JP2012253805A - Display device and display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display an image without causing a problem in which communication is temporarily interrupted and an image is temporarily not displayed by useless channel switching.SOLUTION: A monitor 10 comprises: switching means for switching a channel to be used for wireless communication; radio wave interference detection means for detecting an occurrence of radio wave interference on a channel in use for the wireless communication; instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction from a user of whether or not the channel to be used should be switched by the switching means if the radio wave interference detection means has detected radio wave interference during display of the image; and display control means for displaying a UI to receive the instruction from the user on the display unit. The UI includes information regarding time required from when the instruction receiving means has received the instruction indicating that the channel to be used will be switched to when transmission of the image content will be resumed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device that receives video content transmitted by wireless communication from a transmission device and displays a video on a display unit.

  There are various wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n. Among them, IEEE802.11a currently has a channel in any one of W52, W53 and W56. It is a standard for using and communicating.

  Specifically, W53 is a band of 5.25 to 5.35 GHz consisting of a total of 4 channels of 52 ch, 56 ch, 60 ch, and 64 ch, and this band includes the frequency of the radar wave transmitted by the weather radar. It is. W56 is a band of 5.47-5.725 GHz consisting of a total of 11 channels of 100 ch, 104 ch, 108 ch, 112 ch, 116 ch, 120 ch, 124 ch, 128 ch, 132 ch, 136 ch, and 140 ch. Includes the frequency of radar waves transmitted by military radar.

  For this reason, a wireless LAN device that performs Wi-Fi communication using the W53 or W56 band transmits a radar wave of a frequency that interferes with the channel from the radar before starting communication on the channel within the band. It is statutoryly required to perform an operation for 1 minute to check whether or not it is done. Furthermore, when the wireless LAN device detects the radar wave during communication on the channel within the band, the channel used for communication is immediately changed to a channel that does not interfere with the radar wave by DFS (dynamic frequency selection). Switching is required by law.

  On the other hand, W52 is a band of 5.15-5.25 GHz band consisting of a total of four channels of 36 ch, 40 ch, 44 ch, and 48 ch, and a radar wave using this band is not transmitted from the radar. Accordingly, when the wireless LAN device performs communication using the bandwidth of W52, it is not required by law to perform the operation as described above.

Special table 2009-536001 gazette (announced on October 1, 2009) JP 2008-79290 A (published April 3, 2008)

  However, even when a wireless LAN device performs Wi-Fi communication using the W52 channel, if there is another wireless LAN device that performs another Wi-Fi communication using the same channel, Interference will occur.

  When radio wave interference occurs, the Wi-Fi communication throughput tends to decrease, so that a general wireless LAN device automatically switches the channel used for Wi-Fi communication when radio wave interference is detected. It has become. In addition, when a radio wave interference is detected as in a terminal device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-19195 (released on January 27, 2011), an access point (AP) used for Wi-Fi communication is set in the system. Some devices automatically switch to an AP that has the lowest interference level among all APs.

  However, in the conventional configuration, the channel or AP used for Wi-Fi communication is automatically switched even in a situation where switching is unnecessary. Therefore, there is a problem that temporary interruption of communication due to switching occurs uselessly.

Note that the situation where switching is not necessary includes, for example, situations such as Example 1 and Example 2 below.
Example 1) When the playback of streaming video content being received via Wi-Fi communication is almost completed on a television (there is a possibility of playback failure due to reduced throughput until the playback is completed because the remaining playback time is short) , So there ’s no need to switch channels)
Example 2) When a user specifies another wireless LAN device that causes radio wave interference (if the user can stop Wi-Fi communication of the other wireless LAN device, the radio interference is eliminated and the channel is eliminated) Do not need to be switched)
The present invention is also implemented in view of the above problems, and displays video without causing a problem that communication is temporarily interrupted due to useless channel switching and the video is not temporarily displayed. It is aimed.

  The configuration of the display device according to the present invention is a display device that receives video content transmitted by wireless communication from a transmission device and displays video on a display unit, and switching means for switching a channel to be used for the wireless communication. Radio interference detection means for detecting the occurrence of radio interference in a channel used for the wireless communication, and when the radio interference detection means detects radio interference during display of the video, the switching means uses the radio interference detection means. An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction as to whether or not to switch the channel to be switched from a user, and a display control unit that displays a user interface for receiving the instruction from the user on the display unit. Instruction that the instruction receiving means switches the channel to be used. Transmission of the video contents includes information about the time required to resume from accepting, and has a configuration.

  According to the above configuration, when the radio wave interference is detected while displaying the video, the display device allows the user to select whether to change the channel used for transmitting the video content or to another channel. Can do. For example, when the user thinks that the video viewing will end soon, the display device detects a radio wave interference and displays a UI indicating that it takes 1 minute to resume transfer of video content on a different channel In this case, the user can select not to change the channel used for transferring the video content. In this case, since the channel is not changed, of course, temporary interruption of communication due to channel switching does not occur. Further, since the transfer amount necessary for the display device to display the remaining few videos without any problem is not so large, even if the throughput decreases due to radio wave interference, there is a high possibility that the remaining few pictures can be displayed without any problem.

  On the other hand, a display device with a configuration different from the above configuration, which automatically switches the channel used for transferring video content when radio wave interference is detected, thinks that the user will end watching the video after a short time. If radio wave interference is detected while the communication is in progress, a temporary interruption of communication due to channel switching will be caused.

  From the above, according to the above configuration, the display device can prevent a temporary interruption of communication due to channel switching of wireless communication.

  In the display device, the display control unit displays a message indicating that the channel is being switched after the switching unit starts the process of switching the channel to be used until the switching is completed. Is desirable.

  According to the above configuration, if the viewer has a certain level of technical understanding of wireless communication, the display device temporarily stops displaying video until transmission of video content is resumed. There is an effect that it is possible to understand that the video is not displayed because the channel is being switched instead of the failure of the display device.

  In the above case, there is a case where a viewer who does not have a technical understanding of wireless communication thinks that the display device may have failed, and makes an inquiry to the support center of the display device manufacturer. According to the above configuration, in such a case, the person in charge of the support center temporarily displays the video by confirming with the viewer whether or not the “message indicating that the channel is being switched” has been displayed. It is possible to easily determine whether the cause of the failure is channel switching or other causes.

  Further, the present invention is a display system including the display device and the transmission device, wherein the transmission device is public when the channel being used is a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution. A determination means for determining whether or not the engine is transmitting the radio wave of the channel, and when the determination means determines that the radio wave is being transmitted, the display device is configured to switch the channel to be used. Notification means for notifying, and the switching means is configured to switch the channel to be used with a notification from the notification means as a trigger, and the channel to be used by the switching means by the trigger. In the case of switching, it is preferable that the display control means displays a predetermined message on the display unit after the switching is completed.

  The predetermined message may be a message indicating that the channel has been changed in accordance with detection of radio waves from a public institution.

  According to the above-described configuration, even if the channel is forcibly switched by DFS and the video is not displayed without notice, for example, if the viewer has some technical understanding of wireless communication, It is possible to easily understand the cause of the no longer being displayed.

  As described above, the configuration of the display device according to the present invention is the channel to be used for the wireless communication in the display device that receives the video content transmitted from the transmission device by wireless communication and displays the video on the display unit. Switching means for switching, radio wave interference detecting means for detecting the occurrence of radio wave interference in the channel being used for the wireless communication, and when the radio wave interference detecting means detects radio wave interference during the display of the video, the switching An instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction as to whether or not to switch the channel to be used from a user, and a display control means for displaying a user interface for receiving the instruction from the user on the display unit, In the user interface, the instruction receiving means switches the channel to be used. Transmission of the video content from accepting an instruction to have contains information about the time required to resume, and has a configuration.

  Therefore, the display device can prevent unnecessary interruption of communication due to channel switching of wireless communication.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a content display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content selection screen displayed on the monitor shown in FIG. (A) shows the correspondence between the content source and DRM, and (b) shows the encryption method applied to the content being transmitted from the content source to the monitor shown in FIG. 1 via the access point. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the monitor shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a DRM decoding unit of the monitor illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an LUT that is referred to by the CPU of the monitor shown in FIG. 4. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the video decoding part of the monitor shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the set top box shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the DRM encryption part of the set top box shown in FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement which the monitor shown in FIG. 1 performs after displaying content on the display after content is selected. It is a flowchart figure which shows the detail of the DRM decoding operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows another operation | movement which the monitor shown in FIG. 1 performs after displaying a video of content on a display after content is selected. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a series of connection destination setting screens that the monitor shown in FIG. 1 displays to allow the user to set the Wi-Fi connection destination of the monitor. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a series of connection destination setting screens that the monitor shown in FIG. 1 displays to allow the user to set the Wi-Fi connection destination of the monitor. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed when the monitor illustrated in FIG. 1 detects radio wave interference during Wi-Fi communication with the set box illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the caution which the monitor shown in FIG. 1 displays in the process according to the flowchart figure of FIG. It is a flowchart figure which shows the detailed operation | movement of the all-channel AFS process which the set top box shown in FIG. 1 performs. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement performed when the set top box shown in FIG. 1 detects a radar wave. It is a figure which shows the caution which the monitor shown in FIG. 1 displays in the process according to the flowchart figure of FIG. It is the figure which showed typically an example of the radar wave detection log | history data referred in order to determine the channel used newly when the set top box shown in FIG. 1 detects a radar wave. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement which the set top box shown in FIG. 1 performs at the time of starting. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a detailed operation of a W52-AFS process executed by the monitor shown in FIG. 1 as a process of the process according to the flowchart of FIG. 21. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement performed when the monitor shown in FIG. 1 receives designation | designated of the channel which should be used for a Wi-Fi connection from a user through a connection setting screen. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows an example of the connection state confirmation screen which the monitor shown in FIG. 1 displays. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a series of connection setting screens displayed by the monitor shown in FIG. 1 according to a user operation instruction. The user operation instruction is an instruction to automatically set a channel to be used for Wi-Fi connection. It is a figure in a case. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a series of connection setting screens displayed on the monitor shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with a user's operation instruction. The user's operation instruction manually sets two consecutive channels as channels to be used for Wi-Fi connection. It is a figure in case it is the instruction | indication to the effect. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a series of connection setting screens displayed by the monitor shown in FIG. 1 according to a user operation instruction, and the user operation instruction manually sets only one channel as a channel to be used for Wi-Fi connection. FIG. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed when the monitor shown in FIG. 1 cannot accept the setting of the channel which should be used for Wi-Fi connection. It is a figure which shows the dialog group regarding the link setting which the monitor shown in FIG. 1 displays. It is a figure for demonstrating a field intensity icon. (A) has shown an example of the image | video currently displayed on the monitor shown in FIG. (B) is a graph showing the relationship between the received signal intensity of the radio wave from the set top box shown in FIG. 8 and the radio wave intensity icon displayed in the upper right corner of the video in the monitor shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the content display system which concerns on another modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the content display system which concerns on another modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the content display system which concerns on another modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the content display system which concerns on another modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of the set top box shown in FIG. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing detailed operations of all-channel AFS processing executed by the set-top box shown in FIG. 35. It is a figure which shows an example of the number of the existing AP which uses the said channel in each channel, and the rank of the said channel.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a monitor is exemplified as an output device, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as an output device, instead of a monitor, another device that includes a display unit and functions as a display device, such as a PDA, a smartphone, a tablet PC, or a portable game machine, may be employed.

  The overall configuration and operation of the content display system according to this embodiment will be described below. First, the configuration of the content display system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a content display system 1 according to the present embodiment. The content display system 1 is a system that receives video content provided from a plurality of content sources, and includes a monitor 10 (output device, communication device), a set-top box (STB) 20 (transmitting device), and a router 30 (transmitting device). ).

  The STB 20 (displayed as “tuner unit” on the display of the monitor 10) and the monitor 10 (displayed as “display unit” on the display of the monitor 10) have identification codes for identifying the respective devices, for example, MAC addresses Thus, the wireless connection is set only between devices having a specific identification code. This is because the present embodiment assumes a form in which one product is configured by the combination of the STB 20 and the monitor 10, and the combination of the STB 20 and the monitor 10 is fixed as one product. This is a setting for avoiding unnecessary burden on the user by omitting an operation necessary for the initial setting for wireless connection.

  Further, the STB 20 and the router 30 (displayed as “wireless access point” on the display of the monitor 10) function as an access point that relays the content source. An access point means a terminal having a radio wave relay function for wireless connection from one terminal to another terminal or server.

  The monitor 10 is a video reproduction device that receives video signals from the STB 20 and the router 30 wirelessly. The monitor 10 can selectively switch the STB 20 and the router 30 as connection destinations. The radio frequency band connecting the monitor 10 and the STB 20 can be set to either the 2.4 GHz band or the 5 GHz band. The radio frequency band connecting the monitor 10 and the router 30 is 2.4 GHz. The STB 20 and the router 30 may be connected by wire. The radio frequency band connecting the monitor 10 and the router 30 may be fixed to the 5 GHz band, or may be switchable between the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band.

  More specifically, the 5 GHz band that can be set is a W52 band (a band of 5.15 to 5.25 GHz including a total of four channels of 36 ch, 40 ch, 44 ch, and 48 ch) and a W53 band (52 ch, Bands of 5.25 to 5.35 GHz consisting of a total of 4 channels of 56 ch, 60 ch, 64 ch) and W56 bands (100 ch, 104 ch, 108 ch, 112 ch, 116 ch, 120 ch, 124 ch, 128 ch, 132 ch, 136 ch, 140 ch) 5.47-5.725 GHz band consisting of a total of 11 channels). More specifically, one channel belonging to any one of the three bands among the total of 19 channels or two consecutive channels is set as a channel used for wireless communication.

  In the present embodiment, as the plurality of content sources, for example, BD recorders 40a and 40b that are HDMI-compatible devices, a DTV / BS broadcast, a media server 60 that is a DLNA-compatible device, and a Web 70 are provided.

(Content selection screen)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content selection screen SC displayed on the monitor 10. On the content selection screen SC, a television broadcast screen SC1 is displayed in the center portion, and seven icons I1 to I7 indicating viewable contents are displayed around the television broadcast screen SC1.

  For example, the icon I1 is an icon for viewing an IPTV broadcast provided from the Web 70 shown in FIG. The icon I2 is an icon for viewing content provided from the media server 60 (DLNA compatible device). The icon I3 is an icon for viewing content provided from the BD recorder 40a (external device) that is an HDMI-compatible device connected to the STB 20. The icon I4 is an icon for viewing content provided from the BD recorder 40b that is an HDMI-compatible device connected to the monitor 10. The icon I5 is an icon for viewing a TV broadcast from the DTV / BS antenna 50. The icon I6 is an icon for viewing content provided from the hard disk device 80 that can be connected via the USB terminal. The icon I7 is an icon for displaying a calendar by a calendar display function provided in the monitor 10.

(Video signal format and DRM)
FIG. 3A is a table showing the DRM encryption operation performed by the content source and the DRM encryption operation performed by the access point, and FIG. 3B is a diagram between the content source and the access point. It is the schematic diagram which showed the encryption format and the encryption format between an access point and the monitor.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, for example, the video signal from the USB-HDD 80 is encrypted in a specific DRM format, decrypted at the access point (STB 20), and then DTCP -Encrypted in IP format and sent to the monitor 10. Also, video on demand or IPTV (multicast broadcast) video signals from the Web 70 (IPTV / VOD server on the Internet) are encrypted in the Marlin format, and the format is not converted by the access point (router 30). It is transmitted to the monitor 10. Also, the DTCP-IP copyright protection technology is used in the media server 60 for the video signal from the media server 60 which is the DLNA of the home network.

(Monitor configuration)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the monitor 10. The monitor 10 decodes a video signal transmitted from the STB 20 or the router 30 by Wi-Fi communication and displays the video. The basic system is the same as that of the STB 20 or a normal television. Specifically, the monitor 10 includes a CPU 11, a wireless LAN module 12a, an HDMI receiving unit 12b, a switch (SW) 13, a DRM decoding unit 14, a DEMUX 15, a video decoding unit 16, a lookup table (LUT) 17, and a video processing unit. 18a and a display 19 (output unit, display unit).

  The CPU 11 includes a UI display unit 11a (display control unit), a content selection unit 11b, a video reception selection unit 11c, a content switching instruction unit 11d, a channel switching instruction unit 11e (first execution unit and second execution unit), and a reception buffer amount. A confirmation unit 11f (determination unit) and a signal intensity measurement unit 11g (signal intensity measurement unit) are provided, and the wireless LAN module 12a, SW13, DRM decoding unit 14, DEMUX 15, video decoding unit 16 and video processing unit 18a are controlled. .

  The wireless LAN module 12 a is wirelessly connected to the STB 20 and the router 30 and receives video signals from the STB 20 and the router 30. The HDMI receiving unit 12b is connected to the BD recorder 40b.

  Specifically, the wireless LAN module 12a internally includes a reception buffer 120a, sequentially stores received video signals (video data) in the reception buffer 120a, and stores the video signals (video data) in the reception buffer 120a. Sequentially output to SW13. Therefore, while the video signal is transmitted to the monitor 10 at a certain transmission rate, the buffer underrun does not occur in the reception buffer 120a, but when the transmission rate is greatly reduced, the buffer underrun occurs in the reception buffer 120a. To do.

  The SW 13 includes two input terminals IN1 and IN2 and one output terminal OUT1. The input terminal IN1 is connected to the wireless LAN module 12a, and the input terminal IN2 is connected to the HDMI receiving unit 12b. Based on an instruction from the CPU 11, the SW 13 selects one of the input signals to the input terminals IN1 and IN2, and outputs the selected signal from the output terminal OUT1.

  The UI screen display unit 11a displays various screens such as a content selection screen shown in FIG. 2, a connection state confirmation screen shown in FIG. 19, and a connection setting screen shown in FIG. is there. Moreover, the content selection part 11b selects a content source according to the user's operation with respect to a content selection screen.

  The video reception selection unit 11c controls the wireless LAN module 12a and the SW13. Specifically, the video reception selection unit 11c provides the content source selected by the content selection unit 11b (hereinafter also referred to as “target content source”) via an access point (STB 20 or router 30). In addition, it is determined by the LUT 17 indicating the correspondence between a preset content source, DRM encryption format, and video signal compression format.

  Specifically, the video reception selection unit 11c determines in the LUT 17 that the target content source is provided via an access point when the compression format of the video signal is associated with the target content source. On the other hand, in the LUT 17, the video reception selection unit 11c determines that the video content is provided via the HDMI reception unit 12b when the compression format of the video signal is not associated with the target content source.

  Then, when the target content source is provided via an access point, the video reception selection unit 11c specifies an access point used to receive a video signal from the target content source. Then, the video reception selection unit 11c causes the wireless LAN module 12a to receive a video signal from the specified access point, and causes the SW 13 to select the input terminal IN1 connected to the wireless LAN module 12a.

  The content switching instruction unit 11d supplies the wireless LAN module 12a with an instruction signal for the access point specified by the video reception selection unit 11c and for transmitting the video signal from the target content source to the monitor 10. To do. For example, when the BD recorder 40a is selected as the content source, the content switching instruction unit 11d supplies a preset control command of the STB 20 to the wireless LAN module 12a. Thereby, the wireless LAN module 12a receives the video signal transmitted from the BD recorder 40a from the STB 20 as a response to the control command transmitted toward the STB 20.

  The channel switching instruction unit 11e specifies a channel that the wireless LAN module 12a should use for wireless communication to the wireless LAN module 12a. For example, the channel switching instruction unit 11e instructs the wireless LAN module 12a to use 36ch of W52 as a channel to be used for wireless communication.

  The reception buffer amount confirmation unit 11f confirms the data amount of data buffered in the reception buffer 120a of the wireless LAN module 12a.

  The signal strength measuring unit 11g measures the RSSI (Received Signal Strength) of Wi-Fi radio waves transmitted from the access points around the monitor 10.

  The DRM decrypting unit 14 decrypts the DRM according to the DRM encryption format of the video signal output from the SW 13. As shown in FIG. 5, the DRM decoding unit 14 includes two SWs 14a and 14b, a DTCP-IP decoding unit 14c, an HDCP decoding unit 14d, and a Marlin decoding unit 14e.

  The SW 14a includes one input terminal IN11 and three output terminals OUT11 to OUT13. The SW 14b includes three input terminals IN21 to IN23 and one output terminal OUT21. Switching control of these SWs 14a and 14b is performed by the CPU 11.

  The DTCP-IP decryption unit 14c decrypts the video signal encrypted in the DTCP-IP format, and is provided between the output terminal OUT11 of the SW 14a and the input terminal IN21 of the SW 14b. The HDCP decryption unit 14d decrypts the video signal encrypted in the HDCP format, and is provided between the output terminal OUT12 of the SW 14a and the input terminal IN22 of the SW 14b. The Marlin decryption unit 14e decrypts the video signal encrypted in the Marlin format, and is provided between the output terminal OUT13 of the SW 14a and the input terminal IN23 of the SW 14b.

  The CPU 11 refers to the LUT 17 stored in a memory (not shown) and performs switching control from one of the SWs 14a and SW14b to the other. FIG. 6 shows an example of the contents of the LUT 17. As shown in the figure, the LUT 17 shows the correspondence between each content source, the DRM encryption format, and the compression format of the video signal.

  Thereby, the CPU 11 controls the DRM decryption unit 14 so that the decryption unit corresponding to the DRM encryption format of the video signal from the selected content source performs the decryption process. For example, when the received video signal is a video signal from the Web 70, the CPU 11 controls the DRM decoding unit 14 so that the Marlin decoding unit 14 e performs the decoding process in the DRM decoding unit 14. That is, the CPU 11 controls the DRM decoding unit 14 so that the SW 14a selects the output terminal OUT14 and the SW 14b selects the input terminal IN24. Similarly, when the received video signal is a video signal from the DTV / BS antenna 50, the media server 60, and the USB-HDD 80, the CPU 11 causes the DTCP-IP decoding unit 14c to perform a decoding process. 14 is controlled. When the received video signal is a video signal from the BD recorder 40a or the BD recorder 40b, the CPU 11 controls the DRM decoding unit 14 so that the HDCP decoding unit 14d performs a decoding process.

  The DEMUX 15 separates multiplexing of the IPTV video signal mainly from the Web 70 among the video signals output from the DRM decoding unit 14. The video signal output from the DEMUX 15 is input to the video decoding unit 16.

  The video decoding unit 16 decodes the video signal according to the compression format. As shown in FIG. H.264 decoding part 16d is provided.

  The SW 16a includes one input terminal IN31 and three output terminals OUT31 to OUT33. The SW 16b includes three input terminals IN41 to IN43 and one output terminal OUT41. Switching control from one of these SW16a and SW16b to the other is performed by the CPU 11.

  The MPEG2 decoding unit 16c decodes the video signal compressed in the MPEG2 format, and is provided between the output terminal OUT31 of the SW16a and the input terminal IN41 of the SW16b. H. H.264 decoding unit 16d The video signal compressed in the H.264 format is decoded, and is provided between the output terminal OUT32 of SW16a and the input terminal IN42 of SW16b. The output terminal OUT33 of SW16a and the input terminal IN43 of SW16b are directly connected.

  The CPU 11 refers to the LUT 17 and performs switching control from one of the SW 16a and the SW 16b to the other. Specifically, the CPU 11 refers to the correspondence relationship between the content source and the compression format in the LUT 17 shown in FIG. 6, and the decoding unit corresponding to the compression format of the video signal from the selected content source performs the decoding process. The video decoding unit 16 is controlled to perform. For example, when the received video signal is a video signal from the BD recorder 40 a and the Web 70, the CPU 11 causes the video decoding unit 16 to execute H.264. The video decoding unit 16 is controlled so that the H.264 decoding unit 16d performs the decoding process. That is, the CPU 11 controls the video decoding unit 16 so that the SW 16a selects the output terminal OUT32 and the SW 16b selects the input terminal IN42. Similarly, when the received video signal is a video signal from the DTV / BS antenna 50, the media server 60 or the USB-HDD 80, the CPU 11 performs MPEG2 decoding according to the compression method applied to the video signal. Part 16c and H.P. The video decoding unit 16 is controlled such that any one of the H.264 decoding units 16d performs the decoding process. Since the video signal from the BD recorder 40b is a baseband signal, the CPU 11 controls the video decoding unit 16 so that the SW 16a selects the output terminal OUT33 and the SW 16b selects the input terminal IN43.

  The video signal output from the video decoding unit 16 is input to the video processing unit 18a. The video processing unit 18a performs predetermined image processing such as image quality correction on the video signal, and outputs it to the display 19 via the panel controller 18b. As a result, the video of the video content transmitted by the selected content source is displayed on the display 19.

  Note that the DRM encryption methods supported by the monitor 10 of this embodiment are Marlin encryption, DTCP-IP encryption, and HDCP encryption, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, depending on the type of DRM encryption format supported by the display device, the type of the decryption unit provided in the DRM decryption unit of the display device may be changed as appropriate. If the display device does not support DRM, the display unit It is not necessary to provide a DRM decoding unit in the apparatus.

  Similarly, the video compression methods supported by the monitor 10 of this embodiment are MPEG2 and H264, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the type of the decoding unit provided in the video decoding unit of the display device may be appropriately changed according to the type of video compression format supported by the display device.

(STB configuration)
Next, the configuration of the STB 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a BD recorder 40a and a media server 60 are connected to the STB 20 as content sources, and a DTV / BS antenna 50 that receives DTV / BS broadcasts as content sources is connected. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the STB 20 encrypts the video signal from each content source for copyright protection. Specifically, HDCP encryption is performed on the video signal from the BD recorder 40a. The STB 20 encrypts the video signal from the DTV / BS antenna 50 using DTCP-IP. Further, the video signal from the USB-HDD 80 is decrypted by the inherent DRM, and further encrypted by DTCP-IP.

  Thus, the STB 20 can switch the encryption format according to the content source. A configuration for this will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the STB 20. The STB 20 attaches a wireless transmission system to a portion corresponding to a panel output in a normal television, and outputs a video signal to the monitor 10 by Wi-Fi communication. Specifically, the STB 20 includes a CPU 21, a tuner 22a, a demodulator 22b, a Multi2 decoder 22c, a DEMUX 22d, a USB interface (USB / IF, video input means) 23a, a specific DRM decoder 23b, an HDMI receiver 24a, and an HDCP decoder. Part 24b, H.M. 264 encoding unit 24c, wired LAN module 25, switch (SW) 26, DRM encryption unit 27, wireless LAN module 28, and TS buffer 283. The STB 20 includes a TCP / IP buffer 282 in a memory (not shown).

  The TCP / IP buffer 282 is a buffer used for transmitting video content to the monitor 10 according to the TCP / IP protocol, and is used for retransmission until the corresponding ACK packet is received after the SYN packet of the video content is transmitted. This buffer holds the SYN packet. The TS buffer 283 is a buffer in which the SPTS of the video signal is buffered.

  The tuner 22a, the USB / IF 23a, and the HDMI receiving unit 24a are connected to the DTV / BS antenna 50, the USB-HDD 80, and the BD recorder 40a, respectively. The wired LAN module 25 is connected to the same local network as the router 30 and the media server 60. The wireless LAN module 28 is wirelessly connected to the monitor 10.

  The video signal received by the tuner 22a is demodulated by the demodulator 22b, and subjected to DRM decoding processing by the Multi2 decoder 22c. Thereafter, the MPTS of the video signal is demultiplexed into a plurality of SPTSs by the DEMUX 22d, and the plurality of SPTSs are buffered in the TS buffer 283. The SPTSs in the TS buffer 283 are sequentially input to the SW 26 as long as the TCP / IP buffer 282 has a free space.

  The video signal received by the USB / IF 23a is subjected to DRM decoding processing by the unique DRM decoding unit 23b and input to the SW 26.

  The video signal received by the HDMI receiving unit 24a is subjected to DRM decoding processing by the HDCP decoding unit 24b. The data is compressed by the H.264 encoding unit 24 c and input to the SW 26. Note that the video signal obtained by the decoding process of the HDCP decoding unit 24b may be input to the SW 26 as it is, but the transmission speed is likely to decrease in the wireless section. It is desirable to compress by H.264 or the like.

  The SW 26 includes four input terminals IN51 to IN54 and one output terminal OUT51. The input terminal IN51 is connected to the DEMUX 22d, the input terminal IN52 is connected to the specific DRM decoding unit 23b, and the input terminal IN53 is connected to the H.264. The input terminal IN54 is connected to the wired LAN module 25. The SW 26 selects one of the input signals to the input terminals IN51 to IN54 based on an instruction from the CPU 21, and outputs the selected signal from the output terminal OUT51.

  As described above, the wireless LAN module 12a of the monitor 10 transmits the instruction signal supplied from the content switching instruction unit 11d to the STB 20, and the instruction signal is input to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 controls the SW 26 and the DRM encryption unit 27 based on the instruction signal. As a result, the STB 20 encrypts the video signal from the selected content source in the DRM encryption format corresponding to the video signal, and transmits the encrypted video signal to the monitor 10.

  For example, when the selected content source is the BD recorder 40a (second mode), the CPU 21 controls the SW 26 so that only the signal input from the input terminal IN53 is output from the output terminal OUT51. As a result, only the video signal received by the HDMI receiving unit 24 a is output to the DRM encryption unit 27. Similarly, when the selected content source is DTV / BS broadcast (first mode), the CPU 21 controls and selects the SW 26 so that only the signal input from the input terminal IN51 is output from the output terminal OUT51. When the selected content source is the USB-HDD 80 (second mode), the CPU 21 controls the SW 26 so that only the signal input from the input terminal IN52 is output from the output terminal OUT51, and the selected content source is In the case of the Web 70 (first mode), the CPU 21 controls the SW 26 so that only the signal input from the input terminal IN54 is output from the output terminal OUT51.

  The DRM encryption unit 27 performs DRM encryption on the video signal output from the SW 26 according to the content source. As shown in FIG. 9, the DRM encryption unit 27 includes two SWs 27a and 27b, a DTCP-IP encryption unit 27c, and an HDCP encryption unit 27d.

  The SW 27a includes one input terminal IN61 and three output terminals OUT61 to OUT63. The SW 27b includes three input terminals IN71 to IN73 and one output terminal OUT71. The switching control of the SWs 27a and 27b is performed by the CPU 21.

  The DTCP-IP encryption unit 27c encrypts the video signal in the DTCP-IP format, and is provided between the output terminal OUT61 of the SW27a and the input terminal IN71 of the SW27b. The HDCP encryption unit 27d encrypts the video signal in the HDCP format, and is provided between the output terminal OUT62 of the SW 27a and the input terminal IN72 of the SW 27b. Further, the output terminal OUT63 of SW27a and the input terminal IN73 of SW27b are directly connected.

  The CPU 21 controls the SW 27a and SW 27b to encrypt the video signal in an encryption format corresponding to the selected content source. For example, when the selected content source is DTV / BS broadcast, the CPU 21 controls the SW 27 a and SW 27 b so that the DTCP-IP encryption unit 27 c performs encryption in the DRM encryption unit 27. That is, the CPU 21 controls the DRM encryption unit 27 so that the SW 27a selects the output terminal OUT61 and the SW 27b selects the input terminal IN71. Similarly, when the selected content source is the BD recorder 40a, the CPU 21 controls the SW 27a and the SW 27b so that the DCP encryption unit 27 selects the HDCP encryption unit 27d.

  When the video signal of the selected content source is received from the wired LAN module 25, since the video signal has already been encrypted, the DRM encryption unit 27 does not encrypt the video signal. . At this time, the CPU 21 controls the SW 27a to select the output terminal OUT63 and the SW 27b to select the input terminal IN73.

  As a result, the video signal appropriately encrypted according to the selected content source is transmitted from the wireless LAN module 28 to the monitor 10. Specifically, the encrypted video signal (video data) is sequentially buffered in the order of the TCP / IP buffer 282 and the transmission buffer 281 of the wireless LAN module 28, and the video signal (video data) in the transmission buffer 281 is Sequentially transmitted to the monitor 10. Therefore, while the video signal is transmitted to the monitor 10 at a certain transmission rate, no buffer overflow occurs in the transmission buffer 281 and the TCP / IP buffer 282. However, when the transmission rate is greatly reduced, the transmission buffer 281 A buffer overflow occurs in the TCP / IP buffer 282. In particular, when the selected content source is DTV / BS broadcast, a buffer overflow also occurs in the TS buffer 283 arranged before the TCP / IP buffer 282.

  The CPU 21 also includes a transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a, a radar wave detection unit 21b, a signal intensity measurement unit 21c, and a channel switching instruction unit 21d.

  The transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21 a confirms the data amount of data buffered in the transmission buffer 281 of the wireless LAN module 28.

  The radar wave detection unit 21b operates when the channel used by the wireless LAN module 28 for Wi-Fi communication is a W53 or W56 channel (that is, a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution). Detects radar waves from public institutions such as radar and military radar.

  The signal strength measuring unit 21c measures the RSSI (Received Signal Strength) of Wi-Fi radio waves transmitted from each terminal such as the monitor 10 around the STB 20.

  The channel switching instruction unit 21d specifies to the wireless LAN module 28 a channel that the wireless LAN module 28 should use for wireless communication.

  Heretofore, the overall configuration of the content display system 1 according to the present embodiment has been described. Next, the overall operation of the content display system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Operation of content display system)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for the monitor 10 to start receiving a video signal.

  When a content selection screen is displayed (S1) and content is selected by a user operation (S2), the video reception selection unit 11c determines whether the selected content source is provided via an access point or HDMI. It is determined whether the data is provided via the receiving unit 12b (S3).

  When the selected content source is provided via the HDMI receiving unit 12b (YES in S3), the HDMI receiving unit 12b receives the HDCP-encrypted video signal from the BD recorder 40b (S20), The DRM decoding unit 14 performs the DRM decoding process on the received video signal (S21), and the video signal obtained by the decoding is processed by each unit (video decoding unit 16, video processing unit 18a) in the subsequent stage. The displayed video is displayed on the display 19 (S22).

  On the other hand, when the selected content source is provided via an access point (NO in S3), the video reception selection unit 11c uses access to receive a video signal from the selected content source. It is specified whether the point is the STB 20 or the router 30 (S4).

  When the identified access point is the STB 20 (STB in S4), the video reception selection unit 11c causes the wireless LAN module 12a to receive the video signal from the STB 20, and the SW 13 is connected to the wireless LAN module 12a. The selected input terminal IN1 is selected (S5). Further, the wireless LAN module 12a transmits an instruction signal for the STB 20 supplied from the content switching instruction unit 11d (an instruction signal for instructing the monitor 10 to transmit a video signal from the selected content source) to the STB 20 (S6). ).

  In the STB 20 that has received the instruction signal, the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a monitors the buffer amount of the transmission buffer 281 and the wireless LAN module 28 transmits the video signal from the selected content source to the monitor 10 (S7).

  Thereby, reception of the video signal from the content source selected via the STB 20 (S8), DRM decoding processing (S9) of the video signal, video decoding processing (S10), and video output (S11) are performed.

  Specifically, the wireless LAN module 12a receives a video signal (video data) from the STB 20 and buffers it in the reception buffer 120a. Then, according to the DRM encryption format of the video signal (video data) in the reception buffer 120a, one of the decoding units in the DRM decoding unit 14 performs DRM decoding processing on the supplied video signal. Further, the video decoding unit 16 appropriately demultiplexes the video signal obtained by the DRM decoding process, and then one of the two decoding units 16c and 16d of the video decoding unit 16 is supplied. The video signal is decoded according to the compression format. The video signal obtained by the decoding process is subjected to predetermined video processing by the video processing unit 18 a, and the panel controller 18 b outputs the video to the display 19.

  Thereafter, the reception buffer amount confirmation unit 11f of the CPU 11 determines whether or not the selected content source is an external device (BD recorder 40a or USB / HDD 80) connected to the STB (S12), and connects to the STB. If the external device is a connected external device (YES in S12, second mode), monitoring of occurrence of buffer underrun in the reception buffer 120a is started (S13). The monitoring of the occurrence of buffer underrun in the reception buffer 120a specifically refers to processing for repeatedly confirming whether the amount of video data in the reception buffer 120a is below a predetermined threshold.

  On the other hand, when the identified access point is the router 30 (STB in S4), the video reception selection unit 11c causes the wireless LAN module 12a to receive the video signal from the router 30, and causes the SW 13 to receive the wireless LAN module. The input terminal IN1 connected to 12a is selected (S14). Further, the wireless LAN module 12a transmits to the router 30 an instruction signal for the router 30 supplied from the content switching instruction unit 11d (an instruction signal for instructing the monitor 10 to transmit a video signal from the selected content source). (S15).

  Thereby, reception of the video signal from the content source selected via the router 30 (S16), DRM decoding processing (S17), video decoding processing (S18), and video output (S19) of the video signal are performed.

  Note that the decoding process of S9 and S17 is specifically represented by the flowchart of FIG. That is, the DRM decryption unit 14 determines which content is the selected content source (S31). When the selected content source is the Web 70, the DTCP-IP decoding unit 14c performs the DTCP-IP decoding process (S32). When the selected content source is the BD recorder 40a, the HDCP decoding unit 14d Performs HDCP decryption processing (S34), and when the selected content source is other than that, the Marlin decryption unit 14e performs Marlin decryption processing (S33).

  As described above, while the monitor 10 receives the video signal from the external device connected to the STB 20 by wireless communication from the STB 20, the reception buffer amount confirmation unit 11f is buffered in the reception buffer 120a. Check the amount of video data. The reception buffer amount confirmation unit 11f detects that a buffer underrun has occurred when it is determined once or a plurality of times (predetermined number of times) that the confirmed data amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

  In order to prevent misrecognition, the reception buffer amount confirmation unit 11f has buffered video data for a predetermined number of times (Q ≧ 1) or more (for example, 10 or more times per minute) within a certain period. When it is determined that the amount of data is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, an operation may be performed to recognize that a buffer underrun has occurred.

  Although the operation of the monitor 10 has been described above, in order to specify in S4 whether the access point to be used is the STB 20 or the router 30, in the connection destination setting screen as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. When the current setting is “tuner unit”, the STB 20 may be specified as an access point to be used, and when the current setting is “wireless access point”, the router 30 may be specified as an access point to be used. . Alternatively, as shown in S4 ′ of the flowchart of FIG. 12, the router 30 may be specified as the access point to be used when the selected content source is the Web 70, and the STB 20 may be specified otherwise. . Details of the connection destination setting screen will be described later.

  When reception of the video signal is started by the operation as described above and occurrence of buffer underrun is detected in the reception buffer 120a, the CPU 11 of the monitor 10 has a throughput in wireless communication between the monitor 10 and the STB 20. You may perform the predetermined | prescribed error avoidance process which should be performed when it falls.

  As an example of the predetermined error avoidance process, when the received signal strength of the radio wave transmitted from the STB 20 is measured and the received signal strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold (that is, a decrease in throughput is caused by a decrease in received signal strength). When it is detected that it is not caused by radio wave interference (hereinafter also referred to as “when radio wave interference is detected”), the channel used for wireless communication with the STB 20 is switched to another channel. Here, the predetermined threshold value may be set to, for example, one tenth of a reference level (a value 20 dB lower than the reference level), which is a level at which transmission of a video signal is sufficiently possible.

  This process will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation of switching the channel used by the channel switching instruction unit 11e of the monitor 10 for wireless communication.

  First, the channel switching instruction unit 11e determines whether or not the “CH change” flag is “1” (S41). Here, the “CH not changed” flag is a flag that is set to “1” when an instruction to change the channel when a radio wave interference is detected is received from the user, but the channel is changed. The default value is set to “0” each time.

  If it is determined that the “CH change not performed” flag is “1” (YES in S41), the process ends without performing anything.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the “CH change not performed” flag is “0” (YES in S41), the UI screen display unit 11a displays the “CH change confirmation” caution UI1 as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display 19 (S42). Thereafter, the channel switching instruction unit 11e determines whether the user has selected “Yes” or “No” in the “CH change confirmation” caution UI1 (S43).

  If it is determined that the user has selected “NO” (NO in S43), the “CH change not performed” flag is set to “1” (S44), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the user has selected “Yes” (YES in S43), the channel switching instruction unit 11e instructs the STB 20 to execute the processing of all channels AFS whose flowchart is shown in FIG. The command is supplied to the wireless LAN module 12a, and the wireless LAN module 12a transmits the instruction command to the STB 20 (S45). Details of the all-channel AFS processing will be described later.

  After that, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the “CH changing” caution UI2 shown in FIG. 16B on the display 19 until all channels AFS process connects to the new channel from the STB 20 (S46).

  Then, the wireless LAN module 12a periodically determines whether or not a new channel is connected from the STB 20 (S47). If it is determined that the connection is not established (NO in S47), it is determined whether or not 2 minutes have elapsed since the time when the instruction command was transmitted in S45 (S49). If it is determined that 2 minutes have not elapsed (NO in S49), the process returns to S47. On the other hand, if it is determined that 2 minutes have elapsed (YES in S49), the UI screen display unit 11a displays FIG. Is displayed on the display 19 (S50), and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined from STB 20 that a new channel is connected (YES in S47), “CH changing” caution UI2 shown in FIG. 16B is deleted from display 19 (S48), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, as an example of the predetermined error avoidance process, switching the channel used for wireless communication with the STB 20 when the monitor 10 detects radio wave interference has been described. In the present embodiment, the STB 20 similarly performs processing for switching a channel used for wireless communication with the monitor 10 when radio wave interference is detected.

  That is, the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a of the STB 20 transmits the video signal received from the outside of the content display system 1 via the DTV / BS antenna 50 via the broadcast wave to the monitor 10 via Wi-Fi communication. An operation for detecting 281 buffer overflow is performed (first mode). Specifically, the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a performs an operation of repeatedly determining whether or not the data amount of the video data buffered in the transmission buffer 281 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a recognizes that a buffer overflow has occurred when it is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold once or a plurality of times (a predetermined number of times).

  In order to prevent erroneous recognition, the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a buffers video data that has been buffered a predetermined number of times (P ≧ 1) or more (for example, three or more times per minute) within a certain period. If it is determined that the amount of data is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, an operation may be performed to recognize that a buffer overflow has occurred.

  Further, the signal strength measuring unit 21 c periodically measures the received signal strength of the carrier wave from the monitor 10.

  When the signal strength measuring unit 21c detects a received signal strength equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold at the same time when the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a detects a buffer overflow, the STB 20 recognizes that radio wave interference has occurred in the channel being used, In order to change the channel used for transmission / reception of the video signal, for example, the process of S92 described later is executed (after the process of S92, the monitor 10 executes the processes of S93 to S95 described later). The time difference between the detection time of the buffer overflow and the detection time of the signal intensity equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold may be within the same period, or the simultaneous period may be set, or the signal overflow of the buffer overflow detection time and the signal intensity equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold. The same detection period may be used when the detection time is rounded to the minute, and other definitions are given as the same period so that the time difference between the two detection times is within a predetermined range. May be.

  As described above, the content display system 1 according to the present embodiment transmits a video signal from the STB 20 to the monitor 10 not only when the monitor 10 detects radio wave interference but also when the STB 20 detects radio wave interference. It is possible to change the Wi-Fi communication channel used for the communication.

  Note that either one of the monitor 10 and the STB 20 may perform processing for detecting radio wave interference and switching channels.

(All channel AFS processing)
Next, the processing of all channels AFS executed by the STB 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing of all channels AFS.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the channel switching instruction unit 21d of the STB 20 controls the wireless LAN module 28 to execute an AP search (S61). Based on the result of the AP search, the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines whether two consecutive channels (36ch and 40ch, or 44ch and 48ch) of W52 are free (S62).

  If it is determined that two consecutive channels of W52 are vacant (YES in S62), the wireless LAN module 28 uses the HT40 mode (dual channel mode and 40 MHz mode) using the two consecutive channels of W52 that are vacant. To the monitor 10 (S63), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that two consecutive channels of W52 are not vacant (NO in S62), the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines whether any of the channels of W52 is vacant (S64).

  If it is determined that any continuous channel of W52 is free (YES in S62), the wireless LAN module 28 uses the HT20 mode (single channel mode and 20 MHz) using any of the free channels of W52. (Equivalent to the mode) is connected to the monitor 10 (S65), and the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that any channel of W52 is not free (NO in S62), the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines that two consecutive channels of W56 (100ch and 104ch, based on the AP search result). 108ch and 112ch,...) Are determined (S66).

  If it is determined that two consecutive channels of W56 are not free (NO in S66), the process proceeds to S70.

  When it is determined that two consecutive channels of W56 are vacant (YES in S66), the radar wave detection unit 21b detects radar waves having frequencies belonging to each channel for the two vacant continuous channels. Is performed for one minute (S67).

  When the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave belonging to any channel by the operation of S67 (YES in S68), the process proceeds to S70. On the other hand, when the radar wave detection unit 21b does not detect the radar wave due to the operation of S67 (NO in S68), the wireless LAN module 28 uses the HT 40 that uses two consecutive channels of W56 in which no radar wave is detected. The monitor 10 is connected in the mode (S65), and the process is terminated.

  In S70, the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines whether two consecutive channels of W53 (52ch and 56ch, 60ch and 64ch,...) Are free based on the AP search result.

  If it is determined that two consecutive channels of W53 are not free (NO in S70), the process proceeds to S74.

  When it is determined that two consecutive channels of W53 are vacant (YES in S70), the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave having a frequency belonging to each channel for the two consecutive vacant channels. The operation is performed for 1 minute (S71).

  If the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave belonging to any channel by the operation of S71 (YES in S72), the process proceeds to S74. On the other hand, when the radar wave detection unit 21b does not detect the radar wave due to the operation of S71 (NO in S72), the wireless LAN module 28 uses the two consecutive channels of W53 in which no radar wave is detected. The monitor 10 is connected in the mode (S73), and the process is terminated.

  In S74, the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines whether any channel of W56 is free based on the result of the AP search.

  If it is determined that none of the channels of W56 are free (NO in S74), the process proceeds to S78.

  When it is determined that any channel of W56 is vacant (YES in S74), the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave having a frequency belonging to the channel for any vacant channel. The operation is performed for 1 minute (S75).

  When radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave by the operation of S75 (YES in S76), the process proceeds to S78. On the other hand, when the radar wave detection unit 21b does not detect a radar wave due to the operation of S75 (NO in S76), the wireless LAN module 28 monitors 10 in the HT20 mode using the W56 channel in which no radar wave is detected. (S77), and the process ends.

  In S78, the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines whether any channel of W53 is free based on the result of the AP search.

  If it is determined that none of the channels of W53 are free (NO in S78), the process proceeds to S82.

  When it is determined that any channel of W53 is vacant (YES in S78), the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave having a frequency belonging to the channel for any vacant channel. The operation is performed for 1 minute (S79).

  When radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave by the operation of S79 (YES in S80), the process proceeds to S82. On the other hand, when the radar wave detection unit 21b does not detect the radar wave due to the operation of S79 (NO in S80), the wireless LAN module 28 monitors in the HT20 mode using the W53 channel where the radar wave is not detected. (S81), and the process ends.

  In S82, the signal strength measuring unit 21c measures the received signal strength of the carrier wave of each channel of W52, and the wireless LAN module 28 monitors in the HT20 mode using the channel for which the minimum received signal strength is measured. 10 and the processing of all channels AFS is completed.

  As is clear from the flowchart of FIG. 17, the all-channel AFS is an algorithm for selecting channels to be newly used in the priority order of W52, W56, and W53 in descending order of priority. The priority order of W52, W53, and W56 may be set in descending order. Moreover, you may change which priority is employ | adopted according to the destination of STB20. For example, the STB 20 destined for a country (for example, Japan) or a region where the frequency of use of military radars is assumed to be lower than the frequency of use of weather radars, sets channels to be newly used in the priority order of W52, W56, and W53. An all-channel AFS may be implemented to select. In addition, STB 20, which is targeted for countries (military states, etc.) or regions where the use frequency of military radar is assumed to be higher than the use frequency of weather radar, is a channel that is newly used in the priority order of W52, W53, and W56. All-channel AFS may be implemented so as to select.

  Further, when the STB 20 detects a radar wave by the operation of S67 (YES in S68), the STB 20 may perform the process of S82 using the detection of the radar wave as a trigger. Similarly, when the radar wave is detected by the operation of S71 (YES in S72) and the radar wave is detected by the operation of S75 (YES in S76), the processing of S82 is performed using the detection of the radar wave as a trigger. Good. The STB 20 when mounted in this manner is used to complete the connection to the monitor 10 as compared with the case of performing the operation according to the flowchart of FIG. 17 in which the processing time for detecting the radar wave is a maximum of 4 minutes. There is an advantage that the maximum required time is shortened.

(Regarding a more desirable embodiment of processing of all channels AFS)
In the process of all-channel AFS shown in FIG. 17, an empty channel is searched from a band having a small frequency, and if it cannot be found, a channel having the smallest RSSI is selected. However, in general, interference between adjacent channels has a larger influence than interference of the same channel, and the number of overlapping interference sources (APs) has a larger influence on the interference than RSSI. Therefore, hereinafter, a configuration for performing the all-channel AFS processing in consideration of adjacent channel interference will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an STB 20 'according to a modification of the set top box. The STB 20 'is configured to further include a ranking unit 21e in the STB 20 shown in FIG. In the STB 20 ', in the processing of all channels AFS, the ranking unit 21e gives each channel a rank indicating the difficulty of generating radio wave interference, and the channel switching instruction unit 21d selects a channel based on the rank.

  FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the processing of all channels AFS.

  As illustrated in FIG. 36, the channel switching instruction unit 21d of the STB 20 controls the wireless LAN module 28 to execute an AP search (S121). Based on the search result, the ranking unit 21e assigns each channel a rank indicating the difficulty of radio wave interference (S122). Details of the ranking performed by the ranking unit 21e will be described later.

  Subsequently, the channel switching instruction unit 21d searches for the channel (best channel) with the highest rank among the channels of W52 (S123), the rank of the best channel of W52 is rank 3 or higher, and is currently in use. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or higher than the rank of the channel (S124).

  If the rank of the best channel of W52 is equal to or higher than rank 3 and is equal to or higher than the rank of the currently used channel (YES in S124), the wireless LAN module 28 monitors 10 in the HT20 mode using the best channel of W52. (S125), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the rank of the best channel of W52 is lower than rank 4 or lower than the rank of the channel currently in use (NO in S124), channel switching instruction unit 21d selects the best channel among the channels of W53. Search is performed (S126), and it is determined whether or not there is a rank 1 channel in W53 (S127).

  When it is determined that there is no rank 1 channel in W53 (NO in S127), channel switching instruction unit 21d searches for the best channel among the channels of W56 (S128). On the other hand, when it is determined that a rank 1 channel exists in W53 (YES in S127), the radar wave detection unit 21b performs an operation for detecting a radar wave having a frequency belonging to the rank 1 channel for one minute ( S129).

  When the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave belonging to the rank 1 channel of W53 by the operation of S129 (YES in S130), the process proceeds to S125. On the other hand, when the radar wave detection unit 21b does not detect a radar wave due to the operation of S129 (NO in S130), the wireless LAN module 28 uses the W53 rank 1 channel in which no radar wave is detected. To connect to the monitor 10 (S131), and the process is terminated. When the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave in S130, the process may transit to S128.

  In S128, the channel switching instruction unit 21d searches for the best channel among the channels of W56, and when it is determined that there is no rank 1 channel in W56 (NO in S132), the wireless LAN module 28 determines in S123. The monitor is connected to the monitor 10 in the HT20 mode using the searched best channel of W52 (S125), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that a rank 1 channel exists in W56 (YES in S132), the radar wave detection unit 21b performs an operation for detecting a radar wave having a frequency belonging to the rank 1 channel for one minute ( S133).

  When the radar wave detection unit 21b detects a radar wave belonging to the rank 1 channel of W56 by the operation of S133 (YES in S134), the wireless LAN module 28 uses the best channel of W52 searched in S123 to use the HT20 mode. Is connected to the monitor 10 (S125), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the radar wave detection unit 21b does not detect the radar wave due to the operation of S133 (NO in S134), the wireless LAN module 28 uses the W56 rank 1 channel in which no radar wave is detected. Is connected to the monitor 10 (S135), and the process is terminated.

Next, details of ranking of each channel will be described. The ranking unit 21e shown in FIG. 35 determines a rank indicating the difficulty of generating radio wave interference as follows. In addition, it shows that a rank is so high that a number is small (it is hard to produce electromagnetic interference).
Rank 1: a channel that is free and its adjacent channel is not used Rank 2: a channel that is used by one existing AP and whose adjacent channel is not used Rank 3: A channel used by one or less existing APs and its neighboring channels are used. Rank 4: A channel used by two existing APs and its neighboring channels. Channel in which a channel is used The rank of a channel in which its adjacent channel is used decreases as the number of existing APs using that channel increases.

  Note that the channels used in the HT40 mode (dual channel mode) are ranked by summing the ranks of the respective channels used. As for the end channels (36 ch, 64 ch, 100 ch, 140 ch), only one adjacent channel is used for ranking.

  FIG. 37 is a table showing an example of the number of existing APs using the channel and the rank of the channel in each channel. Since the interference of the adjacent channel is taken into consideration, even if the number of existing APs is 0, the rank is lowered when the adjacent channel is used.

  As described above, the ranking unit 21e determines the rank of each channel in consideration of the interference of adjacent channels with priority. That is, a higher rank is given to a channel that does not use the adjacent channel than a channel that uses the adjacent channel, and the channel is used for a channel that uses the adjacent channel. As the number of communication devices is smaller, a higher rank is assigned. This makes it easier for the channel switching instruction unit 21d to select a channel that can avoid the interference of the adjacent channel that has the greatest influence. Further, even when the channel switching instruction unit 21d selects a channel in which an adjacent channel is used, the channel switching instruction unit 21d can select a channel with the smallest number of existing APs that use the channel.

  For example, as shown in S124 and S125 in the flowchart of FIG. 36, the channel switching instruction unit 21d preferentially selects the channel with the highest rank among the channels of W52. As a result, the channel of W52 that does not use the adjacent channel is selected most preferentially, and even if there is no channel that does not use the adjacent channel in the channel of W52, the channel The channel with the smallest number of APs using is selected. The interference of adjacent channels has a larger influence than the interference of the same channel, and the influence of the overlapping AP is larger than the RSSI on the interference. Can be selected.

  The W53 and W56 channels are not selected unless other channels are available.

  From the above, the channel switching instruction unit 21d can select a Wi-Fi communication channel that hardly causes a delay time and hardly causes radio wave interference.

  Further, as shown in S124 and S126 to S135 in the flowchart of FIG. 36, the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines that the channel of the highest ranked channel of W52 is lower than the rank of the currently used channel. A channel that is not used by W56 and that does not use the adjacent channel is preferentially selected. Similarly, in the channel switching instruction unit 21d, the rank of the channel with the highest rank of W52 is lower than the rank of the channel in which the adjacent channel is used and which is used by one or less other APs. In this case, a channel that is not used by W53 or W56 and that does not use the adjacent channel is preferentially selected. As a result, the channel switching instruction unit 21d can select a channel that is less likely to cause radio wave interference than when the W52 channel is selected.

  Also, the channel switching instruction unit 21d gives priority to the channel with the highest rank of W52 when there is no unused channel among the W53 and W56 channels and the channel that is not adjacent to the channel is not used. select. That is, in the process of all channels AFS shown in FIG. 36, as in S127 and S132, in S53 and S56, the channels below rank 2 are not selected, and in S53 and S56, the channels are vacant. Only channels for which adjacent channels are not used are selected. This is because in S53 and S56, the radar wave detection unit 21b may erroneously detect the radio wave of the AP of the same channel and the AP of the adjacent channel as a radar wave.

  In addition, when selecting a channel other than the W52 channel, the channel switching instruction unit 21d selects the W53 channel with priority over the W56 channel. This is because the probability that the radar wave detection unit 21b erroneously detects the radar is lower in the W53 channel.

  In the all-channel AFS processing shown in FIG. 36, the wireless LAN module 28 connects to the monitor 10 in the HT20 mode using one channel. Thereby, since the HT20 mode uses fewer channels than the HT40 mode using two channels, it is easy to select a channel with less influence of interference between the adjacent channel and the same channel. Also, when the STB 20 'and the monitor 10 are relatively far apart, the HT20 mode has an advantage that it is less susceptible to interference than the HT40 mode.

  The operation of the monitor 10 and the STB 20 when the monitor 10 detects radio wave interference while receiving a video signal from the STB 20 via Wi-Fi communication has been described.

  Next, operations of the monitor 10 and the STB 20 when the STB 20 detects a radar wave during an operation of transmitting a video signal to the monitor 10 by Wi-Fi communication will be described with reference to FIGS. As a premise of this operation, the STB 20 is performing Wi-Fi communication with the monitor 10 via the W53 or W56 channel, and performing an operation for detecting the radar wave of the channel. And

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the operation, FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a caution displayed by the monitor 10 during the operation, and FIG. 20 shows a case where the channel is changed when the STB 20 detects a radar wave. The radar wave detection history data to be referenced is shown.

  First, the radar wave detection unit 21b of the STB 20 detects a radar wave having a frequency belonging to the W53 or W56 channel used for the Wi-Fi communication with the monitor 10 (S91).

  Next, the channel switching instruction unit 21d changes the channel used by the wireless LAN module 28 for Wi-Fi communication with the monitor 10 based on the radar wave detection history data in FIG. A connection process with the monitor 10 is started using the later channel (S92). Here, specifically, the radar wave detection history data in FIG. 20 has a data structure in which each channel belonging to W52, W53, or W56 is associated with a radar wave detection flag. Radar wave detection flag “Yes” indicates that the radar wave was detected in the corresponding channel after the last time the radar wave detection history data was reset. Radar wave detection flag “No” indicates that the wave was detected after the reset. This indicates that no radar wave is detected in the channel corresponding to. For example, the radar wave detection history data in FIG. 20A indicates that a radar wave has been detected at 52 ch after the reset time, and indicates that no radar wave has been detected at 56 ch. . FIG. 20B shows radar wave detection history data in a reset state. Radar wave detection history data is recorded in a non-volatile memory (storage unit) such as a FLASH memory (not shown) of the STB 20.

  The channel change processing in S92 will be specifically described. The channel switching instruction unit 21d newly uses a channel randomly selected from the channel group associated with the radar wave detection flag “none” in the radar wave detection history data. Is determined as the channel to be used. The channel switching instruction unit 21d updates the radar wave detection flag associated with the channel to “present”. Note that the channel switching instructing unit 21d detects when all radar wave detection flags are “present”, or after the radar wave is detected after the STB 20 is started or last (after the radar wave detection flag is set). ) When 30 minutes have elapsed, the radar wave detection history data is reset. This is because, according to the law, even a channel in which a radar wave has been detected can be used after 30 minutes from the time of detection.

  In the channel change process of S92, when there is only one channel associated with the radar wave detection flag “none” in the radar wave detection history data, the channel switching instruction unit 21d newly uses that channel. However, the radar wave detection history data may be reset without updating the corresponding radar wave detection flag.

  In the monitor 10 that has received the reconnection request for the new channel from the STB 20 through the process of S92, the “connection disconnection” caution UI4 indicating that the connection on the channel used by the UI screen display unit 11a has been disconnected. Is displayed on the display 19 (S93).

  After S93, the channel switching instruction unit 11e controls the wireless LAN module 12a so that the wireless LAN module 12a continues the reconnection process with the STB 20 in the new channel, and a new channel between the monitor 10 and the STB 20 is obtained. If the connection is successful (YES in S94), the process proceeds to S96, and if the connection is unsuccessful, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the "cannot connect tuner" caution UI3 on the display (S95). finish.

  In S96, the channel switching instruction unit 21d of the STB 20 notifies the monitor 10 via the wireless LAN module 28 that the channel change is caused by DFS (dynamic frequency selection). When the wireless LAN module 12a of the monitor 10 receives the notification in S97, in S98, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the “DFS CH change” caution UI5 on the display 19 (S98), and ends the process.

  As described above, when the STB 20 detects a radar wave in the channel in use, the STB 20 uses a channel that has not recently detected a radar wave as a new channel by referring to the radar wave detection history data in S92. To do. Therefore, the possibility of detecting the radar wave again while using the new channel is reduced compared to the case where a new channel is determined at random. Therefore, since the video communication on the new channel is cut off by DFS, the risk of the video on the display 19 being stopped or not being displayed on the monitor 10 is reduced.

  In the process of S92, a channel to be newly selected at random may be determined without referring to the radar wave detection history data. Alternatively, the process of S92 may be an all-channel AFS process as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Even when the processing of S92 is the all-channel AFS processing, the possibility that the W52 channel is used as a new channel increases, so that video communication on the new channel is cut off by DFS, so that the monitor 10 The risk of the video on the display 19 being stopped or not being displayed is reduced.

  Alternatively, in the process of S92, a channel to be newly selected at random from the four channels W52 may be determined without referring to the radar wave detection history data. In this case, since the video communication on the new channel is cut off by DFS, there is no risk that the video on the display 19 is stopped or not displayed on the monitor 10.

  Further, as described above, the processing of S92 to S95 may be executed not only when the STB 20 detects a radar wave in the channel in use but also when the STB 20 detects radio wave interference in the channel in use. .

  On the other hand, on the monitor 10 side, when a reconnection request is received from the STB 20 in the process of S92, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a dialog on the display 19 asking the user whether to reconnect using a new channel. May be. The dialog may indicate the maximum time required for reconnection. Then, only when the user gives an instruction to reconnect with a new channel by using a remote controller (not shown), the channel switching instruction unit 11e allows the wireless LAN module 12a to continue the reconnection process between the monitor 10 and the STB 20. May be controlled.

  Hereinafter, other operations performed by the monitor 10 and the STB 20 will be described.

(Wi-Fi connection operation when starting STB20)
A Wi-Fi connection operation when the STB 20 is activated will be described with reference to FIG. 21 and FIG.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the Wi-Fi connection operation when the STB 20 is activated, and FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing details of W52-AFS, which is one step of the flowchart.

  As shown in FIG. 21, first, the channel switching instruction unit 21d of the STB 20 acquires channel setting data from information in the CPU (S101). Here, the channel setting data is data reflecting the connection setting set by the user on the connection setting screen of the monitor 10, and whether the STB 20 is automatically selected as a channel used for Wi-Fi communication (automatic setting). , Information indicating whether the user selects a channel set on the connection setting screen (manual setting) is included.

  When the channel setting data acquired in S101 includes information indicating automatic setting (automatic setting in S102), the wireless LAN module 28 connects to the monitor 10 by W52-AFS (S103). On the other hand, when the channel setting data acquired in S101 includes information indicating manual setting (manual setting in S102), the wireless LAN module 28 is included in the channel setting data and is set by the user on the connection setting screen. The connected channel is connected to the monitor 10 (S104).

  Details of W52-AFS in S103 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the channel switching instruction unit 21d of the STB 20 controls the wireless LAN module 28 to execute an AP search (S105). Based on the result of the AP search, the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines whether two consecutive channels of W52 are free (S106).

  If it is determined that two consecutive channels of W52 are vacant (YES in S106), the wireless LAN module 28 connects to the monitor 10 in the HT40 mode using the two consecutive channels of vacant W52 ( S109), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that two consecutive channels of W52 are not vacant (NO in S106), the channel switching instruction unit 21d determines whether any channel of W52 is vacant (S107).

  If it is determined that any continuous channel of W52 is free (YES in S107), the wireless LAN module 28 connects to the monitor 10 in the HT20 mode using any of the free channels of W52. (S110), the process ends.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that none of the channels of W52 is free (NO in S107), the signal strength measuring unit 21c measures the received signal strength of the carrier wave of each channel of W52, and the wireless LAN module 28 connects to the monitor 10 in the HT20 mode using the channel for which the minimum received signal strength is measured (S108), and ends the process.

(Wi-Fi connection operation when channel setting is performed by the user on the connection setting screen of the monitor 10)
An operation in which the monitor 10 reconnects to the STB 20 by Wi-Fi communication when channel setting is performed will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation.

  As shown in FIG. 23, first, the channel switching instruction unit 11e supplies an instruction command to the wireless LAN module 12a to reconnect to the monitor 10 through the channel set on the connection setting screen, and the wireless LAN module 12a The instruction command is transmitted to the STB 20 (S111).

  Next, the UI screen display unit 11a of the monitor 10 displays the “CH changing” caution UI2 on the display 19 (S112), and proceeds to S113.

  In S113, the channel switching instruction unit 11e determines whether or not the STB 20 has reconnected to the monitor 10 through the channel set on the connection setting screen. When it is determined that reconnection has not been performed (NO in S113), it is determined whether or not two minutes have elapsed since the instruction command was transmitted in S111 (S115). If it is determined that two minutes have not elapsed (NO in S115), the process returns to S113. On the other hand, if it is determined that two minutes have passed (YES in S115), the UI screen display unit 11a displays a “tuner connection impossible” caution UI3 on the display 19 (S116), and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S113 that the connection has been reestablished (YES in S113), the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection completion screen (not shown) on the display 19 (S114), and ends the process.

  Although the various operations of the monitor 10 and the STB 20 have been described above, various screens displayed on the display of the monitor 10 will be described below.

(Connection destination setting screen displayed by the UI screen display unit 11a)
When the user selects a connection destination setting menu using an operation unit (not shown), the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection destination setting screen as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 shows a connection destination setting screen group that is sequentially displayed in accordance with a user operation when the current connection destination of the monitor 10 is the STB 20. FIG. 14 illustrates a connection destination setting screen group that is sequentially displayed in accordance with a user operation when the current connection destination of the monitor 10 is the router 30.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the user selects the connection destination setting menu when the current connection destination of the monitor 10 is the STB 20, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection destination setting screen SC11. In this state, when the user selects the item “tuner unit” using the move button and the enter button on the remote controller (not shown), the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection destination setting screen SC13 indicating that it is currently connected to the tuner unit. Is displayed. When the user presses the enter button in this state, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection destination setting screen SC11 again.

  When the item “wireless access point” is selected while the connection destination setting screen SC11 is displayed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection destination setting screen SC12 for selecting a registration method of access point information.

  When the item “WPS” is selected while the connection destination setting screen SC12 is displayed, the access point information of the WPS-compatible connection destination access point whose push button is pressed is automatically acquired and the acquired access point is acquired. The connection to the connection destination access point is started using the information. The UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection destination setting screen SC14 when the connection is successful, and displays a connection destination setting screen SC15 when the connection fails.

  Even when the user selects the item “select access point” or “register access point” while the connection destination setting screen SC12 is displayed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the access point information input screen (see FIG. (Not shown), the connection destination setting screen SC14 or the connection destination setting screen SC15 is displayed according to the success or failure of the connection.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, when the user selects the connection destination setting menu when the current connection destination of the monitor 10 is the router 30, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection destination setting screen SC16. In this state, when the user selects the item “tuner unit”, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection destination setting screen SC17 indicating that the connection destination is changed on the tuner unit. When the user presses the enter button in this state, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection destination setting screen SC11 in FIG.

  When the user selects the item “wireless access point” while the connection destination setting screen SC11 is displayed, the UI screen display unit 11a causes the user to select whether or not to change the connection destination access point. The connection destination setting screen SC18 is displayed. In this state, when the user selects the item “No” with the movement button, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection destination setting screen SC16 again.

  On the other hand, when the item “Yes” is selected while the connection destination setting screen SC18 is displayed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection destination setting screen SC12.

  Thereafter, when any one of the three items is selected while the connection destination setting screen SC12 is displayed, the monitor 10 starts connection to the connection destination access point using the acquired access point information. The UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection destination setting screen SC20 when the connection is successful, and displays a connection destination setting screen SC19 when the connection fails.

(Connection status confirmation screen displayed by the UI screen display unit 11a)
When the user selects a connection state confirmation menu using an operation unit (not shown), the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection state confirmation screen indicating the current connection state with the STB 20 as shown in FIG.

  Specifically, when the monitor 10 is wirelessly connected to the STB 20, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection state confirmation screen SC21 in FIG. 24A or the connection state confirmation screen SC21 in FIG. As illustrated, the radio wave intensity icon corresponding to the received signal intensity of the carrier wave from the STB 20, the band mode (40 MHz mode or 20 MHz mode), and the channel being wirelessly connected are displayed.

  On the other hand, when the monitor 10 is not wirelessly connected to the STB 20, the UI screen display unit 11a displays that the STB 20 is not wirelessly connected as in the connection state confirmation screen SC23 of FIG.

(Connection setting screen displayed by the UI screen display unit 11a)
When the user selects a connection setting menu using a remote controller (not shown), the UI screen display unit 11a displays a display 19 on a connection setting screen for allowing the user to select either automatic setting or manual setting.

  Hereinafter, a connection setting screen group that is sequentially displayed when the user selects automatic setting as the connection setting will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the connection setting menu is selected, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC24. When the user selects the item “automatic” using the enter button in this state, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC25 for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform automatic channel setting.

  When the user selects the item “Yes” while the connection setting screen SC25 is displayed, reconnection to the monitor 10 is started using the band mode and channel automatically selected by the STB 20. The UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection setting screen SC26 until the reconnection is successful or 2 minutes elapse.

  When two minutes have elapsed and reconnection has failed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC28. When the user presses the “OK” button, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection setting screen SC24 again.

  On the other hand, when the reconnection is successful, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC27 indicating that the connection is completed and indicating the band mode and the channel in use. When the user presses the “OK” button, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection setting screen SC24 again.

  Next, a connection setting screen group that is sequentially displayed when the user manually selects two consecutive channels as connection settings will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the connection setting menu is selected, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC29. When the user selects the item “manual” using the enter button in this state, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC30 for allowing the user to select the 40 MHz mode or the 20 MHz mode as the band mode.

  When the user selects the item “40 MHz” while the connection setting screen SC30 is displayed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC31 for allowing the user to select two channels to be used.

  When the user selects the item “36 ch / 40 ch” or “44 ch / 48 ch” while the connection setting screen SC31 is displayed, the monitor 10 is connected to the monitor 10 using the two channels selected by the user in the 40 MHz mode selected by the user. Initiate reconnection. The UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection setting screen SC26 until the reconnection is successful or 2 minutes elapse.

  When two minutes have elapsed and reconnection has failed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC28. On the other hand, when the reconnection is successful, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC34 indicating that the connection is completed, the band mode and the channel being used. When the user presses the “OK” button, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection setting screen SC29 again.

  Finally, a connection setting screen group that is sequentially displayed when the user selects one channel as the connection setting by manual setting will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the connection setting menu is selected, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC29. When the user selects the item “manual” using the enter button in this state, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC33 for allowing the user to select the 40 MHz mode or the 20 MHz mode as the band mode.

  When the user selects the item “20 MHz” while the connection setting screen SC33 is displayed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC34 for allowing the user to select one channel to be used.

  When the user selects any of the items “36ch”, “40ch”, “44ch”, and “48ch” while the connection setting screen SC34 is displayed, the channel selected by the user in the 20 MHz mode selected by the user is used. Reconnection to the monitor 10 is started. The UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection setting screen SC26 until the reconnection is successful or 2 minutes elapse.

  When two minutes have elapsed and reconnection has failed, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC28. On the other hand, when the reconnection is successful, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC36 indicating that the connection is completed, the band mode and the channel being used. When the user presses the “OK” button, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the connection setting screen SC29 again.

  When the user selects the connection setting menu while the monitor 10 is not wirelessly connected to the STB 20, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a connection setting screen SC37 indicating that the current connection setting cannot be performed as shown in FIG. To do.

(Link setting screen displayed by the UI screen display unit 11a)
As described above, the user sets the wireless connection destination of the monitor 10 to the STB 20 on the connection destination setting screen, and sets the band mode and channel used for the wireless connection between the monitor 10 and the STB 20 on the connection setting screen. The monitor 10 can be connected to the STB 20.

  However, the operation of the connection destination setting screen and the connection setting screen is complicated for beginners. Considering this, the monitor 10 is provided with a link setting menu for easily performing wireless connection with the STB 20. This wireless connection is performed using WPS.

  Hereinafter, message groups that are sequentially displayed when the user selects the link setting menu will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user selects the link setting menu, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a dialog UI6 prompting the user to turn on the STB 20 on the display 19. When the user presses the enter button in this state, the UI screen display unit 11a presses the LINK button (not shown) of the STB 20 until the power lamp (not shown) blinks (that is, enters the LINK mode). A message UI7 prompting the user is displayed, and then a message UI8 indicating that the connection is established is displayed.

  When the connection is successful, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a dialog UI9 indicating that the wireless connection is completed, and ends the link setting process.

  On the other hand, if the connection fails, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a dialog indicating that the wireless connection has failed. Specifically, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a dialog in which different messages are described depending on the cause of the wireless connection failure.

  For example, when the STB 20 is powered off or not in the LINK mode, or when two minutes have elapsed since the connection was started, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the dialog UI10.

  Alternatively, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the dialog UI11 when the radio wave state deteriorates during wireless connection (when the received signal strength decreases or radio wave interference is detected). When the monitor 10 detects two or more WPS-compatible access points that are connected by WPS, the UI screen display unit 11a displays a dialog UI12.

  After the dialog indicating that the wireless connection has failed is displayed, when the user presses the enter button, the UI screen display unit 11a displays the dialog UI6 again.

(About the signal strength icon)
As shown in FIG. 30 (a), the UI screen display unit 11a displays a radio wave intensity icon indicating the received signal intensity of a radio wave from a connection destination access point while a television broadcast video or calendar screen is displayed on the display 19. Is displayed in the upper right corner of the display 19. Note that the user can set whether to display the radio wave intensity icon through a setting menu (not shown). However, while a specific screen such as the content selection screen SC1 or the connection setting screen is displayed on the display, the radio wave intensity icon is always displayed regardless of the setting in the setting menu.

  In the monitor 10, six levels of signal strength levels 0 to 5 are defined according to the received signal strength. When the signal strength level is 1 or more, the UI screen display unit 11 a displays the signal strength level. Is configured to display a radio field intensity icon that imitates the same number of antennas. The relationship between the received signal strength and the displayed radio wave strength icon is schematically shown in the graph of FIG.

  As can be seen from FIG. 18, in the monitor 10, a received signal strength of −50 dB or more is defined as a signal strength level 5, a received signal strength of −60 dB or more and less than −50 dB is defined as a signal strength level 4, and −70 dB or more— The received signal strength of less than 60 dB is defined as signal strength level 3.

  In the monitor 10, the received signal strength of −80 dB or more and less than −70 dB is defined as the signal strength level 2, and the received signal strength of less than −80 dB is defined as the signal strength level 1. Level 0 is specified.

(Advantages of content display system 1)
As described above, in the content display system 1 (output system) according to the present embodiment, the STB 20 (transmission device) receives video content from outside the content display system (such as the Web 70) and monitors wirelessly in the first mode. 10, and in the second mode, the video content in the recording medium such as BD or USB / HDD 80 loaded in the BD recorder 40 a is wirelessly transmitted to the monitor 10, and the monitor 10 receives the content and displays the video. indicate.

  The STB 20 includes a transmission buffer 281 in which video data that is a part of video content is sequentially buffered, a wireless LAN module 28 (transmission means) that transmits data in the transmission buffer 281 to the monitor 10, and a transmission buffer 281. A transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a that repeatedly determines whether or not the transmission buffer 281 has overflowed during buffering. The wireless LAN module 28 (notification means) notifies a reconnection request to the monitor 10 by a new channel when it is determined a predetermined number of times that the overflow state has occurred in the first mode (predetermined notification is sent). Do).

  The monitor 10 includes a reception buffer 120a in which video data received as part of video content is sequentially buffered, a display 19 (output unit) that displays video represented by the video data in the reception buffer 120a, and the reception buffer 120a. Between the reception buffer amount confirmation unit 11f (determination means) that repeatedly determines whether or not a buffer underrun has occurred in the reception buffer 120a during buffering, and the wireless LAN module 12a between the STB 20 that responds to the reconnection request. A channel switching instruction unit 11e (first execution means) that controls to continue the reconnection process (executes a predetermined error avoidance process according to the notification). The channel switching instructing unit 11e (second execution means), when it is determined that the buffer underrun has occurred for a predetermined number of times or more in the second mode by the reception buffer amount confirming unit 11f, An instruction command for causing the STB 20 to perform reconnection is supplied to the wireless LAN module 12a (a predetermined error avoidance process is executed).

  According to the above configuration, in the content display system according to the present embodiment, in the first mode, when the STB 20 determines that a buffer overflow has occurred a predetermined number of times or more, a reconnection request to the monitor 10 by a new channel is performed. The monitor 10 sends an instruction command for causing the STB 20 to reconnect to the monitor 10 using a new channel even if it is determined that the buffer underrun has occurred a predetermined number of times or more. It is not supplied to the module 12a.

  That is, in the content display system 1 according to the present embodiment, when content is not sent from the TV station to the STB 20 due to a broadcast stoppage or the like, the monitor 10 erroneously detects that the throughput in wireless transmission is insufficient, and the STB 20 In this case, the reconnection to the monitor 10 by a new channel is not instructed.

  On the other hand, in the content display system 1 according to the present embodiment, the STB 20 transmits the content stored in the BD recorder 40a and the content stored in the USB / HDD 80 to the monitor 10 in the second mode. When a buffer underrun occurs at, the monitor 10 instructs the STB 20 to reconnect to the monitor 10 using a new channel. Since the monitor 10 detects a shortage of throughput by itself, the monitor 10 can promptly instruct the STB 20 to reconnect in accordance with the shortage of throughput.

  As described above, in the content display system 1 according to the present embodiment, the monitor 10 quickly detects the throughput shortage in the wireless transmission of video content, and quickly performs the process for switching the channel used for the wireless transmission of the video content. There is an effect that can be done.

(Other system configuration of content display system)
The output system according to the present invention is not limited to the content display system 1 of FIG. For example, the output system according to the present invention may be realized as the content display systems 1a to 1d shown in FIGS.

  That is, as in the content display system 1b of FIG. 31, a portable game machine 10f, a PDA 10e, a tablet terminal 10d, or the like may be used as an output device including each unit. Further, as in the content display system 1b, a plurality of the output devices (the monitors 10a to 10c, the portable game machine 10f, the PDA 10e, and the tablet terminal 10d in FIG. 31) may be provided in the output system.

  Further, as in the content display system 1c of FIG. 32, a stationary main TV 20a may be used as the transmitting device instead of the STB 20, and a sub monitor 10g may be used as the output device.

  Or you may use the smart phone 10h as said output device like the content display system 1d of FIG. Further, not only the connection between the smartphone 10h and the STB 20 (wireless R1) and the connection between the smartphone 10h and the router 30 (wireless R2), but also the connection between the STB 20 and the router 30 is wirelessly connected (wireless). R3).

  34, the router 30 including the CPU 21 and the transmission buffer 281 may be used as the transmission device, and the monitor 10 may be used as the output device. Further, the content display system 1a uses the CPU 21 as the CPU of the router 30, uses the wireless LAN module 28 as the wireless LAN module of the router 30, and makes the router 30 a router that supports Wi-Fi communication in the 5 GHz band. Problems 1 to 3 described later can be solved.

(Appendix 1)
In the content display system according to the present embodiment, the monitor 10 is used as an output device including each means. However, in the present invention, an audio device (not shown) may be used as the output device instead of the monitor 10. That is, the present invention may be realized as an audio content output system in which the audio device outputs audio from a speaker (not shown) based on an audio signal wirelessly transmitted from the STB 20.

  When audio data with a large bit rate and sampling frequency that requires a considerable network bandwidth is wirelessly transmitted from the STB 20 to the audio device, a shortage of throughput is likely to occur. However, the audio content output system accurately detects the lack of throughput. And the audio device can quickly execute the processing to be performed when the throughput is insufficient.

(Appendix 2)
In the embodiment described above, two access points, STB and router, are provided. However, the number of access points is not limited to this, and may be three or more. Further, the number of content sources connected to each access point is not limited to the content disclosed in the above-described embodiment.

(Appendix 3)
The STB 20 itself may be used as a content source. That is, the STB 20 has a built-in storage medium for storing content, and the monitor 10 displays an icon for viewing the recorded video recorded on the STB 20 in the content selection screen when displaying the content selection screen. May be. When the icon is selected, the STB 20 may wirelessly transmit the video content read from the built-in storage medium to the monitor 10. Alternatively, a slot for loading an external medium may be provided instead of the built-in storage medium. When the icon is selected, the STB 20 may wirelessly transmit the video content read from the external medium loaded in the slot to the monitor 10.

(Appendix 4)
In the content display system 1, in the first mode, the STB 20 notifies the monitor 10 of a reconnection request to the monitor 10 using a new channel when it is determined that the buffer overflow has occurred a predetermined number of times or more. The same notification may be performed in the second mode (the mode in which the content source is the STB 20 itself or an external device (USB-HDD or the like) connected to the STB 20). Further, in the content display system 1, in the first mode, the monitor 10 causes the STB 20 to reconnect to the monitor 10 using a new channel even when it is determined that a buffer underrun has occurred a predetermined number of times or more. An instruction command may be supplied to the wireless LAN module 12a. Even in such a case, the content display system 1 detects a lack of throughput during wireless transmission without degrading the detection accuracy even if a lot of noise is mixed in the content, and monitors processing to be performed in accordance with the lack of throughput. Can be executed quickly.

(Appendix 5)
In the embodiment, both the monitor 10 and the STB 20 operate to switch the channel used for the wireless communication when the radio wave interference is detected regardless of the content source (in the case of the STB 20, the AFS process is performed. In this case, the AFS process execution instruction to the STB 20 can be executed, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  That is, either one of the monitor 10 and the STB 20 may be able to execute the operation according to the content source. For example, as shown in the table below, when the content source is DTV / BS broadcast (that is, STB 20 transfers a video signal of terrestrial digital, BS broadcast, or CS broadcast to monitor 10. In the meantime, instead of the monitor 10, the STB 20 may perform the above operation by monitoring the occurrence of buffer overflow in the transmission buffer 281.

  When the reception sensitivity of the DTV / BS antenna 50 is reduced or the antenna cable connecting the DTV / BS antenna 50 and the STB 20 is disconnected, the data stream is stopped, which causes a buffer underrun in the reception buffer 120a. Will occur. By adopting the above-described configuration, there is no problem that the monitor 10 erroneously determines that the transmission throughput is reduced when the buffer underrun occurs due to the above cause.

  Further, as shown in the table, when the content source is the media server 60, the buffer underrun of the reception buffer 120c is performed only when the video signal from the media server 60 is transferred to the monitor 10. By monitoring the occurrence, the monitor 10 may perform the operation instead of the STB 20. Further, when the content source is the Web 70 (that is, while the STB 29 is transferring video-on-demand or IPTV video signals to the monitor 10) or when the content source is the media server 60, the audio signal is monitored instead of the video signal. For example, when the data is transferred to the mobile phone 10, the monitor 10 and the STB 20 may not perform the operation.

(Appendix 6)
In the embodiment, the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a recognizes the buffer overflow by confirming the data amount of the data buffered in the transmission buffer 281 of the wireless LAN module 28. The amount confirmation unit 21a may recognize the buffer overflow by confirming the data amount in the TCP / IP buffer 282.

  Alternatively, when the content source is DTV / BS broadcast, the buffer overflow may be recognized by confirming the data amount in the TS buffer 283. That is, when the content is being transferred from another device or system to an output device such as the monitor 10, a reception buffer such as a TS buffer 283 used to receive the content from the other device or system. The buffer overflow may be recognized by checking the amount of data.

  Note that the data amount of any two or more of the transmission buffer 281, the TCP / IP buffer 282, and the TS buffer 283 may be confirmed in parallel to recognize a buffer overflow in each buffer.

(Appendix 7)
Note that the STB 20 does not have to include the signal intensity measurement unit 21c. In this case, in the STB 20, the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a may notify the monitor 10 that a buffer overflow has occurred when the buffer overflow is recognized. Then, in the monitor 10 that has received the notification, the signal strength measuring unit 11g may measure the RSSI value of the carrier wave transmitted from the STB 20 and transmit the obtained RSSI value to the STB 20.

  The STB 20 monitors the reconnection request when the RSSI value received from the monitor 10 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value and the transmission buffer amount confirmation unit 21a recognizes the buffer overflow a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period. 10 may be transmitted.

(Appendix 8)
In recent years, display devices that can be connected to a network have been put into practical use.

  As one form of such a display device, there is a form in which a display unit (display unit) and a video receiving unit (tuner unit) are separated and wirelessly connected therebetween. Since the display unit is portable, convenience for the user is improved.

  In wireless communication such as Wi-Fi, even if the reception level is high, the throughput may decrease due to radio wave interference or the like. If the throughput decreases during playback of a TV image on the display device described above, the quality of the TV image may decrease or playback may stop. In addition, it is necessary to switch the channel used for communication. In other words, it is important to always monitor the state of communication between the display unit and the video receiving unit in order to reproduce the television video without degrading the quality on the display device described above.

  Techniques for monitoring the state of communication are disclosed in Japanese translations of PCT publication No. 2009-536001 (published on Oct. 1, 2009) and JP 2008-79290 (published on Apr. 3, 2008).

  Specifically, Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication No. 2009-536001 discloses a video streaming system including a device that detects a defect in video streaming performance from information indicating overflow, underrun, or the like. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-79290 discloses whether in an Internet telephone system, a device in the system is using all of a plurality of predetermined call paths in the system (in an overflow state). A technique for confirming and notifying when there is an overflow state is disclosed.

  However, in the configuration described in each patent document, since there is at most one apparatus for monitoring the communication state in the system, it is not always possible to quickly detect that the communication is not in a normal state. That is, each system has a problem that processing to be performed when communication is not in a normal state in the system cannot be quickly executed when communication is not in a normal state.

  In the display device in which the display unit and the video receiving unit are connected wirelessly, as a method for detecting a decrease in throughput, there is a decoding error when the transmitted video is decoded in the display unit. There are a method (method 1) for determining that the transmission throughput has decreased when a large number of occurrences occur, a method for detecting the throughput by transmitting and receiving a predetermined amount of data for throughput measurement (method 2), and the like.

  However, when the method 1 is used, even when the video received by the video receiver includes a lot of noise, decoding errors frequently occur in the display, and the communication throughput from the video receiver to the display decreases. There is a problem of false detection.

  In Method 2, it is a precondition for correctly measuring the throughput that no other data is transmitted in addition to a predetermined amount of data for throughput measurement. Therefore, when the method 2 is used, there is a problem that it is not possible to correctly detect a shortage of throughput while video content is transmitted from the video receiving unit to the display unit.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its main object is an output system that wirelessly transmits content from a tuner device (generally a transmission device) to a monitor (generally an output device). To realize an output system that can detect insufficient throughput during wireless transmission without degrading detection accuracy even if there is a lot of noise in the content, and the output device can quickly execute the processing that should be performed in accordance with the insufficient throughput is there.

  In order to solve the above problems, an output system according to the present invention is an output system including a transmission device and an output device, wherein the transmission device wirelessly transmits content to the output device, and the output device In the output system for receiving and outputting content, the transmission device repeatedly determines whether or not a buffer overflow has occurred in the first buffer in which the content being transmitted is buffered and the first buffer. Determination means, and notification means for making a predetermined notification to the output device when it is determined that a buffer overflow has occurred during transmission of the content, and the output device is configured to receive the content being received A second buffer in which is buffered and a buffer in the second buffer during reception of the content A determination unit that repeatedly determines whether or not a underrun has occurred, a first execution unit that executes a predetermined error avoidance process in response to the predetermined notification, and a predetermined state when it is determined that a buffer underrun has occurred And second execution means for executing the error avoidance process.

  According to the above configuration, in the output system according to the present invention, the output is performed both when the transmission device determines that a buffer overflow has occurred and when the output device determines that a buffer underrun has occurred. The apparatus executes a predetermined error avoidance process. That is, both the output device and the transmission device serve as triggers for the output device to execute the process.

  Further, in the output system according to the present invention, since the throughput shortage is detected based on the occurrence of buffer overflow and buffer underrun, the amount of noise mixed in the content does not affect the detection accuracy of the throughput shortage.

  Therefore, in the output system according to the present invention, even if a lot of noise is mixed in the content, the output device detects the lack of wireless transmission throughput without reducing the detection accuracy, and the output device quickly executes the processing to be performed in accordance with the lack of throughput. be able to.

  The predetermined error avoidance process may be any process as long as it is a process that should be performed by the output device due to a lack of throughput in wireless transmission. In addition, the predetermined error avoidance process executed by the first execution unit and the predetermined error avoidance process executed by the second execution unit are processes to be performed due to insufficient throughput in wireless transmission between the transmission device and the output device. As long as it is the same processing, it may be different processing.

  The output system according to the present invention includes: a first mode in which the transmission device receives content from outside the output system and wirelessly transfers the content to the output device; and the transmission device wirelessly transmits the content in the recording medium. A second mode for transmitting to the output device, wherein the determining means of the transmitting device is configured not to make a determination in the second mode, and the determining means of the output device is configured to The notification means is configured to perform a predetermined notification to the output device when it is determined a predetermined number of times that a buffer overflow has occurred in the first mode. When the second execution means determines that a buffer underrun has occurred in the second mode for a predetermined number of times or more, a predetermined error count is set. Is configured to perform a process, it is desirable.

  According to the above configuration, the predetermined error avoidance process is executed only in the second mode when it is determined that the buffer underrun has occurred a predetermined number of times or more. That is, in the first mode, when the transmission apparatus determines that a buffer overflow has occurred a predetermined number of times or more, a predetermined error avoidance process to be performed due to insufficient throughput is executed, but a buffer underrun has occurred. In such a case, a predetermined error avoidance process to be performed in accordance with a shortage of throughput is not executed with the occurrence of a buffer underrun as a trigger.

  In the first mode, since the transmission apparatus receives content from outside the output system, there may be a problem outside the output system such as, for example, content is not transmitted to the transmission apparatus. In the output system according to the present invention, when a problem occurs outside the output system and a buffer underrun occurs, it is erroneously detected as insufficient throughput in wireless transmission from the transmission device to the output device, and the shortage of the throughput occurs. A predetermined error avoidance process to be performed is not erroneously executed.

  Therefore, the output system according to the present invention has an additional effect that a problem of erroneously executing a predetermined error avoidance process that should be performed in accordance with a shortage of throughput due to erroneous detection of a shortage of throughput is less likely to occur.

  The recording medium may be a recording medium built in the transmission device, but is not limited thereto. When the transmission device is configured to be detachable from an external recording medium, the recording medium may be an external recording medium, or when the transmission device is configured to be able to connect an external device. The recording medium may be a recording medium of an external device. The first mode may be a mode in which the transmission device wirelessly transfers content obtained by receiving broadcast waves from outside the output system to the output device.

  In the output system according to the present invention, the output device further repeatedly measures the received signal strength of the carrier wave of the channel used for the transmission of the content and transmitted from the transmission device. The signal strength measuring means measures the received signal strength equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold at the same time when the number of times when it is determined that the buffer underrun has occurred in the second mode is the predetermined number of times. In this case, it is desirable to include radio wave interference determination means for determining that radio wave interference has occurred in the channel. Here, the time when the number of times it is determined that the buffer underrun has occurred becomes the predetermined number of times, and the time when the received signal strength equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold is rounded to the minute unit are the same. The same period may be used, or another definition may be given so that the time difference between the two times falls within a predetermined range.

  Further, in the output system according to the present invention, the transmitting device further repeatedly measures the received signal strength of the carrier wave of the channel used for the transmission of the content and transmitted from the output device. When the signal strength measuring means measures the received signal strength equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold at the same time as the signal strength measuring means and the number of times that the buffer overflow is determined to be the predetermined number of times, It is desirable to include radio wave interference determining means for determining that radio wave interference has occurred in the channel. Here, the time when the number of times that it is determined that the buffer overflow has occurred becomes the predetermined number of times and the time when the received signal strength that is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold is rounded to the minute are the same. The same period may be used, or another definition may be given so that the time difference between the two times falls within a predetermined range as the same period.

  The causes of insufficient wireless communication throughput include a decrease in received signal strength due to the distance between the transmission side and the reception side and radio wave interference occurring in the channel used for wireless communication. It is done. According to each said structure, the said output system has the further effect that the latter radio wave interference can be determined correctly.

  In the output system according to the present invention, when it is determined that the buffer overflow has occurred at least P times per unit time (P: any integer satisfying P ≧ 1) in the first mode, It is desirable to perform the predetermined notification.

  In the output system according to the present invention, the second execution means determines that a buffer underrun has occurred at least Q times per unit time (Q: any integer satisfying Q ≧ 1) in the second mode. In such a case, it is desirable to execute the predetermined error avoidance process.

  According to each of the above configurations, the output system can cause the output device to execute a process to be performed in accordance with a shortage of throughput only when a shortage of throughput occurs instead of a temporary shortage of throughput. There is an effect.

  The present invention is a display system that functions as the output system, wherein the transmission device receives a video content using a broadcast wave as a medium and wirelessly transfers the content to the output device, and the output device However, it can also be realized as a display system that includes a display unit as the output unit, receives a video content transferred from the tuner device, and displays the video on the display unit.

  As described above, the output system according to the present invention detects an insufficient throughput during wireless transmission without degrading the detection accuracy even when a lot of noise is mixed in the content, and performs processing to be performed when the throughput is insufficient There is an effect that can be executed quickly.

(Program etc.)
The monitor 10 and the STB 20 according to the present embodiment may be configured by hardware logic, or at least some of the functions of the monitor 10 and the STB 20 may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the monitor 10 and the STB 20 include a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program. And a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which program codes (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of programs of the monitor 10 and the STB 20 which are software realizing the functions described above are recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying the monitor 10 and the STB 20 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / CD-R / MO / MD / BD / DVD. A disk system including IC card (including memory card) / optical card or a semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM (registered trademark) / flash ROM can be used.

  Further, the monitor 10 and the STB 20 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

[Other Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
Other problems to be solved by the display system according to the present embodiment will be described below.

  There are various wireless LAN standards such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n. Among them, IEEE802.11a currently has a channel in any one of W52, W53 and W56. It is a standard for using and communicating.

  Specifically, W53 is a band of 5.25 to 5.35 GHz consisting of a total of 4 channels of 52 ch, 56 ch, 60 ch, and 64 ch, and this band includes the frequency of the radar wave transmitted by the weather radar. It is. W56 is a band of 5.47-5.725 GHz consisting of a total of 11 channels of 100 ch, 104 ch, 108 ch, 112 ch, 116 ch, 120 ch, 124 ch, 128 ch, 132 ch, 136 ch, and 140 ch. Includes the frequency of radar waves transmitted by military radar.

  For this reason, a wireless LAN device that performs Wi-Fi communication using the W53 or W56 band transmits a radar wave of a frequency that interferes with the channel from the radar before starting communication on the channel within the band. It is statutoryly required to perform an operation for 1 minute to check whether or not it is done. Furthermore, when the wireless LAN device detects the radar wave during communication on the channel within the band, the channel used for communication is immediately changed to a channel that does not interfere with the radar wave by DFS (dynamic frequency selection). Switching is required by law.

  On the other hand, W52 is a band of 5.15-5.25 GHz band consisting of a total of four channels of 36 ch, 40 ch, 44 ch, and 48 ch, and a radar wave using this band is not transmitted from the radar. Accordingly, when the wireless LAN device performs communication using the bandwidth of W52, it is not required by law to perform the operation as described above.

[Problem 1]
However, even when a wireless LAN device performs Wi-Fi communication using the W52 channel, if there is another wireless LAN device that performs another Wi-Fi communication using the same channel, Interference will occur.

  When radio wave interference occurs, the Wi-Fi communication throughput tends to decrease, so that a general wireless LAN device automatically switches the channel used for Wi-Fi communication when radio wave interference is detected. It has become. In addition, when a radio wave interference is detected as in a terminal device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-19195 (released on January 27, 2011), an access point (AP) used for Wi-Fi communication is set in the system. Some devices automatically switch to an AP that has the lowest interference level among all APs.

  However, in the conventional configuration, the channel or AP used for Wi-Fi communication is automatically switched even in a situation where switching is unnecessary. Therefore, there is a problem that temporary interruption of communication due to switching occurs uselessly.

Note that the situation where switching is not necessary includes, for example, situations such as Example 1 and Example 2 below.
Example 1) When the playback of streaming video content being received via Wi-Fi communication is almost completed on a television (there is a possibility of playback failure due to reduced throughput until the playback is completed because the remaining playback time is short) , So there ’s no need to switch channels)
Example 2) When a user specifies another wireless LAN device that causes radio wave interference (if the user can stop Wi-Fi communication of the other wireless LAN device, the radio interference is eliminated and the channel is eliminated) Do not need to be switched)
The monitor according to the present embodiment (more generally, a display device) is also implemented in view of the above problems, and communication is temporarily interrupted due to useless channel switching, so that an image is not temporarily displayed. One of the purposes is to display video without causing the problem.

  The configuration of the display device for solving the problem is to switch a channel to be used for the wireless communication in a display device that receives video content transmitted from the transmission device by wireless communication and displays the video on a display unit. A switching means, a radio wave interference detecting means for detecting the occurrence of radio wave interference in the channel being used for the wireless communication, and when the radio wave interference detecting means detects radio wave interference during the display of the video, the switching means An instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction on whether to switch the channel to be used from a user, and a display control means for displaying a UI (user interface) for receiving the instruction from the user on the display unit, The UI is instructed by the instruction accepting means to switch the channel to be used. Transmission of the video contents includes information about the time required to resume from accepting, and has a configuration.

  According to the above configuration, when the radio wave interference is detected while displaying the video, the display device allows the user to select whether to change the channel used for transmitting the video content or to another channel. Can do. For example, when the user thinks that the video viewing will end soon, the display device detects a radio wave interference and displays a UI indicating that it takes 1 minute to resume transfer of video content on a different channel In this case, the user can select not to change the channel used for transferring the video content. In this case, since the channel is not changed, of course, temporary interruption of communication due to channel switching does not occur. Further, since the transfer amount necessary for the display device to display the remaining few videos without any problem is not so large, even if the throughput decreases due to radio wave interference, there is a high possibility that the remaining few pictures can be displayed without any problem.

  On the other hand, a display device with a configuration different from the above configuration, which automatically switches the channel used for transferring video content when radio wave interference is detected, thinks that the user will end watching the video after a short time. If radio wave interference is detected while the communication is in progress, a temporary interruption of communication due to channel switching will be caused.

  From the above, according to the above configuration, the display device can prevent a temporary interruption of communication due to channel switching of wireless communication.

  In the display device, the display control unit displays a message indicating that the channel is being switched after the switching unit starts the process of switching the channel to be used until the switching is completed. Is desirable.

  According to the above configuration, if the viewer has a certain level of technical understanding of wireless communication, the display device temporarily stops displaying video until transmission of video content is resumed. There is an effect that it is possible to understand that the video is not displayed because the channel is being switched instead of the failure of the display device.

  In the above case, there is a case where a viewer who does not have a technical understanding of wireless communication thinks that the display device may have failed, and makes an inquiry to the support center of the display device manufacturer. According to the above configuration, in such a case, the person in charge of the support center temporarily displays the video by confirming with the viewer whether or not the “message indicating that the channel is being switched” has been displayed. It is possible to easily determine whether the cause of the failure is channel switching or other causes.

The present invention is a display system including the display device and the transmission device,
The transmitting device, when the channel being used is a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution, determination means for determining whether the public institution is transmitting radio waves of the channel;
A notification means for notifying the display device that the channel to be used is switched when the determination means determines that the radio wave is being transmitted;
The switching unit is configured to switch the channel to be used with a notification from the notification unit as a trigger, and when the switching unit switches the channel to be used by the trigger, after the switching is completed It is desirable that the display control means displays a predetermined message on the display unit. The predetermined message may be a message indicating that the channel has been changed in accordance with detection of radio waves from a public institution.

  According to the above-described configuration, even if the channel is forcibly switched by DFS and the video is not displayed without notice, for example, if the viewer has some technical understanding of wireless communication, It is possible to easily understand the cause of the no longer being displayed.

[Problem 2]
By the way, a general wireless LAN device can automatically select a channel used for Wi-Fi communication. For example, a wireless LAN device that supports communication in W52, W53, and W56 may automatically select a channel to be actually used from 19 channels when performing communication defined in IEEE802.11a. it can.

  In general, the wireless LAN device randomly selects a channel to be actually used from 19 channels. Therefore, the wireless LAN device may select the W53 or W56 channel, but in this case, as described above, the Wi-Fi communication cannot be started for one minute from the channel selection.

  Techniques for reducing the delay time until the start of wireless communication are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-29952 (February 10, 2011) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-278368 (released November 26, 2009). Has been.

  However, the conventional technique is a technique on the assumption that the wireless LAN device includes a plurality of wireless communication units such as antennas, and is applied to a wireless LAN device including only one wireless communication unit. I can't.

  The monitor (more generally, a communication device) according to the present embodiment is implemented in view of the above-described problem, and aims to switch the channel of Wi-Fi communication so that a delay time does not occur as much as possible. It is one.

  A configuration of a communication device for solving the above problem is a selection of selecting a channel to be used for the wireless communication from a predetermined channel group in a communication device that communicates with another communication device by wireless communication. And radio interference detection means for detecting the occurrence of radio interference in the channel being used for the wireless communication, and when the radio interference detection means detects the radio interference, the selection means A channel different from the middle channel is automatically selected, and the selection means is configured to select a channel other than the channel over which a priority is given to use by a public organization as the different channel. The channel is configured to preferentially select the channels.

  According to the above configuration, the communication device uses a channel different from the channel in use when detecting radio wave interference for the wireless communication. However, when the radio communication is detected, the communication device is used by a public institution. If both the priority channel and the channel other than the channel are available, a channel other than the channel that is prioritized for use by the public organization is selected. For example, if the W52 channel and the W56 channel are available when radio wave interference is detected, the communication device selects the W52 channel.

  Therefore, in the communication device, a channel that is prioritized for use by a public organization (that is, a channel that cannot be used by a communication device unless it is confirmed that the public organization does not use it (after a delay time)). Unless other channels are available, they will not be selected.

  From the above, the communication apparatus can switch the channel used for wireless communication so that the delay time does not occur as much as possible.

  Channels that are prioritized for use by public institutions are channels belonging to W53 or W56. Channels other than channels that are prioritized for use by public authorities are channels that belong to W52, and the selection means selects a channel. The priority order is preferably the order of the channel belonging to W52, the channel belonging to W56, and the channel belonging to W53 in descending order of priority.

  In addition, the communication device further includes a determination unit that determines whether or not a public institution transmits a radio wave of the channel when the channel in use belongs to W56 or W53. It is desirable that the selection unit automatically selects a channel belonging to W52 when the determination unit determines that the engine is transmitting radio waves of the channel.

  The channel that is prioritized for use by the public institution is a channel belonging to W53 or W56, and the channel other than the channel that is prioritized for use by the public institution is a channel belonging to W52. Is selected according to the destination of the communication device, the channels belonging to W52 in the descending order of priority, the channels belonging to W56, the channels belonging to W53, or the channels belonging to W52 in descending order of priority. , It is desirable to set the channel to one of the channels belonging to W53 and the channel belonging to W56.

  In addition, the interference of adjacent channels has a larger influence than the interference of the same channel, and the number of overlapping interference sources (AP) has a larger influence on the interference than RSSI.

  Therefore, the communication device further includes ranking means for assigning each channel a rank indicating the difficulty of occurrence of radio wave interference, and the ranking means includes the adjacent channel rather than the channel in which the adjacent channel is used. A channel that is not used is given a high rank that is unlikely to cause radio interference, and a channel that uses the adjacent channel is given a higher rank as the number of communication devices that use that channel decreases. Preferably, the selection means preferentially selects a channel having the highest rank among the channels other than the channels that are prioritized for use by public institutions as the different channels.

  According to the above configuration, a channel other than a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution, and a channel that does not use an adjacent channel is selected most preferentially, and a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution. Even when there is no channel in which the adjacent channel is not used among other channels, the channel with the smallest number of communication devices using the channel is selected. The interference of adjacent channels has a larger effect than the interference of the same channel, and the influence of interference on the number of overlapping interference sources (APs) is greater than that of RSSI. No channel can be selected.

  In the communication apparatus, a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution is not selected unless other channels are available.

  As described above, the communication apparatus can select a Wi-Fi communication channel that is less likely to cause delay time and less likely to cause radio wave interference.

  If the rank of the highest-ranked channel other than the channel that is prioritized for use by the public institution is lower than the rank of the channel currently in use, the selection means may be used by the public institution as the different channel. It is desirable to preferentially select a channel that is prioritized and that is not used by its adjacent channel.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to select a channel that is less likely to cause radio wave interference than when a channel other than a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution is selected.

  In the selection means, the rank of the highest-ranked channel other than the channel that is prioritized for use by the public institution is used by the adjacent channel, and is used by one or less other communication devices. When the rank is lower than the rank of the channel, it is desirable to preferentially select a channel that is not used and its adjacent channel is not used as the different channel.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to select a channel that is less likely to cause radio wave interference than when a channel other than a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution is selected.

  The selection means is an unused channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution, and when there is no channel that does not use its adjacent channel, the selection means is the most other than the channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution. It is desirable to preferentially select higher rank channels.

  According to the above configuration, since only vacant channels whose adjacent channels are not used are selected, the radio waves from the interference sources of the same channel and the adjacent channels are mistakenly received from public institutions. The inconvenience of being detected as (radar wave) can be avoided.

  In addition, when the channel selected by the selection unit is a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution, the communication device determines whether the public institution transmits a radio wave of the channel. And when the determination means determines that the public institution is transmitting radio waves of the channel, the selection means prioritizes the channel with the highest rank other than the channel that is prioritized for use by the public institution. It is desirable to select it.

  When radio waves (radar waves) from a public institution are detected, the channel cannot be used for 30 minutes. According to the above configuration, when the determination unit determines that the public institution is transmitting the radio wave of the channel, the selection unit has the highest rank other than the channel that is prioritized for use by the public institution. Since channels are preferentially selected, the delay time for channel switching can be shortened.

  Channels that are prioritized for use by public institutions are channels that belong to W53 or W56. Channels other than channels that are prioritized for use by public institutions are channels that belong to W52. It is desirable to preferentially select a channel belonging to W53 over a channel to which it belongs.

  According to the above configuration, the W53 channel has a lower probability of erroneous radar detection, and therefore it is possible to avoid a situation where the channel is unnecessarily switched due to erroneous radar detection.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the communication device communicates with the other communication device in an HT20 mode using the selected channel.

  According to the above configuration, since the HT20 mode uses fewer channels than the HT40 mode using two channels, it is easy to select a channel that is less affected by interference between adjacent channels and the same channel.

[Problem 3]
By the way, a general wireless LAN device can automatically select a channel used for Wi-Fi communication. For example, a wireless LAN device that supports communication in W52, W53, and W56 may automatically select a channel to be actually used from 19 channels when performing communication defined in IEEE802.11a. it can.

  In general, the wireless LAN device randomly selects a channel to be actually used from 19 channels. Therefore, the wireless LAN device may perform communication using a W53 or W56 channel. In this case, as described above, when the wireless LAN device detects a radar wave that interferes with Wi-Fi communication, the wireless LAN device is forced to switch channels by DFS (dynamic frequency selection). When the channel is switched by DFS, the communication is temporarily interrupted as described above.

  By the way, unless there is a specific reason for changing the frequency, the radar is assumed to emit a radar wave having a fixed frequency when transmitting the radar wave for a certain period of time.

  In the conventional configuration, since a channel to be used for Wi-Fi communication is randomly selected, when the frequency of the radar wave belongs to the selected channel, immediately after the start of Wi-Fi communication using the channel. In some cases, DFS must be executed. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-246874 (published on October 22, 2009) discloses a communication terminal that switches a Wi-Fi connection destination AP based on information accumulated from a network. The same applies to this communication terminal. .

  The monitor according to the present embodiment (more generally, a communication device) is also implemented in view of the above problems, and is a W53 or W56 channel (more generally, a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution). One of the purposes is to reduce the possibility of temporary interruption of communication due to DFS (more generally, forced channel switching accompanying the start of channel use by public institutions) after selection It is said.

  The configuration of the communication device for solving the above-described problem is that a communication device that communicates with another communication device by wireless communication gives priority to the use of a channel to be used for the wireless communication by a public institution. A selecting means for selecting from a predetermined channel group including a channel group, and when the channel selected by the selecting means is a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution, the public institution transmits radio waves of the channel. And storing information indicating that a radio wave has been transmitted in the past in the channel when the determination unit determines that a public institution is transmitting the radio wave of the channel. Recording means for recording in the storage section, wherein the selection means records the channel in which the information is not recorded in the storage section in the storage section. Preferentially selected than the channel has, and has a configuration.

  According to the said structure, the said communication apparatus can avoid the channel which the public organization continues using, and can use the channel which a public organization does not use recently for wireless communication. Therefore, the communication apparatus can reduce the possibility that communication may be temporarily interrupted due to forced channel switching after selecting a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution.

  When the recording unit records the information for all channels of a channel group that is prioritized for use by a public institution, the recording unit preferably erases each piece of information recorded in the storage unit. According to the above configuration, the display device is compulsory even after the public institution has determined that the radio wave of the channel is being transmitted for all channels of the channel group for which use of the public institution is prioritized. There is a further effect that the possibility of temporary interruption of communication due to channel switching can be reduced.

  In addition, in the state where the information is recorded for all channels except for only one channel in the channel group in which the use by the public institution is prioritized, the determination means is the public institution only When it is determined that the radio wave of one channel is transmitted, the recording means records the information indicating that the radio wave has been transmitted in the channel in the past without being recorded in the storage unit. Each piece of information may be deleted.

  The storage unit is preferably a non-volatile memory.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims. That is, it is not technically changed as appropriate within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by combining various means within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a display device that receives video content transmitted by wireless communication from a transmission device and displays video on a display unit.

1 Content display system (output system)
1a Content display system 1b Content display system (output system)
1c Content display system (output system)
1d Content display system (output system)
10 Monitor (display device, output device, communication device)
10a-10f monitor (display device)
10g Sub monitor (display device)
10h Smartphone (display device)
11 CPU (radio wave interference judging means)
11a UI screen display unit (display control means)
11b Content selection section 11c Video reception selection section 11d Content switching instruction section 11e Channel switching instruction section (first execution means, second execution means, switching means)
11f Receive buffer amount confirmation unit (determination means)
11g Signal strength measuring unit (Signal strength measuring means)
12a Wireless LAN module 120a Reception buffer (second buffer)
12b HDMI receiving unit 13 switch 14 DRM decoding unit 14c DTCP-IP decoding unit 14d HDCP decoding unit 14e Marlin decoding unit 15 DEMUX
16 Video decoding unit 16c MPEG2 decoding unit 16d H.264 decoding unit 17 Look-up table 18a Video processing unit 18b Panel controller 19 Display 20 Set top box (transmitting device, communication device)
20 'set top box (communication equipment)
20a Main TV (transmitter)
21 CPU (radio wave interference judging means)
21a Transmission buffer amount confirmation unit (determination means)
21b Radar wave detector (determination means)
21c Signal strength measuring unit (signal strength measuring means)
21d Channel switching instruction section (selection means, recording means)
21e Rank giving unit (rank giving means)
22a Tuner 22b Demodulator 22c Multi2 Decoder 22d DEMUX
23a USB interface 23b Specific DRM decoding unit 24a HDMI receiving unit 24b HDCP decoding unit 24c H.264 encoding unit 25 Wired LAN module 26 Switch 27 DRM encryption unit 27c DTCP-IP encryption unit 27d HDCP encryption unit 28 Wireless LAN module (notification means, transmission means)
281 Transmission buffer (first buffer)
282 TCP / IP buffer (first buffer)
283 TS buffer (first buffer)
30 Router 40a BD recorder 40b BD recorder 50 DTV / BS antenna 60 Media server 70 Web
80 USB-HDD (recording medium)

Claims (4)

In a display device that receives video content transmitted by wireless communication from a transmission device and displays video on a display unit,
Switching means for switching a channel to be used for the wireless communication;
Radio wave interference detecting means for detecting the occurrence of radio wave interference in the channel being used for the wireless communication;
An instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction from the user as to whether or not to switch the channel to be used by the switching unit when the radio wave interference detecting unit detects radio wave interference during the display of the video;
Display control means for displaying on the display unit a user interface for receiving the instruction from the user,
The user interface includes information related to a time required from when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction to switch the channel to be used until transmission of the video content is resumed. Display device.   The display control means displays a message indicating that the channel is being switched between when the switching means starts the process of switching the channel to be used and when the switching is completed. The display device described in 1. A display system comprising the display device according to claim 1 and a transmission device,
The transmitter is
When the channel in use is a channel that is prioritized for use by a public institution, a determination unit that determines whether the public institution transmits radio waves of the channel;
A notification means for notifying the display device that the channel to be used is switched when the determination means determines that the radio wave is being transmitted;
The display device
The switching unit is configured to switch the channel to be used with a notification from the notification unit as a trigger, and when the switching unit switches the channel to be used by the trigger, after the switching is completed The display control means displays a predetermined message on the display unit.   4. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined message is a message indicating that the channel has been changed in accordance with detection of radio waves from a public organization.

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