JP2002366459A - Av network equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that time-lag of the connection of an AV data signal occurs in AV network equipment having a function for uploading its own equipment control module through a conventional network to controller equipment. SOLUTION: The AV network equipment is provided with equipment input and output terminals 100 and 101, a plurality of functioning parts 11 and 12 (which are respectively provided with input and output terminals), and an equipment control module 13 to be uploaded to controller equipment connected to an AV network. When the connected state of the respective input and output terminals is changed, an equipment control module 13a at the controller equipment side is notified of the result each time, and the latest connected state is held in a connected state information storing part 131 in the equipment control module 13a so that, when the connection of the terminals in the equipment is requested, the validity or invalidity of the connection can be instantaneously judged, and the time-lag of the connection can be avoided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a controller (television, STB, etc.) connected by an IEEE1394 network.
The present invention relates to a target AV network device (such as a VTR) having a function of providing a device control module for controlling the own device via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an IEEE1394 network (hereinafter referred to as 1394) has been developed.
An environment has emerged in which interconnected AV devices operate by exchanging data signals and control signals on an AV network configured using technology.

[0003] Among such environments, HAVi (Home A)
According to the udio-Video interoperability standard, when a controller device and a target device are connected via a 1394 network, a device control module (software) called a DCM (Device Control Module) for controlling the target device itself is used from the target device. , And the controller device controls the target device using the device control module.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration diagram of an AV network device for realizing such a mechanism. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an AV network device which is a target device which is a main component of the present configuration. In this description, it is specifically assumed that the VTR is a built-in tuner type VTR. Reference numeral 2 denotes a device which functions as a controller of the VTR 1 connected via a 1394 network. Specifically, it is assumed that it is a television.

[0005] Reference numerals 100 and 101 denote terminals for inputting and outputting AV data signals from the VTR 1 via a 1394 network. 100 is an input terminal and 101 is an output terminal.
Reference numeral 14 denotes an external antenna for receiving broadcast radio waves. There are several functional units in the VTR 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a tuner unit that receives a broadcast wave from the external antenna 14 and performs a channel selection operation. Reference numeral 12 denotes a VTR unit that performs an operation of recording and reproducing an AV signal on a video tape. Each functional unit also has a plurality of terminals for inputting and outputting AV signals. Here, the output terminal 11 is connected to the tuner section.
1 and the VTR section has an output terminal 121 and an input terminal 1
Assume that there are 20. A device control module 83 is stored in a part of a ROM area for storing software in the VTR 1. The operation of the device control module will be described later.

Reference numeral 85 denotes a connection control management unit for controlling and managing the connection of AV data signals inside the VTR 1;
It is a connection state information table holding the state of the connection inside TR1.

Reference numerals 200 and 201 denote terminals for inputting and outputting AV data signals from the television 2 via a 1394 network. 200 is an input terminal and 201 is an output terminal.
Reference numeral 21 denotes a display unit for displaying an AV data signal, and reference numeral 22 denotes an application module having a function of controlling the television 2 or the VTR 1. The display unit 21 has a terminal 210 for inputting an AV signal.

In such a configuration, the VT of the VTR 1
The connection operation of the AV data signal necessary for flowing the AV data signal from the VTR unit 12 to the display unit 21 of the television 2 when the R unit 12 is reproduced will be described separately during initialization and actual operation. I do.

At the time of initialization (when the VTR 1 and the television 2 are connected via a 1394 cable), the television 2 serving as a controller recognizes the VTR 1 via the 1394 network and
The device control module 83 for controlling the device of the VTR 1 stored in the ROM region of the TR 1 is uploaded to the RAM region of the television 2 and developed to set the operation mode. The uploaded device control module is 83a. Thereafter, the television 2 can perform various controls of the VTR 1 via the device control module 83a.

The actual connection operation will be described. Application module 22 in television 2 requesting connection
Requests the device control module 13a of the uploaded VTR 1 for a list of the connections currently connected to the output terminal 101 of the VTR 1. Upon receiving the request, the device control module 83a outputs the output terminal 1 to the connection control management unit 85 of the VTR 1 via the 1394 network.
An inquiry is made as to whether or not there is a connection at 01, and if so, from which terminal there is a connection. In addition, when there is a connection, a separate inquiry is made as to whether or not the connection can be cut off (preempted) to make another connection. The connection control management unit 85 creates an answer with reference to the connection state information table 16 and notifies the device control module 83a of the television 2 again via the 1394 network. The device control module 83a returns the result to the application module 22. As described above, since this inquiry operation needs to make an inquiry once to the VTR 1, the application module 22 receives an asynchronous and somewhat time-consuming answer from the viewpoint of the application module 22. The application module 22 checks the answer and determines whether or not the connection to be currently performed is possible. If so, an actual connection instruction (in this case, the output terminal 121 of the VTR unit 12 of the VTR 1 and the VTR 1 (The connection with its own output terminal 101) to the device control module 83a. The device control module 83a that has received the instruction instructs the connection specified to the VTR 1 via the 1394 network. Next, the application module 22 connects the output terminal 101 of the VTR 1 and the TV 2
And the connection between the input terminal 210 of the display unit 21 and the input terminal 200 of the television 2 in the own device.

By the above operation, the VTR unit 1 of the VTR 1
Since the connection of the AV data is secured between the TV 2 and the display unit 21 of the television 2, an operation of viewing what is reproduced on the VTR 1 on the screen of the television 2 can be realized.

It should be noted that the following technical contents related to IEEE1394 are described based on the following documents. [1] IEEE Std 1394-1995, Standard for a High Perfo
rmance Serial Bus [2] IEC61883, Consumer audio / video equipment-Digi
tal Interface [3] 1394 Trade Association document number 199800
3, AV / C Digital Interface Command Set General Spec
ification, version3.0 [4] 1394 Trade Association document number 199801
2, AV / C Tape Recorder / Player Subunit Specificatio
n, version2.1 [5] Home Audio / Video Interoperability (HAVi) Orga
nization, Specification of the Home Audio / Video In
teroperability (HAVi) Architecture Version 1.0 Bet
a

[0013]

In the above-described operation of the conventional AV network equipment, when the connection inside the VTR 1 is established, the equipment control module 83a
Since an inquiry is made to the VTR 1 each time, a time lag occurs before the actual connection operation is started. As the number of connections that can lead to the inquired terminal increases, the number of inquiries required becomes longer, so that the time lag cannot be ignored, the connection operation is delayed, and it takes time to display images, or the TV 2 The response to the user's control operation from the GUI on the screen may become sloppy or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem. The present invention is directed to a device control module of the own device which is uploaded to a controller device connected via a 1394 network. It is an object of the present invention to provide an AV network device (such as a VTR) that actively notifies of the change information whenever the connection status changes and stores the latest connection status information in the device control module.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, the present invention is directed to an AV system operable by connecting to a network.
A network device, comprising: a function unit having one or more device input terminals and / or device output terminals; and one or more function unit input terminals and / or function unit output terminals; and a network connected to the network. A device control module unit that is uploaded to and operates on the controller device, a connection control management unit that controls connection between terminals,
The device input terminal, the device output terminal, the functional unit input terminal,
A connection status information table unit that stores a connection status between all connectable terminals with the function unit output terminal,
The device control module unit has a connection state information storage unit that stores the content of the connection state table unit after uploading, and the connection control management unit updates the connection state with respect to the connection between terminals every time the connection state changes. Is notified to the device control module unit uploaded to the controller device via a network, and the connection state information in the connection state storage unit is updated.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an AV network device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1
Is an AV network device of the present invention (specifically, a VTR with a built-in tuner) itself, and 2 is a device that functions as a controller of a VTR 1 connected via a 1394 network. Specifically, it is assumed that it is a television.

Reference numerals 100 and 101 denote terminals for inputting and outputting AV data signals from the VTR 1 via the 1394 network. 100 is an input terminal and 101 is an output terminal.
Reference numeral 14 denotes an external antenna for receiving broadcast radio waves. There are several functional units in the VTR 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a tuner unit that receives a broadcast radio signal from an external antenna 14 and performs a channel selection operation. Reference numeral 12 denotes a VTR that performs an operation of recording and reproducing an AV signal on a video tape.
Department. Each functional unit also has a plurality of terminals for inputting and outputting AV signals. Here, the tuner unit 11 has one output terminal 111, and the VTR unit 12 has the output terminal 12.
Assume that 1 and input terminal 120 are present. 13 is VT
This is a device control module stored in a part of the ROM area for the software storage area in R2.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a connection control management unit for controlling and managing connection of AV data signals inside the VTR 1;
It is a connection state information table holding the state of the connection inside TR1.

Reference numerals 200 and 201 denote terminals for inputting and outputting AV data signals from the television 2 via the 1394 network. 200 is an input terminal and 201 is an output terminal.
Reference numeral 21 denotes a display unit for displaying an AV data signal, and reference numeral 22 denotes an application module for issuing an instruction for controlling the television 2 or the VTR 1. The display unit 21 has a terminal 2 for inputting an AV signal.
There are ten.

In such a configuration, the VT of the VTR 1
At the time of initialization, the connection operation for flowing the AV data signal from the R unit 12 to the display unit 21 of the television 2
This will be described separately for the actual operation.

At the time of initialization (when the VTR 1 and the television 2 are connected via a 1394 cable), the television 2 serving as a controller recognizes the VTR 1 via the 1394 network, and
The device control module 13 for controlling the device of the VTR 1 stored in the ROM area of R1 is uploaded to the RAM area of the television 2 and developed. The uploaded device control module is 13a, and thereafter, the television 2 can control the VTR 1 via the device control module 13a. With this kind of mechanism, the controller can upload and control the device control module for each target device each time, so that even if the partner device is the first meeting, it can obtain the control information of that device and control it Becomes

The device control module 13a creates a connection status information storage unit 131 for storing the connection status of the connectable connection between the terminals of the VTR 1 in a part of the area of the RAM of the television 2 immediately after the upload. I do.

All connection states of the connectable connections between the children are stored in the connection state information storage section 131. FIG. 2 shows a list of the connection state information. Connections that can be connected within VTR1 (one connection is defined by the output terminal and the input terminal)
Are all covered (4 connections in this example), and for each connection, as an attribute value, a flag “connection state” indicating whether the connection is currently “connected” or “disconnected”,
In the case of “connected”, a flag “whether interception is possible” is specified which indicates whether the connection can be cut off (interception). At the time of initialization, there is no connection, so all “connection states” are “disconnected”. Also, since “capture possibility” is meaningful only for a “connected” connection, it has an undetermined value for a “disconnected” connection.

The actual connection operation will be described. VTR
It is assumed that the VTR unit 12 in 1 is in a mode for reproducing a tape. The application module 22 in the television 2 that desires connection is the device control module 1
3a, a list of connection status information currently connected to the output terminal 101 of the VTR 1 is requested. Upon receiving the request, the device control module 13a immediately (synchronously) replies to the application module 22 with the latest connection state information list (FIG. 2) currently held in the connection state information storage unit 131. The application module 22 checks the connection status information list to determine whether the connection to be currently performed is possible. In this case, since there is no connection to the device output terminal 101 of interest, the connection operation can be continued as it is. Therefore, the actual connection instruction (the output terminal 121 of the VTR unit 12 of the VTR 1 and the output terminal 101 of the VTR 1 itself) continues.
Is issued to the device control module 13a. Device control module 1 that received instructions
Reference numeral 3a indicates a connection designated to the VTR 1 via the 1394 network. Upon receiving the instruction, the connection control management unit 15 of the VTR 1 executes the specified connection. If the connection is successful, the connection control management unit 15 updates the connection state information table 16 held by the connection control unit 15 and notifies the device control module 13a of the update via the 1394 network. The content to be notified is the connection number whose content has been updated in the connection status information list of FIG. 2 (in this case, 3).
And the latest attribute values ("connection state", "connecting", "whether or not" and "impossible"). The device control module 13a that has received the notification updates the contents of the connection state information storage unit 131 held by itself according to the notification. FIG. 3 shows the state of the connection state information list after the update. Here, the connection “interception possibility” is “impossible”, but whether this state is “impossible” or “acceptable” depends on the operation specifications on the device side. The connection control management unit 15 of the VTR 1 has a table for determining whether the connection can be intercepted, and makes the determination based on the table. FIG. 7 shows an example of the determination table. FIG. 7 shows the VTR unit 12.
Indicates whether the connection connected to the terminals 120 and 121 is "acceptable" or "impossible" in accordance with the state of the deck. For example, when the deck state is reproduction, the connection connected to the terminal 120 is “capable”, but the connection connected to the terminal 121 is “capable”.

Next, the application module 22
Are the output terminal 101 of the VTR 1 and the input terminal 2 of the TV 2
00, and then the connection between the input terminal 210 of the display unit 21 and the input terminal 200 of the television 2 in the own device. This connection operation is an operation not directly related to the present invention.

With the above operation, the VTR unit 1 of the VTR 1
Since the connection of the AV data is secured between the TV 2 and the display unit 21 of the television 2, an operation of viewing what is reproduced on the VTR 1 on the screen of the television 2 can be realized.

Next, from this state, when it is desired to flow the AV signal from the tuner unit 11 to the television 2 side, not from the VTR unit 12 of the VTR 1 (specifically, the GUI is displayed on the screen of the television 2 so that the user VTR unit 1 in VTR1
2, the connection operation in the VTR 1 will be described (the connection operation outside the VTR 1 is not directly related to the present invention). , And the description is omitted.

The application module 22 in the television 2 sends a VTR to the device control module 13a.
A request for a list of currently connected connections is requested from one output terminal 101. Upon receiving the request, the device control module 13a immediately (synchronously) replies to the application module 22 with the latest connection state information list (FIG. 3) currently held in the connection state information storage unit 131. The application module 22 checks the list to determine whether the connection being attempted is currently possible. In order to connect the device output terminal 101 to the output terminal 111 of the tuner unit 11, first, if there is another connection connected to the device output terminal 101, it is necessary to disconnect the connection. However, in this case, the output terminal 1 of the VTR unit 12 is connected to the device output terminal 101 of interest.
There is a connection from No. 21 and "Preemption possible" is "No"
It is in a state. Therefore, the application module 22 determines that the connection operation cannot be performed, and
Give up on the connection behavior (in a way that is visible to the user,
A measure such as displaying on the screen of the television 2 that "the desired connection has failed because there is another connection"). Since no actual connection and disconnection operations are performed, the connection state information list (FIG. 3) of the connection state information storage unit 131 of the device control module unit 13 is not updated.

Next, it is assumed that the VTR unit 12 is shifted from the reproduction state to the stop state by operating the operation button on the VTR 1 side. At this time, based on the pre-emption determination table in FIG. 7, the pre-emption status of the connection between the currently connected device output terminal 101 and output terminal 121 of the VTR unit 12 is as follows.
It changes from "impossible" to "possible". VT
The connection control management unit 5 of R1 immediately notifies the device control module 13a via the 1394 network to update the connection status information storage unit 131. Also,
The connection state information table 16 is similarly updated. FIG. 4 shows the updated state of the list.

After this state, the VTR of VTR1
When a request to flow the AV signal from the tuner unit 11 to the television 2 instead of from the unit 12 occurs again,
The connection operation in the VTR 1 will be described.

The application module 22 in the television 2 sends a VTR to the device control module 13a.
A request for a list of currently connected connections is requested from one output terminal 101. Upon receiving the request, the device control module 13a immediately (synchronously) replies to the application module 22 with the latest connection state list (FIG. 4) currently held in the connection state information storage unit 131. The application module 22 checks the connection status list to determine whether the connection to be currently performed is possible. In this case, there is a connection from the output terminal 121 of the VTR unit 12 to the device output terminal 101 of interest, but since the “capture possibility” is in the “permitted” state, first, the device control module 13 a And FIG.
Of the connection number 3 shown in FIG. The device control module 13a instructs the VTR 1 to perform an actual disconnection process via the 1394 network. Upon receiving the instruction, the connection control management unit 15 of the VTR 1 executes the specified disconnection. If the disconnection is successful, at the same time as updating its own connection state information table 16,
Device control module 13 via network
Notify a. The device control module 13a that has received the notification updates the connection status list held in the connection status information storage unit 131 according to the notification.

The device control module 13a notifies the application module 2 that the disconnection has succeeded separately.
Notify 2. Next, the application module 22 that has received the notification issues an instruction to the device control module 13a to connect the connection with the connection number 2 shown in FIG. The device control module 13a instructs the VTR 1 to perform an actual connection process via the 1394 network. Connection control management unit 15 of VTR 1 receiving the instruction
Performs the specified connection. When the connection is successful, the device updates its own connection status information table 16 and, at the same time, notifies the device control module 13a of the update via the 1394 network. The device control module 13a that has received the notification transmits the connection state information storage unit 13
The connection status list held in step 1 is updated according to the notification. FIG. 5 shows the latest connection state list by the above operation.

Finally, from the connection state shown in FIG.
An operation in the case where the VTR section 12 is reproduced again by operating the operation button on the first side will be described. At this time, VT
As an operation specification on the R1 side, the connection control management unit 15 forcibly disconnects the connection connected to the device output terminal 101, and then connects between the output terminal 121 of the VTR unit 12 and the device output terminal 101. Perform the operation. in this case,
The connection states of the two connections of connection numbers 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 5 change almost simultaneously. After registering this connection change in the connection state information table 16, the connection control management unit 15 immediately notifies the device control module 13a of the updated contents via the 1394 network. Instead of two notifications
Notify all at once. The device control module 13a that has received the notification updates the connection status list held in the connection status information storage unit 131 according to the notification. FIG. 6 shows a final connection state list by the above operation.

As described above, the AV network device of the present invention notifies the device control module 13a uploaded to the controller via the 1394 network, whenever the connection state in the device changes, notifies the content of the change each time. The module 13a can always have the latest connection state list in the connection state information storage unit 131. Therefore, when a new connection request is issued from the application module 22 in the controller to the device control module 13a, it is possible to immediately determine whether or not the connection can be made, so that the connection operation can be performed without generating an extra time lag. Can be.

In the above description, the form in which the AV network device of the present invention is a VTR has been described. However, the functions of the present invention are applied to other target AV devices (eg, audio devices, DVDs, etc.) in a 1394 network. The present invention can be similarly implemented by incorporating.

[0037]

As described above, the AV network device of the present invention notifies the device control module uploaded to the controller via the 1394 network every time the connection state in the device changes, and notifies the device control module of the change content each time. The control module can always have the latest connection state list in the connection state information storage unit.
Therefore, when a new connection request is issued from the application module in the controller to the device control module, it is possible to immediately determine whether or not the connection can be made, so that the connection operation can be performed without generating an extra time lag. . As a result, it is possible to obtain remarkable effects that the image output operation of the AV data signal can be performed quickly and the responsiveness to the operation of the user can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an AV network device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection state list (at the time of initialization) held in a device control module of an AV network device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection state list (at the time of connection) held by a device control module of an AV network device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connection status list (VTR) held in the device control module of the AV network device of the present invention.
Figure when stop)

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a connection state list (when a tuner is connected) held in a device control module of the AV network device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a connection status list (VTR) held in the device control module of the AV network device of the present invention.
Diagram showing playback)

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a table for determining whether or not connection can be intercepted in an AV network device according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conventional AV network device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 AV network equipment (VTR) of this invention 2 Controller (television) 11 Tuner part 12 VTR part 13 Equipment control module 13a Equipment control module uploaded to the controller 131 Connection state information storage part 14 External antenna 15 Connection control management part 16 Connection State information table 21 display unit 22 application module 100, 200 device input terminal 101, 201 device output terminal 111 tuner unit output terminal 120 VTR unit input terminal 121 VTR unit output terminal 210 display unit input terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/765 H04N 5/782 K F term (Reference) 5B014 EB01 FA05 FB04 GD05 GD26 GD35 GD44 HC03 HC05 HC08 HC13 5B089 GA21 GB02 JA34 JA35 JB07 JB15 KA06 KB04 KC15 5C018 FA04 FB07 5C025 BA21 BA27 DA08 5K033 AA02 BA01 EC01 EC02

Claims (4)

[Claims] An AV network device operable by connecting to a network, comprising: one or more device input terminals and / or device output terminals; and one or more function unit input terminals and / or function units. A function unit having an output terminal, a device control module unit that operates by being uploaded to the controller device connected to the network, a connection control management unit that controls connection between the terminals, the device input terminal, the device output terminal, The functional unit input terminal,
A connection state information table section for storing connection states between all connectable terminals with the function section output terminal, wherein the device control module section stores the contents of the connection state table section after uploading The connection control information management unit, the connection control management unit, every time the connection state for the connection between the terminals changes, the latest connection state information through a network, the device control module unit uploaded to the controller device An AV network device for notifying and updating connection state information in the connection state storage unit. 2. The connection state stored in the connection state information storage section includes a stealing permission state indicating whether or not the connection may be disconnected when the connection state is in a connection state. 2. The AV network device according to claim 1, wherein each time the information changes, the latest interception availability status information is notified to the device control module unit that has uploaded the information to the controller device. 3. When the connection status and the preemption status of a plurality of connections change, all of the changes are notified to the device control module uploaded via the network by a single notification. 3. The AV network device according to 2. 4. The AV network device according to claim 1, wherein the AV network device is operable on a network using IEEE1394 technology.