JP2010288050A - Information processing device, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain transmission of a video signal by a four-pole stereo mini cable 11, by utilizing that the four-pole stereo mini cable 11 includes right and left sound-signal lines L, R, a control signal line C and a grounding line G. <P>SOLUTION: When a connection cable is connected to a portable memory recording and playback device 12 (positive in S31), it is decided (S32) that the connection cable is four-pole or three-pole. If an interval between the lines C and G is in a non-short-circuiting state, it is determined that the connection cable is the four-pole stereo mini cable 11; and it is determined whether the line C is used for a control signal (S34). When CD system apparatus 10 is a machine corresponding to the control signal, the control signal may be transmitted to the portable memory recording and playback device 12; and the line C is maintained at predetermined voltage or more (example: +5V or more). When the line C is less than the predetermined voltage (example: less than +5V), it is decided that the line C is not to be used for the control signal; and the line C is used for the video signal (S36). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and program, such as a portable recording / playback device (player / recorder).

  To connect a portable device such as a portable recording / playback device to a stationary device such as a home audio or car audio, and to transmit the audio signals of the left and right channels of the music of the portable device from the portable device to the stationary device, L (left Audio signal), R (right audio signal), and GND (ground) three-pole connection lines are required, and a well-known three-pole stereo cable is used. Further, in the known 4-pole stereo cable, a C (control signal) connection line is added in addition to the connection line of the 3-pole stereo cable. When a portable device is connected to a stationary device using a 4-pole stereo cable, various control signals can be transmitted from the stationary device to the portable device via a C connection line.

  In Patent Document 1, a portable HDD recording / playback device is connected to a CD system device via a four-pole stereo cable, and a control signal is sent from the CD system device to the portable HDD, so that the playback sound of the music of the portable HDD recording / playback device is recorded on the CD. It is disclosed to output from a speaker of a system device or to record a CD music of a CD system device in a storage device of a portable HDD recording / reproducing device (paragraphs 0003, 0033, 0035 and 0042 of Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-179637

  Some portable recording / playback devices have functions for reproducing and outputting not only audio but also video and still images. In the case of such a portable recording / playback device, in order to transmit and receive a video signal between a stationary device and a portable device, the connection cable needs to be equipped with a video signal connection line. And the 4-pole stereo cable is not equipped with a video signal connection line, and it is necessary to add one more pole.

  In Patent Document 1, a portable HDD recording / reproducing device is connected to a CD system device by a single 4-pole stereo cable, and a connection line L is used to request a recording request from the CD system device to the portable HDD recording / reproducing device via the connection line C. Used to transmit a signal indicating that the portable HDD recording / reproducing device has acknowledged from the portable HDD recording / reproducing device to the CD system device for a predetermined time in response to the control signal. Although disclosed to return to signal transmission (FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1), there is no mention of how to specifically deal with the addition of a video signal with a 4-pole stereo cable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, method, and program capable of transmitting a plurality of types of signals without increasing the number of transmission paths.

  According to the present invention, a control signal is transmitted to a connection cable having a transmission channel for a left channel audio signal, a transmission channel for a right channel audio signal, and a transmission channel for a control signal and connected to a partner machine. If it is determined that the transmission path is not used for transmission of the first signal, the transmission path is allocated for transmission of the second signal.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the following.
The control signal transmission path in the connection cable having a left channel audio signal transmission path, a right channel audio signal transmission path, and a control signal transmission path and connected to the partner machine is the first. Use determination means for determining whether or not the signal is used for transmission of the signal, and when the determination by the use determination means is negative, the predetermined transmission path is different from the first signal. Means for allocating for transmission of a signal.

The information processing method of the present invention includes the following steps.
The control signal transmission path in the connection cable having a left channel audio signal transmission path, a right channel audio signal transmission path, and a control signal transmission path and connected to the partner machine is the first. A use determination step for determining whether or not the signal is used for transmission of the signal, and if the determination in the use determination step is negative, the predetermined transmission path is different from the first signal. Assigning step for the transmission of a signal.

  The program of the present invention causes a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to transmit a plurality of types of signals without increasing the number of transmission lines.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a situation when a portable memory recording / reproducing device is connected to a CD system device. It is a figure which shows the block configuration of CD system apparatus with each connection line of 4 pole stereo mini cable. It is a flowchart of a signal allocation method. It is a flowchart of the superposition assignment method. It is a block diagram of an information processor. It is a flowchart of an information processing method.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a situation when the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 is connected to the CD system device 10. The CD system device 10 is a stationary type or a portable type placed in a home, or an in-vehicle device. The portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 is of a size and weight that can be stored in a pocket or bag of clothes such as a DAP (Digital Audio Player) with a recording and video playback function. For example, when the user wants to output the contents of the portable memory recording / playback device 12 from the CD system device 10, the miniplugs at both ends of the four-pole stereo mini-cable 11 are connected to the CD system device 10 and the portable memory recording / playback device 12. Insert the terminal.

  FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the CD system device 10 together with each connection line of the 4-pole stereo mini-cable 11. The 4-pole stereo mini cable 11 has connection lines L, R, G, and C. The connection lines L, R, G, and C are a signal line for sound L (left), a signal line for sound R (right), a ground line, and a control line, respectively. C is shared by the control signal and the video signal as will be described later.

  The microcomputer 14 sends a predetermined signal to the switch 13 and the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 17 based on the presence / absence of a control signal received from the CD system device 10 via the line C of the 4-pole stereo mini cable 11 and / or the applied voltage of the line C. Send control signal. The switch 13 connects lines L, R, and C to an A / D (analog / digital converter) 15 or a D / A (digital / analog converter) 16 under the control of the microcomputer 14.

  The switch 13 connects the lines L, R, and C to the A / D 15 when the media content in the CD system device 10 is recorded in the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12, and the switch 13 is connected to the lines L, R, and C. Is connected to the D / A 16 when the content held in the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 is output in the CD system device 10. The switch 13 connects the line C to the A / D 15 or D / A 16 when the line C is used for transmission of a video signal instead of a control signal, as will be described later. When the line C is used for a control signal, the switch 13 connects the line C to the microcomputer 14.

  The A / D 15 converts each analog signal from the switch 13 into a digital signal and sends it to the DSP 17. The D / A 16 converts each digital signal from the DSP 17 into an analog signal and sends it to the switch 13.

  The DSP 17 encodes the digital signal from the A / D 15 into digital data of a predetermined format and records it in a non-volatile memory (eg, hard disk device or flash memory) 18. The audio and video of the content is stored in the nonvolatile memory 18 in a compressed file format such as MP3, WMA, and MPEG. The DSP 17 reads out the content data such as a song for which a reproduction instruction has been given from the microcomputer 14 from the nonvolatile memory 18, decrypts it, and sends it to the D / A 16.

When the content stored in the portable memory recording / playback device 12 is played back by the portable memory recording / playback device 12, digital audio signals of the left and right channels of the content are sent from the DSP 17 to the audio output interface 20. The audio output interface 20 converts the digital audio signal from the DSP 17 into an analog audio signal, converts the analog audio signal to a predetermined level, and then outputs the analog audio signal to the left and right earphones 21. The left and right earphones 21 convert the audio signal from the audio output interface 20 into left and right audio and output it.
On the other hand, the video signal of the content is sent from the DSP 17 to a display device 22 such as a color liquid crystal device, and a playback video is output from the display device 22. The display 22 also displays various information screens based on the display data from the microcomputer 14.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the signal allocation method 30. The signal allocation method 30 is implemented in the portable memory recording / playback device 12. In S31, it is determined whether or not the plug of the connection cable to the CD system device 10 is connected to the mini plug terminal of the portable memory recording / playback device 12, and while the determination is negative, S31 is repeated at predetermined time intervals. As soon as the determination becomes positive, the process proceeds to S32. Whether or not the plug of the cable is connected to the mini plug terminal of the portable memory recording / playback device 12 includes, for example, a limit switch that operates by inserting the plug into the terminal hole of the portable memory recording / playback device 12. Can be determined from the output.

  In S32, it is determined whether or not the connected plug is a plug of a 4-pole mini stereo cable. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S34, and if not, the process proceeds to S33. There are two types of cables that are used when the user connects the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 to the CD system device 10, a 3-pole mini-stereo cable and a 4-pole mini-stereo cable. The 3-pole mini stereo cable has three connection lines, L (left audio), R (right audio), and G (ground), and the 4-pole mini stereo cable has an additional C (control) connection line. Has been. Whether the connected plug is a 3-pole mini-stereo cable or a 4-pole mini-stereo cable is detected based on whether the G terminal and the C terminal in the portable memory recording / playback device 12 are short-circuited or not. be able to. When the connected plug is a three-pole mini-stereo cable, the G terminal and the C terminal are short-circuited.

  In S <b> 33, the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 does not transmit / receive control signals or video signals to / from the CD system device 10 via the connection line C. In the case where control signals and video signals are not transmitted / received, the mini stereo cable has four poles and the connection line C is present, but control signals and video signals are not transmitted / received via the connection line C. In addition, since the mini stereo cable has three poles and the connection line C does not exist, the case where the control signal and the video signal cannot be transmitted / received via the connection line C is also included.

  In this way, between the CD system device 10 and the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12, the left and right audio signals via the connection lines L and R are transmitted and received, but the video signal is not transmitted and received. Note that the left and right audio signals are transmitted from the CD system device 10 to the portable memory recording / playback device 12 and the portable memory recording / playback device 12 to the CD system device 10 via the 4-pole stereo mini-cable 11. Is included. The former occurs, for example, when the contents (eg, music) of the media (eg, CD) of the CD system device 10 are recorded in the nonvolatile memory 18 of the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12, and the latter is, for example, the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12. This occurs when the content recorded in the non-volatile memory 18 is output from the speaker of the CD system device 10. Further, since control signals are not transmitted / received via the connection line C, the user needs to perform user operations in the operation units of both the CD system device 10 and the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 in both the former and latter cases. .

  In S34, it is determined whether or not the connection line C is scheduled to be used for a control signal. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S35, and if not, the process proceeds to S36. Control that allows the CD system device 10 to send a control signal to the portable memory recording / playback device 12 via the connection line C and cause the portable memory recording / playback device 12 to transmit the audio signal of the music to the CD system device 10. There are signal-compatible devices and non-compatible devices. When the CD system device 10 is a non-compatible device, the CD system device 10 is connected to the portable memory recording / playback device 12 via the 4-pole mini-stereo cable 11, but the control signal is sent to the portable memory recording / playback device 12. Can not send. Whether the CD system device 10 is a compatible device or a non-compatible device, that is, whether or not the connection line C is scheduled to be used for a control signal, the portable memory recording / playback device 12 is connected to the plug terminal of the connection line C. Can be determined by examining whether or not the voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (eg, 5 V). When the CD system device 10 is a compatible device, the voltage at the C terminal in the portable memory recording / playback device 12 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value.

  The user can set how the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 handles the connection line C of the 4-pole mini stereo cable. In this user setting, (a1) the connection line C is always used for the control signal, (a2) the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 checks the presence or absence of the control signal from the CD system device 10 on the connection line C, When there is a control signal, the connection line C is used for the control signal, when there is no control signal, the connection line C is used for the video signal, and (a3) the connection line C is always used for the video signal. Is included. S34 is performed based on these user settings. That is, the determination in S34 in the cases of (a1) and (a3) is positive and negative, respectively. In addition, in the case of (a2), the presence or absence of a control signal from the CD system device 10 on the connection line C by the portable memory recording / playback device 12 is, for example, when the portable memory recording / playback device 12 is turned on and 12 is inspected when the 4-pole stereo mini-cable 11 is connected to 12 (including the time of reconnection when connected), and the determination result of S34 based on the inspection result is maintained until the next inspection. That is, the following settings of S35 and S36 are maintained.

  In S35, the connection line C of the 4-pole mini stereo cable 11 is used for control signal transmission / reception. Thereby, for example, when the music of the portable memory recording / playback device 12 is output from the speaker of the CD system device 10, the control signal corresponding to the user operation (eg, reproduction instruction) in the operation unit of the CD system device 10 is sent to the CD system device. 10 to the portable memory recording / playback device 12 via the connection line C. The portable memory recording / playback device 12 reads the data of the corresponding music piece from the nonvolatile memory 18 based on this control signal, and reproduces the right and left of the music piece. The audio signal is transmitted to the CD system device 10 via the connection lines L and R.

  In S36, the connection line C of the 4-pole mini stereo cable 11 is used for video signal transmission / reception. As a result, for example, when AV (Audio Visual) content stored in the nonvolatile memory 18 of the portable memory recording / playback device 12 is reproduced on the display and speaker of the CD system device 10, A video signal is transmitted from the portable memory recording / playback device 12 to the CD system device 10 via connection lines L, R, and C, respectively, and the audio and video are output from the display and speaker of the CD system device 10.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the superposition assignment method 40. The overlay allocation method 40 is implemented in the portable memory recording / reproducing apparatus 12. In the superposition assignment method 40, the same step as the step of the signal assignment method 30 is assigned the same step number as the corresponding step number of the signal assignment method 30, the description is omitted, and the difference is explained. To do. In the superposition assignment method 40, only S34 and S35 of the signal assignment method 30 are replaced with S41 and S42. Only differences from the signal allocation method 30 will be described.

  In S41, it is determined whether or not the connection line C is used for superimposing the control signal and the video signal. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to S42, and if not, the process proceeds to S36.

  In S42, the connection line C is used for superimposing the video signal and the control signal. The superimposition of the video signal and the control signal is (b1) the superimposition of the video signal and the control signal transmitted from the CD system device 10 to the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 via the connection line C, and (b2) the connection line C via the connection line C. There is a superposition of a video signal and a control signal transmitted from the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 to the CD system device 10. (B1) is performed, for example, when the content of the CD system device 10 is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 18 of the portable memory recording / playback device 12, and (b2) is performed, for example, from the CD system device 10 with the content of the portable memory recording / playback device 12 This is when outputting. The superimposing process in the case of (b1) is performed by the CD system device 10, and the superimposing process in the case of (b1) is performed by the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12.

  The specific method of superposition is a time division method and a frequency division method. In the time division superimposition, the control signal is prioritized over the video signal, and when it is necessary to transmit the control signal during transmission of the video signal, the transmission of the video signal is interrupted and the control signal is transmitted. Since the control signal and the video signal are only when the transmission direction is the same as in (b1) and (b2) described above, which of the control signal and the video signal is transmitted by the transmission side device? And switching timing is controlled. When frequency division superimposition is employed, the frequency of the control signal is set outside the frequency band of the video signal.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the information processing apparatus 50. A specific example of the information processing apparatus 50 is a portable memory recording / reproducing device 12. The information processing apparatus 50 may be a reproduction-only machine having no recording function. This is because the video signal as the second signal may be transmitted from the reproduction-only device to the system device of the counterpart device. The information processing apparatus 50 may also be an information processing device other than a content recording / playback device or a content playback device. Further, the information processing apparatus 50 may not be portable. Note that the CD system device 10 may be a specific example of the information processing apparatus 50. The information processing apparatus 50 includes a use determination unit 51 and an allocation unit 52.

  The use determining unit 51 determines whether or not a predetermined transmission path included in one connection cable connected to the partner machine is used for transmission of the first signal. The allocation unit 52 allocates a predetermined transmission path for transmission of the second signal when the determination by the use determination unit 51 is negative.

  Typically, the first and second signals are a control signal and a video signal, respectively. Typically, the first signal is a signal that is originally transmitted through a predetermined transmission path. When the predetermined transmission path is the connection line C of the 4-pole stereo cable, the signal originally transmitted by the predetermined transmission path is a control signal from the counterpart apparatus to the own apparatus. The quadrupole stereo cable includes, in addition to a control signal transmission path, a left channel audio signal transmission path and a right channel audio signal transmission path.

  Thus, the information processing apparatus 50 can share a predetermined transmission line in one connection cable for the first and second signal transmissions. As a result, it is possible to omit adding one transmission path in order to ensure transmission of the second signal.

  The determination by the usage determining unit 51 typically includes when the information processing apparatus 50 is turned on, or when the information processing apparatus 50 is connected to a counterpart device by a connection cable (including when it is reconnected). The allocation of the allocation unit 52 based on the determination result is maintained until the next determination in the usage determination unit 51 is performed.

  The use determination unit 51 performs determination based on, for example, an applied voltage of a predetermined transmission line. In the portable memory recording / playback device 12 as a specific example of the information processing apparatus 50, if the counterpart device is a device that supports transmission of the control signal as the first signal, whether or not the connection line C is transmitting the control signal. Regardless of this, a predetermined voltage (eg, about 5 V) is applied.

  The usage determination unit 51 performs determination based on, for example, detection of a control signal in a predetermined transmission path. Specific examples of the information processing apparatus 50 and its counterpart are the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 and the CD system device 10, respectively, and specific examples of the first and second signals are respectively stored in the portable memory recording device from the CD system device 10. In the case of a control signal to the re-device 12 and a video signal from the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 to the CD system device 10, the portable memory recording / reproducing device 12 (in this non-transmission period of the video signal to the CD system device 10 (this The period can be determined by the portable memory recording / playback device 12), and the control signal on the connection line C is detected.

  The information processing apparatus 50 can further include signal transmission means 53. When the assigning unit 52 assigns the predetermined transmission path to the transmission of the second signal, the signal transmitting unit 53 transmits the first signal superimposed on the second signal. In this case, the transmission directions of the first and second signals are both the transmission directions from the information processing apparatus 50 to the counterpart device. This is because if the transmission directions are opposite to each other, the information processing apparatus 50 cannot superimpose both signals.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the information processing method 60. The information processing method 60 is applied to the information processing apparatus 50. In S61, it is determined whether or not a predetermined transmission path included in one connection cable connected to the partner machine is used for transmission of the first signal. The information processing method 60 is terminated. If not, the process proceeds to S62. In S62, a predetermined transmission path is allocated for transmission of a second signal different from the first signal.

  The processes of S61 and S62 correspond to the functions of the use determination unit 51 and the allocation unit 52 of the information processing apparatus 50 (FIG. 5), respectively. Therefore, the specific modes described for the functions of the use determination unit 51 and the allocation unit 52 can also be applied as specific modes for the processing of S61 and S62. In the information processing method 60, a step of executing a process corresponding to the function of the signal transmission unit 53 of the information processing apparatus 50 can be added as appropriate. An additional step corresponding to the signal transmission means 53 is inserted after S62. The specific mode described regarding the function of the signal transmission unit 53 can also be applied as a specific mode for the processing of the additional step corresponding to the signal transmission unit 53.

  The program to which the present invention is applied causes a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus 50. Another program to which the present invention is applied causes a computer to execute each step of the information processing method 60.

  This specification discloses various ranges and levels of the invention. In addition to various devices and methods of various technical scopes and specific levels described in the present specification, the present invention has operations and effects independent of each device and each method within the scope of expansion or generalization. Extracting one or more elements, changing one or more elements within the scope of expansion or generalization, and combining one or more elements between devices and methods Includes replacements.

50: Information processing device, 51: Use determination means, 52: Assignment means, 53: Signal transmission means, 60: Information processing method.

Claims (8)

The control signal transmission path in the connection cable having a left channel audio signal transmission path, a right channel audio signal transmission path, and a control signal transmission path and connected to the partner machine is the first. Use determination means for determining whether or not the signal is used for transmission of the signal, and when the determination by the use determination means is negative, the predetermined transmission path is different from the first signal. Means for allocating for transmission of the signal of
An information processing apparatus comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the use determination unit performs determination based on an applied voltage of the predetermined transmission path.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the use determination unit performs determination based on detection of a control signal in the predetermined transmission path. When the assigning means assigns the predetermined transmission line to the transmission of the second signal, the signal transmitting means for superimposing and transmitting the first signal on the second signal;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second signals are a control signal and a video signal, respectively.   6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a four-pole stereo cable is used as the connection cable. The control signal transmission path in the connection cable having a left channel audio signal transmission path, a right channel audio signal transmission path, and a control signal transmission path and connected to the partner machine is the first. A use determination step for determining whether or not the signal is used for transmission of the signal, and if the determination in the use determination step is negative, the predetermined transmission path is different from the first signal. An allocation step for allocating for transmission of a signal of
An information processing method comprising:   The program which makes a computer function as each means of the information processing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-6.

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