JP3199084B2 - Remote control method of AV system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a so-called D
Multiple A by domestic digital bus such as 2B
The present invention relates to a remote control (abbreviated as “remote control”) method for an AV system in which V (audio and visual) devices are connected to a bus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an AV system in which a plurality of AV devices are connected as a bus and configured as a set. In this type of AV system, a center device is set in advance, and one centralized remote control transmitting unit called a system remote controller is provided for a system feature in which a plurality of devices are executed in conjunction with each other. There is a method in which a command (command) from a transmission unit is received by the center device, and the command or a corresponding command is transferred to a plurality of AV devices.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional example of this type of AV system. In FIG. 5, 1 is a television receiver, 2 is a VTR, 3
Is AV amplifier, 4 is CD (compact disk), LD
A multi-disc player (hereinafter referred to as MDP) capable of reproducing an optical disc such as a (laser disc). In this example, the television receiver 1 is a center device.

[0004] For transmitting and receiving audio signals and video signals, the television receiver 1 and the AV amplifier 3 are connected by an AV signal line L1, and between the AV amplifier 3 and the VTR2 and between the AV amplifier 3 and the MDP4. The sections are connected by AV signal lines L2 and L3.

Each of the AV devices 1 to 4 includes a control circuit using one or a plurality of microcomputers (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer) for controlling the operation of each of the AV devices. Bidirectional buses B1, B2, B3 for transmitting control signals between the control circuits 1-4.
Are connected in cascade to form a system.

Each of the AV devices 1 to 4 includes a remote control receiving unit R1, r2, r3, r4, and inputs a received remote control signal (command) to a control circuit for processing. In this example, a television receiver is used. The first remote control receiver R1 is used for reception of the system remote controller transmitter CM1. Then, a command for executing a system feature in which a plurality of AV devices operate in conjunction with each other is given from the system remote control transmitting unit CM1 to the remote control receiving unit R1 of the television receiver 1. The television receiver 1 converts the received command from the system remote controller transmitting means CM1 into a bus command (command for transmitting to each AV device through the bus) and sends it to each AV device through the buses B1 to B3.

Each AV device transfers a bus command to an adjacent AV device, and determines whether or not the address added to the bus command is an address indicating its own AV device. For example, the bus command is fetched, decoded, and the operation corresponding to the command is executed.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, all commands from the system remote control transmitting means are received by the television receiver and bus commands are issued to the respective devices. However, the television receiver only has a receiving unit, and the entire system It does not function as a system controller that controls The system remote controller transmitting means CM1 also generates a command for a feature whose operation is completed only by the television receiver 1.

In the AV system shown in FIG. 5, dedicated remote control transmitting means cm2, cm3, and cm4 are provided for each of the AV devices 2 to 4, and each of the devices 2 to 4 itself has its own remote controlling transmitting means cm2. , Cm3, cm
4 can also be independently received.

FIG. 6 shows another example of this type of conventional AV system. This example is a system in which other AV devices are connected in a star shape around a center device and one-way communication is performed from the center device. That is, in the case of this example, the system controller 5 is provided as the center device, and the VTR 6 and the
The AV amplifier 7, the MDP 8, and the television receiver 9 are connected via one-way communication control lines W1, W2, W3, W4, and are unilaterally controlled by the system controller 5.

[0011] Between the AV amplifier 7 and the television receiver 9,
Connected by AV signal line L4, AV amplifier 7 and VTR
6 and the AV amplifier 7 and the MDP 8 are connected by AV signal lines L5 and L6. Reference numeral 10 denotes an extended second VTR that does not support one-way communication of this system.

Then, the system remote control transmitting means CM2
Is provided for the receiving unit R5 of the system controller 5, and a command of a system feature is given to the system controller 5 from the system remote controller CM2. When receiving the command of the system feature, the system controller 5 transmits the control command to each of the devices 6 to 9 via the control lines W1 to W4 to realize the target system feature.

Also in this example, each of the AV devices 6 to 9 and the extension device 10 has its own remote control transmitting means cm6 to cm9 and cm by its receiving units r6 to r9 and r10.
In response to the command from the control unit 10, the respective features can be executed.

In the case of this example, the AV equipment to be newly expanded depends on the number of plugs (or jacks) of the system controller 5 as the center equipment or the number of selection keys for each category of the system remote control transmission means (for example, VTR, MDP, etc.). Limited. If the AV device to be extended is another company's product, the command of the system remote control transmitting means is converted inside the system controller 5 as the center device and transferred to the other AV device for a very small number of commands. Or the other company's code is directly transmitted from the system remote control transmitting means to the device.

[0015]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional AV system, there is no protection means (protection) during the execution of the system feature, and the system feature is started with the center device as a master, and the feature is being executed. However, when a command is received from a remote control transmission unit dedicated to each device, the device unconditionally operates according to the command. For example, when dubbing in which a reproduction signal of MDP 4 or 8 is recorded by VTR 2 or 6,
When the MDP 4 or 8 receives a stop command from the dedicated remote control transmitting unit cm4 or cm8, the MDP 4 or 8 enters the stop mode despite dubbing. And VTR
For 2 or 6, the recording state may be maintained without knowing that the MDP 4 or 8 has stopped.

In the conventional system, whether each AV device recognizes the running system feature,
The protection can be executed by recognizing the active feature by inquiring of the center device. However, in this case, there is a problem that the memory capacity of each AV device is increased and communication on the bus is congested. In addition, when a warning display such as "currently dubbing is being performed" is performed for protection, the warning must be performed on each AV device, and the configuration of each device is complicated.

Further, the system shown in FIG. 6 has a drawback that it is difficult for the user to recognize and operate the expanded device, for example, the control method is ambiguous or the handling method is changed depending on the manufacturer.

Further, in a conventional AV system,
When using infrared rays as a remote control signal, the dedicated remote control transmission means of each device needs to emit a remote control signal toward each corresponding AV device. Since the position of the remote control receiver is generally different depending on the device, there is a possibility that confusion may arise as to which remote control transmitting means should transmit the remote control signal in which direction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control method for an AV system that can improve the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a remote control method for an AV system according to the present invention is provided with a microcomputer for performing operation control when corresponding to reference numerals in the embodiment of FIG. It
The microcomputers are connected to each other by a bus.
And a plurality of AV devices 12 to 15
Computer and connected to multiple AV
When a remote control signal is received for processing in which the
Each of the plurality of AV devices operating in cooperation with each other
Center for supplying and controlling commands necessary for
In AV system comprising a chromatography device 11, the bus
At the time of initialization when connecting, the AV center device 11
Function of the remote control receiver of each AV device 12-15 other than
It is characterized in that it is set so as not to be performed .

[0021]

According to the present invention having the above structure, the AV center device 11 performs centralized control, and the AV center device 11 is centrally controlled without functioning the remote control receivers of the AV devices other than the AV center device. Receives the remote control signal, the device executing the system feature does not receive the command from the dedicated remote control transmission means, and the protection during the execution of the system feature can be realized.

Also, any one of a plurality of remote control transmission means dedicated to each AV device can be used to transmit a remote control signal to the AV center device, thereby reducing the selection of the device type and the confusion in the transmission direction. Can be.

Further, since the remote control signal is centrally received by the AV center device, the remote control signal of the AV device of another company can be easily converted into a bus command by the center device, and the standard remote control signal can be easily received. By sharing commands for features across manufacturers, it is possible for the user to easily perform remote control operations on extended devices.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a remote control method for an AV system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an AV system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 11 denotes a television receiver, which is an AV center device in this example, and is provided with a receiving section R11 of the system remote control transmitting means CM3. 12 is the first VTR, 13 is the AV
The amplifier 14 is an MDP. Further, a second VTR 15 is extended and connected later.

For transmitting and receiving audio signals and video signals, the AV signal processing circuits 11S and
The AV signal processing circuit 13S of the AV amplifier 13 and the first VTR 12
Between the AV amplifier 13 and the AV signal processing circuit 12S.
Between the V signal processing circuit 13S and the AV signal processing circuit 14S of the MDP 14, and the AV signal processing circuit 1 of the AV amplifier 13
The 3S and the AV signal processing circuit 15S of the second VTR 15 are connected by AV signal lines L8, L9, L10 and L11.

Each of the AV devices 11 to 15 includes control circuits 11CT to 15CT using one or a plurality of microcomputers for controlling the operation of each device. 11CT-15C
Between T, it is cascaded and connected to bidirectional buses B4 to B7 for transmitting control signals, and is systematized, and is centrally controlled by a television receiver 11 as an AV center device.

In this case, the operation of the system is managed by the television receiver 11 as an AV center device, and the remote control receiver r of each of the devices 12 to 15 other than the AV center device.
Nos. 12 to r15 are for the TV receiver 11 to perform remote control reception in a centralized manner without functioning in principle. And each A
The command unique to each device by the remote control transmission means dedicated to the V devices 12 to 15 is also received by the television receiver 11 as the AV center device and transmitted to each device.

Each device 12 to other than the AV center device 11
In order to prevent the 15 remote control receivers r12 to r15 from functioning, the AV center device 11 does not allow the devices other than the AV center device 11 to operate the remote control receivers when the bus connection of the AV system in this example is initialized. Send a command to make it.

In the case of an extension device, when the extension device is connected to the bus, the extension device detects the connection mechanically or electrically and prevents the remote control receiving unit from functioning automatically. Can be performed. Alternatively, when the extension device is connected to the bus, the connection is transmitted to the AV center device, and thereafter, the AV center device sends a command to the extension device so that the remote control receiving unit does not function. You can also do so.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a method for disabling the remote control receiving units of the devices 12 to 15 other than the AV center device 11. That is, after an AV system is constructed and initialization processing when bus connection is performed is performed, the first AV device, for example, the first V
A command to turn off the remote control receiver r12 is sent to TR12. Then, in the first VTR 12, for example, the power supply to the remote control receiving unit r12 is turned off, the remote control receiving unit r12 is disabled, and the remote control off acknowledge command is returned to the AV center device 11. The above operation is sequentially performed on the AV amplifier 13 and then on the MDP 14, so that the remote control receivers r13 and r14 of these AV devices do not function.

Then, for this AV system, the second
When the VTR 15 is connected as an extension device,
From VTR 15 to AV center equipment 11 on bus
Is sent via the bus to indicate that is connected. Then, a command to turn off the remote control receiving unit r15 is sent from the AV center device 11 to the second VTR 15. In response to this, the second VTR 15 turns off, for example, the power to the remote control receiver r15 in the same manner as described above, makes the remote control receiver r15 inoperative, and issues a remote control off acknowledge command to the AV center device 11. Return to.

In this case, if the extension device is another manufacturer's AV device, the AV center device can make use of the remote control receiving unit of the device. At this time, a separate command may be given only to the extension device during execution of the system feature by the dedicated remote control transmission means of the extension device. Therefore, the AV center device 11 detects a change in the state of the extension device, and if it is inevitable to interrupt the feature that is being executed, stops the other linked device that is executing the feature. TV receiver 1
In one screen, the interruption can be described over the image.

At this time, as a means for the AV center device 11 to detect a change in the state of another AV device, the AV center device 1
The status information of each device automatically transmitted from each device can be used in order to notify the device 1. Further, when the remote control receiving unit R11 of the AV center device 11 receives a command whose analysis is unknown, the AV center device 11 may ask all the devices about the status.

As described above, the operation of the system is managed by the AV center device 11, and the remote control receivers r12 to r15 of the devices 12 to 15 other than the AV center device
AV center equipment 11
Receiving the command from the remote control transmission means dedicated to the device, it is possible to restrict the operation of the device that is executing the system feature by receiving the command. That is, protection of system features can be realized. And then,
In the AV center device 11, processing such as displaying a warning can be easily performed.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of remote control signal processing of the control circuit 11CT of the television receiver 11 as an AV center device. That is, the remote control command from the system remote control transmission unit CM3 received by the remote control reception unit R11 is decoded by the decoding unit 111 and supplied to the feature management unit 112 and the bus command generation unit 113.

Then, the feature management unit 112 recognizes whether the received remote control command is from the system remote control transmission unit CM3 or from the dedicated remote control transmission unit of each device. When it recognizes that there is, for the AV equipment that should be linked to realize the system feature,
Send a bus command to implement the feature. At this time, the address of each AV device is added to each bus command.

When it is recognized that the command is not a command from the system remote control transmitting means CM3, it recognizes which device it is, adds the address of the device, and sends a corresponding bus command to the device. Note that the command from the dedicated remote control transmission means of each device includes the address of the device, and the AV center device 11 sends the received command to all devices by broadcast communication (transparent transfer). You may do so.

The feature management unit 112 has a memory, and what is the feature that each device is currently executing is
Alternatively, it is stored so that the system feature that is currently being executed can always be recognized. Therefore, when a system feature is being executed and the feature has not been completed, a command input from the dedicated remote control transmission means of one of the devices involved in the execution of the system feature is sent to the AV center device 11. When this occurs, a warning is issued during the execution of the system feature, and the command can be ignored or the user can be alerted.

That is, the feature management unit 113
When it is recognized that the received remote control command is for a device that is executing the system feature, the warning generation unit 114 is driven to superimpose that the system feature is being executed, for example, on the screen of the television receiver 11. To be displayed. The user sees this warning,
You can decide whether to continue the system feature or to interrupt the system feature.

FIG. 4 is an example of a sequence for explaining protection of a system feature. FIG.
In, an ellipse indicates an event, and an arrow indicates transmission of a command. That is, in the example of FIG.
The system remote controller transmitting means CM3 sends the playback signal of the MDP 14 to the AV center
A command to perform dubbing to be recorded in R12 is transmitted. Upon receiving the remote control command, the AV center device 11 instructs the MDP 14 to connect its output terminal to the AV amplifier 13, that is, issues a bus command to send a reproduction output signal to the AV amplifier 13. At the same time, a bus command to connect the AV input terminal to the AV amplifier 13 is sent to the first VTR 12. Thereafter, the television receiver 11, which is an AV center device, sends a bus command to start playback to the MDP 14, and sends a bus command to the first VTR 12 to switch to the recording mode. From the above, MDP14 to AV
The system feature of dubbing to the first VTR 12 via the amplifier 13 is executed.

During execution of this system feature, the AV
It is assumed that a stop command is received by the center device 11 from the dedicated remote control transmission unit of the MDP 14. Then
Since the television receiver 11, which is an AV center device, recognizes that dubbing is being performed, it determines that a warning should be displayed on the screen. As a result, a warning display indicating that dubbing is being performed is displayed on the screen of the television receiver 11 so as to be superimposed on the reproduced image. For example, if the user does not further input a stop command, dubbing is continued.

When the reproduction of the disk is completed by the MDP 14, a status indicating the completion is transmitted to the AV system through the bus.
The call is automatically sent to the center device 11. The AV center device 11 receives this status and sends a stop bus command to the first VTR 12. This is the end of dubbing.

As described above, even if there is a remote control command for an AV device that is executing the feature while the system feature is being executed, the operation of the AV center device is restricted by the AV center device, and the system feature is executed. Protection can be realized.

In the above example, the warning display during the execution of the system feature is performed by the television receiver.
When displaying a warning on an amplifier or other AV equipment,
It may be performed on a display such as an LCD. Instead of a warning by display, a warning by sound or a warning by a warning lamp may be used.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a remote control command is issued to an AV device that is executing a system feature, the AV center device limits the reception of the remote control command and the corresponding operation. And protection of system features can be realized. Moreover, at the time of the protection, it is easy to display a warning or the like with the AV center device.

Further, with respect to the expanded AV equipment, standard features can be easily controlled by standardizing across manufacturers, so that the user can recognize
Operation becomes easy.

Further, even when using infrared rays having a sharp directivity as the remote control transmitting means, a remote control signal can be transmitted to the AV center equipment by using any one of a plurality of remote control transmitting means dedicated to each AV equipment. Often, confusion in the AV equipment of the transmission partner and confusion in the direction can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an AV system to which a remote control method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining a method of disabling a remote control receiving unit of a device other than an AV center device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a remote control receiving operation and system control of an AV center device.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of protection.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional AV system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another example of a conventional AV system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 TV receiver as AV center device 12 First VTR 13 AV amplifier 14 MDP CM3 System remote control transmitting means R11 Remote control receiving unit B4 to B7 Bus L8 to L11 AV signal line

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Yoshio Kubube, 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuo Kusagaya 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Shigeo Tanaka 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Koichi Sugiyama 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Inside (72) Inventor Akira Katsuyama 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (56) References JP-A-63-24790 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated ( Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04Q 9/00-9/16

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A microcomputer for performing operation control.
And the microcomputer is connected to a bus
Multiple AV devices and a built-in microphone on the bus
Computer and connected to multiple AV devices
Receives a remote control signal for processing that operates in cooperation
Each of the plurality of AV devices operating in cooperation with each other
Center for supplying and controlling commands necessary for
In the AV system including the AV device, when the bus connection is initialized, the AV center
Disable the remote control receiver of each AV device other than the device
A remote control method for an AV system , wherein the setting is made as follows . 2. The AV equipment according to claim 1, wherein each of said AV devices has a remote control transmission means dedicated to each AV device , and said remote control transmission means dedicated to each AV device. the specific commands, said received by the AV center device and <br/> decoded, if necessary, the remote AV system characterized by transferring the AV device <br/> corresponding from the AV center device Control method. 3. A microcomputer for performing operation control.
And the microcomputer is connected to a bus
Multiple AV devices and a built-in microphone on the bus
Computer and connected to multiple AV devices
Receives a remote control signal for processing that operates in cooperation
Each of the plurality of AV devices operating in cooperation with each other
Center for supplying and controlling commands necessary for
In AV system comprising a chromatography device, a remote control receiving of AV devices other than the AV center device
Unit does not function, and the AV center device is
It is one that received the remote control signal, the respective AV device-specific commands from the AV apparatus dedicated remote control transmitter means is adapted to <br/> decode received by the AV center equipment, by the AV center device Remote control transmission dedicated to the AV equipment
When a command unique to each AV device is received from the communication means
The AV device corresponding to the received command
A remote control method for an AV system, wherein a warning indicating the fact is issued at the AV center when a process that operates in cooperation with another AV device is being executed.