JP5797029B2 - Switcher - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a switcher that includes at least one input terminal and a plurality of output terminals, and is configured to be able to switch an output terminal that outputs a video signal and an audio signal from the input terminal. The present invention relates to a switcher in which the input terminal and the output terminal are compliant with the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) standard.

  Conventionally, in schools, hospitals, shopping centers, etc., devices for outputting video signals and audio signals (hereinafter referred to as “source devices”) and a plurality of display devices (hereinafter referred to as “output devices”) A switcher is interposed between the video signal and the audio signal, and the transmission path of the video signal and the audio signal is appropriately switched. Various switcher structures have been proposed (for example, Patent Documents). (See 1)

  By the way, the connection between the source device and the output device is generally an analog connection. However, in recent years, the analog connection is weak against noise and the signal is easily deteriorated. Digital connections according to the (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) standard are beginning to be used. In such a digital connection, since there is a risk of unauthorized copying, HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Contents Protection) is adopted, and only when the authentication between the source device and the output device is successful, the signal is transmitted. It was comprised so that transmission / reception was possible (for example, refer patent document 2). Of course, even when a switcher is arranged between the source device and the output device, HDCP authentication is required for each connection.

Specifically, when even one HDCP-compatible source device is connected to the input side, the switcher accesses each output device, and the output device that does not respond does not perform HDCP authentication, and only the output device that responds The HDCP authentication process is completed by a method of performing HDCP authentication. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, an HDCP compatible BD player (Blu-ray disc player) C ₃₁ is connected to the input terminal A ₃₁ of the switcher 10, and an HDCP compatible personal computer C ₃₂ is connected to the input terminal A _32. the terminal _{a 33} HDCP-capable conference record camera _{C 33} is connected to the input terminal _{a 34} personal computers _{C 34} of HDCP non-compliant is connected to, HDCP compatible display _{D 31} is connected to the output terminal _{B 31,} with HDCP second display _{D 32} is connected to the output terminal _{B 32,} output terminal _{B 33} HDCP-capable TV conference system _{D 33} is connected to the recording of HDCP non corresponding to the output terminal _{B 34} devices _{D 34} Blu-ray disc play but are connected, which is connected to the input terminal a ₃₁ Output terminal B ₃₁ and video over C _31, if splitting and outputting to ..., switcher 10 is the output terminal B _31, output device D ₃₁ connected to ... _to access each ... in, there is no response For the output device, the HDCP authentication is performed for the output device that has responded without performing the HDCP authentication, and the HDCP authentication process is completed. Apart from this, there is a method in which HDCP authentication is repeated forever even for an output device that has not responded.

JP 2004-172800 A JP 2008-219796 A

When the output device D ₃₁ ,... Is connected to the switcher 10 through a long cable, the switcher 10 receives a response from each output device D ₃₁ ,. There was a risk that the switcher 10 would make a wrong decision due to picking up noise during authentication.

On the other hand, even when the HDCP authentication is normally completed and the audio signal or the video signal is output to the predetermined output device D ₃₁ , D ₃₂ , the state of the output device D ₃₁ ,. When the power is turned on / off or input is switched), HDCP authentication is required again. However, when the HDCP authentication method as described above is adopted, each output device D ₃₁ ,. Will be accessed again to detect the presence or absence of a response. As a result, not only the audio and video of the HDCP compatible output devices D ₃₁ and D ₃₂ but also the audio and video of the HDCP non-compatible output devices D ₃₃ and D ₃₄ are temporarily interrupted, and the video and audio can be enjoyed. There was a problem of discomforting the people who were on the road.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a switcher capable of solving the above-described problems.

The invention according to claim 1 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is compliant with the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard and can input video signals and audio signals by connecting source devices (C11,...). At least one input terminal (A11,...) Configured as described above, a plurality of output terminals (B11,...) Configured to be compliant with the HDMI standard and connectable to an output device (D11,...), And Output terminals (B11,...) That are interposed between the input terminals (A11,...) And output terminals (B11,...) And output video and audio signals from the input terminals (A11,...). In a switcher (1) comprising a signal switching unit (2) that can be switched,
A device information input unit (3) used by an operator to input device information indicating which output terminal (B11,...) Is connected to an output device (D11,...) Compatible with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Contents Protection). )When,
An authentication necessity determination unit (4) that determines whether or not HDCP authentication is necessary based on information about the source device (C11,...) Connected to the input terminal (A11,...);
When the authentication necessity determination unit (4) determines that HDCP authentication is to be performed, authentication processing is performed for the HDCP-compatible output device (D11,...) Based on the device information from the device information input unit (3). And an authentication processing execution unit (5).

The invention according to claim 2 is the output according to claim 1, wherein the authentication processing execution unit (5) performs an authentication process on an output device (D ₁₁ ,. The apparatus (D ₁₁ ,...) Is configured not to perform authentication processing.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the monitor screen of the switcher (1), wherein the device information input unit (3) is configured to display an on-screen menu in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the switcher (1) A switch or button, or an interface configured to receive a command from a personal computer (not shown).

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, to which output terminal (B ₁₁ ,...) The HDCP-compatible output device (D ₁₁ ,...) Is connected. The apparatus information display part (6) which displays the apparatus information of this is provided.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a device information storage unit (7) for storing device information input from the device information input unit (3). It is characterized by having.

  Note that the numbers in parentheses are for the sake of convenience indicating the corresponding elements in the drawings, and therefore the present description is not limited to the descriptions on the drawings.

  According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the device information indicating which output terminal is connected to the HDCP-compatible output device is input by the operator through the device information input unit. However, it is not necessary to access each output device, and it is possible to make a correct determination without picking up noise as in the prior art. Even when performing HDCP authentication again, there is no need to access an output device that does not support HDCP. There is no pleasure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a switcher according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of usage of the switcher according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the problems of the conventional switcher.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The switcher according to the present invention is illustrated by reference numeral 1 in FIG.
・ Compliant with the HDMI standard and can input video signals and audio signals by connecting source devices (devices that can output video signals and audio signals, such as personal computers, Blu-ray disc players, cameras, etc.) C ₁₁ ,. At least one input terminal A ₁₁ ,.
A plurality of output terminals B ₁₁ ,... Compliant with the HDMI standard and configured to connect output devices (for example, a display or a recording device) D ₁₁ ,.
· The input terminal A _11, ... and the output terminal B _11, ... and is interposed between of input terminal A _11, the output terminal B ₁₁ which outputs a video signal and an audio signal from _..., to switch between ... (That is, a signal transmission path between the input terminals A ₁₁ ,... And the output terminals B ₁₁ ,.
It has. In addition, this switcher 1
· HDCP compatible output device D _11, ... and what output terminal B _11, ... the device information input unit 3 for an operator of the device information is connected is input to,
An authentication necessity determination unit 4 that determines whether or not HDCP authentication is necessary based on information about the source devices C ₁₁ ,... Connected to the input terminals A ₁₁ ,.
An authentication process execution unit that performs an authentication process on the HDCP-compatible output device D ₁₁ ,... Based on the device information from the device information input unit 3 when the authentication necessity determination unit 4 determines that the HDCP authentication should be performed. 5 and
It has. Then, the authentication processing execution unit 5
The authentication process is performed only for output devices that are compatible with HDCP (for example, D ₁₂ and D ₁₃ )
The authentication process is not performed for output devices that are not HDCP compliant (for example, D ₁₁ ).
It is configured as follows.

According to the present invention, device information indicating which output terminal B ₁₁ ,... Is connected to the HDCP-compatible output device D ₁₁ ,... Is input by the operator through the device information input unit 3. Therefore, it is not necessary for the switcher 1 to access the output devices D ₁₁ ,..., And it is possible to make a correct determination without picking up noise as in the prior art. Also, when performing HDCP authentication again, there is no need to access the output devices D ₂₃ and D ₂₄ that are not compatible with HDCP, so the audio and video of the output devices D ₃₃ and D ₃₄ are not interrupted. There is no discomfort for people who enjoy video and audio.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, an HDCP compatible BD player (Blu-ray disc player) C ₂₁ is connected to the input terminal A ₂₁ of the switcher 1, and an HDCP compatible personal computer C ₂₂ is connected to the input terminal A _22. the terminal _{a 23} HDCP-capable conference record camera _{C 23} is connected, the personal computer _{C 24} of HDCP non-compliant is connected to the input terminal _{a 24,} HDCP compatible display _{D 21} is connected to the output terminal _{B 21,} with HDCP second display _{D 22} is connected to the output terminal _{B 22,} output terminal _{B 23} HDCP-capable TV conference system _{D 23} is connected to the recording apparatus _{D 24} of HDCP non corresponding to the output terminal _{B 24} In this case, the operator uses the device information input unit 3 to Vessel information (i.e., the output is connected to an output terminal _{B 21, B 22} devices _{D 21, D 22} is supports HDCP, the output device _{D 23, D 24} which is connected to the output terminal _{B 23, B 24} Device information that is not compatible with HDCP) is input. When the authentication necessity determination unit 4 determines that HDCP authentication is to be performed, the authentication processing execution unit 5 performs only the two output devices D ₂₁ and D ₂₂ based on the device information from the device information input unit 3. Perform authentication process. When the signal switching unit 2 receives a signal that the authentication processing by the authentication processing execution unit 5 is completed, the signal switching unit 2 sends the video signal and the audio signal from the input terminal side to the output terminal side (two output devices D ₂₁ , D ₂₂ ). Alternatively, a video / audio signal may not be output from the beginning to a device that does not support HDCP. Instead, a signal for displaying that HDCP is not supported may be sent.

By the way, as the device information input unit 3,
A monitor screen of the switcher 1 configured to display an on-screen menu;
A switch (eg, a toggle switch) or button of the switcher 1,
An interface configured to receive a command from a personal computer (not shown), or a media interface configured to insert a medium (such as an SD card or USB memory storing the device information) ,
Well-known means such as can be mentioned.

The switcher 1 may be provided with a device information display unit 6 for displaying device information indicating which output terminal is connected to an HDCP-compatible output device. For example,
The monitor screen of the switcher 1 can be used as a device information display unit, and the device information can be displayed on the monitor screen.
A lamp (LED lamp) may be provided in the vicinity of each output terminal B ₁₁ , or in other places so as to be lit based on information input by the device information input unit 3.
both are fine.

  Further, a device information storage unit 7 for storing device information input from the device information input unit 3 may be provided.

  Further, when the cross point is set so that a signal protected by HDCP is output to an output device that does not support HDCP, the switcher 1 may be configured not to output a signal from its output terminal. . In other words, it is preferable that an output device not compatible with HDCP is configured to send only a signal not protected by HDCP (that is, an analog signal not employing HDCP or a digital signal not protected by HDCP). .

Furthermore, the processing by the authentication necessity determination unit 4 described above may be performed by a known method. That is, when any of the source devices C ₁₁ ,... Transmits the private key AKSV and pseudorandom value An held by itself to the authentication necessity determination unit 4, the authentication necessity determination unit 4 An authentication start message including AKSV and a pseudorandom value An is transmitted to the authentication processing execution unit 5. Further, the authentication necessity determination unit 4 may transmit a secret key BKSV and a repeater bit to the source device C ₁₁ ,... That has transmitted the secret key AKSV and the like, and complete a predetermined process. .

1 switcher 2 signal switcher 3 appliance information input unit 4 authentication necessity judging unit 5 authentication processing execution unit 6 the device information display unit 7 the device information storage unit A _11, ... input terminal B _11, ... output terminal C _11, ... source device D ₁₁ , ... Output device

Claims (5)

At least one input terminal conforming to the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface : registered trademark ) standard and configured to be able to input a video signal and an audio signal by connecting a source device, and conforming to the HDMI standard and an output device A plurality of output terminals configured to be connected to each other, and a signal that is interposed between these input terminals and the output terminal and can switch an output terminal that outputs a video signal and an audio signal from the input terminal A switcher comprising: a switching unit;
A device information input unit used by an operator to input device information indicating which output device is connected to an output device compatible with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Contents Protection);
An authentication necessity determination unit that determines whether or not HDCP authentication is necessary based on information about a source device connected to the input terminal;
An authentication process execution unit that performs an authentication process on an HDCP-compliant output device based on device information from the device information input unit when the authentication necessity determination unit determines that HDCP authentication is to be performed;
A switcher characterized by comprising: The authentication processing execution unit is configured to perform an authentication process on an output device that is HDCP-compliant, and not to perform an authentication process on an output device that is not HDCP-compliant.
The switcher according to claim 1. The device information input unit is an interface configured to receive a monitor screen of the switcher configured to display an on-screen menu, a switch or button of the switcher, or a command from a personal computer.
The switcher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A device information display unit for displaying device information indicating which output terminal the HDCP-compatible output device is connected to;
The switcher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A device information storage unit for storing device information input from the device information input unit;
The switcher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

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