JPH11275552A - Device control system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a host control terminal of a device control system. SOLUTION: The device control system that controls pluralities of devices is provided with pluralities of host control terminal means 12, 13 that request use of the devices and a system controller 31 that inhibits use of a device by any control terminal means on a request of the use of any device from any of pluralities of the host control terminal means 12, 13 when the device is locked by the use of any of the host control terminal means 12, 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a device control apparatus and a control method for controlling a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, encoders, decoders, HDDs,
Broadcast broadcasting equipment such as a VTR and a controller is connected by a router as a route switching means, and these systems are integrated to use a broadcast transmission system used by a plurality of users.

[0003] Since this broadcast transmission system is used simultaneously by a plurality of users, it is necessary to avoid occupation of the broadcast equipment by a plurality of users at the time of broadcasting transmission, editing of materials, and the like.

[0004] In addition, regarding the switching of signal paths between devices, in order to occupy the signal path exclusively and to avoid simultaneous occupation of a plurality of users, a router which is a path switching means is used. Needed.

For this reason, in the conventional broadcast transmission system, when a plurality of users simultaneously request the occupation of the broadcasting equipment or the signal path, communication is performed between the user's terminals to compete with the plurality of users. Was processing.

That is, in the conventional broadcast transmission system, a process of occupying a device is performed between user terminals so that devices such as a broadcast device and a router to be controlled are not occupied at the same time.

[0007]

However, in the conventional broadcasting transmission system, only the exclusive control that causes an error in the new occupation of the occupied broadcasting equipment or signal path is an error. In some cases, the route was inadequate for use.

That is, in the conventional broadcast transmission system, contention for occupation requests for broadcasting equipment or signal paths by a plurality of users has been adjusted by communication between user terminals.

For this reason, the process for avoiding the requirement of occupying the broadcast equipment or the signal path between the user's terminals has been complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is intended for a case where a user terminal requests exclusive control of a broadcast device or a signal path to be controlled. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device control apparatus and a method that do not require adjustment for avoiding user conflict with a device to be controlled.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, a device control apparatus according to the present invention is a device control apparatus for controlling the use state of a plurality of devices, and requests the use of the above devices. A plurality of upper control terminal means and a use state of the device are registered, and when a request for use of the device is issued from one of the plurality of higher control terminal means, the device is used by another higher control terminal means. And device allocation control means for prohibiting the use of the device for the one control terminal means.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a device control method according to the present invention is a device control method for controlling a use state of a plurality of devices by a plurality of upper control terminals, wherein the upper control terminal is A higher-level control step of requesting use of the device, and registering a use state of the device, and when a request for use of the device is received from one of the plurality of higher-level control terminals, the device is connected to another higher-level control terminal. A device allocation control step of prohibiting the use of the device for the one higher-level control terminal when the device is used.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, as an embodiment of a device control apparatus and method according to the present invention, an AV server system constituting a recording / reproducing system for recording / reproducing audio / video (AV) signals will be described with reference to the drawings. It will be described with reference to FIG. This AV server system constitutes a main part of a broadcast transmission system.

As shown in FIG. 1, an AV server system 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality of upper control terminals 12 and 13 that issue control commands to devices to be controlled, a system controller 11 that is a management control device that controls devices in real time, and upper control terminals 12 and 13 and the system controller 11. And a local area network (LAN) 51 which is a communication line connecting the AV server and an AV server 21 which is a recording / reproducing apparatus for recording / reproducing AV signals.
And an AV router 22 for switching the route of the AV signal.

The AV server 21 is, for example, an input / output operation unit (In Out Processor; IOP) which is an AV signal input / output unit provided with an encoder / decoder for encoding / decoding an AV signal.
And a hard disk drive (Ha
rd Disk Drive (HDD) for processing AV data. This AV server 21 includes the system controller 11
And performs processing in accordance with control from the system controller 11.

The AV router 22 is a device that switches an AV signal path. That is, the AV router 22 is connected to the system controller 11 and switches the path of an AV signal between devices such as the AV server 21 connected to the AV router 22 in accordance with control from the system controller 11.

The system controller 11 receives control commands from the higher-level control terminals 12 and 13 and assigns operations and reservations to broadcast devices, manages exclusive control,
Perform control.

That is, the system controller 11
Control commands such as a conversion protocol for multimedia conversion are received from the upper control terminals 12 and 13 via the LAN 51. Then, the system controller 11 generates a device control command based on the control commands from the control terminals 12 and 13 and issues the device control command to devices to be controlled such as the AV server 21 and the AV router 22. .

Further, the system controller 11 receives an execution result of a device control command from each device. Then, the system controller 11 notifies the higher control terminals 12 and 13 that have issued the control commands of the result.

The upper control terminals 12 and 13 are connected to the AV server 2
1 is transmitted to the system controller 11. Then, the upper control terminals 12 and 13 are connected to the AV server 2
1. A control result of a device such as the AV router 22 is received from the system controller 11.

The upper control terminals 12 and 13 are computers on which applications corresponding to uses such as editing, browsing, and sending of programs are operated. Basically, a graphical user interface (Graphical User Interface) is used.
Interface (GUI) can be used to control various broadcasting devices.

Next, a stream for handling a device to be controlled in the AV server system will be described.

A stream is generally an input / output obtained by arranging a plurality of modules between a standard device driver for controlling an apparatus at a command level and a user process and connecting the modules with a path for bidirectional character data transfer. Refers to the system.

The system controller 11 provides a means for treating each device as a stream to the upper control terminals 12 and 13. For example, if the upper control terminals 12 and 13
When reproducing the AV data on the V server 21,
First, when the device obtains a stream ID by a command called OPEN described later, it becomes possible to issue a command such as PLAY or STOP to the stream.

The stream is applied not only to a physical device such as the AV server 21 but also to a device that is not a physical device. For example, the present invention is also applied to a logical device such as an input / output channel indicating a connection with a device not under the control of the system controller 11.

Here, the devices in this specification are used in a broad sense, including physical devices such as the AV server 21 and logical devices having no physical substance such as input / output with the outside.

Next, a specific example of an AV server system using a stream to reproduce an AV signal recorded in the AV server will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the AV server system includes two host control terminals 12 and 13, a system controller 11, an AV server 21, and an AV router 22.

The AV server 21 has an input / output operation unit 36 (I
OP1) and input / output operation unit 37 (IOP2) and HDD
38. In the AV server 21, the input / output operation units 36 and 37 are respectively
The HDD 38 is connected to the input / output operation units 36 and 37.

In the AV server 21, the input / output operation unit 3
6 (IOP1) and the input / output operation unit 37 (IOP2)
In response to a control signal from the system controller 11, the HD
The AV data recorded on D38 is decoded and output as an AV signal. It has these two input / output operation units 36 and 37, which can output two independent AV data.

The AV router 22 includes an input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1) and an input / output operation unit 37 (IO
The video signals from P2) are input as in1 and in2, respectively. Further, output channels OUTPUT1 and OUTPUT2 are respectively output from the AV router 22.
1, out2. Switching of the path between these inputs and outputs is performed by the system controller 11.
This is performed under the control of.

Output channels OUTPUT1, OUTPUT
The UT 2 represents a connection with a system controller 11 that is not controlled. For example, output channel OU
A master switcher and the like are connected to the ends of TPUT1 and OUTPUT2.

Note that the configuration of the AV server system described above is the same in the following, so that the description is omitted below.

The system controller 11 processes control commands from the upper control terminals 12 and 13 and manages the execution of the commands.
sk; EMT) 31 functionally. This EMT31
Has a stream management table 31a that holds stream information.

The EMT 31 responds to a control command from the higher-level control terminals 12 and 13 according to a stream management table 31.
It changes the state of a, generates a control command to the AV server 21, issues a control command to the AV server 21, and notifies the higher control terminals 12 and 13 of the result.

The stream management table 31a includes a resource name and a file name which is a name given to AV data,
This is a table in which a stream ID for identifying a stream is paired and registered in the EMT 31 of the system controller 11 in advance for each resource that can reproduce AV data.

Here, the term “resources” generally refers to software and hardware resources reserved for performing a predetermined process.
A target to which the stream is applied in one control target is also referred to as a resource.

Note that the file name and the stream ID are unregistered in the initial state. The unregistered state is indicated by "-" in FIG. 2, but the same applies to the following figures. In this case, the AV data can be reproduced only by the input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1) and the input / output operation unit 37 (IOP1).
2), these two sets are registered as resource names.

Next, OPEN of the stream by EMT
Will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG.

Here, the flow of control for outputting the AV data file1 recorded on the HDD 38 of the AV server 21 as an AV signal by the input / output operation unit 36 in response to a request from the host control terminal 12 will be described.

In the first step S11, the upper control terminal 12 issues the following command to the system controller 11, as shown by the path a in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S12. OPEN MD = PLAY RSC = IOP1 PAT
H = file1 Here, the system controller 11 includes the EMT 31 and the resource information management task (Resource Information Man
ager Task (RIMT) 32 functionally. RIMT
Reference numeral 32 denotes a task for managing information related to resources, which includes a stream management table 31a and an AV router connection point table 32b that hold the correspondence between resource names, file names, and stream IDs.

In step 12, the EMT 31 searches for the resource specified by the parameter RSC according to the command. That is, the EMT 31 issues the following OPEN request to the RIMT 32 as shown in the path b. OPEN_PATH RSC = IOP1 Then, the resource information table 32a of the RIMT 32 is searched, and the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the process branches depending on whether the specified resource has been opened.

That is, the resource information table 32a of the RIMT 32 is searched, and if there is no lock ID which is a locked ID corresponding to the resource name IOP1 corresponding to the input / output operation unit 36, it is not OPEN because it has not been opened. Then, the process proceeds to step S15. If the lock ID exists, it has already been opened, and the process proceeds to step S14 as "Yes".

In step S14, since the resource name IOP1 corresponding to the input / output operation unit 36 has already been opened, the flow ends after returning CSTAT ERROR to the upper control terminal 12.

In step S15, the resource name I
Since the lock ID corresponding to OP1 has not been registered, a unique lock ID is generated. Then, the generated lock ID is registered in the resource information table 32a, and the route c
As shown in (5), the next response is returned to the EMT 31, and the process proceeds to step S16. RET_OPEN_PATH SID = 1 Note that the stream ID is called a lock ID in the RIMT 32, but this is not a problem even if it is called a stream in this case for convenience in mounting.

In step S17, the parameter M
Branch depending on whether D is PLAY or not. That is, if MD = PLAY, the process proceeds to step S18 as “Yes”, and if not, the process proceeds to step S17 as “No”.

In step S18, as shown in FIG. 3, the EMT 31 stores the stream management table 31a.
The stream ID corresponding to the resource name IOP1 corresponding to the input / output operation unit 36 and the file name specified by the parameter PATH are registered. Then, as shown in the path d, the next command is returned to the upper control terminal 12, and this series of steps is completed. RET_OPEN_PATH SID = 1 In step S17, the EMT 31 registers the stream ID corresponding to the resource name IOP1 corresponding to the input / output operation unit 36 in the stream management table 31a.
Then, a command similar to that in step S18 is returned to the upper control terminal 12, and this series of steps is completed.

Next, referring to the block diagram of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG. 5, a procedure in which the higher-level control terminal 12 issues a command such as reproduction / stop of AV data using the stream ID obtained by the above reply. Will be explained.

In step S121, the upper control terminal 12 issues the following command using the stream ID obtained above, and proceeds to step S122. PLAY SID = 1 In step S122, the EMT 31 searches the stream management table 31a, detects that the target file name is file1 from the specified stream ID, and proceeds to the next step S123.

In step S123, the EMT 31
Is the following AV for playing the file name file1.
A server control command is generated and issued to the input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1) of the AV server 21. PLAY file1 Subsequently, since the input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1) is being used by the upper control terminal 12, the input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1) is temporarily
An example will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG. 6 in which an attempt to reproduce AV data using the same input / output operation unit 36 fails.

In step S131, the following command is issued from the higher-level control terminal 13 to reproduce AV data using the same input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1), and the flow advances to the next step S132. OPEN MD = PLAY RSC = IOP1 PAT
H = file2 Here, the file names of the AV data may be the same or different.

In step S132, the EMT 31
Refers to the stream management table 31a and detects that the stream ID has been registered in the item of IOP1 corresponding to the input / output operation unit 36. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S133.

In step S133, since the stream has already been generated, the following error is issued to the upper control terminal 13 to notify that the generation has failed. The CSTAT ERROR host control terminal 13 knows from this response that the input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1) is in use, and asks whether to give up reproduction or use another input / output operation unit 37 (IOP2). Judgment becomes possible.

On the other hand, for the upper control terminal 12, by obtaining the stream ID, the specific input / output
Since it is guaranteed that AV data can be reproduced by occupying the 6, it is possible to prevent the video signal from being unable to be reproduced by using the input / output operation unit 36 by another control terminal during reproduction of the AV data.

Next, it will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 7 and the flowchart of FIG. 8 that it is possible to delete the stream currently being used and permit another upper control terminal to use the resource. I do.

In the first step S41, the higher-level control terminal 12 designates a stream ID and issues the following command for deleting the stream, as shown by the path a in FIG. When receiving the command, the EMT 31 searches the stream management table 31a,
Delete the stream ID specified by the D parameter.
Then, the process proceeds to step S42. CLOS SID = 1 In step S42, as shown in path b, EM
T31 issues the following command to RIMT32, and
The MT 32 deletes the lock ID specified by the SID parameter from the resource information table 32a. CLOS_PATH SID = 1 In this state, stream generation succeeds even if another higher-level control terminal 13 issues, for example, the following command. OPEN MD = PLAY RSC = IOP1 PAT
H = file2 By obtaining the stream as described above, exclusive use of the designated or source is enabled only during the period from generation to disappearance of the stream ID. Meanwhile, stream I
It is possible to avoid competition from a higher-level control terminal that has not acquired D.

Next, a specific example will be described in which, in a system composed of an AV server and an AV router, connection points of the AV router are controlled using a method of combining streams.

First, the configuration of the device control device used in this specific example will be described with reference to FIG.

In the system controller 11, a stream management table 31 for holding stream information
R having an EMT 31 having an “a” and an AV router connection point table 32 b for managing connection information of the AV router 22.
The IMT 32 is being executed.

The AV router 22 is path control means for controlling the path of the AV signal, and is an input / output operation unit 36 (IOP).
1) and an input / output operation unit 37 (IOP2).
1 control command.

The AV router 22 includes, for example, the input / output
By controlling the connection point between the input port in1 connected to the input channel 6 (IOP1) and the output port out2 connected to the output channel OUTPUT, the signal output from the input / output operation unit 36 can be output to the output channel OUTPUT2.

The AV router connection point table 32b stores the AV
It manages the names of resources connected to each input port and output port of the router 22.

Subsequently, in accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
When the file file1 of (IOP1) has been opened, the upper control terminal 12 outputs the output channel OU.
A procedure for OPENing TPUT2 as a stream will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 9 and the flowchart of FIG.

In step S21, as shown by the path a in FIG. 9, the upper control terminal 12 opens the output channel OUTPUT2 as a stream by the following command, and proceeds to step S22. OPEN MD = FIFO RSC = OUTPUT2 Here, FIFO (first in first out) which is a first-in first-out storage means specified by the parameter MD indicates that this resource is not for reproducing AV data, and generates a stream. However, no file name is registered in the stream management table.

In step S22, when the EMT 31 receives the above command, the EMT 31
A next OPEN request is issued to the IMT 32, and the process proceeds to the next step S23. OPEN_RES RSC = OUTPUT2 Here, in the case of OPEN PLAY, OPEN_PATH
In this case, it is OPEN_RES, but it is not necessary to distinguish it in this description. However, in an actual system, in the case of a resource for reproducing a file, OPEN_PATH is used.
Are used to distinguish them from virtually defined resources such as output OUTPUT2.

In step S23, the resource information table 32a is searched to confirm that there is no lock ID corresponding to the resource name OUTPUT2, a unique lock ID is generated, and the generated lock ID is registered in the table. As shown in the route c, the next response is returned to the EMT 32, and the process proceeds to step S24.

RET_OPEN_RES SID = 2 If a lock ID exists, an error is returned to EMT31 because the resource has already been used, and EMT3
OPEN for returning an error from 1 to the upper control terminal 12
Fails.

In step S24, the EMT 31 stores the resource name OUTPU in the stream management table 31a.
The stream ID corresponding to T2 is registered, and the next reply is returned to the upper control terminal 12 as shown in the route d. CSTAT SID = 1 The higher control terminal 12 uses this stream ID to
The connection point of the V router 22 is controlled.

The connection point control of the AV router 22 is performed by the above procedure, and the output of the input / output operation unit and the output OUTPUT are output.
2 are connected. Thereafter, when a playback command is issued to the stream of the input / output operation unit 36 as described above, the AV signal output by the input / output operation unit 36 is output to the output OUTPUT2.

Here, suppose that another higher-level control terminal outputs OU.
If you try to output some AV signal to TPUT2,
The OPEN of the stream to the output OUTPUT2 fails as described above, and the upper control terminal 12 outputs the output OUTPUT2.
2 cannot be done until the stream to 2 is destroyed by the CLOS command. That is, by combining the streams, it is possible to exclusively use the path of the AV signal.

The stream OP by the EMT 31
The flow of EN is the same as the flow shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Next, the procedure in which the upper control terminal 12 issues a CMB command to the system controller 11 to secure a stream will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 11 and the flowchart of FIG.

This procedure is started when the higher-level control terminal 12 issues the following command in step S31 as shown in path a in FIG. 11, as shown in path a. CMB SRC_SID = 1 DEST_SID = 1 In step S32 following step S31, EM
Upon receiving the above command from the upper control terminal 12, T31 searches the stream information table 31a and
Resource name IOP1 corresponding to the stream ID specified by the C_ID parameter, and resource name OUTPU corresponding to the stream ID specified by the DEST_SID
Obtain T2. Thereafter, the EMT 31 issues the next command to the RIMT 32 as shown in the path b, and
Go to 32. CMB_STREAM SRC = IOP1 DEST =
OUTPUT2 In step S33, when the RIMT 32 receives the command, the RIMT 32 searches the AV router connection point table 32b, and as shown in the path c, the input port of the resource IOP1 corresponding to the input / output operation unit 36 specified by the SRC parameter. The number and the output port number of the resource OUTPUT2 specified by the DEST parameter are returned to the EMT 31 by the following response, and the process proceeds to the next step S34.

In step S34, EMT 31
Issues the following command to the AV router 22 based on the connection point information obtained in step S33. CrossPointSelect import = 1 output = 2 The connection point of the AV router 22 is controlled by the above procedure, and the output of the input / output operation unit 36 (IOP1) and the output OUT
PUT2 is connected. Thereafter, as described above, if a playback command is issued to the stream of the input / output operation unit 36, the AV signal output by the input / output operation unit 36 is output OUT
It will be output to PUT2.

Here, even if another higher-level control terminal 12 tries to output any AV signal to the output OUTPUT2, the OPEN of the stream to the output OUTPUT2 fails as described above, and the higher-level control terminal 12 outputs the output OUT2.
The stream to PUT2 is transmitted by the CLOS command.
You can't do it until it disappears. That is, by combining the streams, it is possible to exclusively use the path of the AV signal.

The OP described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3
FIG. 13 shows a series of procedures relating to the issuance of the EN command as a command flow between databases (databases; DBs) such as the resource information table 32b of the control terminal 12, the EMT 31, and the RIMT 32.

That is, the EMT 3
1, the command OPEN MD = PLAY PATH = file1 is issued, the command OPEN_PATH is issued from the EMT 31 to the RIMT 32, and the RIMT 32
Reference is made to the lock of the device ID in the DB such as b.

Then, the RIMT 32 issues a command RET_OPEN_PATH to the EMT 31, and the command CSTAT SID = 1 is given from the EMT 31 to the upper control terminal 12. The above is the procedure up to the transmission of the stream to the higher-level control terminal 12 in response to the command issued from the higher-level control terminal 12, but the same procedure is performed in the following steps that follow.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the present invention can be realized as a broadcast transmission system as described below.

As shown in FIG. 14, this broadcast transmission system controls higher-level control terminals 12, 13, 1 which control a device as a broadcast device using the concept of a stream.
4 for communication between the system controller 11 which is an equipment management control device for controlling the occupation of a plurality of broadcast devices based on the host device 4 and the upper control terminals 12, 13 and 14.
AN 51 and a device main controller 16 that controls commands from the system controller 11 in real time.
And device sub-controllers 17 and 18 for controlling broadcasting devices as respective lower-order devices, material supply units 121 to 125 for supplying a material composed of the AV data, and, for example, supplied from the material supply units 121 to 125. Recording / reproduction controllers 131 and 141 as main processing units in the AV servers 22 and 23 for recording and reproducing AV data of five input channels CH_IN_1 to CH_IN_5;
Input / output operation units 132, 133, 134 and 142, which perform an operation for recording (input) and an operation for reproduction (output) on the AV data in the AV servers 22 and 23;
143, 144; HDDs 135 and 145 capable of non-linear access for recording and storing the AV data in the AV servers 22 and 23; and an AV router 21 for switching the flow of the AV data between these devices.
A device sub-controller 19 for controlling the AV router 21 in response to a request from the higher-level control terminals 12, 13, and 14; and five output channels 161-1 from the AV servers 22 and 23 switched by the AV router 5.
65.

Here, the upper control terminals 12, 13, 14
Is a computer on which an application corresponding to the application, such as editing of a material, browsing of a material, and transmission of a program of the material, is operated. Basically, it is possible to control various broadcasting devices on a GUI basis. .

Here, in the broadcasting device, the recording / reproducing controllers 131 and 141, the input / output operation units 132, 133, 134, 142, 143 and 144, the HDDs 135 and 145, and the AV router 2
1 and five more channels (CH_OUT1 to CH_OUT1
_OUT5).

The input / output operation units 132, 133, 134
, 141, 142, and 143 may be configured separately in an input operation unit and an output operation unit. Also,
The host control terminals 12, 13, and 14, the system controller 11, the device main controller 15, and the device sub-controllers 16, 17, and 18 constitute a recording / reproduction control unit that controls the input / output operation unit.

The broadcast transmission system manages the use state of the broadcast equipment by using the above-mentioned stream, so that the broadcast equipment is exclusively used without performing communication between the upper control terminals 12, 13, and 14. Things.

[0086]

As described above, according to the device control apparatus of the present invention, the AV recorded on the AV server
By providing a means for handling data and a device that processes the data using the concept of a stream to a higher-level control terminal, exclusive use of AV data and devices becomes possible,
The simplification of the host control terminal was realized. It also provides means for handling components other than AV data using the concept of a stream, controls the route of the AV signal by combining the streams, and enables exclusive use of the route, thereby simplifying the host control terminal. Was realized.

According to the control method of the present invention, A
By providing a means for handling the AV data recorded on the V server and the device that processes the data using the concept of a stream to the upper control terminal, exclusive use of the AV data and the device becomes possible, and the higher control terminal can be simplified. Was realized. It also provides means for handling components other than AV data using the concept of a stream, controls the route of the AV signal by combining the streams, and enables exclusive use of the route, thereby simplifying the host control terminal. Was realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an AV server system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating generation of a stream by an OPEN command.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an OPEN command.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of OPEN of a stream by EMT.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which a higher control terminal issues a command using a stream ID.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example in which a command issued by a higher control terminal has failed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating disappearance of a stream.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process in which a stream disappears.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating connection control of an AV server performed by combining streams.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of AV server connection point control performed by combining streams.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a procedure for performing path control of an AV signal.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a series of steps of AV signal path control.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of a command flow when an OPEN command is issued from a higher control terminal.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a broadcast transmission system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 System controller, 12, 13 Host control terminal, 21 AV server, 22 AV router, 31 EM
T, 32 RIMT

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04N 5/781 (72) Inventor Tsutomu Yamamoto 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Invention Person Gentaro Okayasu Sony Corporation, 7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Hiroshi Shimizu 6-35, Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A device control apparatus for controlling a use state of a plurality of devices, comprising: a plurality of higher-level control terminal means for requesting use of the device; a use state of the device being registered; Device allocation control means for prohibiting use of the device for the one control terminal means when the device is used by another higher control terminal means when there is a request for use of the device from one of the control terminal means A device control device comprising: 2. The device allocation control means has a use right flag for registering a use state of the device, and the use right flag is locked when the device is used by the upper control terminal means. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of said plurality of devices is path control means for switching a path of an information signal. 4. A non-linearly accessible recording medium for storing audio / video data, a plurality of input channels from a plurality of material supply units for supplying a material to the recording medium, or a plurality of input channels from the plurality of input channels. An input operation unit for recording the plurality of materials on the recording medium, or an output operation unit for reproducing the plurality of materials recorded on the recording medium from the recording medium, or controlling these input / output operation units 2. The device control device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of output channels from the recording / reproduction control unit or the output calculation unit are included. 5. A device control method for controlling a use state of a plurality of devices by a plurality of higher-level control terminals, the higher-level control terminal requesting use of the device, and registering a use state of the device. When there is a request for use of the device from one of the plurality of higher-level control terminals, when the device is used by another higher-level control terminal, the use of the device for the one higher-level control terminal is stopped. A device allocation control step of prohibiting the device control.