JPH10145420A - Control method for device connecting to different systems and conversion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a digital device to control an analog AV device by connecting a system interconnecting a plurality of digital devices with a bus to a system to control the analog AV device. SOLUTION: A controller 1, a gateway 2, and 1394 provision devices 3, 4 are connected by 1394 bus cables 7-9. The gateway 2, a VTR 5 and a camera 6 are connected by local application control bus system (LANC) cables 10, 11. The gateway 2 reports the VTR 5 and the camera 6 as devices built in itself to the controller 1. The controller 1 sends a control signal to control the VTR 5 to the gateway 2 and the gateway 2 converts the format of the control signal and sends the converted signal to the VTR 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for controlling devices between different communication systems such as a system in which a plurality of digital devices are connected by an IEEE1394 serial bus and a system in which a plurality of analog AV devices are connected by LANC. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology that allows a device having an interface of both communication systems to recognize a device existing in one communication system and control the device from a device in the other communication system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An IEEE 1394 serial bus (hereinafter referred to as 1)
A system that connects a plurality of digital devices by a bus that can transmit information signal packets and control signal packets in a mixed manner, such as a 394 bus, and performs communication between these digital devices has been considered.

FIG. 5 shows an example of such a system. This system includes a camera-integrated digital video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as DCAM) 31, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as personal computer) 32, a digital television receiver (hereinafter referred to as DTV) 33, and a first digital video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as DTV). DVTR-1) 3
4 and a second digital video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as DV
TR-2) and a 1394 bus cable 36
To 39.

As shown in FIG. 6, a signal is transmitted in each device in the system in a predetermined communication cycle (for example, 12 communication cycles).
It is performed by time division multiplexing every 5 μsec). This signal transmission includes a cycle start packet indicating that a device called a cycle master indicates the start of a communication cycle.
It starts by sending out on the 394 bus. The communication mode in one communication cycle includes isochronous (hereinafter referred to as "Iso") communication for transmitting information signals such as digital video signals and digital audio signals in real time, and control of operation control commands for devices and connection control commands between devices. There are two types of asynchronous (hereinafter, referred to as Async) communication in which signals are transmitted irregularly as needed. Then, the Iso packet is transmitted before the Async packet. By assigning channel numbers 1, 2, 3,... N to each of the Iso packets, a plurality of Iso data can be distinguished. After transmission of all Iso packets to be transmitted is completed, a period until the next cycle start packet is used for transmission of an Async packet.

In the system configured as shown in FIG. 5, a digital video signal and a digital audio signal reproduced by the
Dubbing recording can be performed on the VTR-1.

On the other hand, analog AV such as a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR) for performing analog recording and a video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as camcorder) integrated with a camera.
In equipment, LANC (Local Applic
Device control using the ationN Controlbus system (registered trademark) is realized. Also,
SIRCS (Standard code for I)
nfrared Remote Control Sy
Controlling devices such as a VTR and a camcorder has also been realized by an infrared remote control system called "systems".

[0007]

Controlling the operation of DCAM or DVTR in a system connected by a 1394 bus has been proposed, and controlling a VTR or camcorder using LANC or the like has been realized. However, connecting two systems and controlling devices between the systems has not been considered.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for connecting a plurality of digital devices to one.
A system connected by a bus that can transmit information signal packets and control signal packets in a mixed manner, such as a 394 bus, and a system that controls analog AV equipment, such as LANC or SIRCS, are connected. An object of the present invention is to enable control of analog AV equipment. Another object of the present invention is to enable mutual conversion of information signals between two systems.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a plurality of digital devices are connected by a first signal transmission line capable of transmitting an information signal and a control signal in a mixed manner, and an information signal and a control signal are transmitted between these digital devices. A first system that communicates control signals, and a second system that connects a plurality of analog devices via a second signal transmission path capable of transmitting control signals and communicates control signals between these analog devices. Is connected by a predetermined converter connected to both the first signal transmission path and the second signal transmission path, wherein the converter has the analog device in the second system built therein. To the digital devices in the first system as
The digital device in the first system sends a control signal for controlling the analog device in the second system to the conversion device, and the conversion device converts the format of the control signal to convert the format of the control signal into the analog device in the second system. It is characterized by being sent to.

A conversion device according to the present invention connects a plurality of digital devices via a first signal transmission path through which information signals and control signals can be mixed and transmitted, and transmits information signals and control signals between these digital devices. A first system for communication of
A conversion device that connects a plurality of analog devices via a second signal transmission path capable of transmitting a control signal and can be connected to both a second system that communicates control signals between the analog devices, Means for notifying the digital device in the first system of the analog device in the second system as being built therein; and transmitting the control signal sent from the digital device in the first system to the second system. Means for converting the control signal into a control signal.

According to the present invention, the conversion device informs the digital device in the first system that the analog device in the second system is built therein. That is,
Each analog device in the second system is handled as being built in the conversion device in the first system. First
When each digital device in the system sends a control signal for controlling an analog device in the second system to the conversion device, the conversion device converts the format of the control signal and sends it to the analog device.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system to which the present invention is applied. This system is 1
This is a complex system in which a system in which a plurality of digital devices are connected by a 394 bus and a system in which a plurality of analog AV devices are connected by a LANC are connected via a gateway, and control between the devices can be performed between different systems.

In this composite system, a controller 1 composed of a personal computer or the like, a gateway 2,
1394 bus cable 7 between the 94 compatible devices 3 and 4
-9. Also, the gateway 2 and the VT
LANC cables 10 and 11 between R5 and camera 6
Connected by That is, 13
Both devices having different bus systems such as 94 bus cable and LANC are connected. An AV cable for transmitting an analog audio / video signal is connected between the gateway 2, the VTR 5, and the camera 6, but is not shown here.

In the system configuration shown in FIG. 1, the controller 1 outputs a "PLAY" command and
The following describes, as a specific example, the exchange of commands performed through the gateway 2 until the controller 1 notifies the controller 1 that the “PLAY” command has been received.

FIG. 2 shows the transmission and reception of commands in the system of FIG. 1 over time, and shows which devices output in which order. FIG. 3 shows the formats of commands and responses exchanged in the system of FIG. 1 and the contents of specific examples. In these figures,
The same numbers surrounded by ○ are the corresponding signals. The format and contents are based on the IEEE 1394 standard or L
It conforms to ANC standards. Since the LANC standard is well known, commands and responses based on the IEEE 1394 standard will be described here.

In the commands and responses shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the CT at the beginning of the command and the response is used.
"0" h of S (command transaction set) is 1
It means an AV / C (audio / video / control) command set conforming to the 394 bus protocol. CT / RC (command type / response code) indicates the type of request in a command, and indicates the type of reply in a response. HA (header address) indicates a destination in the case of a command, and indicates a source in the case of a response. Then, OPC (operation code) and O
A command and its parameters are indicated by PR (operand).

In a system connected by LANC, FIG.
As shown in (1), the VTR 5 and the camera 6 connected to the gateway 2 by LANC transmit their own status to the gateway 2 by LANC communication in one field cycle of the video signal. Thereby, the gateway 2 can grasp what kind of device is connected to itself by LANC. In this case, the gateway 2 recognizes that the VTR and the camera are connected.

In a system connected by a 1394 bus,
First, the controller 1 inquires of each device about the existence of each device by a 1394 communication packet in order to grasp the devices connected to itself. The contents of the communication of this inquiry are shown in FIG. Here, the OPC sub-device means a functional block inside the device.

Gateway 2 receiving the above inquiry
Sends back a response indicating its presence and what devices are connected to it. This communication content is shown in FIG.
(D). This response means that the gateway 2 includes one VTR and one camera as sub-devices, that is, functional blocks inside the gateway 2. That is, when viewed from the controller 1, the gateway 2 looks as if the VTR 5 and the camera 6 are built-in.

Next, the controller 1
A “PLAY” command is transmitted in a 394 communication packet. FIG. 3E shows the contents of this communication packet. Upon receiving this, the gateway 2 sends the LANC “P” to the VTR 5.
A “LAY” command is transmitted.
(G) Show. In addition, the gateway 2 returns a response to the controller 1 indicating that the “PLAY” command has been transmitted to the VTR 5. This communication content is shown in FIG.
(F) Show.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the internal configuration of the gateway 2 in FIG. 139 inside the gateway 2
It is provided with a physical layer control block 21 of four buses and a link layer control block including an asynchronous processing unit 22 and an isochronous processing unit 23.

The physical layer control block 21 performs initialization of the bus, arbitration of the right to use, and the like. In addition, communication of command and response packets with the asynchronous processing unit 22 and communication of information signal packets such as digital video signals with the isochronous processing unit 23 are performed, and these packets are transferred to the 1394 bus cable 9. To send and receive.

When outputting an asynchronous packet to the 1394 bus, the asynchronous processing unit 22 packetizes a control signal such as a command or a response and sends it to the physical layer control block 21, and when the asynchronous packet is input from the 1394 bus, The asynchronous packet received from the control block 21 is disassembled to extract commands and responses. Similarly, when outputting the isochronous packet to the 1394 bus, the isochronous processing unit 23 packetizes an information signal such as a digital video signal and sends the packet to the physical layer control block 21 to send the isochronous packet to the 139 bus.
When inputting from four buses, the information signal is extracted by decomposing the isochronous packet received from the physical layer control block 21.

The command conversion block 24 communicates commands and responses in accordance with the IEEE 1394 standard with the asynchronous processing unit 22, and communicates commands and status signals in conformity with the LANC standard with the LANC cable 10. I do. In addition, IEEE13
A signal conforming to the 94 standard is converted into a signal conforming to the LANC standard.

The encode / decode block 25 decodes a digital video signal and a digital audio signal encoded in a predetermined format (MPEG, consumer digital video standard, etc.) received from the isochronous processing section 23, and performs A / D / DA block 26
Send to Further, the digital video signal and the digital audio signal received from the AD / DA block 26 are encoded into a predetermined format and sent to the isochronous processing unit 23.

The AD / DA block 26 converts the digital video signal and the digital audio signal received from the encode / decode block 25 into analog signals and outputs them. The analog video signal and the analog audio signal are digitized and sent to the encode / decode block 25.

Next, the internal operation of the gateway 2 shown in FIG. 4 will be described in the order of operation when transmitting and receiving an asynchronous packet and operation when transmitting and receiving an isochronous packet. Here, the operation at the time of transmitting and receiving the asynchronous packet will be described with reference to the signals shown in FIGS.

When the controller 1 outputs the command shown in FIG. 3E as an asynchronous packet to the cable 9 of the 1394 bus, the asynchronous packet is input to the physical layer control block 21 in the gateway 2 and is transmitted to the asynchronous processing unit 22. Sent to retrieve command. This command is sent to the command conversion block 24 by the LANC shown in FIG.
Is converted to a “PLAY” command, and output to the LANC cable 10. The “PLAY” command output to the LANC cable 10 is input to the VTR 5. As a result, the VTR 5 is set to the “PLAY” mode. The asynchronous processing unit 22 creates an asynchronous packet including the response shown in FIG. 3F based on the data from the CPU (not shown), and outputs it to the 1394 bus 9 via the physical layer control block 21. This response is input from the 1394 bus 9 to the controller 1.

On the other hand, when it is desired to input a digital video signal and a digital audio signal output from a digital device connected by a 1394 bus to an analog AV device connected by a LANC, and vice versa, When an analog video signal and an analog audio signal to be output are desired to be input to a digital device connected via a 1394 bus, an isochronous packet is transferred via the gateway 2. For example, in the latter case, the analog video signal and the analog audio signal are digitized by the AD / DA block 26, and are converted into digital video signals and digital audio signals of a predetermined format by the encode / decode block 25. You. Next, the packet is converted into an isochronous packet conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard by the isochronous processing block 23 and output to the 1394 bus 9 via the physical layer control block 21. This isochronous packet is input to a desired digital device on the 1394 bus.

As described above, in this embodiment, the gateway 2 grasps the device connected to the LAN 2 by itself and transmits it to the controller 1 on the system connected by the 1394 bus as its own sub device. . Then, by converting the command transmitted in 1394 packets from the controller 1 to a LANC command for transmitting the command to a device connected to the LANC by itself, control between devices having different bus systems is enabled. I have. Further, by converting the format of the video signal and the audio signal, the analog A connected to the digital device connected to the 1394 bus and the LAN A is connected.
Video signals and audio signals can be communicated with the V equipment.

In the above embodiment, the control signal is transmitted from the system connected by the 1394 bus to the system connected by the LANC. However, the present invention is controlled by the SIRCS from the system connected by the 1394 bus. A control signal can be sent to an analog AV device.

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, communication of control signals between devices in different communication systems can be performed via the conversion device. Also,
An output information signal of a device having only a digital output can be input to an analog device through the conversion device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing transmission and reception of commands in the system of FIG. 1 over time and showing which devices output in which order.

3 is a diagram showing formats of commands and responses exchanged in the system of FIG. 1 and the contents of specific examples.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of a gateway in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system in which a plurality of devices are connected by a 1394 bus and communication is performed between the devices.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a form of signal transmission in each device in the system of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... controller, 2 ... gateway, 3, 4 ... 139
4 compatible equipment, 5 ... VTR, 6 ... camera, 7-9 ... 139
4 bus cables, 10, 11 ... LANC cable, 24
... Command conversion block, 25 ... Encode / decode block, 26 ... AD / DA block

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Chitsu Kobayashi 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first signal transmission path which can transmit an information signal and a control signal in a mixed manner and connects a plurality of digital devices, and performs communication of the information signal and the control signal between the digital devices. And a second system that connects a plurality of analog devices via a second signal transmission path capable of transmitting a control signal and performs communication of the control signal between the analog devices. In a combined system connected by a predetermined conversion device connected to both the signal path and the second signal transmission line, wherein the conversion device is configured such that the analog device in the second system is built in itself and the first Inform the digital devices in the system, the digital devices in the first system send control signals to control the analog devices in the second system to the conversion device, and the conversion device The method of converting the format of the control signals are connected to different systems, characterized in that sending the analog equipment device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first signal transmission path is IEEE 139.
2. The method for controlling a device connected to a different system according to claim 1, wherein the device is a four serial bus. 3. The method of controlling a device connected to a different system according to claim 1, wherein the second signal transmission path is a wireless transmission path using LANC or infrared rays. 4. A first signal transmission path which can transmit an information signal and a control signal in a mixed manner, and connects a plurality of digital devices, and communicates the information signal and the control signal between the digital devices. Conversion device that can be connected to both a system and a second system that connects a plurality of analog devices via a second signal transmission path capable of transmitting a control signal and communicates the control signal between the analog devices. Means for informing the digital device in the first system that the analog device in the second system is built therein, and the digital device in the first system. Means for converting a control signal into a control signal in the second system. 5. The conversion device according to claim 4, further comprising means for converting between a digital signal handled by a digital device in the first system and an analog signal handled by an analog device in the second system.