JP2003009059A - Data reproducing device and firmware update method applied to this device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily update firmware at a low cost in a video reproducing device like a DVD player. SOLUTION: When firmware in a DVD player 1 and a monitor 2 will be updated, they are connected to a personal computer 4. The personal computer 4 gives an update indication of firmware stored in flash memories 1b and 2b of the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 on the basis of an indication from a keyboard 4b. A CPU 4e of the personal computer 4 reads out firmware for update stored in a recording device 4d by devices and transfers read-out firmware to the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 through a cable connected to D terminals 1a, 2a, and 3a. The DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 write receives firmware for update in the flash memories 1b and 2b to complete update of firmware.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of using a video output terminal provided in a playback player for playing back a digital moving image, and more specifically, it enables a playback player and a television to be easily connected to each other. Related to terminal utilization technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, DVD players have become widespread, and it has become possible to easily enjoy digital images at home. Unlike conventional analog video equipment, digital video reproduced by a DVD player can be manipulated and reproduced in various ways. For example, there is a function of displaying a menu screen of video contents before video reproduction and arbitrarily switching the reproduction order and the like, and a multi-angle function capable of switching the same video from a direction to a captured video. These functions can be realized by executing application programs and driver software (firmware: FW) stored in advance in the DVD player. The firmware is stored in a rewritable storage device such as a flash memory. Therefore, it is possible to upgrade the firmware later, add a new function by updating the program, and fix a defect in the firmware. So, in the past,
When updating the firmware stored in the flash memory provided in the DVD player, as shown in FIG. 3, the dedicated device 1 for rewriting the firmware is used.
1 is interposed between the DVD player and the personal computer, the firmware for updating is first transferred from the personal computer to the dedicated device, and the firmware is transmitted from the dedicated device to the DVD player to rewrite the contents of the flash memory.

[0003]

As described above, conventionally, in order to rewrite the firmware, the rewriting was performed by using the dedicated device. This is because an interface for transferring data from the personal computer to the DVD player was not prepared in order to rewrite the contents of the flash memory. Therefore, conventionally, it is necessary to newly prepare a dedicated device, which complicates the firmware update and is disadvantageous in cost. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to easily update firmware at low cost in a video reproducing device such as a DVD player.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention controls a reproducing operation in a data reproducing apparatus for reproducing a disk medium on which digital video data is recorded and outputting the video data. A rewritable non-volatile memory in which a control program is stored, and a digital terminal provided with a plurality of connection pins for displaying and outputting the reproduced digital video data on a display device,
A receiving unit that receives update data for updating the control program stored in the non-volatile memory by using a pin that is not used for the video output among the plurality of pins of the digital terminal. is there. Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the digital terminal is a digital D terminal having 14 connector pins, and the receiving means includes update data of a control program from a personal computer connected to the D terminal. Is to receive. Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention, in a data reproducing device that reproduces a disk medium on which digital video data is recorded and outputs video data, based on a control program stored in a non-volatile memory, In a method for updating a control program, in order to output the digital video data, an instruction to update the control program is received from a personal computer connected to a digital terminal having a plurality of connector pins, and based on this instruction to update, A control program for updating is received from a personal computer by using an empty pin which is not used for outputting video data among digital terminals having the plurality of pins, and the received control program for updating is stored in the non-volatile memory. The written control program is replaced and written.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Recently, an image displayed and output on a television is about to be converted from an analog image to a digital image at a rapid pitch. Since digital video can compress image information with high density, it is possible to enjoy high-quality and high-quality video as compared with conventional analog video.
As a device to enjoy digital images, DV is currently available.
There are D-Blayer, BS digital broadcasting, high-definition broadcasting, etc., and by transmitting digital data from these devices to a TV, a high-quality and high-quality image is output on the TV. Then, a cable for connecting a DVD player or the like to a television and transmitting a digital image,
There is a standard called a D terminal as a connector. The D terminal is an industry standard standard component video input terminal for easily connecting a DVD player or the like and a television with a single cable with high image quality. D terminals have D1 to D5
5 ranks, and the signals that can be transmitted and output are different, but the terminal shapes are the same. For example, D3 terminal is 1
Four connector pins are provided, and these 14 pins are assigned as output terminals for transmitting video data to transmit digital video data to the television.

According to the present invention, the D terminal is used to update the firmware of a monitor such as a DVD player device or a television. Among the 14 connector pins, unused pins are used to update the firmware data. DVD
The firmware is transmitted to the player and the firmware stored in the flash memory is updated. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system system configuration diagram for explaining a firmware update of a DVD player and a monitor showing an embodiment of the present invention. The DVD player 1 shown in FIG. 1 reproduces video data by setting and driving a disc recording medium on which video data is recorded in the player body. Then, the reproduced video data is displayed on a monitor 2 such as a TV.
Are transferred via the D terminal cable 3 connected to the D terminal 1a of the DVD player 1, and are displayed and output on the monitor 2. Regarding the system in such a connection form,
In order to update the firmware in the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2, the present invention uses the D terminal to connect the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 to the personal computer 4, and the DVD is controlled by the personal computer 4.
The firmware of the player 1 and the monitor 2 is updated.

D terminal cable 3 used in this embodiment
Has a branched structure so that the data transmitted from the personal computer 4 can be transferred to both the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2. The operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
D player 1, monitor 2, personal computer 4
Are cable-connected via D terminals 1a, 2a, 4a, respectively. The flash memories 1b and 2b provided in the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 store firmware for driving the device, and C
The firmware is driven and executed by the PUs 1c and 2c. By executing the firmware, in the DVD player 1, the video data is reproduced from the disc recording medium 1d,
The reproduction of video data is controlled by operating the input device 1e or the like. The reproduced video data is transmitted to the monitor 4 via the D terminal and displayed and output on the display 2d. D
When updating the firmware in the VD player 1 and the monitor 2, the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 are connected to the personal computer 4 as shown in FIG. The personal computer 4 issues an instruction to update the firmware stored in the flash memories 1b and 2b of the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 based on the operation of the keyboard 4b and the display content of the display device 4c. When the firmware update permission is transmitted from the CPUs of the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 which have received the update instruction, the CPU 4e of the personal computer 4 causes the update firmware stored in the recording device 4d to update the firmware for each device (DVD. Player, monitor), and the read firmware is transferred to the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2 via a cable connected to the D terminals 1a, 2a, and 3a. In the DVD player 1 and the monitor 2, the received update firmware is sent to the respective CPUs 1c, 2
c writes to the respective flash memories 1b and 2b to complete the firmware update.

In the present invention, since the empty pin of the D terminal is used, the video information, the command information, etc. can be transmitted and received as usual. Therefore, it is possible to execute reproduction control from the personal computer to the DVD player 1 and display control related to the monitor 2. As described above, according to the present invention, when updating the firmware of the DVD player or the monitor, the update process of the firmware can be executed from the personal computer by using the empty pin of the D terminal arranged on each of them. As a result, the firmware can be updated with a simple configuration and at low cost.

[0009]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION When updating the firmware of a DVD player or monitor, it is possible to execute the firmware update process from a personal computer by utilizing the empty pins of the D terminals arranged respectively. The firmware can be updated with a simple configuration and at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a connection form of a DVD player, a monitor, and a personal computer, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing a connection form of a DVD player, a monitor, and a personal computer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a connection form when updating the firmware of a conventional DVD player.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... DVD player, 2 ... monitor, 3 ... D terminal cable, 4 ... personal computer.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yukio Oya             Toshiba, 3-3-3 Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo             Digital Media Engineering Stock Association             In-house F-term (reference) 5C025 BA27 DA01 DA08                 5C052 AA02 AA17 AB03 AB09 CC06                 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC03 CC06 DE24                       GK11 HL11

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A data reproducing apparatus for reproducing video data by reproducing a disk medium on which digital video data is recorded, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory in which a control program for controlling a reproduction operation is stored; In order to display and output the digital video data to a display device, a digital terminal provided with a plurality of connection pins, and a pin that is not used for the video output among the plurality of pins of the digital terminal is used, A data reproducing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives update data for updating a control program stored in a non-volatile memory. 2. The digital terminal is a digital D terminal having 14 connector pins, and the receiving means is D
The data reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein update data of the control program is received from a personal computer connected to the terminal. 3. A method for updating a control program in a data reproducing apparatus which reproduces a disk medium on which digital video data is recorded and outputs video data based on a control program stored in a non-volatile memory. In order to output digital video data, an instruction to update the control program is received from a personal computer connected to a digital terminal having a plurality of connector pins, and based on the update instruction, the update control program from the personal computer. Of the digital terminals having a plurality of pins, which are not used for outputting video data, are received, and the received update control program is written by replacing the control program stored in the nonvolatile memory. A method for updating a control program, characterized in that 4. The method for updating a control program according to claim 3, wherein the digital terminal is a D terminal.