JP4387782B2 - AV system and AV system configuration method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for automatically configuring an AV system formed by a plurality of AV devices.

  As a technology for automatically configuring an AV system formed of a plurality of AV devices, information on the type of audio device is exchanged between the audio devices connected via a wireless network, and each audio device is autonomously operated. A technique for automatically setting a path between audio devices of an audio signal corresponding to the type of the audio device is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

  That is, in this technology, for example, an audio amplifier device connected to a wireless network checks the type of another device connected to the wireless network, and if the speaker device is connected to the wireless network, the speaker device is And set as the output destination of the audio signal from the audio amplifier device.

In this specification, the terms “AV system” and “AV device” are used as a general term for systems and devices that handle at least one of audio and visual.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-359200

According to the technique of Patent Document 1, the relationship between the type of audio device and the output destination of the audio output, that is, the relationship between the type of each audio device constituting the audio system and the configuration of the audio system is defined in advance for each audio device. Need to be.
For this reason, when new and old audio devices are mixed in the audio system, the old audio device is assigned a new audio device type that was later incorporated into the audio system and did not exist when the old audio device was manufactured. It cannot be recognized and the output destination of the audio output cannot be set appropriately.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize an automatic configuration of an AV system formed by a combination of arbitrary types of AV devices.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an AV system including a plurality of AV devices that handle at least one of audio and visual, and each AV device has an AV that is at least one of an audio signal and a visual signal. Storage means for storing a first value indicating a level upstream and downstream of a position where the AV device is to be arranged on the signal path, and the first stored in the other AV device from each other AV device. A collecting means for collecting a value of 1 and a value indicating a level on the downstream side of the AV signal path from the first value stored in its storage means is collected by the collecting means as the first value. Among the other AV devices that have been collected, the value indicating the most upstream level on the path of the AV signal is collected as the first value by the collecting means. , In which an output destination setting means for setting an output destination of the AV signal from the own AV apparatus.

  According to such an AV system, the first value corresponding to the type of the AV device is set in advance in each AV device, so that it is incorporated into the AV system without requiring a user's special work. The automatic configuration of the AV system having an appropriate AV signal path can be realized by the operation between the AV devices. In addition, by setting the first value with a margin between the values, even when a new type of AV device is born, the AV device can be incorporated into the AV system without any trouble. . That is, when there is an AV system configuration that includes an AV device A and an AV device B and sends an AV signal from the AV device A to the AV device B, the AV signal is arranged between the AV device A and the AV device B on the signal path. When a new type of AV device C to be created is born, a value between the first value of the AV device A and the first value of the AV device B is set in the AV device C as the first value. Then, simply by incorporating the AV device C into the AV system composed of the AV device A and the AV device B, an AV system in which AV signals are sent in the order of the AV device A, the AV device C, and the AV device B is automatically configured. become.

  Here, in the AV system described above, the storage means of each AV device stores a second value representing the priority of use by the AV device other than the AV device, and the collection means stores each of the other AVs. Collect the second value stored in the other AV device together with the first value stored in the other AV device from the device, and store it in its own storage means in the output destination setting means Among the other AV devices collected by the collecting means as the first value, a value indicating a level on the downstream side of the AV signal path from the first value being recorded is the path on the AV signal path. When there are a plurality of other AV devices collected by the collecting means as the first value as the value indicating the level of the most upstream side of the above, the highest priority among the plurality of other AV devices present The value to represent is the second As a value, the other AV device collected by the collecting means, it is preferable to set as the output destination of the AV signal from the own AV apparatus.

  In this way, even when an AV device having the same first value, that is, an AV device having the same upstream and downstream level of the position to be arranged, is incorporated into a plurality of AV systems, any one of the AV devices has priority. It is possible to realize automatic configuration of various AV systems such as to be performed.

  The AV system described above may be one in which the AV devices are connected by a wireless network, and each AV device may be an in-vehicle AV device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an automatic configuration of an AV system formed by a combination of arbitrary types of AV devices.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1a shows the configuration of an AV system according to this embodiment.
This AV system is an in-vehicle AV system, and forms a wireless network including a plurality of AV devices 1 and a wireless station 2 to which the AV devices 1 are connected via wireless communication as shown in the figure. Here, the wireless station 2 is a device that relays data between the AV devices 1 via wireless communication.

  In addition, the AV device 1 is, for example, a speaker device 11 that is arranged in a vehicle as shown in FIG. 1b, receives a digital audio signal via a wireless network, converts the received digital audio signal into an analog signal, and amplifies and outputs the analog signal. Or a monitor 12 that receives a digital visual signal via a wireless network and displays an image represented by the received digital visual signal, or a plurality of AV storage media such as a DVD-Video or a DVD-Audio, and can be arbitrarily selected. For a DVD changer 13 that reproduces a digital audio signal or digital visual signal from an AV storage medium and transmits it to another AV device 1 via a wireless network, or a digital audio signal received and received via the wireless network Equalize processing and surround A digital sound processor (DSP) 14 that performs various acoustic processing such as processing and transmits it to other AV devices 1 via a wireless network, a function as a radio receiver, a function as a CD-DA player, a preamplifier function, and an output The head unit 15 has a source selection function for switching sources and the like, and controls the AV devices 1.

Each AV device 1 includes a wireless communication device 101 for performing wireless communication with the wireless station 2, a control unit 102, a memory 103, and an AV data processing unit 104, as shown in FIG. 1a.
Here, the AV data processing unit 104 is a functional unit that processes a digital audio signal or a digital visual signal in each AV device 1. For example, in the case of the speaker device 11, the digital audio signal is converted into an analog signal and amplified. If the monitor 12 is a functional unit that displays an image represented by a digital visual signal, the DVD changer 13 selectively selects a digital audio signal or digital visual signal from any AV storage medium. The DSP 14 is a functional unit that performs various kinds of sound processing such as equalization processing and surround processing on a digital audio signal, and the head unit 15 receives a radio broadcast or CD-DA. Play back, switch the output source, and input from the output source. It is a functional unit that amplifies a.

Now, in such a memory 103 of the AV device 1, stream position data and a stream position list are stored.
As shown in FIG. 2a, the stream position data stores a communication address on the wireless network of the own AV device, an audio level, an audio level rank, a visual level, and a visual level rank.
The communication address is fixed when the AV device 1 uses a fixed communication address, and the communication address is set when the AV device 1 uses a communication address that is dynamically allocated when the AV device 1 is connected to a wireless network. The address is set when connecting to a wireless network.
Next, the audio level indicates the level of the position of the AV device 1 on the path of the digital audio signal in the AV system. The larger the value, the more the AV device 1 has the path of the digital audio signal. The upper part represents that the AV apparatus 1 should be located upstream. However, an AV device 1 having an audio level of “00” indicating no level indicates that the AV device 1 does not handle a digital audio signal and is not required to be included in the path of the digital audio signal. The rank within the audio level represents the priority of use of the AV device 1 as viewed from the upstream AV device 1 on the digital audio signal path in the AV device 1 having the same audio level. When the AV device 1 having the audio level exists in a plurality of AV systems, the AV device 1 having the highest rank in the audio level is included in the path of the digital audio signal output from the AV device 1 on the upstream side. It will be. It should be noted that, generally, among the AV devices 1 of the same kind that give the same audio level, a higher rank in the audio level is given to a higher-function AV device 1. However, when the rank in the audio level is “00” indicating no rank, the AV device 1 on the upstream side connects the AV device 1 to another AV device 1 having the same audio level as the AV device 1. Indicates that it can be shared.

  Next, the visual level indicates the level of the position of the AV apparatus 1 on the path of the digital visual signal in the AV system. The larger the value, the more the AV apparatus 1 has the path of the digital visual signal. The upper part represents that the AV apparatus 1 should be located upstream. However, an AV device 1 having a visual level “00” indicating no level indicates that the AV device 1 does not handle a digital visual signal and is not required to be included in the path of the digital visual signal. The visual level rank represents the priority of use of the AV device 1 as viewed from the upstream AV device 1 on the digital visual signal path in the AV device 1 having the same visual level. When the visual level AV device 1 exists in a plurality of AV systems, the AV device 1 having the highest visual level rank is included in the path of the digital visual signal output from the upstream AV device 1. It will be. In general, among the AV devices 1 of the same type that give the same visual level, higher AV level ranks are given to higher-function AV devices 1. However, when the rank in the visual level is “00” indicating no rank, the AV device 1 on the upstream side connects the AV device 1 with another AV device 1 having the same visual level as the AV device 1. Indicates that it can be shared.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2b, the stream position list of the AV device 1 is collected from each of the other AV devices 1 in the wireless network when the AV device 1 is connected to the wireless network. 6 is a list of stream position data of the AV device 1.
Hereinafter, an automatic configuration operation in such an AV system will be described.
FIG. 3 shows output destination determination processing performed by the control unit 102 of each AV device 1 when the AV device 1 is activated.
As shown in the figure, in this process, if the own AV device 1 is connected to a wireless network by a predetermined network connection process (step 302), first, the other AV devices 1 are connected to the other AV devices 1 via the wireless network. By issuing a stream position data request in, for example, a broadcast format, stream position data is collected from each of the other AV devices 1 and stored in the memory 103 as a stream position list (step 304). If the control unit 102 receives a stream position data request from another AV device 1 via the wireless communication device 101, the control unit 102 reads the stream position data from the memory 103 and sends the request to the requesting AV device 1 to the wireless communication device. 101, processing to transmit via a wireless network is also performed.

  If stream position data is collected from each of the other AV devices 1 and stored in the memory 103 as a stream position list, next, the own audio level is checked with reference to the stream position data in the memory 103 (step 306). ), If its own audio level is “00” indicating no level, the process proceeds to step 314.

  On the other hand, if the own audio level is not “00” indicating no level, the other AV device 1 having the highest audio level among the audio levels lower than the own audio level is next referred to the stream position list. Are selected as target devices (step 308). Note that, here, other AV devices with “00” indicating that the audio level is not level are not selected as target devices. Then, it is checked whether only one AV device 1 is selected as the target device (step 310). If only one AV device 1 is selected, that AV device 1 is set as an audio output destination (step 310). 312), the process proceeds to step 314. Here, when the audio output destination is set, the AV data processing unit 104 thereafter transmits the digital audio signal processed by the AV data processing unit 104 to the AV device 1 set as the output destination via the wireless network. Transmission is performed using the communication address of the AV device 1 set as the output destination registered in the stream position list. However, such a digital audio signal is not transmitted in the AV device 1 of a type that does not transmit the digital audio signal processed by the AV data processing unit 104 such as the speaker device 11 to another AV device. Further, in the AV device 1 of a type that does not transmit the digital AV signal processed by the AV data processing unit 104 such as the speaker device 11 or the monitor 12, to the other AV device, that is, the AV device 1 at the downstream end on the digital AV signal path. The output destination setting process may not be performed.

  If it is determined in step 310 that a plurality of AV devices 1 have been selected as target devices, the rank within the audio level is the highest among the AV devices 1 that have become target devices with reference to the stream position list. AV equipment 1 having a large numerical value of is extracted (step 322), and it is checked whether or not the rank in the audio level of the extracted AV equipment 1 is “00” indicating no rank by referring to the stream position list (step 324). If so, all AV devices 1 extracted in step 322 are set as audio output destinations, and the process proceeds to step 314. When a plurality of AV devices 1 are set as audio output destinations here, the AV data processing unit 104 uses the digital audio signal processed by the AV data processing unit thereafter as the output destination of the AV device 1 set as the output destination. Send to all over the wireless network.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the rank in the audio level of the AV device 1 extracted in step 324 is not “00” indicating no rank, any one of the AV devices 1 extracted in step 322 is output as audio. Set as the destination and go to step 314.
In step 314, the own visual level is checked with reference to the stream position data in the memory 103. If the own visual level is "00" indicating no level, the process is terminated.
On the other hand, if the own visual level is not “00” indicating no level, next, referring to the stream position list, another AV device 1 having the highest visual level among the lower visual levels than the own visual level. Are selected as target devices (step 316). Here, other AV devices with “00” indicating that the visual level is no level are not selected as target devices. Then, it is checked whether only one AV device 1 is selected as the target device (step 318). If only one AV device 1 is selected, the AV device 1 is set as a visual output destination (step 318). 320), the process is terminated. Here, when the visual output destination is set, the AV data processing unit 104 subsequently transmits the digital visual signal processed by the AV data processing unit 104 to the AV device 1 set as the output destination via the wireless network. To do. However, such a digital visual signal is not transmitted in the AV device 1 of a type that does not transmit the digital visual signal processed by the AV data processing unit 104 such as the monitor 12 to another AV device.

  If it is determined in step 318 that a plurality of AV devices 1 have been selected as the target device, the rank in the visual level that is the highest among the AV devices 1 that have become target devices with reference to the stream position list next. AV equipment 1 having a large value is extracted (step 330), and it is checked whether or not the rank in the visual level of the extracted AV equipment 1 is “00” indicating no rank by referring to the stream position list (step 332). If so, all AV devices 1 extracted in step 330 are set as visual output destinations (step 334), and the process is terminated. When a plurality of AV devices 1 are set as the visual output destinations here, the AV data processing unit 104 uses the digital visual signal processed by the AV data processing unit thereafter as the output destination of the AV device 1 set as the output destination. Send to all over the wireless network.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the rank in the visual level of the AV device 1 extracted in step 332 is not “00” indicating no rank, any one of the AV devices 1 extracted in step 330 is visually output. The destination is set (step 336), and the process is terminated.
The output destination setting process has been described above.
An example of automatic configuration of such an AV system will be shown below.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a monitor 12, a DVD changer 13, a head unit 15, a DSP 14, a speaker device A11, and a speaker device B11 are connected to the wireless network as AV devices 1, and each AV device 1 Consider the case where the stream position data is set as shown.

  In this case, in the DVD changer 13, since the AV device 1 having the highest audio level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own audio level is only the head unit 15, the head unit 15 serves as the audio output destination. Is set. Further, since the AV device 1 having the highest visual level among the AV devices 1 having a visual level lower than its own visual level is only the monitor 12, the monitor 12 is set as the visual output destination.

  Further, in the head unit 15, since the DSP 14 is the only AV device 1 having the highest audio level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own audio level, the DSP 14 is set as the audio output destination. Also, since the AV device 1 having the highest visual level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own visual level is only the monitor 12, the monitor 12 is set as the visual output destination.

  Next, in the DSP 14, the AV device 1 having the highest audio level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own audio level includes the speaker device A11 and the speaker device B11, and the speaker device A11 and the speaker device B11. Since both the audio level ranks are “00”, both the speaker device A11 and the speaker device B11 are set as audio output destinations. Further, since the visual level of itself is “00”, the visual output destination is not set.

Since the remaining speaker device A11, speaker device B11, and monitor 12 are devices that do not output digital audio signals or digital visual signals to other AV devices 1, no audio output destination or visual output destination is set.
As a result, the path between the digital audio signal AV devices 1 is set as indicated by the solid line arrows in the figure, and the path between the digital visual signal AV devices 1 is set as indicated by the broken line arrows. An AV system having a path for a digital audio signal and a digital visual signal is configured.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a case where the DSP 14 is excluded from the configuration of the wireless network shown in FIG. 4 and a head unit B15 having a higher function than the head unit 15 is added. In addition, since this structure is equipped with the function as an audio tape player which the head unit 15 currently used from the past is not equipped with the head unit B15 newly purchased for audio output quality improvement, for example, The head unit 15 is also for the case where the user thinks that he / she wants to use it together with the new head unit B15.

  In this case, in the DVD changer 13, the AV device 1 having the highest audio level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own audio level is the head unit 15 and the head unit B15, and the head unit 15 and the head unit. Since the rank in the audio level of the head unit B15 having a higher rank in the audio level among B15 is not “00”, the head unit B15 is set as the audio output destination. Further, since the AV device 1 having the highest visual level among the AV devices 1 having a visual level lower than its own visual level is only the monitor 12, the monitor 12 is set as the visual output destination.

  In the head unit 15, the AV device 1 having the highest audio level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own audio level includes the speaker device A11 and the speaker device B11, and the speaker device A11 and the speaker device. Since both the ranks within the audio level of B11 are “00”, both the speaker device A11 and the speaker device B11 are set as audio output destinations. Also, since the AV device 1 having the highest visual level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own visual level is only the monitor 12, the monitor 12 is set as the visual output destination.

  Next, in the head unit B15, the AV device 1 having the highest audio level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own audio level includes the speaker device A11 and the speaker device B11, and the speaker device A11 and the speaker. Since both the ranks in the audio level of the device B11 are “00”, both the speaker device A11 and the speaker device B11 are set as audio output destinations. Also, since the AV device 1 having the highest visual level among the AV devices 1 having an audio level lower than its own visual level is only the monitor 12, the monitor 12 is set as the visual output destination.

Since the remaining speaker device A11, speaker device B11, and monitor 12 are devices that do not output digital audio signals or digital visual signals to other AV devices 1, no audio output destination or visual output destination is set.
As a result, the path between the digital audio signal AV devices 1 is set as indicated by the solid line arrows in the figure, and the path between the digital visual signal AV devices 1 is set as indicated by the broken line arrows. An AV system having a path for a digital audio signal and a digital visual signal is configured.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
In the above, a wireless network is used for connection of each AV device 1, but each AV device 1 may use a wired network that performs wired communication between the AV devices 1 such as a wired LAN.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the audio level and the visual level corresponding to the type of the AV device 1 are set in advance in each AV device 1, thereby requiring no special work by the user. The AV system having an appropriate digital audio signal or digital visual signal path can be automatically configured by the operation between the AV devices 1 incorporated in the AV system. In addition, by setting the interval between the audio level and visual level values with a margin, even when a new type of AV device 1 is born, the AV device 1 can be incorporated into the AV system without any trouble. be able to. That is, for example, when there is an AV system configuration that includes an AV device A and an AV device B and sends a digital audio signal from the AV device A to the AV device B, the digital audio signal is transmitted between the AV device A and the AV device B. When a new type of AV device C to be arranged on the signal path is born, a value between the audio level of the AV device A and the audio level of the AV device B is set in the AV device C as an audio level. By simply incorporating the AV device C into the AV system composed of the AV device A and the AV device B, an AV system in which digital audio signals are sent in the order of the AV device A, the AV device C, and the AV device B is automatically configured. can do.

  In addition, by using the rank in the audio level and the rank in the visual level shown in this embodiment together with the audio level and the visual level, the audio level and the visual level are equal, that is, the upstream and downstream levels of the position to be arranged are the same. Even when the AV device 1 is incorporated into a plurality of AV systems, various AV system automatic configurations such that any one of the AV devices 1 is preferentially used can be realized.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the AV system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the stream position data and the stream position list which AV apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a flowchart which shows the output destination setting process which AV apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure which shows the example of an automatic structure of the AV system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an automatic structure of the AV system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... AV apparatus, 2 ... Wireless station, 11 ... Speaker apparatus, 12 ... Monitor, 13 ... DVD changer, 14 ... Digital sound processor (DSP), 15 ... Head unit, 101 ... Wireless communication apparatus, 102 ... Control part, 103 ... Memory, 104 ... AV data processing section.

Claims (5)

An AV system composed of a plurality of AV devices that handle at least one of audio and visual,
Each AV device is
Storage means for storing a first value indicating a level upstream and downstream of a position where the AV device is to be disposed on a path of the AV signal that is at least one of an audio signal and a visual signal;
A collecting means for collecting the first value stored in the other AV device from each other AV device;
Among other AV devices in which the value indicating the level on the downstream side of the AV signal path from the first value stored in its own storage means is collected as the first value by the collection means, An output that sets another AV device, which has been collected by the collecting means as the first value as a value indicating the most upstream level on the path of the AV signal, as an output destination of the AV signal from the own AV device An AV system comprising: a destination setting unit. The AV system according to claim 1,
The storage means of each AV device stores a second value representing the priority of use by the AV device in addition to the AV device,
The collection means collects the second value stored in the other AV device together with the first value stored in the other AV device from each other AV device,
The output destination setting means includes a value indicating a downstream level on the AV signal path from the first value stored in the storage means of the output destination setting means as the first value collected by the collecting means. If there is a plurality of other AV devices that are collected by the collecting means as the first value as the value indicating the most upstream level on the AV signal path, the plurality of AV devices are present. Among the other AV devices, the value indicating the highest priority is set as the second value, and the other AV device collected by the collecting unit is set as the output destination of the AV signal from the own AV device. AV system characterized by this. The AV system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
Each AV device is an in-vehicle AV device connected by a wireless network. In an AV system composed of a plurality of AV devices that handle at least one of audio and visual, an automatic configuration of an AV system that automatically configures a path between the AV devices of an AV signal that is at least one of an audio signal and a visual signal A method,
In each AV device, a first value indicating the level upstream and downstream of the position where the AV device is to be arranged on the path of the AV signal stored in the other device is collected from each other AV device. Steps,
In each AV device, among other AV devices in which a value indicating a level on the downstream side of the AV signal path from the first value stored in the AV device is collected as the first value, And setting another AV device in which a value indicating the most upstream level on the AV signal path is collected as the first value as an output destination of the AV signal from the own AV device. A method for automatically configuring an AV system. An automatic configuration method for an AV system according to claim 4,
In each AV device, in the step of collecting the first value stored in the AV device from each other AV device, the other AV of the AV device stored in the AV device together with the first value. Collect a second value that represents the priority of use by the device,
In the step of setting as the output destination of the AV signal, a value indicating a level on the downstream side of the path of the AV signal from the first value stored in itself is collected as the first value. Among the AV devices, when there are a plurality of other AV devices in which the value indicating the most upstream level on the path of the AV signal is collected as the first value, the plurality of other AV devices existed. An AV system in which another AV device in which a value representing the highest priority is collected as the second value is set as an output destination of the AV signal from the own AV device. Method.

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