JP2012004962A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability in a display device by making it possible to notify a user when an external apparatus corresponding to HDMI standard can not be connected logically.SOLUTION: A TV receiver stores an connection apparatus type list showing a logical address specified in HDMI standard and an apparatus type corresponding to the logical address. When an HDMI apparatus is physically connected to an HDMI terminal (S1), the TV receiver acquires the apparatus type from the HDMI apparatus by transmitting a CEC command (S2). Then the TV receiver determines based on the connection apparatus type list whether the acquired apparatus type can be connected logically (S3). When the result of this determination shows that the acquired apparatus type can not be connected logically, or when the acquired apparatus type can not be allocated a logical address to and the number of HDMI apparatuses of the acquired apparatus type is beyond the limit number that can be registered logically (YES at S4), the TV receiver displays a message showing that the connecting apparatus type of HDMI apparatus can not be connected (S5).

Description

The present invention relates to HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia In
The present invention relates to a display device that can be connected to an external device compatible with the (face) standard.

In recent years, it has been possible to connect an external device (hereinafter referred to as an HDMI device) compatible with the HDMI standard.
V receivers are in widespread use. Some users may use a plurality of HDMI devices connected to the TV receiver. The HDMI device and the TV receiver are connected via an HDMI cable, and each device controls operations with a control signal (hereinafter referred to as a CEC command).

By the way, in the TV receiver and the plurality of HDMI devices, logical addresses that can be acquired by each device are limited for each device type in the HDMI standard. That is, the number of devices that can be controlled by the CEC command is limited by the HDMI standard for each device type. For example, “Re
The number of connectable devices according to the HDMI standard of “coding device (HDD recorder, etc.)” is 3, and even if the fourth HDD recorder is physically connected to the TV receiver via the HDMI cable, The TV receiver cannot control the fourth HDD recorder with the CEC command. In the above TV receiver, even if the HDMI device cannot be logically connected as described above, the user may not be aware that the HDMI device does not operate due to a limit on the number of logically connectable devices. In some cases, the HDMI device may be erroneously recognized as having a problem, and it is troublesome to find out the cause of the inability to control the HDMI device, resulting in poor usability.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses an audio video device that acquires a logical address when a logical address becomes empty after an audio video device that cannot acquire a logical address corresponding to the device type. A system and a television receiver are disclosed. However, in this system and television receiver, the user cannot know that the connection cannot be made because the upper limit of the logical connectable number has been reached, so the above problem cannot be solved.

Further, Patent Document 2 detects a change in signal when the DVD / AV system is connected to the HDMI input terminal of the TV receiver, and displays all the functions of the connected device using the signal change as a trigger. An electronic device and a display system that display the latest connection form between devices corresponding to the HDMI standard in real time to the user are disclosed. However, in this electronic apparatus and display system, the user cannot know that the connection cannot be made because the upper limit of the logical connectable number has been reached, so the above problem cannot be solved.

Further, in Patent Document 3, a plurality of electrical devices corresponding to the HDMI standard are connected, the physical addresses of the plurality of electrical devices are acquired, and the connection positions of the electrical devices are determined based on the acquired physical address information. A display device that displays the tree structure shown is disclosed. However, even with this display device, the user cannot know that connection cannot be made because the upper limit of the logically connectable number has been reached, so the above problem cannot be solved.

JP 2009-267829 A JP 2009-194753 A JP 2008-67267 A

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an easy-to-use display device that can notify a user when an external device compatible with the HDMI standard cannot be logically connected. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is based on HDMI (High-Definiti).
connection means capable of physically connecting a plurality of external devices corresponding to the on-Multimedia Interface) standard, device type acquisition means for acquiring the device type of the external device from the external device connected to the connection means, A connectable unit list storage unit for storing a connectable unit list storing information on the logical connectable unit number for each device type, a notification unit for notifying the user of various messages, and a control unit for controlling each part of the apparatus. In the display device provided, device type connection availability for determining whether or not logical connection of the external device is possible for each device type based on the connectable number list stored in the connectable number list storage unit And further comprising a determination means, wherein the control means, when the external device is physically connected to the connection means, Using the device type connection possibility determination unit, after acquiring the device type of the external device, based on the connectable number list stored in the connectable number list storage unit, the device type acquisition unit It is determined whether or not logical connection of the external device of the device type acquired by the above is possible, and if the logical connection is not possible as a result of this determination, the notification unit is used to inform the user of the device type. This indicates that the external device cannot be connected.

Further, the invention of claim 2 is the display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses the device type connection possibility determination unit to logically connect the external device connected to the connection unit. When it is determined that the number of connected external devices of the device type acquired by the device type acquiring unit is based on the connectable number list stored in the connected number list storage unit, If the number of connected external devices of the device type has reached the upper limit of the logically connectable number as a result of this determination, the notification means Is used to notify the user that the external device of the device type cannot be connected any more.

According to the invention of claim 1, when an external device is physically connected, after acquiring the device type of the external device, it is determined whether or not logical connection of the external device of this device type is possible, If the result of this determination is that logical connection is not possible, the user is informed that an external device of this device type cannot be connected. Therefore, even when the external device can be physically connected, the user can know that the external device cannot be logically connected. Therefore, the user can easily know the reason why the external device cannot be controlled, and investigate the cause. Since there is no need to do this, it is easy to use.

According to the invention of claim 2, when it is determined that the connected external device is logically connectable, the acquired number of connected external devices of the device type is the upper limit of the logical connectable number. If so, the user is informed that no more external devices of this device type can be connected. Therefore, the user can easily know that no more external devices of this device type can be connected before connecting an external device of this device type. Can be prevented and usability is further improved.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a TV receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention and a plurality of HDMI devices connected to the TV receiver. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the said TV receiver. The list | wrist which shows the content of the connected apparatus classification | category list | wrist of the said TV receiver. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the connectable number detection process in the said TV receiver. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the message displayed on a display in the said connectable number detection process. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of the message displayed on a display in the said connectable number detection process.

Hereinafter, a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows a television (hereinafter referred to as TV) receiver (display device) 1, HDD recorders (external devices) 41 and 42 connected to the TV receiver 1, and a DVD player (external device). ) 51 shows a schematic configuration. FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the TV receiver 1, and FIG.
An example of the connection apparatus classification | category list | wrist 16b of TV receiver 1 is shown.

The TV receiver 1, the HDD recorders 41 and 42, and the DVD player 51 are all HD.
MI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
The device is compliant with the standard, and can transmit and receive a CEC command based on the HDMI-CEC standard and response data for the CEC command. Each of the HDD recorders 41 and 42 and the DVD player 51 is connected to the TV receiver 1 via the HDMI cables 31 to 33.
Connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the TV receiver 1 includes a tuner unit 11 that receives a broadcast signal broadcast from a broadcasting station, and a display 12 that displays a video of a TV program based on the broadcast signal received by the tuner unit 11. And a speaker 13 for outputting the sound of the TV program and an operation unit 14 having various operation buttons operated by the user. Also, the TV receiver 1 is an HDM
An HDMI terminal unit 15 for connecting an external device (hereinafter referred to as an HDMI device) compliant with the I standard, a memory (connectable number list storage means) 16 storing various information, and a control for controlling each part of the device And a microcomputer (control means) 17.

The HDMI terminal unit 15 includes a first HDMI terminal 15a to a fifth HDMI terminal 15e (connection means), and the number of HDMI devices connectable to the TV receiver 1 via the HDMI cable, that is, physically The number of HDMI devices that can be connected is five. 1st HDM
One end of an HDMI cable 31 connected to the HDD recorder 41 is connected to the I terminal 15a, and one end of an HDMI cable 32 connected to the HDD recorder 42 is connected to the second HDMI terminal 15b. The third HDMI terminal 15c has a DVD player 51.
One end of the HDMI cable 33 connected to is connected.

The memory 16 stores a program 16a for operating the control microcomputer 17, a connected device type list (connectable number list) 16b, and connected device management information 16c.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connected device type list 16b shows the definition of a logical address defined by the HDMI standard and a device type (device type) corresponding to this logical address. That is, in the connected device type list 16b, device types are assigned to the logical addresses “0” to “15”.

For example, “Recording Device (HDD recorder, etc.)” is assigned three logical addresses “1”, “2”, “9”, and “Recordin that can be CEC controlled”.
“g Device” is limited to three units. The HDD recorder connected to the TV receiver 1 is assigned one of logical addresses “1”, “2”, and “9” and is registered as a CEC control device. That is, in the case of “Recording Device (HDD recorder, etc.), up to three units can be logically connected. Here, hereinafter, “logically connectable” means that logical addresses can be registered, and “logically connectable number” means the number of logical addresses that can be registered for each device type. In other words, “Recording Device”
The number of logically connectable devices is three.

The connected device management information 16c stores information such as the physical address, logical address, and device type of the HDMI device connected to the first HDMI terminal 15a to the fifth HDMI terminal 15e. Information stored in the connected device management information 16c can be updated.

The control microcomputer 17 includes a video output unit 17a, an audio output unit 17b, an HDMI communication unit (
Device type acquisition means) 17c and connectable number determination unit (device type connection availability determination means) 17d
And a message output unit (notification means) 17e. The control microcomputer 17 is connected to the first HD
When an HDMI device is connected to one of the MI terminal 15a to the fifth HDMI terminal 15e, a connectable number detection process is performed to detect whether or not this device can be connected, and various messages are displayed according to the processing result. To the user.

The video output unit 17 a outputs the video of the TV program received by the tuner unit 11 to the display 12. The audio output unit 17 b outputs the audio of the TV program received by the tuner unit 11 to the speaker 13.

The HDMI communication unit 17 c includes an HDD recorder 41 connected to the HDMI terminal unit 15.
42, various CEC commands and response data are transmitted / received to / from HDMI devices such as the DVD player 51. Specifically, for example, a CEC command for inquiring a physical address, a logical address, and a device type is transmitted to the HDMI device, and response data transmitted from the HDMI device is received.

The connectable number determination unit 17d is connected device type list 16b stored in the memory 16.
Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the HDMI device connected to the HDMI terminal unit 15 is logically connectable.

The message output unit 17e displays various messages for informing the user on the display 1.
Output to 2.

Next, the connectable number detection process in the TV receiver 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of this processing. 5 and 6 show examples of messages displayed on the display 12.

First, when an HDMI device is physically connected to one of the first HDMI terminal 15a to the fifth HDMI terminal 15e (S1), the control microcomputer 17 transmits a CEC command using the HDMI communication unit 17c. The device type of the connected HDMI device is acquired (S2).

Then, the control microcomputer 17 uses the connectable device number determination unit 17d and based on the connected device type list 16b stored in the memory 16, the device type HD acquired in S2 above.
It is determined whether or not the MI device can be logically connected (S3). Specifically, based on the contents of the connected device type list 16b and the connected device management information 16c, it is determined whether or not there is an empty logical address corresponding to the acquired device type. In other words, the connected HDMI device is HD
In the case of the D recorder, it is determined whether or not there is a vacancy in any of the logical addresses “1”, “2”, and “9”.

As a result of the determination in S3, when logical connection is not possible, that is, a logical address cannot be assigned to the acquired device type, and the number of HDMI devices of the acquired device type exceeds the logically registerable number ( The control microcomputer 17 uses the message output unit 17e to display on the display 12 a message indicating that the HDMI device of the device type connected in S1 cannot be connected (YES in S4) ( S5). Specifically, for example, the above S1
If the device type connected in the step is HDD recorder, as shown in FIG.
A message “cannot be connected because the maximum number of EC control devices that can be registered has been reached” is displayed on the display 12 to notify the user.

On the other hand, if the logical connection is possible as a result of the determination in S3, that is, a logical address can be assigned to the HDMI device of the acquired device type, and the acquired device type exceeds the logically registerable number. If not (NO in S4), the HDMI device connected in S1 is registered as a CEC control device, and the physical address of the HDMI device, the assigned logical address, and the model type information are stored in the connected device management information 16c. (S6).

The control microcomputer 17 includes the connected device management information 16c and the connected device type list 16.
Based on the content of b, whether the number of connected devices of the type registered in S6 above has reached the upper limit of the logically registerable number, that is, whether this device type has reached the upper limit of the logically connectable number of devices. It is determined whether or not (S7).

As a result of the determination in S7, when the number of connected devices of the registered device type has reached the upper limit of the logically connectable number of devices, that is, when the registered device type has reached the upper limit of the logically registerable number of devices ( The control microcomputer 17 uses the message output unit 17e to display on the display 12 a message indicating that the registered device type HDMI device cannot be connected any more (S9). . Specifically, for example, an HDM whose device type is player
When I devices are logically connected, as shown in FIG. 6, a message “The maximum number of players that can be registered with CEC control devices has been reached” is displayed on the display 12 and the user is displayed. Notify The.

As described above, in the TV receiver 1 according to the present embodiment, when an HDMI device is physically connected to the HDMI terminal unit 15, the device type of the connected HDMI device is acquired, and then the device type is set. It is determined whether the HDMI device can be logically connected. If the logical connection is not possible as a result of the determination, the user is notified that the HDMI device of this device type cannot be connected. Therefore, even when the HDMI device can be physically connected, the user can know that the logical device cannot be logically connected. Therefore, the user can easily know the reason why the HDMI device cannot be controlled, and investigate the cause. Since there is no need to do this, it is easy to use.

In addition, when it is determined that the HDMI device connected to the HDMI terminal unit 15 can be logically connected, the number of HDMI devices of the acquired device type reaches the upper limit of the logically connectable number. If so, the user is notified that no more HDMI devices of the registered device type can be connected. For this reason, the user can easily know that no further connection can be made before connecting the HDMI device of this device type, and therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous connection of the HDMI device of this device type. Is even better.

In addition, this invention is not restricted to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not change the meaning of invention. For example, in the above embodiment, when logical connection is not possible or when the upper limit of the logical connectable number is reached, a message is displayed on the display 12 and the user is displayed.
Although an example of notifying the user is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and a voice message may be output from a speaker to notify the user.

1 TV receiver (display device)
16 memory (connectable number list storage means)
17 Microcomputer for control (control means)
41, 42 HDD recorder (external device)
51 DVD player (external device) 51
15a First HDMI terminal (connection means)
15b Second HDMI terminal (connection means)
15c 3rd HDMI terminal (connection means)
15d 4th HDMI terminal (connection means)
15e 5th HDMI terminal (connection means)
16b Connected device type list (list of connectable units)
17c HDMI communication unit (device type acquisition means)
17d Connectable number determination unit (apparatus type connection possibility determination means)
17e Message output unit (notification means)

Claims (2)

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
ce) a connection means capable of physically connecting a plurality of external devices corresponding to the standard;
From the external device connected to the connection means, device type acquisition means for acquiring the device type of the external device;
A connectable unit list storage means for storing a connectable unit list storing information of logical connectable units for each device type;
Notification means for notifying the user of various messages;
In a display device comprising control means for controlling each part of the device,
Device type connection availability determination means for determining whether or not logical connection of the external device is possible for each device type based on the connectable number list stored in the connectable number list storage means. ,
The control means includes
When the external device is physically connected to the connection means, using the device type acquisition means, after acquiring the device type of the external device,
Using the device type connectability determination unit, based on the connectable number list stored in the connectable number list storage unit, the logical type of the external device of the device type acquired by the device type acquisition unit It is determined whether or not connection is possible. If the result of this determination is that logical connection is not possible, the notification means is used to notify the user that the external device of the device type cannot be connected. A display device characterized by that. The control means includes
When determining that the external device connected to the connection means is logically connectable using the device type connection availability determination means,
Based on the connectable number list stored in the connected number list storage unit, the number of connected external devices of the device type acquired by the device type acquiring unit reaches the upper limit of the logical connectable number. As a result of this determination, if the number of connected external devices of the device type has reached the upper limit of the logically connectable number, the notification means is used to inform the user The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device notifies that the external device of the device type cannot be connected any more.

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