JP2007159158A - Display system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve higher functionality than that of single use when a number of television receivers are used while being connected. <P>SOLUTION: On a television receiver as a master unit 1, a television broadcast program is displayed (Fig.36A). When a scene change occurs in image data displayed on the master unit 1, image data of a frame just after the scene change are displayed on a television receiver as a slave unit 2<SB>11</SB>(Fig.36B). When a scene change further occurs in image data displayed on the master unit 1 thereafter, image data of a frame just after the scene change are displayed on the slave unit 2<SB>11</SB>in place of the image data being displayed up to the moment (Fig.36C). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display system, and more particularly, to a display system capable of realizing a higher function than a case where a large number of display devices are connected and used, for example, when used alone.

  For example, in a television receiver, a television broadcast signal is received, an image as a television broadcast program is displayed, and sound accompanying the image is output.

JP-A 63-254875

  By the way, the conventional television receiver is premised on operating alone, and therefore, when a user purchases a new television receiver, the television owned by the user is used. John receivers are no longer needed and are often discarded even if they are still usable.

  Therefore, if a large number of television receivers can be connected to achieve higher functionality than a single television receiver, it is possible to prevent the disposal of usable television receivers and contribute to effective use of resources. it can.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and when a display device such as a large number of television receivers is connected and used, it is possible to realize a higher function than when used alone. It is something that can be done.

  A display system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first display device and a second display device that are electrically connected to a display control device that controls a first display unit and are controlled by the display control device. In the display system, the first display device displays the image data included in the input data input from the outside to the display control device by the first display unit under the control of the display control device. First receiving means for receiving input data including image data having the same content as the image data displayed on the first display means; and first input from the input data input from the outside by the display control device. A first communication means for receiving a control signal generated when a feature is detected, and the first reception means in response to a control signal from the display control apparatus received by the first communication means. The first storage means for storing the image data included in the input data received by the means, and the image data stored in the first storage means are visible at the same time as the first display means. Second receiving means for displaying, wherein the second display device receives input data including image data having the same content as the image data displayed on the first display means. And a second communication means for receiving a control signal generated when the display control device detects a second feature from input data input from the outside, and the display received by the second communication means. In response to a control signal from the control device, second storage means for storing image data included in the input data received by the second reception means, and the image stored in the second storage means Characterized in that it comprises a third display means for displaying over data.

  The first display device further includes authentication means for performing authentication with the display control device, and when the authentication is successful, the first storage means is received by the first communication means. In response to a control signal from the display control signal, image data included in the input data received by the first receiving means is stored, and the second display means is stored in the first storage means. The stored image data can be displayed.

  The first receiving means receives and demodulates a television broadcast signal and outputs image data and audio data, and the first storage means responds to the control signal from the display control signal according to the control signal from the display control signal. The image data output from one receiving means can be stored.

  The first display device includes a first control signal receiving unit that receives a control signal from a remote control device that transmits a control signal to the display control device, and a control received by the first control signal receiving unit. And a first control means for controlling the operation of the first display device according to the signal, wherein the second display device is a control signal from a remote control device that transmits a control signal to the display control device. Control signal receiving means for receiving the second control signal, and second control means for controlling the operation of the second display device in accordance with the control signal received by the second control signal receiving means. It is characterized by.

  In the display system according to one aspect of the present invention, the first display device and the second display device that are electrically connected to the display control device that controls the first display means and are controlled by the display control device. In the display system, the first display unit displays image data included in input data input from the outside to the display control device by the control of the display control device. Generated when input data including image data having the same content as the image data displayed on the first display means is received and the display control device detects a first feature from the input data input from the outside Is received, and in response to the received control signal from the display control device, image data included in the received input data is stored, The image data is visible at the same time as the first display means, the stored image data is displayed, and the second display device includes image data having the same content as the image data displayed on the first display means. A control signal generated when input data is received and the display control device detects a second feature from the input data input from the outside is received, and is received in response to the received control signal from the display control device The image data included in the received input data is stored, and the stored image data is displayed.

  According to the present invention, when a large number of display devices are connected and used, higher functions can be realized than when they are used alone.

  FIG. 1 shows a scalable TV (Television) system to which the present invention is applied (a system is a logical collection of a plurality of devices, regardless of whether or not the devices of each configuration are in the same casing. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an embodiment.

In the embodiment of Figure 1A, the scalable TV system, nine of the television receiver 1, and 2 _11, 2 _12, 2 _13, 2 _21, 2 _23, 2 _31, 2 ₃₂ consists of two ₃₃ Yes. In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, the scalable TV system includes 25 television receivers 1 and 2 ₁₁ , 2 ₁₂ , 2 ₁₃ , 2 ₁₄ , 2 ₁₅ , 2 ₂₁ , 2 ₂₂ , 2 ₂₃ , 2 ₂₄ , 2 ₂₅ , 2 ₃₁ , 2 ₃₂ , 2 ₃₄ , 2 ₃₅ , 2 ₄₁ , 2 ₄₂ , 2 ₄₃ , 2 ₄₄ , 2 ₄₅ , 2 ₅₁ , 2 ₅₂ , 2 ₅₃ , 2 ₅₄ , 2 ₅₅ Yes.

  Here, the number of television receivers constituting the scalable TV system is not limited to nine or 25. In other words, the scalable TV system can be configured by an arbitrary plurality of television receivers. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the arrangement of the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system is not limited to 3 × 3 or 5 × 5. That is, the arrangement of the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system can be, for example, horizontal × vertical 1 × 2, 2 × 1, 2 × 3, or the like. Further, the arrangement shape of the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system is not limited to a lattice shape (matrix shape) as shown in FIG. 1, and may be a pyramid shape, for example.

  In this way, the scalable TV system can be said to be a “scalable” system because an arbitrary number of television receivers can be arranged and arranged in an arbitrary number in the horizontal and vertical directions. .

  The television receiver constituting the scalable TV system is controlled by a parent television receiver that can control other television receivers (hereinafter referred to as “parent device” as appropriate) and other television receivers. However, there are two types of child television receivers (hereinafter referred to as slave units as appropriate) that cannot control other television receivers.

  In order for the scalable TV system to perform various processes to be described later, the television receiver that constitutes the scalable TV system is compatible with the scalable TV system (hereinafter referred to as a scalable compatible apparatus as appropriate), and It is a condition that at least one of the devices is a parent device. For this reason, in the embodiment of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, among the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system, for example, the television receiver disposed at the center is the master unit 1.

  From the above, when there is a television receiver that is not a scalable compatible device among the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system, some television receivers can enjoy the functions of the scalable TV system. Can not. Further, even if the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system are scalable compatible devices, if all of them are slave units, the functions of the scalable TV system cannot be enjoyed.

  Therefore, in order to enjoy the function of the scalable TV system, the user needs to purchase at least one or more parent devices, or one parent device and one or more child devices.

  Note that the master unit also has the function of a slave unit, and therefore, a plurality of master units may exist in the television receiver constituting the scalable TV system.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, among the 3 × 3 television receivers, the television receiver 1 arranged at the center (second from the left and second from the top) is the master unit. other eight television receiver 2 _11, 2 _12, 2 _13, 2 _21, 2 _23, 2 _31, 2 _32, 2 ₃₃ is in the slave unit. In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, among the 5 × 5 television receivers, the television receiver 1 arranged at the center (third from the left and third from the top) is the master unit. The other 24 units 2 ₁₁ , 2 ₁₂ , 2 ₁₃ , 2 ₁₄ , 2 ₁₅ , 2 ₂₁ , 2 ₂₂ , 2 ₂₃ , 2 ₂₄ , 2 ₂₅ , 2 ₃₁ , 2 ₃₂ , 2 ₃₄ , 2 ₃₅ , 2 ₄₁ , 2 ₄₂ , 2 ₄₃ , 2 ₄₄ , 2 ₄₅ , 2 ₅₁ , 2 ₅₂ , 2 ₅₃ , 2 ₅₄ , and 2 ₅₅ are slave units.

  Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the master unit 1 is arranged at the center of the television receiver that constitutes the scalable TV system, but the position of the master unit 1 is the television receiver that constitutes the scalable TV system. The base unit 1 is not limited to the center of the machine, and can be placed at any position, such as upper left, lower right, or the like.

  In the scalable TV system, regardless of the position of the parent device 1, the television receiver disposed at the center thereof is regarded as the parent device, and each process described later is performed. It is possible to do so.

  Here, in the following, for the sake of simplicity, the scalable TV system is assumed to be composed of 3 × 3 television receivers as shown in FIG. 1A. It is assumed that it is arranged at the center of a television receiver that constitutes a scalable TV system.

Incidentally, suffixes ij handset 2 _ij constituting the scalable TV system, the handset 2 _ij is the scalable TV system, (from the top of the i-th row, j-th column from the left) the i-th column j th row disposed It represents what is being done.

Further, hereinafter, the slave unit 2 _ij will be described as the slave unit 2 unless it is necessary to particularly distinguish the slave unit 2 _ij .

  Next, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a television receiver that is the parent device 1.

  The base unit 1 is a television receiver having a display screen size of, for example, 14 inches or 15 inches, and a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) 11 for displaying an image is provided at the front center portion. In addition, speaker units 12L and 12R for outputting sound are provided at the left and right ends of the front, respectively.

  Then, an image of a television broadcast signal received by an antenna (not shown) is displayed on the CRT 11, and audio L (Left) and R (Right) channels associated with the image are connected to the speaker units 12L and 12R. Are output respectively.

  The base unit 1 is accompanied by a remote commander (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) 15 for emitting infrared IR (Infrared Ray), and the user operates the remote controller 15 to change the reception channel and volume. Various other commands can be given to the main unit 1.

  The remote controller 15 is not limited to the one that performs infrared communication, and for example, a device that performs wireless communication such as BlueTooth (trademark) can be adopted.

  In addition, the remote controller 15 can control not only the parent device 1 but also the child device 2.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a six-sided view illustrating a configuration example of the base unit 1 of FIG.

  3A is a front view of base unit 1, FIG. 3B is a top view of base unit 1, FIG. 3C is a bottom view of base unit 1, FIG. 3D is a left side view of base unit 1, and FIG. FIG. 3F shows the back of the base unit 1.

  A fixing mechanism is provided on the upper surface (FIG. 3B), the bottom surface (FIG. 3C), the left side surface (FIG. 3D), and the right side surface (FIG. 3E) of the base unit 1. As will be described later, the same fixing mechanism is provided on the top, bottom, left side, and right side of the television receiver that is the slave unit 2, and the top side, bottom side, and left side of the base unit 1 are provided. When the handset 2 or another base unit is arranged on the side or the right side, the fixing mechanism provided on the top surface, bottom surface, left side, or right side of the base unit 1, the handset 2 or other The fixing mechanism provided on the opposing surface of the parent device is fitted, for example, so that the parent device 1, the child device 2, and other parent devices are fixed so as not to be easily separated. As a result, misalignment of the television receiver constituting the scalable TV system is prevented.

  The fixing mechanism can be configured by a mechanical mechanism, or can be configured by, for example, a magnet.

  As shown in FIG. 3F, a terminal panel 21, an antenna terminal 22, an input terminal 23, and an output terminal 24 are provided on the back surface of the base unit 1.

The terminal panel 21 includes a master unit 1 and eight slave units 2 ₁₁ , 2 ₁₂ , 2 ₁₃ , 2 ₂₁ , 2 ₂₃ , 2 ₃₁ , 2 ₃₂ , and 2 ₃₃ that constitute the scalable TV system of FIG. Eight IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 terminals 21 ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂ , 21 ₁₃ , 21 ₂₁ , 21 ₂₃ , 21 ₃₁ , 21 ₃₂ , and 21 ₃₃ are provided.

Here, in the embodiment of FIG. 3F, since the master unit 1 grasps the position of the slave unit 2 _ij in the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A, the terminal panel 21 allows the user to select the scalable TV system. when viewed from the rear side, at a position corresponding to the position of the slave unit 2 _ij the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A, IEEE1394 terminal 21 _ij is provided which is connected to the handset 2 _ij.

Thus, in the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A, the child device 2 ₁₁ IEEE1394 terminal 21 _11, the handset 2 ₁₂ IEEE1394 terminal 21 _12, the handset 2 ₁₃ IEEE1394 terminal 21 _13, handset 2 ₂₁ IEEE1394 The terminal 21 ₂₁ , the slave unit 2 ₂₃ is the IEEE1394 terminal 21 ₂₃ , the slave unit 2 ₃₁ is the IEEE1394 terminal 21 ₃₁ , the slave unit 2 ₃₂ is the IEEE1394 terminal 21 ₃₂ , and the slave unit 2 ₃₃ is the IEEE1394 terminal 21 ₃₃ , respectively. Via, the user is connected so as to be connected to the base unit 1.

In the scalable TV system shown in FIG. 1A, which IEEE1394 terminal of the terminal panel 21 is connected to the child device _ij is not particularly limited. However, when the slave unit _ij is connected to an IEEE1394 terminal other than the IEEE1394 terminal 21 _ij , the slave unit _ij is arranged in the i-th column and j-th row of the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A. , It is necessary to set the master unit 1 (the user needs to set it).

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 3F, the terminal panel 21 is provided with eight IEEE1394 terminals 21 ₁₁ to 21 _33, the master unit 1, and each eight handset 2 ₁₁ to 2 _33, connected in parallel and so, but the master unit 1, the eight handset 2 ₁₁ to 2 _33, it is also possible to connect in series. That is, the slave unit 2 _ij can be connected to the master unit 1 via the other slave unit 2 _{i′j ′} . However, also in this case, it is necessary to set the master unit 1 that the slave unit _ij is arranged in the i-th column and the j-th row of the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A. Therefore, the number of IEEE1394 terminals provided on the terminal panel 21 is not limited to eight.

  Furthermore, the electrical connection between the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system is not limited to IEEE1394, and for example, a LAN (IEEE802) can be adopted. Further, the electrical connection between television receivers constituting the scalable TV system can be performed wirelessly instead of wired.

  A cable connected to an antenna (not shown) is connected to the antenna terminal 22, whereby a television broadcast signal received by the antenna is input to the parent device 1. For example, image data and audio data output from a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) or the like are input to the input terminal 23. From the output terminal 24, for example, image data and audio data as a television broadcast signal received by the master unit 1 are output.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a television receiver as the slave unit 2.

  The subunit | mobile_unit 2 is a television receiver of the same display screen size as the main | base station 1 of FIG. 2, The CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) 31 which displays an image is provided in the front center part, Speaker units 32L and 32R for outputting sound are provided at the left and right ends of the front, respectively. It should be noted that different display screen sizes can be adopted for the parent device 1 and the child device 2.

  Then, an image of a television broadcast signal received by an antenna (not shown) is displayed on the CRT 31, and the audio L (Left) and R (Right) channels associated with the image are connected to the speaker units 32L and 32R. Are output respectively.

  Similarly to the master unit 1, the slave unit 2 also has a remote controller 35 that emits infrared IR. By operating the remote controller 35, the user can change the reception channel, the volume, and other various commands. , Can be given to the slave unit 2.

  The remote controller 35 can control not only the child device 2 but also the parent device 1.

In order to configure the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A, the user needs to purchase one master unit 1 and eight slave units 2 _{11 to} 2 _{33. In} this case, the master unit 1 remote control 15 is associated with, than the remote controller 35 is associated to each eight handset 2 ₁₁ to 2 _33, the user becomes a owning a nine remote control, the management becomes complicated.

  Therefore, the remote control 35 of the slave unit 2 can be sold separately as an option of the slave unit 2. In addition, the remote controller 15 of the master unit 1 can be sold separately as an option of the master unit 1.

  Here, as described above, the remote controllers 15 and 35 can control both the parent device 1 and the child device 2, and therefore, only one of the remote controller 15 or 35 is owned. In addition, it is possible to control all of the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a 6-side view showing an example of the configuration of the handset 2 of FIG.

  5A is a front view of the child device 2, FIG. 5B is a top surface of the child device 2, FIG. 5C is a bottom surface of the child device 2, FIG. 5D is a left side surface of the child device 2, and FIG. FIG. 5F shows the rear surface of the slave unit 2.

  The top surface (FIG. 5B), bottom surface (FIG. 5C), left side surface (FIG. 5D), and right side surface (FIG. 5E) of the slave unit 2 are provided with fixing mechanisms. When the master unit 1 and other slave units are arranged on the left side or right side, a fixing mechanism provided on the top, bottom, left side, or right side of the slave unit 2 and the master unit 1 And the fixing mechanism provided in the surface which the other subunit | mobile_unit opposes fits, and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 and another subunit | mobile_unit and the main | base station 1 are fixed so that it may not separate easily.

  As shown in FIG. 5F, a terminal panel 41, an antenna terminal 42, an input terminal 43, and an output terminal 44 are provided on the back surface of the slave unit 2.

The terminal panel 41 is provided with _one IEEE1394 terminal 41 ₁ for electrically connecting the parent device 1 and the child device 2. Handset 2, in the case of the scalable TV system in FIG. 1A, for example, a handset 2 ₁₁ disposed at the upper left, the IEEE1394 terminal 41 ₁ of the terminal panel 41 via the IEEE1394 cable (not shown), Fig. 3F It is connected to the IEEE1394 terminal 21 ₁₁ of the terminal panel 21 at.

  The number of IEEE1394 terminals provided on the terminal panel 41 is not limited to one.

  A cable connected to an antenna (not shown) is connected to the antenna terminal 42, whereby a television broadcast signal received by the antenna is input to the handset 2. For example, image data and audio data output from a VTR or the like are input to the input terminal 43. From the output terminal 44, for example, image data and audio data as a television broadcast signal received by the slave unit 2 are output.

Above one of the main unit 1 and the eight handset 2 ₁₁ to 2 ₃₃ Total nine television receivers configured is, in the horizontal and vertical direction, they are arranged one by three respectively Thus, the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A is configured.

  Note that the scalable TV system of FIG. 1A is configured by directly arranging other television receivers on the top, bottom, left, or right of the television receiver as a master unit or a slave unit. It is also possible to arrange the television receiver in a rack dedicated to the scalable TV system shown in FIG. When the dedicated rack is used in this way, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the television receiver constituting the scalable TV system more firmly.

Here, when a scalable TV system is configured by directly arranging another television receiver on the top, bottom, left, or right of a television receiver as a master unit or a slave unit, for example, The machine 1 cannot be arranged in the second row and the second column as shown in FIG. 1A unless at least the child machine 2 ₃₂ exists. On the other hand, when the rack dedicated to the scalable TV system shown in FIG. 6 is used, the parent device 1 can be arranged in the second row and second column even if the child device 2 ₃₂ does not exist.

  Next, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration example of the remote controller 15.

The select button switch 51 can be operated (direction operation) in a total of eight directions including four directions in the vertical and horizontal directions and four oblique directions in the middle thereof. Furthermore, the select button switch 51 can be pressed (select operation) in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the remote controller 15. In the menu button switch 54, various settings (for example, the above-mentioned slave unit _ij is arranged in the i-th column and the j-th row of the scalable TV system) on the CRT 11 of the master unit 1 (or the CRT 31 of the slave unit 2). It is operated when displaying a menu screen for inputting a command for instructing to perform a predetermined process).

  Here, when the menu screen is displayed, a cursor that indicates an item or the like on the menu screen is displayed on the CRT 11. This cursor moves in the direction corresponding to the operation by operating the select button switch 51 in the direction. If the select button switch 51 is selected when the cursor is at a position on a predetermined item, the selection of the item is confirmed. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, there are icons in the items displayed on the menu, and the select button switch 51 is selected even when the icon is clicked.

  For items, icons, etc. displayed on the menu screen, button switches corresponding to the items, icons, etc. can be provided on the remote control 15. In this case, the user can specify items and icons displayed on the menu screen by directly operating the remote controller 15 without displaying the menu screen.

  The exit button switch 55 is operated when returning from the menu screen to the original normal screen.

  The volume button switch 52 is operated when the volume is raised or lowered. The channel up / down button switch 53 is operated to increase or decrease the number of a broadcast channel to be received.

  A numeric button (ten-key) switch 58 on which numbers 0 to 9 are displayed is operated when a displayed number is input. When the operation of the numeric button switch 58 is completed, the enter button switch 57 is operated subsequent to the end of the numeric input. When the channel is switched, the OSD (On Screen Display) is displayed on the CRT 11 of the master unit 1 (or the CRT 31 of the slave unit 2) such as a new channel number for a predetermined time. The display button 56 is operated to turn on / off the OSD display such as the number of the currently selected channel and the current volume.

  The TV / video switching button switch 59 is used to input the master unit 1 (or the slave unit 2) into a built-in tuner 121 shown in FIG. 10 (or a tuner 141 shown in FIG. Alternatively, it is operated when switching to the input from the input terminal 43) of FIG. The TV / DSS switch button switch 60 is operated when the tuner 121 selects a television mode for receiving broadcasts by terrestrial waves or a DSS (Digital Satellite System (trademark of Hughes Communications)) mode for receiving satellite broadcasts. . When the channel is switched by operating the numeric button switch 58, the channel before switching is stored, and the jump button switch 61 is operated when returning to the original channel before switching.

  The language button 62 is operated when a predetermined language is selected when broadcasting is performed in two or more languages. The guide button switch 63 is operated when displaying an EPG (Electric Program Guide). The favorite button switch 64 is operated when a user's favorite channel set in advance is selected.

  The cable button switch 65, the television switch 66, and the DSS button switch 67 are button switches for switching the device category of the command code corresponding to the infrared ray emitted from the remote controller 15. That is, the remote controller 15 (same as the remote controller 35) can remotely control STB and IRD (not shown) in addition to the television receiver as the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2, and the cable button switch. 65 is operated when the remote controller 15 controls an STB (Set Top Box) that receives a signal transmitted via the CATV network. After the operation of the cable button switch 65, the remote controller 15 emits infrared rays corresponding to the command code of the device category assigned to the STB. Similarly, the television button switch 66 is operated when the parent device 1 (or the child device 1) is controlled by the remote controller 15. The DSS button switch 67 is operated when an IRD (Integrated Receiver and Decoder) that receives a signal transmitted via a satellite is controlled by the remote controller 15.

  LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) 68, 69, and 70 are lit when the cable button switch 65, the TV button switch 66, or the DSS button switch 67 is turned on, respectively. The user is shown whether the device is controllable. The LEDs 68, 69, and 70 are turned off when the cable button switch 65, the television button switch 66, or the DSS button switch 67 is turned off, respectively.

  The cable power button switch 71, the television power button switch 72, and the DSS power button switch 73 are operated when turning on / off the STB, the parent device 1 (or the child device 2), or the IRD.

  The muting button switch 74 is operated when setting or canceling the muting state of the parent device 1 (or the child device 2). The sleep button switch 75 is operated when setting or canceling the sleep mode in which the power is automatically turned off when a predetermined time is reached or when a predetermined time has elapsed.

  Next, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a configuration example of the remote controller 35 of the slave unit 2.

  The remote controller 35 includes a select button switch 81 to a sleep button switch 105 configured similarly to the select button switch 51 to the sleep button switch 75 in the remote controller 15 of FIG.

  Next, FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another configuration example of the remote controller 15 of the parent device 1.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 9, instead of the select button switch 51 that can be operated in eight directions in FIG. 7, four direction button switches 111, 112, 113, and 114 in the up, down, left, and right directions, and buttons for performing a select operation. A switch 110 is provided. Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, the cable button switch 65, the TV button switch 66, and the DSS button switch 67 are internally illuminated, and the LEDs 68 to 70 in FIG. 7 are omitted. However, LEDs (not shown) are arranged on the back side of the button switches 65 to 67. When the button switches 65 to 67 are operated, the LEDs arranged on the back side are respectively corresponding to the operation. Turns on or off.

  The other button switches are basically the same as those shown in FIG. 7 although their arrangement positions are different.

  Note that the remote controller 35 of the slave unit 2 can also be configured in the same manner as in FIG.

  In addition, the remote controller 15 can incorporate a gyro for detecting the movement. In this case, the remote controller 15 detects the moving direction and moving amount of the remote controller 15 with the built-in gyro, and moves the cursor displayed on the menu screen in accordance with the moving direction and moving amount. Is possible. As described above, when the gyro is built in the remote controller 15, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, it is not necessary to configure the select button switch 51 so that it can be moved in eight directions. In this embodiment, there is no need to provide the direction button switches 111 to 114. Similarly, it is possible to incorporate a gyro in the remote control 35 as well.

  Next, FIG. 10 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the base unit 1.

  A television broadcast signal received by an antenna (not shown) is supplied to the tuner 121, and is detected and demodulated under the control of the CPU 129. The output of the tuner 121 is supplied to a QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) demodulating circuit 122 and QPSK demodulated under the control of the CPU 129. The output of the QPSK demodulating circuit 122 is supplied to the error correction circuit 123, and an error is detected and corrected under the control of the CPU 129 and supplied to the demultiplexer 124.

  Under the control of the CPU 129, the demultiplexer 124 descrambles the output of the error correction circuit 123 as necessary, and further extracts a TS (Transport Stream) packet of a predetermined channel. The demultiplexer 124 supplies the TS packet of the image data (video data) to the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) video decoder 125 and supplies the TS packet of the audio data (audio data) to the MPEG audio decoder 126. To do. Further, the demultiplexer 124 supplies the TS packet included in the output of the error correction circuit 123 to the CPU 129 as necessary. Further, the demultiplexer 124 receives image data or audio data (including those in the form of TS packets) supplied from the CPU 129 and supplies it to the MPEG video decoder 125 or the MPEG audio decoder 126.

  The MPEG video decoder 125 MPEG-decodes the TS packet of the image data supplied from the demultiplexer 124 and supplies it to the signal processing unit 127. The MPEG audio decoder 126 MPEG-decodes the TS packet of audio data supplied from the demultiplexer 124. The L channel and R channel audio data obtained by the decoding by the MPEG audio decoder 126 is supplied to the signal processing unit 127.

  The signal processing unit 127 supplies the image data from the MPEG video decoder 125 to the matrix circuit 128 and also supplies the audio data (acoustic data) from the MPEG audio decoder 126 to the amplifier 137.

  Further, the signal processing unit 127 includes a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 127A, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) 127B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 127C, and the like, and is supplied thereto under the control of the CPU 129. Various digital signal processing is performed on the image data and audio data.

  In other words, the DSP 127A performs various signal processing using the data stored in the EEPROM 127B as necessary according to the program stored in the EEPROM 127B. The EEPROM 127B stores programs and necessary data for the DSP 127A to perform various processes. The RAM 137C temporarily stores data and programs necessary for the DSP 137A to perform various processes.

  The data and programs stored in the EEPROM 127B can be upgraded by overwriting the data and programs.

  The matrix circuit 128 converts the image data supplied from the signal processing unit 127 into RGB (Red, Green, Blue) image data, and supplies the image data to the CRT for display. Note that the matrix circuit 128 includes a D / A (Digital / Analog) converter, and outputs the image data after D / A conversion.

  The CPU 129 executes various processes in accordance with programs stored in the EEPROM 130 and the ROM (Read Only Memory) 131, thereby, for example, a tuner 121, a QPSK demodulation circuit 122, an error correction circuit 123, a demultiplexer 124, It controls the signal processing unit 127, the IEEE1394 interface 133, the IR interface 135, and the modem 136. Further, the CPU 129 supplies the data supplied from the demultiplexer 124 to the IEEE1394 interface 133, and supplies the data supplied from the IEEE1394 interface 133 to the demultiplexer 124 and the signal processing unit 127. Further, the CPU 129 executes processing corresponding to commands supplied from the front panel 134 or the IR interface 135. Further, the CPU 129 controls the modem 136 to access a server (not shown) through a telephone line, and obtains an upgraded program and necessary data.

  The EEPROM 130 stores data and programs that should be retained even after the power is turned off. The ROM 131 stores, for example, an IPL (Initial Program Loader) program. The data and programs stored in the EEPROM 130 can be upgraded by overwriting the data and programs.

  The RAM 132 temporarily stores data and programs necessary for the operation of the CPU 129.

IEEE1394 interface 133, the terminal panel 21 (the IEEE1394 terminal 21 ₁₁ to 21 ₃₃ (FIG. 3)) are connected to, and functions as an interface for performing communication compliant with the IEEE1394 standard. Thereby, the IEEE1394 interface 133 transmits data supplied from the CPU 129 to the outside in conformity with the IEEE1394 standard, while receiving data transmitted from the outside in conformity with the IEEE1394 standard, to the CPU129. Supply.

  Although not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, front panel 134 is provided, for example, at a part of the front surface of base unit 1. The front panel 134 includes a part of button switches provided on the remote controller 15 (FIGS. 7 and 9), that is, for example, a volume button switch 52, a channel up / down button switch 53, a menu button switch. 54, a numeric button switch 58, a television power button switch 72, and the like. When the button switch on the front panel 134 is operated, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is sent to the CPU 129. Supplied. In this case, the CPU 129 performs processing corresponding to the operation signal from the front panel 134.

  The IR interface 135 receives (receives) infrared rays transmitted from the remote controller 15 in response to the operation of the remote controller 15. Further, the IR interface 135 photoelectrically converts the received infrared ray and supplies a signal obtained as a result to the CPU 129. In this case, the CPU 129 performs processing corresponding to the signal from the IR interface 135, that is, processing corresponding to the operation of the remote controller 15. The IR interface 135 emits infrared light under the control of the CPU 129. That is, in the present embodiment, the base unit 1 can perform infrared communication using the IR interface 135 in addition to the above-described IEEE1394 communication using the IEEE1394 interface 133 and communication using the modem 136 described later.

  The modem 136 performs communication control via a telephone line, thereby transmitting data supplied from the CPU 129 via the telephone line and receiving data transmitted via the telephone line. To supply.

  The amplifier 137 amplifies the audio data supplied from the signal processing unit 127 as necessary, and supplies the amplified audio data to the speaker units 12L and 12R for output. The amplifier 137 has a D / A converter, and outputs the audio data after D / A conversion.

  In the base unit 1 configured as described above, an image and sound as a television broadcast program are output as follows (images are displayed and sound is output).

  That is, a transport stream as a television broadcast signal received by the antenna is supplied to the demultiplexer 124 via the tuner 121, the QPSK demodulation circuit 122, and the error correction circuit 123. The demultiplexer 124 extracts TS packets of a predetermined program from the transport stream, supplies the TS packets of image data to the MPEG video decoder 125, and supplies the TS packets of audio data to the MPEG audio decoder 126. .

  In the MPEG video data coder 125, the TS packet from the demultiplexer 124 is MPEG decoded. The resulting image data is supplied from the MPEG video decoder 125 to the CRT 11 via the signal processing unit 127 and the matrix circuit 128 and displayed.

  On the other hand, in the MPEG audio decoder 126, the TS packet from the demultiplexer 124 is MPEG decoded. The resulting audio data is supplied from the MPEG audio decoder 126 to the speaker units 12L and 12R via the signal processing unit 127 and the amplifier 137 and output.

  Next, FIG. 11 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the slave unit 2.

  Since the subunit | mobile_unit 2 is comprised from the tuner 141 thru | or amplifier 157 respectively comprised similarly to the tuner 121 thru | or amplifier 137 of FIG. 10, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Note that, as shown in FIGS. 3F and 5F, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 have the antenna terminals 22 and 42, respectively, so that they can be used as the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system of FIG. An antenna (cable from) can be connected to each of the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2. However, when an antenna is connected to each of the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2, wiring may be complicated. Therefore, in a scalable TV system, an antenna is connected to any one of the television receivers constituting the scalable TV system, and a television broadcast signal received by the television receiver is converted into, for example, IEEE1394. It is possible to distribute to other television receivers by communication.

Next, in the present embodiment, the IEEE1394 terminal 21 _ij (FIG. 3) of the terminal panel 21 of the base unit 1 and the IEEE1394 terminal 41 ₁ (FIG. 5) of the terminal panel 41 of the handset 2 _ij are connected by an IEEE1394 cable. By being connected, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 are electrically connected, so that IEEE1394 communication (communication conforming to the IEEE1394 standard) is performed between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2. Various data are exchanged.

  Therefore, IEEE1394 communication will be described with reference to FIGS.

  IEEE1394 is one of the serial bus standards, and IEEE1394 communication is suitable for transferring data that needs to be reproduced in real time, such as images and sounds, because it can perform isochronous transfer of data.

  In other words, between devices having IEEE1394 interfaces (IEEE1394 devices), data is isochronously transferred using a transmission band of 100 μs at maximum with a period of 125 μs (microseconds) (although it is called time). It can be performed. In addition, isochronous transfer can be performed with a plurality of channels as long as the transmission bandwidth is within the above-described range.

  FIG. 12 shows the layer structure of the IEEE1394 communication protocol.

  The IEEE1394 protocol has a three-layered structure including a transaction layer, a link layer, and a physical layer. Each layer communicates with each other, and each layer communicates with serial bus management. Furthermore, the transaction layer and the link layer also communicate with higher-order applications. There are four types of transmission / reception messages used for this communication: request, indication (indication), response (response), and confirmation (confirmation), and the arrows in FIG. 12 indicate this communication.

  Note that communication with “.req” at the end of the arrow name indicates a request, and “.ind” indicates an instruction. “.Resp” indicates a response, and “.conf” indicates confirmation. For example, TR_CONT.req is a request communication sent from the serial bus management to the transaction layer.

  The transaction layer provides an asynchronous transmission service for data communication with other IEEE1394 devices (devices having an IEEE1394 interface) in response to a request from an application, and a request response protocol (required by ISO / IEC13213) Request Response Protocol) is realized. That is, as a data transfer method based on the IEEE1394 standard, there is asynchronous transmission in addition to the above-described isochronous transmission, and the transaction layer performs asynchronous transmission processing. Data transmitted by asynchronous transmission is made up of IEEE1394 equipment by three types of transactions: read transaction, write transaction, and lock transaction, which are units of processing required for the protocol of the transaction layer. Transmitted between them.

  The link layer performs processing such as data transmission service using acknowledge, address processing, data error confirmation, and data framing. One packet transmission performed by the link layer is called a subaction, and there are two types of subactions, an asynchronous subaction and an isochronous subaction.

  The asynchronous subaction is performed by designating a physical ID (Physical Identification) that identifies a node (a unit that can be accessed in IEEE1394) and an address in the node, and the node that has received the data returns an acknowledge. However, in the asynchronous broadcast subaction that sends data to all nodes in the IEEE1394 serial bus, the node that received the data does not return an acknowledge.

  On the other hand, in the isochronous subaction, data is transmitted by designating a channel number at a constant cycle (125 μs as described above). In the isochronous subaction, the acknowledge is not returned.

  The physical layer converts logical symbols used in the link layer into electrical signals. In addition, the physical layer performs processing for arbitration requests from the link layer (arbitration when a node that performs IEEE1394 communication competes), or reconfigures the IEEE1394 serial bus in response to a bus reset. Or perform automatic assignment.

  Serious bus management provides basic bus control functions and ISO / IEC13212 CSR (Control & Status Register Architecture). The serial bus management has functions of a node controller, an isochronous resource manager, and a bus manager. The node controller controls the node state, physical ID, and the like, and also controls the transaction layer, link layer, and physical layer. The isochronous resource manager provides the usage status of resources used for isochronous communication. In order to perform isochronous communication, at least one of the devices connected to the IEEE1394 serial bus has the function of the isochronous resource manager. IEEE1394 equipment is required. The bus manager has the highest function among the functions, and aims to optimize the use of the IEEE1394 serial bus. Note that the presence of the isochronous resource manager and the bus manager is arbitrary.

  IEEE 1394 devices can be connected in either node branch or node daisy chain, but when an IEEE 1394 device is newly connected, a bus reset is performed, and tree identification, root node, physical ID, isochronous resource manager The cycle master and bus manager are determined.

  Here, in the tree identification, a parent-child relationship between nodes as an IEEE1394 device is determined. In addition, the root node designates a node that has acquired the right to use the IEEE1394 serial bus by arbitration. The physical ID is determined by transferring a packet called a self-ID packet to each node. The self-ID packet includes information such as the data transfer rate of the node and whether the node can become an isochronous resource manager.

  As described above, the isochronous resource manager is a node that provides a usage status of resources used for isochronous communication, and has a bandwidth register (BANDWIDTH_AVAILABLE register) and a channel number register (CHANNELS_AVAILABLE register) described later. Further, the isochronous resource manager also has a register indicating a physical ID of a node that becomes a bus manager. Note that if there is no bus manager in a node as an IEEE1394 device connected by an IEEE1394 serial bus, the isochronous resource manager functions as a simple bus manager.

  The cycle master transmits a cycle start packet on the IEEE1394 serial bus every 125 μs that is the period of isochronous transmission. For this reason, the cycle master has a cycle time register (CYCLE_TIME register) for counting the period (125 μs). Note that the root node becomes a cycle master, but if the root node does not have a function as a cycle master, the bus manager changes the root node.

  The bus manager manages power on the IEEE1394 serial bus, changes the root node described above, and the like.

  If the determination of the isochronous resource manager or the like as described above is performed after the bus reset, data transmission via the IEEE1394 serial bus is possible.

  In isochronous transmission, which is one of the IEEE1394 data transmission systems, a transmission band and a transmission channel are secured, and then a packet (isochronous packet) in which data is arranged is transmitted.

  That is, in isochronous transmission, the cycle master broadcasts a cycle start packet on the IEEE1394 serial bus at a period of 125 μs. When the cycle start packet is broadcast, an isochronous packet can be transmitted.

  In order to perform isochronous transmission, it is necessary to declare the reservation of resources for isochronous transmission by rewriting the bandwidth register for securing the transmission band provided by the isochronous resource manager and the channel number register for securing the channel.

  Here, the bandwidth register and the channel number register are allocated as one of CSRs (Control & Status Registers) described later having a 64-bit address space defined by ISO / IEC13213.

  The bandwidth register is a 32-bit register, the upper 19 bits are reserved, and the lower 13 bits represent a transmission band (bw_remaining) that can be used at present.

  That is, the initial value of the bandwidth register is 00000000000000000001001100110011B (B indicates that the previous value is a binary number) (= 4915). This is due to the following reason. That is, in IEEE1394, the time required for transmission of 32 bits at 1572.864 Mbps (bit per second) is defined as 1, and the above 125 μs corresponds to 00000000000000000001100000000000B (= 6144). However, IEEE 1394 specifies that the transmission band that can be used for isochronous transmission is 80% of 125 μs, which is one cycle. Therefore, the maximum transmission band that can be used for isochronous transmission is 100 μs, and 100 μs is 00000000000000000001001100110011B (= 4915) as described above.

  The remaining 25 μs transmission band, which is the maximum transmission band used in isochronous transmission from 125 μs except for 100 μs, is used in asynchronous transmission. Asynchronous transmission is used when reading the stored value of the bandwidth register or channel number register.

  In order to start isochronous transmission, it is necessary to secure a transmission band for that purpose. That is, for example, when isochronous transmission is performed using a transmission band of 10 μs out of one cycle of 125 μs, it is necessary to secure the transmission band of 10 μs. This transmission band is secured by rewriting the value of the bandwidth register. That is, as described above, when a transmission band of 10 μs is secured, 492, which is a value corresponding to 10 μs, is subtracted from the value of the bandwidth register, and the subtraction value is set in the bandwidth register. Therefore, for example, when the value of the bandwidth register is now 4915 (when isochronous transmission is not performed at all), when a transmission bandwidth of 10 μs is secured, the value of the bandwidth register is 4915 (= 00000000000000000001000101000111B) is rewritten from 4915 by subtracting 492 corresponding to 10 μs from 4915.

  If the value obtained by subtracting the transmission band to be secured (used) from the value of the bandwidth register is smaller than 0, the transmission band cannot be secured, and therefore the value of the bandwidth register is rewritten. In addition, isochronous transmission cannot be performed.

  In order to perform isochronous transmission, it is necessary to secure a transmission channel in addition to securing the transmission band as described above. The transmission channel is secured by rewriting the channel number register.

  The channel number register is a 64-bit register, and each bit corresponds to each channel. That is, when the value of the nth bit (the nth bit from the least significant bit) is 1, this indicates that the n−1th channel is not in use, and when it is 0, the n−th bit. Indicates that one channel is in use. Therefore, when no channel is used, the channel number register is 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111B. For example, when the first channel is secured, the channel number register is rewritten to 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111101B.

  Since the channel number register is 64 bits as described above, it is possible to secure 64 channels from the 0th to the 63rd channels at the maximum by isochronous transmission, but the 63rd channel broadcasts isochronous packets. Used when

  As described above, since isochronous transmission is performed after securing the transmission band and transmission channel, it is possible to perform data transmission with a guaranteed transmission rate, and as described above, playback in real time such as images and audio is possible. It is particularly suitable for data transmission that needs to be done.

  Next, the IEEE1394 communication conforms to the CSR architecture having a 64-bit address space defined by ISO / IEC13213 as described above.

  FIG. 13 shows the address space of the CSR architecture.

  The upper 16 bits of the CSR are a node ID indicating each node, and the remaining 48 bits are used for designating an address space given to each node. The upper 16 bits are further divided into 10 bits of bus ID and 6 bits of physical ID (node ID in a narrow sense). Since a value in which all bits are 1 is used for a special purpose, 1023 buses and 63 nodes can be designated.

  Of the 256 terabyte address space defined by the lower 48 bits of CSR, the space defined by the upper 20 bits is an initial register space (Initial space used for 2048-byte CSR-specific registers and IEEE1394-specific registers). Register space), private space (private space), initial memory space (initial memory space), etc., and the space defined by the lower 28 bits is the space defined by the upper 20 bits is the initial register space In some cases, it is used as a configuration ROM (Configuration ROM), an initial unit space (Initial Unit Space) used for a node-specific purpose, a plug control register (PCRs), or the like.

  Here, FIG. 14 shows offset addresses, names, and functions of main CSRs.

  In FIG. 14, an “offset” column indicates an offset address from the address FFFFF0000000h (h indicates that the previous value is a hexadecimal number) where the initial register space starts. As described above, the bandwidth register having the offset 220h indicates a band that can be allocated to isochronous communication, and only the value of the node operating as the isochronous resource manager is valid. That is, each node has the CSR in FIG. 13, but only the bandwidth register of the isochronous resource manager is valid. Thus, the bandwidth register is essentially only an isochronous resource manager.

  As described above, in the channel number register of offsets 224h to 228h, each bit corresponds to each of channel numbers 0 to 63, and when the bit is 0, the channel is already assigned. Is shown. The channel number register is valid only for the node operating as an isochronous resource manager.

  Returning to FIG. 13, a configuration ROM based on the general ROM format is arranged at addresses 400h to 800h in the initial register space.

  Here, FIG. 15 shows a general ROM format.

  A node that is a unit of access on IEEE1394 can have a plurality of units that operate independently while using an address space in common. The unit directories can indicate the software version and location for this unit. The positions of the bus info block and the root directory are fixed, but the positions of other blocks are specified by offset addresses.

  Here, FIG. 16 shows details of the bus info block, the root directory, and the unit directory.

  The Company ID in the bus info block stores an ID number indicating the manufacturer of the device. The Chip ID stores a unique ID unique to the device in the world that does not overlap with other devices. Also, according to the IEC1833 standard, 00h is written in the first octet, A0h is written in the second octet, and 2Dh is written in the third octet of the unit spec ID (unit spec id) of the unit directory of the equipment that satisfies IEC1883. . Further, 01h is written in the first octet of the unit switch version (unit sw version), and 1 is written in the LSB (Least Significant Bit) of the third octet.

  The node has a PCR (Plug Control Register) defined in IEC1883 at addresses 900h to 9FFh in the initial register space of FIG. This materializes the concept of a plug in order to logically form a signal path similar to an analog interface.

  Here, FIG. 17 shows the structure of PCR.

  The PCR has an oPCR (output Plug Control Register) representing an output plug and an iPCR (input Plug Control Register) representing an input plug. The PCR also has registers oMPR (output Master Plug Register) and iMPR (input Master Plug Register) indicating information of output plugs or input plugs specific to each device. An IEEE1394 device does not have a plurality of oMPRs and iMPRs, but can have a plurality of oPCRs and iPCRs corresponding to individual plugs depending on the capabilities of the IEEE1394 devices. The PCR shown in FIG. 17 has 31 oPCR # 0 to # 30 and iPCR # 0 to # 30, respectively. The flow of isochronous data is controlled by manipulating the registers corresponding to these plugs.

  FIG. 18 shows the configuration of oMPR, oPCR, iMPR, and iPCR.

  18A shows the oMPR configuration, FIG. 18B shows the oPCR configuration, FIG. 18C shows the iMPR configuration, and FIG. 18D shows the iPCR configuration.

  The 2-bit data rate capability on the MSB side of oMPR and iMPR stores a code indicating the maximum transmission rate of isochronous data that can be transmitted or received by the device. The oMPR broadcast channel base specifies the number of the channel used for broadcast output.

  The 5-bit number of output plugs on the LSB side of the oMPR stores a value indicating the number of output plugs that the device has, that is, the number of oPCRs. The 5-bit number of input plugs on the LSB side of iMPR stores a value indicating the number of input plugs that the device has, that is, the number of iPCRs. The non-persistent extension field and the persistent extension field are areas defined for future extension.

  The on-line of the oPCR and iPCR MSB indicates the usage status of the plug. That is, if the value is 1, the plug is ON-LINE, and if it is 0, it indicates OFF-LINE. The value of the broadcast connection counter of oPCR and iPCR represents the presence (1) or absence (0) of a broadcast connection. The value of a point-to-point connection counter having a 6-bit width of oPCR and iPCR represents the number of point-to-point connections that the plug has.

  The value of a channel number having a 6-bit width of oPCR and iPCR indicates the number of an isochronous channel to which the plug is connected. The value of the data rate having a 2-bit width of the oPCR indicates the actual transmission rate of the isochronous data packet output from the plug. A code stored in an overhead ID having a 4-bit width of oPCR indicates an over bandwidth of isochronous communication. The value of payload having a 10-bit width of oPCR represents the maximum value of data included in an isochronous packet that can be handled by the plug.

  Next, an AV / C command set is defined as a command for controlling the IEEE1394 equipment that performs the IEEE1394 communication as described above. Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the master unit 1 controls the slave unit 2 using this AV / C command set. However, when controlling the slave unit 2 from the master unit 1, it is also possible to use a unique command system other than the AV / C command set.

  Here, the AV / C command set will be briefly described.

  FIG. 19 shows the data structure of an AV / C command set packet transmitted in the asynchronous transfer mode.

  The AV / C command set is a command set for controlling an AV (Audio Visual) device. In a control system using the AV / C command set, an AV / C command frame and a response frame are FCP ( They are exchanged using Function Control Protocol. In order not to put a burden on the bus and AV equipment, the response to the command is performed within 100 ms.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the data of the asynchronous packet is composed of 32 bits (= 1 quadlet) in the horizontal direction. The upper part of the figure shows a packet header, and the lower part of the figure shows a data block. destination_ID indicates the destination.

  CTS indicates the ID of the command set. In the AV / C command set, CTS = “0000”. ctype / response indicates the function classification of the command when the packet is a command, and indicates the processing result of the command when the packet is a response. Commands can be broadly classified as follows: (1) Command to control functions from the outside (CONTROL), (2) Command to inquire about the status from outside (STATUS), and (3) Command to inquire from the outside about support of control commands (GENERAL INQUIRY (4) (4) A command (NOTIFY) requesting to notify the outside of a change in state is defined. (OPCODE support / non-support) and SPECIFIC INQUIRY (OPCODE / operands support / not supported))

  Responses are returned according to the type of command. Responses to the CONTROL command include NOT INPLEMENTED (not implemented), ACCEPTED, REJECTED, and INTERIM. Responses to the STATUS command include NOT INPLEMENTED, REJECTED, IN TRANSITION (transition), and STABLE (stable). Responses to GENERAL INQUIRY and SPECIFIC INQUIRY commands include IMPLEMENTED (implemented) and NOT IMPLEMENTED. Responses to NOTIFY commands include NOT IMPLEMENTED, REJECTED, INTERIM, and CHANGED.

  The subunit type is provided to specify the function in the device, and for example, tape recorder / player, tuner, etc. are assigned. In order to determine when there are a plurality of subunits of the same type, addressing is performed with a subunit id (arranged after the subunit type) as a discrimination number. The opcode represents a command, and the operand represents a command parameter. Additional operands is a field in which additional operands are arranged. Padding is a field in which dummy data is arranged to set the packet length to a predetermined number of bits. A data CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) is a CRC used for error checking during data transmission.

  Next, FIG. 20 shows a specific example of the AV / C command.

  FIG. 20A shows a specific example of ctype / response. The upper part of the figure represents a command, and the lower part of the figure represents a response. “0000” is assigned CONTROL, “0001” is assigned STATUS, “0010” is assigned SPECIFIC INQUIRY, “0011” is assigned NOTIFY, and “0100” is assigned GENERAL INQUIRY. “0101 to 0111” are reserved for future specifications. “1000” is NOT INPLEMENTED, “1001” is ACCEPTED, “1010” is REJECTED, “1011” is IN TRANSITION, “1100” is IMPLEMENTED / STABLE, “1101” is CHNGED, “1111” ”Is assigned INTERIM. “1110” is reserved for future specifications.

  FIG. 20B shows a specific example of the subunit type. “00000” is a Video Monitor, “00011” is a Disk recorder / Player, “00100” is a Tape recorder / Player, “00101” is a Tuner, “00111” is a Video Camera, “11100” is a Vendor unique. “11110” is assigned subunit type extended to next byte. Note that “11111” is assigned a unit, but this is used when it is sent to the device itself, for example, turning on / off the power.

  FIG. 20C shows a specific example of opcode. There is an opcode table for each subunit type. Here, the opcode is shown when the subunit type is Tape recorder / Player. An operand is defined for each opcode. Here, “00h” is VENDOR-DEPENDENT, “50h” is SEACH MODE, “51h” is TIMECODE, “52h” is ATN, “60h” is OPEN MIC, “61h” is READ MIC, "62h" is assigned WRITE MIC, "C1h" is assigned LOAD MEDIUM, "C2h" is assigned RECORD, "C3h" is assigned PLAY, and "C4h" is assigned WIND.

  FIG. 21 shows specific examples of AV / C commands and responses.

  For example, when a playback instruction is given to a playback device as a target (consumer) (controlled side), the controller (controlling side) sends a command as shown in FIG. 21A to the target. Since this command uses the AV / C command set, CTS = “0000”. The ctype is “0000” because a command (CONTROL) for controlling the device from the outside is used (FIG. 20A). The subunit type is “00100” because it is a tape recorder / player (FIG. 20B). id indicates the case of ID # 0 and is 000. The opcode is “C3h” meaning reproduction (FIG. 20C). The operand is “75h” meaning FORWARD. Then, when played back, the target returns a response as shown in FIG. 21B to the controller. Here, accepted, which means acceptance, is arranged in response, and response is “1001” (FIG. 20A). Except for response, the rest is the same as FIG.

  In the scalable TV system, various controls are performed between the parent device 1 and the child device 2 using the AV / C command set as described above. However, in the present embodiment, new commands and responses are defined for those controls that can not be handled by the default command and response among the controls performed between the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2. Various controls are performed using simple commands and responses.

  The details of the above IEEE1394 communication and AV / C command set are described in “WHITE SERISE No.181 IEEE1394 Multimedia Interface” published by Trikes Co., Ltd.

  Next, as described with reference to FIG. 10, the IR interface 135 of the parent device 1 can receive and transmit infrared rays, and the IR interface 135 that can transmit and receive infrared rays in this way. Correspondingly, the remote controller 15 of the base unit 1 can receive not only infrared rays but also infrared rays.

  That is, FIG. 22 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the remote controller 15.

  The operation unit 161 is various button switches provided in the remote controller 15 described with reference to FIG. 7 or 9, and supplies an operation signal corresponding to the operated button switch to the control unit 162.

  The control unit 162 receives the operation signal from the operation unit 161, and supplies a command code (command code) indicating processing requested by the operation signal to the frame generation unit 163. The control unit 162 performs various processes based on the output of the reception processing unit 167. Further, the control unit 162 stores the device code in the device code storage unit 168.

  The frame generation unit 163 generates frame structure data (frame data) in which the command code supplied from the control unit 162 and the device code stored in the device storage unit 168 are arranged, and supplies the data to the transmission processing unit 164.

  The transmission processing unit 164 modulates a carrier having a predetermined frequency based on the frame data supplied from the frame generation unit 163, and drives the light emitting unit 165 based on the modulation signal obtained as a result.

  The light emitting unit 165 is configured by an LED, for example, and emits infrared rays when driven by the transmission processing unit 164. Here, the infrared light emitted by the light emitting unit 165 is received by, for example, the IR interface 135 (FIG. 10).

  The light receiving unit 166 receives infrared light, performs photoelectric conversion, and supplies a signal obtained as a result to the reception processing unit 167. Here, the light receiving unit 166 receives, for example, infrared rays emitted from the IR interface 135.

  The reception processing unit 167 demodulates the output of the light receiving unit 166 and supplies frame data obtained as a result to the control unit 162.

  Next, FIG. 23 shows a frame format of the frame data generated by the frame generation unit 163.

  The frame data is configured by arranging a frame reader at the head and then two data parts # 1 and # 2.

  In the frame reader, data consisting of a predetermined bit string representing the head of the frame is arranged.

  In the data part # 1, a device code and a command code are arranged.

  Here, the device code is a code assigned to a device that exchanges frame data. In the device that has received the frame data, the device code assigned to the frame data matches the device code assigned to itself. Further, assuming that the frame data is addressed to itself, processing corresponding to the command code arranged in the frame data is performed.

  That is, in the remote control 15 of FIG. 22, when the frame data is supplied from the reception processing unit 167, the control unit 162 receives the device code arranged in the frame data and the device code stored in the device code storage unit 168. Only when the two match, processing corresponding to the command code arranged in the frame data is performed.

  If the device code arranged in the frame data from the reception processing unit 167 and the device code stored in the device code storage unit 168 do not match, the control unit 162 ignores (discards) the frame data. . Therefore, in this case, the control unit 162 does not particularly perform processing.

  In the data part # 2, the same data as the data part # 1 is arranged.

  Here, in the remote control 15 of FIG. 22, when the frame data is supplied from the reception processing unit 167, the control unit 162 compares the data units # 1 and # 2 arranged in the frame data, and the two match. Only when doing so, the above-mentioned device codes are compared. Therefore, when the data portions # 1 and # 2 arranged in the frame data do not match, the control unit 162 does not particularly perform processing.

  As described above, the control unit 162 does not perform processing when the data units # 1 and # 2 arranged in the frame data do not match, so that the frame data that has not been normally received (the frame having an error) Data) is prevented from being processed.

  Next, as described above, the IR interface 155 (FIG. 11) of the slave unit 2 is also configured in the same manner as the IR interface 135 of the master unit 1 of FIG. 10, so that infrared rays can be transmitted and received. It has become. Corresponding to the IR interface 155 capable of transmitting and receiving infrared rays in this way, the remote control 35 of the slave unit 2 can not only transmit but also receive infrared rays.

  That is, FIG. 24 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the remote controller 35.

  The remote controller 35 includes operation units 171 to device code storage unit 178 that are configured in the same manner as the operation unit 161 to device code storage unit 168 of FIG.

  Next, FIG. 25 illustrates a detailed configuration example of the IR interface 135 (FIG. 10) of the parent device 1.

  The control unit 182 receives a command from the CPU 129 (FIG. 10), and supplies a command code corresponding to the command to the frame generation unit 183. Also, the control unit 182 receives the frame data supplied from the reception processing unit 187, and determines whether the data units # 1 and # 2 of the frame data (FIG. 23) match. Further, the control unit 182 compares the device code of the frame data (FIG. 23) with the device code stored in the device code storage unit 188 when the data units # 1 and # 2 of the frame data match. If they match, a command corresponding to the command code of the frame data (FIG. 23) is supplied to the CPU 129.

  In addition, the control unit 182 stores the device code in the device code storage unit 188.

  The frame generation unit 183 generates frame data (FIG. 23) in which the command code supplied from the control unit 182 and the device code stored in the device storage unit 188 are arranged, and supplies the frame data to the transmission processing unit 184.

  The transmission processing unit 184 modulates a carrier having a predetermined frequency based on the frame data supplied from the frame generation unit 183, and drives the light emitting unit 185 based on the modulation signal obtained as a result.

  The light emitting unit 185 is configured by an LED, for example, and emits infrared rays when driven by the transmission processing unit 184. Here, the infrared light emitted by the light emitting unit 185 is received by, for example, the light receiving unit 166 (FIG. 22) of the remote controller 15.

  The light receiving unit 186 receives infrared light, performs photoelectric conversion, and supplies a signal obtained as a result to the reception processing unit 187. Here, the light receiving unit 186 receives, for example, infrared rays emitted from the light emitting unit 165 (FIG. 22) of the remote controller 15.

  The reception processing unit 187 demodulates the output of the light receiving unit 186 and supplies frame data obtained as a result to the control unit 182.

  The IR interface 155 of the child device 2 is configured in the same manner as the IR interface 135 of the parent device 1 shown in FIG.

  Next, processing (remote control processing) of the remote controller 15 of the parent device 1 in FIG. 22 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Note that the same processing is performed by the remote control 35 of the slave unit 2 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1, the control unit 162 determines whether or not the operation unit 161 is operated by the user and an operation signal as a command is supplied from the operation unit 161.

  If it is determined in step S1 that an operation signal as a command is not supplied, that is, if the remote controller 15 is not operated, the process proceeds to step S2, and the control unit 162 determines whether or not frame data has been received. To do.

  If it is determined in step S2 that no frame data has been received, the process returns to step S1 and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S2 that frame data has been received, that is, infrared light is received by the light receiving unit 166, and frame data corresponding to the infrared light is supplied from the reception processing unit 167 to the control unit 162. If YES in step S3, the control unit 162 determines whether the device code of the frame data matches the device code stored in the device code storage unit 168.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the device code of the frame data does not match the device code stored in the device code storage unit 168, the process returns to step S1 and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the device code of the frame data matches the device code stored in the device code storage unit 168, the process proceeds to step S4, and the control unit 162 is arranged in the frame data. Processing corresponding to the command code is performed, and the process returns to step S1.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that an operation signal as a command is supplied, that is, if the user operates the operation unit 161 and an operation signal corresponding to the operation is supplied to the control unit 162, step In step S5, the control unit 162 determines whether the operation signal is a request for setting a device code.

  Here, the device code storage unit 168 stores a default device code, but the user can change the device code. That is, the device code of the remote controller 15 can be set as a predetermined operation, for example, when the user operates the menu button switch 54 and the television power button switch 72 (FIG. 7) of the remote controller 15 simultaneously. ing. Therefore, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the operation signal is a request for setting a device code by operating the menu button switch 54 and the television power button switch 72 simultaneously.

  If it is determined in step S5 that the operation signal from the operation unit 161 does not request device code setting, the control unit 162 supplies a command code corresponding to the operation signal to the frame generation unit 163. Then, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S6, the frame generation unit 163 generates frame data of the format shown in FIG. 23 by arranging the command code from the control unit 162 and the device code stored in the device storage unit 168, and transmits the frame data. The data is supplied to the processing unit 164, and the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the transmission processing unit 164 drives the light emitting unit 165 corresponding to the frame data from the frame generation unit 163, and returns to step S1. Thereby, the light emission part 165 light-emits the infrared rays corresponding to frame data.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that the operation signal from the operation unit 161 is a request for setting the device code, that is, the user selects the menu button switch 54 and the TV power button switch 72 (on the remote control 15). When the operation of FIG. 7) is performed at the same time, the process proceeds to step S8, and the control unit 162 receives the operation signal after waiting for the operation signal corresponding to the device code to be supplied from the operation unit 161. Is set (overwritten) in the device code storage unit 168. And it returns to step S1 and the same process is repeated hereafter.

  Here, as the device code, for example, a number having a predetermined number of digits can be adopted. In this case, the user operates the number button switch 58 (FIG. 7) of the remote controller 15 to operate the device code. You will enter the code.

  Next, processing (IR interface processing) of the IR interface 135 of the parent device 1 of FIG. 25 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the same processing is performed also in the IR interface 155 (FIG. 11) of the slave unit 2.

  In step S21, the control unit 182 determines whether a command is supplied from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S21 that no command is supplied, the process proceeds to step S22, and the control unit 182 determines whether or not frame data has been received from the reception processing unit 187.

  If it is determined in step S22 that no frame data has been received, the process returns to step S21, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S22 that frame data has been received, that is, for example, infrared light from the remote controller 15 is received by the light receiving unit 186, and the infrared rays are received from the reception processing unit 187 to the control unit 182. When the corresponding frame data is supplied, the process proceeds to step S23, and the control unit 182 determines whether or not the device code of the frame data matches the device code stored in the device code storage unit 188.

  If it is determined in step S23 that the device code of the frame data does not match the device code stored in the device code storage unit 188, the process returns to step S21, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S23 that the device code of the frame data matches the device code stored in the device code storage unit 188, the process proceeds to step S24, and the control unit 182 is arranged in the frame data. The command corresponding to the command code is transferred to the CPU 129, and the process returns to step S21.

  Therefore, in this case, the CPU 129 performs processing corresponding to the command supplied from the IR interface 135 (control unit 182).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that a command is supplied from the CPU 129, the process proceeds to step S25, and the control unit 182 determines whether the command is a request for setting a device code.

  Here, in the device code storage unit 188 as well, in the same way as in the device code storage unit 168 of FIG. 22, a default device code is stored, but the device code can be changed by the user. It has become. That is, the device code of the IR interface 135 corresponds to a predetermined operation, for example, 2 corresponding to the menu button switch 54 and the TV power button switch 72 (FIG. 7) of the remote controller 15 on the front panel 134 (FIG. 10). It can be set by operating two button switches simultaneously. Therefore, in step S25, it is determined whether or not the command from the CPU 129 requests setting of a device code by operating such two button switches simultaneously.

  If it is determined in step S25 that the command from the CPU 129 does not request device code setting, the control unit 182 supplies a command code corresponding to the command to the frame generation unit 183, and step S26. Proceed to

  In step S26, the frame generation unit 183 generates frame data in the format shown in FIG. 23 by arranging the command code from the control unit 182 and the device code stored in the device storage unit 188, and transmits the frame data. The data is supplied to the processing unit 184, and the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S27, the transmission processing unit 184 drives the light emitting unit 185 corresponding to the frame data from the frame generation unit 183, and returns to step S21. Accordingly, the light emitting unit 185 emits infrared light corresponding to the frame data. The infrared light is received by the remote controller 15, for example.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that the command from the CPU 129 is a request for setting a device code, that is, the user selects the menu button switch 54 of the remote control 15 on the front panel 134 (FIG. 10) and When two button switches corresponding to the TV power button switch 72 (FIG. 7) are operated simultaneously, the process proceeds to step S28, and the control unit 182 waits for the device code to be supplied from the CPU 129, and then the device code is displayed. It is received and set (overwritten) in the device code storage unit 188. And it returns to step S21 and the same process is repeated hereafter.

  Here, in base unit 1, the user can input a device code by operating a button switch corresponding to numeric button switch 58 of remote controller 15 on front panel 134 (FIG. 10), for example.

  As described above, the user can set device codes in the remote controls 15 and 35, the IR interface 135 of the master unit 1, and the IR interface 155 of the slave unit 2, and further, command codes between them can be set. This exchange is possible only between devices that have the same device code.

  Therefore, for example, when it is desired to control the parent device 1 in the remote controller 15, the device codes of the IR interface 135 of the remote controller 15 and the parent device 1 may be set to the same value. Further, for example, when it is desired to control the slave unit 2 in the remote controller 15, the device codes of the IR interface 155 of the remote controller 15 and the slave unit 2 may be set to the same value. Further, for example, when the device codes of the remote controller 15 and the IR interface 135 of the master unit 1 and the IR interface 155 of the slave unit 2 are all the same, when the user operates the remote controller 15, the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2, the same processing is performed.

Further, for example, even if the user has only remote control 15, the main unit 1 and the child devices 2 _ij respectively as a television receiver in the scalable TV system, by setting the different devices code By setting the device code of the remote controller 15 to match the device code of the desired television receiver, the user can use the single remote controller 15 to set the master TV as a television receiver constituting the scalable TV system. 1 and each slave unit 2 _ij can be remotely controlled independently.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 28, the process of the base unit 1 of FIG. 10 will be described.

  First, in step S41, the CPU 129 determines whether any device is connected to the terminal panel 21 or an event that some command is supplied from the IEEE1394 interface 133 or the IR interface 135 has occurred. If it is determined that no event has occurred, the process returns to step S41.

  If it is determined in step S41 that an event has occurred in which a device is connected to the terminal panel 21, the process proceeds to step S42, and the CPU 129 performs an authentication process of FIG. 29 described later, and returns to step S41.

  Here, in order to determine whether or not a device is connected to the terminal panel 21, it is necessary to detect that a device is connected to the terminal panel 21. This detection is performed, for example, as follows. .

That is, when a device is connected (via an IEEE1394 cable) to the IEEE1394 terminal 21 _ij provided on the terminal panel 21 (FIG. 3), the terminal voltage of the IEEE1394 terminal 21 _ij changes. The IEEE1394 interface 133 reports the change in the terminal voltage to the CPU 129. The CPU 129 receives a report on the change in the terminal voltage from the IEEE1394 interface 133, so that a new device is connected to the terminal panel 21. It is detected that Note that the CPU 129 recognizes that the device has been disconnected from the terminal panel 21 by the same method, for example.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S41 that an event has occurred in which some command is supplied from the IEEE1394 interface 133 or the IR interface 135, the process proceeds to step S43, and the base unit 1 performs processing corresponding to the command. Return to step S41.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 29, the authentication process which the main | base station 1 performs by step S42 of FIG. 28 is demonstrated.

  In the authentication process of the base unit 1, authentication as to whether or not a device newly connected to the terminal panel 21 (hereinafter referred to as a connected device as appropriate) is a valid IEEE 1394 device, and the IEEE 1394 device is Two types of authentication are performed: whether or not the television receiver (scalable compatible device) is a slave unit.

  That is, in the authentication process of the base unit 1, first, in step S51, the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133 to transmit an authentication request command for requesting mutual authentication to the connected device. The process proceeds to step S52.

  In step S52, the CPU 129 determines whether a response corresponding to the authentication request command is returned from the connected device. If it is determined in step S52 that the response corresponding to the authentication request command has not been returned from the connected device, the process proceeds to step S53, and the CPU 129 transmits an authentication request command whether or not the time is over. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed.

  If it is determined in step S53 that the time is over, that is, a response corresponding to the authentication request command is transmitted from the connected device even if a predetermined time has elapsed since the authentication request command was transmitted to the connected device. If the message does not return, the process proceeds to step S54, and the CPU 129 does not exchange any data with the connected device, assuming that the connected device is not a valid IEEE1394 device and authentication has failed. Set to single mode, which is the mode, and return.

  Accordingly, the base unit 1 thereafter does not exchange any data with the connected device that is not a legitimate IEEE 1394 device as well as the IEEE 1394 communication.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the time is not over, the process returns to step S52, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S52 that the response corresponding to the authentication request command has been returned from the connected device, that is, if the response from the connected device is received by the IEEE1394 interface 133 and supplied to the CPU 129, step In step S55, the CPU 129 generates a random number (pseudorandom number) R1 according to a predetermined algorithm, and transmits the random number (pseudorandom number) R1 to the connected device via the IEEE1394 interface 133.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S56, and the CPU 129 converts the random number R1 from the random number R1 transmitted in step S55 to a predetermined encryption algorithm (for example, DES (Data Encryption Standard), FEAL (Fast data Encipherment Algorithm), It is determined whether or not an encrypted random number E ′ (R1) encrypted by a secret key encryption method such as RC5 has been transmitted from the connected device.

  If it is determined in step S56 that the encrypted random number E ′ (R1) has not been transmitted from the connected device, the process proceeds to step S57, in which the CPU 129 transmits the random number R1. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed.

  If it is determined in step S57 that the time is over, that is, the random number R1 is transmitted from the connected device to the encrypted random number E ′ (R1) even if a predetermined time elapses after being transmitted to the connected device. Is not transmitted, the process proceeds to step S54, and as described above, the CPU 129 sets the operation mode to the single mode and returns, assuming that the connected device is not a valid IEEE1394 device.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S57 that the time is not over, the process returns to step S56, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S56 that the encrypted random number E ′ (R1) has been transmitted from the connected device, that is, the encrypted random number E ′ (R1) from the connected device is received by the IEEE1394 interface 133, When supplied to the CPU 129, the process proceeds to step S58, where the CPU 129 encrypts the random number R1 generated in step S55 with a predetermined encryption algorithm to generate an encrypted random number E (R1), and then proceeds to step S59.

  In step S59, the CPU 129 determines whether or not the encrypted random number E ′ (R1) transmitted from the connected device is equal to the encrypted random number E (R1) generated by itself in step S58.

  If it is determined in step S59 that the encrypted random numbers E ′ (R1) and E (R1) are not equal, that is, the encryption algorithm employed in the connected device (used for encryption if necessary). (Including the secret key) is different from the encryption algorithm employed by the CPU 129, the process proceeds to step S54, and the CPU 129 sets the operation mode as a single unit, assuming that the connected device is not a valid IEEE 1394 device as described above. Set to mode and return.

  If it is determined in step S59 that the encrypted random numbers E ′ (R1) and E (R1) are equal, that is, the encryption algorithm employed by the connected device is the encryption employed by the CPU 129. When it is equal to the algorithm, the process proceeds to step S60, and the CPU 129 determines whether or not a random number R2 for the connection device to authenticate the parent device 1 has been transmitted from the connection device.

  If it is determined in step S60 that the random number R2 has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S61, and the CPU 129 determines whether or not the time is over, that is, for example, the encrypted random number E ′ (R1) and E in step S59. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since it was determined that (R1) is equal.

  If it is determined in step S61 that the time is over, that is, if the random number R2 is not transmitted from the connected device even if a considerable time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S54, and the CPU 129 is as described above. If the connected device is not a valid IEEE1394 device, the operation mode is set to the single mode and the process returns.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S61 that the time is not over, the process returns to step S60, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S60 that the random number R2 has been transmitted from the connected device, that is, if the random number R2 from the connected device is received by the IEEE1394 interface 133 and supplied to the CPU 129, the process proceeds to step S62. The CPU 129 encrypts the random number R2 with a predetermined encryption algorithm, generates an encrypted random number E (R1), and transmits it to the connected device via the IEEE1394 interface 133.

  Here, at step S60, when the random number R2 is transmitted from the connected device, authentication that the connected device is a valid IEEE1394 device is successful.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S63, and the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133 to transmit the device ID and the function information of itself together with the function information request command for requesting the device ID and the function information of the connected device to the connected device. .

  Here, the device ID is a unique ID that identifies the television receiver that becomes the parent device 1 or the child device 2.

  The function information is information related to its own function. For example, the type of command received from the outside (for example, any of commands for controlling power on / off, volume adjustment, channel, brightness, sharpness, etc. from the outside). Information such as whether or not tube display (OSD display) is possible, whether or not a mute state can be entered, and whether or not a sleep mode can be entered. Further, the function information includes information indicating whether the device itself has a function as a parent device or a function as a child device.

  In the base unit 1, the device ID and the function information can be stored in, for example, the EEPROM 130 or the vendor_dependent_information of the configuration ROM shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S64, and the CPU 129 waits for the connected device to transmit the device ID and the function information in response to the function information request command transmitted to the connected device in step S63. And the function information are received via the IEEE1394 interface 133, stored in the EEPROM 130, and the process proceeds to step S65.

  In step S65, the CPU 129 determines whether the connected device is a slave device by referring to the function information stored in the EEPROM 130. If it is determined in step S65 that the connected device is a slave device, that is, if the authentication that the connected device is a slave device is successful, steps S66 and S67 are skipped, and the process proceeds to step S68. Then, the operation mode is set to a multi-viewpoint display capable mode capable of providing a virtual multi-viewpoint display function to be described later together with the connected device as the slave unit, and the process returns.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S65 that the connected device is not a child device, the process proceeds to step S66, and the CPU 129 determines whether the connected device is a parent device by referring to the function information stored in the EEPROM 130. To do. If it is determined in step S66 that the connected device is the parent device, that is, if the authentication that the connected device is the parent device is successful, the process proceeds to step S67, and the CPU 129 determines whether the connected device is the parent device. A parent-child adjustment process is performed between them.

  In other words, in this case, since another parent device is connected to the parent device 1, there are two television receivers that function as the parent device in the scalable TV system. Become. In the present embodiment, it is necessary for the scalable TV system to have only one master unit. For this reason, in step S67, between the master unit 1 and the master unit as the connected device, which is the master unit. A parent-child adjustment process for determining whether to function as a television receiver is performed.

  More specifically, for example, the parent device that has constituted the scalable TV system earlier, that is, in the present embodiment, the parent device 1 is determined to function as a television receiver as the parent device. Is done. The other parent device that is not the parent device 1 determined to function as the parent device functions as a child device.

  After the parent-child adjustment process is performed in step S67, the process proceeds to step S68, and as described above, the CPU 129 sets the operation mode to the multi-viewpoint display possible mode and returns.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S66 that the connected device is not the parent device, that is, the connected device is neither the parent device nor the child device, and therefore, the authentication that the connected device is the parent device or the child device has failed. In this case, the process proceeds to step S69, where the CPU 129 can exchange the default AV / C command set with the connected device as the operation mode, but the control command for providing the multi-view display function. Set to normal function command accept / provide mode that cannot be exchanged and return.

  That is, in this case, since the connected device is neither a parent device nor a child device, even if such a connected device is connected to the parent device 1, the multi-viewpoint display function is not provided. However, in this case, since the connected device is a legitimate IEEE 1394 device, the exchange of a predetermined AV / C command set between the parent device 1 and the connected device is permitted. Therefore, in this case, the parent device 1 and the connected device can be controlled from the other (or another IEEE1394 device connected to the parent device 1) using a predetermined AV / C command set.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 30, the process of the subunit | mobile_unit 2 of FIG. 11 is demonstrated.

  First, in step S71, the CPU 149 determines whether any device is connected to the terminal panel 41 or an event that some command is supplied from the IEEE1394 interface 153 or the IR interface 155 has occurred. If it is determined that no event has occurred, the process returns to step S71.

  If it is determined in step S71 that an event for connecting a device to the terminal panel 41 has occurred, the process proceeds to step S72, and the CPU 149 performs an authentication process shown in FIG. 31 described later, and returns to step S71.

  Here, in order to determine whether or not a device is connected to the terminal panel 41, it is necessary to detect that a device is connected to the terminal panel 41. This detection is described in, for example, step S41 of FIG. This is done in the same way as

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S71 that an event in which some command is supplied from the IEEE1394 interface 153 or the IR interface 155 has occurred, the process proceeds to step S73, and the slave unit 2 performs processing corresponding to the command. The process returns to step S71.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 31, the authentication process which the subunit | mobile_unit 2 performs by step S72 of FIG. 30 is demonstrated.

  In the authentication process of the slave unit 2, authentication as to whether or not the device (connection device) newly connected to the terminal panel 41 is a valid IEEE 1394 device, and whether or not the IEEE 1394 device is the master unit. Two types of authentication are performed.

  That is, in the authentication process of the slave unit 2, first, in step S81, the CPU 149 determines whether or not an authentication request command for requesting mutual authentication is transmitted from the connected device. If it is determined that there is not, the process proceeds to step S82.

  In step S82, the CPU 149 determines whether the time is over, that is, whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the authentication process.

  If it is determined in step S82 that the time is over, that is, if an authentication request command is not transmitted from the connected device even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the authentication process, the process proceeds to step S83. The CPU 149 sets the operation mode to a single mode that is a mode in which no data is exchanged with the connected device, assuming that the connected device is not a valid IEEE1394 device and authentication has failed. To return.

  Therefore, as with the base unit 1, the handset 2 does not exchange any data with the connection device that is not a legitimate IEEE 1394 device as well as the IEEE1394 communication.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S82 that the time is not over, the process returns to step S81, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S81 that the authentication request command has been transmitted from the connected device, that is, the authentication request command transmitted from the parent device 1 as the connected device in step S51 in FIG. If it is received at 153 and supplied to the CPU 149, the process proceeds to step S84, where the CPU 149 controls the IEEE1394 interface 153 to transmit a response to the authentication request command to the connected device.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the processing in steps S51 to S53 in FIG. 29 is performed in the master unit 1, and the processing in steps S81, S82, and S84 in FIG. It is possible to cause the slave unit 2 to perform the processes in steps S51 to S53 in FIG. 29 and allow the master unit 1 to perform the processes in steps S81, S82, and S84 in FIG. That is, the authentication request command may be transmitted by either the master unit 1 or the slave unit 2.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S85, and the CPU 149 determines whether or not the random number R1 has been transmitted from the connected device. If it is determined that the random number R1 has not been transmitted, the CPU 149 proceeds to step S86.

  In step S86, the CPU 149 determines whether the time is over, that is, whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the response to the authentication request command was transmitted in step S84.

  If it is determined in step S86 that the time is over, that is, if the random number R1 is not transmitted from the connected device even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the response to the authentication command was transmitted, step S83 is performed. Then, as described above, the CPU 149 sets the operation mode to the single mode, which is a mode in which no data is exchanged with the connected device, assuming that the connected device is not a valid IEEE1394 device. To return.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S86 that the time is not over, the process returns to step S85, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  When it is determined in step S85 that the random number R1 has been transmitted from the connected device, that is, the random number R1 transmitted from the parent device 1 as the connected device in step S55 in FIG. 29 is received by the IEEE1394 interface 153. If it is supplied to the CPU 149, the process proceeds to step S87, where the CPU 149 encrypts the random number R1 with a predetermined encryption algorithm to generate an encrypted random number E ′ (R1). Further, in step S87, the CPU 149 controls the IEEE1394 interface 153 to transmit the encrypted random number E ′ (R1) to the connected device, and proceeds to step S89.

  In step S89, the CPU 149 generates a random number (pseudo-random number) R2, controls the IEEE1394 interface 153 to transmit the random number R2 to the connected device, and proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, the CPU 149 determines whether or not the encrypted random number E (R2) obtained by encrypting the random number R2 generated by the parent device 1 as the connected device in step S62 in FIG. 29 has been transmitted from the connected device. .

  If it is determined in step S90 that the encrypted random number E (R2) has not been transmitted from the connected device, the process proceeds to step S91, and the CPU 149 determines whether the time has expired, that is, after transmitting the random number R2. It is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed.

  If it is determined in step S91 that the time is over, that is, even if a predetermined time has elapsed after the random number R2 is transmitted to the connected device, the encrypted random number E (R2) is received from the connected device. If it has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S83, and the CPU 149 sets the operation mode to the single mode and returns, as described above, assuming that the connected device is not a valid IEEE1394 device.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S91 that the time is not over, the process returns to step S90, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S90 that the encrypted random number E (R2) has been transmitted from the connected device, that is, the encrypted random number E (R2) from the connected device is received by the IEEE1394 interface 153 and is sent to the CPU 149. If supplied, the process proceeds to step S92, and the CPU 149 encrypts the random number R2 generated in step S89 with a predetermined encryption algorithm, generates an encrypted random number E ′ (R2), and then proceeds to step S93.

  In step S93, the CPU 149 determines whether or not the encrypted random number E (R2) transmitted from the connected device is equal to the encrypted random number E ′ (R2) generated by itself in step S92.

  If it is determined in step S93 that the encrypted random numbers E (R2) and E ′ (R2) are not equal, that is, the encryption algorithm employed in the connected device (used for encryption if necessary). If the encryption algorithm employed by the CPU 149 is different from the encryption algorithm adopted by the CPU 149, the process proceeds to step S83, and the CPU 149 determines that the connected device is not a valid IEEE 1394 device as described above and sets the operation mode alone. Set to mode and return.

  If it is determined in step S93 that the encrypted random numbers E (R2) and E ′ (R2) are equal, that is, the encryption algorithm employed by the connected device is the encryption employed by the CPU 149. If the authentication that the connected device is a legitimate IEEE 1394 device has succeeded, the process proceeds to step S94, and the CPU 149 determines that the parent device 1 as the connected device is in step S63 of FIG. The device ID and the function information transmitted together with the function information request command are received via the IEEE1394 interface 153 and stored in the EEPROM 150.

  In step S95, the CPU 149 controls the IEEE1394 interface 153 to transmit its own device ID and function information to the connected device in response to the function information request command from the connected device received in step S94. Then, the process proceeds to step S96.

  Here, in the slave unit 2, the function ID and the function information are stored in the EEPROM 150, the vendor_dependent_information of the configuration ROM shown in FIG. 15, etc., as in the case of the master unit 1 described in FIG. Can do.

  In step S96, the CPU 149 refers to the function information stored in the EEPROM 150 to determine whether the connected device is a parent device. If it is determined in step S96 that the connected device is the parent device, that is, if the connection device is successfully authenticated as the parent device, the process proceeds to step S97, and the CPU 149 sets the operation mode to the parent device. Along with a certain connected device, a multi-view display capable mode capable of providing a virtual multi-view display function is set, and the process returns.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S96 that the connected device is not the parent device, that is, if the authentication that the connected device is the parent device fails, the process proceeds to step S98, and the CPU 149 changes the operation mode to the connected device. The default AV / C command set can be exchanged between the two, but the control command for processing by the multi-view display function cannot be exchanged. .

  That is, in this case, since the connected device is not the parent device, even if such a connected device is connected to the child device 2, the multi-viewpoint display function is not provided. Therefore, the multi-view display function is not provided only by connecting the slave unit 2 to another slave unit. However, in this case, since the connected device is a legitimate IEEE 1394 device, exchange of a predetermined AV / C command set between the handset 2 and the connected device is permitted. Therefore, in this case, the slave unit 2 and the connected devices (including other slave units) can be controlled from the other side by a predetermined AV / C command set.

  Next, after the authentication process described in FIG. 29 and FIG. 31 has succeeded in the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2, respectively, and the master unit 1 and the slave unit 2 set the operation mode to the multi-viewpoint display possible mode, When the user requests multi-view display by operating the remote controller 15 (or the remote controller 35), the parent device 1 and the child device 2 perform virtual multi-view display processing described later.

  Here, an instruction to perform the virtual multi-view display process can be performed from a menu screen, for example.

  That is, as described above, when the user operates the menu button switch 54 (or the menu button switch 84 of the remote controller 35 (FIG. 8)) of the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7), the CRT 11 (or the slave unit 2) of the parent device 1 is operated. A menu screen is displayed on the CRT 31). For example, an icon representing a virtual multi-view display process (hereinafter referred to as a virtual multi-view display icon as appropriate) is displayed on the menu screen. When the user clicks on the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon by operating the remote controller 15, the virtual multi-viewpoint display process is performed in each of the parent device 1 and the child device 2.

  Therefore, FIG. 32 illustrates a first functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. Here, when the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked, the CPU 129 of the parent device 1 controls the signal processing unit 127 to cause the DSP 127A to execute a predetermined program stored in the EEPROM 127B. The functional configuration of FIG. 32 is realized by the DSP 127A executing the program stored in the EEPROM 127B as described above. The same applies to other functional configurations of the signal processing unit 127 described later.

  The frame memories 191, 192 and 193 temporarily store the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY as image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10) in frame units (or field units). To do. That is, the MPEG decoder 125 MPEG-decodes the TS packet of the image data of the program of the predetermined channel output from the demultiplexer 124, and as a result of the decoding, an image composed of the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY is obtained. Data is output. The frame memories 191, 192, and 193 store the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY output from the MPEG video decoder 125 as described above.

  Here, in the embodiment of FIG. 32, each of the frame memories 191 to 193 has a storage capacity capable of storing image data for at least two frames (or fields). That is, each of the frame memories 191 to 193 has two banks capable of storing one frame of image data, and the image data is alternately stored in the two banks.

  Therefore, if the latest frame stored in the frame memory 191 is the current frame, the frame memory 191 always has the image data of the current frame and the previous frame (hereinafter referred to as the previous frame as appropriate). Is memorized. The same applies to the frame memories 192 and 193.

  The frame memories 194, 195, 196 are stored in the frame memories 191, 192, 193, and the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY, B of the image data of one frame (or field) transferred from the memory control unit 197 -Y is stored respectively.

  The memory control unit 197 is controlled by the system controller 201 and stores the current frame image data (luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY) stored in the frame memories 191 to 193 in the frame memories 194 to 196. Each is transferred and stored in an overwritten form.

  The difference detection unit 198 obtains the difference between the luminance signal Y between the image data of the current frame and the previous frame stored in the frame memory 191 as a feature of the image data of the current frame, and supplies it to the system controller 201. That is, the difference detection unit 198 obtains the sum of absolute differences between the luminance signal Y of each pixel in the current frame and the luminance signal Y of the corresponding pixel in the previous frame as a feature of the image data of the current frame, for example. Supply to the controller 201.

  The counter unit 199 counts (counts) a predetermined value according to the control of the system controller 201 and supplies the count value to the system controller 201. The counter unit 199 resets the count value according to the control of the system controller 201.

  Under the control of the system controller 201, the output control unit 200 reads the luminance signal Y and color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 194 to 196 and supplies them to the CPU 129.

  The system controller 201 controls the memory control unit 197, the counter unit 199, and the output control unit 200.

  That is, the system controller 201 compares the difference absolute value sum supplied from the difference detection unit 198 as a feature of the image data of the current frame with a predetermined threshold value, and controls the counter unit 199 based on the comparison result. To do. Further, the system controller 201 controls the memory control unit 197 and the output control unit 200 based on the count value from the counter unit 199.

  Here, the system controller 201 controls the counter unit 199 based on the sum of absolute differences of the luminance signal Y. However, for example, in the difference detection unit 198, the color signals RY and B -Y difference absolute value sum is obtained, and the system controller 201 can control the counter unit 199 in consideration of the sum of absolute differences of the color signals RY and BY. It is.

  Here, the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY as image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10) are supplied to the frame memories 191 to 193, respectively, and the signal processor 127 The matrix circuit 128 is also supplied to the subsequent stage. In the matrix circuit 128, the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY supplied in this way are converted into RGB image data. The

  Also, FIG. 32 does not show the audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 (FIG. 10) in the base unit 1, but the audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 is, for example, the subsequent amplifier 137 as it is. To be supplied.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 33, the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 32 will be described.

  First, in step S101, the frame memories 191 to 193 are supplied with a luminance signal Y and color signals RY and BY as image data of one frame from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10). , The luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY are stored, and the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S102, the difference detection unit 198 uses the luminance signal Y of the image data stored in the frame memory 191 in the previous step S101, that is, the luminance signal Y of the image data of the current frame, and the frame memory 191 in the previous step S101. The difference absolute value sum (hereinafter referred to as the difference absolute value sum for the current frame as appropriate) with the luminance signal Y of the image data stored in the image data, that is, the luminance signal Y of the image data of the previous frame is referred to as image data of the current frame. (Feature) and supply to the system controller 201, and the process proceeds to step S103.

  In step S103, the system controller 201 determines whether or not the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is almost equal to 0, that is, whether or not it is less than (or less than) a small positive value threshold.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is not 0 or a value close to 0, steps S104 to S108 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S109.

  If it is determined in step S103 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is 0 or a value close to 0, that is, the image of the current frame changes almost (or not at all) from the image of the previous frame. Therefore, if the current frame image can be regarded as a still image, the process proceeds to step S104, and the system controller 201 controls the counter unit 199 to increment the count value by 1, and step S105. Proceed to

In step S105, the system controller 201 refers to the count value of the counter unit 199, and determines whether the count value is greater than (or greater than) a predetermined threshold Th _c (for example, 5).

If it is determined in step S105 that the count value of the counter unit 199 is not greater than the threshold Th _c , steps S106 to S108 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S109.

If it is determined in step S105 that the count value of the counter unit 199 is greater than the threshold value Th _c , that is, if the predetermined number of frames of image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 are non-moving, step In step S106, the system controller 201 controls the memory control unit 197 to obtain image data (luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY) of the current frame stored in the frame memories 191 to 193, The data is transferred to the frame memories 194 to 196 and stored in the form of overwriting, and the process proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, the system controller 201 resets the count value of the counter unit 199 to 0, and proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the system controller 201 controls the output control unit 200 to read the luminance signal Y and color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 194 to 196. To the CPU 129. Further, in step S108, the system controller 201, a display request command for instructing to display the image data in a predetermined subsidiary unit 2 _ij, and supplies the CPU 129, the process proceeds to step S109.

Here, when the CPU 129 receives the display request command from the system controller 201, the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133 to control one frame of image data (the luminance signal Y and the color signal RY) supplied from the output control unit 200. , BY) is transmitted to the child device 2 _ij together with a display request command for instructing display of the image data. When receiving the display request command and the image data from the parent device 1, the child device 2 _ij performing the virtual multi-viewpoint display process displays the image data as will be described later.

Therefore, for example, if the above-mentioned threshold value Th _c is 5, if the image data of 6 consecutive frames are almost the same, the image data of the 6th frame is transferred from the master unit 1 to the slave unit 2. _It is transferred to _ij and displayed.

  In step S <b> 109, the system controller 201 determines whether an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-view display process is received from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S109 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S101, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S109 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to display a menu screen on the CRT 11, and then the menu screen When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

Next, FIG. 34 illustrates a functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 147 (FIG. 11) in the child device 2 _ij that performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. Here, as described above, when the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked, the CPU 129 of the base unit 1 performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the slave unit by controlling the IEEE1394 interface 133 (FIG. 10). Is transmitted to each slave unit 2 _ij . In the slave unit 2 _ij , when the CPU 149 (FIG. 11) receives the start command via the IEEE1394 interface 153, the CPU 149 causes the DSP 147A of the signal processing unit 147 to execute a predetermined program stored in the EEPROM 147B. The functional configuration of FIG. 34 is realized by the DSP 147A executing the program stored in the EEPROM 147B as described above. The same applies to other functional configurations of the signal processing unit 147 described later.

  The frame memories 211, 212, and 213 temporarily store the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of the image data of one frame (or field) supplied from the CPU 149, respectively.

That is, according to the virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the master unit described with reference to FIG. 33, when the CPU 129 receives the display request command from the system controller 201, it is supplied from the output control unit 200 by controlling the IEEE1394 interface 133. One frame of image data (its luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY) is transmitted to the slave unit 2 _ij together with the display request command. In the slave unit 2 _ij , this display request command and one frame are transmitted. Is received by the CPU 149 via the IEEE1394 interface 153 (FIG. 11). The CPU 149 supplies a display request command to a system controller 219 described later, and supplies a luminance signal Y and color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data to the frame memories 211 to 213, respectively. However, the frame memories 211 to 213 temporarily store the luminance signal Y and color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data supplied from the CPU 149 in this way.

  The frame memories 214, 215, and 216 are stored in the frame memories 211, 212, and 213, and the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and B of the image data of one frame (or field) transferred from the memory control unit 217. -Y is stored respectively.

  The memory control unit 217 is controlled by the system controller 219 and stores one frame of image data (its luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY) stored in the frame memories 211 to 213 as frame memories 214 to 216. Are transferred to and stored in the form of overwriting.

Under the control of the system controller 219, the selector 218 controls the luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 214 to 216, or the MPEG video of the slave unit _2ij . The luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of the image data output from the decoder 145 (FIG. 11) are selected and supplied to the matrix circuit 148 (FIG. 11) at the subsequent stage.

Therefore, in the CRT 31 of the slave unit 2 _ij , when the selector 218 selects the image data output from the MPEG video decoder 145 (FIG. 11), the channel selected by the tuner 141 (FIG. 11) is selected. When the image data of the program is displayed and the selector 218 selects the image data stored in the frame memories 214 to 216, the image data, that is, sent from the master unit 1 as described above. Displayed image data.

  The system controller 219 controls the memory control unit 217 and the selector 218 under the control of the CPU 149.

34, the audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 146 (FIG. 11) in the slave unit 2 _ij is not shown in the same manner as in FIG. 32, but the audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 146 is not shown. For example, it is supplied to the amplifier 157 at the subsequent stage as it is.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 35, the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the slave unit by the signal processing unit 147 of FIG. 34 will be described.

First, in step S121, the system controller 219 controls the selector 218 to thereby control the luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 214 to 216, respectively. To start the display. In other words, the selector 218 repeatedly reads out the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 214 to 216, respectively, and the matrix circuit 148 in the subsequent stage (FIG. 11). ). Thus, the image data transferred from the parent device 1 is displayed on the CRT 32 of the child device 2 _ij as described in FIG.

  The selector 218 selects the image data output from the MPEG video decoder 145 (FIG. 11) and outputs it to the matrix circuit 148 in the subsequent stage when the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing is not performed in the slave unit 2. Therefore, in this case, the image data of the program of the channel selected by the tuner 141 is displayed on the CRT 31 of the slave unit 2.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S122, in which the system controller 219 determines whether one frame of image data is supplied together with the display request command from the CPU 149 (FIG. 11).

  If it is determined in step S122 that the display request command and image data have not been supplied, steps S123 and S124 are skipped, the process returns to step S125, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

If it is determined in step S122 that the display request command and the image data are supplied, that is, the parent device 1 to the child device 2 _ij by the virtual multi-view display processing of the parent device described in FIG. When the display request command and the image data are transmitted, the process proceeds to step S123, where the frame memories 211 to 213 store the luminance signal Y, the color signals RY, BY of the image data, and the process proceeds to step S124. move on.

  In step S124, the system controller 219 controls the memory control unit 217 to wait for the selector 218 to finish reading one frame of image data from each of the frame memories 214 to 216, and then immediately before step S123. In step S125, the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of the image data stored in the frame memories 211 to 213 are transferred to the frame memories 214 to 216, overwritten, and the process proceeds to step S125. .

  As a result, the selector 218 reads out the image data newly stored in the frame memories 214 to 216 from the display timing of the next frame. Then, the image data is supplied to the CRT 31 via the subsequent matrix circuit 148 and displayed.

  In step S125, the system controller 219 determines whether an end command is supplied from the CPU 149 (FIG. 11).

That is, as described with reference to FIG. 33, the CPU 129 (FIG. 10) of the parent device 1 supplies an end command to the system controller 201 when instructed to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process. By controlling the IEEE1394 interface 133 (FIG. 10), the end command is also transmitted to the slave unit _2ij . In the slave unit 2 _ij , the end command from the base unit 1 is received by the CPU 149 via the IEEE1394 interface 153, and when receiving the end command, the CPU 149 transfers it to the system controller 219. In step S125, in this way, it is determined whether an end command is supplied from the CPU 149 to the system controller 219.

  If it is determined in step S125 that the end command is not supplied from the CPU 149, the process returns to step S122, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S125 that an end command has been supplied from the CPU 149, the process proceeds to step S126, and the system controller 219 controls the selector 218 to change the selection state before the change in step S121. The child multi-viewpoint display process is terminated.

According to the virtual multi-view display processing described with reference to FIGS. 32 to 35, as shown in FIG. 36A, when image data of a certain program is displayed on the master unit 1, there is a frame with (almost) no motion. If continuous, as shown in FIG. 36B, image data of the frame without the movement, as one of the slave unit in the scalable TV system, for example, are transferred to the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _11, displayed on the CRT31 Is done.

Then again, the image data displayed in the main unit 1, when no motion frames are continuous, as shown in FIG. 36C, the image data of the frame without the movement, the main unit 1 slave unit 2 ₁₁ The image data is transferred and displayed on the CRT 31 in place of the image data displayed so far.

Here, in FIG. 36A, image data of a professional baseball broadcast television broadcast program is displayed on the base unit 1. Further, in FIG. 36B, the main unit 1, and continues the display of the image data of the professional baseball relay television broadcast program, the handset 2 _11, as image data for no motion frame, the display image data of the score boats Has been. Further, in FIG. 36C, the main unit 1, and continues the display of the image data of the professional baseball relay television broadcast program, the handset 2 _11, as image data for no motion frame, the state of the benches is captured Image data is displayed.

That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 36, the base unit 1 displays the image data of the professional baseball broadcast television broadcast program in the same manner as a normal television receiver (FIGS. 36A to 36C). Then, in the television broadcast program of the professional baseball broadcast, the camera is switched and the scene of the scoreboard is raised, and the scene continues for several frames. Therefore, in the master unit 1, the scoreboard image data is stored in the slave unit 2 _11. They are transferred to, the handset 2 _11, in a state in which the image data is displayed (FIG. 36B). Furthermore, in a television broadcast program broadcasted by professional baseball, the camera is switched to become a scene in which the state of the bench is photographed, and the scene continues for several frames. It is transferred to the machine 2 _11, the handset 2 _11, in a state in which the image data is displayed (FIG. 36C).

  As described above, according to the virtual multi-view display processing described with reference to FIGS. 32 to 35, when a frame without motion continues in the program displayed on the parent device 1, the image data of the frame is transferred to the child device 2. Displayed. Therefore, the user can view the image data displayed on the parent device 1 and a scene different from the image data, that is, the image data taken from a different viewpoint at the same time. it can.

  Here, in general, in a professional baseball broadcast, a scene of a scoreboard up may be shown at the beginning of a round. In this case, according to the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, even if the user misses the scene of the scoreboard up at the beginning of the time displayed on the parent device 1, the scene is displayed on the child device 2. Therefore, the user can recognize the score immediately.

In the embodiment of FIG. 36 is always to the base unit 1 slave unit 2 _11, but so as to display the image data is transferred, thereby to transfer and display the image data from the main unit 1 The slave unit 2 _ij can be changed.

That is, for example, the image data without a frame first motion As shown in FIG. 37A, is displayed to transfer to the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _11, the image data of the frame without following movements, Figure 37B as shown in, display is transferred to the master unit 1 slave unit 2 _12, in the same manner, it is possible so as to sequentially change the handset _ij for displaying the video data are transmitted. In this case, as shown in FIG. 37C, after the image data is transferred and displayed on all the slave units 2 _ij , the image data of the next frame without motion is transferred, for example, first. can be made to be transferred to the handset 2 ₁₁ of displaying, it is displayed instead of the image data that has been displayed so far.

  In this case, the user can view a larger number of scenes separately from the image data displayed on the parent device 1 and the image data at the same time.

In the embodiment of FIG. 37, the image data is transferred from the parent device 1 to be displayed on all the child devices 2 _ij constituting the scalable TV system. However, the image data is transferred from the parent device 1. The handset 2 _ij to be displayed can be limited to several handset 2 _ij constituting the scalable TV system. Which child device 2 _ij is restricted can be set on a menu screen, for example.

  Next, FIG. 38 illustrates a second functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 32 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate. That is, the signal processing unit 127 in FIG. 38 is basically configured in the same manner as in FIG. 32 except that the counter unit 199 is not provided.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 39, the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 38 will be described.

  In step S131 or S132, the same processing as in step S101 or 102 of FIG. 33 is performed.

  In step S132, after the difference detection unit 198 detects the difference absolute value sum for the current frame as a feature of the image data of the current frame and supplies it to the system controller 201, the process proceeds to step S133. Determines whether the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is greater than (or greater than) a predetermined threshold Th1.

  If it is determined in step S133 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is not greater than the threshold value Th1, steps S134 and S135 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S136.

  If it is determined in step S133 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is greater than the threshold value Th1, that is, the image of the current frame has changed significantly from the image of the previous frame. If there is a scene change in step S134, the process proceeds to step S134, and the system controller 201 controls the memory control unit 197 to control the current frame stored in the frame memories 191 to 193 as in step S106 in FIG. The luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of the image data are transferred to the frame memories 194 to 196, where they are overwritten, and the process proceeds to step S135.

In step S135, the system controller 201 controls the output control unit 200 to read out the luminance signal Y and color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 194 to 196. To the CPU 129. Further, in step S135, the system controller 201, a display request command for instructing to display the image data in a predetermined subsidiary unit 2 _ij, and it supplies the CPU 129, the process proceeds to the step S136.

Here, when the CPU 129 receives the display request command from the system controller 201, as described above, the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133, whereby one frame of image data (the luminance signal Y, The color signals RY and BY) are transmitted to the slave unit _2ij together with the display request command. In this case, the signal processing unit 147 of the slave unit 2 _ij is configured as shown in FIG. 34 and performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display process described with reference to FIG. 35. Therefore, in the slave unit 2 _ij , the master unit 1 The image data transferred together with the display request command is displayed as described with reference to FIGS.

In the embodiment of FIG. 39, since the first frame after the scene change is transferred from the parent device 1 to the child device 2 _ij in the embodiment shown in FIG. 39, the child device 2 _ij is displayed on the parent device 1. In other words, the digest of the program is displayed.

  In step S <b> 136, the system controller 201 determines whether an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-viewpoint display process is received from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S136 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S131, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S131 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to cause the CRT 11 to display a menu screen. When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

  Next, FIG. 40 illustrates a third functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 32 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate. That is, the signal processing unit 127 in FIG. 40 is basically configured in the same manner as in FIG. 32 except that the frame memories 192 to 196, the memory control unit 197, and the output control unit 200 are not provided. .

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 41, a virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 40 will be described.

  In steps S141 to S145, processing similar to that in steps S101 to S105 of FIG. 33 is performed. However, in step S141, only the luminance signal Y of the image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10) is stored in the frame memory 191.

If it is determined in step S145 that the count value of the counter unit 199 is not greater than the threshold value Th _c , steps S146 and S147 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S148.

If it is determined in step S145 that the count value of the counter unit 199 is larger than the threshold value Th _c , that is, if the predetermined number of frames of image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 are non-moving, step In step S146, the system controller 201 selects the channel (current channel) selected by the tuner 121 of the master unit 1 in the slave unit _2ij , and the frame of the image data of the program broadcast on the channel. A freeze command for instructing to freeze and display is supplied to the CPU 129, and the process proceeds to step S147.

Here, when receiving the freeze command from the system controller 201, the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133 to transmit the freeze command to the slave unit _2ij . As will be described later, when the slave unit 2 _ij performing the virtual multi-viewpoint display process receives the freeze command from the master unit 1, it receives the channel designated by the freeze command and the image data of the program of the channel. Is stored and displayed.

Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, when the image data displayed on the base unit 1 is the one that does not change (almost) continuously for several frames, the image data that does not change is displayed. , it was supposed to be displayed are transferred to the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _ij, in the embodiment of FIGS. 40 and 41, the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _ij, image data is transferred First, a freeze command including a channel on which the program of the image data is broadcast is transmitted. Then, in the slave unit 2 _ij , as will be described later, the channel included in the freeze command is selected by the tuner 141, and the image data of the program broadcast on the channel is stored and displayed.

  In step S147, the system controller 201 resets the count value of the counter unit 199 to 0, and proceeds to step S148.

  In step S <b> 148, the system controller 201 determines whether an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-view display process is received from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S148 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S141, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S148 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to cause the CRT 11 to display a menu screen. When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

Next, FIG. 42 shows a functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 147 (FIG. 11) of the slave unit 2 _ij when the signal processing unit 127 of the base unit 1 is configured as shown in FIG. Yes. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 34 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate. That is, the signal processing unit 147 in FIG. 42 is configured basically in the same manner as in FIG.

  However, in the embodiment of FIG. 42, the frame memories 211 to 213 are supplied with image data output from the MPEG video decoder 145 (FIG. 11), not image data output from the CPU 149 (FIG. 11). It has become.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 43, the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the slave unit by the signal processing unit 147 of FIG. 42 will be described.

First, in step S151, the system controller 219 controls the selector 218 to select the luminance signal Y, color signals RY, and BY of the image data stored in the frame memories 214 to 216, respectively. , Start the display. In other words, the selector 218 repeatedly reads out the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 214 to 216, respectively, and the matrix circuit 148 in the subsequent stage (FIG. 11). ). As a result, the image data stored in the frame memories 214 to 216 is displayed on the CRT 32 of the child device 2 _ij .

In the embodiment of FIG. 43, it is assumed that, for example, black level image data is stored in the frame memories 214 to 216 before the virtual multi-viewpoint display process is started. In this case, immediately after the processing of step S151 is performed, the CRT32 handset 2 _ij, image data of the black level is displayed.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S152, where the system controller 219 determines whether or not the freeze command has been received. If it is determined that the freeze command has not been received, the process skips steps S153 and S154 and proceeds to step S155.

  If it is determined in step S152 that a freeze command has been received, that is, the freeze command transmitted by the base unit 1 in step S146 of FIG. 41 is received by the CPU 149 via the IEEE1394 interface 153 (FIG. 11). If it is supplied to the system controller 219, the process proceeds to step S153, and the system controller 219 requests the CPU 149 to receive the channel included in the freeze command by the tuner 141. In accordance with a request from the system controller 219, the CPU 149 controls the tuner 141 to receive the channel included in the freeze command.

  As a result, the tuner 141 receives the channel included in the freeze command, passes through the QPSK demodulation circuit 142, the error correction circuit 143, and the demultiplexer 144, and further passes through the MPEG video decoder 145 and the MPEG audio decoder 146, respectively. The signal is supplied to the signal processing unit 147.

  Then, in the frame memories 211 to 213 of the signal processing unit 147, storage of the image data of the channel included in the freeze command supplied as described above is started, and the process proceeds to step S154.

  The frame memories 211 to 213 then store the frames of the image data supplied thereto in the form of sequentially overwriting.

  In step S154, the system controller 219 controls the memory control unit 217 to wait for the latest frame image data to be stored in the frame memories 211 to 213. The signals RY and BY are respectively transferred to the frame memories 214 to 216 and stored in the form of overwriting, and the process proceeds to step S155.

Accordingly, the selector 218 reads out the image data newly stored in the frame memories 211 to 213 in step S154. Therefore, the CRT 31 of the slave unit 2 _ij newly reads the frame memory 214 to 216 in the frame memories 214 to 216. The stored image data, i.e., the image data of the same channel as the channel received by the master unit 1 immediately after the frame data of (almost) no motion is displayed continuously by the master unit 1 is displayed. Will be.

  In step S155, the system controller 219 determines whether an end command is supplied from the CPU 149 (FIG. 11).

That is, as described above, CPU 129 of the main unit 1 (FIG. 10) is the end command, simultaneously with the supply to the system controller 201 is adapted to transmit to the slave unit 2 _ij, handset 2 _ij Then, the end command from the parent device 1 is received by the CPU 149 via the IEEE1394 interface 153. When the CPU 149 receives the end command, the CPU 149 transfers the end command to the system controller 219. In step S155, in this way, it is determined whether or not an end command has been supplied from the CPU 149 to the system controller 219.

  If it is determined in step S155 that the end command is not supplied from the CPU 149, the process returns to step S152, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S155 that an end command has been supplied from the CPU 149, the process advances to step S156, and the system controller 219 controls the tuner 141 to start the virtual multi-viewpoint display process for the channel selection state. The process returns to the original state immediately before being performed, and the process proceeds to step S157.

  In step S157, the system controller 219 controls the selector 218 to return the selection state to the original state before the change in step S151, and ends the virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the slave unit.

  Similar to the virtual multi-view display processing described with reference to FIGS. 32 to 35, the virtual multi-view display processing described with reference to FIGS. When the frames having (nearly) of the image are consecutive, the image data of the frame having no motion is displayed on the slave unit 2 as described with reference to FIGS.

  Next, FIG. 44 illustrates a fourth functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 38 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate. That is, the signal processing unit 127 in FIG. 44 is basically configured in the same manner as in FIG. 38 except that the frame memories 192 to 196, the memory control unit 197, and the output control unit 200 are not provided. .

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, when a scene change occurs in the image data displayed on the master unit 1, the image data of the frame immediately after the scene change is transferred from the master unit 1 to the slave unit 2. was supposed to be displayed are transferred to _ij, in the embodiment of FIG. 44, the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _ij, the image data is not transferred, as in FIGS. 40 and 41 In addition, a freeze command including a channel received by the base unit 1 is transmitted. Then, in the slave unit 2 _ij , the channel included in the freeze command from the master unit 1 is selected by the tuner 141 and the program broadcast on the channel is transmitted as in the case described with reference to FIGS. Image data is immediately stored and displayed.

  That is, FIG. 45 is a flowchart for explaining the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG.

  In steps S161 to S163, the same processes as in steps S131 to S133 of FIG. 39 are performed.

  If it is determined in step S163 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is not greater than the threshold value Th1, step S164 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S165.

  If it is determined in step S163 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is greater than the threshold Th1, that is, the image of the current frame has changed significantly from the image of the previous frame. If there is a scene change in step S164, the process advances to step S164, and the system controller 201 supplies a freeze command to the CPU 129 in the same manner as in step S146 in FIG. 41, and advances to step S165.

Here, when receiving the freeze command from the system controller 201, the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133 to transmit the freeze command to the slave unit _2ij .

In this case, the signal processing unit 147 of the child device 2 _ij is configured as shown in FIG. 42, performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing described in FIG. 43, and therefore receives the freeze command from the parent device 1. In the slave unit 2 _ij , reception of the channel received by the master unit 1 is immediately started, and the image data of the program of the channel is immediately stored and displayed. That is, in this case as well, as in the case described in the embodiment of FIG. 38 and FIG. 39, the slave unit 2 _ij displays the so-called digest of the program displayed on the master unit 1.

  In step S165, the system controller 201 determines whether or not an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-viewpoint display process is received from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S165 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S161, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S165 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to cause the CRT 11 to display a menu screen. When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

Next, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 40 to 45, the freeze command is transmitted from the master unit 1 to the slave unit 2 _ij by IEEE1394 communication. As shown in FIG. 46, it is also possible to perform infrared communication via the remote controller 15 (or 35).

That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 46, the CPU 129 of the parent device 1 instructs the IR interface 135 to transfer the freeze command to the child device 2 _ij . The IR interface 135 emits infrared rays corresponding to a transfer command instructing to transfer a freeze command to the slave unit 2 _ij in response to a command from the CPU 129. This infrared ray is received by the remote controller 15, and the remote controller 15 _emits an infrared ray corresponding to the freeze command to the slave unit 2 _ij in response to the transfer command corresponding to the received infrared ray. This infrared ray is received by the IR interface 155 of the child device 2 _{ij, and} the IR interface 155 supplies a freeze command corresponding to the infrared ray to the CPU 149.

  Here, the IR interface 135 of the base unit 1 and the remote controller 15 transmit the frame data in the format described in FIG. 23 by infrared rays. Now, the frame data transmitted by the IR interface 135 is F1, and the remote controller 15 transmits the frame data. If the frame data to be represented is represented by F2, the device data set in the IR interface 135 and the remote controller 15 is arranged in the frame data F1, and thus the frame data F1 transmitted by the IR interface 135 is 15 is received.

In this case, the frame data F1 transmitted from the IR interface 135 to the remote controller 15 is for requesting the transfer of the freeze command to the child device _2ij . Accordingly, the frame data F1 includes a transfer command for instructing transfer to the child device 2 _ij , a freeze command as a command to be transferred, and a device code of the transfer destination child device 2 _ij. Need to be.

Therefore, the command code of the frame data F1 includes the command code of the transfer command as a so-called operation code. Furthermore, the command code of the freeze command and the device code of the transfer destination that transfers the freeze command by the transfer command (here, The device code of the IR interface 155 of the slave unit 2 _ij ) is included as a so-called operand.

In this case, the parent device 1 that transmits the frame data F1 needs to recognize the device code of the child device 2 _ij that is a transfer destination to which the freeze command is transferred by the transfer command, but the child device 2 _ij For example, immediately after the above-described authentication processing (FIG. 31), which is performed after connection to the base unit 1 by an IEEE1394 cable, or when the device code is changed, the device code is transferred to the base unit 1 by IEEE1394 communication. As a result, the master unit 1 recognizes the device codes of all the slave units 2 _ij constituting the scalable TV system.

In the remote controller 15 that has received the frame data F1 as described above, in step S4 of the remote control process described with reference to FIG. 26, processing corresponding to the command code arranged in the frame data F1 is performed, so that the arrangement is performed in the frame data F1. The frame data F2 in which the freeze command code and the transfer destination device code are arranged is generated and transmitted to the slave unit _2ij .

  That is, in this case, in the remote controller 15 of FIG. 22, the command transfer process according to the flowchart of FIG. 47 corresponds to the transfer command arranged in the frame data F1, and the process corresponding to the command code in step S4 of FIG. As done.

  In the command transfer process, first, in step S171, the control unit 162 that has received the frame data F1 from the reception processing unit 167 controls the frame generation unit 163, thereby transferring the transfer destination in the command code of the frame data F1. Is placed in the device code of the frame data F2, and the process proceeds to step S172.

  In step S172, the control unit 162 controls the frame generation unit 163 to place the freeze command code in the command code of the frame data F1 in the command code of the frame data F2, and the process proceeds to step S173.

  In step S173, as described above, the frame generation unit 163 supplies the frame data F2 in which the device code of the transfer destination and the command code of the freeze command are arranged to the transmission processing unit 164, whereby the frame data F2 Is emitted by infrared rays, and the process ends.

In this case, the device code of the transfer destination, that is, the device code of the child device 2 _ij is arranged in the frame data F2, and therefore the frame data F2 is received by the IR interface 155 in the child device 2 _ij. A command corresponding to the command code, that is, a freeze command is supplied to the CPU 149.

Note that the command transferred from the parent device 1 to the child device 2 _ij by infrared communication is not limited to the freeze command, and other commands can also be transferred.

  Next, FIG. 48 illustrates a fifth functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 32 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate. That is, the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 48 is not provided with the difference detection unit 198 and the counter unit 199, except that a ring buffer 221, an audio comparison unit 222, and an audio pattern storage unit 223 are newly provided. Basically, the configuration is the same as in FIG.

  The ring buffer 221 is supplied with audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 (FIG. 10), and the ring buffer 221 sequentially stores the audio data.

  Here, the audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 is supplied not only to the ring buffer 221 but also to the subsequent amplifier 137 as it is.

  The voice comparison unit 222 uses the voice data stored in the ring buffer 221 as an input pattern, and performs matching (comparison) between the input pattern and the voice data as the standard pattern stored in the voice pattern storage unit 223. The matching result is supplied to the system controller 201.

  The voice pattern storage unit 223 stores voice data as a standard pattern.

  Here, the audio pattern storage unit 223 is supplied with the audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 (FIG. 10) and stored in the ring buffer 221. Under the control of the controller 201, the audio data stored in the ring buffer 221 can be stored as a new standard pattern. That is, the standard voice pattern in the voice pattern storage unit 223 can be updated.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 49, the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 48 will be described.

  The frame memories 191 to 193 store the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of the image data supplied from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10) in order to overwrite them.

  The ring buffer 221 also stores the audio data supplied from the MPEG audio decoder 126 (FIG. 10) in the form of overwriting sequentially.

  In the virtual multi-view display process, first, in step S181, the system controller 201 determines whether or not there is a voice pattern registration request from the CPU 129.

  That is, as described above, the voice pattern storage unit 223 can store the voice data stored in the ring buffer 221 as a new standard pattern, that is, register a new standard pattern. The registration request can be made, for example, by clicking an icon for a voice pattern registration request on a menu screen displayed by operating the menu button switch 84 of the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7). It is like that.

  In step S181, it is determined whether or not the voice pattern registration request icon has been clicked.

  If it is determined in step S181 that there is no voice pattern registration request, step S182 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S183.

  If it is determined in step S181 that there has been a voice pattern registration request, that is, the user clicks a voice pattern registration request icon, thereby requesting registration of a new standard pattern. Is supplied from the CPU 129 to the system controller 201, the process proceeds to step S182, and the system controller 201 determines, for example, from the latest audio data sample stored in the ring buffer 221 to a sample that goes back in the past for a predetermined period. Audio data is stored in the audio pattern storage unit 223 as a new standard pattern.

  Therefore, when the audio data desired to be a standard pattern is output while viewing the audio of the program output from the speaker units 12L and 12R, the user operates the remote controller 15 to operate the audio. Data can be registered as a standard pattern.

  Here, the voice pattern storage unit 223 may store one standard pattern, that is, a new standard pattern may be stored overwriting the standard pattern already stored in the voice pattern storage unit 223. It is also possible to store a plurality of standard patterns, that is, to store a new standard pattern in addition to the standard pattern already stored in the voice pattern storage unit 223.

  In step S182, after the new standard pattern is stored in the voice pattern storage unit 223, the process proceeds to step S183, and the voice comparison unit 222 inputs, for example, all the voice data stored in the ring buffer 221. The pattern is read out and the process proceeds to step S184.

  In step S184, the voice comparison unit 222 reads the standard pattern stored in the voice pattern storage unit 223 and performs matching (comparison) with the input pattern. That is, the voice comparison unit 222 obtains a distance between the input pattern and the standard pattern according to a predetermined scale (hereinafter, referred to as “distance between voice patterns as appropriate”) while performing time axis expansion / contraction, and obtains the minimum distance between voice patterns. Is obtained as a feature of the input pattern (feature of the input pattern with respect to the standard pattern) and supplied to the system controller 201.

  In step S185, the system controller 201 determines whether the distance between sound patterns as a feature of the input pattern is equal to or less than (less than) a predetermined threshold value.

  If it is determined in step S185 that the distance between the sound patterns is not equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, steps S186 and S187 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S188.

  If it is determined in step S185 that the distance between the voice patterns is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold, that is, if it can be considered that the input pattern matches the standard pattern (step S186, S187). Then, the same processing as in steps S106 and S108 in FIG. 33 is performed, and the process proceeds to step S188.

That is, as a result, in the master unit 1, the frame of the image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 when the same or similar audio data as the standard pattern is output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 is transmitted to the slave unit _2ij. The

In this case, the signal processing unit 147 of the child device 2 _ij is configured as shown in FIG. 34 and performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of FIG. 35. Therefore, in the child device 2 _ij , as described above, A frame of image data transmitted from the parent device 1 is displayed.

  In step S188, the system controller 201 determines whether an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-viewpoint display process is received from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S188 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S181, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S188 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to cause the CRT 11 to display a menu screen. When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

According to the virtual multi-view display process of FIG. 49, the frame of the image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 when the audio data that is the same as or similar to the standard pattern is output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 is transmitted to the slave unit 2 _ij . Is displayed. Therefore, as a standard pattern, for example, by storing audio data output when an extraordinary news telop is broadcast, the slave unit 2 _ij has an image broadcast when the audio data is output. Data, that is, image data including a temporary news telop is displayed.

  When a plurality of standard patterns are stored in the voice pattern storage unit 233, matching of each of the plurality of standard patterns and the input pattern is performed in step S184 of FIG. For example, when it can be considered that at least one of the plurality of standard patterns matches the input pattern, the processes of steps S186 and S187 are performed.

In the above case, the distance between the voice patterns is obtained as a feature of the voice data as the input pattern. In addition, for example, the power (or amplitude level) of the voice data as the input pattern is obtained as the feature. It is also possible to ask for. In this case, the power of the audio data as the input pattern is compared with a predetermined threshold, and the image output from the MPEG video decoder 125 immediately after the power of the audio data becomes larger or smaller (more or less) than the predetermined threshold. It is possible to display the data frame on the slave unit 2 _ij .

Further, the image data to be displayed in the child machine 2 _ij, other to be transferred to the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _ij, as described above, by sending a freeze command to the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _ij, handset It is possible to make 2 _ij receive.

  Next, FIG. 50 illustrates a sixth functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs virtual multi-view display processing. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 32 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate. That is, the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 50 basically includes the difference detection unit 198 and the counter unit 199, except that the image comparison unit 232 and the image pattern storage unit 233 are newly provided. The configuration is the same as in FIG.

  The image comparison unit 232 uses the image data stored in the frame memory 191 as an input pattern, performs matching (comparison) between the input pattern and the image data as the standard pattern stored in the image pattern storage unit 233, and The matching result is supplied to the system controller 201.

  The image pattern storage unit 233 stores image data as a standard pattern.

  Here, the image pattern storage unit 233 is supplied with the image data (the luminance signal Y) output from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10) and stored in the frame memory 191. The storage unit 233 can store the image data stored in the frame memory 191 as a new standard pattern under the control of the system controller 201. That is, the standard pattern of the image stored in the image pattern storage unit 233 can be updated.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 51, a virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 50 will be described.

  The frame memories 191 to 193 store the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of the image data supplied from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10) in order to overwrite them.

  In the virtual multi-view display process, first, in step S191, the system controller 201 determines whether an image pattern registration request has been received from the CPU 129.

  That is, as described above, the image pattern storage unit 233 can store the image data stored in the frame memory 191 as a new standard pattern, that is, register a new standard pattern. The registration request can be made, for example, by clicking an image pattern registration request icon on the menu screen displayed by operating the menu button switch 84 of the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7). It is like that.

  In step S191, it is determined whether or not the image pattern registration request icon has been clicked.

  If it is determined in step S191 that there is no image pattern registration request, step S192 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S193.

  If it is determined in step S191 that there has been an image pattern registration request, that is, the user clicks on an image pattern registration request icon, thereby requesting registration of a new standard pattern. Is supplied from the CPU 129 to the system controller 201, the process proceeds to step S192, and the system controller 201 stores the latest frame image data stored in the frame memory 191 in the image pattern storage unit 233 as a new standard pattern. Remember me.

  Therefore, when an image desired to be a standard pattern is displayed while viewing a program image displayed on the CRT 11, the user operates the remote controller 15 to change the image data to the standard pattern. Can be registered as

  Here, as in the case of the audio pattern storage unit 223 in FIG. 8, the image pattern storage unit 233 can store one standard pattern or a plurality of standard patterns. is there.

  In step S192, after the new standard pattern is stored in the image pattern storage unit 233, the process proceeds to step S193, and the image comparison unit 232 uses the image data of the latest frame stored in the frame memory 191 as the input pattern. And proceeds to step S194.

  In step S194, the image comparison unit 232 reads the standard pattern stored in the image pattern storage unit 233 and performs matching with the input pattern. That is, the image comparison unit 232 uses a distance between the input pattern and the standard pattern based on a predetermined scale (hereinafter referred to as an inter-image pattern distance as appropriate) as a feature of the input pattern (a feature of the input pattern with respect to the standard pattern). Obtained and supplied to the system controller 201.

  Here, as the distance between the image patterns, for example, the sum of absolute differences between the pixel value of each pixel of the image data as the input pattern and the pixel value of the corresponding pixel of the image data as the standard pattern is adopted. Is possible.

  Here, both the input pattern and the standard pattern are image data of one frame, but a partial range of the image data of one frame can be adopted as the input pattern and the standard pattern. .

  Furthermore, it is possible to employ one frame of image data as the input pattern, and employ a partial range of one frame of image data as the standard pattern. In this case, the distance between the image patterns is obtained while changing the position corresponding to a part of the image data as the standard pattern with respect to one frame of the image data as the input pattern, and the minimum value is obtained as the final value. It can be adopted as a typical distance between image patterns.

  After obtaining the distance between image patterns in step S194, the process proceeds to step S195, and the system controller 201 determines whether or not the distance between image patterns as a feature of the input pattern is equal to or smaller than (less than) a predetermined threshold value.

  If it is determined in step S195 that the distance between the image patterns is not equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, steps S196 and S197 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S198.

  If it is determined in step S195 that the distance between the image patterns is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold, that is, if it can be considered that the input pattern matches the standard pattern, the process proceeds to steps S196 and S197. 33, the same processing as in steps S106 and S108 in FIG. 33 is performed, and the process proceeds to step S198.

That is, by this, when image data identical or similar to the standard pattern is output from the MPEG video decoder 125, the frame of the image data is transmitted to the child device _2ij .

In this case, the signal processing unit 147 of the child device 2 _ij is configured as shown in FIG. 34 and performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of FIG. 35. Therefore, in the child device 2 _ij , as described above, A frame of image data transmitted from the parent device 1 is displayed.

  In step S198, the system controller 201 determines whether or not the CPU 129 has received an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-viewpoint display process.

  If it is determined in step S198 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S191, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S198 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to display the menu screen on the CRT 11, and then the menu screen When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

According to the virtual multi-view display process of FIG. 51, when the MPEG video decoder 125 outputs the same or similar image data as the standard pattern, the frame of the image data is displayed on the slave unit _2ij .

Therefore, as a standard pattern, for example, by storing image data when a scoreboard up is displayed in a professional baseball broadcast, image data as a standard pattern that is subsequently broadcasted by the slave unit 2 _ij The image data of the same or similar pattern, that is, the image data with the scoreboard up is displayed.

That is, as a standard pattern, when image data when a scoreboard up is displayed in a professional baseball game is stored, the base unit 1 receives a professional baseball program as shown in FIG. 52A. when is is thereafter, the image data of a round of scoreboard up is broadcast, for example, as shown in FIG. 52B, the handset 2 _11, image data up the scoreboard is displayed . Furthermore, subsequently, again, the image data of the next round of scoreboard up is broadcast, for example, as shown in FIG. 52C, the handset 2 _12, image data up the scoreboard is displayed The

In a professional baseball broadcast, when an image of a scoreboard up is broadcast when each time starts, etc., the slave unit 2 _ij constituting the scalable TV system is broadcasted at the start of each time as described above. The scoreboard up images will be displayed sequentially.

Therefore, in this case, the user can recognize the transition of the score at each time by looking at the display of the child device 2 _ij .

Also, for example, in an election bulletin program, image data on which a winner's face is raised and a telop representing the number of winners of each party is superimposed may be displayed. In the case where the image pattern storage unit 233 stores the standard pattern as the standard pattern, when the base unit 1 receives the early broadcast program, the slave unit 2 _ij constituting the scalable TV system, as shown in FIG. In addition, the image data of the winner's face, which is broadcast in the election bulletin, is displayed sequentially.

Therefore, in this case, the user can recognize the winner of the election by looking at the display of the child device 2 _ij .

Furthermore, for example, in a broadcasting station, weather forecasts are frequently broadcast during a day's broadcast, but image data of a Japanese map (or a map of a certain region such as the Kanto region) used in a weather forecast program. Is stored in the image pattern storage unit 233 as a standard pattern, and when the weather forecast program is received in the master unit 1, the slave unit 2 _ij constituting the scalable TV system is shown in FIG. In this way, the weather maps broadcast in the weather forecast are displayed sequentially.

Therefore, in this case, the user can easily recognize the weather forecasts broadcast on the same channel at different times and the weather forecasts broadcast on different channels by looking at the display of the slave unit _2ij .

Note that the image data to be displayed in the child machine 2 _ij, other to be transferred to the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _ij, as described above, by sending a freeze command to the main unit 1 slave unit 2 _ij, handset It is possible to make 2 _ij receive.

  Next, FIG. 55 illustrates a seventh functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 32, FIG. 48, or FIG. 50 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be appropriately omitted below. That is, the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 55 is not provided with the difference detection unit 198 and the counter unit 199 of FIG. 32, but the ring buffer 221, the voice comparison unit 222, the voice pattern storage unit 223 of FIG. The configuration is basically the same as that in FIG. 32 except that 50 image comparison units 232 and an image pattern storage unit 233 are newly provided.

  Next, a virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 55 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The frame memories 191 to 193 store the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of the image data supplied from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10) in order to overwrite them.

  The ring buffer 221 also stores the audio data supplied from the MPEG audio decoder 126 (FIG. 10) in the form of overwriting sequentially.

  In the virtual multi-view display process, first, in step S201, the system controller 201 determines whether or not there is a voice pattern registration request from the CPU 129 as in step S181 in FIG. If so, the process skips step S202 and proceeds to step S203.

  If it is determined in step S201 that an audio pattern registration request has been made, the process proceeds to step S202, and the system controller 201 performs a predetermined period of time stored in the ring buffer 221 in the same manner as in step S182 of FIG. The voice data is stored in the voice pattern storage unit 223 as a new standard pattern, and the process proceeds to step S203.

  In step S203, the system controller 201 determines whether there is an image pattern registration request from the CPU 129 as in step S191 in FIG. 51. If it is determined that there is no image pattern registration request, the system controller 201 skips step S204 and proceeds to step S205. move on.

  If it is determined in step S203 that there is an image pattern registration request, the process proceeds to step S204, and the system controller 201 stores the latest frame stored in the frame memory 191 as in step S192 of FIG. The image data is stored in the image pattern storage unit 233 as a new standard pattern, and the process proceeds to step S205.

  In step S205, the voice comparison unit 222 reads the voice data stored in the ring buffer 221 as a voice input pattern, as in step S183 of FIG. Further, in step S205, the image comparison unit 232 reads the image data stored in the frame memory 191 as an image input pattern as in step S193 of FIG. 51, and proceeds to step S206.

  In step S206, the voice comparison unit 222 performs matching between the voice input pattern and the voice standard pattern stored in the voice pattern storage unit 223, as in step S184 of FIG. The inter-pattern distance is obtained as a feature of the voice data as the voice input pattern and supplied to the system controller 201. Furthermore, in step S206, the image comparison unit 232 performs matching between the input pattern of the image and the standard pattern of the image stored in the image pattern storage unit 233, as in step S194 of FIG. The distance between the image patterns is obtained as a feature of the image data as the input pattern of the image, and is supplied to the system controller 201.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S207, and the system controller 201 determines that the distance between voice patterns as a feature of the voice input pattern is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold (less than the case in step S185 in FIG. 49 or step S195 in FIG. 51). ), Or whether the distance between the image patterns as a feature of the input pattern of the image is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (less than).

  If it is determined in step S207 that the distance between sound patterns is not less than or equal to the predetermined threshold and the distance between image patterns is also not less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, steps S208 and S209 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S207, if it is determined that the distance between the sound patterns is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, or if the distance between the image patterns is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, that is, the sound input pattern and the sound pattern If it can be considered that the standard pattern matches, or if the input pattern of the image and the standard pattern of the image match, the process proceeds to steps S208 and S209 in order, and the step of FIG. Processing similar to that in S106 and S108 is performed, and the process proceeds to step S210.

That is, by this, in the base unit 1, when the audio data that is the same as or similar to the audio standard pattern is output from the MPEG audio decoder 126, the frame of the image data output by the MPEG video decoder 125 or the image standard pattern When the same or similar image data is output from the MPEG video decoder 125, the frame of the image data is transmitted to the child device _2ij .

  In step S <b> 210, the system controller 201 determines whether an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-view display process is received from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S210 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S201, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S210 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to cause the CRT 11 to display a menu screen. When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

When the signal processing unit 127 of the parent device 1 is configured as shown in FIG. 55, the signal processing unit 147 of the child device 2 _ij is configured as shown in FIG. 34, and the virtual multi-viewpoint of FIG. Display processing is performed, and accordingly, the child device 2 _ij displays the frame of the image data transmitted from the parent device 1 as described above. That is, in the slave unit 2 _ij , when audio data that is the same as or similar to the audio standard pattern is output from the MPEG audio decoder 126, it is the same as the image data frame output by the MPEG video decoder 125 or the image standard pattern. When similar image data is output from the MPEG video decoder 125, a frame of the image data is displayed.

  In the above-described case, when the distance between the sound patterns is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value or the distance between the image patterns is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the processes in steps S208 and S209 are performed. The processing of S208 and S209 is performed in other cases, for example, when the distance between sound patterns is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold and the distance between image patterns is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold, that is, the sound input pattern and the sound standard pattern are It is possible to perform the processing only when the images can be regarded as matching and the input pattern of the image can be regarded as matching with the standard pattern of the image.

In this case, in the slave unit 2 _ij , when the audio data that is the same as or similar to the audio standard pattern is output from the MPEG audio decoder 126, the image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 is the same as or similar to the image standard pattern. The frame of the image data is displayed.

  Next, FIG. 57 illustrates an eighth functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs virtual multi-viewpoint display processing. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 38 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate. That is, the signal processing unit 127 in FIG. 57 is basically configured in the same manner as the signal processing unit 127 in FIG.

  Next, a virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 57 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S221, the system controller 201 sets a default still picture slave unit and a scene change slave unit from among the slave units 2 constituting the scalable TV system.

  Here, the slave unit for still image means a slave unit that displays image data that can be regarded as a still image with little (almost) movement among the image data displayed on the master unit 1. The machine means a child machine that displays image data immediately after the scene change among the image data displayed on the parent machine 1.

In step S221, for example, the system controller 201 sets the handset 2 ₂₁ on the left side of the base unit 1 as a default still picture handset, and sets the handset 2 ₂₃ on the right side of the base unit 1 as the default. Set to the scene change slave unit.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S222, and the system controller 201 determines whether or not a still image slave unit has been designated by the CPU 129.

That is, as the slave unit for still images, a slave unit 2 _ij other than the slave unit 2 ₂₁ set as a default still image slave unit can be designated. This can be done by clicking on the icon for specifying the still picture slave unit on the menu screen displayed by operating the menu button switch 84 of FIG. 15 (FIG. 7).

  In step S222, it is determined whether or not the designation icon for the still picture slave unit has been clicked.

  If it is determined in step S222 that the still image slave unit is not specified, step S223 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S224.

If it is determined in step S222 that the still picture slave unit has been designated, that is, the user operates the remote controller 15 to click on the designation icon for the still picture slave unit, and further, When the slave device 2 _ij to be used as the image slave device is designated, and the CPU 129 outputs a command to the system controller 201 to designate the slave device 2 _ij as the still image slave device, the process proceeds to step S223. In step S224, the system controller 201 sets the designated slave unit _2ij as a still image slave unit (recognizes as a still image slave unit), and proceeds to step S224.

  In step S224, the system controller 201 determines whether or not the scene change slave has been designated by the CPU 129.

That is, as the slave unit for scene change, a slave unit 2 _ij other than the slave unit 2 ₂₃ set as a default scene change slave unit can be designated. This can be done by clicking the designation icon of the slave unit for scene change on the menu screen displayed by operating the menu button switch 84 of FIG. 15 (FIG. 7).

  In step S224, it is determined whether or not the designation icon for the scene change slave has been clicked.

  If it is determined in step S224 that no scene change slave unit is designated, step S225 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S226.

If it is determined in step S224 that a scene change slave unit has been designated, that is, the user operates the remote controller 15 to click on the scene change slave unit designation icon, When the slave unit 2 _ij to be changed is specified, and the CPU 129 outputs a command to the system controller 201 to designate the slave unit 2 _ij as the scene change slave unit, step S225 is performed. In step S226, the system controller 201 sets the designated slave unit 2 _ij as a scene change slave unit, and proceeds to step S226.

  In step S226, the frame memories 191 to 193 wait for the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY as image data of one frame to be supplied from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10). The luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY are stored, respectively, and the process proceeds to step S227.

  In step S227, the difference detection unit 198 stores the luminance signal Y of the image data (luminance signal Y of the image data of the current frame) stored in the frame memory 191 in the previous step S101 and the frame memory 191 in the previous step S101. The difference absolute value sum with the luminance signal Y of the stored image data (the luminance signal Y of the image data of the previous frame), that is, the difference absolute value sum for the current frame is detected as a feature of the image data of the current frame ( Obtained) and supplied to the controller 201.

  Then, the process proceeds to step S228, where the controller 201 determines whether or not the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is almost equal to 0, that is, whether or not it is less than (or less than) a small positive value threshold Th2.

  If it is determined in step S228 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is less than the threshold Th2, that is, the image of the current frame has changed little (or no) from the image of the previous frame, and therefore If the current frame image can be regarded as a still image, the process advances to step S229, and the system controller 201 controls the memory control unit 197 to store the current frame image data (of the current frame stored in the frame memories 191 to 193). The luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY are transferred to the frame memories 194 to 196, overwritten and stored, and the process proceeds to step S230.

  In step S230, the system controller 201 reads the luminance signal Y and color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 194 to 196 by controlling the output control unit 200. To the CPU 129. Further, in step S108, the system controller 201 supplies the CPU 129 with a display request command for instructing to display the image data on the still image slave unit, and the process proceeds to step S234.

Here, when the CPU 129 receives a display request command for instructing display on the still image slave device from the system controller 201, the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133 to thereby supply one frame image supplied from the output control unit 200. The data (luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY) are transmitted to the still image slave unit together with a display request command for instructing display of the image data. The signal processing unit 147 of the child device 2 _ij that is a child device for still images is configured as shown in FIG. 34 and performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of FIG. Then, among the image data displayed on the base unit 1, the image data of the current frame that hardly changes from the previous frame is transferred and displayed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S228 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is not less than the threshold value Th2, the process proceeds to step S231, and the system controller 201 determines that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is more than the threshold value Th2. It is determined whether or not the threshold value is greater than (or greater than) a predetermined threshold Th1.

  If it is determined in step S231 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is not greater than the threshold value Th1, steps S232 and S233 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S234.

  If it is determined in step S231 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is greater than the threshold value Th1, that is, the current frame image has changed significantly from the previous frame image. If there is a scene change in step S232, the process proceeds to step S232, and the system controller 201 controls the memory control unit 197 in the same manner as in step S229, so that the image data of the current frame stored in the frame memories 191 to 193 is obtained. The luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY are transferred to the frame memories 194 to 196, overwritten and stored, and the process proceeds to step S233.

  In step S233, the system controller 201 controls the output control unit 200 to read the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY of one frame of image data stored in the frame memories 194 to 196. To the CPU 129. Further, in step S233, the system controller 201 supplies a display request command for instructing to display the image data on the scene change slave unit to the CPU 129, and the process proceeds to step S234.

Here, when the CPU 129 receives a display request command for instructing display on the scene change slave device from the system controller 201, the CPU 129 controls the IEEE1394 interface 133 to thereby provide one frame image supplied from the output control unit 200. Data (luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY) are transmitted to the scene change slave unit together with a display request command. The signal processing unit 147 of the child device 2 _ij that is a child device for scene change is configured as shown in FIG. 34 and performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of FIG. Then, the image data immediately after the scene change among the image data displayed on the base unit 1 is transferred and displayed.

  In step S234, the system controller 201 determines whether or not an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-viewpoint display process is received from the CPU 129.

  If it is determined in step S234 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S221, and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S234 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to cause the CRT 11 to display a menu screen. When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process, and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 201, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

  As described above, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 57 and 58, the still image slave unit displays the motionless image data of the program received by the master unit 1, and the scene change slave unit. Then, the image data after the scene change of the program received by the master unit 1 is displayed.

  In this example, only one slave unit is used as a still image slave unit. However, a plurality of slave units are used as still image slave units. As described in 37, it is possible to sequentially display the image data from the master unit 1. The same applies to the slave unit for scene change.

  Next, FIG. 59 illustrates a ninth functional configuration example of the signal processing unit 127 (FIG. 10) in the parent device 1 that performs virtual multi-viewpoint display processing.

  The frame memory 241 is supplied with image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10), and the frame memory 241 temporarily stores the image data. That is, the frame memory 241 has a storage capacity capable of storing image data for at least two frames, for example, and overwrites the image data of the latest frame over the image data of the older frame. In this manner, the image data is sequentially stored.

  Here, in this embodiment, as described above, the MPEG video decoder 125 outputs the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY as the image data. Then, the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY are collected as image data.

  The image data output from the MPEG video decoder 125 is supplied not only to the frame memory 241 but also to the matrix circuit 128 (FIG. 10) in the subsequent stage.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 59, the audio data output from the MPEG audio decoder 126 passes through the signal processing unit 127 and is supplied to the subsequent amplifier 137 as it is. Is not shown.

The N frame memories 242 _{1 to} 242 _N temporarily store image data stored in the frame memory 241 transferred from the memory control unit 243.

The memory control unit 243 is controlled by the system controller 247, a frame memory 241 image data of the current frame stored in the (luminance signal Y, color signals R-Y, B-Y) a, N number of frame memories 242 ₁ To 242 _N and stored in an overwritten form.

  The still image detection unit 244 detects a still image (what can be considered) from the image data stored in the frame memory 241, reads the image data from the frame memory 241, and supplies the image data to the comparison unit 245.

  That is, the still image detection unit 244 obtains, for example, the sum of absolute differences between the image data of the latest frame (current frame) stored in the frame memory 241 and the image data of the previous frame, and the sum of the absolute differences Is 0 or a value close to 0, the image data of the current frame is read from the frame memory 241 and supplied to the comparison unit 245, assuming that the image data of the current frame is a still image (one with little motion).

  In addition, the still image detection unit 244 detects the image data of the last frame as a still image when, for example, the current frame having a sum of absolute differences of 0 or a value close to 0 continues for several frames. It is also possible to do so.

Comparing unit 245 (it matches two image data) and still image data supplied from the still image detection unit 244 compares the image data stored in each frame memory 242 ₁ to 242 _N, The comparison result is supplied to the system controller 247.

That is, the comparison unit 245 obtains a still image data supplied from the still image detection unit 244, the image data stored in each frame memory 242 ₁ to 242 _N, for example, a sum of absolute differences, the system Supply to the controller 247.

The output control unit 246 reads out one frame of image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n and supplies it to the CPU 129 under the control of the system controller 247.

  The system controller 247 controls the memory control unit 243 and the output control unit 246 based on the control from the CPU 129 and the output of the comparison unit 245.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 60, a virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the parent device by the signal processing unit 127 of FIG. 59 will be described.

  First, in step S241, the system controller 247 sets the total number of slave units 2 constituting the scalable TV system as the maximum number N of still picture slave units. Therefore, in this embodiment, 8 is set as the maximum number N of still picture slave units in step S241.

Then, the process proceeds to step S242, the system controller 247, the frame memory 242 ₁ to 242 _N storage flag image data each representing whether the stored flg (1) to flg (N), the image data is not stored For example, 0 is set, indicating no, and the process proceeds to step S243.

  Here, the storage flags flg (1) to flg (N) are stored in a memory (not shown) built in the system controller 247.

  In step S243, the system controller 247 determines whether the CPU 129 has designated a still image slave unit.

  That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 60, by default, all the slave units 2 constituting the scalable TV system are set as the still image slave units. The user can specify the handset 2 to be used. This designation is performed, for example, by clicking the designation icon for the still picture slave unit on the menu screen displayed by operating the menu button switch 84 of the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) as described above. In step S243, it is determined whether or not the designation icon for the still picture slave unit has been clicked.

  If it is determined in step S243 that a still picture slave unit has been designated, that is, the user clicks on the designation icon of the still picture slave unit by operating the remote controller 15, and further, for still picture use. When one or more slave units 2 are designated as slave units, and accordingly, the CPU 129 outputs a command to the system controller 247 to instruct that the one or more slave units 2 be designated as still picture slave units. In step S244, the system controller 247 sets the designated one or more slave units 2 as still picture slave units (recognizes as still picture slave units), and proceeds to step S245.

  In step S245, the system controller 247 resets the number of slave units 2 designated by the CPU 129 as a still image slave unit to the maximum number N of still image slave units, and proceeds to step S248.

On the other hand, in step S243, if it is determined that there is no specification of still-picture subsidiary unit, the process proceeds to step S246, the system controller 247, the CPU 129, clear request for clearing the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n is Determine if there was.

That is, as will be described later, the frame memory 242 _n stores the image data of the still image received in the past by the parent device 1 and then resembles the image data of the still image stored in the frame memory 242 _n. If still image data is newly received by the base unit 1, by the newly received still image data, the stored contents of the frame memory 242 _n is made to be updated. Accordingly, when image data of a certain still image is stored in the frame memory 242 _n , only the still image data similar to the stored still image data is stored in the frame memory 242 _n thereafter. Disappear.

Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. 60, the user can clear the stored contents of the frame memory 242 _n by operating the remote controller 15. In step S246, the user operates the remote controller 15. The CPU 129 operates to clear the frame memory 242 _n , thereby determining whether or not a clear request for clearing the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n has been supplied from the CPU 129 to the system controller 247. The

Here, the request for clearing the frame memory 242 _n can be made on a menu screen, for example.

In step S246, if it is determined that no frame memory 242 _n in the clear request, skips step S247, the process proceeds to step S248.

Further, in step S246, when it is determined that a request for clearing the frame memory 242 _n, i.e., the system controller 247, if the command to a command from the CPU 129, the clear of the frame memory 242 _n is received, step S247 The system controller 247 sets the storage flag flg (n) to 0 and proceeds to step S248.

  In step S248, the frame memory 241 waits for a new frame of image data to be supplied from the MPEG video decoder 125 (FIG. 10), stores the image data, and proceeds to step S249.

  In step S249, when the still image detection unit 244 determines whether the image data of the current frame stored in the frame memory 241 in the immediately preceding step S244 is a still image, and determines that the image data is not a still image, the process proceeds from step S250 to step S250. Skipping S259, the process proceeds to step S260.

If it is determined in step S249 that the image data of the current frame is a still image, the still image detection unit 244 reads the image data of the current frame that is the still image from the frame memory 241 and compares the image data. To proceed to step S250. In step S250, the system controller 247 of the frame memory 242 ₁ to 242 _N, a variable n representing the frame memory 242 _n to be processed is initialized to 0, the process proceeds to step S251. In step S251, the system controller 247 increments the variable n by 1, and proceeds to step S252. Further, the system controller 247 determines whether or not the storage flag flg (n) is 0.

In step S252, if the storage flag flg (n) is determined to be 0, i.e., if the frame memory 242 _n, not yet the image data is stored, the process proceeds to step S253, the system controller 247, a frame memory indicating that the still image data 242 _n is stored, for example 1, was set in the storage flag flg (n), the process proceeds to step S254.

In step S254, the system controller 247 controls the memory control unit 243 to display the current frame image data (the luminance signal Y, the color signals RY, BY) stored in the frame memory 241 as the frame. The data is transferred to the memory 242 _n and stored in an overwritten form, and the process proceeds to step S258.

In step S258, the system controller 247 controls the output control unit 246 to read out one frame of image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n and supply it to the CPU 129. Further, in step S258, the system controller 247 supplies the CPU 129 with a display request command for instructing to display the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n on the still picture slave unit, and the process proceeds to step S259.

When the CPU 129 receives a display request command for requesting display of image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n from the system controller 247, the CPU 129 is supplied from the output control unit 246 by controlling the IEEE1394 interface 133. Of the slave unit 2 that is a slave unit for still images, together with a display request command for instructing display of the image data (luminance signal Y, color signals RY, BY) of one frame of image data To the child device 2 _ij associated with the frame memory 242 _n .

That is, the number N of frame memories 242 ₁ to 242 _N are handset 2 of the number which is the still-picture subsidiary unit coincides with the (maximum number) N, the system controller 247, the processing of step S241 or S244 Immediately after, one of the slave units 2 that are still picture slave units is assigned to each frame memory 242 _n , so that one frame memory 242 is a still picture slave unit. One of the slave units 2 is associated.

When the CPU 129 receives a display request command for requesting display of the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n from the system controller 247, the CPU 129 sends the display request command to the slave unit associated with the frame memory 242 _n. 2 to send.

The signal processing unit 147 of the child device 2 that is a child device for still images is configured as shown in FIG. 34 and performs the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of FIG. 35. Therefore, together with the display request command, the frame processing unit 147 In the handset 2 that has received the image data stored in the memory 242 _n , the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n is displayed.

On the other hand, in step S252, if the storage flag flg (n) is not 0 determined, i.e., the frame memory 242 _n, if the image data is stored, the process proceeds to step S255, comparing unit 245, a still image By comparing the image data of the current frame of the still image supplied from the detection unit 244 with the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n , the difference absolute value sum (difference absolute value sum for the current frame) is calculated. As a feature of the image data of the current frame, it is supplied to the system controller 247.

  Upon receiving the difference absolute value sum for the current frame from the comparison unit 245, the system controller 247 determines in step S256 whether the difference absolute value sum is almost equal to 0, that is, below a threshold value of a small positive value ( Or less).

  If it is determined in step S256 that the sum of absolute differences for the current frame is not 0 or a value close to 0, steps S257 and S258 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S259.

Further, in step S256, the difference absolute value sum for the current frame, when it is determined that a value close to 0 or 0, i.e., the image data of the current frame, the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n If the image data of the current frame is the same as the image data received by the main unit 1 and stored in the frame memory 242 _n , the process proceeds to step S257 and the system The controller 247 controls the memory control unit 246 to transfer the image data of the current frame of the still image stored in the frame memory 241 to the frame memory 242 _n and store it in the form of overwriting. The stored contents of the memory 242 _n are updated.

In step S258, as described above, the system controller 247 controls the output control unit 246 to read out one frame of image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n and supply it to the CPU 129. Further, in step S258, the system controller 247, the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n, a display request command for instructing to display the image data stored in the frame memory 242 _n in still-picture subsidiary unit , And the process proceeds to step S259.

Thus, as described above, the image data of the current frame newly stored in the frame memory 242 _n from the main unit 1 is displayed by being transferred to the handset 2 which is associated with the frame memory 242 _n.

  In step S259, the system controller 247 determines whether or not the variable n is equal to the maximum number N of still picture slave units. If it is determined that the variable n is not equal, the process returns to step S251, and the same processing is repeated thereafter. .

If it is determined in step S259 that the variable n is equal to the maximum number N of still picture slave units, that is, the comparison unit 245 determines the current frame image data of the still picture stored in the frame memory 241. When the comparison with all the image data stored in each of the frame memories 242 _{1 to} 242 _N is completed, the process proceeds to step S260, and the system controller 247 issues an end command for instructing the end of the virtual multi-view display process from the CPU 129. Determine whether it has been received.

  If it is determined in step S260 that an end command has not been received, the process returns to step S243, and the same processing is repeated thereafter.

  If it is determined in step S260 that an end command has been received, that is, for example, the user operates the remote controller 15 (FIG. 7) to cause the CRT 11 to display a menu screen. When the virtual multi-viewpoint display icon is clicked again, thereby instructing the CPU 129 to end the virtual multi-viewpoint display process and the CPU 129 supplies an end command to the system controller 247, the virtual multi-viewpoint of the parent device is displayed. The display process ends.

58, for example, as shown in FIG. 61A, for example, as shown in FIG. 61A, after the main base 1 starts viewing a professional baseball broadcast program, for example, a still image with a scoreboard up is displayed. image data, when it is displayed in the main unit 1, the image data of the scoreboard, while being stored in the frame memory 242 _1, the still-picture subsidiary unit which is associated with the frame memory 242 ₁ Transferred and displayed.

That is, now, the frame memory 242 still-picture subsidiary unit associated with the _1, for example, when a slave unit 2 _11, the slave unit 2 _11, as shown in FIG. 61B, the frame memory 242 ₁ The frame of the scoreboard image data stored in is displayed.

Further, after that, for example, when image data of a still image in which the baseball player is up and interviewed is displayed on the main unit 1, the image data of the still image in which the baseball player is up. but while being stored in the frame memory 242 ₂ are displayed by being transferred to the still-picture subsidiary unit which is associated with the frame memory 242 _2.

That is, if the still picture slave unit associated with the frame memory 242 ₂ is, for example, the slave unit 2 ₁₂ , the slave unit 2 ₁₂ includes the frame memory 242 _{2 as} shown in FIG. 61B. The frame of the image data of the baseball player stored in is displayed.

Thereafter, for example, still image data obtained by the scoreboard up again, if it is displayed on the parent device 1, the image data of the scoreboard, the stored contents of the frame memory 242 ₁ is updated Rutotomoni, image data after updating of the frame memory 242 ₁ is displayed is transferred to the child device 2 ₁₁ is a still-picture subsidiary unit associated with the frame memory 242 _1. That is, in this case, the image data of the scoreboard displayed on the handset 2 ₁₁ will be updated to the latest one.

  Therefore, the user can view the latest image data of various still images displayed on the parent device 1.

  Next, FIG. 62 shows another example of the electrical configuration of the parent device 1. In the figure, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below as appropriate.

  That is, the master unit 1 in FIG. 10 is a television receiver that receives a digital broadcast, whereas the master unit 1 in FIG. 62 is a television receiver that receives an analog broadcast.

  The tuner 251 detects and demodulates a predetermined channel of the analog television broadcast signal. The A / D conversion unit 252 A / D converts the output of the tuner 251, supplies the image data of the A / D conversion result to the Y / C separation unit 253, and the audio data as the signal processing unit 127. To supply.

  The Y / C separation unit 253 separates the luminance signal Y and the color signals RY and BY from the output of the tuner 251 and supplies them to the signal processing unit 127.

  Even a television receiver configured as described above that receives an analog broadcast can be used as the master unit 1 constituting the scalable TV system.

  Note that the television receiver as the slave unit 2 can also be configured as a television receiver that receives an analog broadcast, as in the case of the television receiver as the master unit 1 shown in FIG. .

  Next, the series of processes described above can be performed by hardware or software. When a series of processing is performed by software, a program constituting the software is installed in a general-purpose computer or the like.

  FIG. 63 shows an example of the configuration of an embodiment of a computer in which a program for executing the series of processes described above is installed.

  The program can be recorded in advance on a hard disk 305 or a ROM 303 as a recording medium built in the computer.

  Alternatively, the program is stored temporarily on a removable recording medium 311 such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), an MO (Magneto Optical) disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory. It can be stored permanently (recorded). Such a removable recording medium 311 can be provided as so-called package software.

  The program is installed in the computer from the removable recording medium 311 as described above, or transferred from the download site to the computer wirelessly via a digital satellite broadcasting artificial satellite, or a LAN (Local Area Network), The program can be transferred to a computer via a network such as the Internet. The computer can receive the program transferred in this way by the communication unit 308 and install it in the built-in hard disk 305.

  The computer includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 302. An input / output interface 310 is connected to the CPU 302 via the bus 301, and the CPU 302 is operated by an input unit 307 including a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and the like by the user via the input / output interface 310. When a command is input by the equalization, a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 303 is executed accordingly. Alternatively, the CPU 302 also transfers a program stored in the hard disk 305, a program transferred from a satellite or a network, received by the communication unit 308 and installed in the hard disk 305, or a removable recording medium 311 attached to the drive 309. The program read and installed in the hard disk 305 is loaded into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 304 and executed. Thereby, the CPU 302 performs processing according to the above-described flowchart or processing performed by the configuration of the above-described block diagram. Then, the CPU 302 outputs the processing result from the output unit 306 configured with an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a speaker, or the like, for example, via the input / output interface 310, or from the communication unit 308 as necessary. Transmission and further recording on the hard disk 305 are performed.

  Here, in this specification, the processing steps for describing a program for causing a computer to perform various types of processing do not necessarily have to be processed in time series according to the order described in the flowchart, but in parallel or individually. This includes processing to be executed (for example, parallel processing or processing by an object).

  Further, the program may be processed by a single computer, or may be processed in a distributed manner by a plurality of computers. Furthermore, the program may be transferred to a remote computer and executed.

  Note that the television receiver that constitutes the scalable TV system depends on, for example, whether the television receiver is a parent device or a child device, and, if it is a child device, the number of child devices. It is possible to make a difference in the selling price.

  That is, in the scalable TV system, as described above, if the parent device does not exist, the virtual multi-viewpoint display function is not provided. Therefore, the value of the parent device is high, and therefore, the selling price should be set high. Can do.

  In addition, after the purchase of the master unit, the user is expected to purchase additional slave units as needed, but the first few slave units are, for example, less expensive than the master unit. It is possible to set a selling price that is higher than that of a general television receiver. And about the subunit | mobile_unit purchased after that, an even lower selling price can be set.

  Note that a television receiver serving as a parent device constituting a scalable TV system can be obtained by adding a signal processing unit 127 to a general digital television receiver and changing a program executed by the CPU 129, for example. It is possible to configure. Accordingly, a television receiver serving as a parent device constituting a scalable TV system can be manufactured relatively easily using a general digital television receiver, and thus the above-described provision of the scalable TV system provides. Considering such a high function of virtual multi-viewpoint display, it can be said that the cost merit (cost performance) is high. The same applies to a television receiver as a slave unit.

  The present invention can also be applied to a television receiver that is a display device incorporating a tuner and a display device that outputs images and sounds from the outside without incorporating a tuner.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, slave unit 2 has its own tuner stored in frame memories 214 to 216 (FIG. 34) in accordance with image data transmitted from base unit 1 (or by a freeze command from base unit 1). 141 (image data received in FIG. 11) is stored in an overwritten form. However, the slave unit 2 includes, for example, a hard disk or the like, and the image data transmitted from the master unit 1 is stored. It is possible to record it on the hard disk and reproduce it later according to an instruction from the user.

  In this embodiment, one frame of image data is transferred from the master unit 1 to the slave unit 2 and displayed on the slave unit 2. However, from the master unit 1 to the slave unit 2, It is possible to transfer a plurality of frames of image data, and the slave unit 2 can repeatedly display a scene composed of the plurality of frames of image data. Similarly, when the image data received by the tuner 141 (FIG. 11) of the slave unit 2 is displayed on the slave unit 2 by the freeze command from the master unit 1, one scene composed of a plurality of frames of image data is similarly displayed. It is possible to display repeatedly. Here, one scene may be image data of one frame or one field, or may be image data of a plurality of frames such as a frame immediately after a scene change and then a scene change frame.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the virtual multi-view display process is performed for the television broadcast program received by the master unit 1, but the virtual multi-view display process is, for example, an external device. It is also possible to perform the processing on image data and audio data that are input to the base unit 1 and displayed from a VTR or the like.

It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of one Embodiment of the scalable TV system to which this invention is applied. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an external configuration of a base unit 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a six-side view illustrating an example of an external configuration of the parent device 1. It is a perspective view which shows the example of an external appearance structure of the subunit | mobile_unit 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a six-side view illustrating an example of an external configuration of the slave unit 2. It is a perspective view which shows the example of an external appearance structure of the exclusive rack which accommodates the main | base station 1 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 which comprise a scalable TV system. 3 is a plan view showing an external configuration example of a remote controller 15. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an external configuration example of a remote control 35. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing another example of the external configuration of the remote controller 15. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of a parent device 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structural example of the subunit | mobile_unit 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the layer structure of IEEE1394 communication protocol. It is a figure which shows the address space of CSR architecture. It is a figure which shows the offset address of CSR, a name, and a function. It is a figure which shows the general ROM format. It is a figure which shows the detail of a bus infoblock, a root directory, and a unit directory. It is a figure which shows the structure of PCR. It is a figure which shows the structure of oMPR, oPCR, iMPR, and iPCR. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the packet transmitted by the asynchronous transfer mode of AV / C command. It is a figure which shows the specific example of an AV / C command. It is a figure which shows the specific example of an AV / C command and a response. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of a remote controller 15. FIG. It is a figure which shows the format of the frame data which the remote control 15 transmits / receives. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of a remote controller 35. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of an IR interface 135. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing of a remote controller 15; 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an IR interface 135. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing of a master unit 1; 5 is a flowchart for explaining authentication processing by a base unit 1; It is a flowchart explaining the process of the subunit | mobile_unit 2. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the authentication process by the subunit | mobile_unit 2. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a first configuration example of a signal processing unit 127. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multi-view display processing of the first parent device by the signal processing unit 127. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a first configuration example of a signal processing unit 147. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multiview display processing of the 1st subunit | mobile_unit by the signal processing part 147. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the main | base station 1 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 which comprise a scalable TV system. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the main | base station 1 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 which comprise a scalable TV system. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a second configuration example of the signal processing unit 127. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the second parent device by the signal processing unit 127. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a third configuration example of the signal processing unit 127. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of a third parent device by the signal processing unit 127. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a second configuration example of the signal processing unit 147. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multiview display process of the 2nd subunit | mobile_unit by the signal processing part 147. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a fourth configuration example of the signal processing unit 127. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multiview display process of the 4th main | base station by the signal processing part 127. FIG. It is a figure which shows transmission of the command from the main | base station 1 to the subunit | mobile_unit 2 by infrared communication. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the remote controller 15 when a command is transmitted from the parent device 1 to the child device 2. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a fifth configuration example of the signal processing unit 127. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining a virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the fifth master unit by the signal processing unit 127. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a sixth configuration example of the signal processing unit 127. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multi-viewpoint display processing of the sixth parent device by the signal processing unit 127. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the main | base station 1 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 which comprise a scalable TV system. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the main | base station 1 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 which comprise a scalable TV system. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the main | base station 1 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 which comprise a scalable TV system. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a seventh configuration example of the signal processing unit 127. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multi-view display processing of the seventh parent device by the signal processing unit 127. It is a block diagram which shows the 8th structural example of the signal processing part 127. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multi-viewpoint display process of the 8th main | base station by the signal processing part 127. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the 9th structural example of the signal processing part 127. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the virtual multi-view display processing of the ninth parent device by the signal processing unit 127. It is a figure which shows the example of the display in the main | base station 1 and the subunit | mobile_unit 2 which comprise a scalable TV system. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another example of the electrical configuration of the parent device 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of one Embodiment of the computer to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

1 Base unit 2, 2 ₁₁ , 2 ₁₂ , 2 ₁₃ , 2 ₁₄ , 2 ₁₅ , 2 ₂₁ , 2 ₂₂ , 2 ₂₃ , 2 ₂₄ , 2 ₂₅ , 2 ₃₁ , 2 ₃₂ , 2 ₃₃ , 2 ₃₄ , 2 ₃₅ , 2 ₄₁ , 2 ₄₂ , 2 ₄₃ , 2 ₄₄ , 2 ₄₅ , 2 ₅₁ , 2 ₅₂ , 2 ₅₃ , 2 ₅₄ , ₂₅₅ slave unit, 11 CRT, 12L, 12R speaker unit, 15 remote controller, 21 terminal panel, 21 ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂ , 21 ₁₃ , 21 ₂₁ , 21 ₂₃ , 21 ₃₁ , 21 ₃₂ , 21 ₃₃ IEEE1394 terminal, 22 antenna terminal, 23 input terminal, 24 output terminal, 31 CRT, 32L, 32R speaker unit, 35 remote control, 41 Terminal panel, 41 ₁ IEEE1394 terminal, 42 Antenna terminal, 43 Input terminal, 44 Output terminal, 51 Select button switch, 52 Volume button switch, 53 Channel up / down button switch, 54 Menu button switch H, 55 Exit button switch, 56 Display button, 57 Enter button switch, 58 Numeric button (numeric keypad) switch, 59 TV / video switch button switch, 60 TV / DSS switch button switch, 61 Jump button switch, 62 Language button, 63 Guide button switch, 64 Favorite button switch, 65 Cable button switch, 66 TV switch, 67 DSS button switch, 68 to 70 LED, 71 Cable power button switch, 72 TV power button switch, 73 DSS power button switch, 74 Muting button Switch, 75 sleep button switch, 76 light-emitting section, 81 select button switch, 82 volume button switch, 83 channels Up / Down Button Switch, 84 Menu Button Switch, 85 Exit Button Switch, 86 Display Button, 87 Enter Button Switch, 88 Numeric Button (Numeric Keypad) Switch, 89 TV / Video Switch Button Switch, 90 TV / DSS Switch Button Switch, 91 Jump Button switch, 92 Language button, 93 Guide button switch, 94 Favorite button switch, 95 Cable button switch, 96 TV switch, 97 DSS button switch, 98 to 100 LED, 101 Cable power button switch, 102 TV power button switch, 103 DSS Power button switch, 104 muting button switch, 105 sleep button switch, 106 light emitting unit, 110 Button switch, 111 to 114 direction button switch, 121 tuner, 122 QPSK demodulation circuit, 123 error correction circuit, 124 demultiplexer, 125 MPEG video decoder, 126 MPEG audio decoder, 127 signal processing unit, 127A DSP, 127B EEPROM, 127C RAM , 128 matrix circuit, 129 CPU, 130 EEPROM, 131 ROM, 132 RAM, 133 IEEE1394 interface, 134 front panel, 135 IR interface, 136 modem, 137 amplifier, 141 tuner, 142 QPSK demodulation circuit, 143 error correction circuit, 144 data Multiplexer, 145 MPEG video decoder, 146 MPEG audio decoder, 147 signal processing unit 147A DSP, 147B EEPROM, 147C RAM, 148 matrix circuit, 149 CPU, 150 EEPROM, 151 ROM, 152 RAM, 153 IEEE1394 interface, 154 front panel, 155 IR interface, 156 modem, 157 amplifier, 161 control unit, 162 control unit , 163 frame generation unit, 164 transmission processing unit, 165 light emission unit, 166 light reception unit, 167 reception processing unit, 168 device code storage unit, 171 operation unit, 172 control unit, 173 frame generation unit, 174 transmission processing unit, 175 light emission Unit, 176 light receiving unit, 177 reception processing unit, 178 device code storage unit, 182 control unit, 183 frame generation unit, 184 transmission processing unit, 185 light emitting unit, 186 light receiving unit, 187 reception processing Processing unit, 188 device code storage unit, 191 to 196 frame memory, 197 memory control unit, 198 difference detection unit, 199 counter unit, 200 output control unit, 201 system controller, 211 to 216 frame memory, 217 memory control unit, 218 Selector, 219 system controller, 221 ring buffer, 222 audio comparison unit, 223 audio pattern storage unit, 232 image comparison unit, 233 image pattern storage unit, 241, 242 _{1 to} 242 _N frame memory, 243 memory control unit, 244 still image Detection unit, 245 comparison unit, 246 output control unit, 247 system controller, 251 tuner, 252 A / D conversion unit, 253 Y / C separation unit, 301 bus, 302 CPU, 303 ROM, 304 RAM, 305 hardware Disk, 306 output unit, 307 input unit, 308 communication unit, 309 drive, 310 input-output interface, 311 removable recording medium

Claims (4)

In a display system composed of a first display device and a second display device that is electrically connected to a display control device that controls the first display means and is controlled by the display control device.
The first display device includes:
Image data included in input data input from the outside to the display control device is displayed by the first display means under the control of the display control device, and image data displayed on the first display means First receiving means for receiving input data including image data having the same content as
First communication means for receiving a control signal generated when the display control device detects a first characteristic from input data input from the outside;
First storage means for storing image data included in the input data received by the first receiving means in response to a control signal from the display control device received by the first communication means;
A second display means that is visible simultaneously with the first display means and displays the image data stored in the first storage means;
The second display device includes:
Second receiving means for receiving input data including image data having the same content as the image data displayed on the first display means;
Second communication means for receiving a control signal generated when the display control device detects a second feature from input data input from the outside;
Second storage means for storing image data included in the input data received by the second receiving means in response to a control signal from the display control device received by the second communication means;
And a third display means for displaying the image data stored in the second storage means. The first display device further includes authentication means for performing authentication with the display control device,
When the authentication is successful, the first storage means receives the input received by the first receiving means in response to a control signal from the display control signal received by the first communication means. The display system according to claim 1, wherein image data included in the data is stored, and the second display unit displays the image data stored in the first storage unit. The first receiving means receives and demodulates a television broadcast signal and outputs image data and audio data;
The display system according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit stores the image data output from the first reception unit in response to a control signal from the display control signal. The first display device includes:
First control signal receiving means for receiving a control signal from a remote control device for transmitting a control signal to the display control device;
First control means for controlling the operation of the first display device in response to the control signal received by the first control signal receiving means,
The second display device includes:
Second control signal receiving means for receiving a control signal from a remote control device for transmitting a control signal to the display control device;
2. The display system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second control unit configured to control an operation of the second display device in accordance with the control signal received by the second control signal receiving unit. .

Images