JP2006042064A - Management device, apparatus control system and method for managing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management device, an apparatus control system and an apparatus managing method, by which a plurality of users can effectively utilize an apparatus to be controlled having a plurality of functions. <P>SOLUTION: In the management device and the apparatus control system, each of monitors A, B has a function-based apparatus information table 50 for storing apparatus information classified in each function, each of apparatuses A to C has an apparatus function information table 60 for storing function utilization information and each of the monitors A, B refers to the function-based apparatus information table 50 and displays the functions of the apparatus and an apparatus provided with a selected function by an UI screen. In order to acquire use right, a function is selected from the UI screen of the monitor A or B, and when a using request for the function of the apparatus is outputted from the monitor A or B, the apparatus determines whether the apparatus can be used or not on the basis of the function utilization information stored in the apparatus function information table 60 and answers the determination result to the monitor A or B. The monitor A or B from which the use right setting request of the function is outputted acquires the use right by receiving an answer that the function can be used, and only the monitor acquiring the use right can use the function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to device control technology, and more particularly to a management apparatus, device control system, and device management method for controlling a plurality of AV devices connected via a network.

  “Viewing” means that a user views or listens to video, audio, data, etc. for a certain device, and “control” means that the user performs operations such as playback and stop exclusively. “Use” is defined as performing either viewing or control. In addition, the right to perform the above-described processing for a certain device is defined as “viewing right”, “control right”, and “use right”, respectively.

  In addition, AV devices such as display devices that can control other AV devices are referred to as “control devices”, and AV devices such as HDD / DVD recorders and tuners controlled by the control devices are referred to as “controlled devices”. It is defined as

  With the development of device control technology and control technology via network between devices, devices installed in different areas can be connected by wired or wireless network, and multiple users can share specific devices It has become. However, when one device is used in common by a plurality of users, there is a possibility that confusion may arise when another user suddenly controls the device while another user is using the device.

  In order to solve such a problem, for example, an operating device is provided in each area (room), and in the operating device, control data generated by adding ID data assigned to the own device to control data received from a remote controller is created. Then, a system for transmitting to a control device that controls a controlled device provided in another room is conceivable. The control device identifies the ID data included in the control data, and invalidates the operation by a person other than the user who first started the operation, so that there is no inconvenience for the user who first started the operation. In addition, it has been proposed to perform control to invalidate an operation command from an operation device having an ID other than a pre-registered ID (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a selection key that can be preferentially selected is provided on the remote controller used by the user, and even when a plurality of users transmit AV information transmission request commands at the same time, a command having priority is preferentially executed by the receiving device that receives the command. Thus, a priority selection function that ignores the operation right based on the temporal priority when requests from two users overlap has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). These techniques prevent multiple users from operating a single device at the same time and causing confusion.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a conventional device control system.
In FIG. 16A, the device control system 100 is connected to the monitors (display devices) A110 and B120 for viewing AV data, between the monitors A110 and B120, and to the monitor A110 and the control line 150, and is connected to the monitors A110 and B120. And devices A210, B220, and C230 that exchange data. The devices A210, B220, and C230 are AV data source devices such as satellite broadcast tuners and video decks. For example, the device A210 is a satellite broadcast tuner, the device B220 is an AVHDD recording device, and the device C230 is a DVD recording / reproducing device. It is.

As shown in FIG. 16B, when it is desired to use a certain function of the devices A210, B220, and C230, the user selects a device from a UI (User Interface) screen of the monitors A110 and B120, and then selects a function. A number 151 in FIG. 16A indicates a device selection operation for selecting the device A210 on the UI screen of the monitor A110.
However, the conventional method has the following problems when selecting and operating from a plurality of monitors.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining the problems of the conventional device control system. FIG. 17B shows a UI screen of the device selection menu of the monitor A110, and FIG. 17C shows a UI screen of the device selection menu of the monitor B120. When a device is selected on the UI screen, a mark (●) indicating that the device is selected is displayed on the selected device.

  As shown in FIG. 17 (a), when a plurality of monitors A110, B120 having a device operation function select one device (here, device A210), they can be operated from either one (see numbers 161, 162). This causes confusion in user device control. For example, while a user is using the device A210 by the monitor A110, confusion may occur due to a user suddenly controlling the device A210 by the monitor B120.

  Therefore, the present applicant has already applied for a system that can provide a device control technology that is easy to use for a large number of users by setting the right to use the device and accepting operations only from the monitor that has acquired the right to use. Application 2003-318787).

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the device control system of the prior application.
In FIG. 18A, the device control system 300 is connected to monitors A310 and B320 for viewing AV data, the monitors A310 and B320, and the monitor A310 and the control line 150, and exchanges data with the monitors A310 and B320. Devices A410, B420, and C430. Inside the monitors A 310 and B 320 and the devices A 410, B 420 and C 430, input data is written to a device information storage unit for storing device usage information and a device information recording unit, and necessary data is stored from the device information recording unit. A control data management unit that performs reading and adds the data to the control command and manages the data as control data. FIG. 18B shows an example of device usage information (in this case, device usage information of the device A 410) stored in the device information storage unit, and control performed by the control data management unit of the monitor B 320 using this device usage information. An example is shown. 18C shows a UI screen of the device selection menu of the monitor A 310, and FIG. 18D shows a UI screen of the device selection menu of the monitor B 320. When a device is selected on the UI screen, a mark (●) indicating that the device is selected is displayed on the selected device. When a device cannot be selected, a mark (×) indicating that the device cannot be selected is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 18B, consider a case where the maximum number of users: 1 and the number of users in use: 1 are stored as the device usage information of the device A410. In this case, since the monitor A310 is already using the device A410, and the maximum number of users used = the number of users in use, the monitor B320 determines that the device A410 cannot be used. In this way, the use right is set for the device, and the operation is accepted only from the monitor that has obtained the use right. The monitor A310 can use the device A410 (see number 351), and the monitor B320 cannot use the device A410 (see number 352). The fact that the device A410 is unusable is displayed on the UI screen of the monitor B320 in FIG. 18D, and the user sees this display and knows that the device A410 cannot be used.

Accordingly, since the right to use is set for the device, even if the monitors A310 and B320 having the device operation function select one device, a problem of overlapping operation is avoided.
JP 2000-197164 A JP-A-4-18831

  By the way, it is conceivable that the devices A410, B420, and C430 connected to the monitors A310 and B320 have a plurality of functions as the number of AV devices is increased.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a device control system for a device having a plurality of functions. The same components as those in FIG. 18 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  Now, let us say that the device A 410 in FIG. 19 is a device having a plurality of functions (for example, a tuner function and an AVHDD recording / playback function). Since the right to use is set for the device A410, as in the case of FIG. 18, the monitors A310 and B320 are not duplicated. However, since the device A410 has a plurality of functions including a tuner function and an AVHDD recording / playback function (hereinafter referred to as an AVHDD function), the device A410 is used when the usage right is set for the device A410 as described above. The device itself cannot be used, including functions that are not available. In the example of FIG. 19, all functions of the device A 410 can be used when the monitor A 310 acquires the usage right. The function that the monitor A310 wants to use is the AVHDD function of the device A410 (see reference numeral 451), and the other functions (tuner function) of the device A410 are not used. On the other hand, even though the monitor B320 wants to use the tuner function of the device A410, the monitor A310 cannot use the device A410 because the monitor A310 uses the device A410, and uses the tuner function of the device A410 having a plurality of functions. (Refer to number 452). In this way, when using a function with one monitor while having a device with a plurality of functions and a plurality of monitors with an operation function of the device, the other monitors have unused functions. There is a problem that it cannot be used.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a management device, a device control system, and a device management method that enable a plurality of users to effectively use a controlled device having a plurality of functions.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a management device that is connected to a control device via a network and is connectable to at least one controlled device, the use relating to the function of the controlled device from the control device In response to the request, a management device is provided for setting a usage right for the function of the controlled device.

  Further, according to the present invention, the management device is connected to the control device via a network and is connectable to at least one controlled device, and the storage unit stores function use information of the controlled device. In response to a use request regarding the function of the controlled device from the control device, a management apparatus is provided that includes management means for setting a usage right for the function of the controlled device based on the function usage information. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of control devices, at least one controlled device connected to the plurality of control devices via a network and controlled by the plurality of control devices, and the plurality of controls A device control system comprising: a management device that performs adjustment to give a usage right in response to a use request related to the controlled device from a device, wherein the management device uses a right to use the function of the controlled device And a device control system in which the control device that has acquired the right to use can use the function.

  Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of control devices, at least one controlled device connected to the plurality of control devices via a network and controlled by the plurality of control devices, and the plurality of control devices And a management device that performs adjustment to give a right to use in response to a use request related to the controlled device, wherein at least one of the controlled devices has a plurality of functions, and the management device For the function of the controlled device based on the function usage information in response to a storage request for storing the function usage information of the controlled device and a usage request regarding the function of the controlled device from the controlled device. There is provided a device control system including a management unit that sets a usage right, and the control device that has acquired the usage right uses a corresponding function of the controlled device having the function.

  As a more preferred specific mode, the function usage information of the controlled device includes information on whether the maximum number of users, the number of users in use, and a plurality of functions can be used simultaneously for each function.

  Further, the management means compares the maximum number of users and the number of users in use for each function, and the function can be used based on the comparison result and information on whether the plurality of functions can be used simultaneously. Determine the existence and set the usage rights.

  As a more preferable specific aspect, the control device includes display means for displaying a UI screen, selects a function of the controlled device from the UI screen of the control device, and further includes a selected function. Is displayed on the UI screen, and the controlled device is selected from the UI screen.

  The management device may be installed in the control device and / or the controlled device or on the network.

  The network connects various devices with a 1394 standard digital interface (for example, a 1394 standard high-speed serial bus), so that only one control line is required and wiring becomes easy.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for performing adjustment to give a right to use the controlled device by a management device that is connected to the controlled device via a network and is connectable to at least one controlled device. A step of storing function usage information of the controlled device; a step of receiving a usage request regarding the function of the controlled device from the controlled device; and a function of the controlled device based on the function usage information. A step of determining whether or not to grant the right to use the device, and a step of responding to the control device that has requested the right to use the function according to the determination result or not giving the right to use. A device management method is provided.

  In the management device and the device control system of the present invention, since the right to use is set for the function of the device, even when a certain function of the device is used, the right to use another function that is not used is granted. It can be acquired and used, and all functions of a device having a plurality of functions can be used effectively. Therefore, even when there is a user who is already using the device, other users can use functions that are not being used, and a system that is highly satisfactory for many users can be provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a management device, a device control system, and a device management method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a device control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device control system according to the present embodiment is a system in which a plurality of AV devices are connected to a network, and a single controlled device is used by a plurality of users to view AV data (video / audio data). The present invention can be applied to a television receiver having a digital broadcast receiver capable of receiving digital broadcast radio waves.

  In FIG. 1, the device control system is installed in each room, for example, and the user directly interacts with the display devices 10a and 10b for viewing AV data, and the receiving device 20a for exchanging data with the display devices 10a and 10b. 20b, remote control devices 1a and 1b for remotely operating the display devices 10a and 10b and the receiving devices 20a and 20b by transmitting infrared rays 2 as optical signals, and receiving devices 20a and 20b connected to the network 3 to exchange data Transmitting devices 30a to 30c, connected to the transmitting devices 30a to 30c by the control line 4, and controlled devices 40a to 40c for transmitting AV data.

  The display device 10a, the receiving device 20a and the remote control device 1a constitute a monitor A, and the display device 10b, the receiving device 20b and the remote control device 1b constitute a monitor B. The transmitting device 30a and the controlled device 40a are the devices A controlled by the monitors A and B, and the transmitting device 30b and the controlled device 40b are the devices B controlled by the monitors A and B. The control device 40c constitutes a device C controlled by the monitors A and B, respectively.

  Monitors A and B (control devices) and devices A to C (controlled devices) are specifically AV connected to devices according to the IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 1394, hereinafter simply referred to as 1394) standard. Equipment. In addition, it is assumed that AV equipment (BS digital tuner, DVHS deck, digital video camera, etc.) is network-connected using the 1394 standard, and home appliances are network-connected to each other.

  The monitor A and the monitor B and the devices A to C may be installed in a room separated from each other by a wall. The monitor A or the monitor B can control the devices A to C installed in the room separated by the wall. At least one of the devices A to C is a device having a plurality of functions. Here, the device A has two functions of a satellite broadcast tuner function and an AVHDD recording / playback function.

  The monitors A and B transmit control data from the receiving devices 20a and 20b to the transmitting devices 30a to 30c of the devices A to C through the network 3, and the control data is transmitted to the controlled devices 40a to 40c through the control line 4. The On the other hand, the AV data is transmitted from the controlled devices 40a to 40c to the transmitting devices 30a to 30c through the control line 4, and is transmitted from the transmitting devices 30a to 30c to all the receiving devices 20a and 20b connected to the network 3 through the network 3. Sent. AV data received by the receiving devices 20a and 20b is displayed by the display devices 10a and 10b.

  The network 3 is a network that connects various devices with an IEEE standard digital interface, and can connect any number of the receiving apparatuses 20a and 20b and the transmitting apparatuses 30a to 30c. The network 3 is not limited to the 1394 standard, and is a concept that generically refers to data communication means such as Ethernet that connects the receiving devices 20a and 20b and the transmitting devices 30a to 30c. Further, as the access line of the network 3, a large capacity line such as FTTH (Fiber To The Home), HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coax), and ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) can be used. Further, the network 3 may be a wireless IEEE 1394 network. For example, as an example of a method of connecting a wireless 1394 bus as a network, a wireless communication protocol such as Wireless 1394, 1394 over 802.11, which realizes the 1394 bus on a wideband wireless, is used to construct the wireless 1394 bus. Applicable to. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a data transmission system that does not use packet transmission.

  The monitors A and B can control the controlled devices 40 a to 40 c through the network 3. The controlled devices 40a to 40c are controlled by the monitors A and B. In addition to controlling the controlled devices 40a to 40c themselves, each function is controlled when the controlled devices 40a to 40c are devices having a plurality of functions. Including the case of individually controlling. In this example, the controlled devices 40a to 40c have a plurality of functions, and each function can be operated from separate monitors A and B.

  The controlled devices 40a to 40c are AV data source devices such as satellite broadcast tuners, DVHS decks, HDD / DVD recording / playback apparatuses, and the like. The DVHS deck includes a BS / CS capable of supplying HD video, a terrestrial digital tuner, and an HDD recorder capable of recording and reproducing HD video. Further, it is an HDD video recording / reproducing apparatus of various AV devices using the 1394 standard, for example, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group-Transport Stream) 2.

  The controlled devices 40a to 40c may have a plurality of functions such as a tuner and an AVHDD recording / reproducing device.

  AV data received by the receiving devices 20a and 20b is displayed on the corresponding display devices 10a and 10b, respectively. Here, the network 3 is constituted by a wireless or IEEE1394 high-speed serial bus. If the network 3 is configured by a wireless LAN or the like, there is no need to connect the devices with cables, which is convenient. Even when wired, if an IEEE 1394 high-speed serial bus or the like is used, a large amount of AV data can be transmitted. Also, by using the control line 4 as an IEEE 1394 high-speed serial bus, only one control line 4 is required and wiring is simplified.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the display devices 10a and 10b and the receiving devices 20a and 20b of the monitors A and B. The display devices 10a and 10b have the same configuration and are collectively referred to as the display device 10. Similarly, the receiving devices 20a and 20b have the same configuration and are collectively referred to as the receiving device 20.

  The display device 10 includes an AV data input unit 11 and an AV data display unit 12, and AV data output from the receiving device 20 is input to the AV data input unit 11, and the AV data display unit 12 (display means). Is displayed.

  The receiving device 20 includes a remote control light receiving unit 21, a control data management unit 22 (management unit), a receiver information recording unit 23 (storage unit), a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen synthesis unit 24, an AV data output unit 25, and control data. A transmission / reception unit 26, an AV data reception unit 27, and a network transmission / reception unit 28 are provided.

  The remote control device 1 constitutes a part of a UI (User Interface) unit that receives an instruction / input from a user, and transmits a user instruction received by the remote control light receiving unit 21 to the control data management unit 22.

  The remote control light receiving unit 21 is an I / O port for performing optical communication in accordance with a standard for transmitting data with the remote control device 1 using infrared rays, IrDA (Infrared Data Association), ASK, and the like. Note that, instead of infrared rays, wireless communication using radio waves may be performed. The infrared light 2 transmitted from the remote control device 1 is received by the remote control light receiving unit 11.

  The remote control light receiving unit 21 receives the infrared rays 2 transmitted from the remote control 1 operated by the user and converts them into corresponding control commands. This control command is sent to the control data management unit 22. The control data management unit 22 writes input data to the receiving device information recording unit 23, reads necessary data from the receiving device information recording unit 23, adds the data to the control command, and uses the control data as control data. The data is sent to the transmitting / receiving unit 26. When control data is received from the control data transmission / reception unit 26, necessary data is written to the reception device information recording unit 23. In either case, information is sent to the GUI screen composition unit 24 as necessary.

  In particular, the control data management unit 22 has a function as a management device that sets a usage right for a function in cooperation with a control data management unit 33 (FIG. 4) of the transmission device 30 of the devices A to C described later. When viewed as a management apparatus, the control data management unit 22 obtains device information, displays a UI screen of device functions, receives a device function selection request / response, acquires a usage right, a device-specific device information table 50 (FIG. 3), and devices. Each management control of the function information table 60 (FIG. 5) update and UI screen update is performed.

  FIG. 3 is an example of the function-specific device information table 50 of the monitors A and B, and is stored in the receiving device information recording unit 23. In this example, the function-specific device information table 50 is stored in the reception device information recording unit 23 of the reception device 20, but may be installed anywhere on the monitors A and B.

  The device information table by function 50 stores device information classified by function for the devices A to C operated by the monitors A and B. This function is a function of the devices A to C, such as a tuner, AVHDD recording / playback, and a video deck. In this case, tuners are classified into satellite broadcasting tuners, terrestrial digital tuners, etc., and AVHDD recording / playback is further classified into functions such as HD (High Definition) recording / playback and SD (Standard Definition) recording / playback dedicated. The “Function 1”, “Function 2”, “Function 3”,... In FIG. 3 indicate such functions as a satellite broadcast tuner function and an AVHDD function. For this function, the number of devices having the corresponding function “number of devices” and detailed information “device information” of each device are stored. The device information includes the device name “device name”, the manufacturer name (not required) “manufacturer name”, a flag “selected flag” indicating whether the user has selected the device, and the function of the current device It has a flag “usable flag” indicating information on whether or not it can be used. As described above, the device information table for each function 50 stores device information classified by function. Therefore, when a device has a plurality of functions, the same device information is registered for each function. The For example, when the device A in FIG. 1 has a tuner and an AVHDD function, the function-specific device information table 50 includes a function 1 (assuming a tuner function) and a function 2 (assuming an AVHDD function). Device information (device name, manufacturer name, selected flag, usable flag) is stored.

  When the system configuration is changed, such as when a new controlled device is connected to the network 3 or removed, the contents of the function-specific device information table 50 are rewritten by the control data management unit 22. . The update of the function-specific device information table 50 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The GUI screen composition unit 24 shown in FIG. 2 displays information on the controlled devices 40a to 40c connected to the network 3 based on the information obtained from the control data management unit 22, and inputs user information. For example, a GUI that can input characters and select items is generated and combined with the AV data sent from the AV data receiving unit 27. AV data combined with the GUI is sent to the AV data output unit 25. AV data synthesized with the GUI is output from the AV data output unit 25 to the display device 10. The user can perform a desired input by operating the remote control device 1 while viewing the GUI screen displayed on the display device 10.

  The control data transmission / reception unit 26 exchanges control data between the control data management unit 22 and the network transmission / reception unit 28. The AV data receiving unit 27 receives AV data from the network transmitting / receiving unit 28. The network transmission / reception unit 28 transmits / receives control data to / from the transmission devices 30 a to 30 c and the other reception devices 20 via the network 3. The control data transmission / reception unit 26 transfers control data. The network transmission / reception unit 28 receives AV data from the transmission devices 30 a to 30 c and sends the AV data to the AV data reception unit 27.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the transmission devices 30a to 30c and the controlled devices 40a to 40c of the devices A to C. The transmission devices 30a to 30c have the same configuration, and are collectively referred to as a transmission device 30. On the other hand, the controlled devices 40a to 40c have different configurations for each device. Now, the controlled device 40a of the device A having a plurality of functions will be described as a controlled device 40 as a representative.

  The transmission device 30 includes a network transmission / reception unit 31, a control data transmission / reception unit 32, a control data management unit 33 (management unit), a transmitter information recording unit 34 (storage unit), a control data input / output unit 35, an AV data transmission unit 36, And an AV data input unit 37.

  The network transmission / reception unit 31 transmits / receives control data to / from the receiving devices 20a, 20b via the network 3. The control data is exchanged with the control data transmitting / receiving unit 32, and the AV data received from the AV data transmitting unit 36 is transmitted to the receiving devices 20a and 20b. The control data transmission / reception unit 32 exchanges control data between the control data management unit 33 and the network transmission / reception unit 31.

  The control data management unit 33 writes input data to the transmitter information recording unit 34, sends control data for the controlled device 40 to the control data input / output unit 35, and transmits necessary data from the transmitter information recording unit 34. Reading is performed and sent to the control data transmitter / receiver 32 as control data.

  In particular, the control data management unit 33 has a function as a management device that sets usage rights for functions in cooperation with the control data management unit 22 of the receiving devices 20 of the monitors A and B. When viewed as a management apparatus, the control data management unit 33 responds to a device selection request, receives function information notification, receives a device function selection request / response, determines whether a device can be used / cannot be used, can use / cannot be used, and device function information table. 60, each management control is performed.

  FIG. 5 is an example of a device function information table 60 possessed by devices operated by the monitors A and B, and is stored in the transmitter information recording unit 34. In this example, the device function information table 60 is stored in the transmitter information recording unit 34 of the transmission device 30, but may be installed anywhere in the device.

  The device function information table 60 stores individual use information for each function and simultaneous use information. For each function, the maximum number of users who can use the function, “maximum number of users”, the number of users currently using the function “number of users in use”, and the maximum number of users used> In the case of the number of medium users, it has an OK flag that indicates OK, and in other cases NG. A default value is set in advance for the maximum number of users. The number of users in use increases when a function is selected by the user and decreases when use is stopped. For example, in the function 1 of the individual use information shown in FIG. 5, the usable flag is OK because the maximum number of users is 1 and the number of users in use is 0. On the other hand, when the device has a plurality of functions, the simultaneous use information is a flag indicating whether or not the functions can be used at the same time. If the devices can be used at the same time, they are OK. Has a value.

  The control data input / output unit 35 transmits / receives control data to / from the controlled device 40 via the control line 4. Control data is exchanged with the control data management unit 33. The AV data transmission unit 36 transmits the AV data received from the AV data input unit 37 to the network transmission / reception unit 31. The AV data input unit 37 receives AV data from the controlled device 40 and sends it to the AV data transmission unit 36.

  The controlled device 40 includes a control data input / output unit 41, a control data management unit 42, a device information recording unit 43, an AV data output unit 44, an AV data reproduction unit 45, an AV data recording unit 46, and a tuner 47. Is done. The AV data reproducing unit 45 and the AV data recording unit 46 correspond to the AVHDD recording / reproducing unit of the device A, and the tuner 47 corresponds to the tuner unit of the device A.

  The control data input / output unit 41 of the controlled device 40 transmits / receives control data to / from the transmission device 30 via the control line 4. Control data is exchanged with the control data management unit 42. The control data management unit 42 reads the device information data from the device information recording unit 43 and sends it to the control data input / output unit 41 as control data. The control data received from the control data input / output unit 41 is converted into a control command and sent to the AV data reproducing unit 45 and the tuner 47. The device information recording unit 43 stores device information. Examples of stored device information include a controlled device name, a controlled device ID, a device name, and an authentication key for encrypting AV data. The AV data output unit 44 receives AV data from the AV data reproduction unit 45 and outputs it to the transmission devices 30a to 30c. AV data is recorded in the AV data recording unit 46. The AV data reproducing unit 45 reproduces AV data recorded in the AV data recording unit 46 in accordance with a control command from the control data management unit 42. The tuner 47 receives and selects a broadcast signal according to a control command from the control data management unit 42.

Hereinafter, the operation of the device control system configured as described above will be described.
In the prior application shown in FIG. 18 (see Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-318787), the use right is set for the device, and the operation is accepted only from the monitor that has obtained the use right. However, with the increase in the number of functions of a device, if a single device has multiple functions and each of these functions can be operated from different monitors, the function with one monitor is used. Other monitors cannot use unused functions (see FIG. 19).

Therefore, this device control system does not set the right to use the device, but sets the right to use the function of the device so that only the monitor that has acquired the right to use the function can use it. . For this purpose, the following method is basically taken.
(1) The devices A to C controlled by the monitors A and B store, in the device function information table 60, function usage information indicating whether the maximum number of users, the number of users in use, and a plurality of functions can be used simultaneously. To do. In addition, the monitors A and B store the function-specific device information in the function-specific device information table 50. Each table 50, 60 is updated when a device is connected or when a function is selected.

(2) The monitor refers to the function-specific device information table 50 and displays the function of the device on the display device 10 on the UI screen. When the user selects a function using the remote control device 1, a device having the selected function is displayed on the UI screen. On this UI screen, information indicating whether or not the device can be selected is also displayed.

(3) In order to determine whether or not a device having the selected function can be used, in response to a use request regarding the function of the device from the monitor, the corresponding device uses the function usage information stored in the device function information table 60. Based on this, it is determined whether the device can be used or not, and the determination result is returned to the monitor. Based on this response, the monitor updates the function-specific device information table 50, and further updates the UI screen of the device having the function. The device function information table 60 update and function selection success / failure determination process will be described later with reference to FIG.

(4) In order to acquire the right to use, the user selects a function from the UI screen of the monitor by using the remote control device 1, further displays a device having the selected function on the UI screen, and selects the device from this UI screen. . In response to the usage request regarding the function of the device from the monitor, the corresponding device determines whether or not the device can be used based on the function usage information stored in the device function information table 60, as in (3) above. Then, the result of the determination is returned to the monitor. The monitor that issued the function usage right setting request obtains the usage right by receiving a response indicating that the function is available, and only the monitor that has acquired the usage right can use the function. Further, by updating the device information table 50 by function and further updating the UI screen of the device having the function, it is displayed that the device having the function cannot be selected on another monitor.

  In this way, in response to a usage request regarding the function of the device from the monitor, the device determines whether it can be used or not based on the function usage information, and responds to the monitor with the determination result. The right to use the function is granted. The monitor also acquires usage rights. The combination of the usage right and the acquisition of the usage right is referred to as setting the usage right for the function.

  In addition, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the success / failure determination of the function selection in the above (3) is shown independently, but it is actually included in the acquisition of the usage right in the above (4).

  The device control system is characterized in that the use right is set for the function of the device, and any device can be used as long as the use right can be set for the function. The sequence control, the function selection request / response, the function selection success / failure determination, etc. can be provided on either the monitor or the device side, and further on the network 3 as a management device. Note that FIG. 15 described later shows an example in which a management apparatus that centrally manages setting of usage rights for the above functions is installed on the network 3.

Next, the operation of the device control system will be described.
Details of the processing operation are as follows, and are divided into device connection operation and function selection operation. In the device connection, the functions of the devices A to C connected to the monitors A and B are recognized. The function selection is performed by selecting an arbitrary function of the devices A to C connected to the monitors A and B.

[Device connection]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a device connection sequence of the device control system according to the present embodiment. Here, when the device A, the device B, and the monitor A are connected according to the IEEE 1394 standard (hereinafter referred to as 1394 connection), when the monitor B is connected, the operation of the device connection process viewed from the monitor B is performed. Show. Note that the processing of the monitor A is omitted.

1. As monitor B is connected to network 3, monitor B is connected to device A (see number 70). In this state, it is assumed that a bus reset occurs due to insertion / removal of a node (see number 71).

  In a system including an IEEE 1394 bus, a configuration process is activated when the number of connected devices increases or decreases, when a bus reset occurs, etc., bus initialization, tree identification, and self-recognition are performed, and node IDs for each device are assigned. These processes are normally performed by a PHY chip (physical layer), and one node ID is assigned to one PHY chip.

  In addition to a node ID, a 1394 device is assigned a 64-bit GUID (Global Unique Identifier) that exists uniquely in the world. Normally, a configuration ROM (hereinafter referred to as “Configuration ROM”) (which is always present in one node) is assigned. , Abbreviated as ConfigROM). In the example of FIG. 6, one ConfigROM exists in each of the 1394 devices A and B and the monitors A and B, and a GUID is included in each ConfigROM.

  The monitor B acquires information on the 1394 device after the bus reset (see number 72). Specifically, the monitor B performs acquisition of ConfigROM, acquisition of subunit information (information governing device functions), and the like. As described above, the ConfigROM has information such as a manufacturer name, a device name, and a GUID.

2. The monitor B acquires the device function information table 60 shown in FIG. 5 from the device having the subunits that it can control. For example, when the devices A and B have sub-units that can be controlled by the monitor B, the device function information table 60 shown in FIG. 5 is acquired from the devices A and B as indicated by reference numeral 73 in FIG. .
3. The monitor B updates the function-specific device information table 50 shown in FIG. 3 based on the acquired information of the device function information table 60 (see number 74).
4). The monitor B refers to the function-specific device information table 50 and updates the UI screen (see number 75).

  The case where the monitor B is connected has been described above as an example. However, when the devices A and B and the monitor B are connected and the monitor A and other monitors are connected, the same device connection sequence is performed.

[Select function]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a function selection sequence of the device control system according to the present embodiment, and shows processing for selecting and using arbitrary functions of the devices A to C connected to the monitors A and B. In FIG. 7, the function selection for the device A selected by the monitor B is taken as an example, but the same function selection is performed by the monitor A and other monitors, and the device having a plurality of functions selects the same function. Of course.
1. The monitor B makes a function selection request to the device selected by the user. here,
When the user selects the function of the device A having a plurality of functions (see number 90), the monitor B makes a function selection request to the device A (see number 91).
2. As a function selection response, the device A returns to the monitor B whether or not the function can be used (see number 92).
3. The device A updates the device function information table 60 shown in FIG. 5 (see number 93).
4). When the function selection is successful (see number 94), the device A transmits a device information notification to all monitors (see number 95). If the function selection is not successful, the device information notification is not transmitted, and the function-specific device information table 50 in each monitor is not updated. Details of this function selection determination will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
5. The monitors A and B update the device information table 50 by function shown in FIG. 3 based on the acquired information on the function information (see numbers 96A and 96B).
6). Each monitor A and B updates the UI screen with reference to the function-specific device information table 50 (see numbers 97A and 97B).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the function selection success / failure determination and the device function information table 60 update. This flow is executed by the CPU constituting the control data management unit 22 (FIG. 2) of the receiving device 20. In the figure, S indicates each step of the flow. This flow is an example of function selection by the device A as in FIG. 7, but the same processing is performed for the device B and a controlled device (not shown).

  When the selection flow of the function X of the device A (X is a target function) starts, first, in step S1, it is determined whether the usable flag D (A) Uflag (x) of the function X of the device A is OK or NG. . If D (A) Uflag (x) is NG, it is determined in step S2 that function X selection has failed, and this function X selection failure result is returned to the monitor as a function X selection response (step S3). In the example of FIG. 7, the device A returns to the monitor B that the function X cannot be used as a function selection response.

  When D (A) Uflag (x) is OK in the above step S1, it is determined in step S4 that the function X has been successfully selected, and the number of users D (A) U (x) in use of the function X of the device A is incremented. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the number of users D (A) U (x) in use of the function X of the device A has reached the maximum number of users D (A) Umax (x) of the function X of the device A. If D (A) U (x) ≠ D (A) Umax (x), the function X selection success is returned to the monitor as a function X selection response (step S3). In the example of FIG. 7, the device A returns to the monitor B that the function X can be used as a function selection response.

  When D (A) U (x) = D (A) Umax (x), the usable flag D (A) Uflag (x) of the function X of the device A is set to NG in step S6 (D (A) Uflag (x) = NG), and the counter i is initialized (i = 0).

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not the counter i is smaller than the function number D (A) F of the device A (i <D (A) F). If i ≧ D (A) F, the function X Successful selection is returned to the monitor as a function X selection response (step S3). If i <D (A) F, it is determined in step S8 whether the simultaneous use information D (A) Sim (x, i) of the function X of the device A and the function i is OK or NG. When D (A) Sim (x, i) = NG, the usable flag D (A) Uflag (i) of the function i of the device A is set to NG in step S9 (D (A) Uflag (i) = NG ) In step S10, the counter i is incremented, and the process returns to step S7. If D (A) Sim (x, i) = OK in step S8, the process proceeds to step S10 as it is.

  Thus, in this flow, for example, when the function X is requested from the monitor B to the device A as shown by the number 81 in FIG. 7, if the function X is usable, the function X is selected. As a success, the number of users in use D (A) U (x) is increased by 1 (steps S1 to S4). If the maximum number of users D (A) Umax (x) of the function A of the device A is equal to the number of users D (A) U (x) in use (step S5), a function that cannot be used simultaneously with the function X A response of selection for disabling is returned (steps S6 to S10).

  By executing the device connection and function selection process of FIGS. 6 to 8, specifically, the usage right setting operation for the function of the device shown in FIGS. 9 to 13 is realized.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a UI screen of the monitor of the device control system according to the present embodiment.
The device control system according to the present embodiment does not set the usage right for the device, but sets the usage right for the function of the device so that only the monitor that has acquired the usage right can use the function. It is. In the present embodiment, the monitor has the device information table 50 by function, and the device has the device function information table 60. In order to acquire the right to use the function of the device, the function is selected from the UI screen of the monitor, and then the device Is selected (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

  FIG. 9A is a UI screen of the monitor A presented to the user. On this UI screen, a plurality of functions included in the devices A to C are displayed in a GUI. In the following description, the devices A to C have an AVHDD function including an HDD recorder, a D-VHS function such as a DVHS deck, and a TUNER function such as a tuner including a digital tuner. As for each of the above functions, at least one of the devices A to C may have a plurality of functions, or the devices A to C may have the same function in an overlapping manner. Here, for simplification of explanation, the tuner is combined with the TUNER function, and the AV recording / reproducing apparatus is combined with the AVHDD function. However, the tuner is used for a satellite broadcast tuner, a terrestrial digital tuner, an analog tuner, and the AVHDD recording. Reproduction is preferably classified into HD recording / reproduction or SD recording / reproduction, and further subdivided functions for each type of recording medium.

  When the user instructs the monitor A to set the right to use using the remote control device 1, the user is presented with a UI screen shown in FIG. This UI screen is currently connected to the network 3 with reference to information in the device information table 50 by function stored in the receiver information recording unit 23 by the control data management unit 22 of the receiving device 20 shown in FIG. The functions of the devices A to C are taken out for each function, and the GUI screen composition unit 24 synthesizes and displays the UI screen. Here, since the network 3 is a 1394 network, the bus reset shown in FIG. 6 occurs when the monitors A and B or the devices A to C are disconnected / connected or the power is turned on / reset. The functional device information table 50 is updated in accordance with the control sequence described above. In the following description, it is assumed that the latest device information by function currently connected to the network 3 is stored in the device information table by function 50.

  In the UI screen of FIG. 9A, the devices A to C have AVHDD, D-VHS, and TUNER. The AV data display on the display device 10 is accompanied by a message “Please select a function”. The GUI is displayed on the section 12 (FIG. 2). The user can select a function that the remote controller 1 wants to use. In the conventional example, as shown in FIG. 18C, a device desired to be used is selected, and a usage right is set for the device.

  When the user selects the AVHDD function on the UI screen of FIG. 9A, the UI screen of the device having the AVHDD function shown in FIG. Similarly, when the user selects the D-VHS function, the screen shifts to the UI screen of the device having the D-VHS function shown in FIG. 9C, and when the TUNER function is selected, the TUNER function shown in FIG. Move to the UI screen of the device with

  In the UI screen of the AVHDD function in FIG. 9B, the devices having the AVHDD function are the device A and the device C, and the device A and the device C are attached with the manufacturer name together with the message “Please select a device”. Is displayed on the AV data display unit 12 of the display device 10 as a GUI.

  In the UI screen of the D-VHS function in FIG. 9C, the device with the D-VHS function is only the device B, and with the message “Please select a device”, attach the manufacturer name and select the device B. GUI display.

  In the UI screen of the TUNER function in FIG. 9D, the devices having the TUNER function are the device A and the device B, and the device A and the device B with the manufacturer name and the message “Please select a device”. Is displayed on the GUI.

  In this way, this device control system first displays what functions the devices A to C connected to the monitors A and B have on the UI screen of FIG. When a function is selected, devices having the selected function are displayed on the UI screens shown in FIGS. Here, since the device A has two functions of the AVHDD function and the TUNER function, it is displayed on the UI screen of the AVHDD function in FIG. 9B and the UI screen of the TUNER function in FIG. 9D. . Since the device B has two functions of a D-VHS function and a TUNER function, the UI screen of the D-VHS function in FIG. 9C and the UI screen of the TUNER function in FIG. Is displayed. Note that the functions displayed on the UI screen and the display priority order of the devices may be any order, but in this example, the order of device A, device B, and device C, which is the device connection sequence order connected to the network 3. It was. This is because it is easy for the user to intuitively understand that the device connection order performed by the user is displayed as it is. However, this is merely an example, and a mode in which a function or device having a high use frequency is displayed at the upper level, or when a function is the same, a higher performance device may be displayed at the upper level. The display with such priorities is realized by the control data management unit 22 of the receiving device 20 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a specific operation of the device control system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10A illustrates an operation example in which unused functions of the same device are used, and FIG. ) Shows the UI screen of the function in the monitor B in that case, and FIG. 10C shows the UI screen of the device having the selected function. 11A shows a device function information table for device A, FIG. 11B shows a device function information table for device B, and FIG. 11C shows device information for each function of monitor B. Indicates a table.

  As described with reference to FIG. 9, the device A has two functions of an AVHDD function and a TUNER function, and the device B has two functions of a D-VHS function and a TUNER function.

  Now, the monitor A acquires the right to use the AVHDD function of the device A, uses the AVHDD function, and displays the AVHDD playback video (see number 501). In the device function information table of device A at this time, the availability flag of the AVHDD function is NG as shown in FIG.

  In this state, when the user intends to use the TUNER function using the monitor B, the user performs a function selection operation on the monitor B using the remote control device 1b (FIG. 1). Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, the functions of the devices connected to the monitors A and B are displayed on the UI screen on the AV data display unit 12 of the display device 10b of the monitor B. When the user selects the TUNER function by remote control operation from the UI screen of the function shown in FIG. 10B and presses the enter key (execution key), the screen shifts to the UI screen of the device having the TUNER function shown in FIG. (See number 501).

  As shown in FIG. 11 (c), the devices having the TUNER function include the device A and the device B, and since the usable flag is OK for both devices, the UI screen shown in FIG. The mark (x) indicating that the function cannot be selected for both devices B is not displayed. Therefore, the user can select both the device A and the device B as devices that can use the TUNER function.

  Here, processing from when the monitor B performs the UI screen display of the device having the TUNER function shown in FIG. 10C until the monitor B selects the TUNER function shown in FIG. 10B will be described. When the device capability information table shown in FIG. 11C is updated by acquiring the device capability information table shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The data management unit 22 causes the GUI screen composition unit 24 to display a UI screen according to the determination result.

  By viewing the UI screen shown in FIG. 10C, the user can use the TUNER function regardless of whether the device A or the device B is selected. When the user selects the TUNER function of the device A, the use right can be set in the TUNER function of the device A and the TUNER function can be used to display the TUNER received video (see number 503). The user can select either the TUNER function of the device A or the device B. For example, when the device A is a digital / analog tuner and the device B is an analog tuner and the user wants to receive a digital broadcast program, the user It is necessary to select the TUNER function of device A.

  Since the device control system of the present embodiment sets usage rights for functions, functions that are not used by the same device can be used. For example, if device A has multiple functions of AVHDD function and TUNER function, monitor A will be used by monitor A even if monitor A uses the AVHDD function of device A. The right to use can be set for the TUNER function that has not been used. As described above, the monitors A and B can effectively use all the functions of the device A.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a specific operation of the device control system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 12A shows an operation example in which a function used by the same device is used. (B) shows the UI screen of the function in the monitor B in that case, and FIG. 12 (c) shows the UI screen of the device having the selected function. The device function information table for device A is the same as FIG. 11 (a), the device function information table for device B is the same as FIG. 11 (b), and the device information table for each function of monitor B is the same as FIG. is there.

  As described with reference to FIG. 9, the device A has two functions of an AVHDD function and a TUNER function, and the device B has two functions of a D-VHS function and a TUNER function.

  Now, the monitor A acquires the right to use the AVHDD function of the device A, uses the AVHDD function, and displays the AVHDD playback video (see number 501). In the device capability information table of device A at this time, the availability flag of the AVHDD function is NG as shown in FIG.

  In this state, when the user intends to use the AVHDD function using the monitor B, the user performs a function selection operation on the monitor B using the remote control device 1b (FIG. 1). Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, the functions of the devices connected to the monitors A and B are displayed on the UI screen on the AV data display unit 12 of the display device 10b of the monitor B. When the user selects the AVHDD function by operating the remote control from the UI screen of the function shown in FIG. 12B and presses the enter key (execution key), the screen shifts to the UI screen of the device having the AVHDD function shown in FIG. (See number 504).

  As shown in FIG. 11C, only the device A has the AVHDD function. However, since the usable flag of the device A is NG, a mark (×) indicating that the function cannot be selected for the device A is displayed on the UI screen shown in FIG. Therefore, the user has the device A as the device having the AVHDD function, but the AVHDD function of the device A cannot be used at present.

  Here, processing from when the user selects the AVHDD function shown in FIG. 12B until the monitor B displays the UI screen of the device having the AVHDD function shown in FIG. 12C will be described. When the device capability information table shown in FIG. 11C is updated by acquiring the device capability information table shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The data management unit 22 causes the GUI screen composition unit 24 to display a UI screen according to the determination result.

  The user can see that the TUNER function of the device A cannot be used at present by viewing the UI screen shown in FIG. Since monitor A has acquired the right to use the AVHDD function of device A, monitor B cannot use the AVHDD function of device A (see number 505).

  Since the device control system of the present embodiment sets the usage right for the function, the function used by the same device cannot be used as shown in FIG. 12, but the usage right is set for the conventional device. Unlike the device, even if the AVHDD function of the device A is used by the monitor A, the TUNER function of the device A can be used from the monitor B. As described above, the monitors A and B can effectively use all the functions of the device A.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a specific operation of the device control system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13A shows an operation example in which functions of the same device cannot be used at the same time. FIG. 13B shows a function 1 UI screen in that case, and FIG. 13C shows a function 2 UI screen in that case. 14A shows the device function information table for device A, FIG. 14B shows the device function information table for device B, and FIG. 14C shows the device information for each function of monitor B. Indicates a table.

  As described with reference to FIG. 9, the device A has two functions of an AVHDD function and a TUNER function, and the device B has two functions of a D-VHS function and a TUNER function.

  Now, the monitor A acquires the right to use the AVHDD function of the device A, uses the AVHDD function, and displays the AVHDD playback video (see number 501). In the device function information table of device A at this time, as shown in FIG. 14A, the availability flag of the AVHDD function is NG. Further, since the simultaneous use of AVHDD and TUNER is NG, the TUNER function usable flag is also NG.

  As shown in FIG. 14C, only the device A has the AVHDD function. However, since the usable flag of the device A is NG, if the AVHDD function is selected from the function selection screen, the UI screen shown in FIG. 13B is displayed, and a mark (×) indicating that the function cannot be selected for the device A Is displayed.

  Similarly, there are a device A and a device B having a TUNER function. However, since the availability flag of device A is NG and the availability flag of device B is OK, when the TUNER function is selected from the function selection screen, the UI screen shown in FIG. A mark (x) indicating that selection is not possible is displayed.

  By viewing the UI screen shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C, the user knows that the AVHDD function and the TUNER function of the device A are currently unusable (see number 506).

  The device control system of the present embodiment sets usage rights for functions, but by implementing a flag that disallows simultaneous use of devices with multiple functions, Control similar to that for setting usage rights can be realized. Also, by changing the flag setting, it is possible to immediately shift from the setting of the right to use the device to the setting to the right to use the function of the device, and the degree of freedom in using the device can be increased.

  In the device control system of the present embodiment described above, an example has been described in which each device has function usage information and a usage right is set for the function. However, a management device that newly installs a function usage right setting unit You may give it to.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a device control system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of the overlapping portions is omitted.

  In FIG. 15, the device control system of the present embodiment responds to a usage request regarding the function of the devices A to C from the monitors A and B connected to the network 3, based on the function usage information. The management apparatus 600 which performs adjustment which provides the usage right with respect to these functions is newly provided. The management device 600 selects the functions of the devices A to C from the UI screens of the monitors A and B in order to operate the devices A to C connected to the network 3 and their functions from the UI screens of the monitors A and B. Further, the devices A to C having the selected function are displayed on the UI screen, and control is performed to select the devices A to C from the UI screen.

  In the device control system of FIG. 1, the management apparatus 600 separates and centrally manages the function usage information and the device usage right setting function that each device has. In addition, the function usage information and the content of the device usage right setting are the same as those of the device control system of the above-described embodiment. Specifically, the management device 600 includes functions and devices corresponding to the control data management unit 22 of the reception devices 20 of the monitors A and B and the receiver information recording unit 23 having the device information table 50 by function (FIG. 6). A device connection sequence described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, which includes functions corresponding to the control data management unit 33 and the device function information table 60 (FIG. 5) of the transmission devices 30 of AC. , Function selection sequence, function selection success / failure determination, usage right setting and table update processing are executed.

  As described above, in the device control system of the present embodiment, at least one of the devices A to C controlled by the monitors A and B has a plurality of functions, and the monitors A and B are divided by function. The device information table 50 by function for storing device information and the device function information table 60 for storing function use information by the devices A to C, and the monitors A and B refer to the device information table 50 by function with reference to the device information table 50. The device having the function and the selected function is displayed on the UI screen. In order to acquire the right to use, the user selects a function from the UI screens of the monitors A and B by the remote control device 1, and the corresponding device responds to the use request regarding the function of the device from the monitors A and B by the device function information. Based on the function usage information stored in the table 60, it is determined whether the device can be used or not, and the determination result is returned to the monitors A and B. The monitor that issued the function usage right setting request obtains the usage right by receiving a response indicating that the function is available, and only the monitor that has acquired the usage right can use the function. As a result, even when the monitor uses a certain function of the device, other monitors can use the unused function of the device, and the function of the device having a plurality of functions can be effectively used. realizable.

  In addition, since a function is selected from the UI screen, and a device having the selected function is displayed on the UI screen together with selectability information, the user only has to select the function he wants to use, and the system is easy for the user to use. Yes. That is, since the user normally selects a device in order to use a certain function, the operation of selecting a function from the UI screen and selecting a device having the selected function from the UI screen is natural and uncomfortable.

  Note that the device control system according to the above embodiment may be applied to AV devices (BS digital tuners, DVHS decks, digital video cameras, etc.) using the display device such as the digital television as described above and the 1394 standard. However, any device can be used as the control device and the controlled device. Further, the present invention is not limited to AV equipment using the 1394 standard.

  In other words, the device controlled by the device control system may be any device, such as an AV device, an AV-related device, or an information processing device such as a personal computer. Further, the type of recording apparatus, the recording method, and the like are not limited, and can be applied to all apparatuses. For example, as a CS tuner or a recording device, in addition to a VTR (Video Tape Recorder), an HDD or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) may be used.

  Further, although the name “device control system” is used, this is for convenience of explanation, and for example, a device control system, a management terminal, a device control method, and the like may be used.

  In addition, a plurality of (two) monitors and a plurality of (three) AV devices have been described. However, more or less devices may be connected to the network 3.

  Furthermore, the type, number, connection method, and the like of each circuit unit constituting the device control system, such as the communication unit and the storage unit, are not limited to the above-described embodiments.

  The management device and device control system described above can also be realized by a program for causing the management device and device control system to function. This program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In the present invention, as the recording medium, the main memory itself may be a program medium, or a program reading device is provided as an external storage device and can be read by inserting the recording medium therein. May be.

  In addition to video and television, the target is various electronic devices such as a PC and a display device, a portable terminal and a display device, a PC or a portable terminal and various home appliances. Note that the case where the receiver and the transmitter are shared also falls within the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the apparatus control system of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the display apparatus and receiver of a monitor of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is an example of the apparatus information table classified by function which the monitor of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment has. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the transmission apparatus of the apparatus of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment, and a controlled apparatus. It is an example of the apparatus function information table which the apparatus operated by the monitor of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment has. It is a figure which shows the apparatus connection sequence of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function selection sequence of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the success or failure determination of the function selection of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment, and an apparatus function information table update. It is a figure explaining the UI screen of the monitor of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the specific operation | movement of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the table explaining the specific operation | movement of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the specific operation | movement of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the specific operation | movement of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the table explaining the specific operation | movement of the apparatus control system of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the apparatus control system of other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the apparatus control system of a conventional system. It is a figure explaining the problem of the apparatus control system of a conventional system. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the apparatus control system of a prior application. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the apparatus control system of the apparatus which has multiple functions.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a, 1b Remote control device 3 Network 4 Control line 10, 10a, 10b Display device 20, 20a, 20b Receiving device 21 Remote control light receiving unit 22 Control data management unit (management means)
23 Receiver information recording unit (storage means)
24 GUI screen composition unit 25 AV data output unit 26 Control data transmission / reception unit 27 AV data reception unit 28 Network transmission / reception unit 30, 30a-30c Transmitting device 31 Network transmission / reception unit 32 Control data transmission / reception unit 33 Control data management unit (management means)
34 Transmitter information recording unit (storage means)
35 Control Data Input / Output Unit 36 AV Data Transmitting Unit 37 AV Data Input Unit 40, 40a to 40c Controlled Device 41 Control Data Input / Output Unit 42 Control Data Management Unit 43 Device Information Recording Unit 44 AV Data Output Unit 45 AV Data Playback Unit 46 AV data recording unit 47 Tuner 50 Device information table by function 60 Device function information table 600 Management device A, B Monitor (control device)
AC equipment (controlled equipment)

Claims (14)

A management device connected to the control device via a network and connectable to at least one controlled device,
A management apparatus that sets a usage right for a function of the controlled device in response to a use request regarding the function of the controlled device from the control device. A management device connected to the control device via a network and connectable to at least one controlled device,
Storage means for storing function usage information of the controlled device;
A management unit configured to set a usage right for the function of the controlled device based on the function usage information in response to a use request regarding the function of the controlled device from the control device; .   3. The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function usage information of the controlled device includes information on whether the maximum number of users and the number of users in use and a plurality of functions can be used simultaneously for each function. .   The management means compares the maximum number of users and the number of users in use for each function, and the function can be used based on the comparison result and information on whether the plurality of functions can be used simultaneously. The management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the right to use is determined and the usage right is set.   The management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the management apparatus is installed in the control device and / or the controlled device or on the network.   The management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the network connects devices with an IEEE1394 standard digital interface. Multiple control devices,
At least one controlled device connected to the plurality of control devices via a network and controlled by the plurality of control devices;
A device control system comprising a management device that performs adjustment to give a usage right to a use request related to the controlled device from the plurality of control devices,
The device management system, wherein the management device sets a usage right for the function of the controlled device, and the control device that has acquired the usage right can use the function. Multiple control devices,
At least one controlled device connected to the plurality of control devices via a network and controlled by the plurality of control devices;
A device control system comprising a management device that performs adjustment to give a usage right to a use request related to the controlled device from the plurality of control devices,
At least one of the controlled devices has a plurality of functions,
The management device
Storage means for storing function usage information of the controlled device;
In response to a use request regarding the function of the controlled device from the control device, based on the function use information, comprising a management means for setting a usage right for the function of the controlled device,
The device control system, wherein the control device that has acquired the use right uses a corresponding function of the controlled device having the function.   9. The device control according to claim 7, wherein the function usage information of the controlled device includes information on whether the maximum number of users, the number of users in use, and a plurality of functions can be used simultaneously for each function. system.   The management means compares the maximum number of users and the number of users in use for each function, and the function can be used based on the comparison result and information on whether the plurality of functions can be used simultaneously. The apparatus control system according to claim 7, wherein the right to use is determined and the right to use is set. The control device includes display means for displaying a UI screen,
The function of the controlled device is selected from the UI screen of the control device, the controlled device having the selected function is displayed on the UI screen, and the controlled device is selected from the UI screen. The device control system according to any one of claims 7 to 10.   12. The device control system according to claim 7, wherein the management device is installed in the control device and / or the controlled device or on the network.   The device control system according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the network connects devices with an IEEE1394 standard digital interface. A method of performing adjustment to give a right to use the controlled device by a management device that is connected to the controlled device via a network and is connectable to at least one controlled device,
Storing function usage information of the controlled device;
Receiving a use request regarding the function of the controlled device from the control device;
Determining whether to grant a right to use the function of the controlled device based on the function usage information;
A device management method comprising a step of responding to a control device that has requested a usage right for the function according to the determination result, or to give a response without granting the usage right.

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