JP2001160881A - Information processor and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a problem where operation for setting the operation modes of two digital VTRs is required since video data is not copied only by connecting both of the digital VTRs through a 1394 serial bus. SOLUTION: When an interface part 110 is connected to another electronic equipment through the 1394 serial bus and a bias detecting circuit 112 detects the bias voltage, a controller 108 sets the operation mode of a digital VTR 115 to a video mode for transmitting a picture signal and a sound signal reproduced by a recording medium 106 to external equipment and recording a picture signal and a sound signal received from the external equipment in the medium 106.

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 and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with other electronic devices via a digital interface and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a personal computer and its peripheral devices such as a printer, a hard disk, a digital camera, a digital video camera and a digital camera have been interconnected via a general-purpose interface to provide a system capable of high-speed data communication. There is a growing movement to make it happen.

One of the next-generation high-speed digital interfaces developed from such a viewpoint is IEEE1394-199.
There are five serial buses (hereinafter referred to as "1394 serial bus"). In communication using the 1394 serial bus, isochronous data that is synchronously transferred and asynchronous data that is asynchronously transferred can be mixed every predetermined communication cycle (for example, 125 μs). What is communicated as isochronous data is data that needs to be continuously communicated at a fixed data rate, such as sound data including video data and audio, and what is communicated as asynchronous data is control data such as control data. The data can be transmitted irregularly as needed.

[0004] The 1394 serial bus also has a function of relaying communication data and the like. With this function, it is possible to transfer isochronous data or asynchronous data transmitted from each electronic device to all electronic devices on the communication system via another electronic device. The details of the 1394 serial bus including such a description are described in “IEEE Standard for a
High Performance Serial Bus (IEEE Std 1394-1995) ''
It is open to the public.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configured using a 1394 serial bus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 401 denotes a personal computer (PC); 402, a printer capable of printing an image or a document represented by data output from each electronic device in the communication system; VTR (Video
It is a portable digital VTR like Tape Recorder).
Reference numeral 404 denotes a stationary digital VTR capable of exchanging image data and control data such as dubbing an image by digital communication with the portable digital VTR 403. Each of these devices 401 to 404 has a digital interface conforming to or conforming to a 1394 serial bus (hereinafter, referred to as a “1394 interface”), and is interconnected in a tree by a 1394 cable 405.

There are two types of cables conforming to the 1394 serial bus that have different shapes for a 6-pin connector and a 4-pin connector. The 6-pin connector cable has two pairs of twisted pair wires for signals and one pair of pair wires for power supply. Also, the 4-pin connector cable has only two pairs of twisted pair cables for signals and does not have wires for power supply.

[0008] Data transfer on the 1394 serial bus is as follows.
This is performed by encoding and transfer using the DS-Link encoding method. Therefore, one of the two sets of signal lines, the 6-pin connector cable or the 4-pin connector cable, is used for data transmission, and the other is used for transmitting strobe signals. The connection between the 6-pin connector and the 4-pin connector can be made by using a conversion cable or a connector.

In FIG. 1, the 1394 interface of the PC 401, the printer 402 and the stationary digital VTR 404 has a 6-pin connector port, to which a 6-pin connector cable 405 is connected. The 1394 interface of the printer 402 and the portable digital VTR 403 has a 4-pin connector port, to which a 4-pin connector cable 405 is connected.

[0010] When the 1394 interface has a 6-pin connector port, the device has a power supply terminal.
Power can be supplied to the mutually connected devices by the pin connector cable 405. Therefore, even if the power of the device body is turned off and the power supplied to the 1394 interface is cut off, the power supplied from the adjacent device connected by the 1394 cable 405 does not turn off the 1394 interface. . In other words, in the system connected by the 6-pin connector cable 405, communication is maintained without disconnecting the network unless all devices on the serial bus are turned off.

On the other hand, the 4-pin connector is smaller than the 6-pin connector, and since the power supply wire is omitted, the cable becomes thinner and more flexible. The 4-pin connector is intended to solve various problems unique to portable devices, such as battery capacity, limitations on the shape and layout of connection terminals, and various problems arising from the purpose of use with emphasis on mobility. , Mainly used for portable devices. 1394 for 4-pin connector
Although the cable 405 cannot receive power from other devices on the 1394 serial bus, a portable device such as a camera-integrated portable digital VTR 403 usually looks internally even when the power is off. Since is in the hot standby state, power can be supplied to the 1394 interface. Therefore, if power is supplied to the 1394 interface, the portable device can be connected to the network system interconnected by the 6-pin connector cable 405 without any problem.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the 1394 interface.

The 1394 interface of each device enables communication with other devices via a 1394 serial bus.
It includes at least a physical layer 501, a link layer 502, and a bus management layer 503. The physical layer 501 has functions such as initialization of a bus, encoding of transmission data, decoding of reception data, and arbitration of a bus use right. The link layer 502 has functions such as generation and detection of an error correction code, generation and detection of a packet, and cycle control. The bus management layer 503 has a function of controlling the physical layer 501 and the link layer 502 and a function of controlling communication with an application.

[0014]

Devices connectable via a 1394 serial bus include devices having a plurality of operation modes, such as a portable digital VTR 403 integrated with a camera. That is, a camera mode for recording an image captured by the camera unit on a magnetic tape or the like, recording an image transmitted via a 1394 serial bus on a magnetic tape or the like, or recording image data recorded on a magnetic tape on a 1394 tape. And a video mode for sending to the serial bus. These modes are normally switched by a user operation.

Two such camera-integrated portable digital VTRs are connected to a 1394 serial bus, and video data recorded on a magnetic tape or the like by one portable digital VTR is transmitted to the 1394 serial bus. The video data can be recorded on the magnetic tape of the other portable digital VTR, that is, the video data can be copied. However, simply connecting the two digital VTRs with a 1394 cable does not copy the video data, and requires an operation to set the video mode of the two digital VTRs.

Further, to start copying, a digital VTR for copying video data to a magnetic tape is operated to start recording, and a digital VTR to which a magnetic tape or the like on which video data to be copied is recorded is mounted. It is necessary to start outputting the video data.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and to provide an information processing apparatus capable of controlling the flow of information according to a connection state with another electronic device and a control method thereof. The purpose is to:

[0018]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

According to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, input means for inputting information external to the apparatus, communication means for communicating information with another electronic device, and input by the input means or the communication means Recording information on a recording medium, recording control means for reading the information recorded on the recording medium, detection means for detecting the connection state between the communication means and other electronic devices, based on the detection result of the detection means, A control unit for controlling a flow of information among the input unit, the communication unit, and the recording control unit.

According to the control method of the present invention, there are provided input means for inputting information external to the apparatus, communication means for communicating information with another electronic device, and recording of information input by the input means or the communication means. Recording control means for recording on a medium and reading information recorded on a recording medium, and a control method for an information processing apparatus comprising a detecting means for detecting a connection state between the communication means and another electronic device, A flow of information among the input unit, the communication unit, and the recording control unit is controlled based on a detection result of the detection unit.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an example in which a 1394 serial bus is used for connection between electronic devices will be described. However, it is possible to detect connection and non-connection between electronic devices with transmission capability appropriate for transmission of a video signal. Any interface can be used as long as it is a digital interface. Instead of the 1394 serial bus, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) can be used.

[Configuration] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a camera-integrated portable digital VTR according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 3, a lens group 101 condenses an optical image of a subject and forms an image on an image sensor 102. For example, CCD
The imaging element 102 configured by the above-described method converts an optical image into an electric signal and supplies the electric signal to a signal processing circuit 104 at a subsequent stage. The microphone 103 collects sound including sound outside the device. The signal processing circuit 104 converts an image signal input from the imaging element 102 and a sound signal input from the microphone 103 into a signal form suitable for display (reproduction), magnetic recording / reproduction, communication, and the like. The recording / reproducing unit 105 has a function of recording an image signal and a sound signal on a recording medium 106 such as a magnetic tape, and reproducing the image signal and the sound signal recorded on the recording medium 106. An image captured by the image sensor 102 and an image reproduced from the recording medium 106 are displayed on the monitor 107.

The controller 108 controls the operation of each processing unit of the digital VTR 115 based on a user's instruction input via the operation keys 109. The interface unit 110
The image data and the sound data which are imaged or reproduced and processed by the signal processing circuit 104 are transmitted to an external device via the serial bus 114, and the image data and the sound data are received from the external device.

The battery 111 supplies power required for the entire digital VTR 115 including the interface unit 110 to function. The bias detection circuit 112 is connected to the 1394 serial bus 1
The insertion and removal of the device connected to 14 is detected by the change in the bias voltage.

The interface unit 110 is connected to a 1394 serial bus via a 1394 cable 113.
4 Connect external devices or communication
Physically connected to 1394 interface. In addition,
In the present embodiment, a cable for a 4-pin connector is used as the 1394 cable 113.

[Operation] Next, the digital VTR 1 having the above configuration
15 operations will be described.

The signal processing circuit 104 subjects the input image signal and sound signal to signal processing suitable for a signal form (for example, display (reproduction), magnetic recording / reproduction, communication, etc.) suitable for the purpose.

When processing into a signal form suitable for display (reproduction), the signal processing circuit 104 processes the image signal and the sound signal into a signal form conforming to a standard television signal such as NTSC or PAL, and for example, a monitor 107. Output to The monitor 107 displays an image based on the input image signal, and reproduces a sound based on the input sound signal.

When processing into a signal form suitable for magnetic recording and reproduction, the signal processing circuit 104 digitizes the image signal and the sound signal, encodes them at high efficiency, and
Processing such as adding a parity code for error correction is performed. The signal generated by this processing is transmitted to the recording / reproducing unit 10
5 sequentially records the data on a recording medium 106 such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk.

When processing into a signal form suitable for communication, the signal processing circuit 104 processes the image signal and the sound signal into a signal form that can be communicated via the interface unit 110. The interface unit 110 includes a signal processing circuit 104
Is converted into a packet format conforming to or conforming to the 1394 serial bus standard and transmitted to an external device.

The controller 108 includes an interface unit 110
Digital VT according to the connection status of the device and the status of the input signal sent from another device via the interface unit 110.
Controls the operation of R115. Digital VTR 115 of the present embodiment
There are three operation modes: "camera mode", "video mode" and "auto mode switching".
The unit 108 can control an operation mode and operations such as recording and playback according to the state of the interface unit 110.

The user can freely switch between the three modes with the operation keys 109.
8 sets “camera mode”, “video mode”, and “automatic mode switching” according to a user instruction via the operation keys 109.

The operation mode of the digital VTR 115 is as follows.
Not only can switching be performed according to a user instruction via the operation keys 109, but also control can be performed by a control signal or control command input from an external device via the interface unit 110.

Camera Mode The “camera mode” is a state in which the image pickup unit of the digital VTR 115 is in an operating state, and the recording / reproducing unit 105 is recording an image signal and a collected sound signal on the recording medium 106. , Or the recording is paused.
Of course, captured image signals can be monitored as necessary.
107 can be displayed.

The interface section 110 of the digital VTR 115 is connected to an external device by a 4-pin connector cable 113 having no power supply wire. Therefore, in order to operate the interface unit 110, it is necessary to supply power to the interface unit 110 from inside the digital VTR 115.

Video Mode The "video mode" has the following three states. The first is a state where the image signal and the sound signal recorded on the recording medium 106 are reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 105 and displayed on the monitor 107. Second, the image signal and the sound signal reproduced from the recording medium 106 are
Is being transmitted to an external device via. The third is a state where an image signal, a sound signal, and control data are received from an external device, and the image signal and the sound signal are recorded on the recording medium 106 under the control of the controller 108 based on the received control data.

Automatic Mode Switching In the camera mode in which a subject is imaged and a sound outside the apparatus is collected, an image signal and a collected sound signal are transmitted to an external device via the interface unit 110. It is rare. Therefore, it can be said that the digital VTR 115 is rarely connected to the 1394 serial bus in the camera mode.

In the video mode, the digital VTR 115 is connected to a 1394 serial bus, and is connected to an external device such as a stationary digital VTR or other computer-related devices. And it is considered that the frequency of playing and editing the sound is high. Therefore, if the interface unit 110 is connected to another device via the 1394 serial bus,
VTR115 will be used mainly in video mode.

Therefore, in the automatic mode switching, when the interface unit 110 is connected to another electronic device via the 1394 serial bus and the bias voltage is detected by the bias detection circuit 112, the controller 108 is turned on.
Set the operation mode of TR115 to video mode. That is, when the digital VTR 115 is connected to another device via the 1394 serial bus, the mode is automatically switched to the video mode without operating the operation key 109 to switch the mode.

Conversely, if the connection between the interface unit 110 and the 1394 serial bus is disconnected and no bias voltage is detected by the bias detection circuit 112, the controller 108 sets the operation mode of the digital VTR 115 to the camera mode.

As described above, in the automatic mode switching,
Without operating the operation key 109, the digital V
An appropriate mode is set according to the connection state between the TR115 and the 1394 serial bus. Furthermore, the interface units 110 and 1
394 When the serial bus is connected and the video mode is set, the video signal and the sound signal recorded on the recording medium 106 can be sent to other devices or operated by operating only one of the digital VTR 115 and other devices. The image signal and the sound signal transmitted from the device can be recorded on the recording medium 106.

[Connection of 1394 Devices] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining connections between devices having a 1394 interface (hereinafter referred to as “1394 devices”). Note that a pair wire for power supply is omitted.

The physical layers 201 and 202 of each device have 1394 having twisted pair wires 203 and 204 for signal transmission.
Directly connected by cable. In a 1394 serial bus, these two pairs of twisted pair wires for signal transmission are used.
Two-way communication is performed using 203 and 204. The physical layers 201 and 202 of each device have two twisted pair wires 203
And 204 are configured to supply a bias voltage to one of them and to detect a bias voltage of the other twisted pair wire. A device connected to the 1394 serial bus can detect the insertion or removal of another device from the 1394 serial bus by detecting the change in the bias voltage.

In a normal 1394 device, a change in the bias voltage is detected by a physical layer of the interface unit 110 or a bias detection circuit 112 provided outside, so that the device is connected to the external device by a 1394 serial bus. Is detected. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the bias detection circuit 112 is independent of the interface unit 110.
The device often includes a bias detection circuit 112 in a physical layer in the interface unit 110.

On the other hand, in a battery-operated device such as a camera-integrated portable digital VTR 115 according to the present embodiment, the power supplied to the interface unit 110 is controlled. Accordingly, in an operation mode in which use of the interface unit 110 is not assumed, the controller 108 cuts off power supply to the interface unit 110. Therefore, the physical layer of the interface unit 110 cannot detect that the digital VTR 115 is connected to another device via the 1394 serial bus. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a configuration in which the bias detection circuit 112 is provided independently of the interface unit 110 has been described. Of course, when power is supplied to the interface unit 110, the connection to the external device can be detected by the physical layer of the interface unit 110.

The detection result by the bias detection circuit 112 or the interface unit 110 is sent to the controller 108. In the automatic mode switching, the controller 108 sets the digital VTR 115 according to the detection result.
Control the operation mode of.

[0048]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) on which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or a computer) of the system or apparatus. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Also,
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code.
It is needless to say that a case in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented by performing part or all of the actual processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus for controlling a flow of information according to a connection state with another electronic device and a control method thereof.

For example, via a 1394 serial bus,
When the camera-integrated digital VTR is connected to another electronic device, the user determines that communication with the other electronic device is necessary, and switches the operation mode of the digital VTR to a mode in which communication is possible. User convenience is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configured using a 1394 serial bus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a 1394 interface;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a camera-integrated portable digital VTR;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating connection between 1394 devices.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (10)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting information external to the apparatus; a communication unit for communicating information with another electronic device; and recording information input by the input unit or the communication unit on a recording medium. Recording control means for reading information recorded on a recording medium; detection means for detecting a connection state between the communication means and another electronic device; input means and communication means based on a detection result of the detection means An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a flow of information between the recording control units. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input unit inputs at least image information. 3. The control means controls the information to flow from the input means to the recording control means when the detection means detects a disconnection between the communication means and another electronic device. Claim 1 or Claim 2
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The control means, when the connection between the communication means and another electronic device is detected by the detection means,
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that information flows between the communication unit and the recording control unit. 5. The communication means and another electronic device are connected to an IEEE 13
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is connected via a serial bus conforming to or conforming to 94. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the detecting unit detects a connection state between the communication unit and another electronic device based on a change in a bias voltage supplied from the serial bus to the communication unit. The described information processing device. 7. An input unit for inputting information external to the apparatus, a communication unit for communicating information with another electronic device, and recording information input by the input unit or the communication unit on a recording medium, and recording the information. A recording control unit for reading information recorded on a medium, and a control method of an information processing apparatus including a detection unit for detecting a connection state between the communication unit and another electronic device, wherein a detection result of the detection unit Controlling a flow of information among the input means, the communication means, and the recording control means based on the control information. 8. When the detecting means detects that the communication means is not connected to another electronic device, control is performed so that information flows from the input means to the recording control means. The control method described in 7. 9. When the connection between the communication unit and another electronic device is detected by the detection unit, control is performed so that information flows between the communication unit and the recording control unit. A control method according to claim 7 or claim 8. 10. An input means for inputting information external to the apparatus,
Communication means for communicating information with another electronic device, recording information input by the input means or the communication means on a recording medium, recording control means for reading the information recorded on the recording medium, and A recording medium on which a program code for controlling an information processing apparatus including a detection unit for detecting a connection state between the communication unit and another electronic device is recorded, wherein the program code is based on at least a detection result of the detection unit. A code for controlling the flow of information among the input means, the communication means, and the recording control means.