JPH10178685A - Centralized controlling method and signal transmitting method for controlled object device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the possibility of interference between a 2nd computer system and each controlled object device and to enable a 1st computer system side to grasp a communication error and the existence of a failure of each controlled device by sending a signal from the 1st computer system to each controlled object device through a cable transmission path by the 2nd computer system. SOLUTION: Dedicated software is installed on a host computer 1 of a 1st computer system as an independent personal computer and a control terminal 2 of a 2nd computer system is formed as an independent and dedicated microcomputer. The computer 1 and the terminal 2 are connected by a RS232 C port 11 which is used for serial transmission, and the terminal 2 and each AV device 3 are individually connected by dedicated cables 21 to 26. Each AV device 3 is controlled by giving an instruction to the computer 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centralized control method for centrally controlling a video / audio device as a device to be controlled and a signal transmission method used for the centralized control method.
More specifically, so-called AV equipment, that is, video / audio equipment centered on a television monitor, specifically, VCR (video cassette recorder), LD (laser disk) player, D
Centralized control of home-use home theater systems that integrate video equipment such as VD recorders and audio equipment such as audio or AV amplifiers connected to speakers, CD players, audio cassette recorders, DAT recorders, MD recorders, etc. And a signal transmission method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of microelectronics technology in recent years, especially with the advancement of digitization technology of audio and video data, various AV devices have penetrated into individual homes. Various recording / reproducing devices for video data are connected, and various recording / reproducing devices for audio data are also connected to the audio set. Conventionally, control of these devices can usually be performed by wireless remote control using IR (infrared rays), and a handy controller for that purpose is generally attached. In some cases, the recording / reproducing device is controlled individually, or integrated control can be performed only between devices of the same manufacturer (for example, a CD player and an MD player). Had to be controlled individually.

Further, in recent years, personal computers have been spreading to individual homes, and it has become possible to control various devices in the home from the personal computers.

[0004]

As described above, in recent years, even in home AV equipment, various video-related equipment has been connected to a television monitor, and various audio equipment has been connected to an audio amplifier and an AV amplifier. However, their control was performed by a dedicated remote control device attached to each device. For this reason, the user needs to have many remote control devices at hand, also needs to learn the operation method of each, and also has to perform the management of each battery.

[0005] In addition, a user often performs dubbing and editing of video data and audio data by synchronizing several recording / reproducing devices. In such a case, two or more recording / reproducing devices are usually used. Since it is necessary to operate the remote control device of the playback device at the same time, a user who is unfamiliar with the machine operation has a great mental burden.

By the way, as mentioned above, various AV devices use IR
Remote control control is common, but the same type of AV equipment from the same manufacturer is controlled by a common IR signal, so two or more AV equipment can respond to one remote control transmission device There is. Further, even with different types of AV equipment of the same manufacturer, and even of AV equipments of different manufacturers, there is no possibility of malfunction due to interference as long as wireless remote control by IR is used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. For example, a personal computer in which dedicated software is installed, a dedicated controller using a microcomputer, or the like is used as a control center of the entire AV device. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a centralized control method and a signal transmission method for a video / audio device as a device to be controlled, which solves the above-described problems.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a centralized control method for controlled equipment according to the present invention, wherein at least a part is controlled by a control signal having a common code, and a binary signal having a common code is converted into a pulse signal having a different pulse width. A method for centrally controlling a plurality of control target devices having means for restoring a binary signal by sampling a wireless signal which is converted into a signal and carried by a carrier wave at a predetermined sampling period, comprising: The system receives a control instruction for each control target device, serially outputs a signal specifying the corresponding control target device and a signal representing the control instruction, and is individually connected to each control target device via a wired transmission path. The second computer system is connected to the first computer system by a second computer system connected by a serial signal transmission path. And transmitting the Al output signal through the wired transmission path to each control target device.

In such a centralized control method for controlled devices according to the present invention, the first computer system receives a control instruction for each controlled device and outputs a signal specifying the corresponding controlled device and a signal representing the control instruction. Serial output. Then, the second computer system transmits a signal serially output from the first computer system to each control target device via a wired transmission path. Therefore,
Each device to be controlled is controlled by a signal of a wireless system or by a signal output from the first computer system.

The centralized control method for controlled devices according to the present invention is characterized in that the first computer system is a personal computer and the second computer system is a dedicated computer system.

In the centralized control method of the controlled device according to the present invention, a dedicated computer system as a second computer system is connected to an existing personal computer as a first computer system, and the controlled device is connected thereto. The connection enables control of the constructed system.

Further, the centralized control method of the controlled device according to the present invention is characterized in that the function of the first computer system and the function of the second computer system are realized by one dedicated computer system. .

[0013] In the centralized control method of the controlled device according to the present invention, the functions of the first computer system and the second computer system are controlled.
The functions of the computer system described above are realized by one dedicated computer system, and the system to be constructed can be controlled by connecting a device to be controlled thereto.

Further, a centralized control method for a controlled device according to the present invention is characterized in that the second computer system is built in any of the controlled devices.

In such a centralized control method for a controlled device according to the present invention, the second control device built in any one of the controlled devices is used.
By connecting a device to be controlled to this computer system, the system constructed can be controlled.

Further, a centralized control method for a controlled device according to the present invention is characterized in that the first computer system and the second computer system are built in any of the controlled devices.

In such a centralized control method for a controlled device according to the present invention, the first control device built in one of the controlled devices can be used.
In addition, it is possible to control the constructed system by connecting the control target device to the second computer system.

Further, in the centralized control method for controlled devices according to the present invention, a control signal destined for each controlled device is shared by a second computer system from a signal serially output from the first computer system. It is characterized in that the signal is converted into a code system, and the converted signal is output to a corresponding control target device.

According to such a centralized control method of the controlled device of the present invention, the second computer system shares a control signal addressed to each controlled device from the signal serially output from the first computer system. Each of the controlled devices is controlled by a signal of the wireless system or by a signal output from the first computer system by outputting the converted signal to the corresponding controlled device. Is done.

Further, the centralized control method of the controlled device according to the present invention is characterized in that the second computer system converts a binary signal of the control signal output from the first computer system into a pulse signal. .

In the centralized control method of the controlled device according to the present invention, the second computer system converts the binary signal of the control signal output from the first computer system into a pulse signal. The target device is controlled by a signal of the wireless system or by a signal output from the first computer system.

In the centralized control method for controlled devices according to the present invention, each controlled device is controlled by a second computer system based on a control signal serially output from the first computer system to each controlled device. A signal as a destination is extracted as a serial signal, and output of each serial signal to a corresponding control target device is started simultaneously.

In the centralized control method for controlled devices according to the present invention, the second computer system uses the control signals serially output from the first computer system to the respective controlled devices to control each controlled device. Is extracted as a serial signal, and output is simultaneously started to the corresponding control target device. Therefore, a control signal is simultaneously supplied to each control target device.

In the centralized control method for controlled devices according to the present invention, a pulse signal output from a second computer system is received and sampled by each controlled device to restore it to a binary signal. When the reception of one unit of the control signal is completed, a predetermined signal is returned to the second computer system via the wired transmission path.

In such a centralized control method for controlled devices of the present invention, each controlled device samples the pulse signal output from the relay unit to restore it to a binary signal, and receives one unit of control signal. Is completed, a predetermined signal is returned to the relay unit via the wired transmission path, so that the relay unit can grasp the communication state between the relay unit and each device to be controlled.

According to the signal transmission method of the present invention, a destination code for specifying a destination, a code of an inverted value thereof, a data code to be transmitted to a destination, and a code of the inverted value are transmitted from a transmission source to a relay device. And transmitting the destination code and the data code from the transmission source to the relay device, and in the relay device, invert the respective values from the destination code and the data code received from the transmission source. And transmits the destination code, the code of the inverted value, the data code, and the code of the inverted value to the designated destination.

In such a signal transmission method of the present invention, the destination code and the data code are transmitted from the transmission source to the relay device. In the relay device, codes of respective inverted values are created from the destination code and the data code received from the transmission source. Then, the relay device transmits the destination code, the code of the inverted value, the data code, and the code of the inverted value to the specified destination.

The signal transmission method according to the present invention further comprises, for a plurality of destinations, a destination code for specifying each destination, a code of an inverted value thereof, a data code to be transmitted to the destination, and an inverted code thereof. A signal transmission method of transmitting a value code and a destination code from a transmission source to a relay device and transmitting the destination code of each of a plurality of destinations to the relay device only once, and thereafter, Only the data code is transmitted, and the relay device stores the destination code received from the transmission source corresponding to the plurality of destinations, creates a code of the inverted value, and thereafter inverts the code from the data code received from the transmission source. A value code is created, and a destination code, an inverted value code, a data code, and an inverted value code are transmitted to a designated destination.

In the signal transmission method of the present invention, the destination code of each of a plurality of destinations is transmitted from the transmission source to the relay device only once at first, and thereafter, only the data code is transmitted. In the relay device, the destination code received from the transmission source is stored corresponding to a plurality of destinations, and a code of the inverted value is created. Then, in the relay device, a code of the inverted value is created from the data code received from the transmission source, and the destination code, the code of the inverted value, the data code, and the code of the inverted value are specified in the destination. Sent to

[0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a centralized control unit to which a centralized control method and a signal transmission method for a controlled device according to the present invention are applied, and a configuration example of the controlled device, that is, an entire configuration of a home theater system. .

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer as a first computer system as a signal transmission source, 2 denotes a control terminal as a second computer system as a relay device, and 3 (31 to 31). 36) indicate AV devices that are control target devices. The host computer 1 has a CRT display 1 as a display means.
4. A keyboard 12 and a mouse 13 as instruction input means are attached. In addition, as the display means, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like may be used in addition to the CRT display 14. In addition to the keyboard 12 and the mouse 13, a joystick, a touch panel, a pad, or the like may be used or used in combination as the instruction input means. Further, it is of course possible to use a device having both a function as a display means and a function as an instruction input means.

Also, in this example, the AV
The equipment 3 includes a television set denoted by reference numeral 31, a VCR (video cassette recorder) denoted by 32, an AV amplifier denoted by 33, and a CD denoted by 34.
(Compact Disc) Player, DV shown at 35
A D (Digital Video Disc) player and an MD (Mini Disc) recorder indicated by 36 are connected to the control terminal device 2. However, the number and type of the AV devices 3 shown here are merely examples, and other devices such as an LD (laser disk) player, a DAT (digital audio tape) recorder, a DCT (digital cassette tape) recorder, etc. may be connected instead. Or additional connections can be made.

The host computer 1 can be a dedicated computer system or a general personal computer. When a general personal computer is used as the host computer 1, each AV device 3 can be operated with a GUI (Graphical User Interface) by installing dedicated software. Further, in this case, a configuration in which the control terminal device 2 is built in, for example, one of the AV devices 3 is also possible.
For example, the control terminal device 2 is built in the AV amplifier 33, and the other AV devices 3, that is, the TV set 31, VCR32,
CD player 34, DVD player 35, MD recorder 36 and AV amplifier
The control terminal device 2 built in 33 may be connected by a dedicated cable described later. Further, when the host computer 1 is configured as a dedicated computer system, it is of course possible to configure the host computer 1 and the control terminal device 2 as one computer system.

The operation of each AV device 3 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) alone is basically the same as in the prior art, for a wireless remote control device via IR (infrared). Receivers (311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316) are provided,
Remote control device transmitter attached to each
(331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336) allows individual remote control. However, unlike the conventional AV equipment 3 used in this home theater system, the host computer 1 is relayed through the control terminal device 2.
Interface (321, 322, 32) that receives the control signal transmitted from the
3, 324, 325, 326). Each of these interfaces 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, and 326 has a reception port and a transmission port, and each port of the control port group 20 provided in the control terminal device 2. Is connected to

An RS-232C port 11 used for serial data transmission in a normal personal computer system is mutually connected between the host computer 1 and the control terminal device 2. A dedicated cable 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, having a set of transmission and reception lines so that bidirectional signal transmission is possible between the control terminal device 2 and each AV device 3.
26 are individually connected.

In the home theater system as shown in FIG. 1, a user sends each AV device 3 to a transmitter (331,
332, 333, 334, 335, 336), it is of course possible to control each AV device 3 by giving an instruction to the host computer 1 or to control several AV devices 3 simultaneously. Control becomes possible.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, each AV device 3 is appropriately connected by a video cable, an audio cable, or the like for transmitting and receiving audio signals and video signals in order to exhibit the original function of the AV device. Needless to say.

Here, the internal functional configuration of the control terminal device 2 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2-i indicates a control terminal device. In FIG. 1, the control terminal device 2 is R
Although it is illustrated as having only one S-232C port 11, the first RS for connection to the host computer 1 or another control terminal device 2-i-1 having the same configuration is actually used. -twenty three
2C port 11-1, and still another control terminal device 2-i + having the same configuration
It has an RS-232C port 11-2 for connection with 1. Further, each control terminal device 2-i includes a microcomputer 201 connected to the first and second RS-232C ports 11-1 and 11-2 and the control port group 20, and a microcomputer 201 And a ROM 202 in which a software program for later-described signal conversion processing or the like is stored in advance.

Therefore, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG.
It is possible to daisy-chain 2-1, 2-2, 2-3…. Specifically, RS-23 of the host computer 1
2C port 11 and first RS-232C of first control terminal 2-1
Port 11-1 and the second RS-232C port 11-2 of the first control terminal 2-1 and the first RS-232C port 11- of the second control terminal 2-2. 1 and a second RS-232C port 11-2 of the second control terminal device 2-2 and a first RS-232C port 11-1 of the third control terminal device 2-3. Can be connected in a daisy chain to the plurality of control terminal devices 2 and the host computer 1.

Although omitted in FIG. 3, a plurality of control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2, 2-
.. Are connected in a daisy chain, it is needless to say that various AV devices 3 can be arbitrarily connected to each of the control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2, 2-3,.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when a plurality of control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2, 2-3... Needless to say, it is necessary to set an address unique to the URL by some method, but details will be described later.

Next, a method for controlling each AV device 3 from the host computer 1 will be described. Basically, a signal equivalent to a remote control code (hereinafter referred to as an extended IR signal) is given from the control terminal device 2 to each AV device 3. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the control signal output from the host computer 1 into an extended IR signal equivalent to the remote control code of the AV device 3 in the control terminal device 2. The signal output from the host computer 1 is a serial signal, and the extended IR signal is also a serial signal. In order to control each AV device 3 at the same time, the extended IR signal corresponding to each AV device 3 is required. It is necessary to output signals from the control terminal device 2 at the same time. In other words, the control terminal device 2 converts the serial signal output from the host computer 1 into the number of extended IR signals corresponding to the number of AV devices 3 connected to the control terminal device 2, and 3 must be output in parallel.

In order to satisfy the above-described conditions, each AV device 3 is configured as shown in the block diagram of FIG. Each AV device 3 is a control port group of the control terminal device 2.
A control signal output from the host computer 1 and supplied to each AV device 3 via the control terminal device 2 as an extended IR signal is supplied to the connection selection unit 304. . Also, as described above, each AV device 3 is provided with a receiving unit 310 (311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316) for a wireless remote control device. The infrared signal is also photoelectrically converted and converted into an electric signal, and then provided to the connection selection unit 304 via the filter 305. The connection selection unit 30
The selection control of 4 is performed by the user operating a changeover switch 306 provided outside each AV device 3.

One of the inputs selected by the connection selecting section 304 is supplied to the microcomputer 302. In addition, each
The reply output from the AV device 3 to the control terminal device 2 is performed directly from the microcomputer 302 via the input / output port 301. A ROM 303 is connected to the microcomputer 302. The ROM 303 stores, in advance, a software program for controlling each AV device 3 by the microcomputer 302, but also includes a signal input through the connection selection unit 304, in other words, Then, a code table for interpreting the meaning of the infrared signal input from the infrared signal receiving unit 310 or the extended IR signal input from the input / output port 301 and converting it into an instruction code executable by the microcomputer 302 is also stored. Have been. Reference numeral 300 indicates the main body of each AV device 3.

Next, a method of converting a control signal output from the host computer 1 to control each AV device 3 into a signal that can be processed by each AV device 3 will be described. These processes are performed by the microcomputer of each AV device 3.
302 is performed in accordance with a software program also stored in the ROM 303 while referring to a code table stored in the ROM 303.

The above-mentioned extended IR signal is basically of course "1".
Or, it is a digital signal combining bits of “0” and has a fixed bit length, but the signal actually transmitted is “
The pulse period of the signal representing "1" and the pulse period of the signal representing "0" are twice as large as those of the former.

First, the original remote control code will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. Each remote control code is basically preceded by a header to indicate the start of a message that combines a high-level section of a relatively long duration and a low-level section of a shorter duration. The actual message begins with the level pulse. For example, in the pattern code (1) shown in FIG. 5 (a), a section of “1” where the low level is relatively long after the header and “0” where the low level is relatively short next. , And ends with "1", "0", "1" ... "0", followed by "1". Note that there is no special signal such as an EOM signal indicating the end of the message, and the message ends when the number of high-level sections reaches a predetermined number (the number of bits of the original digital signal + 1). This is, as described below,
This is because the remote control code is a signal obtained by combining an original signal and a signal having an inverted value thereof, and therefore has a fixed length as a whole.

In the pattern code (2) shown in FIG. 5B, the actual messages are "0", "1", "
0 "," 1 "," 1 "..." 1 ", followed by" 0 ", and the pattern code (3) shown in FIG.
The actual messages are “1”, “0”, “1”, “0”,
"1" ... "0" followed by "1".

Therefore, for example, a signal in the section of the actual message of the pattern code shown in FIG.
1 "," 0 "," 1 "," 0 "," 1 "..." 0 ","
If "1" is sampled at the sampling cycle of the sampling clock shown in FIG. 5 (d), the level of the actual message section becomes high level, low level, low level, low level, high level, low level, High-level, low-level, low-level, low-level, high-level… Sampling is performed in the order of low-level, high-level, low-level, high-level.If the next low-level period is long for each high-level sampling result, By decoding to "1" and to "0" if the next low-level period is short, it is possible to restore the original data of "10101... 01".

Therefore, conversely, the serial data "10101 ... 0
When "1" is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2, the control terminal device 2 converts the serial signal into a pulse width signal of the pattern code (1) shown in FIG. When transmitted to the AV device 3, the AV device 3 can restore the original serial data by sampling in the same manner as when a conventional IR remote control signal is received.

In other words, the microcomputer 201 of the control terminal device 2 converts the serial data transmitted from the host computer 1 as shown in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b) and 5 (c). It has a function of conversion to pulse width signal (PWM), and the software program for that
It is stored in advance in M 202. Hereinafter, the signal conversion processing by the control terminal device 2 will be specifically described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the format of the remote control code as described above, which is a 32-bit length obtained by merging four 8-bit codes. Reference symbol C1
Is the custom code, # C1 is the inverted custom code (code of the inverted value of the data of custom code C1), C2 is the data code C2, # C2 is the inverted data code (data code
Code of the inverted value of the data of C2).
As described above, each code has an 8-bit length, and has a 32-bit configuration as a whole.

The custom code C1 is the manufacturer of the individual AV equipment 3 and the type of the AV equipment 3 (television set, VCR
Etc.). Inverted custom code # C1
Is the code of the inverted value of the data of the custom code C1.
The data code C2 is a code of a control signal for the AV device 3. The inverted data code # C2 is a code of an inverted value of the data of the data code C2.

Therefore, when each of the AV devices 3 is remotely controlled, a 32-bit signal as shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted from the transmitters (331 to 336) of the corresponding remote control devices. It is necessary to modulate into a pulse width signal as shown in FIG. 5 and transmit it as an IR signal. Each of a set of signals in this 32-bit, a certain type of AV equipment 3 of a manufacturer, for example, a VCR of Company A
To start playing the tape, start recording,
Alternatively, it is possible to control to fast-forward or stop playback / recording during playback.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1 described above, when six AV devices 3 are connected to the control terminal device 2,
At the same time, in order to control each AV device 3, it is originally necessary to transmit 192 bits (32 bits × 6) data from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2. However, as described above, between the host computer 1 and the control terminal device 2
It is connected by RS-232C port, and it takes time for data transmission as described above. Therefore, the host computer 1
The following signal transmission method of the present invention is adopted between the control terminal device 2 and the control terminal device 2 for the purpose of shortening the data transmission time.

As shown in FIG. 6, the custom code C1 and the inverted custom code # C1, which constitute the remote control code, and the data code C2 and the inverted data code # C2 are all in an inverted relationship. These inversion codes # C1 and # C2 are also for error checking,
Another reason is that when modulated into a pulse width signal as described above, the length of the entire signal is made constant regardless of the data content. Therefore, the custom code C1 and the data code C2 are transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2.
Only the inverted custom code # C1 and the inverted data code # C2 may be created by calculation from the custom code C1 and the data code C2 in the control terminal device 2. The microcomputer 20 of the control terminal device 2
If 1 has the capability of a sufficiently fast bit inversion operation, the inverted custom code # C1 and the inverted data code # C2
From the custom code C1 and the data code C2 in the control terminal device 2 is shorter than the time required to transmit the inverted custom code # C1 and the inverted data code # C2 from the host computer 1. Overall efficiency is higher.

Each AV device 3 for the control terminal device 2
The connection relationship is transmitted from the host computer 1 by specifying in advance, for example, in the manufacturer which type of AV equipment 3 is to be connected to each port of the control port group 20 of the control terminal device 2. If the destination of the port in the control port group 20 in the control terminal device 2 of the signal is determined, the custom code C1 (and the inverted custom code # C1) is basically unnecessary. Therefore, in this home theater system, for example, the custom code C1 of each AV device 3 is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2 only once when the system is started, and the control terminal device 2
Then, it is stored and the inverted custom code # C1 is also created and stored. After that, for the individual AV devices 3, basically, only the data code C2, that is, only 8 bits, is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2, and an inverted data code # C2 is also created.

However, actually, since it is necessary to simultaneously output a control signal from the control terminal device 2 to all the AV devices 3, the host computer 1 transmits a control signal to all the AV devices 3 in series. As a serial signal. Therefore, from the host computer 1, an 8-bit address for specifying each control terminal device 2, an 8-bit mode code indicating that the following signal is a control signal (data code), and an individual AV device A serial signal is output to the control terminal device 2 by merging one or a plurality of control terminal devices 2 connected to the host computer 1 into a single set of data codes of 8 bits each for 3. Therefore, the amount of data actually transmitted from the host computer 1 to each control terminal device 2 is 64 bits (8 bits × 6 + 8 bits + 8 bits), and the data transmission amount can be greatly reduced. Such a method of transmitting a serial signal from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2 is the same not only when transmitting a data code but also when transmitting a custom code, and will be described in detail below.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a signal format when a custom code required for all the AV devices 3 is transmitted from the host computer 1 at a time when the system is started. In this example, the host computer 1 As shown in the example of FIG. 3, three control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2,
2-3 are connected, and each address is a hexadecimal number (H
"00 (H)", "01 (H)", "02 (H)"
And FIG. 7 shows the contents of each code in hexadecimal.

First, an address code C11 containing the address "00 (H)" for specifying the first control terminal device 2-1 shown in FIG. 3, and the following signals are custom codes Mode code with "00 (H)" as the content
C12, the six AVs connected to the first control terminal device 2-1
Custom code C1-1, C1-2 ... C1 for each device 3
-6, followed by an address code having an address "01 (H)" for specifying the second control terminal device 2-2.
C11 indicates the following signals are custom code "
00 (H) ", and the custom codes C1-1, C1-2,... C1-6 for the six AV devices 3 connected to the second control terminal device 2-2 in that order. Sent,
Subsequently, an address code C11 having an address "02 (H)" for specifying the third control terminal device 2-3, and "00 (H)" indicating that the following signal is a custom code are included in the content. .. C1-6 for the six AV devices 3 connected to the third control terminal device 2-3. Sent from

For each such control terminal device 2, 64
When three control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3 are daisy-chain connected to the host computer 1 as shown in FIG. First output from host computer 1
Input to the first RS-232C port 11-1 of the control terminal device 2-1 of the second terminal 2-1 via the microcomputer 201, and
Output from S-232C port 11-2. The serial signal output from the second RS-232C port 11-2 of the first control terminal device 2-1 is then transmitted to the first R terminal of the second control terminal device 2-2.
Input to S-232C port 11-1 and the microcomputer
It is output from the second RS-232C port 11-2 via 201. Furthermore, the second RS-232C of the second control terminal device 2-2
Next, the serial signal output from the port 11-2 is input to the first RS-232C port 11-1 of the third control terminal device 2-3, and is transmitted through the microcomputer 201 to the second RS-232C port. -
Output from 232C port 11-2.

The microcomputer 201 of each control terminal device 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 has a first RS-232C port 11
The address code C11 in the serial signal input from -1 and output to the second RS-232C port 11-2 is extracted, and if it is its own address, the following signal is fetched and processed.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the content of the first address code is "00 (H)", which matches the address of the first control terminal 2-1 shown in FIG. The microcomputer 20 of the first control terminal device 2-1.
1 is the address code C1 that contains this address
1 Capture the following signals. The signal taken into the microcomputer 201 of the first control terminal device 2-1 is connected to the mode code C12 of "00 (H)" and the following first control terminal device 2-1. The custom codes C1-1, C1-2,..., C1-6 of the six AV devices 3 are respectively "3C (H)"... "7A (H)". When the content of the mode code C12 is “00 (H)” as described above, it indicates that the following code is the custom code C1, and is “01 (H)” as described later. In some cases, the following code indicates the data code C2.

Further, the microcomputer 201 of the second control terminal device 2-2 fetches a signal whose content is equal to or lower than the address code C11 whose content is its own address "01". The signal taken into the microcomputer 201 of the second control terminal device 2-2 includes a mode code C12 of "00 (H)",
The following 6 is connected to the second control terminal device 2-2.
.., C1-6 of the three AV devices 3, and their contents are "4B (H)"... "C1 (H)", respectively. Further, the microcomputer 201 of the third control terminal device 2-3 takes in a signal whose content is the address code C11 or less having its own address "02". The signal taken into the microcomputer 201 of the third control terminal device 2-3 is connected to the mode code C12 of "00 (H)" and the following second control terminal device 2-2. 6 AVs
The custom codes C1-1, C1-2,..., C1-6 of the device 3 are respectively "D1 (H)"... "8A (H)".

Immediately after the home theater system is started, as described above, the control port group 20 of each control terminal device 2, specifically, the signal of the custom code C 1 relating to each of the six AV device 3 ports Is transmitted from the host computer 1, the microcomputer 201 of each control terminal device 2 extracts the custom code C1 related to each AV device 3 connected to itself from the signals and calculates the inverted custom code # C1. Is stored in association with the number of each port.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a format of a control signal of the AV device 3 transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2 every time the AV device 3 needs to be controlled. In this example, as in the case of FIG. 7 described above, three control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3 are connected to the host computer 1 as shown in the example of FIG. Each address is “00 (H)”, “01 (H)”, “02 (H)”
And Note that FIG. 8 shows each code in hexadecimal (shown with H).

First, an address code C11 having an address "00 (H)" for specifying the first control terminal device 2-1 shown in FIG. 3, and the following signals are data codes: Mode code C1 with "01 (H)" indicating
2. Data codes C2-1, C2-2,..., C2-6 are transmitted to the six AV devices 3 connected to the first control terminal device 2-1 in this order, and then transmitted to the second control terminal device. Address code C11 containing the address “01 (H)” specifying 2-2
Indicates that the following signal is a data code: “01 (H)
The mode code C12 containing "" is transmitted in the order of the data codes C2-1, C2-2... C2-6 to the six AV devices 3 connected to the second control terminal device 2-2. Subsequently, the address “02” specifying the third control terminal device 2-3
(H) An address code C11 containing "", a mode code C12 containing "01 (H)" indicating that the following signal is a data code, connected to the third control terminal 2-3. Data code C2- for each of the six AV devices 3
A series of serial signals are transmitted from the host computer 1 in the order of 1, C2-2 ... C2-6.

For each such control terminal device 2, 64
When three control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3 are connected to the host computer 1 as shown in FIG. 3, a total of 192 bits of serial signals are transmitted to the host computer. 1 and transmitted to each of the control terminal devices 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 connected in a daisy chain in the same manner as in the transmission of the custom code shown in FIG.

The microcomputer 201 of each control terminal device 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 has a first RS-232C port 11
The address code C11 in the serial signal input from -1 and output to the second RS-232C port 11-2 is extracted, and if it is its own address, the following signal is fetched and processed.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the content of the first address code is "00 (H)", which matches the address of the first control terminal device 2-1 shown in FIG. The microcomputer 20 of the first control terminal device 2-1.
1 is the address code C1 that contains this address
1 Capture the following signals. The signal taken into the microcomputer 201 of the first control terminal device 2-1 is connected to the mode code C12 of "01 (H)" and the following first control terminal device 2-1. The data codes C2-1, C2-2,..., C2-6 for the six AV devices 3 are respectively "4B (H)"... "FF (H)".

The microcomputer 201 of the second control terminal device 2-2 fetches a signal having an address code "01" or lower, the content of which is the address code C11 or less. The signal taken into the microcomputer 201 of the second control terminal device 2-2 includes a mode code C12 of "01 (H)",
The following 6 is connected to the second control terminal device 2-2.
The custom codes C1-1, C1-2,..., C1-6 of the three AV devices 3 are respectively "CF (H)"... "B6 (H)". Further, the microcomputer 201 of the third control terminal device 2-3 takes in a signal whose content is the address code C11 or less having its own address "02". The signal taken into the microcomputer 201 of the third control terminal device 2-3 is connected to the mode code C12 of "02 (H)" and the following third control terminal device 2-3. 6 AVs
The custom codes C1-1, C1-2,..., C1-6 of the device 3 are respectively "9A (H)", "88 (H)" and the like.

After the home theater system is activated and the custom code for each AV device 3 is transmitted from the host computer 1 to each control terminal device 2 as described above, the individual control terminal devices 2 Since the signal of the data code C2 relating to the control port group 20, specifically, the ports for the six AV devices 3, is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2, each control terminal device 2
Then, the data code C2 relating to each AV device 3 is extracted from those signals, the inverted data code # C2 is calculated, the signal is converted as described later, and transmission from each port to each AV device 3 is started simultaneously.

FIG. 9 shows a process of converting data for converting a control signal to each AV device 3 which is a digital serial signal received from the host computer 1 into a pulse width signal and outputting the pulse width signal to each AV device 3 in parallel. It is a schematic diagram.

Now, for example, the control code "4B (H)" as shown in FIG. 8 is transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2 with the port number 1 of the control port group 20 as the destination. Suppose it was done. In this case, the microcomputer 201 of the control terminal device 2 sends the custom code C1 to the AV device 3, specifically, the television set 31.
"3C (H)" corresponding to the port number 1 given and stored by the host computer 1 when the system is started up
, And “C3 (H)” calculated from the value “3C (H)” of the custom code C1 as the inverted custom code # C1, and the data code
“2D” calculated from the data code C2 as “D2 (H)” transmitted immediately before as C2 as inverted data code # C2
(H) ”is sent.

First, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the control terminal device 2 executes the above-mentioned four types of codes C1, # C1, C2, #
C2 is concatenated to form one 32-bit data. Next, the control terminal device 2 converts the 32-bit data into bits “1” to “1000” and bits “0”
To "10". FIG. 9 (b) shows the result, which is converted into data of a fixed length of 96 bits in total. The reason for the fixed length is that the original 32-bit signal shown in FIG. 9 (a) is always in an inverted relationship with 16 bits at a time.
This is because it is converted to bits.

Similarly, 5 of other port numbers 2 to 6 transmitted from the host computer 1 to the control terminal device 2
Each set of data is also converted into 96-bit data as shown in FIG. 9 (b). Therefore, the control terminal device 2
When six AV devices 3 are connected to the control terminal device 2, the control terminal device 2 creates six sets of 96-bit data. Control terminal device 2
Converts the 6 sets of 96-bit data created in this way
As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 10, the data is stored in a matrix memory having 6 rows and 97 columns. In the 97th column of each row,
1 "is stored. When all the data is stored in the memory, the control terminal device 2 first transmits the data to each AV device 3 via the dedicated cable 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. The header signal is transmitted at the same time, and then 6 in the first column of the memory.
Signals at the same time, then simultaneously transmit the six signals in the second column, and so on, sequentially transmitting the six signals in each column sequentially, and finally, the six signals in the 97th column At the same time.

When the signal transmission by the control terminal device 2 described above is viewed from the AV equipment 3 side, for example, from the television set 31 side, first, the header signal is received.
After that, "1", "0", "1", "0", "
1 "," 0 "," 0 "" 0 "" 1 "," 0 "..." 0 ",
97 bits of "1", "0", "1", "0", "1" are received. On the AV device 3 side, the received signal can be restored to the original signal as shown in FIG. 5 by sampling one bit for every two bits of the received signal. Also, by counting the "1" bits contained in the received signal, if the 97th bit signal is "1" and it is the 33rd "1", the reception has been completed normally. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, an "ACK" pulse, which is a response signal indicating normal reception, is returned to the control terminal device 2 via the dedicated cable 21.

Similarly, in each of the AV devices 3 other than the television set 31, the signal of each bit in the second to sixth rows shown in FIG. In addition, when received normally, an "ACK" pulse is returned to the control terminal device 2 via the dedicated cables 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

Next, an example of the operation procedure of the home theater system configured as described above will be described. Figure 11 shows the CRT of the host computer 1 of the home theater system.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a GUI screen displayed on the display 14, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an overall control procedure by the host computer 1.

First, when the home theater system is started (step S11), the host computer 1
A screen as shown in (a) is displayed on the CRT display 14. Here, the icons of the AV devices 3 currently connected to the home theater system are displayed, and by clicking one of them with the mouse 13,
A control instruction to the AV device 3 becomes possible.

Note that, as shown in FIG.
When the device 3 is additionally connected, by clicking the “additional connection” icon, it becomes possible to set various information necessary for the additional connection.

Next, the host computer 1 transmits the custom code C1 associated with each port of the control port group 20 of the control terminal device 2 and the data code C2 for checking each AV device 3 (step S12). ). Specifically, the custom code C1 is output from the host computer 1 as a serial signal as shown in FIG. 7, and the check data code C2 is output as a serial signal as shown in FIG. As the data code for the check, all the AV devices 3 should be in the power-off state at this point, and therefore, for example, a code instructing "power-off" is appropriate.

Then, it is checked whether or not ACK signals have been returned from all the AV devices 3 corresponding to the above-described check data code (step S13). If no ACK signal is returned from all the AV devices 3, the host computer 1 determines that there is a communication error between the host computer 1 and the control terminal device 2, and if any ACK signal is returned from all the AV devices 3. The host computer 1 determines that the communication state is normal, and if the ACK signal is not returned from any of the AV devices 3 but is returned from the other AV device 3, the host computer 1 returns the ACK signal. Error in the transmission path between the AV device 3 and the control terminal device 2
It is determined that the AV device 3 has failed.

Next, the host computer 1 collects information transmitted from each AV device 3 (step S15),
It is determined whether there is a failure (step S16). As a result of such processing, the icons of “communication error” and “failure” as shown in FIG. 11 (a) are displayed as necessary (steps S14 and S17), each of which is clicked with the mouse 13. In this case, the host computer 1 determines the details, that is, whether there is a transmission line error with any of the AV devices 3 or any of the
Information such as whether the AV device 3 is out of order is displayed. When the host computer 1 performs such display,
The user checks the connection of the cable between the host computer 1 and the control terminal device 2 or between the control terminal device 2 and each AV device 3, or checks the audio cable,
By confirming the connection of the video cable and further confirming the state of the main power supply of each AV device 3, it is easy to deal with a communication error or a failure.

Next, when, for example, "VCR" is clicked and selected with the mouse 13 in the display state as shown in FIG. 11A, a screen as shown in FIG. 11B is displayed. Here, the status of the VCR 32, that is, whether or not a cassette has been loaded, and if so, the type, whether or not recording is possible, etc., are first recorded in the information collected from each AV device 3 by the host computer 1. Displayed based on

On the screen shown in FIG. 11B, the VCR 32 can be controlled. For example, "play", "stop", "fast forward", "rewind",
Since buttons for instructing “recording” and the like are displayed, when the user clicks them with the mouse 13 (step S18), the host computer 1 returns to the corresponding state as shown in FIG. And outputs the data code C2 as a control signal to the control terminal device 2 (step S1).
9). On the other hand, if the ACK signal is returned (step S20), the host computer 1 will be in a state of waiting for the next instruction input. However, each AV of the control signal in step S19
If the ACK signal is not returned in response to the transmission to the device 3 ("NO" in step S20), the control signal can be retransmitted, in other words, even if the control signal is retransmitted, the AV device 3 is adversely affected. It is determined whether or not the signal does not exist (step S21). If retransmission is possible, the process returns to step S19, and if retransmission is not possible, or if retransmission is possible several times but retransmission is not possible more than a predetermined number of times, failure is displayed (step S17).

The screen shown in FIG. 11 (b) has the same control as the conventional remote control as described above, as well as switching of image connection, switching of audio connection, and the like.
Further, an instruction such as dubbing by designating the other party's AV device 3 is also possible.

By the way, in the home theater system as described above, the host computer 1 and the control terminal device 2 can be realized in various forms. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a host computer 1 as a first computer system has dedicated software installed as an independent personal computer, and a control terminal device 2 as a second computer system has an independent dedicated computer. Can be configured as a microcomputer system.

As another example, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 13, the function of the host computer 1 as the first computer system and the function of the control terminal device 2 as the second computer system are described. Each of them can be configured as a dedicated microcomputer system, and both can be collectively configured as one central control unit, that is, the home theater unit 10. In this case, it is of course possible to configure the host computer 1 as the first computer system and the control terminal device 2 as the second computer system as one dedicated microcomputer system.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 14, a host computer 1 as a first computer system uses a general personal computer by installing dedicated software, and a second computer. A configuration is also possible in which the control terminal device 2 as a system is incorporated into any one of the AV devices 3, for example, the AV amplifier 33 which is a central component of the AV device 3. In such a configuration, it is of course possible to configure the host computer 1 as the first computer system as a dedicated microcomputer system.

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 15, the host computer 1 as the first computer system and the control terminal device 2 as the second computer system are both configured as dedicated microcomputer systems. Then, it is incorporated into one of the AV devices 3, for example, the AV amplifier 33 which is a central entity in the AV device 3,
A configuration in which the home theater unit 10 is used is also possible.

[0092]

As described above in detail, according to the method for centrally controlling the controlled devices of the present invention, a control instruction for each controlled device is issued by the first computer system such as a microcomputer such as a personal computer. Receiving, serially outputting a signal specifying a corresponding control target device and a signal representing a control instruction, individually connected to each control target device via a wired transmission path, and connecting to the first computer system via a serial signal transmission path. The first computer system and the second computer system are used to transmit a signal serially output from the first computer system to each device to be controlled via a wired transmission path by the connected second computer system. High-speed serial signal transmission is possible between the second computer system and each The presence or absence of a communication error with a possibility of interference disappears between the image and audio equipment, errors in the transmission path, comprising the presence or absence of failure in each video and audio equipment can be grasped by the first computer system side.

Further, according to the centralized control method of the controlled device of the present invention, a dedicated computer system as a second computer system is connected to an existing personal computer as a first computer system, and the controlled device is connected thereto. The connection enables control of the constructed system.

Further, according to the centralized control method of the controlled device of the present invention, the functions of the first computer system and the functions of the second computer system are realized by one dedicated computer system, and the control is performed by the dedicated computer system. Control of the constructed system becomes possible by connecting the target devices.

Further, according to the centralized control method for a controlled device of the present invention, it is possible to control a system constructed by connecting the controlled device to a second computer system built in any controlled device. become.

Further, according to the centralized control method of the controlled device of the present invention, a system constructed by connecting the controlled device to the first and second computer systems built in any one of the controlled devices. Control becomes possible.

Further, according to the centralized control method of the controlled device of the present invention, the second computer system shares a control signal addressed to each controlled device from the signal serially output from the first computer system. Each of the controlled devices is controlled by a signal of the wireless system or by a signal output from the first computer system by outputting the converted signal to the corresponding controlled device. Will be possible.

Further, according to the centralized control method for controlled devices of the present invention, the second computer system converts the binary signal of the control signal output from the first computer system into a pulse signal. The target device can be controlled by a signal of the wireless system or by a signal output from the first computer system.

Further, according to the centralized control method of the controlled device of the present invention, the second computer system can control each controlled device based on the control signal serially output from the first computer system to each controlled device. Is extracted as a serial signal, and output is simultaneously started to the corresponding control target device. Therefore, a control signal is simultaneously supplied to each control target device.

Further, according to the centralized control method for controlled devices of the present invention, each controlled device samples the pulse signal output from the relay unit to restore it to a binary signal, and receives one unit of control signal. Is completed, a predetermined signal is returned to the relay unit via the wired transmission path, so that the relay unit can grasp the communication state between the relay unit and each device to be controlled.

Further, according to the signal transmission method of the present invention, the destination code and the data code are transmitted from the transmission source to the relay device. In the relay device, codes of respective inverted values are created from the destination code and the data code received from the transmission source. Then, since the destination code, the code of the inverted value, the data code, and the code of the inverted value are transmitted from the relay device to the specified destination, the amount of signal transmission from the transmission source to the relay device is reduced. You.

According to the signal transmission method of the present invention, the destination codes of the plurality of destinations are transmitted from the transmission source to the relay device only once at first, and thereafter, only the data codes are transmitted. In the relay device, the destination code received from the transmission source is stored corresponding to a plurality of destinations, and a code of the inverted value is created. Then, in the relay device, a code of the inverted value is created from the data code received from the transmission source, and the destination code, the code of the inverted value, the data code, and the code of the inverted value are specified in the destination. Sent to

Further, according to the method for centrally controlling the control target device of the present invention, when a computer system such as a personal computer is used as the first computer system, a GUI can be used. Even a user unfamiliar with the conventional remote control system of the device can easily control various video / audio devices. Furthermore, if you use the GUI screen, you can control all video and audio devices on a unified screen, so you have to learn how to use the remote control system corresponding to each of many video and audio devices. It is free from such conventional complexity.

Furthermore, according to the centralized control method for controlled devices of the present invention, since a computer system such as a personal computer is used as the first computer system, it is impossible with conventional video / audio devices. Extremely sophisticated control, such as automatic dubbing of video and audio when the user does not use these devices, for example, in the middle of the night or the like, can be performed by software.

Further, according to the signal transmission method of the present invention, a control signal is transmitted to each video / audio device using a code equivalent to a remote control code using infrared rays which is common in conventional video / audio devices. To send
The hardware that needs to be added to each video / audio device can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration example of a centralized control system for a video / audio device to which a centralized control method and a signal transmission method for a controlled device according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of an internal functional configuration of a control terminal device of a centralized control system for video and audio equipment to which a centralized control method and a signal transmission method of a controlled device according to the present invention are applied. .

FIG. 3 shows a case where a plurality of control terminal devices are daisy-chain-connected to a host computer in a centralized control system of a video / audio device to which a centralized control method and a signal transmission method of a controlled device according to the present invention are applied. It is a block diagram.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of each AV device in the centralized control system for video and audio devices according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining a remote control code used in a conventional AV device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a format of a remote control code used in a conventional AV device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a format of a serial signal when a custom code is transmitted from a host computer to a control terminal device at the time of activation of a centralized control system for video / audio equipment by the signal transmission method for a controlled device according to the present invention. is there.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a format of a serial signal when a format of a control signal of an AV device is transmitted from a host computer to a control terminal device in a centralized control system of a video / audio device according to the signal transmission method of a controlled device according to the present invention. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a centralized control method for a device to be controlled according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a process of converting data for converting a control signal of an AV device into a pulse width signal and simultaneously starting transmission to each AV device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a centralized control method for a device to be controlled according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a process of converting data for parallel output to each AV device.

FIG. 11 shows a G displayed on a CRT display of a host computer of a centralized control system for video / audio equipment to which the centralized control method for controlled equipment according to the present invention is applied.
It is a schematic diagram of a UI screen.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an overall control procedure by a host computer of a centralized control system for a video / audio device to which a method of centrally controlling a device to be controlled and a method of transmitting a signal according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram schematically showing another example of the overall configuration of the centralized control system for video / audio equipment, which implements the centralized control method and the signal transmission method for the controlled device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically showing another example of the overall configuration of the centralized control system for video / audio equipment to which the centralized control method and the signal transmission method of the control target apparatus according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram schematically showing another example of the overall configuration of the centralized control system for video / audio equipment to which the centralized control method and the signal transmission method of the control target apparatus according to the present invention are applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host computer 2 (2-1, 2-2, 2-3) Control terminal device 3 AV equipment 10 Home theater unit 11 (11-1, 11-2) RS-232C port 12 Keyboard 13 Mouse 14 CRT display 20 Control port Group 20 21-26 Cable 201 Microcomputer 302 Microcomputer C1 Custom code C2 Data code

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A wireless signal which is controlled at least in part by a control signal having a common code, converts a binary signal of the common code into a pulse signal having a different pulse width, and carries the signal on a carrier. In a centralized control method for a plurality of controlled devices having means for restoring a binary signal by sampling at a sampling period, a control instruction for each of the controlled devices is received by a first computer system, and a corresponding controlled device is received. Serially output a signal specifying a signal and a signal indicating a control instruction, and each of the control target devices is individually connected via a wired transmission path,
A second computer system connected to the first computer system via a serial signal transmission line transmits a signal serially output from the first computer system to each of the controlled devices via the wired transmission line. A centralized control method for a controlled device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first computer system is a personal computer, and the second computer system is a dedicated computer system. 3. The control target device according to claim 1, wherein the functions of the first computer system and the functions of the second computer system are realized by one dedicated computer system. Centralized control method. 4. The centralized control method for a controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the second computer system is incorporated in any one of the controlled devices. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first computer system and the second computer system are built in any one of the control target devices. . 6. The second computer system converts a control signal destined for each device to be controlled from the signal serially output from the first computer system to the common code system, and converts the signal. The centralized control method for a controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the subsequent signal is output to a corresponding controlled device. 7. The controlled device according to claim 1, wherein the second computer system converts a binary signal of a control signal output from the first computer system into the pulse signal. Centralized control method. 8. A signal destined for each device to be controlled is extracted as a serial signal from a control signal serially output from the first computer system with each device to be controlled being destined by the second computer system. Output of each serial signal to a corresponding device to be controlled is started simultaneously.
Centralized control method of the control target device according to the above. 9. The control target device receives a pulse signal output from the second computer system, samples the pulse signal to restore it to a binary signal, and completes the reception of one unit of control signal. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined signal is returned to the second computer system via the wired transmission path. 10. A destination code for specifying a destination, a code of an inverted value thereof, a data code to be transmitted to the destination, and a code of the inverted value are transmitted from the transmission source to the destination via the relay device. In the signal transmission method, the destination code and the data code are transmitted from the transmission source to the relay device, and in the relay device, codes of respective inversion values are calculated from the destination code and the data code received from the transmission source. A signal transmission method comprising: creating and transmitting a destination code, a code of an inverted value thereof, a data code, and a code of the inverted value thereof to a designated destination. 11. For each of a plurality of destinations, a destination code for specifying each destination, a code of an inverted value thereof, a data code to be transmitted to a destination, and a code of the inverted value thereof are respectively transmitted from a source A signal transmission method of relaying a relay device to a destination and transmitting the destination code of each of the plurality of destinations from the source to the relay device only once first, and thereafter transmitting only the data code. The relay device stores the destination code received from the transmission source in correspondence with the plurality of destinations and creates a code of an inverted value thereof, and thereafter generates an inverted value of the data code received from the transmission source. Of the destination code, the code of the inverted value, the data code,
A signal transmission method comprising: transmitting a code of the inverted value to a designated destination.