JP2002149283A - Digital information apparatus having network function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital information apparatus having a network function capable of realizing its original function even though power supply to the digital information equipment is stopped mistakenly. SOLUTION: In the digital information apparatus for making an apparatus operation reservation and the digital information apparatus N for responding to a signal through a network, the digital information apparatus has an interface 4a for responding to the signal through the network B the other digital information equipment N3 for making an operation reservation, a reservation detecting part 1 for detecting digital information apparatus subjected to an operation reservation on the network, reservation apparatus elimination detecting/deciding parts 2 and 3 for detecting that the digital information apparatus detected by the part 1 is electrically eliminated from the network, and a notifying part 5 for notifying the elimination when the elimination is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital information device for processing a digital signal capable of performing a signal response process via a network, and more particularly to a digital information device capable of setting an operation reservation. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, many types of digital information devices have been manufactured and spread, and these digital information devices transmit and receive moving image information and content information via a network by providing an interface between the devices. This makes it possible to share these sources.
Digital information devices having such a network function are, for example, IEEE1394 High Performance Serial
Although they are connected by a network bus such as lBus (hereinafter, IEEE 1394 bus), various networks can be formed in principle by other standards.

[0003] In such digital information devices with advanced networking, for example, digital televisions and DVs
D (Digital Versatile Disk) player, DVHS (Di
gital Video Home System), printers and PCs (Per
sonal computer), and digital information such as moving image information can be shared. Further, for example, between DVHS and the like, operation information such as reservation information can be transmitted and received via a network and shared.

[0004]

However, in the case of a system constituted by an IEEE 1394 bus, for example,
According to the standard of the IEEE 1394 bus, if a 6-core connector and a 6-core cable are used, power can be supplied to the network interface of each device via a cable. However, in fact, power is supplied to home electric appliances which need to reduce standby power consumption. Impossible 4-core connectors and 4-core cables have become widespread.
For this reason, if the AC power supply to the device is cut off for the purpose of reducing standby power using a power strip that can be individually turned on and off, the network is disconnected by the device whose power supply has been stopped. This may affect not only the operation reservation but also communication between other devices.

[0005] In particular, when devices are connected between rooms in a home network, if power supply is carelessly interrupted without knowing whether or not the device has been reserved for operation, such a problem is highly likely to occur. There's a problem.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-112578 discloses a digital information device having a network function and sharing a reservation operation. In this system, even if the contents of the reservation operation are stored in another device, if the power supply to the device for which the operation has been reserved is cut off, the operation cannot be started even at the reserved time. Further, even if the supply of power to the reserved devices is resumed, when transferring the internal information from the device recording the internal information of the reserved devices to the reserved device, a network between these devices is required. If the power supply to the upper device is cut off, there is a problem that the reservation operation cannot be started because the internal information cannot be transferred.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-173252 discloses a power supply control device having a network function. Such a power supply control device also has the above-described problem unless all devices on the network receive power supply from the power supply control device.

[0008] In addition, each AC
When controlling the devices connected to the connector individually,
Since a network interface is required for each C connector, there is a problem that the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital information device having a network function for realizing an original function even if power supply is stopped by mistake.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a digital information device for making an operation reservation for a device and a digital information device for making a signal response via a network. A response unit for performing a signal response via the digital information device and the network; a reservation detection unit for detecting the digital information device connected to the response unit via the network and for which an operation reservation is made; and the reservation detection unit. Loss detection means for detecting that the digital information device for which the detected operation reservation has been made has been electrically lost from the network,
When the disappearance detecting means detects that the digital information device for which the operation reservation has been made is electrically lost, the notifying means outputs a notification signal indicating the electrical loss of the digital information device. It is a digital information device having a characteristic network function.

[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a digital information device for making an operation reservation for a device and a digital information device for responding to a signal via a network. Response means for responding to a signal via the network, reservation detection means for detecting a digital information device which is connected to the response means via a network and reserved for operation, and operation reservation detected by the reservation detection means is performed. Loss detection means for detecting that the digital information device has been electrically lost from the network; and when the loss detection means has detected that the digital information device for which operation reservation has been made has been electrically lost, the digital information A notification unit for outputting a notification signal indicating the electrical disappearance of the device. Providing digital information apparatus having a.

According to the present invention, in a networked digital information device, if any of the digital information devices for which operation reservation has been made is electrically lost from the network, this is detected by the above-mentioned loss detection means. To detect. When the disappearance detecting means detects the digital information device for which the operation reservation has been made, a notifying means is provided to report this to the user. Therefore, unlike a conventional apparatus, for example, in a D-VHS or the like, as a result of suddenly turning off the power, a problem that a program recording fails even though a recording reservation has been made does not occur.

The notification means may take various forms, from a case where a notification signal is simply generated, to a case where the lost model name is notified to the user on the entire screen or in a sub-screen, or a case where the lost device corresponds to the lost device. In the case of notifying the user's attention by blinking the reservation content or adding a mark, it is not effective to notify the user in another room that the device has disappeared, and it is not effective. It is highly probable that the device adjacent to the device that disappeared from the network after being stopped is in the same room as the lost device, so it is more effective to notify this neighboring device, so the same configuration as the lost device is used. In addition, an adjacent device disappearance judging means for judging that the adjacent device has disappeared by the reserved device disappearance judging unit is provided, and the adjacent device reserved for operation by the notification unit is lost. It can be respectively for example, to notify the user that was.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a first digital information device having a network function according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment, FIG.
1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a network system including a plurality of digital information devices having a network function according to the present invention.

First Embodiment A first embodiment is a digital information device having a network function having a function of detecting the disappearance of a device from a network, which is a basic function of the present invention. In these embodiments, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, a digital information device N1 having a network function, such as a digital television, a DVD player, a DVHS, and a printer or a PC, and each device is connected by an IEEE 1394 bus. The operation will be described. Digital information equipment N1
Although the basic configuration of FIG. 1 is omitted in FIG. 1 and shows only the configuration of the communication function and its additional function, the interface unit 4a, the operation reservation unit 6a connected thereto, and the reservation detection unit 1 , A device disappearance detection unit 3, and the reservation detection unit 1
The device includes a reserved device disappearance determination unit 2 connected to the device loss detection unit 3 and a notification unit 5 connected to the determination unit and notifying the user of the determination result.

Next, the functions of these units will be described in order. The reservation detecting unit 1 detects the identification information and the destination on the network of the device whose operation has been reserved by using the operation reservation unit 6a or 6b. This means that another device makes an operation reservation to another device. This is also to detect that.
The reserved device disappearance judging unit 2 detects whether the device detected by the reservation detecting unit 1 has disappeared from the network. The device loss detection unit 3 detects a device that has disappeared from the network. The interfaces 4a and 4b transmit and receive signals to and from a network between the configured devices. In the present embodiment, the interfaces 4a and 4b are interfaces for connecting to an IEEE 1394 bus. It includes a LINK layer, a control unit, a real-time data processing unit, and the like.
The notifying unit 5, based on the determination result of the reserved device disappearance determining unit 2,
Notifies the user that the device for which operation reservation has been made has disappeared from the network. For example, a voice notification, lighting of a lamp or an LED, characters or graphics on a display device such as a TV, etc. Is displayed,
Various forms are possible. Further, the operation reservation units 6a and 6b
Can reserve the operation of other devices on the network,
This is for processing an operation reservation from another device. For example, the 1394 Trade Association
ation) bulletin board subunit (Bulletin Bo)
ard Subunit) protocol. The digital information devices N1 and N3 are devices that process digital information having a network function, such as a digital television, a DVD player, a DVHS, and a printer or a PC, as described above.

(Description of Operation) In such a configuration, the operation of the digital information device of the present invention will be described step by step.

As the first operation, the information devices N1 and N
3 are connected by an IEEE1394 bus B via an interface 4a and an interface 4b, respectively. Then, the operation reservation unit 6a of the device N1 starts the recording operation at 9:00 PM and stops the recording at 11:00 PM with respect to the device N3 (operation A).
From the interface 4a via the IEEE 1394 bus B, for example, a bulletin board sub-unit (Bulletin board sub-unit).
Reserve using the Board Subunit) protocol.

As the next operation, the operation reservation unit 6 of the device N3
When a makes a reservation, the reservation detection unit 1 of the device N1 identifies the device N1 which is a partner device by a GUID (Global Unique Identifier) and a model name of the device, which are values unique to each device according to the standard. Detect as information. Also, here, an example has been described in which the operation reservation unit 6a has a reservation detection unit 1 as a device to make a reservation. However, the reservation detection unit 1 of the device N3 to be reserved detects the reserved identification information of the device N1. May be.

Further, a third device (not shown) other than the device N1 to be reserved and the device N3 to be reserved is provided with a reservation detecting unit 1, and a mode for detecting a reservation with the following configuration is also considered. Can be

First, the interface unit is provided with monitoring means for monitoring data transmitted on the network, and the reservation detection unit 1 operates the device N1 to the device N3 based on the data extracted by the monitoring means. In this case, it is detected that the reservation has been made, and the identification information and the reservation content of the reserved device N1 and the reserved device N3 are detected.

Second, the reservation detection unit 1 has an inquiry means for inquiring about the reservation status of each device on the network via the interface unit, and the reservation is made with the reserved device N1 according to the result of this inquiry. This is a case where the identification information of the device N3 and the reservation content are detected.

Third, the operation reservation unit 6a notifies the device on the network that the operation reservation has been made to the device N3, or a reservation notification that notifies the device on the network that the operation reservation unit 6b of the device N1 has been reserved for operation. In this case, a means (not shown) is provided, and based on the notification from the reservation notifying means, the reservation detecting unit 1 detects the identification information of the reserved device N1 and the reserved device N3 and the contents of the reservation.

As the next operation, the device N3 whose operation is reserved
In response to the operation reservation instruction input via the interface 4b, the operation reservation unit 6b performs processing such as recording the operation contents and waiting for the operation up to the instruction time. Start recording at 0:00 and P
An instruction is given to the control unit of the entire device N3 (not shown) to stop recording at M11: 00.

In this operation, the user forgets that the reservation has been made, and the device N is used for the purpose of reducing standby power consumption.
3 stops power supply to IEEE 1394.
A bus reset occurs on the bus. However, the bus reset is detected by the interface 4a, and triggered by the detection of the bus reset, the device loss detection unit 3 of the device N1 starts detection, and as a result, detects that a certain device on the network has disappeared. . The following configuration is also conceivable as a detection method here.

That is, a GUID storage unit (not shown)
The GUID of each device is stored, and the GUIDs immediately before and immediately after the bus reset are compared.
This is a case where it is detected whether or not there is a UID.

As the next operation, the reserved device disappearance judging unit 2 in the device N1 compares the GUID of the reserved device detected by the reservation detecting unit 1 with the GUID detected by the device disappearance detecting unit 3, and these are compared. If they match, it is determined that the device reserved by the user has disappeared from the network, that is, the recording operation does not start even at 9:00 PM of the reserved time.

As the last operation, the user is informed of the result of the judgment made by the reserved device disappearance judging section 2 by the notifying section 5. The content and method of notification here should be at least 3
There are two cases.

First, a GUI for storing a GUID and a model name in association with each other by at least one of the reservation detecting unit 1, the device loss detecting unit 3, and the interface 4a.
D equipped with a model name storage unit (not shown)
This is a case where the model name is recognized from the UID and the model name is notified to the user on the entire screen or in a small screen.

Secondly, there is provided a reservation content display means (not shown) for displaying the content reserved on the screen, and by blinking the reservation content corresponding to the lost device N3 or adding a mark, etc. This is a case where the user is notified to draw the user's attention.

Third, when the devices N1 and N3 are placed in different rooms, it is not effective to notify the user in another room that the device N3 has disappeared. A device adjacent to a device that has disappeared from the network is likely to be in the same room as the device that has disappeared, and it is more effective to notify this neighboring device. Therefore, the adjacent device (not shown) has the same configuration as the device N1,
Further, an adjacent device disappearance judging means (not shown) for judging that the adjacent device has disappeared by the reserved device disappearance judging unit 2 is provided so that the user can be notified that the adjacent device reserved for operation by the notifying unit 5 has disappeared. Is to be notified.

According to the procedure described above, for example, IEEE
In a network configured by E1394 or the like, if the power of a device for which an operation such as video recording reservation is set is turned off for some reason, the recording reservation is not executed in the related art. According to this, it is possible to detect the disappearance of the device reserved for recording from the network and notify the user of the network system of the disappearance. This makes it possible to avoid a problem that the power of the device is inadvertently turned off and, for example, the recording reservation fails.

<Second Embodiment> The second embodiment has basically the same problems as the first embodiment, but by further providing an alternative device detection unit and the like, a device lost from the network is provided. And a digital information device having a network function having a function of detecting / designating an alternative device and substituting a reservation function.

The digital information device in this case will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. Although the basic configuration is not shown in FIG. 2 and shows only the configuration of the communication function and the additional function thereof, the interface unit 4a has a configuration partially common to the device N3 shown in the first embodiment. And an operation reservation unit 6a, a reservation detection unit 1, and a device loss detection unit 3 connected thereto, a reserved device loss determination unit 2 connected to the reservation detection unit 1 and the device loss detection unit 3, and this determination unit And a notifying unit 5 for notifying the user of the determination result, which is connected to the interface unit 4c as a configuration unique to the second embodiment. 9. Alternative device storage unit 1 connected to this
0, an alternative device control unit 12 connected thereto, and an operation content storage unit 11 connected thereto.

As for the respective functions of these configurations, the configuration common to the first embodiment has the same function, and the new configuration has the following functions. That is, the alternative device storage unit 10 stores the identification information and the destination on the network of the device detected by the alternative device detection unit 9. The operation content storage unit 11 stores the operation content reserved for the device detected by the reservation detection unit 1. In addition, according to the determination result of the reserved device disappearance determination unit 2, the substitute device control unit 12 determines whether the device reserved for operation has disappeared to a substitute device (not shown) stored in the substitute device storage unit 10. It has a control function of performing control to execute the operation content (for example, recording of a reserved program) stored in the operation content storage unit 11. Further, the storable device search unit 13 has a function of searching for a device permitted to access the operation content storage unit 11 from another device via a network.

(Operation) With such a configuration, in the device according to the second embodiment, the following operation is performed as an example.

As an initial operation, the device N5 is connected to, for example, an IEEE 1394 bus via the interface 4c, and starts a recording operation from the device (not shown) to the device N5, for example, at 9:00 PM, and at 11:00 PM. Regarding the operation of stopping recording (operation A), for example, a bulletin board subunit (Bulletin Board Subunit) is transmitted from the interface 4a via the IEEE1394 bus.
Make a reservation using the protocol.

In response to this, when the operation reservation unit 6c of the device N5 makes a reservation, the reservation detection unit 1 transmits the GUID and the model name of the device which are unique values in each device of the partner device to the device identification information. Detected as Further, in the operation-reserved device N5, the operation reservation instruction input via the interface 4c is transmitted from the operation reservation unit 6c to the operation content storage unit 11
Here, the contents of the reserved operation (operation A) are stored.

Further, the storage content storage unit 11 may be configured to permit access to a device on the network and store the operation content reserved by another device. Of course, the device (not shown) that has made a reservation for the device N5 also includes the operation content storage unit 11 and it is also preferable to store the reserved operation (operation A).

Next, in the storable device search unit 13, from the network via the interface 4c, before or immediately after the bus reset, or when the operation is reserved.
The device for which access is permitted in the operation reservation content storage unit 11 is searched. If a device to which access is permitted is found, control is performed on this device (not shown) so that the operation content (operation A) reserved for the device N5 is stored in the operation reservation content storage unit 11. Here, the reserved device N
Although the control has been performed from 5, the same control may be performed from the reserved device or the device at the time 3. If the target device does not include the storable device search unit 13, the device that has reserved the operation in the device N <b> 5
(Operation A) may be stored.

Next, the device that stores the reservation operation (operation A) of the device N5 in the operation content storage unit 11 is an alternative device that executes the operation A in place of the lost device when the device N5 disappears from the network. Is detected by the substitute device detection unit 9. The following two cases are conceivable as a method of detecting an alternative device, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

First, a code detecting means for detecting a code indicating the model of each device, for example, "DVHS" of digital VHS, etc., is provided. Is detected.

Second, for example, a tape detecting means for detecting whether or not a recordable tape is inserted in the DVHS, or a mode compatible with the DVHS (standard mode SD)
Or high-definition mode HD) and / or one of the mode detection means for detecting whether or not the mode can be strictly replaced.

As the next operation, the identification information such as the GUID and the model of the device detected by the substitute device detecting section 9 is
It is stored in the substitute device storage unit 10. Further, as in the case of the first embodiment, the reserved device N5 has been lost from a reserved device (not shown) having the same configuration as the device N5, and the reserved device has disappeared from the network from the device N5. When the alternative device control unit 12 detects that the alternative device is stored in the alternative device storage unit 10, the alternative device control unit 12 executes the operation content (operation A) stored in the operation reservation storage unit 11 for the alternative device stored in the alternative device storage unit 10. Is controlled via.

In this case, the notifying unit 5 of the first embodiment is provided, and at the same time that the alternative device executes the operation A, the user causes the alternative device to execute or execute the operation A from the notifying unit 5. A configuration for notifying that is possible. Further, a configuration may be considered in which, when the substitute device cannot be detected on the network, only the notification is performed as in the first embodiment.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when a device in which a reservation operation such as a recording reservation is registered disappears from the network, the substitute device substitutes this role. As a result, it is possible to reliably execute the reservation operation.

<Third Embodiment> In the third embodiment, instead of detecting a device that has performed a reservation operation as in the first and second embodiments, a certain device is registered in advance. This is a digital information device having a network function of notifying, when detecting that these registered devices have disappeared from the network. This embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 3, the digital information device N4 includes an interface 4d, a device disappearance detection unit 3 connected thereto,
The apparatus includes a device registration unit 15, a registered device disappearance determination unit 16 connected thereto, and a notification unit 17 for notifying the disappearance determination.

Each of these configurations has the following functions. That is, the device registration unit 15 included in the digital information device N4 has a function of registering identification information or a destination of a device that has a great effect when it disappears from the network. The registered device disappearance determination unit 16
Has a function of determining that the device registered in the device has disappeared. The notification unit 17 notifies the user that the registered device has been lost from the network based on the determination result of the registered device loss determination unit 16. For example, the notification unit 17 may be a voice notification or a lamp or LED. Lights or T
It displays characters and graphics on a display device such as a V. The device N4 is a digital information device showing one embodiment of the third embodiment. The interface 4d has the same configuration and the same function as the interfaces 4a and 4b, and is, for example, an interface for connecting to the IEEE 1394 bus.

(Operation) The operation of the digital information device according to the third embodiment having such a configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the device N4 is connected to, for example, an IEEE 1394 bus via the interface 4d shown in FIG. 3, and the device registration unit 15 recognizes from each device connected to the network, a device that causes a malfunction as a network operation when it disappears. Register information, etc. Here, at least the following four cases are possible as a method of registering and determining whether or not the device has a problem.

First, a collecting means for collecting information of each device such as a model and a function of each device on a network and a GUID.
(Not shown), and has a device extracting means for extracting a device or a function that matches a model or function registered in advance as a model or a function that is likely to cause a problem from the collected device. This is a case where the device extracted by the above is registered.

Second, similarly to the first case described above, there is provided a collecting means (not shown), a specifying means designated by a user, and a device matching the model and function designated by the user is extracted. This is a case in which a device extracting unit is provided and the device extracted by the device extracting unit is registered.

Third, a network function detecting means (not shown) for detecting a device having a necessary function on a network, such as an isochronous resource manager in the IEEE 1394 bus, is provided in the network 4d. This is a case where a device detected by a function detecting means (not shown) is registered.

Fourthly, in the case of using the intermediate node detecting means (not shown) for detecting the device located at the intermediate node (branch) instead of the terminal end in the structure of the network, the identification information and the destination of the device at the branch are registered. It is.

As the next operation, when the user stops power supply to a certain device for the purpose of reducing standby power consumption, a bus reset occurring on the IEEE 1394 bus is detected by the interface 4d. I do. Triggered by this bus reset detection, the device loss detection unit 3 of the device N4 starts detection, and as a result, detects that a device on the network has disappeared.

As the next operation, the registered device disappearance judging unit 16
Then, the GUID of the device registered by the device registration unit 15 is compared with the GUID detected by the device loss detection unit 3, and when they match, it means that an important device has been lost from the network due to operation on the network. Means Then, the determination result of the registered device disappearance determination unit 16 is transmitted to the notification unit 1.
At 7, the user is notified. At least the following two cases are possible for the content and method of notification here.

First, in at least one of the device registration unit 15, the device loss detection unit 3, and the interface 4d, a GUI for storing a GUID and a model name in association with each other.
D Model name storage unit (not shown) is provided, and G
This is a case where the model name is recognized from the UID, and the model name is notified to the user on the entire screen or in a small screen.

Secondly, there is provided a registered content display means (not shown) for displaying the device registered by the user, and a notice is given to call the user's attention, such as blinking the lost device or adding a mark. Is the case.

Further, similar to the first embodiment, the registered device disappearance judging unit 16 includes adjacent device disappearance judging means (not shown) for judging that an adjacent device has disappeared. It is also preferable to notify the user that the registered adjacent device has disappeared.

As described in detail above, according to the third embodiment, it is not desirable to detect the disappearance of the device for which the reservation operation has been performed as in the first and second embodiments, but to disappear from the network. Such important devices are registered in advance, the disappearance of the registered devices from the network is detected, and this is notified appropriately. This makes it possible to provide a digital information device having a network function that enables more reliable detection of device disappearance adapted to a user's request.

<Fourth Embodiment> A fourth embodiment is a power supply device having a power supply function for digital information devices provided on a network, and further has a function of storing identification information of each of these digital information devices. A power supply device having: Hereinafter, the power supply device according to the fourth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a network system including a plurality of digital information devices having a network function according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a power supply device having a network function according to the present invention. It is a lineblock diagram showing a form.

First, referring to FIG. 4, the power supply device T1 of the present invention transmits and receives a control signal, a moving image signal, and contents via a network such as IEEE 1394 (B), and supplies power to the respective devices N1 to N7. Is supplied. That is, the DTVN1, the DVD player N2, the DVHSN3 and N4, the DTVN5, the printer N6, and the personal computer N7 are connected to the power supply device T1 via the network B to transmit and receive signals, respectively. Power is supplied to each device via a line 19.

As an example of the configuration of such a power supply device T1, in FIG. 5, the power supply device T1 includes an interface 4e, a plurality of power on / off sections 20a to 20g connected thereto, and a connection to the interface 4e. Power plug 19
a to 19h, an information providing unit 23 connected to the interface 4e, a device identification information storage unit 21, and an identification information setting unit 22 connected thereto.

The functions of these components will be described. AC plugs 19a to 19g are plugs for supplying power to devices. Power on / off section 2
0a to 20g are provided with outlets (not shown) for connecting the AC plugs 19a to 19g, and turn on the power supply to the devices connected by the AC plugs 19a to 19g under the control of other devices on the network.・ It turns off. The device identification information storage unit 21 stores the identification information and the destination on the network of the digital information device connected to the power on / off units 20a to 20g set by the identification information setting unit 22. The identification information setting unit 22 is connected to the device T1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention via a network, and includes, for example, identification information and a device type of a device related to a device supplied with power from the device T1. This is for setting information such as a destination on the network. The information providing unit 23 provides, for example, identification information, a model name, and a destination of a device connected to each outlet stored in the device identification information storage unit 21 to another device on the network. Interface 4e is interface 4
It has the same configuration and the same function as a and 4b.
An interface for connecting to the IEEE 1394 bus.

(Operation) The operation of the power supply device T1 according to the fourth embodiment having such a configuration will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the device T1 is connected to the network by the interface 4e, and the DTVN3, N
4 is also connected to the same network by interface means (not shown). The device T1 is AC
Power is supplied through the plug 19h and the DTV
N1 turns on the power of the device T1 via the AC plug 19a.
Power is being supplied from the OFF unit 20a. Similarly, DVH
SN3 receives power supply from the power on / off unit 20b of the device T1 via the AC plug 19c.

Further, the power supply device T1 is, for example, a device for reducing power consumption during standby, and includes power on / off sections 20a to 20a.
20g receives on / off control from a device connected to the network via the interface 4e,
Devices (DTVN) connected by AC plugs 19a to 19g
1 to the printer N6) can be stopped. The identification information setting unit 22 includes a power on / off unit 2.
Each piece of information of a device that is receiving power supply from the device T1 via an outlet of 0a to 20g and an AC plug is set for each outlet (not shown). As a setting method, for example, at least the following two cases are possible.

First, there is provided connected device display means for displaying the model name of a device connected to the network and identification information such as a GUID or a node ID in the IEEE 1394 bus in association with each other. The identification information of the equipment (DTVN1 and N5 in FIG. 5) connected to the outlet (not shown) and the AC plugs 19a and 19e is determined from the connected equipment display means and set for each outlet. Is the case.

Second, the power supply device T1 and the DTVN
1 to the printer N6, etc., provided with a power line transmission means (not shown) for exchanging information of the device via the power line, from which the identification information, model name and destination of the device connected to the outlet, for example, are obtained. This is a case where the setting is made for each outlet.

Next, in the device identification information storage unit 21, the power on / off units 20a to 202 set by the identification information setting unit 22 are set.
The identification information on the network of the devices (DTVN1 to printer N6) connected to the device 0g, for example, the GUID on the IEEE1394 bus is stored. Then, the information providing unit 23 discloses the information stored in the identification information setting unit 22 to the devices on the network via the interface 4e so that other devices on the network can refer to the information. As a method of disclosure here, at least a method of disclosing information in response to a request from another device and a method of sending information to all devices on a network are possible.

As described above, the fourth embodiment is a digital information device that has a function of supplying power to each device and that can control on / off of power supply via a network. A device connected to an outlet for further supplying power, device identification information storage means for storing identification information of the device on the network in association with each other, and information stored in the device identification information storage means. Providing information to other devices in the network by referring to the device identification information provided by the information providing device, it is possible to individually control the power supply from another device to the device via the network By doing so, it is possible to solve the problem of the present invention with respect to a device that has disappeared from the network.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the power supply to the network-connected device is stopped for reasons such as a reduction in standby power consumption, the network operation is hindered if the power supply is stopped. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital information device having a network function capable of notifying a device user who may cause a problem, or allowing an alternative device to take over the operation even if power supply is accidentally stopped. In addition, a power supply device having the same function can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a digital information device having a network function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of a digital information device having a network function according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of a digital information device having a network function according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a network system including a plurality of digital information devices having a network function according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a power supply device having a network function according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

N1 node 1, N3 node 3, 1 reservation detecting unit 2,
... Reserved device disappearance determination unit, 3 device loss detection unit, 4a interface, 5 notification unit, 6a operation reservation unit.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A digital information device for performing a signal response via a network with a digital information device for performing an operation reservation of a device, and a response for performing a signal response via the network with another digital information device for performing an operation reservation. Means for detecting digital information equipment which is connected to the response means via the network and for which operation reservation has been made, and wherein the digital information equipment for which operation reservation detected by the reservation detection means has been made is connected to the network. When the disappearance detecting means detects that the digital information device for which the operation reservation has been made is electrically lost, the disappearance detecting means for detecting that the digital information device has been electrically lost from above. And a notifying means for outputting a notifying signal indicating a significant loss. Tal information devices. 2. A digital information device for performing a signal response via a network with a digital information device for performing an operation reservation of a device, and a response for performing a signal response via the network with another digital information device for performing an operation reservation. Means for detecting digital information equipment connected to the response means via the network and for which an operation reservation has been made, and receiving information relating to the operation reservation made by the digital information equipment detected by the reservation detection means. Storage means for storing this in a storage area; alternative equipment detection means for detecting equipment having the same function as the equipment detected by the reservation detection means from the network and storing this information in the storage area; The digital information device for which the operation reservation detected by the reservation detecting means has been made is connected to the network. A loss detection means for detecting that the electrically disappeared from above, when the loss detection unit, detecting that the digital information apparatus in which the operation reservation has been made electrically disappeared,
An alternative device instructing unit that reads information related to the operation reservation stored in the storage area by the storage unit, transfers the information to the alternative device detected by the alternative device detection unit, and instructs the alternative device to execute the operation reservation. A digital information device having a network function, comprising: 3. A digital information device for performing a signal response via a network with a digital information device for performing an operation reservation of a device, and a response for performing a signal response via the network with another digital information device for performing an operation reservation. Means, connected to the response means via the network,
Registering means for registering in a storage area information relating to a digital information device that causes an operational failure when the connection is disconnected from the network; and that the digital information device registered by the registering means has been electrically lost from the network. When the loss detection means detects that the digital information device registered by the registration means has been electrically lost, it outputs a notification signal indicating the electrical loss of the digital information device. A digital information device having a network function, comprising: 4. A digital information device for performing a signal response via a network with a digital information device for performing an operation reservation of a device, and a response for performing a signal response via the network with another digital information device for performing an operation reservation. Means, means for searching for digital information equipment connected to the response means via the network, and which discloses information on operation reservation on the network; and digital information equipment searched by the equipment search means. Storage means for receiving information related to the operation reservation indicated by the above and storing the information in a storage area; and detecting a device having the same function as the device detected by the reservation detection means from the network and storing this information in the storage area. Before the operation reservation detected by the reservation detection unit is performed. A loss detection unit for detecting that the digital information device is electrically disappears from on the network, when the loss detection unit, detecting that the digital information apparatus in which the operation reservation has been made electrically disappeared,
An alternative device instructing unit that reads the information on the operation reservation stored in the storage area by the storage unit, transfers the information to the alternative device detected by the alternative device detection unit, and instructs the execution of the operation reservation. A digital information device having a network function. 5. A digital information device for performing a signal response via a network with a digital information device for reserving operation of the device, a response means for responding to a signal with the other digital information device via the network, And a power supply unit for selectively supplying power to at least a digital information device connected to the network connected to the response unit in accordance with a control signal received from the response unit; and a power supply unit connected to the network. Information storage means for storing identification information relating to a digital information device in a storage area, and providing information for providing the identification information stored in the identification information storage means to at least the other digital information device in the network Means, and a digital information device having a network function. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the responding unit includes a responding unit that responds to another digital information device via an IEEE 1394 network. Digital information equipment with network function.