JP2008258698A - Image output device and image output method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate disordering of information to be reproduced such as an image even when an object to be processed is switched to image data of different display specifications. <P>SOLUTION: When image display specifications as display specifications of image data to be output which are decided by a resolution decision unit 13 do not match fixed display specifications that a user selects through an operation acceptance I/F 18 and can not be converted by a resolution converter 14 to match the fixed display specifications, predetermined processing such as image composition processing is performed by an image composing means to generate image data matching the fixed display specifications corresponding to the image data to be output, and the image data are transmitted to a display device 2 through an HDMI I/F. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device for outputting image data, such as a digital broadcasting receiver called a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player or a STB (Set Top Box), and a data output method used in the device.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various electronic devices having an interface conforming to a high-speed digital interface standard such as a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) standard or a digital visual interface (DVI) standard have been developed. In particular, the HDMI standard stipulates that audio signals and control signals be transmitted using a video blanking period. In these high-speed digital interface standards, a serial transmission method called TMDS (Transmission Minimized Differential Signaling) is adopted.

  According to the HDMI standard, a high-resolution video signal and a multi-channel audio signal can be transmitted in high quality with a single cable without being compressed, and a control signal can be transmitted together. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a main data transmission line of a digital interface compliant with the HDMI standard.

  In FIG. 6, a transmitting device 100 is a device such as a DVD player that includes an HDMI standard digital interface (hereinafter abbreviated as a digital I / F) and transmits information such as image data through the digital I / F. . The receiving device 200 is a device such as a display device that includes an HDMI standard digital I / F and receives information such as image data through the digital I / F.

  The transmitting device 100 and the receiving device 200 are connected by one HDMI cable, and a plurality of transmission lines are provided in the cable. That is, the transmission device 100 includes an encoder and transmission units 101, 102, and 103 as shown in FIG. The receiving device 200 includes a receiving unit and decoders 201, 202, and 203. These are connected by each transmission line as indicated by reference symbols ch0, ch1, and ch2, and also connected by a clock line as indicated by reference symbol CLK.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the encoder and transmission unit 101 receives the image component (blue (B)), the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals, and auxiliary data (packet header etc.) and multiplexes them. At the same time, it is encrypted to form a transmission signal, which is transmitted to the data line ch0. The encoder and transmission unit 102 receives the image component (green (G)), control data 0 and 1, and auxiliary data (audio data), multiplexes and encrypts them to form a transmission signal. This is sent to the data line ch1.

  Further, the encoder and transmission unit 103 receives supply of the image component (red (R)), the control data 2 and 3, and the auxiliary data (audio data), multiplexes and encrypts them to form a transmission signal. This is sent to the data line ch2. In addition, a pixel clock signal is transmitted through the transmission line CLK.

  Each of the reception unit and decoders 201, 202, and 203 receives a transmission signal from the transmission device 100, decodes and separates each multiplexed data, and outputs each of them. The image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the display element, and the sound corresponding to the audio data is emitted from the speaker.

  By the way, data transmission in the HDMI standard is performed in three periods of a video data period, a data island period, and a control period. A transmission image (data format) in each period is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows an example of a case where the number of horizontal pixels is 720 images, the number of vertical lines is 480, and the operation method is a progressive method (non-interlace method), that is, image data of “720 × 480p”.

  In the case of the example shown in FIG. 7, the vertical blanking period is from the highest line to the 45th line, and each line is composed of a control period and a data island period. As shown in FIG. 7, the 46th to 525th lines are lines having video data periods. The period from the head of each line to 138 pixels is a horizontal blanking period. In the ranking period, a control period and a data island period are provided.

  Image data (video signal) is arranged in a video data period and is transmitted as pixel data of a video signal formatted according to the EIA / CEA-861B standard. The audio signal is arranged in a data island period arranged in a blanking interval avoiding the video data period, and is transmitted as packet data of an audio stream signal formatted according to the IEC06958 standard.

  The synchronization signal is arranged in the data island period arranged in the blanking interval, and is transmitted in the form of encoded horizontal synchronization signal (HSYNC) and vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC). The horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal are transmitted as so-called preamble information even through a predetermined control period. In the receiving device 200, the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal are extracted based on the data format shown in FIG. 7, for example, specified according to the transmitted data, and according to these synchronization signals, Images corresponding to the image data and sounds corresponding to the sound data are reproduced.

  In addition to this, AVI Infoframe, which is attribute data about image data, is arranged in the data island period and transmitted as packet data. The data content of the AVI Infoframe includes, for example, resolution information, frequency information, color space information (YCrCb or RGB) of transmitted image data (video signal), and an effective area of the video signal (black on the top, bottom, left and right of the image). In the case of an image with a band or the like, information such as the start position of the black band) and the aspect ratio of the image can be given.

  As can be seen from the arrangement diagram of the TMDS periods (TDMS Periods) in FIG. 7, in the HDMI standard digital I / F, the audio data and attribute data are based on the clock of the image data (video data) and the synchronization signal. Etc. are also transmitted. For this reason, unless the synchronization signal is transmitted correctly, there is no guarantee that both the image and the sound will be transmitted correctly. For example, it may be considered that the color of the image is strange, there is no sound, or noise is generated.

  For example, when the signal to be transmitted is switched from the signal A to the signal B having different display specifications such as resolution and frequency, the receiving device operates with the setting to display the signal A first. A certain amount of time is required from when a signal B having a different specification is received until it is recognized that the signal B has been switched.

  The section that is not signal A and is not known to be signal B is correct because the data format specified according to the display specification of the transmitted data cannot be specified as described with reference to FIG. The synchronization signal cannot be recognized, and the exact position of the TMDS period cannot be grasped. For this reason, the receiving device tries to display the signal B with the setting for the signal A. For example, noise may be generated, and thus it may not be possible to reproduce images and sounds normally.

  In order to solve such a problem, in Patent Document 1 described later, when an unknown signal or an unsupported signal is input, audio mute is performed or normal using OSD (On Screen Display) technology is performed. A technique for a receiving apparatus that enables notification by a display message that a proper reproduction cannot be performed is disclosed.

In addition, said patent document 1 is as follows.
International Publication No. 2004/107750 Pamphlet

  By the way, in the case of the receiving device disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the disturbed image and sound at the time of transition in which the operation becomes unstable when the signal to be reproduced is switched should not be provided to the user. Is possible. However, since it takes a certain amount of time for the processing to follow the change in the signal to be reproduced, it may not be possible to perform normal video display and audio output for a certain amount of time. Basic problems are not solved.

  In recent years, various images with different display specifications such as resolution, scanning method, video frequency (synchronization frequency), color space (color space), etc. via broadcast media, communication networks, or various storages (recording media). Data is being provided. Also, when an image is taken with a digital video camera, the resolution of image data to be taken and recorded in the storage may be changed by switching the shooting mode.

  In this way, image data with various display specifications provided through various media is output, or image data with different display specifications recorded in a single storage is continuously reproduced. It is thought that such things will be done frequently. For this reason, when processing image data with different display specifications, if the processing target is changed to image data with different display specifications, the image or sound of the receiving device that receives the image data that may occur may be generated. It is desirable to be able to avoid disturbances.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to prevent disturbance of information to be reproduced such as an image even when the processing target is switched to image data having a different display specification. To do.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an image output apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
An output end of image data supplied to the display device;
An input end of information from the display device;
Acquisition means for acquiring, through the input terminal, one or more device display specifications that are information held in the display device and that are display specifications for image data that can be displayed on the display device;
Corresponding display specification storage means for storing and holding one or more corresponding display specifications that are display specifications for image data that can be appropriately output from the own device;
One display specification used in a fixed manner out of display specifications common to one or more device display specifications acquired through the acquisition means and one or more corresponding display specifications held in the corresponding display specification storage means. A receiving means for receiving selection input of a fixed display specification;
A discriminating means for discriminating an image display specification which is a display specification of image data to be output;
The image display specification determined by the determination unit does not match the fixed display specification selected through the receiving unit, and the image display specification of the image data to be output matches the fixed display specification. Forming means that performs predetermined processing including at least image composition processing and includes an image according to the image data to be output, and forms image data that conforms to the fixed display specification,
And an output means for outputting the image data formed by the forming means to the display device through the output terminal.

  According to the image output device of the first aspect of the present invention, the display specification for the image data that can be displayed on the display device from the display device to which the image data is supplied through the obtaining means is 1 or more (1 Device display specifications of more than types) are acquired. One or more (one or more types) correspondence display that is a display specification for the acquired one or more device display specifications and image data that can be appropriately output from the own device stored and held in the corresponding display specification storage means A selection input of a fixed display specification, which is one display specification used fixedly from among those common to the specifications, is received through the receiving means.

  The image display specification that is the display specification of the output target that is discriminated by the discriminating means does not match the fixed display specification that is selected by the user and cannot be converted to match the fixed display specification. In this case, predetermined processing including image synthesis processing is performed by the forming unit, and image data that matches the fixed display specification including the image corresponding to the image data to be output is formed, and this is provided to the display device through the output unit. To be done.

  As a result, image data whose display specification is always fixed to the fixed display specification is supplied from the image output device to the display device. Therefore, the display specification is different in the display device. As a result, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the vertical synchronization signal and the horizontal synchronization signal cannot be detected quickly and accurately and the image and sound are disturbed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the demerit for the user that the image and the sound are not correctly displayed until the receiving device receiving the supply of the image data follows the synchronous conversion of the image data.

  In addition, in the rare event that the color of the reproduced image is not normal or audio is not output due to a change in the synchronization signal, the user needs to connect or disconnect the cable. However, according to the present invention, since the change of the synchronization signal itself does not occur, it is possible to avoid bothering the user to solve the trouble.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an apparatus and a method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the apparatus and method of the present invention will be described by taking as an example a case where it is applied to a playback apparatus that reads and outputs image data recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD player or a hard disk recorder.

  In a playback device such as a DVD player or a hard disk recorder, image data and audio data are usually played back in synchronization. However, in order to simplify the description below, the image data playback system will be mainly described, and the description of the audio data playback system will be omitted.

[Configuration of playback device]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a reproducing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. The playback device 1 according to this embodiment includes a digital interface (hereinafter abbreviated as a digital I / F) compliant with the HDMI standard. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a digital I / F compliant with the HDMI standard is provided. It is connected to the display device 2 through the cable 3. In other words, in this embodiment, the display device 2 is also provided with a digital I / F compliant with the HDMI standard in the same manner as the playback device 1.

  The playback device 1 according to this embodiment can output image data to the display device 2 through a digital I / F compliant with the HDMI standard, and can receive necessary information from the display device 2. It is something that can be done. Further, the playback device 1 can also determine whether or not the display device 2 is electrically connected through a predetermined line provided in the digital I / F compliant with the HDMI standard.

  Here, the configuration of the display device 2 connected to the playback device 1 by a digital I / F conforming to the HDMI standard will be briefly described. The display device 2 is a so-called HDMI sink device conforming to the HDMI standard, and stores an HDMI connector unit 21a, an HDMI control unit 21b, and EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) information in order to realize a digital I / F of the HDMI standard. The memory 21c is provided.

  The EDID information stored in the memory 21c of the display device 2 includes the type of resolution of image data that can be processed (displayed) by the display device 2, the operation method, the video frequency (synchronization frequency), and the color space (color space). ) And other device display specifications that are display specifications for image data that can be displayed on the display device 2.

  The EDID information stored and held in the memory 21c of the display device 2 is read by the HDMI control unit 21b in response to a request from the playback device 1, and data and clocks in a digital I / F compliant with the HDMI standard. The signal can be supplied to the playback device 1 through a signal line (DDC (Display Data Channel) line).

  Further, the HDMI control unit 21b of the display device 2 has a function as a receiver / decoder that receives and decodes image data transmitted through a digital I / F of the HDMI standard, and, as described above, in the memory 21c. A function as a digital I / F compliant with the HDMI standard, such as a function of reading out stored EDID information and transmitting it through the DDC line, is realized. Further, the HDMI connector 21a constitutes a connection end with an HDMI standard digital I / F cable.

  Next, the reproducing apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the playback apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a storage 10, a reading unit 11, a decoder 12, a resolution determining unit 13, a resolution converting unit 14, an image synthesizing unit 15, an HDMI transmitter 16a, and an HDMI connector unit 16b. , A display interface (hereinafter abbreviated as a display system I / F) 17, an operation reception interface (hereinafter abbreviated as an operation reception I / F) 18, and a system control unit 19.

  The HDMI transmitter 16a and the HDMI connector 16b realize an HDMI standard digital I / F. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the system control unit 19 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 191, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 192, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 193, and a nonvolatile memory 194 connected by a CPU bus. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, the microcomputer is configured to control each part of the reproducing apparatus of this embodiment.

  Here, the CPU 191 executes a program stored in the ROM 192, which will be described later, and forms a control signal to be supplied to each part and supplies it to each part, or receives a signal from each part and responds accordingly. It is the main subject of control, such as performing a process. As described above, the ROM 192 stores in advance various programs executed by the CPU 191 and various data necessary for processing.

  The RAM 192 is mainly used as a work area, such as temporarily storing intermediate results of processing. The nonvolatile memory 193 includes a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM), etc., and data that should be retained even when the power is turned off, for example, various setting parameters, processing results, or functions added. And more specifically, one or more corresponding display specifications that are display specifications of image data that can be properly processed by the playback apparatus 1 and which display specifications in the own device. A display specification conversion pattern indicating which display specification can be converted from is also stored and held.

  The system control unit 19 is connected with an operation reception I / F 18. The operation reception I / F 18 includes various operation keys, dial keys, and the like. The operation reception I / F 18 can receive an operation input from the user and convert it into an electrical signal, which can be supplied to the system control unit 19. As a result, the system control unit 19 forms a control signal to be supplied to each unit in response to an operation input from the user received through the operation reception I / F 18, and supplies the control signal to each unit, thereby receiving an operation input from the user. The corresponding processing can be executed.

  The storage 10 is a storage device that can be configured using various storage media such as an optical disk such as a DVD, a magneto-optical disk such as an MD (Mini Disc (registered trademark)), a magnetic disk such as a hard disk, and a semiconductor memory. . In this embodiment, the storage 10 will be described as being capable of realizing a large storage capacity at a relatively low cost, capable of recording data, and using a detachable DVD.

  The image data stored and held in the storage 10 is read by the reading unit 11 and supplied to the decoder 12. In this embodiment, the image data stored and held in the storage 10 is data compressed by a predetermined method. The decoder 12 receives supply of image data that has been data-compressed by a predetermined method from the reading unit 11, compresses and decompresses the image data, and original image data before compression (baseband signal composed of 0 and 1). Is supplied to the resolution determination unit 13.

  The resolution determination unit 13 determines the image display specifications such as the resolution of the image data based on the information included in the image data supplied thereto, notifies the determination result to the system control unit 19, and the image data The resolution conversion unit 14 is supplied. Here, the image display specification of the output target image data notified from the resolution determination unit 13 to the system control unit 19 is temporarily stored in, for example, the RAM 193 of the system control unit 19.

  If the image data from the resolution discriminating unit 13 does not require conversion of image display specifications such as resolution under the control of the system control unit 19, the resolution converting unit 14 directly synthesizes the image data as it is. When the image data supplied to the unit 15 and the display system I / F 17 needs to be converted into the image display specification, the image display specification of the image data is converted. Thus, the image data whose image display specifications are converted is supplied to the image composition unit 15 and the display system I / F 17.

  The display system I / F 17 includes, for example, a display element such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a display element controller such as an LCD controller, and forms an image signal supplied to the display element from the image data from the resolution conversion unit 14. By supplying this to the display element, an image corresponding to the image data is displayed on the display screen of the display element. Note that the display system I / F 17 can display status information of the playback apparatus 1 and various guidance messages, warning messages, and the like according to the control of the system control unit 19. Yes.

  On the other hand, the image synthesizing unit 15 includes a frame memory 15a. As will be described in detail later, the image compositing unit 15 stores data in an area corresponding to the image size of a display specification (fixed display specification) selected and fixed by the user. The image data to be output read from 10 is overwritten, a predetermined black image and the read image data are combined, and the combined image data is supplied to the HDMI transmitter 16a.

  In order to automatically calculate which part of the image (black image) having the image size of the display specification (fixed display specification) to be fixed is overwritten with the image data read from the storage 10. In addition, the image display specification determined by the resolution determination unit 13 and the image display specification after conversion in the resolution conversion unit 14 that performs conversion processing of the image display specification according to the control of the system control unit 19 are used. The black image size specification and the overwrite start position determination and notification to the image composition unit 15 are performed by a control command from the system control unit 19.

  The HDMI transmitter 16a converts the image data from the image composition unit 15 into HDMI standard data under the control of the system control unit 19, performs encryption, and the like, and outputs an image from its own device through the HDII / F. It forms data. The output image data formed by the HDMI transmitter 16a is supplied to the display device 2 through the HDMI connector section 16b and the HDMI standard digital I / F cable 3. The HDMI connector unit 16b constitutes a connection end with the HDMI standard digital I / F cable 3.

  In the display device 2, the image data from the playback device 1 is received through the HDMI connector unit 21a and supplied to the HDMI control unit 21b. The HDMI control unit 21b converts the encrypted image data from the playback device 1 into image data that can be processed by the own device, for example, and outputs the image data to a subsequent processing circuit. It can be used as image data for displaying an image on the display screen of the display element.

  The reproduction apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a mode A and a mode B as modes for forming image data to be output. Here, the mode A is one or more (one or more types) of device display specifications that can be handled by the display device 2 and one or more (one or more types) of corresponding display specifications that are display specifications that can be appropriately output from the playback device 1. Is fixed to one display specification selected from among the overlapping display specifications, and image data to be output is formed and output so as to match the fixed display specification (fixed display specification).

  That is, mode A is a mode in which even when image data having different image display specifications is reproduced continuously, the image and sound are not disturbed. The display specifications are fixedly used by the playback device 1 and the display device 2 to prevent the image and sound from being disturbed.

  In mode B, each time a signal read from the storage 10 changes without fixing the display specification, for example, the image display specification of the read image data, the device display specification in the display device 2, and the playback device 2 are displayed. In consideration of the display specification conversion pattern that indicates which image display specification can be converted from which image display specification, the image display specification of the image data to be output is automatically converted to the optimal display specification. It is to make.

  In order to form image data that matches the display specification (fixed display specification) that is fixed when the mode A is selected, the above-described image composition unit 15 of the playback apparatus 1 of this embodiment. It is used. Even when mode A is selected, if the image display specification of the image data to be output is the same as the configured display specification, and if mode B is selected, the image composition unit In FIG. 15, since it is not necessary to perform image composition processing, the image composition unit 15 can output (through) the supplied image data as it is.

  In the playback apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when receiving an instruction to operate in mode A through the operation reception I / F 18, the system control unit 19 is selected as a display specification to be used fixedly by the user. Output target image data based on the fixed display specification, the display specification conversion pattern stored in the nonvolatile memory 194 of the playback device 1, and the image labeling specification of the image data to be output from the playback device 1. Is processed and output, and the specified processing is performed and output.

  That is, the system control unit 19 can process the display device 2 stored in the memory 21c of the display device 2 through the HDMII / F data signal line and clock signal line (DDC (Display Data Channel) line). One or more device display specifications including the resolution type of image data, video frequency, color space, and the like are acquired and temporarily stored in, for example, the RAM 193.

  Furthermore, the system control unit 19 stores the display specification conversion pattern, which is information indicating which image display specification can be converted from which image display specification in the resolution conversion unit 14, in the nonvolatile memory 194 or in its own device. Corresponding display specifications which are display specifications of images that can be handled (can be output properly) are stored and held in advance.

  For this reason, the system control unit 19 first obtains in advance from the display device 2 one or more corresponding display specifications that are information indicating display specifications that can be supported by the playback device 1 stored in the nonvolatile memory 194. Then, the user is prompted to select a display specification to be fixed from among display specifications common to one or more device display specifications (device display specification group) temporarily stored in the RAM 193, and the selected display specification is displayed. The display specifications (fixed display specifications) used in the playback device 1 and the display device 2 are fixed.

  As described above, the common display specification for the device display specification that can be handled by the display device 2 and the corresponding display specification that can be handled by the playback device 1 is selected as the fixed display specification between the playback device 1 and the display device 2. This is because a display specification that can be reliably handled by both can be selected as the fixed display specification.

  The system control unit 19 then matches the image display specification of the image data to be output with the fixed display specification selected as the display specification that is used fixedly in both the playback device 1 and the display device 2. In this case, it is determined that the image data to be output can be output as it is, and the image data to be output is output as it is without changing the image display specification.

  On the other hand, when the image display specification of the image data to be output does not match the selected fixed display specification, and when it is determined that the image data cannot be output as it is, the system control unit 19 sets the image data to be output as the fixed display specification. In order to output the image data in accordance with the image data, as will be described in detail later, is it necessary to perform only image composition processing, whether both image display specification conversion processing and image composition processing are necessary, or only image display specification conversion processing? Is determined, and the specified processing is performed on the image data to be output, and image data is formed and output in accordance with the fixed display specifications.

  As described above, the mode A included in the playback device 1 of this embodiment has the selected fixed display specification regardless of the image display specification of the image data read from the storage 10 in the playback device 1. The image data matched is formed and output.

  However, in the playback apparatus 1 of this embodiment, so-called up-conversion processing for converting the low-resolution image display specification into the high-resolution image display specification is not performed. The circuit that performs the up-conversion process is more expensive and has a larger circuit scale than a circuit that performs a so-called down-control conversion process that converts a high-resolution image display specification into a low-resolution image display specification. For this reason, from the viewpoint of cost and downsizing design, the playback apparatus 1 of this embodiment is not equipped with a circuit for performing up-conversion of image display specifications. Accordingly, the resolution conversion unit 14 shown in FIG. 1 mainly performs down-conversion processing.

  When the mode A is selected, as described above, the image data output from the playback device 1 through the HDMI transmitter 16a and the HDMI connector 16b is set to match the selected fixed display specification. Since it is output, the display device 2 can always appropriately display an image corresponding to the image data from the playback device 1. That is, inconveniences such as no image being displayed during the time required for the display device 2 to cope with the new image display specification can be prevented.

  In the reproduction apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the function as an output terminal for outputting image data and the function as an input terminal for receiving input of EDID information are realized by the HDMI connector 16b. . Further, the function as an acquisition unit for acquiring the device display specification is realized by the system control unit 19. Further, the function as the corresponding display specification storage unit is realized by the nonvolatile memory 194, and the function as the reception unit is realized by the operation reception I / F 18.

  Further, the function as the determination unit for determining the image labeling specification of the image data to be output is realized by the resolution determination unit 13, and the function as the forming unit for forming the image data for output that matches the fixed display specification is The resolution conversion unit 14 and the image synthesis unit 15 controlled by the system control unit 19 are realized. That is, the function as the forming unit is realized by the system control unit 19, the resolution conversion unit 14, and the image composition unit 15 in cooperation. The function as the output means is realized by the HDMI transmitter 16a.

[Output processing of image data in the playback apparatus 1]
Next, image data output processing performed in the playback apparatus 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 to 4 are flowcharts for explaining image data output processing performed in the reproducing apparatus 1 of this embodiment. The flowchart processing shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 is mainly executed by the system control unit 19 when an instruction to reproduce image data stored in the storage 10 is received through the operation reception I / F 18.

  When receiving an instruction to reproduce image data through the operation reception I / F 18, the system control unit 19 checks whether or not the display device 2 is connected to the HDMI connector 16b (step S1). The confirmation processing in step S1 can be performed by confirming a signal on a predetermined line of the digital I / F conforming to the HDMI standard.

  When it is determined in the confirmation process in step S1 that the display device is not connected, the confirmation treatment in step S1 is repeated and the display device waits for connection. In this case, a message for prompting connection of the display device may be displayed on the display screen of the display system I / F 17.

  When it is confirmed in step S1 that the display device is connected, the system control unit 19 stores the EDID information stored and held in the memory 21c of the display device 2 through the DDC line of the HDMI standard digital I / F. Is read (step S2).

  Then, the system control unit 19 determines (recognizes) a device display specification group α that is one or more display specifications of an image that can be displayed on the display device 2 based on the EDID information read in step S2 (step S3). ).

In this embodiment, the device display specification group α in the display device 2 determined in step S3 is
(1) 1920 × 1080p
(2) 720 × 480p / 4: 3
(3) 720 × 480p / 16: 9
(4) 1440 × 720p
In the following description, it is assumed that the device display specifications consist of the following four types.

  In this embodiment, the display specifications such as the device display specifications, the corresponding display specifications, and the fixed display specifications are the number of pixels in the horizontal direction × the line in the vertical direction as shown in the above (1) to (4). The resolution is indicated by the number, and the characters “p” and “i” added immediately after the number of lines in the vertical direction indicate the scanning method. In this case, the letter “p” indicates that the scanning method is progressive (sequential scanning (non-interlaced)) image data, and the character “i” indicates that the scanning method is interlaced (interlaced scanning) image data. It shows that there is. For image data with a resolution of 720 × 480, the aspect ratio can also be specified as shown in (2) and (3) above.

  Next, the system control unit 19 controls the display system I / F 17 to display a message prompting the user to select a processing mode for the image data to be output on the display screen of the display system I / F 17 (step S1). S4). Specifically, a message that prompts the user to select either the mode A that fixes the display specification to be used or the other mode B is displayed on the display system I / F 17.

  Then, the system control unit 19 waits for selection input of the processing mode from the user through the operation reception I / F 18 (step S5), and when the selection input is made by the user, whether the selected processing mode is mode A or not. Is determined (step S6). When it is determined in step S6 that the mode A is not selected, that is, the mode B is selected, the reproduction process corresponding to the mode B is performed (step S7), and the reproduction process corresponding to the mode B is completed. Then, the processing (image data reproduction processing) shown in FIGS.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the mode A is selected in the determination process of step S6, the system control unit 19 displays a list of display specifications that can be selected as display specifications to be fixed (fixed display specifications), and the list. A message prompting the user to select a fixed display specification is displayed on the display screen of the display system I / F 17 (step S8), and a selection input of the fixed display specification β is received through the operation reception I / F 18 (step S9).

  Note that the list of display specifications that can be selected as the fixed display specifications displayed in step S8 includes the device display specification group α in the display device 2 determined according to the EDID information acquired from the display device 2, and the above. 7 is a list of items remaining under AND (logical product) conditions with corresponding display specifications that are display specifications of images that can be properly output from the playback device 1 stored in the nonvolatile memory 194 of the playback device 1.

For example, as the corresponding display specifications stored and retained in the nonvolatile memory 194 of the playback device 1,
(A) 1920 × 1080p
(B) 720 × 480p / 4: 3
(C) 720 × 480p / 16: 9
The three types of information are stored and held.

  In this case, if the logical product of the four types of device display specifications (1) to (4) described above and the three types of corresponding display specifications (a) to (c) is calculated, 1920 × 1080p other than 1440 × 720p 720 × 480p / 4: 3 and 720 × 480p / 16: 9 are displayed as a list, and a fixed display specification β is selected from the three types of display specifications. . The processing in steps S8 and S9 is a procedure necessary for using mode A as a mode for forming image data to be output. In the following description, it is specifically described that “1920 × 1080p” is selected by the user as the fixed display specification β in step S9.

  Next, the system control unit 19 proceeds to the process of step S10 in FIG. 3, controls the reading unit 11 and the decoder 12 to read and decode the target image data (step S10), and controls the resolution determination unit 13. Then, the image display specification γ of the read image data is determined and grasped (step S11).

  The system control unit 19 determines whether or not the image display specification γ determined in step S11 is the same as the fixed display specification β selected as the display specification to be fixed in step S9 (step S12). If it is determined in step S12 that the image display specification γ and the fixed display specification β are the same, that is, the image display specification γ is also “1920 × 1080p”, and the fixed display specification β is also “1920 × 1080p”. ”, It can be seen that the image data read from the storage 10 can be properly displayed on the display device 2 even if it is output as it is without performing image synthesis processing or image display specification conversion processing.

  In this case, the system control unit 19 controls the HDMI transmitter 16a to generate attribute data (AVI InfoFrame) indicating that all images (transmission images) based on the output target image data are within the effective area ( Step S13).

  Next, the system control unit 19 controls the resolution conversion unit 14 and the image composition unit 15 to pass through the image data, controls the HDMI transmitter 16a, and the AVI InfoFrame generated in step S13 and the output target. The image data is converted into image data for output conforming to the HDMI standard (step S14), and this is output to the display device 2 through the HDMI connector 16b and the digital I / F cable 3 conforming to the HDMI standard (step S15). .

  Then, the system control unit 19 receives some end event of the playback process, such as receiving a playback end operation through the operation reception I / F 18, disconnecting the display device 2, or loss of image data to be played back. It is determined whether or not it has been done (step S16).

  If it is determined in step S16 that the playback end event has not occurred (not the playback end), the processing from step S10 is repeated to continue the image data playback processing. If it is determined in step S16 that a playback end event has occurred, the system control unit 19 performs predetermined end processing such as closing a file in the storage 10 or ending the playback operation of each unit. (Step S17), the reproduction processing of the image data shown in FIGS.

  If it is determined in step S12 that the image display specification γ is not the same as the fixed display specification β, the process proceeds to step S18 shown in FIG. Then, the system control unit 19 determines that the image size of the image display specification γ of the image data read from the storage 10 determined in step S11 is smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification β selected by the user in step S9. Whether or not (step S18).

  The determination process in step S18 is a process for determining whether or not an image having the image display specification γ can be directly combined with an image having the image size having the fixed display specification β. If it is determined in step S18 that the image size of the image display specification γ is smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification β, the image display is performed on the image having the image size of the fixed display specification β. It is determined that an image having the image size of the specification γ can be synthesized as it is.

  In this case, the system control unit 19 secures an image composition area (black image area) having a size corresponding to the image size of the fixed display specification β in the frame memory 15a of the image composition unit 15, and the image composition area has an image in the image composition area. A composition start position (X, Y) in the case of compositing an image according to the image size of the display specification γ is calculated (step S19).

  As described above, the selected fixed display specification β is “1920 × 1080p”, and the image display specification γ of the image data read from the storage 10 is “720 × 480p / 4: 3”. Thus, the calculation process of the synthesis start position (X, Y) performed in step S19 will be specifically described. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an image composition area set on the frame memory 15a and a composition start position calculation process on the image composition area.

  In step S19, the system control unit 19 first, based on the fixed display specification β “1920 × 1080p”, as shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal (X-axis direction) 1920 pixels and the vertical (Y-axis direction) 1080 lines. Set the image composition area. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper right end is the origin (0, 0), and 1920 lines in the horizontal direction (X-axis right direction) and 1080 lines in the vertical direction (down Y-axis direction) are combined. Set as an area.

In the playback apparatus of this embodiment, an image having an image size (720 × 480) of the image display specification is combined with the central portion of the image combining area of 1920 pixels wide and 1080 lines vertically shown in FIG. To do. In this case, the position X in the X-axis direction of the synthesis start position a = (X, Y) is
X = (1920-720) / 2 = 600 (1)
As shown in FIG. Further, the position Y in the Y-axis direction of the synthesis start position a = (X, Y) is
Y = (1080-480) / 2 = 300 (2)
As shown in FIG.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the synthesis start position a can be calculated as (600, 300). Then, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the other three points b, c, and d in the region where the image having the image size (720 × 480) is synthesized is set as b = (600 780), c = (1320, 1080), d = (1320, 300).

  In this way, the system control unit 19 calculates the composition start position a in the image composition area of the frame memory 15a, and then controls the image composition unit 15 to set the image size (1920 × 1080) set in the frame memory 15a. In the image composition area, the image based on the image data read from the storage 10 is composed (overwritten) from the composition start position a = (600, 300) (step S20). In this case, the periphery of the image based on the image data read from the storage 10 (the portion indicated by the hatching in FIG. 5) is a black image.

  Next, the system control unit 19 controls the HDMI transmitter 16a to generate attribute data AVI Infoframe (Step S21). As described above, since the effective start position of the image to be transmitted can be described in the AVI Infoframe, the effective image area is designated using the position information of the points a, b, c, and d in FIG.

  Then, the system control unit 19 repeats the processing from step S14 shown in FIG. That is, the system control unit 19 controls the HDMI transmitter 16a to convert the image data synthesized by the image synthesis unit 15 and the AVI Infoframe generated in step S21 into data in the HDMI output format in step S20. This is transmitted to the display device 2 through the HDMI connector 16b and the digital I / F cable 3 conforming to the HDMI standard (step S15).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not an event for ending reproduction has occurred (step S16). When it is determined that an event for ending reproduction has not occurred, the processing from step S10 is repeated to end the reproduction. When it is determined that an event has occurred, a predetermined end process is performed, and the reproduction process shown in FIGS.

  In the determination process of step S18 shown in FIG. 4, if it is determined that the image size of the image display specification γ is not smaller (larger) than the image size of the fixed display specification β, the system control unit 19 The display specification conversion pattern (information indicating which display specification can be converted to which display specification) stored and held in its own nonvolatile memory 194 is referred to, and the image display specification γ of the image data to be output is fixed. It is determined whether or not conversion to display specification β is impossible (step S22).

  When it is determined in step S22 that the image display specification γ cannot be converted into the fixed display specification β, the system control unit 19 controls the resolution conversion unit 14 to display the image display specification of the image data to be output. γ is converted into a display specification having an image size smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification β (step S23).

  Thereafter, the system control unit 19 executes the processing from step S19 shown in FIG. That is, the composition start position (X, Y) when the image data of the image display specification after the image display specification γ conversion is overwritten on the memory area of the image size of the fixed display specification β is calculated (step S19). .

  Then, from the synthesis start position (X, Y) calculated in step S19, the image data obtained by converting the image display specification γ in step S23 is overwritten and synthesized (step S20), and the image data is synthesized. AVI Infoframe that specifies the effective image area in the image data is generated (step S21).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S14 shown in FIG. 3, and the image data formed by combining the images in step S20 and the AVI Infoframe generated in step S21 are converted into HDMI output format data (step S14). If the playback end event has not occurred, the process from step S10 is repeated. If the playback end event has occurred, a predetermined end process is performed. (Step S17), the reproduction process shown in FIGS.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S22 that the image display specification γ cannot be converted into the fixed display specification β (the image display specification γ can be converted into the fixed display specification β), the system control unit 19 The resolution conversion unit 14 is controlled to convert the image display specification γ of the image data to be output into the fixed display specification β (step S24).

  Thereafter, the system control unit 19 controls the HDMI transmitter 16a to generate attribute data (AVI InfoFrame) indicating that all images (transmission images) based on the output target image data are within the effective area (step S25). 3), the process from step S14 shown in FIG. 3 is repeated.

  That is, the image data converted into the image display specification β in step S24 and the AVI Infoframe generated in step S25 are converted into HDMI output format data (step S14) and sent to the display device 2 (step S15). 2) If the playback end event has not occurred, the processing from step S10 is repeated. If the playback end event has occurred, a predetermined end processing is performed (step S17). The reproduction process shown in FIG.

  Thus, in this example, the image data to be output that is read from the storage 10 and transmitted to the display device 2 is fixed display specifications that are fixed in the playback device 1 and the display device 2. The image data is set to 1920 × 1080p described in the EIA / CEA-861B standard and is adapted to the fixed display specification.

  In this case, when the image display specification γ of the image data to be output matches the fixed display image β, or when the image display specification γ of the image data to be output is converted to the fixed display image β, Since all the transmitted images are shown to be in the effective image area, the display device 2 also displays an image corresponding to the image data from the playback device 1 over the entire display screen of the display element of the display device 2. .

  Further, when the image display specification γ of the image data to be output does not match the fixed display image β, and the image size of the image display specification γ is smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification β, or When the image size of the image display specification γ is larger than the image size of the fixed display specification β and the image display specification γ cannot be converted into the fixed display specification β, as described with reference to FIG. An image based on output image data having an image size smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification β is combined with the matching black image and provided to the display device.

  In this case, the display device 2 has the display mode shown in FIG. 5, that is, an image in which the central portion of the screen is an image corresponding to the image data read from the storage 10, and the periphery is a black image Can be displayed. Further, since the effective image area (the start position and the end position of the effective image) is known in the AVI Infoframe, the display device 2 displays the target image area in an enlarged manner for the received image data. An image corresponding to the image data read from the storage 10 can be displayed on the entire screen.

  Further, as the greatest merit of using one display specification (fixed display specification) in a fixed manner between the playback device 1 and the display device 2, a problem associated with signal switching of image data having different image display specifications is avoided. be able to. When switching to image data having a different image display specification, the display device 2 needs to switch the setting in the display device 2 in order to cope with the new image display specification, but it takes a predetermined time to follow.

  However, during this time, there is a problem that the transmitted image data and audio data cannot be correctly reproduced, but this can be solved. Also, when switching to image data with different image display specifications, even if the display device 2 falls into an abnormal state for some reason, the playback device 1 cannot know the state, but as described above, the playback device 1 By fixing the type (display specification) of the output signal used in the display device 2, the possibility of falling into an abnormal state can be reduced.

  That is, in the playback device 1 of this embodiment, by fixing display specifications used in the playback device 1 and the display device 2, a video synchronization signal (horizontal synchronization signal, Vertical synchronization signal) can be fixed. Thereby, in the HDMI receiving device (display device 2) that is vulnerable to changes in the video synchronization signal, it is possible to prevent severe image disturbance that occurs at the time of the synchronization change.

  In addition, during the state transition of the receiving device (display device 2), an image transmitted from the playback device (playback device 1) may not be displayed correctly. Since the most time-consuming change in the video synchronization signal does not occur, it is possible to reduce a section that cannot be seen due to image disturbance that occurs as the video synchronization signal changes.

  In addition, since the video synchronization signal of the image data output from the playback device 1 is fixed, it is possible to prevent the receiver from being in an abnormal state caused by the synchronization change in the HDMI receiving device that is vulnerable to the change in the video synchronization signal. it can. Conventionally, when an abnormal state occurs, it is necessary to reset the HDMI communication. Therefore, by the user such as “plug in / out the HDMI cable”, “return input to the receiving device (display device 2)”, etc. Although the operation is necessary, by applying the present invention, the occurrence of the abnormal state itself is overwhelmingly reduced, so that the burden on the user as described above can be reduced.

[Others]
In the above-described embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the image based on the image data to be output is synthesized with the central portion of the predetermined image that matches the fixed display specification. It is not limited. The composition start position can be set at various positions. For example, by making the composition start position coincide with the origin (0, 0), the black image portion can be generated only at the right end and the lower end. Accordingly, the synthesis start position can be set at an appropriate position in consideration of processing in the display device 2.

  In this embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a playback apparatus having a storage such as a DVD player or a hard disk recorder has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an image data output device such as a personal computer that receives image data through a network such as the Internet and outputs it, a set-top box, an IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder), etc. The present invention can also be applied to a so-called cable television or digital television broadcast receiver, a digital video camera, or the like. That is, the present invention can be applied to various output devices for image data that are supplied with image data, processed and output to a receiving device such as a display device.

  The present invention is particularly effective in transmission equipment such as a digital video camera or a portable playback device that cannot be equipped with an up-converter with display specifications in terms of cost and miniaturization design.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that both the playback device 1 and the display device 2 are provided with a digital I / F conforming to the HDMI standard. However, the digital I / F is not limited to that conforming to the HDMI standard. It is possible to use various interfaces that can output image data and information indicating an effective screen area, and can receive information indicating device display specifications that can be supported from a receiving device such as a display device. is there.

  In addition, the interface does not need to be combined with the data rain and the control line as in the digital I / F conforming to the HDMI standard, the data line for transmitting image data and the like, the device display specification, etc. It may be an interface configured to separately connect the control line for transmitting the information.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the reproducing | regenerating apparatus with which one Embodiment of this invention was applied. 3 is a flowchart for explaining image data output processing performed in the reproduction apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart following FIG. It is a flowchart following FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the calculation process of the image composition area | region set on the frame memory 15a, and the composition start position on this image composition area | region. It is a figure for demonstrating the transmission line of the main data of the digital interface based on HDMI specification. It is a figure for demonstrating the transmission image of the information transmitted by the interface of HDMI specification.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Playback apparatus, 10 ... Storage, 11 ... Reading part, 12 ... Decoder, 13 ... Resolution determination part, 14 ... Resolution conversion part, 15 ... Image composition part, 16a ... HDMI transmitter, 16b ... HDMI connector part, 17 ... Display System I / F, 18 ... Operation Acceptance I / F, 19 ... System Control Unit, 2 ... Display Device, 21a ... HDMI Connector Unit, 21b ... HDMI Control Unit, 21c ... Memory, 3 ... Digital I / F Cable of HDMI Standard

Claims (8)

An output end of image data supplied to the display device;
An input end of information from the display device;
Acquisition means for acquiring, through the input terminal, one or more device display specifications that are information held in the display device and that are display specifications for image data that can be displayed on the display device;
Corresponding display specification storage means for storing and holding one or more corresponding display specifications that are display specifications for image data that can be appropriately output from the own device;
One display specification used in a fixed manner out of display specifications common to one or more device display specifications acquired through the acquisition means and one or more corresponding display specifications held in the corresponding display specification storage means. A receiving means for receiving selection input of a fixed display specification;
A discriminating means for discriminating an image display specification which is a display specification of image data to be output;
The image display specification determined by the determination unit does not match the fixed display specification selected through the receiving unit, and the image display specification of the image data to be output matches the fixed display specification. Forming means that performs predetermined processing including at least image composition processing and includes an image according to the image data to be output, and forms image data that conforms to the fixed display specification,
An image output apparatus comprising: output means for outputting the image data formed by the forming means to the display device through the output terminal. The image output device according to claim 1,
The forming means includes
When the image size of the image display specification is smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification, the image data to be output of the image display specification is synthesized with the predetermined image data of the fixed display specification. Create image data for output,
When the image size of the image display specification is larger than the image size of the fixed display specification, the image data to be output of the image display specification is displayed with an image size smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification. An image output characterized in that, after being converted into image data of a specification, the image data to be output is synthesized with the predetermined image data of the fixed display specification to form the output image data apparatus. The image output device according to claim 1,
When an image corresponding to the image data to be output is combined with an image having an image size of the fixed display specification, the image is combined according to the image data to be output on the image having an image size of the fixed display specification. A calculating means for calculating a starting position;
Based on the synthesis start position calculated by the calculation means, discrimination information formation that forms information that makes it possible to discriminate between the image portion of the image data to be output and the other portion in the image data after synthesis Means,
An image output apparatus comprising: information supply means for supplying the information formed by the distinction information forming means to the display device through the output terminal or another output terminal. The image output apparatus according to claim 2,
The predetermined image data of the fixed display specification used in the forming means is to form a non-image such as a black image that makes the entire surface of the display image black or a blue image that makes the entire surface of the display image blue. A featured image output device. An image output method used in an image output device for outputting image data to a display device,
An acquisition step of acquiring one or more device display specifications which are information held in the display device and which are display specifications for image data that can be displayed on the display device;
Display specifications common to one or more device display specifications acquired in the acquisition step and one or more corresponding display specifications that are display specifications for image data that can be appropriately output from the own apparatus stored and held in the own apparatus. A receiving step of receiving a selection input of a fixed display specification which is one display specification used fixedly from within,
A determination step of determining an image display specification which is a display specification of image data to be output;
The image display specification determined in the determination step does not match the fixed display specification selected according to the selection input received in the reception step, and the image display specification of the image data to be output is When conversion cannot be performed so as to match the fixed display specification, at least predetermined processing including image synthesis processing is performed, and an image corresponding to the image data to be output is included to form image data that matches the fixed display specification Forming process to
An image output method comprising: an output step of outputting the image data formed in the formation step to the display device. The image output method according to claim 5,
In the forming step,
When the image size of the image display specification is smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification, the image data to be output of the image display specification is synthesized with the predetermined image data of the fixed display specification. Create image data for output,
When the image size of the image display specification is larger than the image size of the fixed display specification, the image data to be output of the image display specification is displayed with an image size smaller than the image size of the fixed display specification. An image output characterized in that, after being converted into image data of a specification, the image data to be output is synthesized with the predetermined image data of the fixed display specification to form the output image data Method. The image output method according to claim 5,
When an image corresponding to the image data to be output is combined with an image having an image size of the fixed display specification, the image is combined according to the image data to be output on the image having an image size of the fixed display specification. A calculation step of calculating a start position;
Based on the synthesis start position calculated in the calculation step, a discrimination information forming step for forming information that makes it possible to discriminate between an image portion by the image data to be output and other portions in the image data after synthesis. When,
An image output method comprising: an information supply step of supplying information formed in the distinction information forming step to the display device. The image output method according to claim 6, comprising:
The predetermined image data of the fixed display specification used in the forming step is to form a non-image such as a black image that makes the entire surface of the display image black or a blue image that makes the entire surface of the display image blue. Image output method.

Images