KR100574272B1 - A Cradle-type multimedia relay apparatus for a portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device that extends the functionality of a portable computer to provide multimedia content played on a computer to an external television.

The multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device according to the present invention is installed in a state where the connection with the TV is completed in advance, and the user can enjoy the multimedia contents stored in the computer with a remote controller without going through a complicated wiring process by simply mounting the portable computer. have.

In addition, according to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, a portable computer coupled to a multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device detects and boots when combined with a multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device, in addition to the general operating system operating when a booting is performed as a general computer. It is provided with a further operating system for multimedia playback that operates as possible. Accordingly, when the computer is mounted on the multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device, booting is started and the waiting time can be shortened through fast booting.

TV, Portable Computer, Mounting Device, Multimedia Relay Device, Cradle, Multi-Operation System, Charging

Description

Multimedia relay apparatus for a portable computer {A Cradle-type multimedia relay apparatus for a portable computer}

Figure 1a is a perspective view showing the appearance of a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device for a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a connection terminal panel on the back of the relay device shown in FIG. 1A.

2 illustrates an example of a state in which a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device and another device are connected and used according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a circuit unit of a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a portable computer to which the present invention is applied.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

 1: relay device 10: case

11: mounting groove 13: interface

15: control panel 3: TV

 5: portable computer 7: VTIAL

 9: external memory

100: control unit 300: operation unit

500: signal processor 510: playback processor

511: restoration unit 513: signal conversion unit

530: recording processing unit 531: compression unit

533: signal converter 710: USB hub

711, 713: USB port 730: IEEE1394 hub

731, 733: IEEE1394 port 900: system bus

200: control unit 400: media playback unit

420: video playback unit 440: album processing unit

460: audio playback unit 600: recording processing unit

800: storage unit 820, 840: media file

1000: DVD player

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to computer peripheral devices, and more particularly, to a multimedia relay device in the form of a cradle device for extending the functionality of a portable computer.

Conventionally, a type of relay module is known, which is designed to be connected to a computer on one side and to a television on the other side. The device allows multimedia files played on a computer to be enjoyed on a television with a larger screen and better audio playback.

On the other hand, a portable computer user works with a computer in an office or home study, and then moves to a living room equipped with a television and the above device to use the same computer for entertainment purposes and combines the computer with the above device.

However, in order to use the portable computer and the relay device in combination, a cumbersome task of connecting the communication line between the portable computer and the relay device is required. In addition, in order for the portable computer itself to work, it is necessary to connect power lines, mice, network lines, and printers.

Furthermore, since the operating system of a computer generally used takes a long time to boot, there is a problem in that the user can enjoy the multimedia contents that he / she wants to wait for a long time even after all the wires are connected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a relay apparatus that can enjoy multimedia content played on a portable computer in a video device without complicated wiring.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to shorten the initialization time required until the start of the relay in the relay device for relaying the multimedia content stored in the portable computer to the video device.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a relay device of a portable computer and an imaging device according to the present invention is provided in the form of a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device for a portable computer. The multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device has been pre-wired with a necessary external device or input / output device including a video device.

According to this characteristic aspect of the present invention, the user can complete the joining operation simply by placing the computer on the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a portable computer coupled with a multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device according to the present invention may be combined with a multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device, in addition to a general operating system used when booting as a general computer. It further includes an operating system for multimedia playback that operates to detect and boot.

According to this aspect of the present invention, if the user merely puts his work portable computer on the multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device, it is possible to execute the multimedia playback operating system which is booted in the shortest time and enjoy the contents. Accordingly, the present invention not only eliminates the inconvenience of the user having to boot the computer separately, but also has the advantage of minimizing the waiting time.

The foregoing and further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce.

Figure 1a is a perspective view showing the appearance of a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device for a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1b is a connection of the back of the multimedia relay device of the mounting device type shown in Figure 1a The terminal panel is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the multimedia relay device 1 in the form of a mounting device includes a case 10 including a mounting groove 11 on which a portable computer is mounted, and located within the mounting groove 11. The interface unit 13 is coupled to transmit and receive a signal, and is exposed to the outside and installed in the case, and an operation unit 15 for receiving a user's operation command. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 15 is provided as a remote control light receiving unit. The case 10 has a circuit portion (not shown) in which various circuits are mounted.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the connection terminal panel includes, for example, external output terminals 41, 42, 43, 44 for outputting signals to an external video device, which may typically be a television, and in particular a digital television or a projector. A VGA output terminal 45 that can be connected is provided. In addition, the video signal input terminals 31, 32, and 33 to which an external video signal is input are included. According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the mounting groove 11 is provided with a charging terminal (not shown) for charging the portable computer when combined with the portable computer. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a connection terminal panel is provided with USB ports 51 and IEEE1394 port 52 which extend serial communication ports of a portable computer.

2 illustrates an example of a state in which a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device and another device are connected and used according to an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figure 2 will be described to help the understanding of the state of use of the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting apparatus according to the present invention. In one example of a typical use state, the multimedia relay device 1 in the form of a stationary device is basically connected to the television 3. The external output terminal of the multimedia relay device 1 in the form of a mounting device is connected to an external video input terminal of a television. The portable computer 5 is mounted in the mounting groove of the multimedia relay device 1 in the form of a mounting device.

At the same time, a signal connection is made between the portable computer and the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device. At this time, the portable computer starts charging, and detects the mounted state and boots at a high speed by a dedicated operating system used in the mounted state. After booting, the portable computer executes the application program (s) provided according to the present invention to play the multimedia files stored in the external memory 9 connected to the multimedia relay device in the form of its own memory or a stationary device. The user can operate the remote controller 8 with the operation unit of the multimedia relay device 1 in the form of a stationary device to select content, control playback, search, rewind, and fast playback. For example, a user can operate a remote control to run an album application on a portable computer to enjoy photos stored on the portable computer's hard disk. As another example, a user can operate a remote control to drive a DVD player on a portable computer and enjoy it on the television 3.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the multimedia relay device 1 in the form of a mounting device is provided with external input terminals 31, 32, 33. In one example, the external input terminal can be connected to the video output terminal of the television. The user may operate the remote controller 8 to store the currently broadcast program as a compressed image file in his computer. In another example shown, the external input terminal can be connected to VTIAL 7. The user can save the purchased content stored on tape to a file on the hard disk of his computer. The file stored in this way can be easily retrieved and reproduced by the operation of the remote controller 8 again. This approach makes it possible to implement a personal video recorder (PVR) with very good performance at a very economical price.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a circuit unit of a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, a circuit of a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown, the circuit unit provided inside the case of the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting apparatus according to the present embodiment processes an image signal input from the interface unit 13 to output external terminals 41, 42, 43, 44, A signal processing unit 500 including a reproduction processing unit 510 output to 45, and a control unit controlling the signal processing unit 500 according to an operation command from the operation unit 300 or a control command from the interface unit 13 ( 100).

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the interface unit 13 between the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device and a portable computer is provided to the system bus 900 in a circuit. This allows the two devices to share the bus directly, allowing for high speed information exchange in a more general form.

In one embodiment, the operation command in the form of a signal received from the remote control is converted into a digital data form by the control unit 100 is transmitted to the portable computer via the system bus 900. The portable computer constructs a user interface screen according to the command and transmits the screen to the signal processor 500. The signal processing unit 500 reproduces and outputs the received user interface screen, which is displayed on an external television 3 screen. Therefore, the user can operate a multimedia system composed of a multimedia relay device and a portable computer in the form of a stationary device while viewing a large user interface screen.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 100 may be directly controlled by a command from the operation unit 300, but preferably, the command input from the operation unit 300 is transmitted to the portable computer by the control unit 100, The portable computer interprets the command, completes the task to be processed, and transmits the command to be processed by the multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device together with the result information. The controller 100 of the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device receives such a command from the system bus 900 to control the entire system including the signal processor 500. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the control unit 100 controls the entire system only by the command from the operation unit 300, or at the same time by both the command of the portable computer received through the system bus 900. It is of course also possible to control the entire system.

In one embodiment, the reproduction processing unit 510 is a reconstruction unit 511 for reconstructing the compressed video signal received from the interface unit 13, that is, the system bus 900, and the reproduced video signal can be reproduced on a television. And a signal converter 513 for converting the signal into a signal. That is, the media files are transmitted in a compressed form from the portable computer to the multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device. In addition, the restored standard video signal is output after being converted into one or a plurality of various input formats supported by an external television. In one embodiment, the external output terminal for outputting the video signal processed by the signal conversion unit 513 is S-Video output terminal 41, DVI (Digital Video Interface) output terminal, composite video signal output terminal 43 ), The component video signal 44, the VGA output terminal 45, and the like, or a combination thereof. Since the configuration of the restoration unit 511 and the signal conversion unit 513 itself is well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, the multimedia relay device 1 in the form of a mounting device further includes external input terminals 31, 32, and 33 for receiving an image signal from the outside, and the signal processing unit 500 includes these external devices. The apparatus further includes a recording processor 530 which processes the image signals input from the input terminals 31, 32, and 33 into an image format to be recorded and transmits the image signals to the portable computer through the interface unit. As described above, the video signal input from the outside may be, for example, a broadcast program signal of a television. The external input terminal may be, for example, one or a combination of the S-video signal input terminal 31, the DVI (Digital Video Interface) terminal 32, and the composite video signal input terminal 33.

According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the recording processor 530 includes a signal converter 533 for converting an image signal input from the outside into a signal of a standard format, and a compressor 531 for compressing the converted standard video signal. It is configured by. According to this aspect, the multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device according to the present invention can be used as a device having an economical and convenient user interface that converts video contents stored in a broadcast program or other media into a standard video compressed signal and stores it in its own computer. Can be. Since the signal converter 533 and the compressor 531 are structures corresponding to the signal converter 513 and the restorer 511 of the playback processor 510, the signal converter 533 and the compressor 531 are well known in themselves. do.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a circuit portion of a multimedia relay device in the form of a cradle device includes serial communication hubs 710 and 730 connected to a serial communication port of a portable computer, and at least one expansion serial port 711, 713, 731, 733 connected to the serial communication hub. Include. In one embodiment, this serial communication hub and expansion serial port may be USB and / or IEEE1394. By such a universal serial interface, it is possible to connect various peripheral devices such as an external hard disk, as well as a user interface device such as a mouse or a joystick, to the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device according to the present invention. The connected peripherals communicate directly with the portable computer through the hubs 710 and 730, so that they can be easily utilized by only changing application programs.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is located in the mounting groove, and further includes a charging terminal for charging the portable computer, the circuit portion input power from the outside It may further include a charging circuit for generating a power to be supplied to the charging terminal from the. Accordingly, the portable computer can be supplied with a stable power even in a mounted state, and the user can enjoy the multimedia contents and simultaneously charge his portable computer.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a portable computer to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 4. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a portable computer to which the present invention is applied.

As shown, the portable computer includes a media player 400, a recording processor 600, and a controller 200 provided as an application program. For example, the storage unit 800, which is a permanent memory such as a hard disk, stores media files 820 and 840 such as a multimedia file, a digital camera image, and an audio source file. The portable computer communicates with the multimedia relay device in the form of an external mounting device through the system bus 900. Optionally, the portable computer may include a DVD player 1000. In one embodiment, the DVD player 1000 may be composed of player hardware and software including a codec for playing the same.

Although not shown, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the portable computer further includes a configuration such as a display unit such as a liquid crystal monitor, a pointing device such as a touch pad, and a RAM or the like as a temporary memory. It is also apparent that the application programs constituting the media reproducing unit 400, the recording processing unit 600, and the control unit 200 are executed and processed in the CPU of the portable computer.

The operation command of the remote controller is processed by the operation unit 300 and the control unit 100 of the multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device and is input to the control unit 200 of the portable computer through the system bus 900. The controller 200 controls the corresponding playback module of the media player 400 to play the file selected by the storage 800 according to the command.

The video player 420 of the media player 400 decompresses and restores compressed image files of various formats stored in the storage 800, and then compresses the compressed video files into a standard format through the system bus 900. Transmission to the multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device. Accordingly, the multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device can play various video files with only one codec. In another example, the video player 420 may further process this by simple conversion of the compression format. This is possible if the format is very similar to the standard compression format.

The album processing unit 440 converts the digital camera images stored in the storage unit 800 into a standard format, and additionally configures a graphic album screen using album data stored in the storage unit 800, and then places the two data. To the multimedia relay device of the form. The multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device restores the received digital camera image and mixes it with the graphic album screen to display the overlapped image. Such processing is described in detail in a dozen patent applications filed by the applicant in Korea.

The audio reproducing unit 460 converts audio sound source files, such as, for example, MP3 files, stored in the storage unit 800 into a standard format under the control of the control unit 200, and converts them into a standard format through a system bus 900. To the device.

According to a characteristic aspect of the present invention, a portable computer coupled with a multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device according to the present invention may be combined with a multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device, in addition to a general operating system used when booting as a general computer. It is provided with an operating system for multimedia playback that detects this and operates to boot. For example, the general operating system may be Microsoft Windows, Inc., a Windows operating system, and the playback operating system may be a Linux-based real-time operating system. The detection of the coupling of the multimedia relay in the form of a stationary device is possible by optical or mechanical sensors, which can be easily realized by adding such a sensor to a portable computer.

As described in detail above, the present invention provides a relay device that allows a user to enjoy a file stored on a computer on a television in the form of a multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device for a portable computer, thereby eliminating troublesome and repetitive wiring work. There is an effect to increase.

Furthermore, since the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting apparatus according to the present invention is interfaced with a portable computer by a system bus, general and high-speed information exchange is possible, and various applications are possible without limitation by application programs of the portable computer.

In addition, the multimedia relay device in the form of a docking device according to the present invention is combined with a portable computer equipped with a dedicated operating system that is fast booted for multimedia playback in addition to the general operating system of the portable computer, thereby minimizing waiting time due to initialization. There are advantages to it.

Furthermore, the multimedia relay device in the form of a cradle device according to the present invention has an advantage that it can be extended to a multimedia device having various functions by utilizing various peripheral devices that can be connected to a computer by including a universal serial interface hub in itself. For example, the multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device according to the present invention may operate as a game machine for playing a game stored in a portable computer by connecting a joystick. In this case, the user additionally has the advantageous features of the present invention, which can omit the complicated wiring process of connecting the computer to the television as a game machine.

The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, but is not limited thereto, and is interpreted by the appended claims, which are intended to cover many variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Should be done.

Claims (10)

delete A case including a mounting groove on which the portable computer device is mounted; At least one interface unit located in the mounting groove and coupled to the portable computer device to transmit and receive a signal; At least one external output terminal for outputting a signal to an external video device; An operation unit exposed to the outside and installed in the case and receiving a user's operation command; A signal processing unit including a reproduction processing unit for processing the video signal input from the interface unit and outputting the image signal to the external output terminal, and controlling the signal processing unit according to an operation command from the operation unit or a control command from the interface unit, Includes a control unit for transmitting a control command from the operation unit to the portable computer through the interface, the circuit unit provided inside the case; The reproduction processing unit includes a restoring unit for restoring the compressed video signal received from the interface unit, and a signal converting unit for converting the restored video signal into a signal that can be played back on a television. Multimedia relay device. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the relay device is: Located in the mounting groove, and further comprises a charging terminal for charging the portable computer, And the circuit unit further comprises a charging circuit unit which generates power to be supplied to the charging terminal from power input from the outside. 3. The multimedia relay device according to claim 2, wherein the operation unit is a remote control light receiving unit. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, The relay device further comprises an external input terminal for receiving a video signal from the outside, And a recording processing unit which processes the video signal input from the external input terminal into a recording format and transmits the image signal to the portable computer through the interface unit. 6. The portable apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recording processor comprises a signal converter for converting an image signal input from the outside into a signal of a standard format, and a compressor 531 for compressing the converted standard image signal. Multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device for a computer. 4. The multimedia relay device according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the interface unit is a system bus. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a serial communication hub connected to a serial communication port of the portable computer and at least one expansion serial port connected to the serial communication hub. Multimedia relay device in the form of a mounting device for a portable computer, characterized in that. 9. The multimedia relay device of claim 8, wherein the serial communication hub and the extended serial port are USB and / or IEEE1394. A portable computer coupled to a multimedia relay device in the form of a stationary device according to claim 2, wherein the portable computer operates to detect and boot when combined with a relay device in addition to the general operating system used when the portable computer is booted as a general computer. A portable computer, comprising a plurality of operating systems further comprising an operating system for playing multimedia.

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