JP2015153130A - Network apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure, in an operation state where power consumption of a network apparatus is suppressed, the provision of a high-level network function while suppressing an increase in the power consumption.SOLUTION: A projector 100 includes SoC 120, and a microcomputer 110 with lower power consumption than that of SoC 120. The microcomputer 110 and SoC 120 each have a network function. The projector 100 further includes a network interface, which is hardware for the microcomputer 110 and SoC 120 to connect to the network. The microcomputer 110 and SoC 120 share the network interface, but use the network interface exclusively to each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a network device that provides a network function even in a standby state.

  Conventionally, network functions required for OA devices such as printers that support network connection and video display devices such as projectors have been remote control and status monitoring via the network. Most of the network communication for executing them is text data indicating a command, and the amount of communication is small. In such devices that perform network communication with limited communication volume, a microcomputer with an interface for network control is used as a microcomputer in charge of controlling the entire system in the device, or the entire system in the device is controlled. In addition to the microcomputer in charge of the network, the network function has been realized by providing an inexpensive microcomputer with a network control interface.

  On the other hand, with recent technological development, as a network function of AV (Audio Visual) devices such as TVs, home recorders, projectors, etc., DLNA (registered trademark) (Digital Living Network Alliance) and video / audio data transmission functions unique to each company, etc. Network functions for handling multimedia data are becoming widespread. In a device having such a network function, the amount of communication in the network function becomes enormous. Therefore, a system LSI equipped with a signal processing circuit such as a decoder or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) is used as a network control microcomputer. Generally used. Such a system LSI is multi-functionalized by mounting various interfaces in addition to a signal processing circuit, and is equipped with a high-performance processor in order to perform processing related to these functions without delay. For this reason, the power consumption of the system LSI is very large as compared with an inexpensive microcomputer with few functions.

  Note that, as a power saving technique for individual components such as a microcomputer and a system LSI, the frequency of an operation clock is lowered (for example, Patent Document 1), and the clock supply to unused circuit blocks is stopped (for example, Patent Document 2). ), And setting the processor to a standby mode (for example, Patent Document 3) is known. As a power saving technique for the entire network device system, a technique for stopping the functions of the network unit excluding the information input / output unit is known (for example, Patent Document 4).

US Pat. No. 5,189,647 U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,843 U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,552 JP 2003-89254 A

  In recent years, there is an increasing demand not only for suppressing power consumption during operation of electrical equipment, but also for suppressing power consumption (standby power) in a standby state (standby state). In some countries and regions, a system (for example, the Eco-Design Directive) that regulates standby power for electrical equipment and prohibits the sale of equipment with standby power exceeding a certain level has been introduced. Such restrictions on standby power include restrictions on the standby state of devices that do not have a network function, and restrictions on standby states in which the network function is valid (usable). Switchable devices need to comply with both regulations. A standby state in which the network function is valid is also referred to as a “network standby state”.

  As described above, the microcomputer and the system LSI can save power by lowering the operation clock in the standby state or stopping the clock supply to the unused circuit blocks. However, multifunctional system LSIs inevitably consume more power than microcomputers that operate at low clock frequencies, so devices that use system LSIs can be placed in a standby state (network standby state) in which network functions are effective. It is difficult to comply with regulations on standby power in

  Some types of system LSIs realize a network standby state with slightly higher power consumption than a standby state in which all functions are turned off. Such a network standby state is, for example, Wake-on- Like LAN (registered trademark), the functions are limited, such as waiting for the input of a specific signal for starting the system. Therefore, advanced operations such as returning a response to a request received via the network cannot be performed, and functions required for many network devices such as remote status monitoring through the network cannot be used.

  Considering the above, in a general configuration in which the system management is performed by a microcomputer with low power consumption and the network function is provided by a multifunctional system LSI in the standby state in which the network function is disabled, the standby in the network standby state is performed. It is difficult to meet power regulations.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an advanced network function while suppressing an increase in power consumption in an operation state in which power consumption of a network device is suppressed, such as a network standby state. It aims at securing.

  A network device according to the present invention includes a first microcomputer having a network function, a second microcomputer having a network function and lower power consumption than the first microcomputer, and the first and second microcomputers. And a network interface that is hardware for connecting the first and second microcomputers to a network, and the first and second microcomputers use the network interface exclusively.

  According to the present invention, the first and second microcomputers each have a network function, and since they use the network interface exclusively, even if the first microcomputer with high power consumption is stopped, for example, The network function can be continuously provided by the second microcomputer with low power consumption.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a projector that is a network device according to a first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating power-on processing of the projector according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing power-off processing of the network device according to the first embodiment. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recorder that is a network device according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing abnormality detection processing of a system LSI in a network device according to a second embodiment.

  Examples of embodiments of the network device of the present invention will be described below.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a liquid crystal projector 100 (hereinafter “projector”) that is a network device according to the first embodiment. The projector 100 includes a SoC (System-on-a-Chip) 120 (first microcomputer), which is a multifunctional system LSI for network control, and a power-saving microcomputer 110 (second microcomputer) for system control. A ROM 115 for storing network settings (network address and the like) and a DRAM 127 for the SoC 120 are provided. The projector 100 further includes a network hardware interface that is hardware for connecting to a network (hereinafter referred to as “network interface”). The network interface includes an Ethernet (registered trademark) PHY (physical layer) 131, a pulse, and the like. A transformer 132 and an RJ-45 connector 133 are included.

  The projector 100 includes an input terminal unit 151, a signal processing unit 152 (A / D converter, etc.), a signal processing unit 152, and a scaler 153 as elements constituting a main function unit that provides the main function (projection of video). A liquid crystal panel driving unit 154, an optical engine 155, a lamp 156, and a ballast 157. That is, in the projector 100, the liquid crystal panel driving unit 154 drives the optical engine 155 and uses the light of the lamp 156 based on the video signal input to the input terminal unit 151 and processed by the signal processing unit 152 and the scaler 153. The main functions are realized by projecting video. The ballast 157 performs power supply control for causing the lamp 156 to emit light.

  Further, the projector 100 includes a power supply circuit 141 that supplies power to each element in the projector 100, a cooling fan 158 that cools the projector 100, sensors 159 including a thermistor that controls the cooling fan 158, and a user. A main body operation unit 160 that accepts the above operation and a remote operation input unit 161 that accepts a user operation through the remote control.

  The microcomputer 110 includes a CPU 111, a ROM / RAM 112, an Ethernet controller 113, and an I / O port 114. The SoC 120 includes a CPU 121, a built-in ROM / RAM 122, an Ethernet controller 123, a DSP 124, an I / O port 125, and a DRAM interface 126. In FIG. 1, details such as the internal buses of the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 are omitted.

  The ROM 115 and the network interface (Ethernet PHY 131, pulse transformer 132, and RJ-45 connector 133) are shared by the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120. The microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 use the ROM 115 and the network interface exclusively. . That is, both the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 do not use the ROM 115 and the network interface at the same time. Specifically, the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 exchange the usage rights of the ROM 115 and the network interface by mutual communication, and only the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 having the usage rights use the ROM 115 and the network interface. Can do.

  The projector 100 according to Embodiment 1 operates the network function using the Ethernet controller 113 of the microcomputer 110 in the network standby state. Therefore, the microcomputer 110 is powered even when in the network standby state. However, the SoC 120, DRAM 127, main function units (input terminal unit 151, signal processing unit 152, signal processing unit 152, scaler 153, liquid crystal panel driving unit 154, optical engine 155, lamp 156 and ballast 157) and cooling fan 158 include No power is supplied in the network standby state. The main body operation unit 160 and the remote operation input unit 161 are powered as necessary even in a network standby state so that a power-on operation by the user can be accepted.

  For example, when the projector 100 in the network standby state receives a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) packet, which is a power supply state inquiry request, via the network, the packet is input to the Ethernet controller 113 of the microcomputer 110 through the network interface. . When the microcomputer 110 analyzes the packet input to the Ethernet controller 113 and identifies that it is a power supply state inquiry request, the microcomputer 110 outputs a response indicating that the projector 100 is in the standby state from the Ethernet controller 113. It returns to the sender of the inquiry request through the network interface.

  On the other hand, when the power is on, the projector 100 supplies power to the SoC 120, the DRAM 127, the main function unit, and the cooling fan 158 in addition to the microcomputer 110. As a result, the projector 100 in the power-on state is in a state where not only the network function but also all functions such as video projection, which is a main function, and a self-cooling function using the cooling fan 158 are executable. The operation related to the network function provided by the projector 100 is performed by the microcomputer 110 in the network standby state, but is performed by the SoC 120 in the power-on state.

  For example, when the power-on projector 100 receives a TCP packet, which is a power status inquiry request, via the network, the packet is input to the Ethernet controller 123 of the SoC 120 via the network interface. When the SoC 120 analyzes the packet input to the Ethernet controller 123 and identifies that it is a power status inquiry request, the power status from the I / O port 125 of the SoC 120 to the I / O port 114 of the microcomputer 110 Send inquiry command.

  The microcomputer 110 that has received the command transmits a response indicating that the projector 100 is in the power-on state from the I / O port 114 to the I / O port 125 of the SoC 120. The SoC 120 that has received the response returns the response from the Ethernet controller 123 to the transmission source of the inquiry request through the network interface.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing power-on processing (transition processing from the network standby state to the power-on state) in the projector 100 according to the first embodiment.

  When the user performs an operation to turn on the projector 100, the main body operation unit 160 or the remote operation input unit 161 transmits a power-on command to the microcomputer 110. Although the projector 100 may receive a power-on command via a network, the power-on command is input to the microcomputer 110 through the network interface.

  When the microcomputer 110 receives the power-on command (step S101), the microcomputer 110 controls the system to supply power to the main function unit and the cooling fan 158 (step S102). At this time, the lamp 156 is turned on when power is supplied via the ballast 157. Further, the microcomputer 110 controls the system so as to supply power to the SoC 120 and the DRAM 127 (step S103). And after starting each element which started electric power feeding at Steps S102 and S103, it starts (Step S104). When the activation of the SoC 120 is completed, communication is established between the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 (step S105).

  Thereafter, by setting the I / O port 125 of the SoC 120, switching a bus switch (not shown), and the like, the usage right (access right) of the ROM 115 is transferred from the microcomputer 110 to the SoC 120 (step S106). At this time, the microcomputer 110 stores the latest network settings in the ROM 115 as necessary before the right to access the ROM 115 is lost. The SoC 120 that has acquired the access right to the ROM 115 activates the network function using the Ethernet controller 123 (step S107). At this time, the SoC 120 performs network setting according to information such as a network address stored in the ROM 115.

  When the preparation of the network function by the SoC 120 is completed, the right to use the network interface (the right to use the Ethernet PHY 131) is transferred from the microcomputer 110 to the SoC 120 by setting the Ethernet controller 123, switching the bus switch, and the like (step S108). .

  When the setting of the main function unit necessary for projecting the video is completed, the image output is started (step S109), and the power-on process is completed when the lamp 156 is turned on.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of power-off processing (transition processing from the power-on state to the network standby state) in the projector 100 according to the first embodiment.

  When the user performs an operation to turn off the projector 100, the main body operation unit 160 or the remote operation input unit 161 transmits a power-off command to the microcomputer 110. The microcomputer 110 receives the power off command. Although the projector 100 may receive a power-off command via the network, since the right to use the network interface is in the SoC 120 in the power-on state, the power-off command is received by the SoC 120 and then transferred to the microcomputer 110.

  When the microcomputer 110 receives the power-off command (step S111), the microcomputer 110 controls the ballast 157 to turn off the lamp 156 and performs a process of stopping the operation of the cooling fan 158 and the main function unit (step S112). Thereafter, by setting the I / O port 114, switching the bus switch, and the like, the usage right (access right) of the ROM 115 is transferred from the SoC 120 to the microcomputer 110 (step S113). At this time, the SoC 120 stores the latest network settings in the ROM 115 as needed before the right to access the ROM 115 is lost. The microcomputer 110 that has acquired the access right of the ROM 115 reads the latest network setting from the ROM 115, and if there is a difference from the network setting stored therein, updates it to the latest network setting (step S114).

  When the update of the network setting of the microcomputer 110 is completed, the right to use the network interface (the right to use the Ethernet PHY 131) is transferred from the SoC 120 to the microcomputer 110 by setting the I / O port 114 and switching the bus switch. Step S115). Then, the operation of the SoC 120 is stopped (step S116).

  Subsequently, power supply to the SoC 120 and the DRAM 127 is stopped (step S117), and power supply to the main function unit is also stopped (step S118). Thereafter, when the cooling of the projector 100 including the lamp 156 is completed, the power supply to the cooling fan 158 is stopped (step S119), the transition to the network standby state is performed (step S120), and the power-off process is completed.

  As described above, in the projector 100 according to the first embodiment, both the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 can execute the operation of the network function, but which one is responsible for this is switched between the power-on state and the network standby state. Yes. That is, the SoC 120 is in charge of network function operation in the power-on state, and the microcomputer 110 is in charge of it in the network standby state.

  As described above, the projector 100 that is the network device according to the first embodiment can significantly reduce standby power by not performing power supply by not operating the SoC 120 in the network standby state. In the network standby state, since the microcomputer 110 with low power consumption takes over the network function operation from the SoC 120, an advanced response such as returning a response to a request such as a state inquiry while suppressing an increase in power consumption. Network function can be maintained.

  In the above description, when the projector 100 enters the network standby state, the operation of the SoC 120 is completely stopped to reduce the power consumption of the SoC 120 (steps S116 and S117 in FIG. 3). For example, the SoC 120 has a network function. A part of the operation of the SoC 120 may be continued in the invalid power consumption mode. In that case, when the projector 100 is turned on (step S103 in FIG. 2), the SoC 120 is returned to the normal operation mode.

  Although FIG. 3 shows the power-off process when shifting to the network standby state, the process from step S113 to step S115 may be omitted when shifting to the standby state where the network is invalidated. . At this time, the operation of the Ethernet controller 113 of the microcomputer 110 may be stopped so that the standby power becomes smaller.

  In addition, since the projector 100 according to the present embodiment includes two microcomputers, that is, a low-function microcomputer 110 and a high-function SoC 120, the function of the microcomputer 110 can be made redundant by providing the function of the microcomputer 110 to the SoC 120 as well. It may be used for conversion. That is, the SoC 120 may have software and control lines for performing the same processing (system control and network function) as the microcomputer 110. Then, for example, the SoC 120 periodically sends an operation confirmation command to the microcomputer 110 to check whether there is an abnormality in the microcomputer 110. When an abnormality is detected, the power supply to the microcomputer 110 is stopped and the SoC 120 is connected to the microcomputer. Various processes are performed instead of 110. Thereby, even if abnormality occurs in the microcomputer 110, the operation of the projector 100 can be continued.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration of a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk recorder 200 (hereinafter simply referred to as “recorder”) which is a network device according to the second embodiment. The recorder 200 has a function (second main function) for operating as a media server using the Internet protocol (IP) in addition to a function for recording and reproducing video and audio (first main function). ing.

  The recorder 200 includes a multifunctional system LSI 220 (first microcomputer) that performs signal processing and a power-saving microcomputer 210 (second microcomputer) that performs power management and the like. The recorder 200 further includes a ROM 216 that stores network settings (network address and the like), a network interface including an Ethernet PHY 241, a pulse transformer 242, and an RJ-45 connector 243.

  In addition, the recorder 200 includes, as peripheral components of the system LSI 220, a Blu-ray disc drive 261, a hard disk drive 262, an IC card slot 263, a Flash_ROM 264, a DDR3_SDRAM 265, an HDMI (registered trademark) transmitter IC 266, an output terminal unit 267, an input terminal unit 268, a tuner. 269. Further, the recorder 200 includes a power supply circuit 251 that supplies power to each element in the recorder 200, a main body operation unit / infrared light receiving unit 271 that receives a user operation (including an operation using a remote controller), and the recorder 200. A liquid crystal display unit 272 for displaying information related to the operation is provided.

  The microcomputer 210 includes a CPU 211, an I / O port 212, an Ethernet controller 213, an LCD controller 214, and a built-in ROM / RAM 215. The system LSI 220 includes a CPU 221, a SATA interface 222, an IC card interface 223, a Flash / DDR3 interface 224, a built-in ROM / RAM 225, an I / O port 226, a D / A converter 227, an A / D converter 228, a DSP 229, an Ethernet controller 230, an audio / video output unit 231, an audio / video input unit 232, a USB / MMC interface 233, and a demodulator 234. In FIG. 3, details such as the internal buses of the microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220 are omitted.

  As described above, the recorder 200 has a first main function for recording / reproducing video and audio and a second main function that functions as a media server using the Internet protocol (IP). The first and second main functions both handle video / audio data (multimedia data) and are provided by the system LSI 220.

  The first main function is that the system LSI 220 acquires video / audio data from the Blu-ray disc drive 261, the hard disk drive 262, the IC card slot 263, the input terminal unit 268 or the tuner 269 based on a user operation, and A playback operation for outputting a video / audio signal generated based on the audio data from the output terminal unit 267 to an external display device and a recording operation for recording the video / audio data acquired from the tuner 269 in the hard disk drive 262 are performed. Is realized. Hereinafter, the first main function is referred to as “recording / playback function”.

  The second main function is that the system LSI 220 converts the video / audio data recorded in the hard disk drive 262 into a network interface (Ethernet PHY 241, pulse transformer 242) in response to a request received from an external device (client) through the network. , RJ-45 connector 243) is used for transmission (delivery) to the client. The second main function is one of network functions, but the amount of communication is enormous because it handles video / audio data. Hereinafter, the second main function is referred to as “media server function”.

  In addition to the media server function, the recorder 200 has a network function that handles information with a small amount of communication (does not handle video / audio data). Hereinafter, this network function is referred to as a “simple network function”. As the simple network function, for example, there is a function of responding to the status of the recorder 200 in response to an inquiry request for the status of the recorder 200 received via the network. In addition, with the provision of the media server function, the function of receiving a distribution request from a client is also included in the simple network function.

  The recorder 200 can provide all of the recording / playback function, the media server function, and the simple network function when the power is on, but only the simple network function can be provided in the network standby state. The main operations of the recording / playback function and the media server function (operations for handling video / audio data) can be executed only by the system LSI 220, but the operation of the simple network function (including reception of a distribution request from the client in the media server function) ) Can be executed by both the microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220. In the recorder 200 according to the second embodiment, which of the microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function is switched depending on whether the video / audio data transmission process in the media server function is being executed.

  That is, when the recorder 200 provides the media server function and transmits video / audio data to the client, the system LSI 220 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function. On the other hand, when the recorder 200 is in a network standby state, when only the recording / playback function is executed, and when the media server function is provided but video / audio data is not transmitted to the client (client In the situation of waiting for a distribution request from), the microcomputer 210 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function.

  While the microcomputer 210 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function, the network function of the system LSI 220 is invalidated. On the other hand, the network function of the microcomputer 110 is invalidated while the system LSI 220 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function.

  In particular, if the recording / playback function is not executed, and the media server function does not send video / audio data to the client (no delivery request from the client) for a certain period of time, It is preferable to reduce power consumption by putting the system LSI 220 in a power saving mode or a stopped state. At this time, since the microcomputer 210 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function, even if the system LSI 220 is in the power saving mode or stopped while the media server function is being provided, the distribution request from the client is received by the microcomputer 210. it can. When the system LSI 220 is in the power saving mode or stopped state, if the microcomputer 210 receives a distribution request from the client, the system LSI 220 can be returned to the normal operation mode to transmit video / audio data. To do.

  The process of switching the responsibility of the simple network function between the microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220 is the same as the process of switching the charge of the network function between the microcomputer 110 and the SoC 120 in the first embodiment. Done by the method.

  That is, the ROM 216 and the network interface (Ethernet PHY 241, pulse transformer 242, and RJ-45 connector 243) are shared by the microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220. The microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220 are mutually exclusive of the ROM 115 and the network. Use the interface. Then, the microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220 transfer the usage rights of the ROM 115 and the network interface, and the one having the usage rights of the microcomputer 210 and the system LSI 220 uses the ROM 115 and the network interface to perform the simple network function. To perform the operation.

  For example, when the microcomputer 210 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function, if the recorder 200 receives a TCP packet, which is an inquiry request as to whether the media server function is valid, via the network, the packet is transmitted to the network. The data is input to the Ethernet controller 213 of the microcomputer 210 through the interface. When the microcomputer 210 analyzes the packet input to the Ethernet controller 213 and identifies that it is an inquiry request as to whether or not the media server function is valid, the microcomputer 210 sends a response indicating whether or not the media server function is valid to the Ethernet controller 213. And return to the inquiry request source through the network interface.

  Further, for example, when the system LSI 220 is in charge of the operation of the simple network function, if the recorder 200 receives a TCP packet, which is a power status inquiry request, via the network, the packet is sent to the Ethernet of the system LSI 220 through the network interface. Input to the controller 230. When the system LSI 220 analyzes the packet input to the Ethernet controller 230 and identifies that it is a power status inquiry request, the system LSI 220 sends an I / O port 226 of the system LSI 220 to the I / O port 212 of the microcomputer 210. Sends a power status inquiry command.

  The microcomputer 210 that has received the command transmits a response indicating the power state of the recorder 200 (in this case, the power-on state) from the I / O port 212 to the I / O port 226 of the system LSI 220. The system LSI 220 that has received the response returns it from the Ethernet controller 230 to the source of the inquiry request through the network interface.

  Thus, the recorder 200 according to the second embodiment is in a power saving mode in which the system LSI 220 disables the network function when processing for handling video / audio data is not necessary (including the network standby state). Electric power can be reduced. Meanwhile, since the simple network function is maintained by the microcomputer 210 with low power consumption, provision of the simple network function can be ensured while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

  Furthermore, the recorder 200 according to the second embodiment has a function of detecting an abnormality of the system LSI 220 using the microcomputer 210. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an abnormality detection process of the system LSI 220 in the recorder 200 according to the second embodiment.

  The microcomputer 210 of the recorder 200 periodically transmits a command (operation confirmation command) for confirming whether or not the system LSI 220 is operating normally to the system LSI 220 (step S201), and the system LSI 220 corresponding thereto. The presence or absence of a response from is confirmed (step S202). If there is a response from the system LSI 220, the microcomputer 210 determines that the system LSI 220 is operating normally. In that case, the microcomputer 210 initializes a retry counter n held therein (n = 0) (step S203A), and returns to step S201.

  If there is no response from the system LSI 220 to the operation check command, the microcomputer 210 increments the retry counter n by 1 (n = n + 1) (step S203), and determines whether the retry counter n has reached the specified number N. (Step S204). When the retry counter n is less than N, the communication command is transmitted again from the microcomputer 210 to the system LSI 220 (step S205A), and the process returns to step S202.

  When the retry counter n reaches the specified number N, the microcomputer 210 determines that the system LSI 220 is not operating normally. In this case, the following operation is performed.

  First, the right to use the ROM 216 is transferred to the microcomputer 210 (step S205). Subsequently, the network setting of the microcomputer 210 is changed as necessary based on the network setting stored in the ROM 216 (step S206), and the setting of the I / O port 212, the switching of a bus switch (not shown), and the like are performed. As a result, the right to use the network interface (the right to use the Ethernet PHY 241) is transferred to the microcomputer 210 (step S207). Thereby, the microcomputer 210 can execute the operation of the simple network function. Subsequently, power supply to the system LSI 220 and its peripheral components is stopped (step S208). Then, an error code is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 272 to notify the user of the occurrence of an abnormality (step S209).

  By performing the abnormality detection processing shown in FIG. 5, the user can recognize from the display on the liquid crystal display unit 272 that an abnormality has occurred in the system LSI 220. Further, when an abnormality occurs in the system LSI 220, the responsibility for the operation of the simple network function is transferred from the system LSI 220 to the microcomputer 210, so that the simple network function can be continuously provided.

  In the abnormality detection process of FIG. 5, when an abnormality occurs in the system LSI 220, power supply to the system LSI 220 is stopped (step S208), but instead, the system LSI 220 is automatically reset from the abnormal state. You may make it return to.

  In addition, since the recorder 200 of the present embodiment includes two microcomputers, a low-function microcomputer 210 and a high-function system LSI 220, the function of the microcomputer 210 can be provided by providing the system LSI 220 with the function of the microcomputer 210. May be used for redundancy. That is, the system LSI 220 may have software and control lines for performing the same system control as the microcomputer 210. Then, for example, the system LSI 220 periodically sends an operation confirmation command to the microcomputer 210 to check whether there is an abnormality in the microcomputer 210. When an abnormality is detected, the power supply to the microcomputer 210 is stopped and the system LSI 220 is stopped. However, it is preferable to continue the system control instead of the microcomputer 210. Thereby, even if an abnormality occurs in the microcomputer 210, the operation of the recorder 200 can be continued.

  In the above description, liquid crystal projectors and Blu-ray disc recorders have been shown as examples of network devices. However, the present invention is not limited to other network devices, for example, display devices such as home televisions and public displays, printers, and network audio devices. It can be widely applied to devices.

  It should be noted that the present invention can be freely combined with each other within the scope of the invention, and each embodiment can be appropriately modified or omitted.

  100 projector, 110 microcomputer, 115 ROM, 120 SoC, 127 DRAM, 131 Ethernet PHY, 132 pulse transformer, 133 RJ-45 connector, 141 power supply circuit, 151 input terminal section, 152 signal processing section, 153 scaler, 154 liquid crystal panel drive Unit, 155 optical engine, 156 lamp, 157 ballast, 158 cooling fan, 159 sensors, 160 main body operation unit, 161 remote operation input unit, 200 recorder, 210 microcomputer, 220 system LSI, 241 Ethernet PHY, 242 pulse transformer, 243 RJ-45 connector, 251 power supply circuit, 261 Blu-ray disc drive, 262 hard disk drive, 263 IC card slot, 267 Terminal section, 268 input terminal portion, 269 tuner, 271 main body operation portion and the infrared receiver, 272 liquid crystal display section.

Claims (13)

A first microcomputer having a network function;
A second microcomputer having a network function and having lower power consumption than the first microcomputer;
A network interface that is shared by the first and second microcomputers and that is hardware for connecting the first and second microcomputers to a network;
The network device characterized in that the first and second microcomputers use the network interface exclusively. When the first microcomputer is stopped or operates in the power saving mode, the network function of the first microcomputer is disabled, the network function of the second microcomputer is enabled, and the network interface is the second interface. The network device according to claim 1 used for a microcomputer. When the first microcomputer operates in a normal operation mode, the network function of the first microcomputer is enabled, the network function of the second microcomputer is disabled, and the network interface is the first microcomputer. The network device according to claim 2, which is used in a network. The network device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a storage unit that is shared by the first and second microcomputers and stores setting of a network function. The network function of the first microcomputer includes a first network function that can be executed by both the first and second microcomputers, and a second network function that cannot be executed by the second microcomputer. And
3. The network device according to claim 2, wherein when the first microcomputer executes the second network function using the network interface, the network function of the second microcomputer is invalidated. When the second microcomputer receives a request to provide the second network function through the network interface while the first microcomputer is operating in the stop or power saving mode, the first microcomputer The network device according to claim 5, wherein the second network function is executed by returning to the operation mode. When the first microcomputer is operating in the normal operation mode, if there is no request for providing the second network function for a certain period, the first microcomputer is stopped or operated in the power saving mode. Item 7. The network device according to Item 6. While the first microcomputer is executing the second network function using the network interface, the first network function is also executed by the first microcomputer.
While the first microcomputer is not executing the second network function, the network function of the first microcomputer is invalidated, and the second network is configured so that the second microcomputer has the network interface. The network device according to claim 5, wherein the network device is executed using a network. The network device according to claim 5, wherein the second network function is a video / audio data transmission function. When an abnormality of the first microcomputer is detected when the first microcomputer performs a network function using the network interface, the network function of the first microcomputer is invalidated, The network device according to claim 1, wherein the network function of the second microcomputer is enabled, and the network interface is used for the second microcomputer. The network device according to claim 10, wherein when an abnormality of the first microcomputer is detected, power supply to the first microcomputer is stopped. The network device according to claim 10, wherein when the abnormality of the first microcomputer is detected, the first microcomputer is reset. The first microcomputer can execute the same processing as the second microcomputer,
The network according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein when the abnormality of the second microcomputer is detected, the first microcomputer performs processing normally performed by the second microcomputer instead. machine.

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