JP2008160238A - Information processor and processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a viewer/listener of video content with information different from the video content without interfering with viewing/listening of the video content. <P>SOLUTION: A white LED light source LCD projector 11 displays a video content from a compressed video image expanding section 23 on an LCD 26 using an LED 25 as a light source and projects its video content onto a screen 12. Transmission information superimposed on that video content is received at a network receiving section 21 and separated at a signal separating section 22 before being delivered to a signal modulating section 24. The signal modulating section 24 modulates the transmission information according to a predetermined modulation system to produce pulse signals, and high speed flickering of the LED25 is controlled according to those pulse signals. In this regard, a receiver 13 receives the light forming a video content on the screen 12, i.e. the high speed flickering light from the white LED 25, and demodulates that light to acquire the transmission information. The invention is applicable to a projector. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method that can provide the viewer with information different from the video content without disturbing the viewing of the video content.

  In recent years, with the development of video display technology, projectors (for example, Patent Document 1) have been used even in ordinary homes, and so-called home theaters have been realized.

  On the other hand, in recent years, with the development of video distribution technology, not only terrestrial broadcasting and satellite broadcasting but also broadcasting using IP protocol (Internet Protocol) called “IP TV” as a communication means, that is, so-called Internet broadcasting is becoming widespread. .

  Therefore, the user can view the video content distributed by Internet broadcasting by projecting the video content from a projector onto a screen or the like.

In the case of video distribution using the Internet, since the degree of freedom for video distribution bandwidth and information superposition is extremely high compared to terrestrial and satellite broadcasts, for main video content such as programs, It is possible to flexibly cope with superimposing data information and the like. This is because it is not regulated by the Broadcasting Law.
JP 05-260423 A

  However, when the viewer tries to obtain such data information, the viewer obtains the data information alone at a different time from the viewing of the main video content, or processes the image display of the main video content. In addition, it was necessary to obtain data information and the like. Here, the image display processing of the main video content is, for example, generating a composite image obtained by combining data information or the like as an image on the main video content, or reducing the main video content, For example, a composite image in which the reduced image and an image such as data information are arranged is generated.

  As described above, it is difficult to provide information (data information or the like) different from the video content to the viewer without disturbing the viewing of the main video content.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and enables the viewer to be provided with information different from the video content without disturbing the viewing of the video content.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a video element that requires a light source, a video output device that outputs video content to be formed on the video element, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light source of the video element. , Receiving information different from the video content as transmission information, and controlling the blinking of the LED based on the transmission information, to a light receiving device that receives the light forming the video content in the video element On the other hand, a transmission control device that transmits the transmission information is provided.

  The transmission information is information related to the video content.

  The information processing apparatus is a projector that projects the video content onto a screen, and the light receiving device receives the transmission information by receiving light that forms the video content on the screen.

  Transmission data constituting the transmission information is superimposed on video data constituting the video content and given to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus acquires the video data on which the transmission data is superimposed. Separating the transmission data and the video data from the device and the video data on which the transmission data acquired by the acquisition device is superimposed, and providing the transmission data to the transmission control device, A separation device provided to the video output device, wherein the video output device converts the video data provided from the separation device into a signal in a form suitable for the video device, and outputs the signal. The control device modulates the transmission data provided from the separation device into a pulse signal according to a predetermined modulation method, and the LED of the LED according to the pulse signal. To control the flashing.

  An information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method corresponding to the information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention described above.

  In an information processing apparatus and method according to an aspect of the present invention, a video element that requires a light source, a video output device that outputs video content to be formed on the video element, and an LED (Light Emitting) as a light source of the video element The following processing is executed in an information processing apparatus including a diode. That is, information different from the video content is acquired as transmission information, and the blinking of the LED is controlled based on the transmission information, so that the light receiving the light that forms the video content in the video element is received. The transmission information is transmitted to the device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, information different from video content such as a movie can be provided. In particular, without disturbing the viewing of the video content, information different from that can be transmitted as transmission information to the viewer who is viewing the video content.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between the configuration requirements of the present invention and the embodiments described in the detailed description of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that the embodiments supporting the present invention are described in the detailed description of the invention. Accordingly, although there are embodiments that are described in the detailed description of the invention but are not described here as embodiments corresponding to the constituent elements of the present invention, It does not mean that the embodiment does not correspond to the configuration requirements. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. It's not something to do.

  Further, this description does not mean that all the inventions corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention are described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the embodiment of the invention, and the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future, a divisional application will be made. Nor does it deny the existence of an invention added by amendment.

An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention (for example, the white LED light source LCD projector 11 in FIG. 1) includes:
An image element that requires a light source (eg, LCD 26 in FIG. 1);
A video output device (for example, the compressed video decompression unit 23 in FIG. 1) that outputs video content to be formed on the video device;
LED (Light Emitting Diode) (for example, white LED 25 in FIG. 1) as a light source of the image element;
Information that is different from the video content is acquired as transmission information, and by controlling the blinking of the LED based on the transmission information, a light receiving device that receives the light that forms the video content in the video element (for example, 1 is provided with a transmission control device (for example, the signal modulation unit 24 in FIG. 1) that transmits the transmission information.

The information processing apparatus is a projector that projects the video content onto a screen (for example, the screen 12 in FIG. 1).
The light receiving device receives the transmission information by receiving light forming the video content on the screen.

The transmission data constituting the transmission information is given to the information processing apparatus superimposed on the video data constituting the video content (for example, in the example of FIG. 1, via the Ethernet (registered trademark) 31 in the form of so-called Internet broadcasting). Given in)
The information processing apparatus includes:
An acquisition device (for example, the network reception unit 21 in FIG. 1) that acquires the video data on which the transmission data is superimposed;
The transmission data and the video data are separated from the video data on which the transmission data acquired by the acquisition device is superimposed, the transmission data is provided to the transmission control device, and the video data is output to the video A separation device (for example, the signal separation unit 22 in FIG. 1) provided to the device,
The video output device converts the video data provided from the separation device into a signal in a form suitable for the video device, and outputs the signal.
The transmission control device modulates the transmission data provided from the separation device into a pulse signal according to a predetermined modulation method, and controls blinking of the LED according to the pulse signal.

  An information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method of the above-described information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention (for example, the white LED light source LCD projector 11 in FIG. 1).

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the information processing system includes a white LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) projector 11, a screen 12, and a receiving device 13.

  As the name suggests, the white LED light source LCD projector 11 is a projector that projects video content displayed on an LCD (transmissive liquid crystal) 26 onto the screen 12 using the white LED 25 as a light source.

  Here, the reason why LEDs are used as light sources without using light valves such as UHP and Xenon as in the past will be described.

  That is, the projector can project video content on a screen, for example, but a light source is necessary for such projection.

  On the other hand, as described above, there is a demand for a user who is viewing video content projected on the screen to provide different information without disturbing viewing of the video content. The current situation is that the request is not fully met.

  Therefore, the present inventor studied a technique that can meet such a demand, and came up with the idea that an LED may be used as the light source of the projector.

  That is, conventionally, light valves such as UHP and Xenon have been employed as light sources for projectors. However, in recent years, LEDs have improved luminous efficiency and have become a level that can be used as a light source for projectors. Therefore, considering the possibility of a projector using an LED as a light source, it is more likely to be realized at a lower cost than a conventional projector using a light valve such as UHP or Xenon as a light source. In particular, by adopting the white LED 25 as in the example of FIG. 1, it is highly possible to design a projector with high image quality / large screen. This is because LEDs are superior in price / performance compared to FPDs such as current LCDs and plasmas, so projectors that use LEDs as light sources are rapidly becoming home as projectors for “low-cost, high-quality home theaters”. It means that there is a possibility of spreading.

  Furthermore, as one of the features of LEDs that do not exist in light valves such as UHP and Xenon, it is possible to flash at a level that does not reflect the viewer's eyes (for example, flashing more than 4 digits per second). Features exist. That is, for the human eye, the LED has a feature that the blinking of the LED is too fast to be visually recognized.

  Accordingly, the present inventor has focused on this feature and conceived that the LED functions as a light source of the projector and at the same time functions as visible light wireless communication. That is, the function of causing the LED to transmit different information to the viewer who is viewing the video content by visible light wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as such). The present inventor thought that the transmission information can be provided to the viewer without disturbing the viewing of the video content by demonstrating the other information transmitted by the function is called transmission information) .

  In addition, since conventional light valves such as UHP and Xenon cannot blink at high speed, it is impossible to use the light source of the projector for visible light wireless communication. Even it did not exist.

  In addition, infrared communication exists as conventional wireless communication, and the properties of the infrared light and the visible light from the LEDs are similar at a frequency of several hundreds [THz] band. However, since infrared rays are invisible light, they cannot be used as a light source for a projector. In addition, infrared communication cannot transmit high power from the viewpoint of eye protection, and the communication speed cannot be improved. On the other hand, the visible light range used in visible light wireless communication using LEDs is safe for the human eye and high power of several tens of watts that can be used for the light source of the projector can be used. Data can be transmitted at a speed. That is, as described above, even if the LED blinks at high speed, the human eye cannot recognize the blinking itself and is safe, and the faster the LED blinks, the faster the data communication speed. It will be. For example, blinking the LED several million times per second means that a communication speed of several tens [Mbps] can be realized.

  As described above, since the white LED light source LCD projector 11 in the example of FIG. 1 uses the white LED 25 as a light source, it functions as a projector that projects video content on the LCD 26 onto the screen 12, and at the same time, the white LED 25 blinks at high speed. Therefore, it also functions as a communication device that transmits transmission information by visible light wireless communication.

  When the white LED light source LCD projector 11 functions as a communication device, the communication device that receives the transmission information by the visible light wireless communication, that is, the information different from the video content projected on the screen 12 is received. Device 13.

  The other information here does not have the above meaning that it is information that is not the video content itself projected on the screen 12, and the content and form thereof are not particularly limited. That is, as the transmission information, another video content (including a part of the video content projected on the screen 12 or a video content that has been subjected to variable speed playback, image quality change playback, or the like) may be employed. As will be described later, information related to video content projected on the screen 12 may be employed. That is, it is sufficient that the transmission information is information that can be handled independently from the video content itself projected on the screen 12.

  Thus, the receiving device 13 is a device that presents transmission information to a viewer who is viewing the video content on the screen 12. Therefore, the receiving device 13 can be configured by a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, or the like as in the example of FIG.

  However, it is sufficient for the receiving device 13 to have a photocoupler that can receive light projected on the screen 12 (light that causes the video content to be formed on the screen 12), and the form thereof is not particularly limited. The configuration of the photocoupler itself is not particularly limited, and for example, a CCD (Charged Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), or the like can be employed.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the number of receiving devices 13 is one. However, the number of viewers viewing the video content projected on the screen 12 is not limited to one. Good.

  Hereinafter, the white LED light source LCD projector 11 will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the white LED light source LCD projector 11 includes a network receiving unit 21, a signal separating unit 22, a compressed video decompressing unit 23, a signal modulating unit 24, a white LED 25, an LCD 26, and a lens 27. Has been.

  The operation of the white LED light source LCD projector 11 having such a configuration is as follows.

  In the example of FIG. 1, a signal including video content (data) and transmission information (data) (hereinafter referred to as a transmission information superimposed video signal) is, for example, a signal distributed by Internet broadcasting, and Ethernet (registered trademark) The white LED light source LCD projector 11 is provided via 31. Specifically, the signal is received by the network receiver 21 and provided to the signal separator 22.

  Note that the Internet broadcast protocol is not limited to wired, but may be wireless. In this case, the transmission information superimposed video signal is provided to the network receiving unit 21 not via the Ethernet (registered trademark) 31 but by so-called wireless IP communication.

  Further, the transmission form of the transmission information superimposed video signal is not particularly limited to the example of FIG. 1, and may be transmitted through a recording medium such as an optical disk or may be transmitted by broadcast waves.

  The signal separation unit 22 separates the transmission information superimposed video signal from the network reception unit 21 into video content (data) and transmission information (data), and provides the video content (data) to the compressed video decompression unit 23. On the other hand, transmission information (data) is provided to the signal modulation unit 24.

  Here, it is assumed that the video content (data) is compression-encoded according to a predetermined compression-encoding system, for example, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) system. Therefore, the compressed video decompression unit 23 decompresses and decodes the video content (data) from the signal separation unit 22 according to a method (here, MPEG method) corresponding to the predetermined compression encoding method. The video content corresponding to the video signal obtained as a result is displayed on the LCD 26.

  In other words, the compressed video decompression unit 23 is an example of a video output device that converts the format of the video content provided from the signal separation unit 22 into a signal having a format suitable for the LCD 26 and outputs the converted signal. That is, as the video output device, in the example of FIG. 1, the video content is provided in the form of MPEG data, so the compressed video decompression unit 23 is employed. Depending on the video content provision mode, another device may be used. May be adopted. For example, in the example of FIG. 4 to be described later, since the video content is provided in the form of a broadcast wave, the tuner unit 321 is employed as the video output device.

  In any case, in the present invention, as a light source for displaying video content from the video output device (compressed video decompression unit 23 in the example of FIG. 1) on the video element (LCD 26 in the example of FIG. 1), An LED (white LED 25 in the example of FIG. 1) is used. More specifically, in the example of FIG. 1, an optical pulse signal output from the LED 25 (the optical pulse signal will be described later) is used as a light source, and passes through the LCD 26 and the lens 27 and is irradiated onto the screen 12. The video content displayed on the LCD 26 is projected on the screen 12.

  In this way, while the video content displayed on the LCD 26 is projected on the screen 12, that is, while the viewer holding the receiving device 13 is viewing the video content on the screen 12, The visible light wireless communication as described above is performed, and the transmission information (data) is received by the receiving device 13 and presented to the viewer.

  That is, the signal modulation unit 24 modulates the transmission information (data) from the signal separation unit 22 into a pulse signal according to a predetermined modulation method. In the white LED 25, switching between a lighting state (on state) and a light-off state (off state) is performed according to the pulse signal. That is, the white LED 25 blinks at high speed according to this pulse signal, and as a result, a light emission blink signal (light pulse signal) is output. That is, as described above, the optical pulse signal is used as a light source for displaying video content on the LCD 26 and is transmitted as a modulation signal for transmission information (data).

  Therefore, for example, when the viewer points the light receiving unit (photocoupler) of the receiving device 13 toward the screen 12, the receiving device 13 can receive the light pulse signal emitted from the white LED 25. And the receiver 13 takes out transmission information by demodulating the received optical pulse signal, and shows it to a viewer. In addition, the form of presentation will not be specifically limited if it is a form according to the form of the data of transmission information. For example, when the transmission information is video data (moving image or still image data), the receiving device 13 displays the video. For example, when the transmission information is audio data, the receiving device 13 outputs the audio. For example, when the transmission information is text data, the receiving device 13 may display the text as an image or output it as sound (message).

  In other words, the signal modulation unit 24 acquires information different from the video content as transmission information (in the example of FIG. 1, acquires transmission information (data) separated by the signal separation unit 22), and the transmission information Based on the control of the blinking of the white LED 25, the receiver 13 that receives the light forming the video content on the LCD 26 (the receiver 13 that receives light via the screen 12 in the example of FIG. 1) It is an example of the transmission control apparatus which transmits transmission information.

  The example in which the present invention is applied to a front projection type projector has been described above with reference to FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to the example of FIG. 1 and can take various embodiments.

  Specifically, for example, FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of an information processing system when the present invention is applied to a rear projection type projector.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the information processing system includes a white LED light source LCD projector 111, a screen 112, and a receiving device 13.

  The white LED light source LCD projector 111 of FIG. 2 has basically the same function and configuration as the white LED light source LCD projector 11 of FIG. That is, each of the network receiving unit 121 to the lens 127 in FIG. 2 corresponds to each of the network receiving unit 21 to the lens 27 in FIG.

  However, the white LED light source LCD projector 11 in FIG. 1 projects video content on the surface of the screen 12 (viewing surface for the viewer), whereas the white LED light source LCD projector 111 in FIG. The video content is projected on the back surface (the surface opposite to the viewing surface for the viewer).

  In this case, for example, a so-called rear projection television receiver can be configured from the white LED light source LCD projector 111 and the screen 112 of FIG.

  For example, FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of an information processing system when the present invention is applied to an LCD panel using an LED light source as a backlight.

  In the example of FIG. 3, the information processing system includes a transmission device 211, a light source diffusion plate 212, an LCD panel 213, and a reception device 13.

  3 has basically the same function and configuration as the portion of the white LED light source LCD projector 11 of FIG. 1 excluding the LCD 26 and the lens 27. That is, each of the network reception unit 221 to the white LED 225 in FIG. 3 corresponds to each of the network reception unit 21 to the white LED 25 in FIG.

  In this case, for example, a liquid crystal personal computer, a liquid crystal television receiver, or the like can be configured from the transmission device 211, the light source diffusion plate 212, and the LCD panel 213 in FIG.

  In addition, transmission information (data) to be transmitted by visible light wireless communication using an LED light source is provided by being superimposed on video content (data) in the above-described examples, but is separated from video content (data). May be provided.

  In this case, the information processing system to which the present invention is applied can be configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the information processing system includes a white LED light source LCD projector 311, a screen 12, and a receiving device 13.

  The white LED light source LCD projector 311 is configured to include a tuner unit 321 to a lens 326.

  The operation of the white LED light source LCD projector 311 having such a configuration is as follows.

  In the example of FIG. 4, it is assumed that the video content is provided to the white LED light source LCD projector 311 in the form of a broadcast wave by terrestrial television broadcasting or satellite television broadcasting. On the other hand, transmission information (data) is provided to the white LED light source LCD projector 311 via the Internet and Ethernet (registered trademark) 31.

  The tuner unit 321 receives video content provided in the form of broadcast waves and converts it into a signal in a form suitable for the LCD 325, that is, converts it into a form similar to the output signal of the compressed video decompression unit 23 in FIG. And output. Then, a video corresponding to the output signal, that is, video content is displayed on the LCD 325. The light pulse signal output from the white LED 324 is used as the light source, and the image content displayed on the LCD 325 is projected onto the screen 12 by being irradiated on the screen 12 through the LCD 325 and the lens 326. .

  In this way, while the video content displayed on the LCD 325 is projected on the screen 12, that is, while the viewer holding the receiving device 13 is viewing the video content on the screen 12, The visible light wireless communication as described above is performed, and the transmission information (data) is received by the receiving device 13 and presented to the viewer.

  That is, transmission information (data) provided via the Ethernet (registered trademark) 31 is received by the network reception unit 322 and provided to the signal modulation unit 323. The signal modulator 323 modulates this transmission information (data) into a pulse signal according to a predetermined modulation method. In the white LED 324, switching between a lighting state (on state) and a light-off state (off state) is performed according to the pulse signal. That is, the white LED 324 blinks at high speed according to this pulse signal, and as a result, a light emission blink signal (light pulse signal) is output. That is, as described above, this optical pulse signal is used as a light source for displaying an image on the LCD 325 and transmitted as a modulation signal for transmission information (data).

  Therefore, for example, when the viewer points the light receiving unit (photocoupler) of the receiving device 13 toward the screen 12, the receiving device 13 can receive the light pulse signal emitted from the white LED 324. And the receiver 13 takes out transmission information by demodulating the received optical pulse signal, and shows it to a viewer.

  Furthermore, for example, by applying the present invention to a digital cinema screening in a movie theater, it is possible to distribute information linked to the distribution of advertisements and Internet mail order linked to the contents of the movie. It is also possible to sell goods. That is, when a movie is adopted as the video content, for example, information related to the movie, specifically, information such as advertisement distribution or Internet mail order can be adopted as transmission information. Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine the birth of various new businesses.

  In the present specification, the system represents the entire apparatus including a plurality of apparatuses and processing units.

It is a figure which shows the 1st example of a structure of the information processing system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of a structure of the information processing system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of a structure of the information processing system to which this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of a structure of the information processing system to which this invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  11 White LED Light Source LCD Projector, 12 Screen, 13 Mobile Terminal, 21 Network Receiver, 22 Signal Separator, 23 Compressed Video Expander, 24 Signal Modulator, 25 White LED, 26 LCD, 27 Lens, 111 White LED Light Source LCD Projector, 112 screen, 121 network receiver, 122 signal separator, 123 compressed video decompressor, 124 signal modulator, 125 white LED, 126 LCD, 127 lens, 211 transmitter, 212 light source diffuser, 213 LCD panel, 221 Network receiving unit, 222 signal separating unit, 223 compressed video decompressing unit, 224 signal modulating unit, 311 white LED light source LCD projector, 321 tuner, 322 network receiving unit, 323 signal modulating unit, 324 white LED, 32 5 LCD, 326 lens

Claims (5)

An image element that requires a light source;
A video output device for outputting video content to be formed on the video device;
LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light source of the image element;
Information that is different from the video content is acquired as transmission information, and by controlling the blinking of the LED based on the transmission information, the light receiving device that receives the light that forms the video content in the video element And a transmission control device that transmits the transmission information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission information is information related to the video content. The information processing apparatus is a projector that projects the video content on a screen,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving device receives the transmission information by receiving light that forms the video content on the screen. The transmission data constituting the transmission information is provided to the information processing apparatus in a manner superimposed on the video data constituting the video content,
The information processing apparatus includes:
An acquisition device for acquiring the video data on which the transmission data is superimposed;
The transmission data and the video data are separated from the video data on which the transmission data acquired by the acquisition device is superimposed, the transmission data is provided to the transmission control device, and the video data is output to the video And a separation device provided to the device,
The video output device converts the video data provided from the separation device into a signal in a form suitable for the video device, and outputs the signal.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control device modulates the transmission data provided from the separation device into a pulse signal according to a predetermined modulation method, and controls blinking of the LED according to the pulse signal. An image element that requires a light source;
A video output device for outputting video content to be formed on the video device;
In an information processing method of an information processing apparatus comprising an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as a light source of the video element,
Information that is different from the video content is acquired as transmission information, and by controlling the blinking of the LED based on the transmission information, the light receiving device that receives the light that forms the video content in the video element An information processing method including the step of transmitting the transmission information.

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