JP2001359200A - Wireless audio equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce loud on a user and to ensure feasibility concerning the high degree of freedom in arrangement and the arrangement of audio equipment. SOLUTION: A user channel (radio channel) is set between a present unit (a main body unit 20 or a speaker unit 30, for example), comprising a wireless component 11 and the other unit (the speaker unit 30 or main body unit 20, for example), and through this user channel, data are transferred between the units. In this case, the band of the user channel is set corresponding to at least one of the contents of data to be transferred, the class of the opposite unit and the idle conditions of radio resources.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless audio device for transferring data with another wireless audio device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a component type audio system, a wired connection is generally used as a connection method between an audio body having various sound sources and a speaker. As a remote controller of a component type audio system, a remote controller that transmits a signal using infrared rays is generally used.

[0003]

In an audio system in which a main body and a speaker are connected by wire, it is necessary to consider wiring between the main body and the speaker when the speaker is installed, the arrangement is changed, or the configuration is changed. .

[0004] In order to more specifically explain, here,
A case will be examined in which a transition is made from a stereo playback environment with two audio channels to a surround playback environment with six audio channels (5.1 ch).
In this case, since four speakers are added, the number of wires between the main body and the speakers is six. In addition, since it is necessary to arrange the speakers in a distributed manner in order to obtain a sufficient surround effect, a large number of lines are laid in the installation space. Normally, such wiring is hidden so as to be inconspicuous in consideration of aesthetics. However, since it is necessary to rewire when the speaker or the main body is relocated, consideration must be given to the way of hiding.

As described above, in the conventional audio system, there is a problem that the burden on the user is large when the audio system is arranged or the arrangement is changed, and the degree of freedom in arranging the devices constituting the system is low. The above problem can be avoided by transmitting the audio signal using the FM wave.
There are problems such as deterioration of the audio signal at the time of FM modulation and unintended quality deterioration of the audio signal due to reception conditions.
It cannot be a realistic solution.

[0006] When a remote controllable loudspeaker having an amplifier is used as a surround loudspeaker, the user remotely controls the loudspeaker by, for example, operating a remote control for the loudspeaker toward the loudspeaker. By adjusting the volume and operating the remote controller for the main body toward the main body, the main body is remotely controlled and the reproduction of the audio data is started. That is, there is a problem that a complicated operation is required for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a practical wireless audio device having a high degree of freedom in arrangement and capable of reducing the burden on a user in relation to arrangement. It is intended to provide.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless audio device for transferring data to and from another wireless audio device. A radio channel setting unit that sets a radio channel for the other audio device between the other audio device, and a band setting unit that sets a band of the radio channel according to the data. A band setting unit that sets a band of the wireless channel according to a type of the audio device; and transferring the data between the other wireless audio device via the wireless channel whose band is set by the band setting unit. And a transfer unit.

A wireless audio device according to a third aspect of the present invention is a wireless audio device for transferring data with another wireless audio device, wherein the other audio device is provided between the wireless audio device and the other audio device. A radio channel setting unit for setting a radio channel for, a detection unit for detecting the availability of radio resources, a band setting unit for setting the band of the radio channel according to the detection result of the detection unit,
And a transfer unit that transfers the data to and from the another wireless audio device via the wireless channel for which a band has been set by the band setting unit. Further, in this configuration, a compression unit for thinning out the data according to the detection result of the detection unit is provided, and the transfer unit transmits the other wireless audio via the wireless channel whose band is set by the band setting unit. The data thinned by the compression unit may be transferred to a device (claim 4).

In each of the above arrangements, a monitoring unit for detecting the addition of the other wireless audio is provided, and the wireless channel setting unit is configured to detect the addition of the other wireless audio when the monitoring unit detects the addition of the other wireless audio. A wireless channel for the other audio device may be set between the device and the device (claim 5), and a switching unit for switching the data transferred to and from the other audio device is provided, The transfer unit may transfer the data switched by the change unit to and from the other audio device via the wireless channel for which a band has been set by the band setting unit. 6). In each of the above configurations, a secondary battery may be provided (claim 7).

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A: Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an audio system 10 using a wireless component (wireless audio component system) 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. Is a portable PC (personal computer) that can be connected to the PC.

In the wireless component 11, reference numeral 20 denotes a main unit, and reference numeral 30 denotes a speaker unit. Reference numeral 40 denotes a remote controller (remote controller), which has a function of remotely operating the main unit 20 and the speaker unit 30, a function of a mobile phone, and a function of connecting to the Internet via a mobile communication network.

In the main unit 20, reference numeral 21 denotes a media slot into which various audio recording media described later are inserted. It should be noted that various audio recording media can be inserted into one slot instead of providing a slot for each type of audio recording medium. This is to improve the usability of the user. In the speaker unit 30, 31
Is a liquid crystal touch panel provided on the front, and 32 is a sound emitting section provided on both sides. The speaker unit 30
The two sound emitting sections 32 are provided in order to ensure ease of relocation and space saving.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of the speaker unit 30. As shown in FIG. In this figure, reference numeral 33 denotes a power cable that can be stored, for example, a cord reel type power cable. Reference numeral 34 denotes a storage unit for storing the power cable 33. Although not shown, the speaker unit 30 is 2
A secondary battery is built in, and driving using a secondary battery is possible at the time of temporary arrangement change or the like. Such a device ensures aesthetics and ease of handling.

The PC 13, the main unit 20, the speaker unit 30, and the remote controller 40 constitute a 2.4 GHz band wireless LAN (local area network). The logical connection relationship between the units is as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless LAN is composed of three unit networks. Here, a network using the same physical channel is referred to as a unit network. The unit network N1 is configured by connecting two nodes of the main unit 20 and the speaker unit 30 by a user channel CH11 from point to point. In the unit network, the main unit 20 is a master node, and the speaker unit 30 is a slave node. Function as The master node is a node that centrally controls and manages the radio channel, and the slave nodes are nodes that are under the control of the master node. In practice, the master node and each slave node in the unit network N1 can communicate with each other via the control channel CCH1, but the control channel is a channel for setting a user channel, and is used for realizing a digital audio stream or the like. Since data is transmitted and received via the user channel, illustration is omitted here.

The unit network N2 is connected to the remote controller 4
0, the main unit 20 and the speaker unit 30 are connected by point-to-multipoint connection.
In the unit network, the remote controller 40 functions as a master node, and the main unit 20 and the speaker unit 30 function as slave nodes. in this way,
The main unit 20 functioning as a master node in the unit network N1 functions as a slave node in the unit network N2. Further, the speaker unit 30 is a slave node in the unit network N2 as well as a slave node in the unit network N1. Actually, the master node and each slave node in the unit network N2 are connected to the control channel C
Communication is possible via CH2.

The unit network N3 is connected to the PC 13
In this unit network, the PC 13 functions as a master node, and the main unit 20 and the speaker unit 30 each function as a slave node. In practice,
The master node and each slave node in the unit network N3 can communicate with each other via the control channel CCH3. As is clear from FIG. 3, the slave nodes can communicate only with the master node, and cannot directly communicate with the slave nodes.

B: Configuration of Main Part FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the audio system 10. Although a virtual wireless bus 50 is illustrated in this figure, this does not mean that the virtual wireless bus 50 actually exists, and nodes connected to the virtual wireless bus 50 are connected via a wireless channel. It means that communication with other nodes is possible.

In the PC 13, reference numeral 131 denotes a control unit for controlling each unit, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory).
Is executed by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program stored in the CPU (not shown). 132 is a RAM (Random) used as a work memory of the control unit.
An access memory (133), an HDD (hard disk) for storing data passed from the control unit, and a wireless unit 134 for communicating with another node via the virtual wireless bus 50, and transmitting data from the control unit 131. The data is transmitted to another node, and data from the other node is received and supplied to the control unit 131.

Reference numeral 135 denotes an internal bus, and the above components communicate via the internal bus 135. Although not shown, the PC 13 includes a wired connection interface for connecting to the Internet 12 and an operation unit for inputting a user's instruction to the control unit 131, and the control unit 131 performs an operation based on the instruction. Operate. The functions of the PC 13 (the functions of the wireless channel setting unit, the band setting unit, the transfer unit, and the monitoring unit) realized by the control unit 131 operating in cooperation with each unit will be described later.

In the main unit 20, reference numeral 22 denotes an MD.
MD player that reproduces a (mini disc) and outputs a digital audio stream, 23 is a CD player that reproduces a CD (compact disc) and outputs a digital audio stream, and 24 is a DVD (Digital Versat)
ile Disc) DVD player that plays audio (DVD-Audio) and outputs a digital audio stream, 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a semiconductor recording / reproducing unit for writing / reading a digital audio stream to / from a semiconductor such as a flash memory stored therein, and outputs the read digital audio stream.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a demodulator for demodulating a digital audio stream output from each of the units 22 to 25. Each of the units 22 to 26 is connected by an internal bus 27. Further, the demodulator 26 generates a digital audio stream of a predetermined format from the demodulated digital audio stream, and compresses and encodes the generated digital audio stream to output. Note that the digital audio stream of a predetermined format includes song number and elapsed time information from the beginning,
It has a field for storing bibliographic information such as the title of a song.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a wireless unit for communicating with other nodes via the virtual wireless bus 50. Reference numeral 29 denotes a control unit for controlling each unit. Although not shown, a program or a stream bind list table T4 shown in FIG. , A ROM that stores the weighting table T5 shown in FIG. 6, a CPU that executes the program, a flash memory that stores the stream bind table T3 shown in FIG. 7, and the node bind table T1 shown in FIG. And a RAM for storing the speaker unit table T2 shown in FIG. The flash memory and the RAM are CP
U reads and writes.

The radio unit 28 controls the digital audio stream output from the demodulator 26 and the control unit 2.
9 is transmitted to another node, and data from another node is received and supplied to the semiconductor recording / reproducing unit 25 and the control unit 29. However, data supply from the wireless unit 28 to the semiconductor recording / reproducing unit 25 is controlled by the wireless unit 29. The functions of the main unit 20 (the wireless channel setting unit, the band setting unit, the transfer unit, the detection unit, the compression unit, the switching unit, and the monitoring unit) realized by the control unit 29 and each unit operating in cooperation with each other. Function) will be described later.

In the speaker unit 30, 35 is a wireless unit for communicating with another node via the virtual wireless bus 50, and 36 is a DAC for converting a digital audio stream received by the wireless unit 35 into an analog signal and outputting the analog signal. (Digital / analog converter), 37
Is an amplifier that amplifies and outputs an output signal of the DAC 36 with an amplification degree according to a volume value set in a control unit 39 described later;
Reference numeral 38 denotes a speaker that emits sound in accordance with an output signal of the amplifier 37.

The speaker unit 30 includes two speakers 38, and the DAC 36 converts the digital audio stream into a component for one speaker 38 (hereinafter, one component) and a component for the other speaker 38 (hereinafter, another component). ), And both components are converted into analog signals and output. The amplifier 37 has an input terminal and an output terminal for one component and an input terminal and an output terminal for the other component, and amplifies the two analog signals output from the DAC 36 to the corresponding speaker 38. Supply.

The control section 39 has the same hardware configuration as the control section 29 described above. However, data stored in the ROM, data stored in the flash memory, and R
The data stored in the AM differs from the control unit 29. For example, the flash memory of the control unit 39 stores data for realizing a user interface provided by using the liquid crystal touch panel 31 and the like, and a volume value defining the amplification of the amplifier 37 and the like.

The above-mentioned wireless unit 35 receives data from another node, supplies the received data to the DAC 36 and the control unit 39, and transmits data from the control unit 39 to another node. The data supply from the wireless unit 35 to the DAC 36 is controlled by the control unit 39. The functions of the speaker unit 30 (the functions of the wireless channel setting unit, the band setting unit, and the transfer unit) realized by the control unit 39 and each unit operating in cooperation with each other will be described later.

The remote controller 40 is connected to a virtual wireless bus 50
A wireless unit for communicating with other nodes via
A wireless unit, an operation unit, a speaker, a microphone, a ROM, a CPU, a flash memory, a RAM, and the like for realizing connection to the Internet 12 and voice communication via a mobile communication network are provided (not shown). These components are also used to remotely control the main unit 20 and the speaker unit 30. The functions of the remote controller 40 (the functions of the wireless channel setting unit, the band setting unit, the transfer unit, the detection unit, and the monitoring unit) realized by the CPU operating in cooperation with each unit will be described later.

C: Function Each master node (PC 13, main unit 20, remote controller 40) periodically transmits a search packet using a control channel of a corresponding unit network, and monitors a response packet to the search packet. A function of searching for a slave node in each unit network, a function of setting a user channel for the slave node in each unit network, and notifying the slave node of the setting information via a control channel; A function of not changing the user channel for the existing slave node from the setting of the user channel.

Each slave node (main unit 2)
0, the speaker unit 30) has a function of receiving the search packet transmitted from the master node using the control channel of the corresponding unit network, node identification information (for example, a manufacturing number) capable of uniquely identifying the own node, and the speaker unit 30). It has a function of returning a response packet containing node type information indicating the type of node when the search packet is received, and a function of setting a user channel based on information notified using the control channel.

When the user channel is set, the main unit 20 associates the node identification information and the node type information of the speaker unit 30 with the user channel information indicating the user channel in the node binding table T1 in the control unit 29. When the node type information is information indicating a speaker (for example, “SPK”), the speaker detection order indicating the number of the detected speaker is the slave node of the node identification information. A function of identifying based on the node bind table T1, storing the speaker detection order in the speaker unit table T2 in association with the user channel information,
Based on the node bind table T1, the stream bind table T3, and the stream bind list table T4, the node type information specifies the stream bind information to be assigned to the user channel assigned to the slave node indicating the speaker. It has a function of storing in a corresponding record in T2 and a function of transmitting stream bind information to a corresponding user channel based on the speaker unit table T2.

The speaker unit 30 has a function of receiving data transmitted via a user channel assigned to the speaker unit 30 and displaying information corresponding to the data on the liquid crystal touch panel 31.

Further, a master node (P
C13, the remote controller 40) has a function of broadcasting an instruction corresponding to the operation of the operation unit to the corresponding slave node in the unit network via the user channel. In addition,
The PC 13 has a function of transmitting digital audio data stored in the own device to the main unit 20 and a function of transmitting data for realizing a user interface to the speaker unit 30. The remote controller 40 has a function of transmitting the digital audio data stored in the own device. Is transmitted to the main unit 20 in accordance with the operation of the operation unit.

Each slave node (main unit 2)
0, the speaker unit 30) has a function of receiving an instruction transmitted from the corresponding master node via the user channel, and performing a process according to the instruction if the instruction can be realized.

The instructions that can be realized by the main unit 20 include an MD reproduction instruction, a CD reproduction instruction, a DVD reproduction instruction, a reproduction instruction to the semiconductor recording / reproducing unit 25, and a node stored in the node bind table T1. There are a feasible reproduction instruction, a stream binding switching instruction, a digital audio data storage instruction, and the like.
0 refers to the speaker unit table T2 and cyclically changes the corresponding stream bind type information in the stream bind table T3. When receiving the instruction to store the digital audio data, the main unit 20 receives the digital audio data following the instruction and writes the digital audio data into the semiconductor in the semiconductor recording / reproducing unit 25. It should be noted that the main unit 20 is provided with a
When the main unit 20 receives a reproduction instruction that can be realized by using a node that is not stored in the unit network N1, the main unit 20 transmits to the speaker unit 30 data indicating that the node required to realize the reproduction instruction does not exist in the unit network N1. .

The instructions that can be realized by the speaker unit 30 include various reproduction instructions, volume increase / decrease instructions, and user interface update instructions. When the volume increase / decrease instruction is received, the speaker unit 30 is set in the control section 39. The updated volume value is updated according to the content of the instruction. Also,
Upon receiving the user interface update instruction, the speaker unit 30 receives the data following the instruction, determines whether this data is appropriate as data for realizing the user interface, and only when appropriate, Overwrite the data for realizing the current user interface.

The main unit 20 extracts each audio channel component from the demodulated digital audio stream, checks the radio resource availability (for example, “high” / “small”), and checks the availability and the weighting table. It has a function of thinning out each component based on T5. For example, if the radio resource is “high”, all audio channel components are not thinned out, and if the radio resource is “small”, the predetermined audio channel component is thinned out so as to have a predetermined band ratio. I will The main unit 20 also has a function of receiving and expanding and decoding the digital audio stream transmitted from the slave node, and handling the decoded stream as the demodulated digital audio stream.

Further, the main unit 20 generates a digital audio stream of a predetermined format by synthesizing the audio channel components after the thinning processing based on the stream bind table T2, compression-encodes the stream, and compression-encodes the stream. Has a function of transmitting the stream thus set via the user channel associated with the stream in the stream bind table T2. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9, a stream obtained by combining and compressing and encoding an L (Left) audio channel component and an R (Right) audio channel component is transmitted via the user channel CH11.

When the speaker unit 30 receives the digital audio stream transmitted from the main unit 20, the speaker unit 30 expands and decodes the stream, and displays information corresponding to the bibliographic information in the decoded stream on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. And a function of separating the stream obtained by removing the bibliographic information from the stream after decoding into one component and the other component. When the stream has a single audio channel component, one component and the other component are the same component.

D: Operation First, the audio system 1 excluding the Internet 12
By turning on the power of the component No. 0, the user channel is set. FIG. 10 and FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. However, here, the speaker unit 30, the main unit 20, the remote controller 40, and the PC
Reference numeral 13 denotes a communication area, and power is turned on in the order of the speaker unit 30, the main unit 20, the remote controller 40, and the PC 13. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a user channel setting operation of the master node, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a user channel setting operation of the slave node.

(1) User Channel Setting Operation In the unit network N1, when the power supply (not shown) of the main unit 20 is turned on, the wireless unit 28 of the main unit 20 sends out a search packet via the control channel CCH1. Thereby, a communicable slave node is searched in the unit network N1 (step SA1,
SB1). Here, since the power of the speaker unit 30 has already been turned on, a response packet corresponding to the search packet is returned from the speaker unit 30, and the speaker unit 30 is detected as a slave node (step SB2, SA2). When the speaker unit 30 is detected, a user channel setting process is performed between the speaker unit 30 and the main unit 20.
And the speaker unit 30 can communicate with each other via the control channel CCH1 and the user channel CH11 (steps SA3 and SB3).

In the above setting process, the main unit 2
0, the node identification information and the node type information of the speaker unit 30 (information indicating the speaker here) and the user channel information indicating the user channel CH11 are stored in the node binding table T1 in the control unit 29 in association with each other. In the speaker unit table T2, as the speaker unit 30 in the unit network N1, 1
The speaker detection order indicating the second detection and the user channel information indicating the user channel CH11 are stored in association with each other.

The control unit 29 acquires stream bind type information (here, 1) corresponding to the number of the speaker units 30 from the stream bind table T3.
Based on this information, the number of speaker units 30 (here, 1), and the speaker detection order, the stream binding information (here, L +
R) is read out, stored in the corresponding record in the speaker unit table T2, and transmitted to the speaker unit 30 via the user channel CH11.

On the other hand, in the speaker unit 30, information corresponding to the stream bind information transmitted from the main unit 20 is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. Thus, the user can know the type of the stream bound to the speaker unit 30.

The processes of steps SA1 to SA3 in FIG. 10 and the processes shown in FIG. 11 are also performed in the unit networks N2 and N3. However, the processing related to the above tables is performed only in the unit network N1. As a result, communication between the remote controller 40 and the main unit 20 via the control channel CCH1 and the user channel CH21 is performed, and between the remote controller 40 and the speaker unit 30, communication between the control channel CCH1 and the user channel CH21 is performed.
Communication between the PC 13 and the main unit 20 is controlled by the control channel CCH1 and the user channel CH.
The communication through the communication channel 31 allows the communication between the remote controller 40 and the speaker unit 30 via the control channel CCH1 and the user channel CH32. As a result of such an operation, the connection relationship between the nodes is as shown in FIG.

(2) Resetting operation of user channel Here, the resetting operation of the user channel when the power supply of the speaker unit 30 is turned on with a delay to the power supply of another device will be described. In this case, the speaker unit 30
Before the power is turned on, the setting of the user channel by the main unit 20 is performed, and the connection relation of each node is as shown in FIG.

In the unit network N1, the radio unit 28 of the main unit 20 is controlled by the control channel CCH.
1 to periodically monitor the unit network N1 by transmitting a search packet (steps SA4 and S4).
A5). When the power of the speaker unit 30 is turned on in this situation, a response packet is returned from the speaker unit 30 in response to the search packet from the main unit 20 (steps SB1 and SB2). With this response packet, the wireless unit 28 detects the speaker unit 30 as a slave node. Since the speaker unit 30 has not been registered in the node binding table T1, the wireless unit 28 determines that a node has been added in the unit network N1 (step SA5), and the same node as that in steps SA1 and SB3 is determined. Processing is performed (steps SA6 and SB3). Thereafter, the processing returns to the monitoring processing of the unit network N1.

The processes of steps SA4 to SA6 in FIG. 10 and the process shown in FIG. 11 are also performed in the unit networks N2 and N3. However, the processing related to the above tables is performed only in the unit network N1. As a result of such an operation, the connection relationship between the nodes is as shown in FIG.

Here, when the power of the speaker unit 30 is turned off, the wireless unit 28 cannot receive a response packet from the speaker unit 30, so that the deletion of the speaker unit 30 is detected (step SA5). When the deletion of the speaker unit 30 is detected, the user channel CH11 set between the speaker unit 30 and the speaker unit 30 is released, and information on the speaker unit 30 is deleted from the node bind table T1 and the speaker unit table T2 ( Step SA6). Thereafter, the processing returns to the monitoring processing of the unit network N1. Also in the unit networks N2 and N3, the same processing as the above processing except for the processing related to each of the above tables is performed, and the connection relationship between the nodes is as shown in FIG.

(3) Playback Operation Under the situation where the connection relationship shown in FIG. 3 is realized, the user inserts a CD into the media slot 21 of the main unit 20 and operates the remote controller 40 to input a CD playback instruction. Then, the instruction is transmitted to the user channels CH21 and CH22.
Is transmitted from the remote controller 40 to the main unit 20 and the speaker unit 30 via the remote controller 40. When this instruction is received by the wireless unit 28 of the main unit 20, the control unit 29 performs reproduction setting according to the instruction. Here, since the instruction is a CD reproduction instruction, no special setting is performed (steps SC1 to SC3).

When the reproduction setting is completed, the CD player 23 reproduces the CD, and the digital audio stream output from the CD player 23 is demodulated in the demodulator 26. The demodulator 26 generates a digital audio stream of a predetermined format based on the demodulated digital audio stream and the stream bind information (here, L + R) set for the user channel CH11. This stream is compression-encoded and supplied to the wireless unit 28, and transmitted to the speaker unit 30 via the user channel CH11.

On the other hand, when the instruction to reproduce the CD is received by the wireless unit 35 of the speaker unit 30, the control unit 39 controls the liquid crystal touch panel 31 according to the instruction. As a result, information indicating that the sound source is a CD is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. In this situation, when the digital audio stream from the main unit 20 is received by the wireless unit 35, this data
In step 6, it is decompressed and decoded. Further, the bibliographic information in the decompressed and decoded digital audio stream is transmitted to the control unit 29.
And information corresponding to the bibliographic information is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. The digital audio stream from which the bibliographic information has been removed is separated into one component and the other component by the DAC 36 and then converted into an analog signal.

Each of these two analog signals is amplified by an amplifier 37 at an amplification degree corresponding to the volume value set in the control section 39, and supplied to a speaker 38 corresponding to each. As a result, the one-component speaker 38 outputs L
The sound of the audio channel component is output from the speaker 38 for the other component, and the sound of the R audio channel component is output. Note that the operation of reproducing from an MD or a semiconductor is the same as the above-described operation of reproducing from a CD except that the sound source is different, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

Reproduction from a DVD differs from the above-described reproduction operation from a CD even if the sound source is different. In reproduction from a DVD, the control unit 29 controls the wireless unit 28 to check the availability of wireless resources (for example, “small”), and demodulates L, R, and LS (Left Surroun).
d), RS (Right Surround), C (Center), LFE
(LowFrequency Effects) A stream composed of a total of six audio channel components is subjected to thinning processing according to the empty information and the weighting table T5, and the user channel C is set in the speaker unit table T2.
The demodulator 26 is controlled so that a stream of a predetermined format according to the stream bind information (here, L + R) set for H11 is generated from the stream after the thinning processing (steps SC4 and SC5).

At the time of reproduction using a unit outside the main unit 20 as a sound source, the control unit 29 checks whether or not the unit is included in the node bind table T1 (step SC1). Here, since there is no unit having a sound source other than the main unit 20 in the unit network N1, the control unit 29 controls the wireless unit 28 and transmits to the speaker unit 30 data indicating that a unit required for reproduction cannot be found. (Step S
C7). As a result, information indicating that a unit required for reproduction cannot be found is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the speaker unit 30.

(4) Volume Adjustment Operation Next, the operation of adjusting the reproduction volume will be described. FIG.
When the user operates the remote controller 40 to input an instruction to increase or decrease the volume in a situation where the connection relationship shown in (1) is realized, the instruction is transmitted to all slave nodes in the unit network N2. However, since the main unit 20 does not have a volume control function, the control unit 29 does nothing even when the wireless unit 28 receives the instruction. Therefore, the main unit 2
At 0 no action is taken.

When the instruction to increase or decrease the volume is received by the wireless unit 35 of the speaker unit 30, the control unit 39 according to the instruction increases or decreases the volume value according to the instruction. Also,
Information indicating a new volume value is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. Thereafter, the sound output from the speaker 38 has a magnitude corresponding to the volume value.

The reproduction volume is adjusted by the speaker unit 3.
It is also possible to operate 0 directly. As shown in FIG. 1, since the speaker unit 30 provides a user interface for operation, it is possible to control the reproduction volume of the speaker unit 30 by operating the user interface. In other words, when the user directly touches the playback volume control operator displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31, the volume value set in the control unit 39 is increased or decreased, and the new volume value is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. Information is displayed.

(5) User Channel Setting Operation When Adding a New Unit Next, a user channel setting operation when a new unit not included in the wireless component 11 is added to the wireless component 11 will be described. However, here, it is assumed that the connection relationship shown in FIG. 3 has already been realized. The unit to be added is a DAB tuner unit 60 having a DAB (digital audio broadcast) receiving function.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the audio system 10 when the DAB tuner unit 60 is added. In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals are given to parts common to FIG. DAB shown in this figure
In the tuner unit 60, a DAB tuner 61 receives a DAB and outputs the received digital audio stream, and a demodulator 62 demodulates the digital audio stream output from the DAB tuner 61. The DAB tuner 61 and the demodulator 62 Is the internal bus 6
3 are connected. 64 is a wireless unit for communicating with other nodes via the virtual wireless bus 50,
The demodulator 62 compression-codes the demodulated digital audio stream and supplies it to the wireless unit 64. A control unit 65 controls each unit.

In the unit network N1, the wireless unit 28 of the main unit 20 detects the DAB tuner unit 60 as a slave node, and
4 is set to the user channel CH12 (FIG. 1
0, steps SA1 to SA3, and step SB1 in FIG.
~ SB3). At this time, the control unit 29 adds information on the DAB tuner unit 60 to the node bind table T1. Also, the unit networks N2 and N3
In, the remote controller 40 and the PC 13 detect the DAB tuner unit 60 as a slave node, and set the user channel CH23 and the user channel CH33 with the wireless unit 64 (steps SA1 to SA).
A3, SB1 to SB3).

As a result of the above operation, the connection relationship between the nodes is as shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing the connection relationship of each node after the DAB tuner unit 60 has been added to the audio system 10, and the same reference numerals in FIG. 15 denote the same parts as in FIG. As is clear from this figure, the DAB tuner unit 60 is added as a slave node to each of the unit networks N1 to N3.

(6) New Unit Reproduction Operation When the user operates the remote controller 40 to input a DAB reception / reproduction instruction, the instruction is transmitted from the remote controller 40 to the main unit 20, speaker unit 30, and DAB tuner unit 60. You.

When a DAB reception / reproduction instruction is received by the wireless unit 64 of the DAB tuner unit 60, the control unit 65 according to the instruction issues a DAB tuner unit 6 signal.
Each part within 0 is controlled. As a result, the program corresponding to the instruction is received by the DAB tuner 61, and a digital audio stream that is the content of the program is output from the DAB tuner 61. The digital audio stream output from the DAB tuner 61 is demodulated by a demodulator 62 into a predetermined format, then compressed and encoded, supplied to a wireless unit 64, and transmitted from the wireless unit 64 to the main unit 20.

When the DAB reception / reproduction instruction is received by the wireless unit 28 of the main unit 20, the control unit 29
Receives and decompresses and decodes the digital audio stream transmitted from the DAB tuner unit 60,
A stream of a predetermined format is generated based on the digital audio stream obtained as a result and stream bind information (here, L + R) set for the user channel CH11, and the stream is compression-encoded and transmitted to the speaker unit 30. (Step SC in FIG. 13)
6). As a result, a digital audio stream corresponding to the speaker unit 30 is generated from the digital audio stream transmitted from the DAB tuner unit 60 to the main unit 20, and this stream is transmitted to the speaker unit 30.

When the DAB reception / reproduction instruction is received by the wireless unit 35 of the speaker unit 30, the sound source is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the speaker unit 30.
B is displayed. In this situation,
When a digital audio stream from the main unit 20 is received by the wireless unit 35, this data is
The bibliographic information in the digital audio stream that has been decompressed and decoded in C36 is extracted by the control unit 39, and information corresponding to the bibliographic information is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 31. Subsequent operations are the same as those of the CD reproducing operation, and a description thereof will be omitted.

(7) DVD Playback Operation by Adding Speaker Unit 30 When a new speaker unit 30 is added in a situation where the connection relationship shown in FIG. 3 is realized, “(2) User channel resetting operation The operation similar to the operation described in "" is performed. However, since the number of speaker units 30 in the unit network N1 changes when the speaker unit 30 is newly added, the user channel CH11
Can also change the stream bind information corresponding to. Therefore, the speaker unit table T2 is updated.
Specifically, the stream bind information for the user channel CH11 is L + R, the user channel CH12
Is LS + RS,
These pieces of information are reflected on the main unit 20 and both speaker units 30.

As a result, the liquid crystal touch panel 31 of the speaker unit 30 existing from the beginning indicates that the stream bind information assigned to the own unit is L + R. It is displayed that the stream bind information assigned to the unit is LS + RS (steps SA4 to SA6 in FIG. 10 and steps SB1 to SB3 in FIG. 11). When the speaker unit 30 is further added in this situation, the same operation as described above is repeatedly performed, and the user channel CH14 and the like are added. Here, the user channels CH11, CH12, CH13,
The stream bind information for CH14 is
L + R, LS + RS, C, LFE.

At the start of DVD playback in such a situation, the control unit 29 controls the demodulated L, R, LS, RS, C,
A stream composed of a total of six audio channel components of LFE is subjected to a thinning-out process in accordance with the weighting according to the availability information of the radio resource at the time of starting the reproduction, and the user channel C
The stream bind information (here, L +) set for H11, CH12, CH13, and CH14, respectively.
R, LS + RS, C, LFE)
One digital audio stream is generated from the decimated digital audio stream, and the demodulator 26 and the radio unit 28 are controlled so that the generated digital audio streams are transmitted via the corresponding user channels (FIG. 13). Steps SC4 and S
C5).

As a result, the sound corresponding to the L and R audio channel components in the speaker unit 30 existing from the beginning, and the sound corresponding to the L and R audio channel components in the speaker unit 30 added first.
A sound corresponding to the S and RS audio channel components, a sound corresponding to the C audio channel component in the next added speaker unit 30, and a sound corresponding to the LFE audio channel component in the last added speaker unit 30 are output. Is done.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a stream transfer image in a case where a total of six speaker units 30 are present in the unit network N1 by repeating the addition of the speaker units 30. In this figure, each arrow corresponds to a user channel, and the thickness of the arrow indicates the amount (band) of the radio resource used. As shown in this figure, the most radio resources are allocated to the transfer of the L and R audio channel components, and the least radio resources are allocated to the transfer of the LFE audio channel components. If the radio resource availability is low, LS,
Since the band ratio of the RS, C, and LFE audio channel components becomes smaller, the exclusive band of the user channel corresponding to these audio channel components becomes narrower.

(8) Stream Bind Change Operation The remote controller 40 operates the main unit 2 in response to a user operation.
When the stream binding change instruction is supplied to 0, the control unit 29 of the main unit 20 cyclically changes the stream binding type information set in the stream binding table T3 according to the current number of speakers 38, and The stream set in the speaker unit table T2 for each user channel represented by the user channel information in the node bind table T1, based on the current number of speakers 38, stream bind type information, and stream bind list table T4. The binding information is changed, and the result of the change is transmitted via the corresponding user channel. Thereby, the stream bind information assigned to each speaker 38 is changed.

(9) Download Operation Under the situation where the connection relationship shown in FIG. 3 is realized, the user operates the PC 13 to download desired data from the Internet 12 and transmits the data to the user interface of the speaker unit 30. Is input, the instruction and data are transmitted to the speaker unit 30. When the speaker unit 30 receives the instruction and the data, the control unit 39 determines the validity of the data, and if valid, overwrites the old data with the data. Thereafter, the user interface provided by the speaker unit 30 becomes a new user interface. If the data is not valid, the overwriting process is not performed. Further, in the present embodiment, since the liquid crystal touch panel 31 is employed, it is possible to change the user interface such that the arrangement of the operators on the display screen is also changed.

When the user operates the PC 13 to download desired data from the Internet 12 and inputs an instruction to record the data as digital audio data in the main unit 20, the instruction and the data are transmitted to the main unit. 20. When the main unit 20 receives the instruction and the data, the control unit 2
9 judges the validity of the data, and if the data is valid, stores the data in the semiconductor recording / reproducing unit 25. The remote control 4
0 has a function of downloading digital audio data from the Internet 12, so that the PC 13 can download digital audio data.
Can be used instead of the remote controller 40.

E: Supplement In this embodiment, an example in which the operation of the main unit 20 is performed by using the remote controller 40 has been described. However, an operator is provided on the main unit 20 to operate the main unit 20 without using the remote controller 40. It goes without saying that it may be possible to do so. In the present embodiment, the recording / reproducing function of the digital audio stream by the main unit 20 has been limited, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, DAB
The digital audio stream from the tuner unit 60 may be recorded on the MD by the main unit 20.

Further, in this embodiment, the main unit 2
One user channel is set between 0 and the speaker unit 30 and shared by, for example, the L audio channel and the R audio channel. However, two user channels are set, and one is used for the L audio channel.
The other may be used for the R audio channel, one for the sum of the L audio channel component and the R audio channel component, and the other for the difference.

In this embodiment, the main unit 20 relays the digital audio stream transmitted from the DAB tuner unit 60 to the speaker unit 30. However, the DAB tuner unit 60 is used as a master node, and the speaker unit 30 is used as a slave. A unit network as a node may be newly provided so that the digital audio stream can be directly transmitted from the DAB tuner unit 60 to the speaker unit 30.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the user interface of the speaker unit 30 and the digital audio data recorded in the main unit 20 are downloaded has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. (Control programs, communication programs, etc.) may be downloaded and updated.

The present invention includes various aspects, and is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
For example, the wireless LAN system applied to the present invention is not limited to the master / slave system, and may not use the 2.4 GHz band. Further, the remote controller may not have a mobile phone function, or the remote controller may have additional functions other than the mobile phone. Furthermore, the reason why the compression encoding is performed in the embodiment is that the band of the current home wireless network is narrow, and if a sufficiently wide band can be secured, the compression encoding is unnecessary.

[0081]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a wireless channel of an appropriate band can be set for each of the other wireless audio devices, a practical wireless audio device can be provided. In addition, since the connection with another wireless audio device is via a wireless channel, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom of arrangement of the device, reduce the burden on the user related to the arrangement, and improve the appearance. . Further, if the band of the wireless channel and the data density are changed according to the availability of wireless resources, more practical audio equipment can be provided. Also,
If the wireless channel is automatically set in response to the addition of another wireless audio, the burden on the user can be further reduced. Also, by making it possible to switch the data to be transferred to other audio devices,
An audio environment with a higher degree of freedom can be provided. Furthermore, if a secondary battery is used, the power supply is also wireless, so that an audio environment with a higher degree of freedom and an excellent appearance can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an audio system 10 using a wireless component 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of a speaker unit 30 constituting the wireless component 11. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a logical connection relationship in the audio system 10.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the audio system 10.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a stream binding list table T4 stored in a main unit 20 of the wireless component 11.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a weighting table T5 stored in a main unit 20.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a stream bind table T3 stored in a main unit 20.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a node bind table T1 stored in the main unit 20.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a speaker unit table T2 stored in a main unit 20.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a user channel setting operation of a master node in the audio system 10.

11 is a flowchart showing a user channel setting operation of a slave node in the audio system 10. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a logical connection relationship in the audio system 10.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a reproduction setting operation in the main unit 20.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the audio system 10 when a DAB tuner unit 60 is added.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a logical connection relationship in the audio system 10.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a stream transfer image when six speaker units 30 exist in a unit network N1.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 audio system, 11 wireless component, 1
2 Internet 13 PC 20 Main unit 30 Speaker unit 40 Remote control 50 Virtual wireless bus 60 DAB tuner unit 21 Media slot 22 MD player, 23 CD player, 24 DVD player, 25 Semiconductor recording / reproducing section, 26, 62 demodulator, 2
7, 63 internal bus, 28, 35, 64 wireless unit, 29, 39, 65 control unit 31, liquid crystal touch panel, 32 sound emitting unit, 33 power cable, 3
4 ... storage unit, 36 ... DAC, 37 ... amplifier, 38
…… Speaker, 61 …… DAB tuner, CH11-C
H15, CH21 to CH23, CH31 to CH33 ...
User channels, CCH1 to CCH3... Control channels.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A wireless audio device for transferring data to and from another wireless audio device, wherein a wireless channel setting unit sets a wireless channel for the other audio device between the wireless audio device and the other audio device. A band setting unit that sets a band of the wireless channel according to the data; and transferring the data between the other wireless audio devices via the wireless channel whose band is set by the band setting unit. A wireless audio device, comprising: 2. A wireless audio device for transferring data to and from another wireless audio device, the wireless channel setting unit setting a wireless channel for the other audio device between the wireless audio device and the other audio device. A band setting unit that sets a band of the wireless channel according to a type of the other wireless audio device; and a band setting unit that sets the band of the other wireless audio device via the wireless channel whose band is set by the band setting unit. And a transfer unit for transferring the data between the wireless audio devices. 3. A wireless audio device for transferring data to and from another wireless audio device, the wireless channel setting unit setting a wireless channel for the other audio device between the wireless audio device and the other audio device. A detecting unit that detects a vacant state of a radio resource; a band setting unit that sets a band of the radio channel according to a detection result of the detecting unit; and a radio channel whose band is set by the band setting unit. And a transfer unit for transferring the data to and from the other wireless audio device via the wireless audio device. 4. The wireless audio device according to claim 3, further comprising a compression unit that thins out the data according to a detection result of the detection unit, wherein the transfer unit sets a band by the band setting unit. A wireless audio device that transfers the data thinned by the compression unit to and from the other wireless audio device via a wireless channel. 5. The wireless audio device according to claim 1, further comprising: a monitoring unit that detects addition of the other wireless audio, wherein the wireless channel setting unit is configured to monitor the other wireless audio by the monitoring unit. A wireless audio device, wherein a wireless channel for the other audio device is set between the wireless device and the other audio device upon detection of additional wireless audio. 6. The wireless audio device according to claim 1, further comprising: a switching unit configured to switch the data transferred to and from the other audio device, wherein the transfer unit sets the band. A wireless audio device for transferring the data switched by the changing unit to and from the another audio device via the wireless channel whose band has been set by the unit. 7. The wireless audio device according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary battery.