JP2005025126A - Projector device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remotely control a projector device and external equipment connected to it. <P>SOLUTION: The projector device is provided with a projector main body, a storage device to store a main body firmware for operating the projector main body, an HTTP server to store a Web page and an HTTP interface for performing the communication of an HTTP system with the terminal of a user, and the HTTP server transmits the Web page to the user, and transmits the command of an HTML format transmitted from the user to the main body firmware, and the main body firmware operates the projector main body based on the command. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a projector system suitable for use in a home theater system or a conference system, and more particularly to a projector system controlled by a computer.

  A projector can be used to build a home theater system or a conference system. Such a system includes a projector, a screen, a lighting device, a video source such as a DVD player, a speaker system, an AV amplifier, and the like, and these devices are controlled by a computer.

  FIG. 7 shows a first example of a home theater system using a conventional projector. In this example, the home theater system includes a control computer 200, a projector 10, a screen 31, and a DVD player 33. The computer 200, the projector 10, the screen 31, and the DVD player 33 are connected by an RS-232C standard cable for serial communication.

  The computer 200 is equipped with operation software 201, 202, and 203 for operating the projector, the screen, and the DVD player, respectively. These operation software 201, 202, and 203 are usually provided by a manufacturer of each device. These operation software 201, 202 and 203 generate an operation signal or a command signal based on different protocols. A user can operate the projector 10, the screen 31, and the DVD player 33 using the operation software 201, 202, 203 on the computer 200.

  FIG. 8 shows a second example of a home theater system using a projector. In this example, a control box 204 is provided between the computer 200 and the projector 10, the screen 31, and the DVD player 33. The control box 204 and the computer, and the control box and the operation target device are connected by an RS-232C standard cable for serial communication.

  The computer 200 is equipped with operation software 205 for operating the projector, the screen, and the DVD player via the control box 204. A user can operate the projector 10, the screen 31, and the DVD player 33 using the operation software 205 on the computer 200.

  RS-232C standard cables are simple in structure, but because the communication distance is short, a LAN-RS232C converter box is generally used.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-247539 describes a network projector device that is remotely operated via a network from an operation information device equipped with a Web browser. The network projector device includes a web server, and the web server transmits an operation initial screen in HTML in response to a request from the web browser of the operation information device. The user operates from this initial operation screen.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-123488 describes an example in which a projector having a web server function is remotely operated from a client personal computer equipped with a browser. In these examples, the HTTP protocol is used for communication between the terminal and the projector, and a WWW (World Wide Web) browser is used for the GUI (Graphical User Interface).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-247539 JP 2002-123488 A

  In the theater system shown in FIG. 7, operation software must be provided for each device connected to the projector. In the theater system shown in FIG. 8, a control box must be provided.

  The equipment and video sources that make up the theater system and conference system vary depending on the organizer, venue, purpose, and the like. In addition, equipment or the like may be changed after the theater system or the conference system is installed.

  Therefore, the operation software provided in the projector is preferably versatile and can be easily customized by the user.

  However, it is very difficult to create such operation software for a projector.

  In the case of a system in which a projector is operated from a computer equipped with a browser, the GUI or Web page operated by the user is also generally versatile and can be easily customized by the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projector system capable of operating a projector and an external device connected to the projector from a single user interface.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a projector system that can easily change a GUI or a Web page operated by a user.

  According to the present invention, the projector device performs HTTP communication between the projector main body, a storage device that stores main body firmware for operating the projector main body, an HTTP server that stores a Web page, and a user terminal. The HTTP server transmits the Web page to the user, transmits a command transmitted from the user to the main body firmware, and the main body firmware transmits the projector based on the command. Operate the main unit.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, in the projector device, the storage device further stores external device operation firmware for operating an external device connected to the projector body, and the HTTP server receives the external device from the user. When the command for operating is received, the command is transmitted to the external device operation firmware, and the external device operation firmware operates the external device based on the command.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, in the projector device, the Web page stored in the HTTP server can be changed by the user. The HTTP server has a removable storage medium for storing a Web page, and the user can change the Web page stored in the removable storage medium.

  According to the present invention, in the projector device, the web page stored in the HTTP server displays the same operation button as the key of the remote controller for operating the projector body, and the operation of the key of the remote controller is displayed on the operation button. The same operation can be assigned.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to remotely control not only the projector device but also an external device connected thereto from the operation terminal.

  According to the present invention, the projector apparatus and peripheral external devices connected thereto can be operated from one user interface, that is, a Web page.

  According to the present invention, even if the configuration of an external device connected to the projector device changes, the operation interface can be easily changed.

  According to the present invention, each button of the remote control device not assigned to the communication command can be transmitted to the projector via the network.

  According to the present invention, the same operation as that of the remote control device can be performed via the user interface.

  A first example of a projector system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The projector system of this example includes a projector 10 and an operation terminal 20. The projector 10 includes a projector main body 11, a storage device 12, and an HTTP server 13. The storage device 12 includes a ROM, a flash memory, and the like, and stores the main body firmware 101. The HTTP server 13 is constituted by, for example, a micro server and stores a CGI program 103.

  The operation terminal 20 may be anything as long as it stores a Web browser, and may be a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile communication terminal, a PHS, or the like. The web browser can be any commonly available.

  The operation terminal 20 and the HTTP server 13 are connected by a wired or wireless LAN. Therefore, the operation terminal 20 and the HTTP server 13 have a wired or wireless LAN interface. HTTP is used as a communication protocol between the operation terminal 20 and the HTTP server 13.

  An operation in which the user operates the projector 10 from the operation terminal 20 will be described. First, the user activates a web browser on the operation terminal 20, reads the projector operation web page 500 from the HTTP server 13, and displays it on the screen of the operation terminal 20.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a Web page 500 for operating the projector displayed on the screen of the operation terminal 20. This Web page 500 includes an input frame 505, a send button 506, and buttons 501, 502, 503, and 504. Communication commands 301, 302, 303, and 304 are assigned to the buttons 501, 502, 503, and 504, respectively. By pressing the buttons 501, 502, 503, and 504, the assigned communication command is transmitted. The user can assign an arbitrary communication command to the input frame 505. A communication command assigned to the input frame 505 can be transmitted by pressing the transmission button 506 provided therewith.

  The web browser of the operation terminal 20 generates a “communication command” by the CGI POST method or the like and transmits it to the projector 10. This “communication command” is the same as the operation command used by the conventional projector and other theater system devices, and is conventionally transmitted via the RS232C serial port.

  The HTTP format communication commands 301 to 305 transmitted from the operation terminal 20 are received by the HTTP server 13. The CGI program 103 transmits the communication commands 301 to 305 to the main unit firmware 101 via the internal bus.

  The main unit firmware 101 interprets the communication command from the CGI program 103 in the same manner as a command received through the RS232C serial port conventionally, and performs a specified operation assigned to the communication command.

  A second example of the projector system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The projector system of this example includes a projector 10 and an operation terminal 20. The projector 10 of this example includes a projector main body 11, a storage device 12, and an HTTP server 13. The storage device 12 stores main body firmware 101 and external device operation firmware 102. The HTTP server 13 stores a CGI program 103.

  The projector 10 of this example is different from the first example of the projector shown in FIG. 1 in that an external device operation firmware 102 is provided and a plurality of external devices are connected. Accordingly, different points will be described here, and descriptions of other configurations will be omitted.

  A home theater system or a conference system is configured by connecting a plurality of external devices to the projector 10. The external devices include, for example, a screen 31, a video tape recorder 32, a DVD player 33, and a computer 34. Each device is connected to the projector 10 by using different protocols. The projector 10 includes an interface for connecting to an external device. In the illustrated example, an output port 131, an RS232C output terminal 132, an IEEE1394 output terminal 133, and a wired or wireless LAN output terminal 134 are provided as interfaces for operating external devices.

  An operation in which the user operates an external device connected to the projector from the operation terminal 20 will be described. First, the user starts a web browser on the operation terminal 20, reads the web page 600 for operating an external device from the HTTP server 13, and displays it on the screen of the operation terminal 20.

  FIG. 6 shows a Web page 600 for external device operation displayed on the screen of the operation terminal. This Web page includes an input frame 605, a send button 606, a screen up / down button 607, and external selector buttons 601, 602, 603, and 604. The movement from the web page 500 in FIG. 5 to the web page 600 in FIG. 6 is realized by using an HTML hyperlink.

  The user selects an external device to be operated by pressing one of the external selector buttons 601, 602, 603, and 604. The user inputs a video source to be transmitted to the projector in the input frame 605 and presses the transmission button 606. Thereby, the video source is transmitted from the external device to the projector. The user can change the position of the screen by pressing the up / down button 607.

  HTTP format communication commands 311 to 315 transmitted from the operation terminal 20 are received by the HTTP server 13. The CGI program 103 transmits a communication command to the external device operation firmware 102 via the internal bus. The external device operation firmware 102 interprets the communication command from the CGI program 103 and operates the external device assigned to the communication command.

  Thus, in this example, operation input means in the form of a GUI or a web page is provided to the user. Furthermore, if a Web browser can be installed as the operation terminal 20 for operating the projector and the external device, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a PHS, etc. can be selected. it can. The same GUI can be used in any case.

  A Web page storage location in projector 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the web page is stored in the HTTP server 13. The HTTP server 13 has a built-in memory 14 such as a flash memory, and a person familiar with a projector such as a development maker or a sales dealer stores a Web page in the memory 14. In this example, the HTTP server 13 includes a removable storage medium 15 such as a memory card in addition to the built-in memory 14. The user can store the web page created or edited by the user himself / herself in the removable storage medium 15. Further, the web page stored in the removable storage medium 15 may be copied to the built-in memory 15. The web page includes an image file and an HTML file. How to change or edit the GUI or Web page will be described later.

  Thereby, the user can use the operation Web page created or edited by the user himself. That is, a GUI customized by the user can be used. Since these GUIs can be described using HTML, customization is easy. The GUI can be changed according to user preferences or changes in equipment in the theater system or conference system.

  A third example of the projector system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the same operation as the operation of the remote controller 70 attached to the projector is performed on the Web page.

  The remote controller 70 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons 71 and 72, and remote control codes 403 and 404 are assigned to these operation buttons 71 and 72, respectively. When the user presses the operation buttons 71 and 72 of the remote controller, the assigned remote control codes 403 and 404 are transmitted and received by the receiving unit of the projector 10. The main body firmware 101 operates the projector 10 based on the received remote control codes 403 and 404.

  In this example, the remote controller operation buttons 701 and 702 are displayed on the web page 700 by editing the remote controller operation web page 700. Instead of pressing the operation buttons 71 and 72 of the remote controller 70, the user presses the operation buttons 701 and 702 of the remote controller on the web page 700. As a result, a communication command is transmitted from the operation terminal 20 to the HTTP server 13 of the projector 10.

  The main body firmware 101 makes a one-to-one correspondence between the communication command and the remote control code assigned to the operation button of the remote controller, and converts the communication command into a remote control code. Based on the remote control code thus obtained, the projector is operated.

  The remote control keys include direction keys for operating the OSD menu, and keys for operating the screen display such as up / down / left / right / MENU / decision key, voice volume key, etc. as shown in FIG. These screen operation keys are not assigned communication commands for operating the projector. However, these screen operation keys can also be displayed on the Web page 700 alongside the operation buttons 701 and 702 of the remote controller. Therefore, the user can perform various screen operations by operating the screen operation keys on the Web page instead of operating the screen operation keys of the remote control.

  A construction method of the projector system according to the present invention will be described. The manufacturer of the projector creates an “HTTP server program”, a “CGI program”, and an “firmware for operating an external device” and provides them to the user when the projector is sold. These programs and firmware are stored in the storage device 12 and the HTTP server 13 of the projector 10.

  Further, a function is added to the main body firmware 101 already stored in the projector 10 so that a communication command from the CGI program 103 can be received. For example, data from the CGI program 103 can be received using POSIX interprocess communication.

  The HTTP server 13 is provided with a wired or wireless LAN input / output terminal that understands TCP / IP as an operation terminal connection interface. As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the projector main body is provided with output terminals such as an output port, RS232C, IEEE1394, and LAN as an interface for connecting external devices. The LAN output terminal for external device connection is shared with the H LAN input / output terminal of the operation terminal connection interface.

  The HTTP server 13 is always in a power supply state and is activated, including during standby. The user designates the IP address or FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) of the HTTP server 13 from the Web browser of the operation terminal 20 such as a personal computer, PDA, mobile phone, etc., thereby displaying the Web page stored in the HTTP server 13. Can be connected. When the user connects to the web page, the web page for operation as shown in FIG. 5 or 6 can be displayed on the screen of the operation terminal 20.

In order to transmit a communication command from the operation terminal 20 to the projector 10, a character string is transmitted using the POST method. For example, when the communication command of “Power ON” to the projector is “POWR 1” + <CR> (0x0d), the operation terminal 20 uses the POST method to “POWR 1” to the CGI program 103 of the HTTP server 13. Send the string. This can be written in HTML as follows:
<FORM action = "test.cgi" method = "POST" target = "subframe">
<INPUT TYPE = "hidden" VALUE = "POWR 1" NAME = "powron">
<INPUT TYPE = "submit" VALUE = "ON"></FORM>

  When operating an external device connected to the projector from the operation terminal 20, the output terminal of the projector and the input terminal of the external device are connected. For example, the RS232C control input of the DVD player and the RS232C output terminal of the projector are cross-connected. When the “playback” RS-232C command for the DVD player is “playdisc” + <CR> (0x0d), the operation terminal 20 uses the POST method to “FWD232C” with respect to the CGI program 103 of the HTTP server 13. Send "playdisc" string. Here, the FWD232C command is a command in which the firmware for operating the external device sends a character string to the RS232C output terminal. As a result, the DVD player can be played back.

A case where the electric screen is operated from the operation terminal 20 via the projector will be described. If the motorized screen can be controlled by simple switch operation, the projector port output is used as a switch. For example, it is assumed that if the input voltage to the switch is Hi, the screen is lowered, if it is Lo, the screen is raised (winding), and if it is high impedance, it is stopped. In this case, the following character string is transmitted by the POST method.
“EXPORT 1 HI”
“EXPORT 1 LO”
“EXPORT 1 IN”

  EXPORT is a command for setting an external device operation port. The numerical value 1 indicates the first port, and HI / LO / IN means that the voltage is Hi / Lo / input (high impedance), respectively. Similarly, an external device connected to another output terminal can be operated from the operation terminal 20 via the projector by using the POST method.

Next, a method for changing or editing the description content of the Web page will be described. When adding or changing an external device connected to the projector, it is necessary to change or edit the GUI or Web page. The user or system installer changes or edits the web page using an HTML template provided in advance by the manufacturer. This operation is usually completed only by the next operation.
(1) Add operation buttons by copy and paste.
(2) The character string of the POST method assigned to each button is changed to an operation command.

  These operations can be performed more easily by using commercially available HTML editor software. Also, if you want to change an image such as an existing icon, you can use an image file created with commercially available drawing software for the changed HTML file. Since the GUI uses HTML, it can be easily changed or edited.

  In order to actually use the GUI or Web page edited in this way, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the created HTML file and image file are stored in a memory card or the like provided in the HTTP server 13. Stored in a removable storage medium. Further, HTML files and image files stored in a removable storage medium may be copied to a built-in flash memory or the like.

  According to this example, the user can update the GUI or the Web page without changing the firmware itself. Note that the CGI program 103 serving as a bridge between the operation terminal 20 and the firmware can be used as it is provided from the beginning.

  The HTML template provided in advance by the manufacturer also includes a Web page that has the same appearance as the remote control. As described with reference to FIG. 4, the user can perform a remote operation with an appearance similar to that of a remote control. With such a Web page configuration, it is easy to change the position and appearance of the buttons, and add buttons for operating external devices.

  The example of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention described in the claims. It will be understood.

It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the projector system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the projector system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the storage method of the web page for operation of the projector system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of the projector system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the web page for projector operation used with the projector system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the web page for external apparatus operation used with the projector system by this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the conventional projector system. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the conventional projector system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Projector 10, 11 ... Projector main body, 12 ... Memory | storage device 12, 13 ... HTTP server, 14 ... Memory, 15 ... Storage medium, 20 ... Operation terminal, 101 ... Main body firmware, 102 ... Firmware for external apparatus operation , 103 ... CGI program

Claims (5)

  A projector main body, a storage device for storing main body firmware for operating the projector main body, an HTTP server for storing a web page, and an HTTP interface for performing HTTP communication with a user terminal; The server transmits the Web page to the user, transmits a command transmitted from the user to the main body firmware, and the main body firmware operates the projector main body based on the command. Projector device.   2. The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device further stores firmware for operating an external device for operating an external device connected to the projector main body, and the HTTP server stores the external device from a user. When an operation command is received, the command is transmitted to the external device operation firmware, and the external device operation firmware operates the external device based on the command. Projector device.   The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the Web page stored in the HTTP server can be changed by a user.   The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the HTTP server has a removable storage medium for storing a Web page, and a user can change the Web page stored in the removable storage medium. There is provided a projector device. 2. The projector device according to claim 1, wherein the Web page stored in the HTTP server displays the same operation button as a key of a remote controller for operating the projector body, and the operation of the key of the remote controller is displayed on the operation button. A projector device characterized in that the same operation can be assigned.

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