JP2002062949A - Information exchange system and electronic equipment used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for delivering information between a plurality of electronic apparatuses allowing only related apparatuses to perform processing on the basis of common time information. SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus within the system gains time information from a designated specified electronic apparatus of the electronic apparatuses present in the system, and corrects its own time information in reference to it. It also transmits its own time information to a designated specified electronic apparatus to correct the time information of the counter apparatus.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices and an electronic device used for the information exchange system, and particularly to a structure suitable for correcting time information of each electronic device. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices, it is necessary to correct the time of each device in order to make the time of the electronic devices connected to the system uniform. In this regard, there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-123577. According to the publication, one of the devices in the system is regarded as a standard clock function device, and all other devices in the system perform various processing with reference to the standard clock information obtained from the standard clock function device. It is described to be performed.

[0003]

In the above prior art, all devices having a clock function in the system execute processing in accordance with the time of the standard clock function device, and have the following inconveniences. .

If the user intentionally sets a specific device to a time suitable for the purpose of use, and even within the same system, each of the groups A, B, and C has its own time. (For example, group A operating at standard time, group B operating at 5 minutes ahead of standard time, and group C operating at 5 minutes behind standard time) It is difficult and inconvenient to execute the processing of all devices using the time information (standard time) of the device.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a configuration in which the time can be set flexibly and the user can arbitrarily set and correct the time for each device group according to the use condition of each device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices. In the information exchange system, one of the electronic devices having a clock function in the system is provided. A plurality of electronic devices having independent time information and acquiring time information from a specified specific electronic device, and referring to the obtained time information to correct time information of the own device. Configuration.

Further, according to the present invention, one of the electronic devices having time information in the system is provided with its own specific electronic device among a plurality of electronic devices having an independent clock function in the system. A configuration is provided that includes time correction means for transmitting time information and correcting the time information of the designated electronic device with reference to the time information.

Further, according to the present invention, when a new electronic device is connected to the system, or when the electronic device specified by the time adjusting means is disconnected, it is displayed that the connection to the system has been changed. The display device has a display means for performing the operation.

With the above configuration, only a plurality of related electronic devices can execute various processes based on common time information. This time information is not limited to the standard time, but can be set by the user according to the usage conditions of the device. At that time, the operation of other electronic devices in the system is not affected. In addition, the user can easily grasp the connection status of the electronic device that acquires or sends the time information, and can easily change the settings.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the information exchange system of the present invention. TV A as an electronic device
2. VCR 3, CS tuner 4, BS tuner 5, component stereo 6, personal computer 7, fax 8, answering machine 9, clock 10, alarm clock 11, TV B12, air conditioner 13, washing machine 14, electronic cooking machine 1.
5 is shown. Each electronic device is assigned an individual number for identifying them. Transmission of information between the electronic devices is performed by the cable 1.

Among the electronic devices, the devices denoted by reference numerals 2 to 10 are devices for which the time information owned by each device is desired to be adjusted to the standard time. For example, it is a device that wants to advance for 5 to 10 minutes, and each of devices 14 to 15 is
The device does not cause any trouble even if it is delayed by, for example, one minute from the standard time. As described above, even in the same system, there are devices that want to adjust to the standard time, devices that want to advance from the standard time, and devices that do not need to adjust to the standard time.

In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned specific devices are shown as the electronic devices 2 to 15, but the present invention is not limited to such devices as long as they have a clock function.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. The central processing unit CPU 17 performs data input / output and condition determination according to a processing program stored in the ROM 18. The operation unit 16 inputs various operations of the video deck, for example, a recording operation and a reproducing operation, and a source and a destination of the time information, an acquisition interval and a transfer interval, and transmits them to the CPU 17 as a command. Control circuit 2
0 controls the display unit 21 and the magnetic head 22 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 17. Interface circuit 2
In No. 3, in addition to inputting and outputting commands and time information between the CPU 17 and a device connected by a cable 24 for digitally transmitting information between a plurality of devices, the cable 24 may be disconnected and connected. Judge and inform CPU17. The RAM 19 stores the acquisition source of the time information, the transmission destination of the time information, and the change history of the time information.
It is displayed on the display unit 21 according to the instruction of U17. Clock IC2
5 indicates the current time to the CPU 17 and C by an instruction.
It has a function to reset the time specified by the PU 17 as the current time.

Next, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the process of acquiring and transmitting time information.

The CPU 17 monitors an input from the operation unit 16 (step S1), and receives an instruction to acquire time information and an instruction from which device in the system to acquire time information ("Y" in step S2). ), And transmits a time information acquisition request and an acquisition destination device number among the individual numbers pre-assigned to each device to the devices connected by the cable 24 (step S9). When a command indicating that the acquisition of the time information of the device is permitted is returned from the acquisition source device, it is determined that the acquisition of the time information of the acquisition destination device is possible (“Y” in step S10). Then, the time information of the acquisition destination device is acquired (step S11), and the completion of the acquisition is indicated by the cable 2
(Step S1)
2). At this time, in addition to displaying a message indicating that the acquisition has been completed on the display unit 21 of the user, the acquisition is also performed by a device having a display function connected by the display cable 24, for example, the television A2 or the television B12. Can be displayed to the effect that the display has been completed (note that any device having a display function connected by the cable 24 can be displayed). If a command indicating that the acquisition of the time information held by the device is rejected is returned from the acquisition source device ("N" in step S10), a message indicating that acquisition is not possible is displayed on the display unit 21; For example, "acquisition rejected" is displayed (step S13), and the user is prompted to change the acquisition source device to another device. Thereafter, when the user inputs an instruction to change the acquisition source device to another device from the operation unit 16 ("Y" in step S14), the process returns to step S9. Conversely, when the user inputs an instruction to stop acquisition without changing the acquisition destination device to another device (“N” in step S14), the process ends without acquiring time information. Message indicating that the information has been acquired, for example, "There is no acquired information."
Are displayed on the display unit 21 (step S15).

In the above description, a case has been described in which the user specifically indicates from which device the time information is to be obtained.
It is also possible to instruct to acquire the time information of the device having the time information closest to the standard time. As a method, a device that acquires standard time from a satellite or a radio tower is registered in advance, and an instruction indicating that time information is acquired from a device having time information closest to the standard time is input to the operation unit. 16 may be input. In addition, if it is not necessary to obtain time information from another device and transfer its own time information to another device, the above-described operation is unnecessary, and the following time information transfer method is performed. Just do it.

In order to further transfer the time information obtained from another device or its own time information to another device, an instruction to transfer the time information and an instruction as to which device in the system the time information is to be transferred are provided by the operation unit. Input from 16. CPU17
In response to the input instruction (“Y” in step S3), the transfer request of the time information and the number indicating the transfer destination device among the individual numbers assigned to each device in advance are connected by the cable 24. The information is transmitted to each device (step S16). When a command indicating that the transfer is permitted is returned from the transfer destination device, it is determined that the transfer of the time information acquired from another device or the own time information is permitted ("Y" in step S17). ), Transfer the time information obtained from another device or the own time information (step S18), and notify the completion of the transfer to each device connected by the cable 24 (step S18).
19). As a result, in addition to displaying a message indicating that the transfer is completed on its own display unit 21, the transfer is also completed on devices having a display function connected by the display cable 24, for example, the television A2 and the television B12. A message can be displayed to indicate that the operation has been performed.
If a command indicating that transfer is rejected is returned from the transfer destination device ("N" in step S17), a message indicating that transfer cannot be performed is displayed on the display unit 21;
For example, "Transfer rejected" is displayed (step S20), and the user is prompted whether to change the transfer destination device to another device. Thereafter, when the user inputs an instruction to change the transfer destination device to another device from the operation unit 16 ("Y" in step S21), the process returns to step S16. Conversely, when the user inputs an instruction to stop the transfer without changing the transfer destination device to another device from the operation unit 16 ("N" in step S21), the process ends without transferring the time information. Display unit 2 displays a message indicating that the transfer has been performed, for example, "Judged that transfer is unnecessary."
1 (step S22), and the operation proceeds to step S4.

When the time of acquisition has been reached ("Y" in step S4) due to the acquisition interval of the time information input from the operation unit 16, the operation proceeds to step S9. If the time is not the acquisition time ("N" in step S4), the operation moves to the next step S5. When the transfer time comes due to the transfer interval of the time information input from the operation unit 16 (“Y” in step S5), the process proceeds to step S16.
Move on to operation. If it is not the transfer time ("N" in step S5), the operation moves to the next step S6.

When the connection of the equipment in the system is changed ("Y" in step S6), the interface circuit 23 determines that the cable 24 has been disconnected and connected, and notifies the CPU 17 of the determination. The CPU 17 outputs a command to display on the display unit 21 a message indicating that the connection has been changed, for example, "The system has been changed. Do you want to change the settings?" S
7) Return to step S1. If the connection of the devices in the system is not changed ("N" in step S6),
The operation proceeds to the next step S8, and if the system itself is not released ("N" in step S8), the process returns to step S1 and repeats the above-described operation.

In addition to the messages described above, the device from which the time information has been obtained, the device to which the time information has been transferred, and the time information can be displayed on a device having a display function connected by the cable 24. .

Although a video deck has been described as an example of the electronic equipment, the present invention can be applied to electronic equipment having a clocking function.

[0023]

According to the information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices, only a plurality of devices performing related processes can perform various processes based on common time information. This time information is not limited to the standard time, but can be set by the user according to the usage conditions of the device. In addition, the user can easily grasp the connection status of the electronic device that acquires or sends the time information, and can easily change the settings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an electronic device (video deck) included in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for obtaining and transferring time information between electronic devices.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 24: information transmission cable, 2 to 15: various electronic devices, 3: video deck, 16: operation unit, 17: C
PU, 18 ROM, 19 RAM, 20 control circuit, 21 display unit, 22 magnetic head, 23 interface circuit, 25 clock IC

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masashi Flamestone 292, Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Hitachi Image Information System (72) Inventor Kimio Ohura 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi, Ltd. F-Term (Digital Media Products Division) 2F002 AA05 AD06 AD07 BA02 BB00 EE00 FA16 GA07 GA08 GA09 5B045 CC09

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices, wherein one of the electronic devices having a clock function in the system is:
A time at which time information is obtained from a specified specific electronic device among a plurality of electronic devices which exist in the system and have independent time information, and the own time information is corrected by referring to the obtained time information. An information exchange system comprising a correction unit. 2. An information exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said time adjustment means is an electronic device having time information closest to a standard time among electronic devices in said system as electronic devices for acquiring time information. An information exchange system characterized by specifying the following. 3. An information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices, wherein one of the electronic devices having time information in the system is:
Among a plurality of electronic devices having an independent clocking function and existing in the system, transmit their own time information to a specified specific electronic device, and refer to the time information to specify the time information of the specified electronic device. An information exchange system comprising time correction means for correcting the time. 4. The information exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said time adjusting means corrects the time information at a predetermined time interval. system. 5. The information exchange system according to claim 1, wherein a name of an electronic device connected to said system or an electronic device designated by said time adjusting means for correcting time information. An information exchange system comprising display means for displaying a device name. 6. An electronic device for use in an information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices, said electronic device having a timekeeping function and being provided in said system and having independent time information. An electronic device having time correction means for acquiring time information from a specified specific electronic device among the electronic devices, and correcting own time information with reference to the acquired time information. 7. An electronic device used in an information exchange system for exchanging information between a plurality of electronic devices, comprising: a plurality of electronic devices having time information, existing in the system and having independent clock functions. An electronic device having time correction means for transmitting its own time information to a specified specific electronic device among the electronic devices and correcting the time information of the specified electronic device with reference to the time information. 8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the name of the electronic device connected to the system or the name of the electronic device specified by the time correction unit to correct time information. An electronic device, comprising: a display unit that displays a message. 9. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein an electronic device specified by the electronic device to acquire or transmit time information is disconnected from the system. An electronic device having display means for displaying when a connection is changed or when a connection is changed.