JP2004312121A - Network sharing apparatus of output unit, method, program, and recording medium with the program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the connection of a terminal to a contents data output unit to reduce the cost and to ease the maintenance. <P>SOLUTION: A terminal 500, an image output unit 300, a sound output unit 400, and an output control gateway 200 are connected to a network 700 to send multiplexed contents requested by the terminal 500 to the gateway 200 from a contents server 100. In the gateway 200, a data separator 201 separates the multiplexed contents by kinds of data, a synchronizing signal adder 202 adds time information formed by a time clock 204 to each separated data as a synchronizing signal between the data, an output unit address adder 203 fetches and adds the address of an output unit to be an output address of each data from an address DB 205, and a network I/F 206 transfers them to each output unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a network sharing system for output devices, in which digital contents are transferred to a predetermined output device via a network, thereby sharing the output device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, there are many multiplexed digital contents such as audio and video in the world, and the number of terminals that decode and reproduce them is increasing. For example, there are an STB (Set Top Box) that acquires and reproduces MPEG content or the like via the Internet, and a DVD player that reproduces DVD media. These terminals decode and reproduce the multiplexed content. In order to output the separated data (audio, video, etc.), a separate amplifier and display and audio cable or video cable are used in a one-to-one correspondence. You need to connect to a terminal. However, such a connection operation is very troublesome, and if the number of connected reproduction terminals increases, the wiring becomes complicated (see FIG. 7).
[0003]
On the other hand, there are many terminals equipped with an audio device and a video display monitor and capable of outputting audio and video with one terminal. However, these terminals need to be equipped with an audio device and a video display monitor for each terminal, which is very costly. Further, to upgrade them, it is necessary to deal with each terminal, which is very troublesome (see FIG. 8).
[0004]
As a typical output device sharing a network, there is a printer. Although various patents have been filed (Patent Document 1), the present system is directed to audio and video data as real-time data, and relates to a system including an output device for processing the data.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-127845 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the related art, and simplifies the connection between a terminal and an output device such as an audio device or a video display monitor, and it is necessary to mount the output device for each terminal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network sharing technology of an output device which can reduce costs and easily cope with an upgrade.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a device for connecting an output device to a network and sharing the output device with a plurality of terminals, and a data type specifying unit for specifying a type of digital content data requested by the terminal. Time information creating means for creating time information indicating the reproduction timing of the type of specified data in the output device; and time information for adding the created time information to the type of specified data. An adding unit, an output device address adding unit for adding an address of an output device to which the type of specified data is output to the data, and the time information is added and the address of the output device is added. Network interface means for transferring data to the output device. As its means.
[0008]
Alternatively, in the network sharing device of the output device, the data type specifying unit is a data separating unit that separates the multiplexed digital content requested by the terminal for each type of data, and the time information creating unit includes a time information generating unit. Information as a synchronization signal for synchronizing the separated data, the time information adding means is a synchronization signal adding means for adding the synchronization signal to each of the separated data, The output device address adding means adds an address of an output device that is an output destination of each of the separated data to each of the separated data, and the network interface means adds the synchronization signal to each of the separated data. And transferring the separated data to which the address of the output device is added to the output device. The network sharing system of the output device, characterized in that, as its unit.
[0009]
Alternatively, in the above network sharing device for an output device, the time information creating means creates time information synchronized with the output device via a network, and the network sharing device for the output device is used as the means. .
[0010]
Alternatively, in the network sharing device of the output device, the output device address adding means has a database in which an address of an output device to which data is output for each type of data is registered in advance, and is associated with the requested terminal. The network sharing device of the output device is characterized in that the address of the output device is extracted from the database and added to the data.
[0011]
Alternatively, in the network sharing device of the output device, the data type identification unit is a network sharing device of the output device, characterized in that the digital content data requested by the terminal is received from a content server or a specific terminal. That means.
[0012]
Alternatively, there is provided a method for connecting an output device to a network and sharing the data with a plurality of terminals, the data type specifying procedure for specifying the type of data of the digital content requested by the terminal, and a method for specifying the type of the specified data. A time information creating procedure for creating time information indicating a playback timing in the output device; a time information adding procedure for adding the created time information to the type of specified data; An output device address adding procedure for adding an address of an output device to which data is output to the data, and a network interface procedure for transferring the data with the time information added and the address of the output device to the output device And a method for sharing a network of an output device, characterized by comprising:
[0013]
Alternatively, in the above network sharing method for an output device, the data type specifying procedure is a data separating procedure for separating the multiplexed digital content requested by the terminal for each data type, and the time information creating procedure includes: Information is a synchronization signal for synchronizing the separated data, and the time information adding step is a synchronization signal adding step of adding the synchronization signal to each of the separated data, and the output device address In the adding procedure, an address of an output device to which each of the separated data is output is added to each of the separated data. In the network interface procedure, the synchronization signal is added and the address of the output device is changed. An output device for transferring each of the added separated data to an output device. The network sharing method, and its device.
[0014]
Alternatively, in the above-described method of sharing a network of an output device, the time information creating step includes a method of sharing a network of an output device, wherein time information synchronized with a network of the output device is created.
[0015]
Alternatively, in the output device network sharing method, in the output device address adding step, an output associated with the requested terminal is obtained from a database in which addresses of output devices to which data is to be output for each data type are registered in advance. A network sharing method for an output device, wherein the address of the device is extracted and added to the data, is used as the means.
[0016]
Alternatively, in the network sharing method of the output device, in the data type specifying step, the network sharing method of the output device, wherein the data of the digital content requested by the terminal is received from a content server or a specific terminal, That means.
[0017]
Alternatively, a network sharing program for an output device, which is a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure in the network sharing method for an output device, is used as the means.
[0018]
Alternatively, a network sharing program for an output device is recorded, wherein the program in the method for sharing a network output device is a program for causing a computer to execute the program, and the program is recorded on a recording medium readable by the computer. The recorded recording medium is used as the means.
[0019]
In the present invention, as shown in the image diagram of FIG. 1, output devices such as a video output device (300) and an audio output device (400) are connected to a network (700), and a terminal (500) to these output devices is connected. Output control (by the output control gateway (200), etc.) of the content data requested by the user, and by sharing these output devices, a plurality of terminals (500) for reproducing video and audio can be provided. In addition, it is possible to avoid the complexity of wiring, to reduce the cost by eliminating the necessity of preparing a video and audio output device for each terminal (500) for reproducing video and audio, and to further reduce the version for the output device. Easier maintenance, including uptime.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments are examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Also, the network described here is assumed to be various networks such as the Internet and a home network.
[0021]
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the output device network sharing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data processing procedure in the output control gateway according to the first embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the output device network sharing system according to the first embodiment.
[0022]
In FIG. 2, an output control gateway 200 includes a data separation unit 201 that separates multiplexed contents such as video data and audio data, and a synchronization signal that adds a synchronization signal to synchronize the separated data. An adding unit 202, a time clock 204 for creating time information of the synchronization signal, an output device address adding unit 203 for adding an address of the output device for transferring respective data to a predetermined output device, and an address of the output device Are registered, and a network interface (hereinafter, I / F) 206 is provided.
[0023]
The video output device 300 includes a network I / F 301, a playback control unit 302 that controls data playback timing, a time clock 303 that provides playback timing, a decoder 304 that decodes data, and a monitor that is an output device. 305.
[0024]
Further, the audio output device 400 includes a network I / F 401, a reproduction control unit 402 for controlling data reproduction timing, a time clock 403 for providing reproduction timing, a decoder 404 for decoding data, and a speaker as an output device. 405.
[0025]
Here, when the terminal 500 requests the content server 100 for the content 101 in which video data and audio data are multiplexed (S101), the requested content 101 is transmitted to the network I / O of the output control gateway 200. It is delivered to F206 (S102).
[0026]
The multiplexed content 101 arriving at the network I / F 206 is passed to the data separation unit 201 and separated into video data and audio data (S103). For example, in the case of multiplexed streaming data of MPEG2-TS (Transport Stream), it can be separated for each type of data by a PID (Packet Identifier) included in a header portion of a TS packet.
[0027]
In order to synchronize the separated data, a synchronization signal is added in the synchronization signal adding unit 202 using time information generated by the time clock 204 (S104).
[0028]
Thereafter, in order to transfer the separated data to a predetermined output device, the address of the predetermined output device is extracted from the address DB 205 in which the address of the output device is registered. , The output device address is added to each data (S105). For video data, the address of the video output device 300 is added, and for audio data, the address of the audio output device 400 is added to each data (see FIG. 3).
[0029]
Here, the registration of the output device address in the address DB 205 may be set manually, or may be automatically registered when the output device is connected to the network. When there are a plurality of output devices for certain content data, an output device to be output selects an output device that is associated with the terminal 500 in advance (for example, is associated with the same location or the like). The association between the terminal 500 and the output device may be manually set in advance, or, for example, a method of automatically associating the output device connected to the network at the same location as the terminal 500 may be used. Absent. In this case, communication with the address DB 205 is performed via the network I / F 206.
[0030]
Then, the data is transferred to the designated output device via the network I / F 206 (S106).
[0031]
The video data is first delivered to the network I / F 301 of the video output device 300 (S107). Thereafter, the reproduction control unit 302 determines the reproduction timing by comparing the time information added to the data by the synchronization signal addition unit 202 of the output control gateway 200 with the time information by the time clock 303, and the data is transmitted to the decoder 304. After the transfer (S108), the decoded data is displayed on the monitor 305 (S109).
[0032]
Similarly, the audio data is first delivered to the network I / F 401 of the audio output device 400 (S107). Thereafter, the reproduction control unit 402 determines the reproduction timing by comparing the time information added to the data by the synchronization signal addition unit 202 of the output control gateway 200 with the time information by the time clock 403, and the data is transmitted to the decoder 404. After the transfer (S108), the decoded data is output to the speaker 405 (S109).
[0033]
In this manner, the multiplexed content is separated, transferred to a predetermined output device via the network, and output in a synchronized manner.
[0034]
Here, it is assumed that the time clock 204 of the output control gateway 200, the time clock 303 of the video output device 300, and the time clock 403 of the audio output device 400 are synchronized by some method such as network synchronization.
[0035]
In the first embodiment, the output control gateway 200 is described as hardware. However, the output control gateway 200 may be converted into software and incorporated in the terminal 500 or the like. Further, the content 101 does not have to be multiplexed data (for example, only audio data). In this case, the type of data may be specified, and the address of the output device corresponding to the specified data type may be extracted and added.
[0036]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the output device network sharing system according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the output device network sharing system according to the second embodiment.
[0037]
In the first embodiment, the operation when the terminal requests the multiplexed content on the network is described. In the second embodiment, the operation when the request for the multiplexed content existing locally in the terminal is performed. It shows about.
[0038]
Here, when the terminal 501 issues a reproduction request for the locally multiplexed digital content 102, for example, a DVD media (S 201), the requested content 102 is transmitted to the network I / F 206 of the output control gateway 200. It is transferred (S202). Thereafter, in the same manner as in S103 to S109 of the first embodiment, the content 102 is separated into data, a synchronization signal is added, an output device address is added, and the content 102 is transferred to a predetermined output device via the network I / F 206. And output synchronously (S203).
[0039]
The processing function of each unit in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 is configured by a computer program, and the program can be executed by a computer to realize the present invention. It is needless to say that the processing procedure shown in FIG. 6 can be configured by a computer program, and that the program can be executed by the computer. The program to be executed is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example, a flexible disk, an MO, a ROM, a memory card, a CD, a DVD, a removable disk, and the like, and is stored or distributed. Is possible. Further, it is also possible to provide the above program through a network such as the Internet or e-mail. As described above, the present invention can be implemented by installing a program provided by a recording medium or a network on a computer.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, by sharing output devices such as audio and video using a network, wiring is not complicated even when a plurality of reproduction terminals are provided. In addition, since the output device is shared, it is not necessary to prepare an output device for each of the reproduction terminals, so that the cost is reduced, and furthermore, management such as maintenance of the output device becomes easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an image diagram of sharing an output device using a network according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network sharing system of an output device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data processing procedure in the output control gateway according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a network sharing method of the output device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a network sharing system for an output device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a network sharing method for an output device according to the second embodiment. FIG. Image of shared output device in [Figure 8] Image of individually mounted output device according to conventional technology [Explanation of reference numerals]
100 content server 101 multiplexed content 102 multiplexed content 200 output control gateway 201 data separation unit 202 synchronization signal addition unit 203 output device address addition unit 204 time clock 205 address DB (database)
206: Network I / F (interface)
300: video output device 301: network I / F
302 ... reproduction control unit 303 ... time clock 304 ... decoder 305 ... monitor 400 ... audio output device 401 ... network I / F
402 playback control unit 403 time clock 404 decoder 405 speaker 500 terminal 501 terminal 700 network

Claims (12)

An apparatus for connecting an output device to a network and sharing the output device with a plurality of terminals,
Data type specifying means for specifying the type of data of the digital content requested by the terminal;
Time information creating means for creating time information indicating the playback timing of the type of specified data in the output device;
Time information adding means for adding the created time information to the specified data of the type;
Output device address adding means for adding, to the data, an address of an output device to which the type of specified data is output;
Network interface means for transferring the data to which the time information is added and the address of the output device is added to the output device;
A network sharing device for an output device, comprising: The network sharing device for an output device according to claim 1,
The data type identification unit is a data separation unit that separates the multiplexed digital content requested by the terminal for each type of data,
The time information creating means is a time signal as a synchronization signal for synchronizing the separated data,
The time information adding means is a synchronization signal adding means for adding the synchronization signal to each of the separated data,
The output device address adding means adds an address of an output device serving as an output destination of each of the separated data to each of the separated data.
The network sharing device for an output device, wherein the network interface unit transfers the separated data to which the synchronization signal is added and the address of the output device is added, to the output device. The network sharing device for an output device according to claim 1 or 2,
The time information creating means,
A network sharing device for an output device, which creates time information synchronized with a network with the output device. The network sharing device of an output device according to claim 1,
The output device address adding means,
It has a database in which addresses of output devices to which data is output for each type of data are registered in advance, and the address of the output device associated with the requested terminal is taken out from the database and added to the data. A network sharing device for an output device. The network sharing device of an output device according to claim 1,
The data type identification means is
A network sharing device for an output device, which receives digital content data requested by a terminal from a content server or a specific terminal. A method for connecting an output device to a network and sharing the output device with a plurality of terminals,
A data type identification procedure for identifying the type of digital content data requested by the terminal;
A time information creating procedure for creating time information indicating the playback timing of the type of specified data in the output device;
A time information adding step of adding the created time information to the specified data of the type;
An output device address adding procedure for adding an address of an output device serving as an output destination of the specified data to the data;
A network interface procedure for transferring to the output device the data to which the time information is added and the address of the output device is added,
A method for sharing a network of an output device, comprising: The network sharing method for an output device according to claim 6,
The data type identification procedure is a data separation procedure for separating the multiplexed digital content requested by the terminal for each data type,
In the time information creating procedure, the time information as a synchronization signal for synchronizing the separated data,
The time information addition procedure is a synchronization signal addition procedure for adding the synchronization signal to each of the separated data,
In the output device address adding step, an address of an output device serving as an output destination of each of the separated data is added to each of the separated data.
In the network interface procedure, each of the separated data to which the synchronization signal is added and the address of the output device is added is transferred to the output device. The network sharing method for an output device according to claim 6 or 7,
In the time information creation procedure,
A network sharing method for an output device, comprising creating time information synchronized with the output device over a network. 9. The network sharing method for an output device according to claim 6, wherein
In the output device address adding procedure,
A network of output devices, wherein an address of an output device associated with a requested terminal is extracted from a database in which addresses of output devices to which data is output for each type of data are registered in advance and added to the data. Sharing method. The network sharing method for an output device according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
In the data type identification procedure,
A network sharing method for an output device, comprising receiving digital content data requested by a terminal from a content server or a specific terminal. 11. A network sharing program for an output device, wherein the procedure in the network sharing method for an output device according to claim 6 is a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure in the network output device sharing method according to any one of claims 6 to 10,
A recording medium recording a network sharing program for an output device, wherein the program is recorded on a recording medium readable by the computer.

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