level applications. The transmission / reception messages used for this communication include a request (Request) and an instruction (display).
(Indication), response (Response), and confirmation (Confirmation). Arrows in FIG. 2 indicate this communication.

Note that the communication with ".req" at the end of the arrow name indicates a request, and ".ind" indicates an instruction. Also, ".res
"p" indicates a response, and ".conf" indicates a confirmation. For example, T
R_CONT.req is communication of a request sent from the serial bus management to the transaction layer.

The transaction layer provides an asynchronous transmission service for performing data communication with another IEEE 1394 device (a device having an IEEE 1394 interface) in response to a request from an application, and provides an ISO / IE
Request response protocol required by C13213
(Request Response Protocol). That is, IEEE1
As a data transfer method according to the 394 standard, there is asynchronous transmission in addition to the above-mentioned isochronous transmission, and the transaction layer performs asynchronous transmission processing.
Data transmitted by asynchronous transmission is transmitted between IEEE1394 devices by three types of transactions, a read transaction, a write transaction, and a lock transaction, which are units of processing required by a protocol of the transaction layer. Is transmitted.

The link layer includes an acknowledgment (Acknowledge).
And performs processing such as data transmission service, address processing, data error confirmation, and data framing. One packet transmission performed by the link layer is called a subaction, and there are two types of subactions: an asynchronous subaction and an isochronous subaction.

The asynchronous sub-action is performed by designating a physical ID (Physical Identification) for specifying a node (a unit accessible in IEEE1394) and an address in the node.
Return acknowledgment. However, in the asynchronous broadcast subaction that sends data to all nodes in the IEEE1394 serial bus, the node that has received the data does not return an acknowledgment.

On the other hand, in the isochronous sub-action, data is transmitted at a fixed cycle (125 μm as described above).
In s), transmission is performed by designating a channel number. In addition,
In the isochronous subaction, no acknowledgment is returned.

The physical layer converts a logical symbol used in the link layer into an electric signal. Further, the physical layer performs processing for a request for arbitration (arbitration when nodes using the IEEE1394 serial bus conflict) from the link layer, executes reconfiguration of the IEEE1394 serial bus following a bus reset, and executes physical reconfiguration. Automatically assign IDs.

In the serious bus management, the basic bus control function is realized and the CSR (Control & Status Regis
ter Architecture). Serious bus management consists of a node controller (Node Controller) and an isochronous resource manager (Isochronous Resource Manager).
ger), and a bus manager (Bus Manager). The node controller controls a node state, a physical ID, and the like, and controls a transaction layer, a link layer, and a physical layer. Isochronous Resource Manager
It provides the usage status of resources used for isochronous communication.To perform isochronous communication,
At least one IEEE 1394 device having the function of an isochronous resource manager is required among devices connected to the IEEE 1394 serial bus. The bus manager has the highest function among the functions, and aims to optimize the use of the IEEE1394 serial bus. The existence of the isochronous resource manager and bus manager
Optional.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the STB 1 shown in FIG. 1, which is one of the IEEE1394 devices.

An antenna 11 not shown in FIG. 1 receives a satellite broadcast wave, and the received signal is supplied to a front end unit 12.

The front end unit 12 demodulates a signal received from the antenna 11 and supplies the signal to a descrambler 13. The descrambler 13 descrambles the scramble applied to the output of the front end unit 12 and supplies the descrambler to the switch 14. The switch 14 selects one of the output of the descrambler 13 and the output of the link IC (LINK Integrated Curcuit) 20 and outputs it to the DEMUX (demultiplexer) 15.

The DEMUX 15 extracts necessary data from the output of the switch 14 under the control of the CPU 21.
The data is supplied to the AV decoder 16. The AV decoder 16 controls the DEMUX 15 under the control of the CPU 21.
Data from the transport stream (Transport S
tream), it is converted to, for example, MPEG (Movin
g Picture Experts Group) and decodes the resulting image data and audio data into OSD (On Screen
en Display) processing section 17.
The OSD processing unit 17 controls, for example,
An operation panel, which will be described later, is superimposed on the image data from the AV decoder 16 and is output to a digital / analog (D / A) converter 18. The D / A converter 18 converts the digital data output by the OSD processing unit 17 into an analog signal by D / A conversion, and outputs the analog signal to, for example, the monitor 5 or the like.

A PHY IC 19 receives data supplied from the IEEE1394 serial bus, and
In addition to supplying the data to the link 20 and transmitting the data from the link IC 20 to the IEEE1394 serial bus, the above-described physical layer processing is performed. Link IC20
Performs the processing of the link layer described above.
When the data received from the file IC 19 is AV data (video data, audio data) or the like, the link IC 20 outputs the data to the switch 14. When the data received from the file IC 19 is a command or the like, the link IC 20 outputs the data to the CPU 21.

The CPU 21 controls the DEMUX 15, the AV decoder 16, and the OSD processing unit 17 by executing a program stored in the memory 22, and performs the above-described transaction layer processing. Further, the CPU 21 also performs a serial bus management process.

The memory 22 stores a DEMUX in the CPU 21.
15, a program (firmware) for controlling the AV decoder 16 and the OSD processing unit 17 and for performing processing of the transaction layer and the serial bus management. Further, the memory 22 temporarily stores data necessary for the operation of the CPU 21.

Here, among the blocks constituting the STB 1 as described above, the front end unit 12, the descrambler 13, the switch 14, the DEMUX 15, the AV decoder 16, the OSD processing unit 17, the D / A converter 18,
The CPU 21 and the memory 22 store the STB 1
An STB function unit for functioning as a device is configured, and the file IC 19, the link IC 20, the CPU 21, and the memory 22 communicate with each other in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard.
Configure the 1394 interface.

In FIG. 1, STB2 has the same configuration as STB1. DVCRs 3 and 4 (similarly for MD (mini disc) (trademark) drive 7) are also IEEE1394
It has an interface, but instead of the STB function unit,
The point of having a block to function as a DVCR is
Different from STB1.

Next, the operation of the AV system shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

The power supply of one of the STBs 1 and 2 and the DVCRs 3 and 4 as IEEE1394 devices connected as shown in FIG. 1 is turned on, or
As shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1, when an MD drive 7 as an IEEE 1394 device is newly connected to the IEEE 1394 serial bus, a bus reset is performed, and a tree identification, a root node, a physical ID, an isochronous resource manager is performed. , A cycle master and a bus manager are determined.

Here, in tree identification, IEEE1394
A parent-child relationship between nodes as devices is determined. Also,
The root node uses IEEE 1394 by arbitration.
It specifies the node that has acquired the right to use the serial bus. The physical ID is determined by transferring a packet called a self-ID packet to each node. The self-ID packet includes information such as the data transfer rate of the node and whether the node can become an isochronous resource manager.

As described above, the isochronous resource manager is a node that provides a use status of resources used for isochronous communication, and has a bandwidth register (BANDWIDTH_AVAILABLE register) and a channel number register (CHANNELS_AVAILABLE register) described later. . Further, the isochronous resource manager also has a register indicating a physical ID of a node serving as a bus manager. In addition, it was connected by IEEE1394 serial bus.
If the bus manager does not exist in the node as the IEEE1394 device, the isochronous resource manager functions as a simple bus manager. Here, in FIG. 1, the STB 2 is an isochronous resource manager (IRM).

The cycle master transmits a cycle start packet to the IEEE1394 bus every 125 μs, which is the cycle of isochronous transmission. For this reason, the cycle master has a cycle time register (CYCLE_TIME register) for counting the cycle (125 μs). The root node becomes the cycle master,
If the root node does not have a function as a cycle master, the bus manager changes the root node.

The bus manager manages the power on the IEEE1394 serial bus and changes the root node as described above.

After the bus reset, if the above-described determination of the isochronous resource manager is performed, the IE
Data transmission via the EE1394 serial bus is enabled.

In isochronous transmission, which is one of the data transmission systems of IEEE1394, a transmission band and a transmission channel are secured, and thereafter, a packet in which data is arranged (isochronous packet) is transmitted.

That is, in the isochronous transmission, the cycle master broadcasts a cycle start packet on the IEEE1394 bus at a cycle of 125 μs. When the cycle start packet is broadcast, it becomes possible to transmit the isochronous packet.

In order to perform isochronous transmission, it is necessary to rewrite the bandwidth register for securing the transmission band and the channel number register for securing the channel provided by the isochronous resource manager to declare the securing of resources for isochronous transmission. is there.

FIG. 4 shows a bandwidth register (BANDWIDT).
H_AVAILABLE register) and FIG. 5 shows a channel number register (CHANNELS_AVAILABLE register).

These registers correspond to ISO / IEC1
It is assigned as one of CSR (Control & Status Register) having a 64-bit address space defined by 3213.

As shown in FIG.
In a 2-bit register, the upper 19 bits are reserved and the lower 13 bits (bw_remaining) represent a currently usable transmission band.

That is, the initial value of the bandwidth register is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), 000000000000000000010011001100
11B (B indicates that the previous value is a binary number) (=
4915). This is for the following reasons. That is, in IEEE1394, 1572.864 Mbps (bit per s
econd), the time required for 32-bit transmission is defined as 1, and the above 125 μs is 00000000000000000
001100000000000B (= 6144). However, IEEE 1394 specifies that the transmission band that can be used for isochronous transmission is 80% of one cycle of 125 μs. Therefore, the maximum transmission band that can be used for isochronous transmission is 100 μm.
s, and 100 μs is 000000000000, as described above.
00000001001100110011B (= 4915).

The remaining 25 μs transmission band excluding the maximum transmission band of 100 μs used for isochronous transmission from 125 μs is used for asynchronous transmission. Asynchronous transmission is used when reading stored values of a bandwidth register or a channel number register.

To start isochronous transmission,
It is necessary to secure a transmission band for that. That is, for example, when isochronous transmission is performed using a transmission band of 10 μs in 125 μs which is one cycle,
It is necessary to secure a transmission band of 0 μs. This transmission band is secured by rewriting the value of the bandwidth register. That is, as described above, when securing a transmission band of 10 μs, the value corresponding to 10 μs is 492.
Is subtracted from the value of the bandwidth register, and the subtracted value is set in the bandwidth register. Therefore, for example, if the value of the bandwidth register is now 4915 (when isochronous transmission is not performed at all), 10
When a transmission band of μs is secured, as shown in FIG.
442 obtained by subtracting 492 corresponding to 10 μs from 915
3 (= 00000000000000000001000101000111B).

If the value obtained by subtracting the transmission band to be reserved (used) from the value of the bandwidth register is smaller than 0, the transmission band cannot be reserved, and therefore, The value is not rewritten, nor can it perform isochronous transmission.

In order to perform the isochronous transmission, it is necessary to secure a transmission channel in addition to securing the transmission band as described above. This transmission channel is secured by rewriting the channel number register.

As shown in FIG. 5, the channel number register is a 64-bit register, and each bit corresponds to each channel. That is, when the value of the (n-1) th bit (the nth bit from the least significant bit) is 1, it indicates that the (n-1) th channel is in an unused state. Indicates that the n-1 channel is in use. Therefore, if no channel is used, the channel number register is
As shown in (A), 111111111111111111111111111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111B,
For example, when the first channel is secured, the channel number register stores 111111111111, as shown in FIG.
11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Rewritten to 01B.

Since the channel number register is 64 bits as described above, a maximum of 64 channels from the 0th to the 63rd channel can be secured in the isochronous transmission, but the 63rd channel is the isochronous transmission. Used when broadcasting packets.

As described above, since the isochronous transmission is performed after securing the transmission band and the transmission channel, data transmission with a guaranteed transmission rate can be performed. Particularly suitable for data transmission that needs to be reproduced in real time.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
STB1 is connected to the IEEE1394 serial bus
Control processing for controlling the IEEE1394 device will be described.

For example, the user operates a remote commander (not shown) (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a remote controller) to operate the
When requesting to control the 1394 device, the STB 1
In step S1, the monitor 5 connected thereto
Next, for example, an operation panel as shown in FIG. 7 for operating the IEEE1394 device is displayed (opened).

Here, the operation panel shown in FIG. 7 includes a selection button 31, a progress bar 32, and an operation button group 33.

The selection button 31 is operated when selecting an IEEE1394 device to be controlled from the STB 1 (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a device to be controlled). In the embodiment of FIG. 1, DVCRs 3 and 4 and MD drive 7 are IEEE1394 devices that can be controlled devices.
It is connected to the STB 1 via the EE1394 serial bus. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
Thus, any one of the DVCRs 3, 4 and the MD drive 7 can be selected as a device to be controlled (for example, DVCR # 1 and DVC in FIG. 7).
R # 2 and MD display correspond to DVCRs 3 and 4 and MD drive 7, respectively).

The progress bar 32 displays the data transmission status on the IEEE1394 serial bus. That is, the progress bar 32 sets the maximum transmission band (100 μs of a 125 μs cycle as described above) that can be used for isochronous transmission as 100%.
A transmission band currently used, a total band obtained by adding a transmission band currently used and a transmission band used for data transmission to be performed in the future, and the like are displayed in percentage.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the transmission band is displayed in the form of a bar graph by the progress bar 32. However, the transmission band may be displayed by a numeral. Further, the transmission band used between certain IEEE1394 devices and the transmission band used between other IEEE1394 devices are different from each other, as shown by the diagonal lines in the progress bar 32 in FIG. It is possible to display by color, brightness or the like so that the user can easily distinguish it.

The operation button group 33 is composed of various operation buttons which are operated when turning on / off the power of the IEEE1394 device which is the control target device, and when performing reproduction or recording (recording).

In step S1, the OSD processing section 17 is controlled by the CPU 21 (FIG. 3) to superimpose the operation panel configured as described above on the image output from the AV decoder 16, and FIG. Like, monitor 5
Will be displayed.

The operation of the operation panel is performed, for example, by moving a cursor using a pointing device or the like attached to a remote controller.

Returning to FIG. 6, when the operation panel is displayed in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2, where STB1 is displayed.
Reads the value of the bandwidth register (FIG. 4) of the isochronous resource manager. That is, in FIG. 1, as described above, STB2 is an isochronous resource manager, and STB1 reads the value of the bandwidth register from STB2, which is the isochronous resource manager, and based on the value, STB2 has a period of 125 μs. Calculate what percentage of the transmission band is used in 100 μs. Then, proceeding to step S3, the STB 1 updates the progress bar 32 of the operation panel based on the calculation result, thereby displaying the currently used transmission band in percentage.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S4, where it is determined whether or not the control target device is selected by operating the selection button 31 on the operation panel. If it is determined that the device to be controlled is not selected, the process returns to step S2. Hereinafter, the same processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S4 that the device to be controlled has been selected, that is, if the selection button 31 on the operation panel is operated, the D
When one of the VCRs 3 and 4 or the MD drive 7 is selected as a device to be controlled (FIG.
CR3 (DVCR # 1) is selected), the process proceeds to step S5, and the STB 1 reads, from the control target device, the transmission band required for data transmission, and proceeds to step S6. .

The reading of the transmission band required by the controlled device from the controlled device is performed by asynchronous transmission.

In step S6, the STB 1 subtracts the transmission band required by the device to be controlled from the transmission band read from the bandwidth register of the isochronous resource manager (remaining transmission band available for isochronous transmission). Then, a transmission band (hereinafter, referred to as a remaining band as appropriate) remaining when isochronous transmission is started with the device to be controlled is calculated. And step S
Proceeding to 7, the STB 1 determines whether the remaining band is less than 0.

In step S7, when it is determined that the remaining band is less than 0, that is, the remaining transmission band is smaller than the transmission band required for isochronous transmission with the device to be controlled. If there is less, the process proceeds to step S8, where the STB 1 highlights the progress bar 32 so as to indicate that the transmission band is insufficient (hereinafter referred to as band shortage display as appropriate). Specifically, the STB 1 causes the user to recognize that the transmission band is insufficient, for example, by displaying or blinking the progress bar 32 so as to indicate 120%.

Then, the process proceeds to step S9, where it is determined whether or not the user has operated the remote controller so as to end the control of the control target device. If it is determined that the user has not operated the remote control, the process returns to step S2. Hereinafter, the same processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S9 that the user has operated the remote controller so as to end the control of the control target device, the process proceeds to step S17, where the operation panel is closed (the operation panel is changed from the monitor 5 to the monitor 5). Is erased), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the remaining band is not less than 0, that is, the remaining transmission band between the device to be controlled and the transmission band required for the isochronous transmission from now on is determined. If there is a lot of bandwidth,
Proceeding to step S10, the STB1 changes the value of the bandwidth register of the isochronous resource manager from the original value to the transmission band used for data transmission with the control target device (the transmission band read from the control target device in step S5). Is rewritten to a value obtained by subtracting. In addition, STB1
By selecting and rewriting one of the bits of the channel number register (FIG. 5) of the isochronous resource manager that corresponds to the currently unused channel, the channel is secured.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S11, wherein the step STB1 is executed.
Updates the display of the progress bar 32. That is, ST
B1 updates the progress bar 32 of the operation panel based on the value of the bandwidth register rewritten in step S10, thereby transmitting data between the currently used transmission band and the device to be controlled from now on. The total bandwidth obtained by adding the transmission bandwidth used to perform the calculation is displayed as a percentage.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12, at which it is determined whether or not the operation button group 33 on the operation panel has been operated so as to instruct the controlled device to perform a predetermined operation (power on / off, reproduction, etc.). Is determined. Step S1
If it is determined in step 2 that the operation button group 33 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S13, where the STB 1 transmits a command corresponding to the operated operation button group 33 to the IEEE13
94 The data is transmitted to the control target device via the serial bus, and the process returns to step S12. As a result, in the control target device, processing corresponding to the operated operation button group 33 (power on / off, reproduction, etc.) is performed.

That is, for example, if the device to be controlled is a DVCR3
When a command for reproducing is transmitted to the DVCR 3, the DVCR 3 starts reproducing the DV signal recorded on the digital video tape. The DV signal is transmitted to the DVCR 3 in step S10 of the IEEE1394 bus. The transmission band is transmitted to the STB 1 using the transmission band secured by rewriting the bandwidth register and using the channel secured by rewriting the channel number register in step S10.

In STB 1 (FIG. 3), the DV signal from DVCR 3 is received by file IC 19, and link IC 2
0, switch 14, DEMUX 15, AV decoder 1
6, via the OSD processing unit 17 and the D / A converter 18 and output to the monitor 5 for display.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the operation button group 33 has not been operated, the process proceeds to step S14, and as in step S9,
It is determined whether or not the user has operated the remote controller so as to end the control of the control target device. If it is determined in step S14 that the remote controller has not been operated to end the control of the control target device, step S1
2, the same process is repeated.

If it is determined in step S14 that the remote controller has been operated to end the control of the control target device, the process proceeds to step S15, where the STB 1
The transmission band and channel reserved for performing isochronous transmission with the control target device are released. That is, ST
B1 is a transmission band used for data transmission with the device to be controlled (step S5).
The transmission band secured for data transmission with the control target device is released by rewriting the value obtained by adding the transmission band read from the control target device). Further, the STB 1 releases the channel by rewriting the bit corresponding to the channel secured for data transmission with the device to be controlled among the bits of the channel number register.

Then, the process proceeds to a step S 16, wherein STB 1
Updates the display of the progress bar 32. That is, ST
B1 updates the progress bar 32 of the operation panel based on the value of the bandwidth register rewritten in step S15, thereby updating the currently used transmission band (the transmission band secured for data transmission with the control target device). (The transmission bandwidth used after releasing).

Thereafter, the operation proceeds to step S17, where the operation panel is closed as described above, and the processing is terminated.

As described above, when the total bandwidth, which is the sum of the currently used transmission band and the transmission band to be used, exceeds the maximum transmission band prepared for isochronous transmission, the band shortage is indicated. Is performed, the user can intuitively grasp the state of data transmission being performed via the IEEE1394 serial bus, thereby, for example, transmitting data without a sufficient transmission band. Is not performed, the user can be prevented from misunderstanding that the device has failed.

In the above case, when the remaining band is less than 0, the band shortage display is performed. However, the band shortage display may be performed with some margin. That is, the band shortage display can be performed when the remaining band is equal to or larger than 0 and equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

Further, as described above, the STB1 transmits another STB1.
When controlling an IEEE1394 device, the ST that controls the device
B1 calculates the remaining bandwidth and performs bandwidth shortage display, etc.
As described above, when one IEEE 1394 device is not in a relationship to control the other IEEE 1394 device, that is, for example, in FIG. 1, the AV data is reproduced by the DVCR 3 and the AV data is transmitted via the IEEE 1394 serial bus. In the case of dubbing with a DVCR4, for example, an IEEE1394 device (DVCR4 in the above example) that receives data performs calculation of a remaining band, display of a band shortage, and the like.

Next, in the above case, the progress bar corresponding to the currently used transmission band or the like is displayed on the monitor 5 connected to the STB 1. When a display device such as a liquid crystal display is provided in an IEEE1394 device, it is possible to cause the display device to display an image.

Now, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, a description will be given of a bandwidth display process for displaying a progress bar, which is performed by such an IEEE1394 device.

In the bandwidth display process, first, in step S21, as in step S2 of FIG. 6, the value of the bandwidth register of the isochronous resource manager is read out, and based on the value, 1 is read.
It is calculated what percentage of the transmission band is used in 100 μs of the 25 μs cycle. Then, proceeding to step S22, based on the calculation result, the IEEE1394 device causes a display device of the IEEE1394 device to display a progress bar indicating the currently used transmission band in percentage, and
The bandwidth display processing ends.

The above-described bandwidth display processing is performed, for example, by
It may be performed periodically by a timer interrupt or the like, or may be performed, for example, when a bus reset is performed.

Next, the above-described series of processing can be performed by hardware or software. When a series of processing is performed by software, a program constituting the software is
STB1 and 2 as dedicated hardware, DVCR
3, 4 and a computer (corresponding to the CPU 21 in FIG. 3) incorporated in the MD drive 7 or a general-purpose computer.

Therefore, referring to FIG. 10, a recording medium on which a program for executing the above-described series of processes is installed in a computer and used to make the computer executable can be described. explain.

The program can be recorded in advance on a hard disk 102 or a semiconductor memory 103 as a recording medium built in the computer 101 as shown in FIG.

Alternatively, the program is executed as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), the floppy disk 111 and the CD-R
OM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) 112, MO (Magnet
o optical) disc 113, DVD (Digital Versatile Di)
sc) 114, magnetic disk 115, semiconductor memory 116
Can be temporarily (permanently) stored (recorded) in a recording medium such as. Such a recording medium can be provided as so-called package software.

The program is installed in the computer from the recording medium as described above.
As shown in (C), from the download site 121,
The data is wirelessly transferred to the computer 101 via an artificial satellite 122 for digital satellite broadcasting, or a LAN (Local Area N
etwork), the Internet 131
Is transferred to the computer 123 via a cable, and the computer 101
And so on.

Here, in this specification, processing steps for writing a program for causing a computer to perform various processes do not necessarily have to be processed in chronological order in the order described in the flowchart, and may be performed in parallel. Alternatively, it also includes processing executed individually (for example, parallel processing or processing by an object).

The program may be processed by one computer, or may be processed in a distributed manner by a plurality of computers. Further, the program may be transferred to a remote computer and executed.

Next, FIG. 11 shows the computer 1 of FIG.
1 shows a configuration example.

The computer 101 has a built-in CPU (Central Processing Unit) 142 as shown in FIG. An input / output interface 145 is connected to the CPU 142 via a bus 141, and the CPU 142 is connected to the CPU 142 by the user via the input / output interface 145.
When a command is input by operating an input unit 147 including a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, a ROM corresponding to the semiconductor memory 103 in FIG.
(Read Only Memory) The program stored in 143 is executed. Alternatively, the CPU 142 may execute a program stored in the hard disk 102,
Alternatively, the data is transferred from the network 131 and the communication unit 14
8, the program installed on the hard disk 102 or the floppy disk 111, the CD-ROM 112, and the MO disk 11 mounted on the drive 149.
3. A program read from the DVD 114 or the magnetic disk 115 and installed on the hard disk 102 is loaded into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 144 and executed. Then, the CPU 142 transmits the processing result to the LC via the input / output interface 145, for example.
Display unit 14 composed of D (Liquid CryStal Display) etc.
6 and output as necessary.

Although the transmission band is displayed in the present embodiment, the transmission band can be presented to the user by other means. That is, the transmission band may be presented by, for example, a mechanical meter, or may be presented by voice.

[0098]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus, the information processing method, and the recording medium of the present invention, used band information relating to a transmission band used for data transmission via a predetermined bus is stored. The used bandwidth information is acquired from the storage means, and a data transmission state via a predetermined bus is presented by a presentation device that presents the information based on the used bandwidth information. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the state of data transmission via the predetermined bus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of an AV system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a layer structure of an IEEE1394 serial bus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an STB 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bandwidth register.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a channel number register.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process performed by an IEEE1394 device that controls another IEEE1394 device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation panel superimposed on an image and displayed on a monitor 5;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a bandwidth display process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a recording medium to which the present invention is applied.

11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer 101 in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 STB, 3, 4 DVCR, 5, 6 monitor, 7 MD drive, 11 antenna, 12
Front end unit, 13 descrambler, 14 switches, 15 DEMUX, 16 AV decoder,
17 OSD processing unit, 18 D / A converter,
19 Phi IC, 20 Link IC, 21 CP
U, 22 memory, 31 selection button, 32 progress bar, 33 operation button group, 101 computer, 102 hard disk, 103 semiconductor memory, 111 floppy disk, 112CD
-ROM, 113 MO disk, 114 DVD, 11
5 magnetic disk, 116 semiconductor memory, 121
Download site, 122 satellites, 131 network, 141 bus, 142 CPU, 143
ROM, 144 RAM, 145 input / output interface, 146 display unit, 147 input unit, 148
Communication unit, 149 drive

Claims (7)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus capable of communicating with another device via a predetermined bus, wherein the information processing apparatus stores usage band information relating to a transmission band used for data transmission via the predetermined bus. An acquisition unit for acquiring the used bandwidth information from the storage unit, and a control unit for presenting a data transmission state via the predetermined bus to a presentation device for presenting information based on the used bandwidth information. An information processing apparatus comprising: 2. The control unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a total band obtained by summing a transmission band used for data transmission via the predetermined bus and a transmission band used for data transmission to be performed from now on. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is presented by the presentation apparatus. 3. When the total bandwidth exceeds a transmission bandwidth of data transmission enabled by the predetermined bus, the control means causes the presenting device to emphasize and present the total bandwidth. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined bus is a serial bus. 5. An IEEE (Insti-
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein communication is performed in accordance with the 1394 standard. 6. An information processing method for an information processing device capable of communicating with another device via a predetermined bus, wherein a used band relating to a transmission band used for data transmission via the predetermined bus is provided. An acquisition step of acquiring the used bandwidth information from a storage unit that stores information; and presenting a data transmission state via the predetermined bus to a presentation device that presents information based on the used bandwidth information. An information processing method comprising: 7. A recording medium in which a program for causing an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with another device to perform information processing via a predetermined bus is recorded, and wherein the program stores the program via the predetermined bus. An acquisition step of acquiring the used bandwidth information from a storage unit that stores used bandwidth information related to a transmission bandwidth used for data transmission, based on the used bandwidth information, A control step of causing a presentation device that presents information to present the data transmission state.