KR20000075422A - Information processing apparatus and method thereof, and program storing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible to easily operate a predetermined device at a remote location.

In the HTML storage unit 23, data of an operation format in HTML format for operating the video tape recorder 1 is stored. In addition, the video tape recorder 1 stores a unique URL. The user inputs the URL of the video tape recorder 1 to a device connected to the network, thereby connecting the device and the video tape recorder 1 via the network. The network transmission / reception unit 24 transmits the data of the operation screen stored in the HTML storage unit 23 to the connected device. The user remotely operates the video tape recorder 1 by performing a desired operation while watching the operation screen displayed on the display device based on the data.

Description

Information processing apparatus and method, program storing medium

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method and a program storage medium, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus and method and a program storage medium suitable for use in a user interface when operating a predetermined device at a remote location.

In the video tape recorder, when a recording schedule of a program or the like is made, the user operates an operation button provided on the front surface of the video tape recorder or the like or an operation button of a dedicated remote controller. In some video tape recorders, telephone lines are connected so that operations similar to operations performed by using a remote controller or the like such as recording reservation of a program at a remote location can be performed.

When the above-mentioned video tape recorder is operated remotely, the user must enter the operation code for operating the video tape recorder by using a telephone or the like, so the operation code must be stored. In addition, as an operation code, a unique operation code is set for each model of the video tape recorder, and there is no uniformity. For example, a user having a plurality of video tape recorders must store the operation code for each model. It became. For this reason, the user sometimes enters a wrong operation code, and as a result, there is a problem that the user interface becomes poor in usability.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is not necessary to tap an operation code or the like by holding data for displaying an operation screen and transmitting the data to a connected device via a network such as the Internet. It also provides a user-friendly user interface.

1 is a diagram showing a connection state between a video tape recorder to which the present invention is applied and another device.

2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a video tape recorder.

3 is a flowchart illustrating the transfer of data between a video tape recorder and a personal computer.

4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an image displayed on the display 8.

5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of another image displayed on the display 8.

6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of another image displayed on the display 8.

7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an IP packet and an asynchronous packet.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1. Video tape recorder 2. PC

3. Display 4. 1394 bus

5. Network 6. PHS Base Station

7. PC 8. Display

9. Mobile Computer 10. PHS

11. Antenna 21. Program broadcasting receiver

22. CPU 23. HTML Preservation Unit

24. Transceiver for network 24. 1394 interface

26. Control panel 27. Recording and playback section

29. Bus 41. Control panel display

42. Command Button 43. Recording Schedule Button

44. Channel Display 45. Operation Display

46. Cursor 51. Image Display

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 includes a holding means for holding data of an operation screen in HTML format and an HTML format held by the holding means when connected to another information processing apparatus via a network by inputting a unique URL. The data of the operation screen of the user is transmitted to the other information processing apparatus, and the data corresponding to the processing performed by the user using the operation screen displayed on the other information processing apparatus is received by the transmitted HTML format operation screen. And transmitting and receiving means, and execution means for executing a process corresponding to the data received by the transmitting and receiving means.

The button provided in the data of the operation screen can be correspondingly attached with a URL based on its function.

The transmitting and receiving means may transmit and receive the data using an IP packet or transmit and receive the data using an asynchronous packet transmitted and received via an IEEE 1394 bus.

When transmitting and receiving data via the IEEE 1394 bus, the transmitting and receiving means transmits and receives the data between the IEEE 1394 bus and the network via another information processing apparatus.

An information processing method according to claim 6 includes a maintenance step of holding data of an operation screen in HTML format, and an HTML format held in a maintenance step when a unique URL is input and connected to another information processing apparatus via a network. The data of the operation screen is transmitted to other information processing apparatuses, and the data corresponding to the processing performed by the user using the operation screen displayed on the other information processing apparatus is received by the data of the transmitted operation format in HTML format. And an execution step for executing a process corresponding to the data received in the transmission / reception step.

The program stored in the program storage medium according to claim 7 is held in a holding step of holding data of an operation screen in HTML format and in a holding step when a unique URL is input and connected to another information processing apparatus via a network. The data of the operation form in HTML format is transmitted to other information processing apparatuses, and the processing performed by the user is performed by the data of the operation form in HTML format transmitted using the operation screen displayed on other information processing apparatuses. And a step of transmitting and receiving the corresponding data, and executing a process corresponding to the data received in the transmitting and receiving step.

In the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, the information processing method according to claim 6, and the program stored in the program storage medium according to claim 7, the data of the operation screen in HTML format is retained, and a unique URL is inputted so that the network can be connected. When connected to another information processing apparatus via the operation, the data of the operation form of the HTML format held is transmitted to the other information processing apparatus, and the operation displayed on the other information processing apparatus by the data of the operation form of the HTML format transmitted. Data corresponding to the processing performed by the user using the screen is received, and processing corresponding to the received data is executed.

1 is a diagram showing a connection example of a video tape recorder to another device to which the present invention is applied. The video tape recorder 1 and the PC (personal computer) 2 are connected to the network 5 via a telephone line. The PC 2 is connected to the display 3. The video tape recorder 1 and the PC 2 are connected to each other on an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394 bus 4.

For example, a network 5 such as the Internet is connected to a personal handy phone system (PHS) base station 6 and a video tape recorder 1 that are remote from the PC 7. The PC 7 is connected to the display 8 as a display device. The mobile computer 9 is a small personal computer that can be carried, and the PHS 10 is connected so that it can communicate with other devices. The signal transmitted from the PHS 10 connected to the mobile computer 9 is transmitted to the PHS base station 6 via the nearest antenna 11.

2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the video tape recorder 1. The program broadcast receiver 21 receives, selects, and outputs a program transmitted from a broadcast station by an instruction from the CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22. The HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) storage section 23 (holding means) is configured as a memory and stores a document in HTML format described later. The HTML storage section 23 also stores software such as an operating system (OS), a browser, and the like necessary for handling data in HTML format, and the CPU 22 operates according to the OS or the like. The HTML storage section 23 also stores a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) client software program. Therefore, when the video tape recorder 1 is connected to the PC 2, the IP (Internet Protocol) address is automatically assigned by the control from the DHCP server software in the PC 2. This procedure is the same as the method of allocating an IP address to a known computer terminal.

In addition, in order to make it easy for a user to understand the IP address which shows the address on a network, it is known to express it by URL (Uniform Resource Locator) using a domain name system, and also in this embodiment, the video tape recorder 1 Is assigned as a URL (for example, http://mysonyvideo.com). The network transmission / reception unit 24 (transmission / reception means) is configured of, for example, a modem, and is directly connected to the network 5 via a telephone line.

The 1394 interface 25 (transmission and reception means) is connected to the 1394 bus 4 and receives data from the PC 2. The operation unit 26 is constituted by a remote controller or the like and transmits an instruction from a user. The recording / reproducing section 27 records a program received by the program broadcast receiving section 21 on the videotape by an instruction from the user (instruction from the CPU 22), or records a program recorded on the videotape. To play.

In the drive 28, a magnetic disk 31, an optical disk 32, a magneto-optical disk 33, or a semiconductor memory 34 is mounted, and a program or the like is loaded.

Each part mentioned above is mutually connected by the bus 29. As shown in FIG. In addition, the operation of each unit is controlled by the CPU 22.

Next, an operation when the user operates the video tape recorder 1 using the PC 7 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3. In step S1, the user connects the PC 7 to the provider (not shown) of the network 5 by performing a predetermined operation (for example, dialing up to the network 5).

In step S2, the PC 7 requests the video tape recorder 1 to transmit data on the operation screen. Specifically, the URL (for example, http://mysonyvideo.com/index.HTML) of the operation screen data of the video tape recorder 1 defined as described above is located in the IP header 111 of the IP packet. The destination address 114 (see Fig. 7 to be described later) is designated, and the IP packet is transmitted to the video tape recorder 1. If the network transmitting and receiving unit 24 of the video tape recorder 1 judges that it is connected to the PC 7 in step S3, in other words, it determines that transmission of data on the operation screen is requested, the step ( In S4), data (GUI data) of the operation screen as HTML data specified by the URL stored in the HTML storage section 23 is transmitted to the PC 7.

As described above, a unique URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is set in the video tape recorder 1, and the URL is inputted from the PC 7 by the user, whereby the PC 7 and the video tape recorder 1 ) Is connected via the network (5). When the video tape recorder 1 is connected via the PC 7 and the network 5, the video tape recorder 1 transmits data of the operation screen stored in the HTML storage section 23 to the connected PC 7.

In step S5, the PC 7 receives the data (HTML data) of the operation screen transmitted from the video tape recorder 1, and saves it. In addition, in step S6, the PC 7 causes the display 8 to display the operation screen of the video tape recorder 1 using the data of the received operation screen. 4 shows an example of the display of the operation screen displayed on the display 7 connected to the PC 7.

In the upper portion of the screen of the display 8, an operating device display portion 41 is displayed which displays the name of the device to be operated (the video tape recorder in the example of FIG. 4). Below that, command buttons 42-1 to 42-5 are displayed. The command button 42-1 is a recording button, the command button 42-2 is a play button, the command button 42-3 is a stop button, the command button 42-4 is a fast rewind button and a command button 42-. 5) shows a quick send button.

URLs are also assigned (linked) to the various command buttons. For example, the command button 42-1, which is a recording button, includes http: // mysonyvideo. com / rec.jpg and the command button 42-2, which is a playback button, include http: // mysonyvideo. com / play. As in jpg, a URL corresponding to the function of the command button is specified. In this URL, "http" denotes a transmission protocol, "mysonyvideo.com" denotes a device corresponding to an IP address, and "rec.jpg" denotes a file name indicating a command for causing the apparatus to perform a recording operation. .jpg "denotes file names each representing a command for causing the device to perform a playback operation.

The recording reservation button 43 is a button operated when recording recording is performed. The channel display section 44 displays the channel number on which the recorded program is broadcast. On the right side of the channel display section 44, buttons for changing the channel number (increase or decrease the channel number) are displayed. The operation display unit 45 displays what operation state the device displayed on the operation device display unit 41 is in. In the display example of FIG. 4, the video tape recorder 1 is displayed in the air (no operation such as recording or reproducing).

The user performs a predetermined input by operating the cursor 46 displayed on the display 8 using a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a jog dial (not shown), or the like of the PC 7. . Here, the process of step S7 and below is demonstrated as an example taking the case where the recording of the program broadcasted at that time as a predetermined input is input.

In step S6, when the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display 8, in step S7, the cursor 46 is operated by the user, and the command button 42-1 (recording button) is performed. ) Is clicked. At this time, the PC 7 stores data of the URL corresponding to the command button 42-1, in the above example, http: // mysonyvideo. com / rec.jpg is specified in the destination address section 114 in the IP packet and transmitted to the video tape recorder 1. In step S8, the network transmitting / receiving unit 24 of the video tape recorder 1 receives the information indicating that the command button 42-1 for recording has been clicked on the IP packet.

The CPU 22 extracts the URL (http://mysonyvideo.com/rec.jpg in the present example) specified therein from the destination address section 114 in the received data, and the URL. Is read from the HTML storage section 23, and the command written in the file is read. That is, the CPU 22 converts the URL into a control command for controlling the recording / playback section 27, and in step S9 controls the recording / playback section 27 in accordance with the command to start recording. .

In step S10, the CPU 22 of the video tape recorder 1 transmits data indicating that recording has started to the PC 7 as HTML data (for example, renow.HTML). When the PC 7 receives data indicating the start of recording in step S11, the display 7 displays a display on the display 8 indicating that recording is started (recording) in step S12. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the display of the operation display part 45 becomes "recording."

In step S13, when the command button 42-3 (stop button) is clicked by the user operating the cursor 46, data indicating it is transmitted from the PC 7 to the video tape recorder 1; do. Also in this case, the data of the URL corresponding to the command button 42-3 is transmitted similarly to the above-described recording instruction. In step S14, the network transmitting / receiving unit 24 of the video tape recorder 1 receives data of a URL indicating recording stop transmitted from the PC 7.

In step S15, the CPU 22 of the video tape recorder 1 stops recording by the recording / playback unit 27 in accordance with the received URL data. In step S16, the CPU 22 transmits data (for example, stop. HTML) indicating that the recording has been stopped to the PC 7 as instructed by the user. In step S17, the PC 7 that has received the data relating to the stop of recording transmitted from the video tape recorder 1 displays a display on the display 8 indicating that the recording is stopped in step S18. Shall.

As the display example shown in FIG. 4, the display of the operation display unit 45 may be "waiting", or the display of the operation display unit 45 may be "recording stop" or the like.

In the above description, the recording and the recording stop have been described, but the reproduction will be described below. Since the flow of data between the PC 7 and the video tape recorder 1 is the same as in the case where the recording of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is replaced with the reproduction, the description thereof is omitted.

When the screen displayed on the display 8 is in the state as shown in Fig. 4, when the user operates the cursor 46 and clicks the command button 42-2 (playback button), the command button The corresponding URL data (for example, http://mysonyvideo.com/play.jpg) is transmitted to the video tape recorder 1. The CPU 22 of the video tape recorder 1 converts the received URL data into a control command of the video tape recorder 1, and judges that the data indicates the playback instruction of the video tape. ) Is instructed to reproduce. The reproduced moving image data is changed to the format existing in the network 5 by using the protocol stored in the HTML storage section 23 together with the audio data, and transmitted to the PC 7 by the network transmission / reception section 24. Is sent against.

By playing back the received data on the PC 7, the data reproduced by the video tape recorder 1 is displayed on the display 8. 6 shows an example of the screen of the display 8 when the reproduced image data is displayed.

On the lower side of the display 8, the command buttons 42-2 to 42-6 are reduced and displayed. Instead of the recording button (command button 42-1) as the command button 42-6, a pause button (command button 42-6) is added and displayed. The image display unit 51 reproduces and displays the image data reproduced by the video tape recorder 1. Voice data is pronounced by a speaker not shown.

In this way, when the user operates the cursor 46 while the image is displayed on the image display unit 51 and clicks any command button among the command buttons 42-2 to 42-6, the clicked Processing corresponding to the command button is performed in the PC 7 and the video tape recorder 1.

In the display example shown in FIG. 6, command buttons 42-2 to 42-6 are displayed, but may be stored in a task bar or the like and displayed as necessary.

The display example of the display 8 shown in FIGS. 4-6 is one example, and does not mean limiting. For example, in the display example shown in Fig. 4, a video box is provided in which text can be inputted, and the video tape set in the video tape recorder 1 as the title of a program to record the text inputted in the text box. You may be able to record in the

It is also possible to record the image data and the audio data transmitted from the PC 7 to the video tape set in the video tape recorder 1. Specifically, the command button 42-1 serving as the recording button is provided in the selected item of the channel display section 44, for example, an item of " record the transmitted data " and the item is selected. When clicked, the data specified by the user is transmitted and recorded.

In the above description, although the video tape recorder 1 was operated using the PC 7, the same operation can be performed by the same processing even using the mobile computer 9. In addition, it is also possible to perform the same process using the PC 2 connected by the video tape recorder 1 and the 1394 bus 4. When the PC 2 is used and the same processing is performed, the data transfer is performed by the 1394 interface 25 of the video tape recorder 1.

That is, the IP packet transmitted from the PC 7 is received by the PC 2 via the network 5, and the PC 2 controls the video tape recorder 1 via the 1394 bus 4, in this case Since the PC 2 handles IP (Internet Protocol), an IP packet is embedded in an asynchronous packet data area defined in IEEE 1394 in order to transmit data to the 1394 bus 4. In FIG. 7, the relationship between an IP packet and an asynchronous packet is shown typically.

As shown in FIG. 7, the asynchronous packet prescribed | regulated by IEEE1394 consists of the header part 101 and the data part 102, and the above-mentioned IP packet is embedded in the data part 102. As shown in FIG.

The IP packet is composed of an IP header section 111 and a command area 112. In the 1P header section 111, a source address section 113 indicating a transmission source and a destination address section 114 indicating an address destination are provided. As described above, the URL information such as each command button is stored in this destination address section 114.

Conversely, when data is transmitted from the video tape recorder 1 to the PC 7, the IP address of the PC 7 is described in the destination address section 114, and the IP of the video tape recorder 1 is transmitted. The address is described in the source address unit 113 and HTML data is stored in the command area 112. The IP packet is stored in the data portion 102, and the asynchronous packet in which the PC 2 is stored as an address destination in the header portion 101 is sent to the PC 2 via the 1394 bus 4. The PC 2 converts the received 1394 asynchronous packets into IP packets and transmits them to the PC 7.

The data reproduced by the above-described video tape recorder 1 is converted into an asynchronous packet for reproducing moving picture information using the 1394 protocol stored in the HTML storage section 23 and transmitted to the PC 2. . The PC 2 converts the asynchronous packet into an IP packet, and transmits it to the PC 7 via the network 5.

In the above-described example, the video tape recorder 1 is operated by a PC 7 located at a remote location. However, the present invention is applicable not only to the video tape recorder 1 but also to an apparatus such as an audio device or an air conditioner. It is possible to. In addition, although the video tape recorder 1 and the PC 2 were demonstrated as being connected by the 1394 bus 4, you may connect with another cable.

In this specification, the program which executes the above-mentioned series of processes is installed in the HTML storage part 23 of the video tape recorder 1, and it is made into the state executable by the CPU 22 of the video tape recorder 1. Examples of program storage media used for this purpose include magnetic disks 31 (including floppy disks), optical disks (including Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disks (DVD), etc.), magneto-optical devices. In addition to the disk (including the mini disk) 33 or the package media such as the semiconductor memory 34, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk or the like in which a program is temporarily or permanently stored can be used. Of course, the program may be stored in advance in the HTML storage section 23. As a means for storing a program in these program storage media, wired and wireless communication media such as a local area network, the Internet, and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and at that time, various communication interfaces such as a router and a modem are interposed. Also good.

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, the information processing method according to claim 6, and the program stored in the program storage medium according to claim 7, the data of the operation screen in HTML format is maintained, and the unique URL is When inputted and connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, the data of the HTML-formatted operation screen is transmitted to other information processing apparatuses, and other information is processed by the data of the HTML-formatted operation screen. Since the operation screen displayed on the device is used to receive data corresponding to the processing performed by the user and to execute the processing corresponding to the received data, it is possible to provide a user interface suitable for use in remote operation or the like. do.

Claims (7)

Holding means for holding data of an operation screen in HTML format; When the unique URL is input and connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, the HTML transmitted operation data of the HTML format held by the holding means is transmitted to the other information processing apparatus, and the transmitted HTML is transmitted. Transmission and reception means for receiving data corresponding to a process performed by a user using the operation screen displayed on the other information processing apparatus based on data of an operation screen of a format; And execution means for executing a process corresponding to data received by said transmission / reception means. The method of claim 1, An information processing apparatus characterized in that a button is provided to correspond to a button provided in data of the operation screen based on the function. The method of claim 1, And the transmitting and receiving means transmits and receives the data using an IP packet. The method of claim 1, And the transmitting and receiving means transmits and receives the data using an asynchronous packet transmitted and received via an IEEE 1394 bus. The method of claim 4, wherein And the transmitting and receiving means transmits and receives the data between the IEEE 1394 bus and the network via another information processing apparatus when transmitting and receiving data via the IEEE 1394 bus. A maintenance step of holding data of the operation screen in HTML format; When a unique URL is input and connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, the HTML format operation screen data held in the holding step is transmitted to the other information processing apparatus, and the transmitted HTML format is transmitted. A transmission / reception step of receiving data corresponding to a process performed by a user using the operation screen displayed on the other information processing apparatus based on the data of the operation screen of And an execution step of executing a process corresponding to the data received in the transmission / reception step. A maintenance step of holding data of the operation screen in HTML format; When a unique URL is input and connected to another information processing apparatus via a network, the HTML format operation screen data held in the holding step is transmitted to the other information processing apparatus, and the transmitted HTML format is transmitted. A transmission / reception step of receiving data corresponding to a process performed by a user using the operation screen displayed on the other information processing apparatus based on the data of the operation screen of And an execution step of executing a process corresponding to the data received in the transmission / reception step, wherein the computer-readable program for executing the process in the information processing apparatus is stored.