JP2011099881A - Display control method, display control program, and display - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display control method for controlling display processing with a plurality of displays connected to network without newly mounting a storage device leading to cost increase on the display, and to provide a display control program, and the display. <P>SOLUTION: A projector 1 executes a step S15 for determining content assignment information obtained with each projector on the basis of a content list determining a projection content; a step S17 for preparing a projection plan determining projection order of contents projected with each projector; a step 19 for transmitting the content assignment information and the projection plan to other projectors 3, 5, 7; a step S21 for obtaining the contents assigned to the projector 1 on the basis of the content assignment information; a step S33 for transmitting obtained contents to the other projectors 3, 5, 7 on the basis of the projection plan; and a step S37 for projecting the obtained contents and the contents received from the other projectors 3, 5, 7 on the basis of the projection plan. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display control method, a display control program, and a display device that control display processing by a plurality of display devices that are communicably connected via a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a control system is known in which a plurality of display devices are centrally managed and controlled by a single personal computer, content as desired is distributed to each display device, and displayed on each display device.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a control system in which projection information is distributed and displayed to a plurality of projectors at once, or the operation status of each projector is grasped, and the control device collectively manages and controls each projector. Is described.

  By centrally managing multiple projectors with a single computer, you can project to two or more projectors simultaneously in a conference room or a large exhibition hall, or divide the projection data projected on a huge screen, A projector is assigned to each divided data, and a huge projected image can be completed by the two or more projectors.

  By the way, in recent years, built-in computers are incorporated in various appliances such as digital home appliances such as digital cameras and projectors, and communication devices such as facsimile apparatuses and mobile phones. Among these devices, a virtual machine is operated on a computer OS (Operating System) platform, and platform-independent execution format code (so-called “byte code (intermediate code)”) is transmitted to the virtual machine. And an execution environment of an application program (hereinafter simply referred to as “application”) that does not depend on a difference in OS platform. According to this, since it is not necessary for the application developer to be aware of the difference in the OS platform, the effort for developing the application can be reduced (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  As the virtual machine, a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine is widely used. A Java (registered trademark) virtual machine recognizes and executes a program of a specific file format, that is, a class file format, and the class file is an instruction (or the byte code) of the Java (registered trademark) virtual machine. ).

JP 2003-198994 A JP 2007-206869 A

  As described above, a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine is mounted on a display device such as a projector or a digital television, so that it can be written on the Java (registered trademark) virtual machine with the above-described byte code regardless of the model. Can be executed. For example, a plurality of display devices connected to the network can be collectively managed by executing an application that provides a network management function on a Java (registered trademark) virtual machine mounted on the display device. The display processing by a plurality of display devices can be collectively managed without requiring a host computer as in the prior art.

  By managing a plurality of display devices on the network collectively, a plurality of files can be displayed simultaneously on a plurality of display devices connected to the network, or one huge image can be displayed on the plurality of display devices. Can be completed. However, in such a case, each display device needs to be provided with a storage device for holding each file.

  However, it is not preferable to provide a storage device with a sufficient capacity in the display device because it leads to an increase in the cost of the display device.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and does not newly include a storage device that leads to an increase in cost, but controls display processing by a plurality of display devices connected to a network. It is an object to provide a control method, a display control program, and a display device.

The present invention that can solve the above-described problem is a display control method for controlling display processing by a plurality of display devices that are communicably connected to each other via a network, and the display device is a display target. Determining the sharing information of the content acquired by each display device based on a content list that defines the content, creating a display plan that defines the display order of the content displayed by each display device, Transmitting the sharing information and the display plan to another display device; acquiring the content shared by the display device based on the sharing information; and acquiring the content acquired based on the display plan Transmitting to the display device and the content acquired based on the display plan and the other display device And executes a step of displaying et received content, the.
According to the above configuration, the display device determines content sharing information and transmits the content sharing information to another display device. Therefore, each display device that has received the sharing information needs to acquire only the content that it shares based on the sharing information. In addition, the display device creates a display plan that defines the display order of the contents, and transmits it to another display device. Therefore, each display device can display content according to the display order determined in the display plan. Furthermore, the display device can display content received from other display devices in addition to the content acquired by itself. That is, the display device does not need to acquire and hold all the content to be displayed, and the content can be shared and acquired by other display devices. When displaying content not held by itself, the content is received and displayed from another display device holding the content to be displayed. Therefore, display control by a plurality of display devices connected to the network can be smoothly realized without newly providing a storage device that leads to an increase in cost.

Further, in the display processing control method of the present invention, the display device obtains the content sharing information acquired by each display device based on the content list of the content to be displayed and the device information of each display device. Preferably, the determining step is performed.
According to the above configuration, content sharing information acquired by the display device is determined based on the device information of each display device. That is, it is possible to determine shared information in consideration of device information that differs for each display device. If the resource amount of the display device is taken as an example of the device information, the sharing information is determined based on the resource amount of each display device, so that the resources of each display device can be used efficiently. For this reason, it is not necessary to give an excessive storage capacity to the display device, and the hardware cost can be reduced.
In addition to the resource amount, the device information may use data transfer capability (data transfer rate: byte per second), CPU processing capability, and the like.

In the display processing control method of the present invention, the display device that has acquired the content designates an absolute time for displaying the content, and executes a step of transmitting the absolute time to the other display device. Is preferred.
According to the above configuration, since the absolute time can be designated, the time at which the content is displayed on each display device can be designated, and the content can be simultaneously displayed at the same time.

In the display processing control method of the present invention, the display device that has acquired the content executes a step of designating a relative time for displaying the content and transmitting the relative time to the other display device. preferable.
According to the above configuration, since the relative time can be displayed, the contents can be displayed simultaneously after a predetermined time has elapsed on each display device.

In the display processing control method of the present invention, the display device that has acquired the content executes a step of transmitting a test signal to the other display device and acquiring a response time with respect to the test signal. It is preferable to designate the relative time based on this.
According to the above configuration, since the response time of another display device connected to the network can be acquired, it is possible to specify a relative time in consideration of the communication time lag. Therefore, the contents can be displayed more accurately and simultaneously.

In the display processing control method of the present invention, it is preferable that the display device that has acquired the content executes a step of specifying a display method of the content and transmitting the display method to the other display device.
According to the above configuration, the content display method can be specified and transmitted to another display device, so that the content can be displayed in the same display format on another display device connected to the network.

The present invention that can solve the above-described problems is a display control program for controlling display processing by a plurality of display devices that are communicably connected to each other via a network, and the display device includes a computer In addition, based on a content list that defines content to be displayed, a step of determining share information of the content acquired by each display device, and a display plan that defines a display order of the content displayed by each display device A step of transmitting the sharing information and the display plan to another display device, obtaining the content shared by the display device based on the sharing information, and based on the display plan, Based on the step of transmitting the acquired content to the other display device and the display plan. And displaying the content received from the content and the other display devices and, characterized in that for the execution.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a display control program for controlling display processing by a plurality of display devices connected to a network without newly installing a storage device that leads to an increase in cost.

In addition, the present invention that can solve the above-described problem is a display device that is communicably connected to a plurality of display devices via a network, and the display device defines content to be displayed. Based on the list, determining the sharing information of the content acquired by each display device, creating a display plan that defines the display order of the content displayed by each display device, and based on the sharing information, An acquisition unit that acquires the content shared by the display device, the sharing information and the display plan are transmitted to another display device, and the content acquired by the acquisition unit is transmitted to the other display device based on the display plan. A table for displaying the content acquired by the acquisition unit and the content received from the other display device based on the transmission plan and the display plan And having a part, a.
According to the above configuration, display processing by a plurality of display devices connected to a network can be smoothly executed without newly installing a storage device that leads to an increase in cost.

It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the projector of this embodiment. It is a software hierarchy figure explaining the application execution environment of the projector of this embodiment. It is a network diagram for demonstrating the outline | summary of the content acquisition distribution function of this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram for demonstrating the internal process of each projector of this embodiment. 4 is a flowchart for explaining content acquisition / distribution processing by the projector. 10 is a flowchart for explaining content acquisition / distribution processing by other projectors 3, 5, and 7. It is a figure which shows the apparatus information of each projector. It is an example of the input screen displayed on PC in order to plan a projection process. It is a figure which shows a content list. This is content sharing information determined based on the content list of FIG. This is content sharing information of the projector 1. This is content sharing information of the projector 3. This is content sharing information of the projector 5. This is content sharing information of the projector 7. It is a figure which shows the projection plan by all the projectors. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a communication time lag between the projector 1 and the projectors 3, 5, and 7. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating projection timings designated for projectors 3, 5, and 7.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a display control method, a display control program, and a display device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a network projector (hereinafter simply referred to as “projector”) 1 according to an embodiment of a display device according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, the projector 1 includes a control unit 10, a projection unit 11, an expansion slot 12, a network card 13, and a flash ROM 14.

  The control unit 10 centrally controls each unit of the projector 1, and includes a CPU 15 as an arithmetic processing processor, a ROM 17 in which a control program (so-called firmware) executed by the CPU 15 is stored, and a work area of the CPU 15. And a RAM 16 for temporarily storing calculation results and various data.

  The projection unit 11 modulates image light by modulating a light source emitted from a light source such as a discharge light-emitting light source lamp, a solid light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the like based on an image signal. A light modulation device to be formed (for example, a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal light valve provided with an incident-side polarizing plate and an emission-side polarizing plate, a device using a micromirror, etc.) and a projection lens that enlarges and projects image light Configured.

  The expansion slot 12 is a socket that is installed in the projector 1 and into which a card-type circuit for expanding the function of the projector 1 is inserted and removed. The network card 13 is inserted into the expansion slot 12. ing.

  The network card 13 includes a data communication unit 18 and a peripheral device connection unit 19, and other projectors 3, 5, 7 and communication terminals (for example, content) via a network 2 such as a LAN or the Internet laid in a building. Server) and a function of connecting peripheral devices. That is, the data communication unit 18 includes a network controller 21 that performs signal processing based on a predetermined communication protocol such as TCP / IP, and a communication I / F 22 that is connected to the network 2 by wire or wirelessly. Has been. The peripheral device connection unit 19 is for connecting peripheral devices. For example, the peripheral device 24 includes a connection I / F controller 23 that executes signal processing in accordance with a predetermined standard such as the USB standard or the IEEE1394 standard. A plurality (two in the illustrated example) of connection connectors 25 are provided.

  The flash ROM 14 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory in which various applications are stored. These applications are recorded and distributed in a recording medium 26 such as a memory card, or distributed through an electric communication line such as the network 2, and the distributed application can be installed in the flash ROM 14. It is configured. Also, the control program stored in the ROM 17 of the control unit 10 can be distributed via the recording medium 26 or an electric communication line such as the network 2 in the same manner as the application. The control program distributed in this way is stored in the ROM 17. Is configured to be installable.

  As an application stored in the flash ROM 14 or the like, a projection content projected by a projector is acquired from a network, and content files acquired by sharing with other projectors connected so as to be able to communicate with each other are mutually shared. There are applications to be delivered. The execution environment of this application will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic software configuration diagram showing an application execution environment of the projector 1. As shown in this figure, the control unit 10 of the projector 1 includes a software platform 31 that is an interpreter environment on an OS platform 30. The software platform 31 is configured as a runtime environment of the Java (registered trademark) platform, and includes a Java (registered trademark) VM (Java (registered trademark) virtual machine) 32, a library 33, and a framework group 34 as an interpreter. Configured.
The library 33 is configured by including a standard API library and a library dedicated to the projector 1, and various abstracted computer resources provided by the OS platform 30 are further abstracted by a model dedicated to the software platform 31. To provide an execution environment for applications that run on it.

  The framework group 34 includes an OSGi (Open Service Gateway initiative) framework 34a. The OSGi framework 34a operates a plurality of applications on a single Java (registered trademark) VM 32. The OSGi framework 34a provides application life cycle management, an inter-application communication function, and the like. A plurality of system services are preinstalled on the OSGi framework 34a. System services include application management services for adding, updating, and deleting new applications.

  Hereinafter, a content acquisition / delivery function provided by the application (display control program) in the present embodiment, which is executed in the application execution environment illustrated in FIG. 2 will be described.

<About the content acquisition and distribution function>
First, an outline of the content acquisition / delivery function will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 are content servers 20-1 and 20-2 connected to the network 2, a USB memory connected directly to the projector, and the like. Can be acquired. In addition, each projector 1, 3, 5, and 7 can distribute (transmit) the projection content acquired by itself to other projectors.

  In FIG. 3, the projector 1 determines content sharing information by each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 based on the content list of the projection content acquired from the PC 50, and transmits it to the other projectors 3, 5, 7. Details of the content list and content sharing information will be described later. The other projectors 3, 5, and 7 acquire the projection content shared by themselves from the corresponding storage location of the network 2 based on the content sharing information received from the projector 1. Similarly, the projector 1 acquires the projection content that it is in charge of from the corresponding storage location.

  Further, the projector 1 creates a projection plan that determines the projection order of the projection content, and transmits it to the projectors 3, 5, and 7. Each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 receives the distribution of the corresponding projection content from the projector holding the projection content to be projected next, and projects the projection unit 11 (display unit) based on the projection plan.

  In other words, by sharing and acquiring and holding projection content by multiple projectors, when displaying projection content that is not held by itself, it is received from other projectors that hold the projection content. Can be projected. For this reason, since none of the projectors acquires and holds all the projection contents to be projected, the projection contents can be smoothed with a storage device similar to the conventional one without having a large-capacity storage device. Can be projected.

<Internal processing of content acquisition and distribution function>
Next, internal processing of the content acquisition / delivery function provided by the above-described application will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the application is executed, the control unit 10 of the projector 1 includes a content acquisition sharing determination unit 51, a projection plan creation unit 53, a content acquisition unit 55, a content distribution unit 57, and content display timing designation. The unit 59 and the attribute specifying unit 61 are configured. In the projector 1, a projector information storage unit 63, a content list information storage unit 65, an acquired content information storage unit 67, a projection plan information storage unit 69, and a projection content storage unit 71 are set as storage units. Each storage unit is set in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 21 or the flash ROM 14. Note that the projector 1 of the present embodiment is additionally provided with a flash memory for storing the projection content acquired from the network 2, and the projection content storage unit 71 is set in the flash memory.

  Also in the projectors 3, 5, and 7, the control unit 10 includes a content acquisition unit 55, a content distribution unit 57, a content display timing designation unit 59, and an attribute designation unit 61. In the projectors 3, 5, and 7, an acquired content information storage unit 67, a projection plan information storage unit 69, and a projection content storage unit 71 are set as storage units. Each storage unit is set in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 21 or the flash ROM 14. The projectors 3, 5, and 7 are also provided with a flash memory for storing projection content acquired from the network, and the projection content storage unit 71 is set in the flash memory.

  The content acquisition sharing determination unit 51 includes a content list that defines the file size of the projection content to be projected, the file name of the projection content, the storage location of the projection content, and the resource amount (device) of each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 Information), content allocation information of the projection content acquired by each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 from the network 2 is determined.

  The projection plan creation unit 53 (creation unit) projects the projection order of the projection content projected by the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7, the file name of the projection content, the ID of the projector that acquires and stores the projection content, A projection plan is created that defines whether projection processing is to be synchronized by projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7, and attribute information (display method) of the projection content.

  The content acquisition unit 55 acquires the projection content shared by the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 from the network 2 based on the sharing information determined by the content acquisition sharing determination unit 51. Each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 accesses the storage location of the projection content included in the sharing information and downloads the projection content shared by itself.

  The content distribution unit 57 distributes the projection content acquired by the content acquisition unit 55 to the other projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 based on the projection plan created by the projection plan creation unit 53. That is, the projection content acquired by the projector 1 is distributed to the projectors 3, 5, 7, the projection content acquired by the projector 3 is distributed to the projectors 1, 5, 7, and the projection content acquired by the projector 5 is transmitted to the projectors 1, 3. , 7 and the projection content acquired by the projector 7 is distributed to the projectors 1, 3, and 5.

The content display timing designating unit 59 designates an absolute time for displaying the acquired projection content, and transmits the absolute time to other projectors.
Further, the content display timing designating unit 59 may designate a relative time for displaying the projected content and transmit the relative time to another projector. When specifying the relative time, for example, a test signal such as Ping is transmitted to another projector, a response time for the test signal is acquired, and the relative time is specified based on the response time.

  The attribute specifying unit 61 specifies the attribute of the acquired projection content and transmits the attribute information to another projector. The attribute information includes brightness, contrast, hue, volume, sound quality, sound level, and the like.

The projector information storage unit 63 stores device information acquired from the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 by broadcast communication.
The content list information storage unit 65 stores a content list that defines the file size of the projection content, the file name of the projection content, and the storage location of the projection content.
The acquired content information storage unit 67 stores the content sharing information determined by the content acquisition sharing determination unit 51.
The projection plan information storage unit 69 stores the projection plan created by the projection plan creation unit 53.
The projection content storage unit 71 stores the projection content acquired from the network 2 by the content acquisition unit 55 based on the content sharing information.

  Next, the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 share and acquire the projection content, distribute the acquired projection content to other projectors, and project the projection content by the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7. The control method will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 17 according to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, the projector 1 searches for other projectors connected to the LAN by broadcast communication (step S11). The other projectors searched for respond to broadcast communication from the projector 1 (step S51). As a result, the projector 1 stores device information such as IDs and IP addresses of the other projectors 3, 5, and 7, the capacity of the resources included in the projectors 3, 5, and 7 (capacity of the flash memory that stores the projection content file) get.
FIG. 7 shows device information of the projector 1 and device information of the projectors 3, 5, and 7 acquired by broadcast communication. As described above, by acquiring the resource capacity of each projector 1, 3, 5, and 7, it is possible to determine which projector is to acquire which projection content. For example, it is possible to cause a projector having a large resource capacity to acquire projection content having a large file size, or to cause each projector to acquire projection content so that the file size is as uniform as possible.

Next, when the user accesses the IP address of the projector 1 from the PC 50 with a Web browser, an input screen 200 for planning the projection processing shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. The user designates the file name of the projection content and the storage location of the projection content.
Here, the file name [title.bmp] of the content to be projected first is specified, and the data folder [\\ 192.168.234.100 \ data] of the server 20-1 is specified as the storage location of the file. In addition, the file name [table of contents.ppt] of the content to be projected second is specified, and the data folder [\\ 192.168.234.100 \ data] of the server 20-1 is similarly specified as the storage location of the file. Subsequently, the file name [description.ppt] of the content to be projected third is specified, and the USB memory [\\ 192.168.123.101 \ usb] connected to the projector 1 is specified as the storage location of the file. Subsequently, the file name [movie.wmv] of the content to be projected fourth is specified, and the movie folder [\\ 192.168.234.222 \ movie] of the content server 20-2 is specified as the storage location of the file. Then, the file name [data.xls] of the content to be projected last is specified, and the data folder [\\ 192.168.234.222 \ data] of the content server 20-2 is specified as the storage location of the file.

Furthermore, when projecting each projection content, enter whether or not to synchronize the projection processing in all the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 in the check box, and check whether or not the attribute information of the projection content is matched. Type in the box. Here, it is also possible to set whether or not to perform brightness adjustment.
When the input process is completed and the determination button 210 is selected, the file information of the projection content is transmitted from the PC 100 to the projector 1. Receiving the file information, the projector 1 accesses the location designated as the storage location for the projection content, and acquires the file size of each projection content (step S13).

  Next, the projector 1 creates a content list from the file information of the projection content and the file size of the projection content, and stores the content list in the content list information storage unit 65. As shown in FIG. 9, the content list includes the file ID, file name, storage location, and file size of each projection content. Then, based on the content list of FIG. 9, the content acquisition sharing determination unit 51 determines the content sharing information of each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 (step S15).

  FIG. 10 shows content sharing information, and the projection content shared by the projector 1 whose projector ID is P00 (resource amount is 5 MByte) is two projection content whose content IDs are C01 (1 MByte) and C03 (3 MByte). I understand. Further, the total content amount of the two projection contents is 4 Mbytes, which does not exceed the resource amount of the projector 1, and thus it can be understood that the two projection contents can be shared. As described above, the content acquisition sharing determination unit 51 determines the sharing of projection content so as not to exceed the resource amount of each projector.

  Next, the projection plan creation unit 53 of the projector 1 creates a projection plan for projection content based on the content list shown in FIG. 9 and the content sharing information shown in FIG. 10 (step S17). As shown in FIG. 15, the projection plan includes a projection order of projection contents projected by the projectors 1, 3, 5, 7, a file ID of the projection contents, a file name, an ID of a projector serving as a distribution source of the projection contents, Whether to synchronize the projection processing and attribute information are included. Here, the projector that is the distribution source of the projection content is a projector that acquires the projection content to be shared, determined by the content sharing information.

  Upon determining the content sharing information shown in FIG. 10, the content acquisition sharing determination unit 51 creates content sharing information for each of the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 and transmits it to the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 ( Step S19). 11 shows the content sharing information 100 of the projector 1, FIG. 12 shows the content sharing information 300 of the projector 3, FIG. 13 shows the content sharing information 500 of the projector 5, and FIG. 14 shows the content of the projector 7. This is sharing information 700.

  The content sharing information 100 is stored in the acquired content information storage unit 67 of the projector 1. The content sharing information 300 is transmitted to the projector 3, and when the projector 3 receives the content sharing information 300, it stores it in the acquired content information storage unit 67 (step S53). The content sharing information 500 is transmitted to the projector 5, and the projector 5 stores it in the acquired content information storage unit 67 (step S53). The content sharing information of the projector 7 is transmitted to the projector 7, and when the projector 7 receives the content sharing information 300, the projector 7 stores it in the acquired content information storage unit 67 (step S53).

  Similarly, the projection plan created in step S17 is transmitted to the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 (step S19). When the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 receive the projection plan, they are stored in the projection plan information storage unit 69. (Step S53).

Each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 acquires the projection content shared by itself from the corresponding storage location based on the content sharing information 100, 300, 500, 700 (step S21, step S55), and the projection content storage unit 71.
When the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 complete the acquisition of the projection content that they are responsible for, they notify the projector 1 of the acquisition completion (step S57). The projector 1 waits for acquisition completion from the other projectors 3, 5, 7 (step S 23), and receives acquisition completion from all the projectors 3, 5, 7 (step S 25: Yes), the other projectors 3, 5, 7. Is notified to start the projection processing (step S27).

  The projector 1 prepares the projection content to be projected next based on the projection plan (step S29). On the other hand, when the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 also receive the projection start from the projector 1 (step S59: Yes), the projection content to be projected next is prepared (step S61). Each of the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 determines whether or not the next projection content is held in the projection content storage unit 71, and when it is determined that it is held (step S31: Yes, step S63: Yes), distribution to other projectors (step S33, step S65).

  According to the content sharing information 100, the projector 1 should acquire and hold the file with the file name [title.bmp] in step S21. Further, according to the projection plan of FIG. 15, since the projector 1 (projector ID: P00) is the distribution source for the projection content with the first projection order, the projector 1 sends the file name to the other projectors 3, 5, and 7. Deliver the file [title.bmp]. On the other hand, the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 determine that the projection content is not held in step S63 (step S63: No), and receive the projection content from the projector 1 (step S67).

Further, according to the content content sharing information 700, the projector 7 should have acquired and held the file having the file name [table of contents.ppt] in step S55. Further, according to the projection plan of FIG. 15, since the projector 7 (projector ID: P03) is the distribution source of the projection content with the second projection order, the projector 7 sends the file name to the other projectors 1, 3, and 5. Deliver the file [title.bmp]. On the other hand, in step S31, the projector 1 determines that the projection content is not held (step S31: No), and receives the projection content from another projector 7 (step S35).
Further, it is determined that the projectors 3 and 5 do not hold the projection content in Step 65 (Step S65: No), and the projection content is received from the other projector 7 (Step S67).

  Further, the content timing designating unit 59 of each projector 1, 3, 5, 7 that holds the projection content designates the projection timing for projecting the projection content if the projection plan is set so as to synchronize the projection processing. Projection timing is instructed to other projectors (step S34, step S66).

  As a method of designating the projection timing, for example, there is a method of designating an absolute time or a relative time for projecting the projection content and instructing another projector. When specifying the absolute time, it is necessary that all projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 have the same time. The method for specifying the projection timing will be described in detail later.

  Furthermore, the attribute designating unit 61 of each projector 1, 3, 5, and 7 that holds the projection content designates the attribute information of the projection content if the brightness of each projection content is set in the projection plan. In step S34 and step S66, the projection content attribute information is transmitted to the other projectors together with the projection timing described above. Here, since the brightness is set to 8, the brightness information is transmitted as attribute information.

  The attribute information is not limited to brightness, and contrast, hue, volume, sound quality, sound level, and the like can be set. Further, the value of the attribute information can be changed for each projection content. Furthermore, if the attribute information of all the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 can be acquired in advance, it is possible to match the attribute information of a specific projector.

  Thus, when the preparation of the projection content to be projected next is completed, the projection unit 11 projects the projection content (step S37, step S69). When projection of projection content in units of files is completed (step S39: Yes, step S71: Yes), it is determined whether or not projection of all projection content has been completed. If the projection of all the projection contents has not been completed (step S41: No, step S73: No), the process returns to step S29 or step S61, and the next projection content to be projected is prepared. On the other hand, when the projection of all the projection contents is finished (step S41: Yes, step S73: Yes), the projection process is finished.

<How to specify the projection timing>
Next, a method for specifying the absolute time as the projection timing in step S34 and step S66 will be described.
In step S33 and step S65, when the projection content held by itself is distributed to other projectors, the content timing specifying unit 59 acquires the time information at that time from the built-in real-time clock. A time obtained by adding about 1 second to the acquired time information is transmitted to another projector as a projection start time. The addition of 1 second takes into account the communication time lag (response time) between the projectors. For this reason, not only 1 second but test communication, such as Ping, may be performed and the number of addition seconds may be determined according to the longest communication time lag.

  By specifying the absolute time in consideration of the communication time lag in this way, the projector that has received the projection content is not projected immediately after receiving the projection content, but is specified against the clock in the projector. Since projection starts at the time, projection processing can be synchronized in a plurality of projectors.

Next, a method for designating relative time as projection timing in step S34 and step S66 will be described.
In step S33 and step S65, when the projection content held by itself is distributed to other projectors, the content timing designation unit 59 sends a projection start instruction to the projector to start projection after 2 seconds. Instruct. The projector that has received the projection start instruction starts projection after a specified number of seconds after receiving the instruction.
When the relative time is specified in this way, the projection process can be synchronized even with a projector not equipped with a clock such as a real time clock.

The reason for designating the projection start after 2 seconds instead of after 0 seconds is due to the communication time lag between the projectors. Test communication such as Ping is executed, a communication time lag is calculated for each projector, and the number of seconds after which projection starts is determined.
As shown in FIG. 16, for example, as a result of the projector 1 performing test communication with the other projectors 3, 5, and 7, the communication time lag with the projector 3 (projector ID: P01) is 100 [msec], and the projector 5 ( Assume that the communication time lag with the projector ID (P02) is 1500 [msec] and the communication time lag with the projector 7 (projector ID: P03) is 10 [msec]. Since the maximum communication time lag is 1500 [msec] with the projector 5, the maximum communication time lag is set to the number of seconds for designating each time lag as a relative time.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the relative time designated for the projector 3 is 1500 [msec] -100 [msec] = 1400 [msec], and the relative time designated for the projector 3 is 1500 [msec] -100 [msec]. ] = 1400 [msec], the relative time designated for the projector 5 is 1500 [msec] -1500 [msec] = 0 [msec], and the relative time designated for the projector 7 is 1500 [msec] -10 [msec]. ] = 1490 [msec].

  Further, the maximum communication time lag−each time lag + α may be designated as a relative time. By setting α to a different value for each projector, it is possible to produce a special effect in which the pattern and the projection screen are sequentially switched. In such a case, special effect options may be provided on the input screen 200 shown in FIG.

  Thus, in the above-described embodiment, the projector 1 determines the content sharing information and transmits it to the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 in step S 15. Accordingly, the other projectors 3, 5, and 7 that have received the content sharing information need only acquire the projection content that they share based on the content sharing information from the network.

  In step S <b> 17, the projector 1 creates a projection plan that determines the projection order of the projection content, and transmits the projection plan to the other projectors 3, 5, and 7. Accordingly, the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 can project the projection content according to the projection order determined in the projection plan.

  Furthermore, each projector 1, 3, 5, and 7 can project the projection content received from other projectors besides the projection content acquired by itself. That is, the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7 do not need to acquire and hold all projection content files to be projected, and can share the content with other projectors. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly realize projection control by a plurality of projectors connected to the network without newly providing a large-capacity storage device that leads to cost increase in the projectors 1, 3, 5, and 7.

  In the above-described embodiment, the resource amount of the projector has been described as an example of the device information. However, in addition to the resource amount, the device information may be a data transfer capability (data transfer speed), a CPU processing capability, or the like. Good. If the sharing information of projection content is determined based on the data transfer speed and CPU processing capacity, the transfer speed is low compared to other projectors or the projector whose processing capacity is low compared to other projectors is small It is also possible to share file size projection content. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the processing speed of the entire system from being extremely reduced.

1, 3, 5, 7: projector, 2: network, 10: control unit, 11: projection unit, 12: expansion slot, 13: network card, 15: CPU, 16: RAM, 17: ROM, 18: data communication , 19: Peripheral device connection unit, 20-1, 20-2: Content server, 21: Network controller, 22: Communication I / F, 23: Connection I / F controller, 24: Peripheral device, 25: Connection connector, 26: Storage medium, 30: OS platform, 31: Software platform, 32: Java (registered trademark) VM, 33: Library, 34: Framework group, 34a: OSGi framework, 51: Content acquisition sharing determination unit, 53 : Projection plan creation unit, 55: content acquisition unit, 57: content distribution unit, 5 : Content display timing designation unit, 61: attribute designation unit, 63: projector information storage unit, 65: content list information storage unit, 67: acquired content information storage unit, 69: projection plan information storage unit, 71: projection content storage unit , 100, 300, 500, 700: Content sharing information.

Claims (8)

A display control method for controlling display processing by a plurality of display devices that are communicably connected to each other via a network,
The display device
Determining sharing information of the content acquired by each display device based on a content list that defines content to be displayed; and
Creating a display plan that defines the display order of the content displayed by each display device;
Transmitting the sharing information and the display plan to another display device;
Acquiring the content shared by the display device based on the sharing information;
Transmitting the acquired content to the other display device based on the display plan;
Displaying the acquired content and the content received from the other display device based on the display plan, and executing the display control method. The display device
The step of determining share information of the content acquired by each display device is executed based on a content list of content to be displayed and device information of each display device. Display control method.   3. The display device that has acquired the content designates an absolute time for displaying the content, and executes the step of transmitting the absolute time to the other display device. Display control method.   The display device that has acquired the content designates a relative time for displaying the content, and executes the step of transmitting the relative time to the other display device. Display control method.   The display device that has acquired the content transmits a test signal to the other display device, executes a step of acquiring a response time with respect to the test signal, and specifies the relative time based on the response time. The display control method according to claim 4.   6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device that has acquired the content executes a step of specifying a display method of the content and transmitting the display method to the other display device. Display control method. A display control program for controlling display processing by a plurality of display devices communicably connected via a network,
In the computer provided in the display device,
Determining sharing information of the content acquired by each display device based on a content list that defines content to be displayed; and
Creating a display plan that defines the display order of the content displayed by each display device;
Transmitting the sharing information and the display plan to another display device;
Acquiring the content shared by the display device based on the sharing information;
Transmitting the acquired content to the other display device based on the display plan;
And a step of displaying the acquired content and the content received from the other display device based on the display plan. A display device communicably connected to a plurality of display devices via a network,
The display device
Creation of a display plan that determines the sharing information of the content acquired by each display device based on a content list that defines the content to be displayed and determines the display order of the content displayed by each display device And
An acquisition unit that acquires the content shared by the display device based on the sharing information;
Transmitting the sharing information and the display plan to another display device, and transmitting the content acquired by the acquisition unit to the other display device based on the display plan;
A display device, comprising: a display unit configured to display the content acquired by the acquisition unit and the content received from the other display device based on the display plan.

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