JP2008153974A - Switching device, and data relaying method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dynamically connecting and controlling a plurality of source devices and sync devices without a user performing an operation of a switching device. <P>SOLUTION: The switching device has an output port for connecting a plurality of display devices and an input port for connecting a plurality of video device, and is provided with a means for selectively outputting video data from the input port to the output port, a means for transmitting and receiving attribute data of each display device and each video device, and a means for storing the attribute data of each display device, Upon receiving a command from a display device to a video device, the switching device exchanges the attribute data with the video device and switches the connection of the input port and the output port so as to output video data from the video device to the display device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a switch device and a data relay method, and is suitable for use in an AV switch device that interconnects a plurality of video devices and a plurality of display devices.

  A conventional switch device that can connect a plurality of display devices (sink devices) and a plurality of video devices (source devices) includes a switch that can manually select a desired display device and a desired video device. In a conventional switch device, connection switching is performed by a user's selection operation, and video data and information (attribute data, commands) are input / output between a desired display device and a desired video device.

  In addition, a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) switch based on the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) standard can perform one-to-many connection switching. Specifically, the CEC switch according to the HDMI standard has a configuration in which the number of routes (controllable sink devices) is limited to one, and connection of a plurality of source devices can be switched.

  Patent Document 1 describes a method of switching an HDMI connection between a television receiver (TV: Television) and a source device by receiving a remote control code from a remote control of a video device and reading a manufacturer code and a device code included therein. Has been. In this method, since the video equipment other than the connected source equipment is disconnected, the connection form between the sink equipment TV and the source equipment is a one-to-one connection.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for allowing video signals from a digital video output device to be viewed on a plurality of digital display devices, and switching connection of a plurality of display devices to one input signal. It is possible. A user interface for inputting a selection signal for selecting a display device is also provided.

  Patent Document 3 describes a data relay device that relays between a source device that transmits video / audio data and a display device, such as a repeater having a one-to-one connection and a CEC switch having a one-to-many connection. Specifically, there is described a data relay apparatus that temporarily stores and relays EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) for the purpose of propagation of high-quality data.

JP 2004-208290 A JP 2006-19948 A JP 2004-15104 A

  AV equipment has become popular in the world, and an increasing number of households own multiple display devices and multiple video equipment. In the switch device that connects one display device and a plurality of video devices, switching and displaying the video devices has been realized by the prior art.

  However, in a switch device that connects a plurality of display devices and a plurality of video devices, an operation relating to connection switching for inputting / outputting video data or the like between the desired display device and the desired video device is: It was very complicated. That is, the user first selects a desired display device from a plurality of display devices by performing a selection operation of the display device with respect to the switch device, and then performs a selection operation of the video equipment to be connected next. A desired video device is selected from the video devices. After forming a path between the display device and the video device by performing the selection operation of the display device and the video device, the user performs a desired operation on the video device, which is very troublesome. Further, since the switch device needs to be directly operated, if the display device is not in the same room as the switch device, the user needs to move the room, which is very inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and enables a user to dynamically control connection of a plurality of source devices and a plurality of sink devices without operating the switch device. With the goal.

The switch device of the present invention has an output port for connecting a plurality of display devices and an input port for connecting a plurality of video devices, and means for selectively outputting video data from the input port to the output port; Means for transmitting / receiving attribute data of each display device and each video device, and means for storing attribute data of each display device, and upon receiving a command from the display device to the video device, Data exchange is performed, and connection switching between the input port and the output port is performed so that video data from the video equipment is output to the display device.
The switch device according to the present invention includes a plurality of input ports for connecting source devices, a plurality of output ports for connecting sink devices capable of controlling the source devices, and the sink devices connected to the output ports to the input devices. When the access to the source device connected to the input port is requested from the sink device connected to the output port, the connection can be switched to the source device connected to the port. The address conversion is performed based on the connection configuration, and the connection between the input port and the output port is switched so that data communication is possible between the sink device and the source device.
In the data relay method of the present invention, each sink device connected to the output port for connecting the sink device capable of controlling the source device connected to the input port can be switched to the source device connected to the input port. When the access from the sink device connected to the output port to the source device connected to the input port is requested, the connection configuration of each sink device and the source device is Based on the address conversion, the connection between the input port and the output port is switched so that data communication can be performed between the sink device and the source device.
The program of the present invention enables connection switching of each sink device connected to an output port for connecting a sink device capable of controlling the source device connected to the input port to the source device connected to the input port. When the access from the sink device connected to the output port to the source device connected to the input port is requested, based on the connection configuration of each sink device and the source device The address conversion is performed, and the computer is caused to execute a step of switching the connection between the input port and the output port so that data communication can be performed between the sink device and the source device.
The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention records the above program.

  According to the present invention, in an environment where a plurality of source devices and a plurality of sink devices are interconnected, dynamic connection switching between the source device and the sink device can be performed without performing a complicated operation. Therefore, the user can access the plurality of source devices from the plurality of sink devices without being aware of the connection configuration without operating the switch device, and the operability can be greatly improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a switch device (AV switch device) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The AV switch device according to the present embodiment has an output port for connecting a plurality of sink devices and an input port for connecting a plurality of source devices. In the following description, a case where the sink device is a display device, the source device is a video device, and the transmission / reception interface between the sink device and the source device is HDMI as a digital interface will be described as an example. In the following description, the AV switch device and the AV switch are treated as consent.

  FIG. 1 shows an internal configuration of the AV switch device 1, and a video signal is transmitted from the video device (source device) side to the display device (sink device) side. The AV switch apparatus 1 includes an HDMI I / F <Receiver> (hereinafter referred to as HDMI I / F <R>) 11-i and an HDMI I / F <Transmitter> (hereinafter referred to as HDMI I / F <T>). .) 16-j. i and j are subscripts, i = 1 to m (m is an arbitrary natural number), and j = 1 to n (n is an arbitrary natural number). The AV switch device 1 includes a TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) switch 21 and a DDC (Display Data Channel) control unit 22. Further, the AV switch device 1 includes a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) control unit 23 and a main control unit 24.

  The HDMI I / F <R> 11-i is an HDMI signal receiving unit. The i-th HDMI I / F <R> 11-i corresponds to the i-th input port on the video equipment side in the AV switch 1. Each HDMI I / F <R> 11-i is TMDS I / F <Receiver> (hereinafter referred to as TDMS I / F <R>) 12, DDC I / F13, CEC I / F14, and HPD (Hot Plug Detect) I / F15.

  The TDMS I / F <R> 12 is a reception interface unit of TMDS CH0 to 3 which are video signals, and outputs the video signal received from the video equipment to the TMDS switch 21. That is, the TDMS I / F <R> 12 relays data from the video equipment to the TMDS switch 21.

  The DDC I / F 13 connects a DDC line on the video equipment side that transmits a control signal of the display device, and is electrically an I2C signal interface unit. The DDC I / F 13 transmits and receives EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) that is attribute data. The CEC I / F 14 connects the CEC line on the video equipment side, and is an interface unit that transmits and receives control signals for controlling the equipment. The HPD I / F 15 connects the HPD line on the video equipment side, and is an interface unit for signals indicating the power state of the equipment.

  HDMI I / F <T> 16-j is an HDMI signal transmission unit. The jth HDMI I / F <T> 16-j corresponds to the jth output port on the display device side in the AV switch 1. Each HDMI I / F <T> 16-j is TMDS I / F <Transmitter> (hereinafter referred to as TMDS I / F <T>) 17, DDC I / F18, CEC I / F19, and HPD I / F20.

  TMDS I / F <T> 17 is a transmission interface unit of TMDS CH0 to 3 which are video signals, and transmits the video signal from the TMDS switch 21 to the display device. That is, the TDMS I / F <T> 17 relays data from the TMDS switch 21 to the display device.

  The DDC I / F 18 connects a DDC line on the display device side that transmits a control signal of the display device, and is electrically an I2C signal interface unit. The DDC I / F 18 transmits and receives EDID that is attribute data. The CEC I / F 19 connects a CEC line on the display device side, and is an interface unit that transmits and receives control signals for controlling HDMI devices. The HPD I / F 20 connects an HPD line on the display device side, and is a signal interface unit that detects the power state of the device.

  The TMDS switch 21 performs switching of TMDS CH <b> 0 to 3 as video signals according to control by the main control unit 24. The TMDS switch 21 switches data paths in accordance with control by the main control unit 24, and selectively outputs TMDS CH0 to 3 input from the input port to the output port. The DDC control unit 22 exchanges attribute data between the display device and the video equipment. The DDC control unit 22 performs EDID reset control, which will be described later. The CEC control unit 23 performs address conversion between the cluster on the display device side and the cluster on the video equipment side. Note that a cluster is a unitary configuration to which HDMI devices are connected, and a detailed description of the cluster will be described later.

  The main control unit 24 is a main control unit that controls the operation of the entire AV switch 1. The main control unit 24 includes a virtual connection configuration control unit 25 and an exclusive control unit 26. The virtual connection configuration control unit 25 has an address conversion table for instructing an address conversion inquiry from the CEC control unit 23. The exclusive control unit 26 performs exclusive processing for simultaneous access to devices connected to the video device-side cluster of the AV switch 1. In other words, the exclusive control unit 26 performs simultaneous access to eliminate access requests other than one access request when a plurality of access requests are generated for a certain device connected to the cluster on the video device side of the AV switch 1. The exclusion process is executed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a basic connection example of an HDMI device using the AV switch 1 in the present embodiment and a cluster configuration in the connection configuration.

  The AV switch 1 is the AV switch shown in FIG. A TV (A) 2 and an AVR (Audio Video Receiver) 7 are connected to the first port (first output port) on the display device side of the AV switch 1, and the TV is connected to the second port (second output port). (B) 3 is connected. An STB (Set Top Box) 4 is connected to the first port (first input port) on the video equipment side of the AV switch 1. A DVD player A5 is connected to the second port (second input port) on the video equipment side, and a DVD player B6 is connected to the third port (third input port).

  The TV (A) 2 and the TV (B) 3 are television receivers having an HDMI interface. In this embodiment, the TV (A) 2 is assumed to be a large TV installed in a living room, and the TV (B) 3 assumes a small TV installed in the bedroom. The AVR 7 has its HDMI output connected to the TV (A) 2 and its HDMI input connected to the HDMI I / F <T> 16-1 of the AV switch 1.

  The STB 4 connects its HDMI output to the HDMI I / F <R> 11-1 of the AV switch 1. The DVD player A5 has its HDMI output connected to the HDMI I / F <R> 11-2 of the AV switch 1. The DVD player B6 has its HDMI output connected to the HDMI I / F <R> 11-3 of the AV switch 1.

  C1 indicates a cluster in which TV (A) 2 is a device having a root address, and is referred to as a first cluster. The physical addresses of the HDMI devices existing in the first cluster C1 are 0.0.0.0 for TV (A) 2, 1.0.0.0 for AVR7, and 1.1.0.0 for AV switch 1. Assigned.

  C2 indicates a cluster in which TV (B) 3 is a device having a root address, and is referred to as a second cluster. As physical addresses of HDMI devices existing in the second cluster C2, 0.0.0.0 is assigned to the TV (B) 3, and 1.0.0.0 is assigned to the AV switch 1.

  C3 is a cluster having the AV switch 1 as a device having a root address, and is referred to as a third cluster. The physical addresses of the HDMI devices existing in the third cluster C3 are 0.0.0.0 for the AV switch 1, 1.0.0.0 for the STB 4, 2.0.0.0 for the DVD player A5, and the DVD player. 3.0.0.0 is assigned to B6.

  FIG. 3 shows allocation of physical addresses and logical addresses of the devices in the first cluster C1. Similarly, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the allocation of physical addresses and logical addresses of the devices in the second cluster C2 and the third cluster C3, respectively.

  In FIG. 3, a device (device) is shown in a column T10, and a physical address and a logical address of each device are shown in columns T11 and T12, respectively. Line T13 shows information related to TV (A) 2, line T14 shows information related to TV (B) 3, and line T15 shows information related to AV switch 1.

  In FIG. 4, devices (devices) are shown in a column T20, and physical addresses and logical addresses of the devices are shown in columns T21 and T22, respectively. Row T23 shows information related to TV (B) 3, and row T24 shows information related to AV switch 1.

  In FIG. 5, a column T30 indicates a device (device), and columns T31 and T32 indicate a physical address and a logical address of each device, respectively. Line T33 shows information related to the AV switch 1, line T34 shows information related to STB4, line T35 shows information related to the DVD player A5, and line T35 shows information related to the DVD player B6.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a connection configuration of HDMI devices that can be seen from the TV (A) 2 and the TV (B) 3 in the connection example shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
The actual connection configuration of HDMI devices is as shown in FIG. 2, but the AV switch 1 performs address conversion between the first cluster C1 and the third cluster C3 and address conversion between the second cluster C2 and the third cluster C3. Thus, the virtual network shown in FIG. 6 is realized. In the following description, a physical address is abbreviated as PA, and a logical address is abbreviated as LA.

  TV (A) 2 has a PA of 0.0.0.0 and an LA of 0. AVR7 has a PA of 1.0.0.0 and an LA of 5. The CEC switch 1a is a CEC switch that virtually exists inside the AV switch 1 that performs connection switching between the first cluster C1 and the third cluster C3. That is, the CEC switch 1a is a virtual CEC switch configured with the TV (A) 2 as a root address inside the AV switch 1. The address of the CEC switch 1a is 1.1.0.0 for PA and none for LA.

  The STB 4 a is an STB virtually existing inside the AV switch 1, and its entity is the STB 4. The address of the STB 4a is 1.1.1.0 for PA and 3 for LA. The DVD player A5a is a DVD player A that virtually exists in the AV switch 1, and the entity is the DVD player A5. The address of the DVD player A5a is 1.1.2.0 for PA and 4 for LA. The DVD player B6a is a DVD player B that virtually exists in the AV switch 1, and its entity is the DVD player B6. The addresses of the DVD player B6a are 1.1.3.0 for PA and 8 for LA.

  The address of TV (B) 3 is 0.0.0.0 for PA and 0 for LA. The CEC switch 1b is a virtual CEC switch configured with the TV (B) 3 as a root address in the AV switch 1, and has PA of 1.0.0.0 and LA does not exist. The STB 4b is an STB virtually existing inside the AV switch 1, and its entity is the STB 4. The address of the STB 4b is 1.1.0.0 for PA and 3 for LA. The DVD player A5b is a DVD player A that virtually exists inside the AV switch 1, and its entity is the DVD player A5. The addresses of the DVD player A5b are 1.2.0.0 for PA and 4 for LA. The DVD player B6b is a DVD player B that virtually exists inside the switch 1, and its entity is the DVD player B6. The address of the DVD player B6b is 1.3.0.0 for PA and 8 for LA.

  Next, an address conversion table used for address conversion will be described with reference to FIGS. This address translation table is stored in the virtual connection configuration control unit 25 in the main control unit 24 as described above.

FIG. 7 is an address conversion table used for address conversion of the first cluster C1 and the third cluster C3.
In FIG. 7, devices (devices) are shown in a column T40, and rows T48 to T53 include the TV (A) 2 shown in FIG. 6 and information related to each device existing thereunder.

  Columns T41 and T42 are virtual logical addresses and virtual physical addresses assigned in the virtual connection form (connection configuration) with TV (A) 2 shown in FIG. 6 as a root address. Columns T43 and T44 are a real logical address and a real physical address for each cluster shown in FIG. Column T45 is a connection port (input port or output port) of the AV switch 1 shown in FIG. 1 to which a device is connected. Column T46 is an enable bit of a device used in exclusive processing related to simultaneous access, and is valid when “1” and invalid when “0”. Details of the enable bit will be described later. Column T47 is a default port used to determine a destination sink device when the first message is transmitted from the third cluster C3 side.

  As shown in the rows T48 and T49, the TV (A) 2 and the AVR 7 are connected to the first HDMI I / F <T> 16-1 of the AV switch 1, and address conversion is not particularly performed. A row T50 indicates information related to the CEC switch 1a virtually existing in the AV switch 1 illustrated in FIG.

  Rows T51, T52, and T53 indicate information related to the STB 4a, the DVD player A 5a, and the DVD player B 6a that exist virtually in the AV switch 1 illustrated in FIG. The entities of the virtual STB 4a, DVD player A5a, and DVD player B6a are STB4, DVD player A5, and DVD player B6, respectively, as described above. As shown in rows T51, T52, and T53, the STB 4a, the DVD player A5a, and the DVD player B6a are connected to the video device side of the AV switch 1, and the address conversion between the real address and the virtual address is performed.

FIG. 8 is an address conversion table used for address conversion of the second cluster C2 and the third cluster C3.
In FIG. 8, devices (devices) are shown in a column T60, and rows T68 to T72 include TV (B) 3 shown in FIG.

  Columns T61 and T62 are a virtual logical address and a virtual physical address assigned in the virtual connection form (connection configuration) having the TV (B) 3 shown in FIG. 6 as a root address. Columns T63 and T64 are the real logical address and real physical address for each cluster shown in FIG. A column T65 is a connection port of the AV switch 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 to which a device is connected. Column T66 is an enable bit of the device used in the exclusive processing related to the simultaneous access, and “1” is valid and “0” is invalid. Column T67 is a default port used to determine a destination sink device when the first message is transmitted from the third cluster C3 side. For each device, the default port shown in column T47 in FIG. 7 is the same as the default port shown in column T67 in FIG.

  As shown in the row T68, the TV (B) 3 is connected to the second HDMI I / F <T> 16-2 of the AV switch 1, and does not particularly perform address conversion. A row T69 shows information related to the CEC switch 1b virtually existing in the AV switch 1 shown in FIG.

  Rows T70, T71, and T72 indicate information related to the STB 4b, the DVD player A5b, and the DVD player B6b that exist virtually in the AV switch 1 illustrated in FIG. The entities of the virtual STB 4b, DVD player A5b, and DVD player B6b are STB4, DVD player A5, and DVD player B6, respectively, as described above. As shown in rows T70, T71, and T72, the STB 4b, the DVD player A5b, and the DVD player B6b are connected to the video device side of the AV switch 1, and the address conversion between the real address and the virtual address is performed.

Next, an operation related to address conversion in this embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, a case where the TV (A) 2 accesses the STB 4 will be described as an example.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an address conversion sequence when the TV (A) 2 accesses the STB 4.

  First, a message (command) S100 is transmitted from the TV (A) 2 to the AV switch 1. This message S100 is a message to the STB 4a corresponding to the STB 4, and indicates an address where PA is 1.1.1.0 and LA is 3. The message S100 is received by the CEC I / F 19 in the HDMI I / F <T> 16-1 of the AV switch 1.

  The CEC I / F 19 transfers the received message to the CEC control unit 23. Upon receiving the transferred message, the CEC control unit 23 makes an address conversion inquiry to the main control unit 24. The main control unit 24 analyzes the conversion address using an address conversion table owned in the virtual connection configuration control unit 25 and notifies the CEC control unit 23 of the conversion address. In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, 1.0.0.0 is notified as the conversion address.

  Upon receiving the notification of the conversion address, the CEC control unit 23 transfers the message whose address has been converted to the CEC I / F 14 in the HDMI I / F <R> 11-1. Then, the CEC I / F 14 transmits a message S101 indicating an address with PA of 1.0.0.0 and LA of 3 toward the third cluster C3.

  The STB 4 receives the message S101 which is a message to itself, and transmits a response S102 indicating an address where PA is 0.0.0.0 and LA is 0 as a response. The response S102 is received by the CEC I / F 14 in the HDMI I / F <R> 11-1 of the AV switch 1.

  The CEC I / F 14 transfers the received response S102 to the CEC control unit 23. Receiving the transferred response, the CEC control unit 23 makes an address conversion inquiry to the main control unit 24. The main control unit 24 analyzes the translation address using the address translation table owned in the virtual connection configuration control unit 25, and notifies the CEC control unit 23 of the translation address and the number of HDMI I / F <T> 16-1. The virtual connection configuration control unit 25 monitors signals to the TV (A) 2 and the STB 4 and can transmit a response S102 to the TV (A) 2 of the first cluster C1.

  Upon receiving the notification from the main control unit 24, the CEC control unit 23 transfers a response to the CEC I / F 19 of the HDMI I / F <T> 16-1 according to an instruction from the main control unit 24. Then, the CEC I / F 19 transmits a response S103 in which PA is 0.0.0.0 and LA is 0 to the TV (A) 2.

  As described above, the AV switch 1 refers to the address conversion table and performs address conversion, thereby enabling communication between clusters.

Next, EDID setting control that is attribute data in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the concept of attribute data (EDID) setting control.

  The AV switch 1 acquires the EDIDs of the sink devices TV (A) 2 and TV (B) 3, and uses the acquired EDIDs as the first sink EDID storage unit 30 and the second sink in the DDC control unit 22. Record in the EDID storage unit 31.

  When the EDID is exchanged for the STB 4 on the source device side, the EDID is exchanged by the EDID recorded in the corresponding first source EDID storage unit 32. Similarly, when EDID is exchanged for the DVD player A5 and DVD player B6 on the source device side, they are recorded in the corresponding second source EDID storage unit 33 and third source EDID storage unit 34, respectively. The EDID is exchanged according to the EDID.

  Therefore, the appropriate EDID of the device to be displayed (TV 2 or 3) needs to be recorded in the first to third source EDID storage units 32-34. In order to record an appropriate EDID in the source EDID storage units 32 to 34, the EDID selection unit 35 selects the first or second sink EDID storage unit 30 or 31 according to the device to be displayed, and the recorded EDID is stored. This is realized by appropriately supplying the source EDID storage units 32 to 34.

Further, the case of accessing the DVD player A5 will be described as an example of the EDID selection sequence.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an EDID selection sequence.

  The TV (A) 2 transmits a <Give Deck Status> [“On”] message S200 to the AV switch 1 that performs the relay. This <Give Deck Status> [“On”] message S200 is a message for instructing the TV (A) 2 to notify the DVD player A5 when the status has changed.

  The AV switch 1 that has received the <Give Deck Status> [“On”] message S200 from the TV (A) 2 transfers it to the DVD player A5 as a <Give Deck Status> [“On”] message S201. Upon receiving the <Give Deck Status> [“On”] message S201, the DVD player A5 confirms that it is in a stopped state, and transmits a <Deck Status> [“Stop”] message S202 indicating that to the AV switch 1. . Further, the AV switch 1 that has received the <Deck Status> [“Stop”] message S202 transfers it to the TV (A) 2 as a <Deck Status> [“Stop”] message S203.

  Thereafter, the operator 8 causes a Play action S204 for instructing a playback operation on the DVD player A5 via the user interface (User Interface) of the TV (A) 2 in order to view the playback video by the DVD player A5. Suppose. When the Play action S204 is caused by the operator 8, the TV (A) 2 receiving it transmits a <Play> message S205 to the AV switch 1.

The AV switch 1 that has received the <Play> message S205 recognizes that this message is a <Play> message for the DVD player A5, and determines whether the EDID is appropriate. This determination process (EDID reset determination process) will be described later.
Here, although it is necessary to reset the EDID, it is assumed that the AV switch 1 determines that appropriate attribute data is recorded in the second source EDID storage unit 33.

  The HPD I / F 15 in the HDMI I / F <R> 11-2 of the AV switch 1 turns off the HDP signal to the DVD player A5 (S206), and the HPD signal is passed after the time specified in the HDMI standard has elapsed. Is turned on (S207). The DVD player A5 recognizes that the HDMI interface is disconnected after the physical connection of the HDMI interface is disconnected by the operation of the HDP signal. Thereby, the DVD player A5 performs an EDID READ operation (S208) based on the HDMI standard on the DDC interface, and acquires the EDID related to the TV (A) 2.

  After the EDID READ operation by the DVD player A5 is completed, the AV switch 1 transfers the <Play> message S205 from the TV (A) 2 to the DVD player A5 as a <Play> message S209. The DVD player A5 that has received the <Play> message S209 has changed the status from the stopped state to the playback state, so that the <Deck Status> [“Play”] message S210 indicating the playback state is sent to the AV switch 1. Send. Upon receiving the <Deck Status> [“Play”] message S210, the AV switch 1 transfers the message to the TV (A) 2 as a <Deck Status> [“Play”] message S211.

  Then, the DVD player A5 transmits an <Active Source> message S212 to the AV switch 1 as a declaration for transmitting video data. The AV switch 1 that has received the <Active Source> message S212 transfers it to the TV (A) 2 as an <Active Source> message S213.

  As described above, the DVD player A5 can acquire an appropriate EDID related to the TV (A) 2 by the selection sequence shown in FIG.

The EEID reset determination process will be described.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing EDID reset determination processing in the present embodiment.

  In step S301, the AV switch 1 periodically monitors whether a message to the source device has been received. If the reception of the message is not confirmed, the process proceeds to step S301. The process proceeds to S302. Hereinafter, in the description of the processing operation shown in FIG. 12, the message confirmed to be received in step S301 is referred to as a received message.

  In step S302, the AV switch 1 checks whether or not the EDID of the sink device that is the transmission source of the received message is set in the source EDID storage unit corresponding to the source device that is the transmission destination. As a result, if the EDID of the sink device that is the transmission source is set, the process proceeds to step S306, and if not, the process proceeds to step S303.

  In step S303, the AV switch 1 supplies the EDID recorded in the sink EDID storage unit corresponding to the sink device that is the transmission source of the received message to the source EDID storage unit corresponding to the source device that is the transmission destination. The EDID selection unit 35 is controlled. As a result, the EDID of the sink device that is the transmission source of the received message is copied and recorded in the source EDID storage unit corresponding to the source device that is the transmission destination. And it changes to step S304.

  In step S304, the AV switch 1 performs an HPD signal off / on operation on the source device that is the transmission destination of the received message in order to acquire the EDID recorded in the corresponding source EDID storage unit. The process proceeds to S305.

In step S305, the AV switch 1 detects whether or not the acquisition of EDID has been completed in the source device that is the transmission destination of the received message. As a result, if acquisition of EDID is not completed, the process proceeds to step S305, and if completion of acquisition of EDID can be confirmed, the process proceeds to step S306.
In step S306, the AV switch 1 transfers the received message to the source device that is the transmission destination, and transitions to step S301.

  Here, in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, when the devices in the first cluster C1 and the devices in the second cluster C2 simultaneously access the devices in the third cluster C3, the AV switch 1 Exclusive control is performed so that only access from one device is valid. This exclusive control is executed by the exclusive control unit 26 in the main control unit 24 of the AV switch 1.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an exclusive processing sequence related to simultaneous access that is executed when a plurality of access requests are simultaneously generated for a certain device in the third cluster C3.
FIG. 13 shows an example in which the DVD (A) 2 transmits a <Play> message to the DVD player A5 when the DVD player A5 transmits a video signal to the TV (B) 3. ing.

  In FIG. 13, S400 is a video signal (stream data) transmitted from the DVD player A5 to the HDMI I / F <R> 11-2 of the AV switch 1. S401 is stream data in which the stream data S400 received by the HDMI I / F <R> 11-2 is transferred to the HDMI I / F <T> 16-2 inside the AV switch 1. S402 is stream data in which the stream data S401 received by the HDMI I / F <T> 16-2 is transmitted to the TV (B) 3.

  When the TV (A) 2 transmits a <Play> message S403 to the DVD player A5 while the stream data is being sent from the DVD player A5 to the TV (B) 3 via the AV switch 1, the HDMI I in the AV switch 1 is transmitted. / F <T> 16-2. The AV switch 1 that has received the <Play> message S403 recognizes that the message is a <Play> message to the DVD player A5, and whether or not it is necessary to check whether the DVD player A5 is in use. to decide.

  If it is determined that it is necessary to confirm whether the DVD player A5 is in use, the AV switch 1 transmits a <Request Active Source> message S404 to the DVD player A5 in order to confirm whether it is in use. To do. At this time, the DVD player A5 that has received the <Request Active Source> message S404 is sending stream data to the TV (B) 3, that is, in use. Therefore, the DVD player A5 transmits an <Active Source> message S405 to the AV switch 1 as a response to the message S404.

  The AV switch 1 that has received the <Active Source> message S405 recognizes that the DVD player A5 is in use based on the received message. Then, the AV switch 1 transmits an <Abort> message S406 to indicate that the HDMI I / F <T> 16-1 cannot be used for the TV (A) 2. In this way, the AV switch 1 makes a proxy response to the access request from the TV (A) 2 to the DVD player A5 on behalf of the DVD player A5 in use, and sends an <Abort> message S406 to the TV (A). 2 to send. Thereby, the access request from the TV (A) 2 to the DVD player A5 in use can be eliminated.

  In FIG. 13, S407 is a message transmitted and received between the HDMI I / F <R> 11-2 and the HDMI I / F <T> 16-1 of the AV switch 1 in the above-described processing.

Next, the processing operation in the AV switch 1 at the time of the proxy response described above will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S501, the AV switch 1 determines whether a message for the third cluster C3 has been received. As a result, if a message is not received, the process loops and proceeds to step S501. If a message is received, the process proceeds to step S502.

  In step S502, the AV switch 1 determines whether or not the destination of the received message is a device that has transmitted the <Active Source> message last in the third cluster C3. As a result, if the received message is a message to the device that lastly transmitted the <Active Source> message, the process proceeds to step S503; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S506.

  In step S503, the AV switch 1 transmits a <Request Active Source> message to the third cluster C3, and the process proceeds to step S604.

  In step S504, the AV switch 1 confirms the <Active Source> message transmitted from the device of the third cluster C3 as a response to the transmitted <Request Active Source> message. As a result, the AV switch 1 checks the active state, that is, the device in use. Then, the AV switch 1 determines whether or not the transmission destination of the message received in step S501 matches the address of the <Active Source> message (the device that transmitted the <Active Source> message). As a result, if they match, the process proceeds to step S505, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S506.

  In step S505, the AV switch 1 transmits an <Abort> message to the transmission source device instead of the transmission destination device of the message received in step S501, and the process proceeds to step S501.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S506, the destination device of the message received in step S501 is in an unused state. Accordingly, in step S506, the AV switch 1 performs address conversion for normal operation, transfers the message to the transmission destination, and proceeds to step S501.

  In the above description, the case where the AV switch 1 performs a proxy response on behalf of the device in use and performs exclusive control related to simultaneous access has been described as an example. However, the device in use in the virtual cluster in the AV switch 1 is described. It is also possible to perform exclusive control by behaving as disconnected.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the AV switch 1 when executing exclusive control that behaves as if it is disconnected in a virtual cluster inside the AV switch. In this exclusive control, the use state of the device in the third cluster C3 is monitored, and when the device is in use, the enable bit of the address table other than the cluster of the output port being used is invalidated. I do.

  In step S601, the AV switch 1 determines whether an <Active Source> message has been received. As a result, if a message is not received, the process loops and the process proceeds to step S601. If a message is received, the process proceeds to step S602.

  In step S602, the AV switch 1 determines whether the display device (sink device) that is transmitting the video signal from the video device that is the source of the <Active Source> message received in step S601 is TV (A) 2. (B) It is determined whether it is 3. As a result, if it is TV (B) 3, the process proceeds to step S603, and if it is TV (A) 2, the process proceeds to step S604. In the present embodiment, the case where there are two sink devices, TV (A) 2 and TV (B) 3, has been described as an example. However, when the number of sink devices increases, it is possible to increase the number of branches in step S602. it can.

  In step S603, the AV switch 1 sets the enable bit of the transmission source device of the <Active Source> message received in step S601 to “0” in the address conversion table related to TV (A) 2. The corresponding address is invalidated. With this control, the virtual connection configuration control unit 25 in the AV switch 1 reconstructs the virtual network configuration and behaves with respect to the TV (A) 2 assuming that it is disconnected from the virtual cluster. As a result, the source device used by another display device can be temporarily disabled from the TV (A) 2.

  In step S604, the AV switch 1 sets the enable bit of the transmission source device of the <Active Source> message received in step S601 in the address conversion table of TV (B) 3 to “0”, so that Invalidate the address. As a result, similar to the processing in step S603, the virtual network configuration of the TV (B) 3 is reconstructed, and the source device in use by another display device is disconnected from the TV (B) 3. behave. Therefore, the source device used by another display device can be temporarily disabled from the TV (B) 3.

  When exclusive control is performed by the processing shown in FIG. 15, the enable bit of the address conversion table is changed from “0” to “1” (valid) when the video stream of the device being used is stopped. Control is required. Therefore, the AV switch 1 always performs processing for monitoring the active state (usage status) of the device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a constant monitoring process by the AV switch 1.
In step S701, the AV switch 1 determines whether or not a periodic timer provided therein for a constant monitoring process has reached a predetermined time. Although this time varies depending on the system specifications, it is set to 100 ms in this embodiment, and after 100 ms, the process proceeds to step S702.

  In step S702, the AV switch 1 transmits a <Request Active Source> message to the third cluster C3, and checks whether there is an <Active Source> message as a response. As a result, if the <Active Source> message is received, the process proceeds to step S701, and if the <Active Source> message is not received, the process proceeds to step S703.

  In step S703, the AV switch 1 sets all enable bits shown in columns T46 and T66 of the address conversion table shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 to “1”, and shifts to step S704.

  In step S704, the AV switch 1 checks whether EDID is set to default. As a result, if it is not the default setting, the process proceeds to step S705, and if it is the default setting, the process proceeds to step S701. In step S705, the AV switch 1 sets the EDID recorded in the source EDID storage unit to the EDID of the default sink device, and the process proceeds to step S701.

  In the above description, the message operation from the HDMI sink device has been described. Next, the message operation from the HDMI source device will be described using a typical one-touch play message operation as an example.

  In this embodiment, a default sink device is set for each port of each source device. In the address conversion table shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the port shown in the default port column is the default port. When a message is transmitted from the source device, the message is transmitted via the AV switch 1 to the sink device connected to the set default port.

  Note that the default port setting method uses a UI or the like and is not particularly defined. According to the HDMI standard, there is no particular obligation to notify even when the video signal ends, and the AV switch 1 constantly monitors and sets the EDID and the address conversion table for exclusive processing as shown in FIG. It is necessary to do.

  As described above, it is possible to dynamically control the connection between a plurality of video devices and a plurality of display devices without performing a manual operation such as a selection operation on the AV switch device 1. Therefore, the user can appropriately access the video device from the display device without being aware of the connection configuration from the plurality of display devices to the plurality of video devices, and the operability can be dramatically improved.

(Other embodiments of the present invention)
For realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment for a computer (CPU or MPU) in an apparatus or system connected to the various devices so as to operate various devices to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. Supply software programs. And what was implemented by operating the said various devices according to the program stored in the computer of the system or apparatus is also contained under the category of this invention.
In this case, the software program itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program itself constitutes the present invention. Means for supplying the program to the computer, for example, a recording medium storing the program constitutes the present invention. As a recording medium for storing such a program, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.
In addition, such a program is also included in the embodiment of the present invention when the function of the above-described embodiment is realized in cooperation with an operating system running on a computer or other application software. Needless to say.
Further, after the supplied program is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board or a function expansion unit related to the computer, a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the like based on an instruction of the program may be a part of actual processing or Do everything. Needless to say, the present invention includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the switch apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the basic connection example of the HDMI apparatus using the AV switch in this embodiment, and the cluster structure in a connection structure. It is a figure which shows allocation of the physical address of a apparatus, and a logical address. It is a figure which shows allocation of the physical address of a apparatus, and a logical address. It is a figure which shows allocation of the physical address of a apparatus, and a logical address. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a connection configuration of an HDMI device viewed from a TV in the connection example illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows an example of an address conversion table. It is a figure which shows an example of an address conversion table. It is a figure which shows an example of the address conversion sequence in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the concept of the setting control of attribute data (EDID). It is a figure which shows an example of the selection sequence of EDID in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the reset determination process of EDID in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the exclusive process sequence which concerns on the simultaneous access in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the exclusive process which concerns on the simultaneous access in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the exclusion process which concerns on the simultaneous access in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the continuous monitoring process in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 AV switch device 2, 3 Display device (sink device)
4, 5, 6 Video equipment (source equipment)
11-i HDMI I / F <Receiver>
12 TMDS I / F <Receiver>
13 DDC I / F
14 CEC I / F
15 HPD I / F
16-j HDMI I / F <Transmitter>
17 TMDS I / F <Transmitter>
18 DDC I / F
19 CEC I / F
20 HPD I / F
21 TMDS switch 22 DDC control unit 23 CEC control unit 24 Main control unit 25 Virtual connection configuration control unit 26 Exclusive control unit

Claims (13)

An output port for connecting a plurality of display devices and an input port for connecting a plurality of video devices;
Means for selectively outputting video data from the input port to the output port;
Means for transmitting / receiving attribute data of each display device and each video device;
Means for storing attribute data of each display device,
Upon receiving a command from the display device to the video device, the attribute data is exchanged with the video device, and the input port and the output port are configured to output the video data from the video device to the display device. A switch device characterized by switching connection. Means for detecting access from the output port to the video equipment;
Means for monitoring the usage status of the video equipment connected to the input port,
2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein when an access from a different output port to a video device in use is detected, an exclusive process for invalidating the access is performed.   3. The switch device according to claim 2, wherein, in the exclusive process, an address of a video device in use in an address conversion table used for connecting the display device and the video device is invalidated.   3. The exclusive processing responds to a display device connected to a different output port where access to a video device in use has been performed with a message indicating that the video device cannot be used on behalf of the video device. Switch device. Multiple input ports for connecting source devices,
A plurality of output ports for connecting sink devices capable of controlling the source device;
Each sink device connected to the output port can be switched to the source device connected to the input port, and the sink device connected to the output port can access the source device connected to the input port. When requested, the address conversion is performed based on the connection configuration of each sink device and the source device, and the input port and the output port are connected so that data communication can be performed between the sink device and the source device. A switching device that performs switching. Table storage means for storing an address conversion table based on the connection configuration of each sink device and the source device;
Address conversion means for performing the address conversion based on the address conversion table stored in the table storage means;
6. The switch device according to claim 5, further comprising data switch means for switching a data path between an input port and an output port based on an address conversion table stored in the table storage means. Attribute data storage means for storing attribute data of the sink device connected to the output port,
When access from the sink device connected to the output port to the source device connected to the input port is requested, the attribute data of the sink device stored in the attribute data storage means is used as the source device. The switch device according to claim 5, wherein the switch device is supplied to the switch device.   The exclusive control means which performs exclusive control which concerns on the access request | requirement from the sink device connected to the said output port to the source device connected to the said input port is provided. The switch device according to item.   The exclusive control means cannot be used for the access request when the source device requested to be accessed from the sink device connected to the output port is used by a sink device different from the sink device. The switch device according to claim 8, wherein the switch device is notified.   9. The switch device according to claim 8, wherein when the source device connected to the input port is used, the exclusive control unit invalidates the information on the source device in the address conversion table. . A data relay method for enabling switching of each sink device connected to an output port for connecting a sink device capable of controlling a source device connected to an input port to a source device connected to the input port. ,
When access from the sink device connected to the output port to the source device connected to the input port is requested, address conversion is performed based on the connection configuration of each sink device and the source device, and the sink device A data relay method comprising switching connection between an input port and an output port so that data communication is possible between the device and the source device. A program for enabling each sink device connected to an output port for connecting a sink device capable of controlling a source device connected to an input port to be switched to the source device connected to the input port. ,
When access from the sink device connected to the output port to the source device connected to the input port is requested, address conversion is performed based on the connection configuration of each sink device and the source device, and the sink device A program for causing a computer to execute a step of switching connection between an input port and an output port so that data communication can be performed between the device and the source device.   13. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 12 is recorded.

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