JP2006140776A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a function that is equivalent to a further multifunctioned electronic apparatus even in the electronic apparatus with fewer functions by enabling electronic apparatuses to operate mutual functions in a communication system in which a plurality of electronic apparatuses including at least one multifunctioned machine are connected to a network to perform communication among the electronic apparatuses. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus 1 is provided with: an identification information transmitting means 1a; an identification information receiving means 1b; an apparatus designating means 1c; and an apparatus operating means 1d, and connected to the other electronic apparatuses 2, 3 and 4 through the network. The electronic apparatus 1 transmits its identification information to the other electronic apparatuses 2, 3 and 4, receives respective identification information from the other electronic apparatuses 2, 3 and 4, and designates another electronic apparatus (multifunctional machine 4) for performing communication on the basis of the received identification information. The multifunctional machine 4 is provided with a means (tuner) for acquiring an information signal including any or a plurality of ones among video, sound and data, and the electronic apparatus 1 transmits an operation signal from the apparatus operating means 1d to thereby receive an information signal acquired by the multifunctioned machine 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication system, and more particularly to a communication system in which a plurality of electronic devices are connected to a network and communication is possible between the electronic devices.

  With recent developments in digital technology, it has become possible to connect various electronic devices via cables or the like and transmit signals such as video signals, audio signals, and control signals. This is realized by a transmission technology called a high-speed serial bus technology. For example, electronic devices such as a digital video recorder, a digital camera, a digital television receiver, and a personal computer based on the IEEE 1394 standard have been put into practical use. According to the IEEE 1394 standard, 60 or more of the electronic devices can be connected. Therefore, application to a home network system in a general home is expected.

Regarding the home network system, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device in which devices on the 1394 home network can be accessed (remotely controlled) only from specific devices. This includes a 1394 bus interface, a bus interface, and a microcomputer that controls the entire device. When the microcomputer receives a command for inquiring about the type ID of the device, the microcomputer 2 determines in advance by the transmission source device ID included in the command. It is determined which one of the type IDs is selected, and a command including the selected type ID is transmitted, and the device cannot be seen from other devices that do not have the access right of the device. Or it is made visible as a special and unsupported device.
JP 2003-143155 A

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, an access right is set to a device connected to the home network so that the device can be accessed only from the specific device. For example, the specific device connected to the home network From (TV), it is possible to access different types of devices (tuners) and operate the devices.

  Here, for example, a single-function recording / playback device without a digital tuner (hereinafter referred to as a single-function device) and a recording / playback device (hereinafter referred to as a multi-function device) equipped with a digital high-vision tuner, a large-capacity hard disk, etc. Connect to your home network and install in separate rooms. Single-function devices and multi-function devices are connected to a display device (such as a liquid crystal television), and access to the multi-function device from a single-function device using the time when the multi-function device is not used. A use form is assumed in which a high-definition program received by the tuner is displayed on a television device connected to the single-function device by remotely operating a function such as a digital high-vision tuner provided in the function device.

  According to the use form as described above, it is not necessary to install a multi-function device in each room in the home, and it is only necessary to install at least one multi-function device and a plurality of single-function devices, which is not costly. , Can build an efficient home network. However, the above utilization form is not realized in Patent Document 1 described above.

  In addition, since a copy control signal for permitting recording only once with respect to a corresponding recording medium (DVD or the like) is added to the digital broadcast signal (so-called copy once), copying cannot be performed in a recording / playback device. When it is desired to record the copy-once program in another recording / playback device, it is necessary to delete the copy-once program from the original recording / playback device. Therefore, by constructing the home network as described above, a usage form in which program content received by at least one multi-function device is moved to a single function device on the network and recorded is also possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a communication system in which a plurality of electronic devices including at least one multi-function device are connected to a network and communication is performed between the electronic devices. The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to operate each other's functions so that even an electronic device with few functions can realize a function equivalent to that of a more multifunctional electronic device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first technical means is a communication system in which a plurality of electronic devices including at least one multifunctional electronic device (multifunctional device) are connected to a network and communication is performed between the electronic devices. The electronic device includes identification information transmitting means for transmitting the identification information of the electronic device to another electronic device connected to the network, and the other electronic device corresponding to the transmitted identification information. Identification information receiving means for receiving identification information of the other electronic device, device specifying means for specifying another electronic device to communicate based on the received identification information, and for the specified other electronic device And a device operating unit that transmits an operation signal for operating a function of the other electronic device.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the other electronic device designated by the device designating means is the multi-function device, and the multi-function device can receive video from the network or outside the network. An information signal acquisition unit configured to acquire an information signal including one or more of a signal, an audio signal, and a data signal, and the electronic device transmits the operation signal from the device operation unit, whereby the information signal acquisition unit Is characterized by receiving the information signal acquired.

  According to a third technical means, in the second technical means, the device operating means includes means for designating a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network as receiving destinations of the information signal acquired by the information signal acquiring means. The information signal is simultaneously received by the designated plurality of electronic devices by transmitting the operation signal.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the second technical means, the device operating means selects a receiving destination of the information signal acquired by the information signal acquiring means from a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network. And the information signal is received by the selected electronic device by transmitting the operation signal.

  According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the second to fourth technical means, the information signal acquisition means is a tuner, and a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network are information signals received by the tuner. It transmits to at least one of these.

  A sixth technical means is any one of the second to fourth technical means, wherein the multi-function device is connected to a display device, the information signal acquisition means is a plurality of tuners, and the plurality of tuners The information signal received by any of the above is displayed on the display device and the information signal received by another tuner is transmitted to at least one of the plurality of electronic devices connected to the network It is.

  According to a seventh technical means, in any one of the second to fourth technical means, the multi-function device includes a recording means for recording the information signal and a reproducing means for reproducing the recorded information signal. The electronic device receives an information signal recorded in the recording unit or an information signal reproduced by the reproducing unit by transmitting an operation signal from the device operating unit. .

  According to an eighth technical means, in the seventh technical means, a copy control signal for restricting copying is added to the information signal, and the multi-function device transmits the information signal recorded in the recording means to the network. The information signal of the recording means is erased after transmission to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices connected to the electronic device.

  According to a ninth technical means, in the first technical means, the electronic device is connected to a display device, and the device specifying means causes the display device to display information on the electronic device connected to the network. It is a feature.

  According to a tenth technical means, in the ninth technical means, the information relating to the electronic device connected to the network is icon information.

  An eleventh technical means is the ninth technical means characterized in that the information about the electronic device connected to the network is an IP address.

  A twelfth technical means is a communication system in which a plurality of electronic devices including at least one multifunctional electronic device (multifunction device) are connected to a network, and communication is performed between the electronic devices. An identification information transmitting means for transmitting the identification information of the electronic device to another electronic device connected to the network, and the identification information of the other electronic device from the other electronic device corresponding to the transmitted identification information. Identification information receiving means, device information acquisition means for acquiring device information of the other electronic device and device information associated with the received identification information, and device information of the other electronic device Device information comparing means for selecting the multi-function device having more functions than the electronic device by comparing the device information with the electronic device, and the selected multi-function device and the electronic device are grouped. A grouping means for grouping; and a device operation means for transmitting an operation signal for operating a function of the multi-function device to the grouped multi-function devices. It is.

  A thirteenth technical means is the twelfth technical means, wherein the electronic device is connected to a display device, and the device information of the other electronic device and the device information of the electronic device obtained by the device information obtaining means are Device information display output means for display output on a display device, wherein the grouping means groups other electronic devices corresponding to the device information selected from them and the electronic devices It is.

  According to the present invention, in a communication system in which a plurality of electronic devices including at least one multi-function device are connected to a network and communication is performed between the electronic devices, the functions can be operated between the electronic devices, and thus there are few functions. Even if it is an electronic device, the function equivalent to a more multifunctional electronic device is realizable.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 to 4 are electronic devices, 5 is a network composed of a LAN, 6 is an external network such as the Internet, Reference numerals 10 to 40 denote display devices, and 40a denotes a remote controller for operating the display device 40. The communication system shown in this example is a home network that can be built in a general home, and electronic devices 1, 2, 3, and 4 are connected to each other via a network 5 such as a wired or wireless LAN. The electronic device 1 is connected to the display device 10, the electronic device 2 is connected to the display device 20, the electronic device 3 is connected to the display device 30, and the electronic device 4 is connected to the display device 40. And installed in different places in the living room. Each electronic device and the display device are connected by an interface such as IEEE 1394 or HDMI, for example.

  The electronic devices 1 to 4 are recording / reproducing devices such as a video recorder, a DVD (or BD) recorder, and a hard disk recorder, for example, and the recording / reproducing device records / reproduces program content provided by digital broadcasting or analog broadcasting. And a function for playing back a content provided on a recording medium such as a DVD or a video tape or the Internet. The electronic devices 1 to 4 may be audio devices having a function of recording / reproducing music information, and can be applied to all AV devices. Hereinafter, the recording / reproducing apparatus (recording / reproducing apparatuses 1 to 4) will be described as a representative example.

  The display devices 10 to 40 are television devices provided with a CRT, LCD, PDP, EL display, etc., and analog broadcast or digital broadcast program contents received by each television device are recorded / reproduced devices 1-4. Is recorded on an internal hard disk or an external recording medium (DVD, video tape, etc.), and is appropriately played back when the user wants to view it.

  Here, the recording / reproducing devices 1 to 3 (hereinafter referred to as terminals 1 to 3) are single-function devices having only an analog broadcast program recording / reproducing function, while the recording / reproducing devices 4 (hereinafter referred to as server devices 4). ) Is more than terminals 1 to 3 such as a digital tuner (or digital high-vision tuner) function for receiving BS / CS / terrestrial digital broadcasts and a large-capacity hard disk in addition to a program recording / playback function. A multi-function machine with the above functions. These terminals 1 to 3 and the server machine 4 are connected to a network 5 so that they can communicate with each other. The number of terminals and server machines installed is not limited to this example, and it is sufficient that at least one server machine is installed, and the number of terminals installed is arbitrary.

  2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 1. The terminal 1 includes an external input unit 11, a recording / playback control unit 12, a decoder 13, a network connection unit 14, and a storage unit 15. And is connected to a display device (television device) 10. The terminal 1 has a function of storing (recording) analog broadcast program content received by a tuner included in the display device 10 in an external recording medium such as a DVD or a video tape or a storage unit 15 such as a hard disk, and a recorded program. It has a function to play content and does not have a tuner function. In this example, the basic configuration of the other terminals 2 and 3 will be described as being the same as that of the terminal 1, but the functions may be different in each terminal.

  The external input unit 11 acquires content information by accessing an interface (I / F) for detachably mounting an external recording medium such as a DVD or a video tape on which content information is recorded, or an external network such as the Internet. The recording / playback control unit 12 executes a program recording / playback process, a memory storing a program and data for controlling the recording / playback process of content information, and various processes. It is comprised by CPU for.

  The video signal and audio signal stored in the storage unit 15 or an external recording medium (DVD, video tape, etc.) are output to the decoder 13, and the decoder 13 decodes the input video signal and audio signal by the MPEG method, etc. The display output is controlled based on the decoded video signal to cause the display device 10 to output video, and the audio output is controlled based on the audio signal to output sound to a speaker (not shown). The viewer can view an analog broadcast program corresponding to each signal. The network connection unit 14 is connected to a network such as a wired or wireless LAN, and communicates with the other terminals 2, 3 and the server machine 4.

  Here, the terminals 1, 2, 3, and the server machine 4 may be connected by an IEEE1394 interface. In this case, the exchange between devices in the IEEE 1394 network transmits an AV / C command to the tuner built-in device (server device 4), and the server device 4 receiving the AV / C command receives channel information and program information. Are returned as a stream signal, for example, an MPEG2 TS (Transport Stream) signal to the terminal 1 having no tuner function. The AV / C command is an AV device control command in IEEE 1394, and the terminal device 1 can operate various functions of the server device 4 to be operated by using the AV / C command. As described above, various commands are transmitted and received between devices connected by the IEEE 1394 interface, and processing corresponding to the command is executed in each device.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the server machine 4 shown in FIG. 1. The server machine 4 includes a digital tuner 41, an external input unit 42, an analog tuner 43, an encoder 44, a recording / playback control unit 45, and a decoder. 46, a network connection unit 47, and a storage unit 48, and is connected to a display device (television device) 40. In addition to the program recording / playback function, the server machine 4 includes a digital tuner (or digital high-vision tuner) 41 for receiving BS / CS / terrestrial digital broadcasts, an analog tuner 43 for receiving analog broadcasts, And a storage unit 48 such as a large-capacity hard disk.

  The external input unit 42 is used to detachably mount an external recording medium such as a DVD or a video tape on which content information is recorded, or to acquire content information by accessing an external network such as the Internet. The recording / playback control unit 45 includes an I / F, a memory for storing programs and data for controlling program recording / playback processing, content information recording / playback processing, and a CPU for executing various processing. It consists of The network connection unit 47 is connected to a network such as a wired or wireless LAN, and communicates with other terminals 1, 2, and 3.

  When recording a program by analog broadcasting, the analog tuner 43 demodulates a high-frequency signal (analog modulation signal) received via an antenna, and inputs the separated video signal and audio signal to the encoder 44. The encoder 44 encodes the input video signal and audio signal by, for example, the MPEG method. The encoded video signal and audio signal are stored in the storage unit 48 or an external recording medium (DVD or video tape).

  When reproducing recorded data of analog broadcast, the video signal and audio signal stored in the storage unit 48 or the external recording medium are output to the decoder 46, and the decoder 46 decodes the input video signal and audio signal by the MPEG method. Then, the display output is controlled based on the decoded video signal to cause the display device 40 to output video, and the audio output is controlled based on the audio signal to output sound to a speaker (not shown). The viewer can view an analog broadcast program corresponding to each signal.

  When recording a program by digital broadcasting, the digital tuner 41 demodulates a high-frequency signal (digital modulation signal) received via an antenna and outputs the separated video signal and audio signal to the storage unit 48 or an external recording medium. And memorize it.

  When playing back recorded data of digital broadcasting, the video signal and audio signal stored in the storage unit 48 or an external recording medium are output to the decoder 46, and the decoder 46 decodes the input video signal and audio signal and decodes them. The display output is controlled based on the received video signal to cause the display device 40 to output the video. The viewer can view a digital broadcast program corresponding to each signal.

(First embodiment)
4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 2. The electronic device 1 (that is, the terminal 1) includes an identification information transmitting unit 1a, an identification information receiving unit 1b, and a device designation. 1c and device operation means 1d, which are communicably connected to other electronic devices 2, 3, and 4 (ie, terminals 2, 3, and server device 4) via network 5 shown in FIG. Yes. Each of the terminals 1, 2, 3, and the server machine 4 has unique identification information, and can identify a communication partner by transmitting and receiving each other's identification information.

  In FIG. 4, the identification information transmitting means 1 a of the terminal 1 transmits the identification information of the terminal 1 to the terminals 2, 3 and the server 4 connected to the network 5. The identification information receiving means 1b receives the identification information from the terminals 2, 3, and the server machine 4 corresponding to the transmitted identification information. The device designation unit 1c designates a device that performs communication based on the received identification information.

  As a specific example of the device specifying method by the device specifying means 1c, the display device 10 connected to the terminal 1 displays information on the terminals 2, 3, and the server device 4, and the device from which the user wants to communicate May be specified. As information to be displayed on the display device 10, for example, icon information of each device, an IP address, or the like can be suitably used. The device operation means 1d transmits an operation signal for operating a function included in the designated device to the device designated from the terminals 2, 3, and the server machine 4.

  At this time, the device operation means 1d displays the function of the specified device on the menu on the display device 10, and transmits an operation signal of the function selected by the user using the remote controller or the like to the corresponding device. For example, when the server machine 4 is designated as a communication partner, functions (digital tuner function, etc.) provided in the server machine 4 are displayed in a menu, and when this digital tuner function is selected (at this time, the channel to be viewed is also designated). An operation signal for the digital tuner function is transmitted to the server machine 4. The server machine 4 executes a digital tuner function according to the transmitted operation signal, receives a digital broadcast signal of a channel designated by the terminal 1, and transmits the digital broadcast signal to the terminal 1.

  As a result, the terminal device 1 displays the received digital broadcast signal on the display device 10, and the user views a digital broadcast program that should not be viewed on the terminal device 1 by using the digital tuner function of the server device 4. can do.

  In addition, the device operation unit 1d includes a plurality of terminals connected to the network 5 that receive destinations of information signals (a signal including one or more of a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal) acquired by the server machine 4. Means for designating (1, 2, 3) may be provided. In this case, by transmitting an operation signal from the terminal 1, the information signal from the server 4 can be simultaneously received by the designated terminals 1, 2, and 3.

  In addition, the device operation unit 1d may include a unit that selects a reception destination of the information signal acquired by the server machine 4 from a plurality of terminals 1, 2, and 3 connected to the network. In this case, by transmitting an operation signal from the terminal 1, the information signal from the server 4 can be sent to any one of the terminals 1, 2, and 3 (in this case, a terminal other than the terminal 1 can be specified). Can be received. In the terminal 1, the receiver may be set by the user by displaying the receiver list on the display device 10.

  Thereby, for example, even in a terminal other than the terminal 1, the digital broadcast signal from the server machine 4 is displayed on each display device, and cannot be viewed on the terminal originally in a room where each terminal is installed. The supposed digital broadcast program can be viewed using the digital tuner function of the server machine 4.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the server machine 4 shown in FIG. 3. The electronic device 4 (that is, the server machine 4) has the means shown in FIG. In addition to information receiving means, device specifying means, and device operating means), signal information acquiring means 4a, signal transmitting means 4b, recording means 4c, and reproducing means 4d are further provided, and other electronic devices 1, 2, 3 (ie, The terminals 1, 2, 3) are connected to each other via the network 5 shown in FIG. Each of the terminals 1, 2, 3, and the server machine 4 has unique identification information, and can identify a communication partner by transmitting and receiving each other's identification information. In addition, the server machine 4 has a configuration including each means (identification information transmitting means, identification information receiving means, equipment specifying means, and equipment operating means) shown in FIG. Alternatively, either configuration that does not include the device designation unit and the device operation unit may be used. In the case of the former configuration, the functions of the terminals 1, 2, 3 can be operated from the server machine 4.

  5, the signal information acquisition means 4a of the server machine 4 acquires information signals including one or more of a video signal, an audio signal, and a data signal from the network 5 shown in FIG. 1 or the outside of the network 5. Thus, for example, the digital tuner 41 and the analog tuner 43 shown in FIG. The outside of the network 5 includes an antenna input (tuner), a CATV set-top box, the Internet, an external wired or wireless LAN, and the network 5 includes storage devices included in each device connected to the network 5, It includes external recording media (DVD, video tape, etc.) that can be attached to and detached from equipment.

  The recording unit 4c is a unit that records the information signal acquired by the signal information acquisition unit 4a in the storage unit 48, and includes a recording reservation function in addition to the recording function. The reproducing means 4d is means for reproducing the information signal recorded in the storage unit 48. The signal transmission means 4b is an information signal acquired by the information signal acquisition means 4a according to an operation signal transmitted from any one of the terminals 1, 2 and 3, or an information signal recorded in the storage unit 48, or a reproduction means. The information signal reproduced in 4d is transmitted to one or more of the terminals 1, 2, and 3. That is, when viewed from the terminal 1, by transmitting an operation signal to the server machine 4, the information signal acquired by the information signal acquisition unit 4a, or the information signal recorded in the storage unit 48, or reproduced by the reproduction unit 4d The received information signal can be received.

  Further, when the server machine 4 is provided with a large-capacity hard disk (storage unit 48), the program content stored in each terminal (1, 2, 3) is stored in each terminal (1, 2, 3). When the program content is transferred to the server machine 4 and recorded on the hard disk and the program content is desired to be viewed, it can be read from the server machine 4 and viewed. Thereby, since the storage device of each terminal (1, 2, 3) may have a small capacity, an inexpensive device can be used.

  Alternatively, the user may directly operate the server machine 4 to designate a terminal machine as a transmission destination of the information signal acquired by the information signal acquisition unit 4a from the server machine 4 side. For example, when the information signal acquisition unit 4a is the digital tuner 41, the information signal received by the digital tuner 41 is transmitted to at least one of the plurality of terminals 1, 2, and 3 connected to the network 5. Specify the destination. The designation of the transmission destination may be performed by causing the display device 40 to display information on the terminals 1, 2, and 3 and designating by the user.

  As another embodiment, when the information signal acquisition means 4a is a plurality of tuners (digital tuner 41, analog tuner 43), for example, the information signal received by the analog tuner 43 is displayed and output on the display device 40, and the digital tuner 41 is displayed. The information signal received in step 1 may be transmitted to at least one of the plurality of terminals 1, 2, 3 connected to the network 5.

  Digital broadcast programs cannot be copied to other recordable DVD discs or PC HDs or the like due to copyright protection technology called CPRM (Contents Protection for Recordable Media) (copy once). . In this copy-once program, a copy control signal for controlling “recording only once” is added, and recording can be performed only once on a corresponding recording medium. For example, in the case of DVD media, CPRM compatible DVD-RAM or DVD-RW can be used. In the case of HDD recording, if the program content once recorded on the HDD is dubbed onto a DVD or the like and has a function of erasing the original data (“move” function), it can be stored on the DVD or the like.

  In response to the “move” function of the copy-once program, the server machine 4 transmits the information signal once recorded in the storage unit 48 to at least one of the plurality of terminals 1, 2, 3 connected to the network 5. After that, a function of erasing the original information signal recorded in the storage unit 48 is provided. The same applies when the server machine 4 is operated from the terminal side, and the original information signal recorded in the server machine 4 is deleted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing an example of a method of operating functions provided in other electronic devices by communicating between the respective electronic devices illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, a case where communication is performed between the electronic devices (terminal units) 1, 2, and 3 shown in FIG. 1 will be described (the server machine 4 is not shown). Here, the user operates various functions provided in the terminal 2 from the terminal 1. For example, the terminal 1 can operate functions such as power ON / OFF, recording / playback, editing / erasing, and various settings of the terminal 2. Further, the contents (program title, date, time, etc.) recorded in the terminal 2 are displayed on the display device 10 connected to the terminal 1, and a desired program title is selected and reproduced from the contents. It can be displayed on the display device 10.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another example of a method for operating a function provided in another electronic device by communicating between the respective electronic devices illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, a case where communication is performed between the electronic devices (terminal units) 1, 2, and 3 shown in FIG. 1 will be described (the server machine 4 is not shown).
In FIG. 7A, the user operates the recording reservation function provided in the terminal 2 from the terminal 1. For example, an electronic program guide (EPG) is displayed on the display device 10 connected to the terminal 1, and recording reservation of desired program content is performed from the electronic program guide. Based on the program content reserved for recording in the electronic program guide, the terminal 2 is reserved for recording and starts recording at a designated time.

  In FIG. 7B, the user simultaneously operates the recording reservation function provided in the terminals 2 and 3 from the terminal 1. For example, an electronic program guide (EPG) is displayed on the display device 10 connected to the terminal 1, and recording reservation of desired program content is performed from the electronic program guide. Based on the program content reserved for recording in the electronic program guide, the terminals 2 and 3 are reserved for recording and start recording simultaneously at the designated time.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another example of the functional configuration of the terminal 1 shown in FIG. 2. The electronic device 1 (that is, the terminal 1) includes an identification information transmitting unit 1a and an identification information receiving unit 1b. In addition to the device designation unit 1c and the device operation unit 1d, the device further includes a device information acquisition unit 1e, a device information comparison unit 1f, a grouping unit 1g, and a device information display output unit 1h. 4 (that is, the terminals 2, 3, and the server machine 4) are communicably connected via the network 5 shown in FIG.

  The device information acquisition unit 1e of the terminal 1 includes device information of other electronic devices (that is, the terminals 2, 3, and the server device 4) associated with the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit 1b, and the terminal 1 device information is acquired. The device information comparison unit 1f compares the device information of the terminals 2, 3, and the server device 4 with the device information of the terminal 1, thereby providing a device or terminal having more functions than the terminal 1. Select a device with a function that does not exist in machine 1. The grouping unit 1g groups the selected device (in this example, the server device 4 is selected) and the terminal device 1. The device operation unit 1d transmits an operation signal for operating the functions of the server machine 4 to the grouped server machines 4.

  The difference from the device configuration shown in FIG. 4 is that the device information of each device is compared to provide a device with more functions than the terminal 1 or a device with functions that the terminal 1 does not have. By selecting and grouping two or more devices into one group, this eliminates the need for the user to designate a device to be operated. That is, in the above example, since the terminal 1 automatically specifies the server machine 4 that wants to use the function, the user does not have to remember which function corresponds to which device.

  The terminal 1 also displays device information display output means for displaying the device information of the terminals 2, 3, and server 4 acquired by the device information acquisition means 1e and the device information of the terminal 1 on the display device 10. 1h may be provided. In this case, the grouping unit 1g groups the terminal 1 with any of the terminals 2, 3, and the server machine 4 corresponding to the device information selected from the grouping means 1g. In this example, the user can select a desired device after confirming the device information of each device. For example, in a case where a plurality of server machines are connected, selection can be made according to the function of the server machine.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the communication system which is one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a terminal illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of the server machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a terminal illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structural example of the server machine shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the method of operating the function with which another electronic device is provided by communicating between each electronic device shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the method of operating the function with which another electronic device is provided by communicating between each electronic device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another example of a functional configuration of the terminal illustrated in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3 ... Electronic equipment (terminal), 1a ... Identification information transmitting means, 1b ... Identification information receiving means, 1c ... Equipment specifying means, 1d ... Equipment operating means, 1e ... Equipment information obtaining means, 1f ... Equipment information Comparison means, 1g ... grouping means, 1h ... device information display output means, 4 ... electronic equipment (server machine), 4a ... information signal acquisition means, 4b ... signal transmission means, 4c ... recording means, 4d ... reproduction means, 5 ... Network, 6 ... External network, 10, 20, 30, 40 ... Display device (television device), 11, 42 ... External input unit, 12, 45 ... Recording / playback control unit, 13, 46 ... Decoder, 14, 47 Network connection unit 15, 48 Storage unit 41 Digital tuner 43 Analog tuner 44 Encoder

Claims (13)

  A communication system in which a plurality of electronic devices including at least one multifunctional electronic device (multifunction device) is connected to a network and communication is performed between the electronic devices, wherein the electronic device includes identification information of the electronic device. ID information transmitting means for transmitting to the other electronic device connected to the network, and identification information receiving means for receiving the identification information of the other electronic device from the other electronic device in response to the transmitted identification information. A device designating unit for designating another electronic device that performs communication based on the received identification information, and an operation signal for operating a function of the other electronic device with respect to the designated other electronic device And a device operating means for transmitting the communication system.   2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the other electronic device specified by the device specifying means is the multi-function device, and the multi-function device receives a video signal or an audio signal from the network or from outside the network. , Information signal acquisition means for acquiring an information signal including any one or more of the data signals, and the electronic device transmits the operation signal from the device operation means, whereby the information acquired by the information signal acquisition means A communication system characterized by receiving a signal.   3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the device operation means includes means for designating a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network as receiving destinations of the information signal acquired by the information signal acquisition means, By transmitting the information signal, the information signal is simultaneously received by the designated plurality of electronic devices.   3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the device operation unit includes a unit that selects a reception destination of the information signal acquired by the information signal acquisition unit from a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network, A communication system, wherein the information signal is received by the selected electronic device by transmitting an operation signal.   5. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the information signal acquisition unit is a tuner, and the information signal received by the tuner is transmitted to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network. A communication system characterized by transmitting.   5. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the multi-function device is connected to a display device, and the information signal acquisition unit includes a plurality of tuners, and the plurality of tuners receive the information signal. A communication system, wherein the information signal displayed on the display device is output and the information signal received by another tuner is transmitted to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices connected to the network.   5. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the multi-function device includes a recording unit that records the information signal and a reproducing unit that reproduces the recorded information signal. A communication system characterized by receiving an information signal recorded on the recording means or an information signal reproduced by the reproducing means by transmitting an operation signal from the device operating means.   8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein a copy control signal for restricting copying is added to the information signal, and the multi-function device is connected to the network with the information signal recorded in the recording means. A communication system, wherein the information signal of the recording means is deleted after transmission to at least one of a plurality of electronic devices.   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is connected to a display device, and the device designating unit causes the display device to display information about the electronic device connected to the network. system.   The communication system according to claim 9, wherein the information related to the electronic device connected to the network is icon information.   The communication system according to claim 9, wherein the information regarding the electronic device connected to the network is an IP address.   A communication system in which a plurality of electronic devices including at least one multifunctional electronic device (multifunction device) is connected to a network and communication is performed between the electronic devices, wherein the electronic device includes identification information of the electronic device. ID information transmitting means for transmitting to the other electronic device connected to the network, and identification information receiving means for receiving the identification information of the other electronic device from the other electronic device in response to the transmitted identification information. Device information acquisition means for acquiring device information of the other electronic device and device information of the electronic device associated with the received identification information, device information of the other electronic device, and device information of the electronic device Device information comparing means for selecting the multi-function device having more functions than the electronic device, and a group for grouping the selected multi-function device and the electronic device Communication system characterized in that it comprises a means, and device operation unit that transmits an operation signal for operating the function of the multifunctional machine equipped against multi-function device that the grouping.   13. The communication system according to claim 12, wherein the electronic device is connected to a display device, and device information of the other electronic device and device information of the electronic device acquired by the device information acquisition unit are displayed on the display device. A communication system, comprising: device information display output means for outputting, wherein the grouping means groups the electronic device with another electronic device corresponding to the device information selected from the device information.

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