JPH06205463A - Remote control method for av system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the remote control method for an AV system able to protect the processing while a system feature is in execution and offering convenience of use. CONSTITUTION:Each of plural AV equipments 11-15 is provided with a microcomputer for operation control of a concerned AV equipment and the microcomputers of the plural AV equipments are bus-connected in the AV system. Any of the plural AV equipments 11-15 is selected as an AV center equipment. The AV center equipment, e.g. 11, controls centralizingly the entire system and the AV center equipment 11 receives definitely a remote control signal while not activating remote control reception sections r12-r15 of the plural AV equipments 12-15 and transfers a required command to each AV equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is, for example, 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 of 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 to a bus and configured as a set. In this type of AV system, a central device is set in advance, and one centralized remote control transmission means called a system remote control is provided for a system feature in which a plurality of devices are linked and executed. There is one in which the command (command) from the transmitting means is received by the center device and the command or the corresponding command is transferred to a plurality of AV devices.

A conventional example of this type of AV system is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, 1 is a television receiver, 2 is a VTR, and 3
Is an AV amplifier, 4 is a CD (compact disc), and 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 the center device.

In order to exchange audio signals and video signals, the television receiver 1 and the AV amplifier 3 are connected by an AV signal line L1, and the AV amplifier 3 and the VTR 2 are connected and the AV amplifier 3 and the MDP 4 are connected. The AV signal lines L2 and L3 are connected to each other.

Further, each of the AV equipments 1 to 4 is provided with a control circuit using one or a plurality of microcomputers (hereinafter abbreviated as "microcomputers") for controlling the operation of the respective equipments. Bidirectional buses B1, B2, B3 for transmitting control signals are provided between the control circuits 1 to 4.
By, it is systematically connected in cascade.

Each of the AV devices 1 to 4 is provided with a remote control receiver R1, r2, r3, r4, and inputs the received remote control signal (command) to a control circuit for processing. In this example, the television receiver is set. The remote control receiver R1 of No. 1 is for receiving the system remote control transmitter CM1. Then, a command for executing the system feature in which a plurality of AV devices operate in conjunction with each other is given from the system remote control transmitting means 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 control transmitter 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 the bus command to the adjacent AV device, determines whether the address added to the bus command is an address indicating its own AV device, and determines whether the address is its own address. For example, it takes in the bus command, decodes it, and executes the operation corresponding to the command.

In the example of FIG. 5, all commands from the system remote control transmitting means are received by the television receiver and a bus command is issued to each device. However, the television receiver only has a receiving section, and the whole system is provided. Does not function as a system controller that controls The system remote control transmission means CM1 also generates a command of a feature whose operation is completed only by the television receiver 1.

Further, in the AV system of FIG. 5, dedicated remote control transmitting means cm2, cm3, cm4 are prepared for each of the AV equipments 2 to 4, and the respective equipments 2 to 4 themselves are dedicated remote control transmitting means cm2. , Cm3, cm
The command from 4 can also be independently received.

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

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

Then, the system remote control transmission means CM2
Is provided for the receiving section R5 of the system controller 5, and a system feature command is given to the system controller 5 from the system remote controller CM2. When the system controller 5 receives the system feature command, 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 the case of this example, each of the AV equipments 6 to 9 and the extension equipment 10 has its own receiving section r6 to r9 and r10, and its own remote control transmitting means cm6 to cm9 and cm.
It can receive the command from 10 and execute the feature which each has.

In the case of this example, the AV equipment to be newly extended depends on the number of plugs (or jacks) of the system controller 5 which is the center equipment, or the number of selection keys for each category of the system remote control transmission means (for example, VTR or MDP). Limited. When the AV equipment to be expanded is a product of another company, for a small part of the commands, the command of the system remote control transmission means is converted inside the system controller 5 which is the center equipment and transferred to the other AV equipment. Alternatively, the system remote control transmission means may directly transmit the code of another company to the device.

[0015]

However, in the above-described conventional AV system, there is no protection means (protection) during execution of the system feature, and the center device is activated as the master to execute the system feature. However, if a command is received from the remote control transmission means dedicated to each device, the device operates unconditionally according to the command. For example, when performing so-called dubbing in which the reproduced signal of the MDP 4 or 8 is recorded by the VTR 2 or 6,
When the MDP 4 or 8 receives a stop command from the dedicated remote control transmitting means cm4 or cm8, the MDP 4 or 8 is set to the stop mode although the dubbing is in progress. And VTR
2 or 6 may maintain the recording state without knowing that the MDP 4 or 8 has stopped.

In the conventional system, whether each AV device recognizes the system feature being executed,
It is possible to recognize and execute protection by inquiring the running feature to the center device. However, in that case, there are problems that the memory capacity of each AV device is increased and communication on the bus is congested. Further, for protection purposes, for example, when a warning display such as "currently executing dubbing" is displayed, it must be performed in each AV device, and the configuration of each device becomes complicated.

Further, the system of FIG. 6 has a drawback that it is difficult for the user to recognize and operate because the control method for the expanded device is ambiguous and the corresponding method is changed depending on the manufacturer.

Further, in the conventional AV system,
When infrared rays are used as the remote control signal, the dedicated remote control transmitting means of each device needs to emit the remote control signal to each corresponding AV device. Since the position of the remote control reception unit is generally different in each device, there is a risk of confusion as to which remote control transmission means and in which direction the remote control signal is emitted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control method for an AV system that can remedy the above drawbacks.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the remote control method of the AV system according to the present invention, each of a plurality of AV equipments is made to correspond to the reference numeral of the embodiment shown in FIG. In an AV system in which a microcomputer for controlling the operation of its own AV equipment is provided, and the microcomputers of the plurality of AV equipment are bus-connected, the AV center equipment 11 is provided, and the AV center equipment 11 is concentrated. In addition to performing the control, the AV center device receives the remote control signal in a centralized manner without causing the remote control receiving section of each of the AV devices 12 to 15 other than the AV center device 11 to function, and sends the necessary command to each AV device. The feature is that it is transferred.

[0021]

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the AV center device 11 performs centralized control, and the AV center device 11 is centrally operated without operating the remote control receiving section of each AV device other than the AV center device. Since the device receives the remote control signal, the device executing the system feature does not receive the command from the dedicated remote control transmitting means, and the protection during the system feature execution can be realized.

Further, any of a plurality of remote control transmitting means dedicated to each AV equipment may be used as long as the remote control signal is transmitted to the AV center equipment, thereby reducing selection of equipment type and confusion in transmission direction. You can

Further, since the AV center equipment receives the remote control signal centrally, the remote control signals of the AV equipment of other companies can be easily converted into the bus command in the center equipment, which is standard. By standardizing the commands for features across manufacturers, the user can easily perform remote control operations even for extended devices.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An 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 of an example of an AV system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 11 is 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. Further, 12 is the first VTR and 13 is the AV
The amplifier 14 is an MDP. Further, 15 is a second VTR which is expanded and connected later.

The AV signal processing circuits 11S and A of the television receiver 11 are used for transmitting and receiving audio signals and video signals.
Between the AV signal processing circuit 13S of the V amplifier 13 and the AV signal processing circuit 13S of the AV amplifier 13 and the first VTR 12
Between the AV signal processing circuit 12S of
Between the V signal processing circuit 13S and the AV signal processing circuit 14S of the MDP 14 and between the AV signal processing circuit 1 of the AV amplifier 13
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 equipments 11 to 15 is provided with control circuits 11CT to 15CT using one or a plurality of microcomputers for controlling the operation of the respective equipments. 11CT ~ 15C
The Ts are serially connected to bidirectional buses B4 to B7 for control signal transmission to be systematized, and are centrally controlled by a television receiver 11 which is an AV center device.

In this case, the operation of the system is managed by the television receiver 11 as the AV center equipment, and the remote control receivers r of the respective equipments 12 to 15 other than the AV center equipment.
12 to r15 are those which the television receiver 11 centrally receives by remote control without functioning in principle. And each A
The TV receiver 11 as the AV center device also receives a command specific to each device by the remote control transmission means dedicated to the V devices 12 to 15 and transmits it to each device.

Each device 12 other than the AV center device 11
In order to prevent the remote control receivers r12 to r15 of No. 15 from functioning, the AV center device 11 does not allow each device other than itself to function the remote control receiver at the time of initialization of the bus connection of the AV system of this example. Send a command to do so.

Further, 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 so that the remote control receiving section does not automatically function. This can be done by Alternatively, when the extension device is connected to the bus, the connection information is transmitted to the AV center device, and then the AV center device sends a command to the extension device to disable the remote control reception section. You can also do so.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining an example of a method for disabling the remote control receivers of the devices 12 to 15 other than the AV center device 11. That is, after the AV system is constructed and the initialization process is performed when the bus connection is made, the AV center device (television receiver 11) moves to the first AV device, for example, the first V device.
A command to turn off the remote control receiving unit 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 made non-functional, and the remote control off approval 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, and the remote control receivers r13 and r14 of these AV devices are made non-functional.

Then, for this AV system, the second
When the VTR15 of is connected as an extension device,
VTR from VTR15 to AV center device 11 to bus
Is sent via the bus. Then, the AV center device 11 sends a command to the second VTR 15 to turn off the remote control receiver r15. In response to this, the second VTR 15 cuts off the power supply to the remote control receiving unit r15 in the same manner as described above to put the remote control receiving unit r15 into a non-functioning state, and issues a remote control off approval command to the AV center device 11 Return to.

In this case, if the extension device is an AV device of another maker, the AV center device can also utilize the remote control receiver of the device. At this time, a separate command may be given only to the extension device while the system feature is being executed by the dedicated remote control transmitting means of the extension device. Therefore, if the AV center device 11 detects a change in the state of the extension device and has no choice but to interrupt the feature that is executing, the other interlocking device that is executing the feature is stopped, for example, TV receiver 1
On the screen of No. 1, it is possible to explain the interruption 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, when the state of each device is changed, the fact is notified.
The status information of each device that is automatically transmitted from each device can be used to notify the device 1 of FIG. Further, a method may be used in which, when the remote control receiver R11 of the AV center device 11 receives a command whose analysis is unknown, the AV center device 11 asks all the devices for the status.

As described above, the operation of the system is managed by the AV center equipment 11, and the remote control receivers r12 to r15 of the equipments 12 to 15 other than the AV center equipment are
AV center device 11
By receiving the remote control by the device, it is possible to restrict the device under execution of the system feature from receiving a command from the remote control transmitting means dedicated to the device and operating. That is, protection of system features can be realized. And at that time,
The AV center device 11 can also easily perform processing such as displaying a warning.

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 means 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 section 112 recognizes whether the received remote control command is from the system remote control transmission means CM3 or the dedicated remote control transmission means of each device, and recognizes the system feature. When it is recognized that there is an AV device that should work together to realize the system feature,
Send a bus command to realize 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 from the system remote control transmission means CM3, the device is recognized, the address of the device is added, and the corresponding bus command is sent to the device. The command from the dedicated remote control transmitting 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 it.

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

That is, the feature management section 113
When it is recognized that the received remote control command is for a device in which the system feature is being executed, the warning generation unit 114 is driven, and the fact that the system feature is being executed is superimposed on the screen of the television receiver 11, for example. To be displayed. The user sees this warning display and
You can decide to continue the system feature or dare to suspend the system feature.

FIG. 4 is an example of a sequence for explaining protection of system features. Figure 4
In, the items enclosed by ellipses indicate events, and the arrows indicate command transmission. That is, in the example of FIG.
The system remote control transmission means CM3 sends the reproduction signal of the MDP 14 to the AV center device 11 by the first VT.
A command for dubbing to be recorded in R12 is transmitted. Upon receiving this remote control command, the AV center device 11 sends a bus command to the MDP 14 to connect its output terminal to the AV amplifier 13, that is, to send a reproduction output signal to the AV amplifier 13. At the same time, the bus command is sent to the first VTR 12 to connect the AV input terminal to the AV amplifier 13. After that, the television receiver 11 as the AV center device sends a bus command for starting reproduction to the MDP 14 and a bus command for setting the recording mode to the first VTR 12. 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, AV
It is assumed that the center device 11 receives a stop command from the dedicated remote control transmission means of the MDP 14. Then,
Since the television receiver 11 which is the AV center device recognizes that the dubbing is being executed, it judges that a warning should be displayed on the screen. As a result, on the screen of the television receiver 11, a warning display indicating that the dubbing is being executed is superimposed on the reproduced image. For example, if the user does not further input a stop command, dubbing continues.

When the reproduction of the disc by the MDP 14 is completed, the status indicating that is reproduced by the AV through the bus.
It is automatically transmitted to the center device 11. Upon receiving this status, the AV center device 11 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 the AV device that is executing the system feature during execution of the system feature, the AV center device restricts the operation of the AV device and the system feature Protection can be realized.

In the above example, the warning display during the execution of the system feature is displayed on 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. Further, instead of the warning by display, a warning by voice or 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 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 achieved. Moreover, at the time of the protection, it is easy to display a warning display and the like on the AV center device.

Regarding the extended AV equipment, standard features can be easily controlled by making them common across manufacturers, and the user can recognize and
It is easy to operate.

Further, even when infrared rays having a sharp directivity are used as the remote control transmitting means, the remote control signal can be transmitted to the AV center equipment by using any of the plurality of remote control transmitting means dedicated to each AV equipment. Often, it is possible to reduce the confusion of the AV device of the transmission partner and the confusion of the direction.

[Brief description of 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 reception operation and system control of an AV center device.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining 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]

 11 TV receiver as AV center equipment 12 First VTR 13 AV amplifier 14 MDP CM3 system remote control transmitting means R11 remote control receiving section B4 to B7 bus L8 to L11 AV signal line

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Gokube 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) In-house Yasuo Kusagaya 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Shigeo Tanaka 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Koichi Sugiyama 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Incorporated (72) Inventor Akira Katsuyama 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An AV system in which each of a plurality of AV devices includes a microcomputer for controlling the operation of its own AV device, and the microcomputers of the plurality of AV devices are bus-connected to each other. A center device is provided, and this AV center device performs centralized control and
Remote control of an AV system in which the AV center device centrally receives a remote control signal and transfers necessary commands to each AV device without operating the remote control receiving section of each AV device other than the V center device. Method. 2. The remote control receiving unit according to claim 1, wherein the remote control receivers of the AV devices other than the AV center device are set so as not to function at the initialization when connecting the AV devices to the bus. AV system remote control method. 3. A remote control transmission means dedicated to each AV device is provided according to claim 1, and the command unique to each AV device from the remote control transmission means dedicated to each AV device is the A
An AV that is received by the V center device, decoded, and transferred to the corresponding AV device as necessary.
System remote control method. 4. The remote control transmission means dedicated to each AV device according to claim 1, wherein the command unique to each AV device from the remote control transmission means dedicated to each AV device is the A
When the V-center equipment receives and decodes the remote-control transmitting means and the corresponding AV equipment is executing another feature, the AV center issues a warning to that effect. A remote control method for an AV system characterized by the following.