KR20050082110A - Multi device access system and audio and video device with multi device accessing fungtion - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-device access system is disclosed. The system generates at least one selection signal for selecting one of a plurality of devices and a plurality of devices, and is provided between a host performing data communication with a device selected by the selection signal, a plurality of devices, and a host. And a bus for transmitting data therebetween, and a signal generation unit for generating a device selection signal corresponding to the number of possible generations according to the number of selection signals, and selecting one of a plurality of devices as the generated device selection signal. . According to such a multi-device access system, even if the host has only one of the primary channel and the secondary channel, four devices can be connected. If the host has both the primary channel and the secondary channel, up to eight devices can be connected. Can connect Accordingly, even hosts having one or two channels can be equipped with four to eight devices, which can be implemented without changing or modifying the device itself.

Description

Multi device access system and A device having multi device access function using same {Multi device access system and Audio and video device with multi device accessing fungtion}

The present invention relates to a system and an AV apparatus that can access a plurality of devices, and more particularly, to a system and an AV apparatus that can be easily installed with additional devices in a system or AV apparatus designed to access a limited number of devices.

In general, hard disk drives (HDDs), which have high data storage capability at a low price, are widely used as storage media of computer systems or audio and video (AV) devices, and have an Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) interface. Is mainstream. The ATAPI interface is applied to optical media such as CDROM and DVDROM as well as hard disk drive, and can connect with up to four devices.

1 shows an example of a computer system employing a conventional ATAPI interface.

The illustrated computer system includes a processor (CPU) 10, a RAM (RAM) 20, a graphics device (AGP) 30, an input / output unit (I / O) 40, and an optical medium (ODD) 50. And a hard disk drive (HDD) 60, which are commonly connected via a bus. The bus BUS serves as a transmission path for transferring data and addresses between the devices 10 to 60.

The hard disk drive (HDD) 60 stores an operating system for driving a computer system and an application program installed by a user. Operating systems and applications are optionally installed by the user. The processor 10 processes instructions and data according to an operating system and an application program stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) 60, and stores temporary data generated in the process in the RAM 20. The graphic device (AGP) 30 converts the graphic data processed by the processor (CPU) 10 into an RGB signal for display on a monitor. Currently, in the case of an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) type graphics device, a graphic processing unit (VPU) that processes graphics data in place of the processor (CPU) 10 is often processed directly. The optical medium (ODD) 50 refers to an optical medium such as a CDROM or a DVDROM, and the input / output unit (I / O) 40 is connected to an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse to receive input signals generated from these input devices. Transfer to the processor (CPU) (10).

Preferably, the hard disk drive (HDD) 60 has a disk portion 61, a controller 62, and a ROM 63.

The disk unit 61 includes a platter 61a capable of recording and reproducing at least one, and reads data recorded on the platter 61a at a predetermined distance from the platter 61a, or the platter 61a. A head 61b for recording data. The controller 62 controls the head 61b provided in the disk portion 61 to position the head 61b at the position of the data recorded on the platter 61a, or to place the data on the platter 61a. The head 61b is placed in the area to be recorded. The ROM 63 may include information about a hard disk drive (HDD) 60, for example, the number of platters 61a provided in the hard disk drive (HDD) 60, the number of heads 61b, and sectors. Information such as the number and the size of the sector is stored. Accordingly, when the computer system boots for the first time, the monitor (not shown) can know the general information about the hard disk drive (HDD) 60, and the computer system can control the hard disk drive (HDD) ( 60) can be recognized.

FIG. 2 conceptually illustrates an access method of the hard disk drive shown in FIG. 1.

The ATAPI interface may be a hard disk drive (HDD) 60 or an optical medium (ODD) 50 and may be mounted up to four in a computer system. As shown, the primary channel is equipped with a device IDE1 (60a) and the device IDE2 (60b), and the secondary channel is equipped with a device IDE3 (60c) and IDE4 (60d). Among these, device IDE1 60a and device IDE3 60c are called master devices, and device IDE2 60b and device IDE4 60d are called slave devices. Typically, the master device is bootable through the operating system. Each device 60a to 60d is selected by the selection signals C1 to C4 generated by the processor 10, and the selected device is licensed for the bus BUS 10 or the other. Data is exchanged with the RAM 20. The devices IDE1 60a to IDE4 60d can be devices according to ATAPI interfaces such as hard disk drives, CDROMs, and DVDROMs.

3 schematically shows how an ATAPI type device is actually mounted in a computer system.

As shown, the ATAPI type device is connected to the main board 70 via a cable. The main board 70 is provided with connection terminals 71 and 72 for connecting with the device according to the ATAPI interface, and each connection terminal can be connected with two devices through one cable. In the drawing, two devices 60a and 60b are connected to the primary connection terminal 71, which may be a hard disk drive (HDD) 60 or an optical medium (ODD) 50. On the other hand, as described above, the ATAPI interface can be equipped with up to four devices. This means that you cannot add devices with additional ATAPI interfaces to your computer system. Currently, hard disk drives or optical media based on ATAPI interfaces are widely used in DVD recording and playback devices, MP3s, and set-top boxes as well as computer systems. These AV devices often have a processor with a simpler function than a computer system, and, unlike the processor (CPU) 10 mounted on the computer system, are often designed to access only a primary channel. In other words, many devices are designed so that only two devices can access the ATAPI interface. This is because an AV device such as a DVD recording and playback device or an MP3 only needs a single hard disk drive or an optical medium, which is a limitation in adding devices to the AV device. Since the devices according to these ATAPI interfaces are already widely used all over the world, it is not easy to change the ATAPI interface itself or to change the device so that several devices can be mounted. Accordingly, up to four devices according to the conventional ATAPI interface may be mounted, and even if a user or a developer of an AV device attempts to mount four or more devices, there is a problem in that it cannot be performed. Furthermore, in the case of a DVD playback and recording apparatus equipped with a processor having only a primary channel, a DVD player for playing a DVD and a hard disk drive as a storage medium for recording AV data recorded in the DVD player are used. There is a problem that can not be added to the device.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to increase the number of devices that can be mounted on the system and the AV device for mounting the device according to the ATAPI interface, the device according to the existing ATAPI interface It is to provide a system and an AV device that can increase the number of devices mounted without changing the.

The above object is in accordance with the present invention, a plurality of devices, a host for generating at least one selection signal for selecting any one of the plurality of devices, and performing data communication with the device selected by the selection signal, the plurality Buses for transmitting data between the two devices and the host, and a device selection signal corresponding to the number of cases where the data can be generated according to the number of the selection signals, and generating the plurality of device selection signals using the generated device selection signals. This is accomplished by a signal generator for selecting one of the devices.

The host may generate a selection signal for selecting the plurality of devices, and apply the generated selection signal to the signal generator.

The host is preferably any one of a microprocessor and a control logic including the microprocessor.

Preferably, the plurality of devices perform data communication with the host through an Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) interface.

The signal generation unit is preferably implemented as a de-multiplexer.

The above object is according to the present invention, a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal, a playback unit for reproducing the broadcast signal in video and audio, at least one device for storing the broadcast signal, the broadcast signal between the device and the playback unit A control unit for generating a transmission direction of the at least one device, generating a selection signal for selecting the at least one device, and generating a device selection signal corresponding to the number of possible generations according to the number of the selection signals, and selecting the generated device. A signal generator for selecting any one of the plurality of devices as a signal is achieved.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes an encoder unit provided between the playback unit and the control unit to convert the video and audio signals into a predetermined format.

Preferably, the predetermined format is a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format.

Preferably, one of the devices stores the broadcast signal encoded by the MPEG format.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a decoder provided between the playback unit and the control unit to decode the broadcast signal encoded in the MPEG format and stored in the device.

The decoder preferably converts the broadcast signal stored in the MPEG format into any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM.

The device for storing the broadcast signal is preferably a hard disk drive.

The signal generation unit is preferably implemented as a de-multiplexer.

The at least one device is preferably connected to the control unit by an Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) interface.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

4 illustrates an example of a multi-device access system according to the present invention.

As shown, the multi-device access system according to the present embodiment includes four ATAPI interfaces with the host 100, the de-multiplexer (DE-MUX) 110, and the de-multiplexer (DE-MUX) 110. Device 120 to 150 according to the configuration. The illustrated multi-device access system can be mounted as a computer system or as part of an AV apparatus capable of mounting a device according to an ATAPI interface.

The host 100 may be a control logic having a processor or a function module added inside or outside the processor. In other words, the host 100 represents a single processor in the case of a computer system, and may be a control logic including an MPEG decoder or an encoder in the case of a DVD recording and reproducing apparatus.

In the present embodiment, a description will be given mainly of a computer system, which will be described in detail later when applied to an AV device.

The host 100 generates selection signals CS0 and CS1 for accessing the devices 120 to 150 according to the ATAPI interface and applies them to the de-multiplexer DE-MUX 110. The select signals CS0 and CS1 were originally designed to access devices according to two ATAPI interfaces. That is, it is designed to access only two devices by the selection signals CS0 and CS1. Accordingly, the select signal becomes a logic "high" state when the device is selected, and a logic "low" state when the device is not selected, and maintains a high impedance state when the device is not selected. have.

The de-multiplexer (DE-MUX) 110 regenerates the selection signal transmitted from the host 100 into four device selection signals. This is generated by using 0 and 1, which are logic levels of the selection signals CS0 and CS1. For example, the de-multiplexer (DE-MUX) 110 uses the logic levels of the selection signals CS0 and CS1 to determine the number of cases having logic levels of "00", "01", "10", and "11". Can be generated. Using this, the de-multiplexer (DE-MUX) 110 generates CS0_1, CS1_2, CS0_2, and CS1_2 according to the number of cases having the logic level described above. When the device selection signal is referred to as a device selection signal, each device, that is, the devices 120, 130, 140, and 150 according to the ATAPI interface, is selected in response to the device selection signals CS0_1, CS1_2, CS0_2, and CS1_2. Data communication with the host 100 may be performed. As an example, when the logic level of the device selection signal is "00", the device 120 is selected to perform data communication with the host 100. When the logic level is "11", the device 150 is selected to host Data communication with 100 is performed. Accordingly, even when the host 100 has only one of the primary channel and the secondary channel, four devices can be connected. When the host 100 has both the primary channel and the secondary channel, up to eight devices can be connected. Can be connected.

5 shows an example of an AV device including a multi-device access system according to the present invention.

The illustrated AV device includes a switching unit 210, an MPEG encoder unit 220, a hard disk drive (HDD) 231, a flash ROM 280, a controller 240, and a RAM 250. ), A light receiving unit 270, and optical media players 232 and 233.

The switching unit 210 receives various image data / audio data sources from the outside or outputs the image data source output from the decoder unit 241 built in the controller 240 to the outside (for example, a monitor screen). . The switching unit 210 receives an external signal such as a broadcast signal and a component and a composite applied from a video (not shown) and receives the signal from a broadcast signal and a function block in the video recording / reproducing apparatus. Connect optionally. For example, when an external signal applied from an external device such as a video is a component or a composite signal, the external signal is applied to the MPEG encoder 220.

The MPEG encoder 220 converts an analog form from the image data source applied from the switching unit 210 into an analog form, and then compresses it into an MPEG format (eg, MPEG-2 format). In general, image data in MPEG format has a compressed form in order to reduce the amount of space stored when stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) 231.

The hard disk drive (HDD) 231 stores image data / audio data having an MPEG format in the form of a file. In this case, the image data / audio data having the MPEG format among the image data sources applied to the switching unit 210 may be stored as it is. Here, the hard disk drive (HDD) 231 is an example that stores the image data of the MPEG-2 format in the form of a file, the hard disk drive (HDD) 231 is MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and The MPEG-4 format can be stored and is not limited to the MPEG-2 format described in this embodiment. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the MPEG encoder 220 and the decoder 80 are also encoded and decoded according to the MPEG-2 format as an example, but in addition to the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Can be encoded and decoded.

The flash ROM 280 stores an operating system and an application program for operating the AV device.

The control unit 240 stores the MPEG data output from the MPEG encoder unit 220 to the hard disk drive (HDD) 231, or the built-in MPEG to the video data / audio data stored in the hard disk drive (HDD) 231 To the decoder 241. In addition, the controller 240 selects a device (eg, 231) for storing MPEG data output from the MPEG encoder 220, or reads the MPEG data from the devices 231 to 233 according to the ATAPI interface. A selection signal for selecting either one is generated. Preferably, the control unit 240 includes an MPEG decoder 241 for decoding MPEG data transmitted from the hard disk drive (HDD) 231, the DVD 232, and the CDR 233.

The DE-MUX 295 regenerates the plurality of device selection signals in response to the selection signal output from the controller 240. In the drawing, three devices 231, 232, and 233 are shown. In contrast, an AV device having a conventional single channel DVD (or CDR) playback function can be equipped with only two devices. Four devices can be mounted. The device selection signal regenerated by the DE-MUX 295 is the same as that shown and described with reference to FIG.

The memory 250 loads a file stored in the hard disk drive (HDD) 231 and provides temporary storage space for decoding the file.

The light receiving unit 270 is a remote control device (not shown) for controlling the video recording / playback apparatus (for example, channel switching, volume control, image quality control, etc.) or a setting key (not shown) provided in the video recording / playback apparatus. Receives a generated control signal (not shown) and applies it to the controller 240.

The video encoder 290 receives the MPEG format image data stored in the hard disk drive (HDD) 231 through the control unit 240 and converts the image data into video formats (for example, NTSC, PAL, and SECAM). The converted signal can be reproduced in an image display apparatus such as a television. The optical media players 232 and 233 read image data and audio data from the DVD title or the CD title and apply them to the control unit 240. Image data and audio data applied to the control unit 240 are stored in the hard disk drive (HDD) 231 or applied to the MPEG decoder unit 80 for reproduction.

As described above, the present invention can connect four devices even when the host has only one of the primary channel and the secondary channel, and up to eight devices when the host has both the primary channel and the secondary channel. Can connect Accordingly, even hosts having one or two channels can be equipped with four to eight devices, which can be implemented without changing or modifying the device itself.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Anyone of ordinary skill in the art can make various modifications, as well as such changes are within the scope of the claims.

1 is a view showing an example of a computer system applying the conventional ATAPI interface,

2 is a view conceptually illustrating an access method of the hard disk drive illustrated in FIG. 1;

3 is a view schematically showing how an ATAPI type device is actually mounted on a computer system;

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a multi-device access system according to the present invention; and

5 shows an example of an AV device including a multi-device access system according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings

100: host 110: de-multiplexer

120 to 150: device according to ATAPI interface

Claims (14)

A plurality of devices; A host generating at least one selection signal for selecting any one of the plurality of devices and performing data communication with the device selected by the selection signal; A bus provided between the plurality of devices and the host, the bus transmitting data therebetween; And A signal generation unit for generating a device selection signal corresponding to the number of cases that can be generated according to the number of the selection signals, and selecting one of the plurality of devices as the generated device selection signal; Device Access System. The method of claim 1, The host, And generating a selection signal for selecting the plurality of devices, and applying the generated selection signal to the signal generator. The method of claim 3, The host, And a microprocessor, and a control logic including the microprocessor. The method of claim 1, The plurality of devices, And a data communication with the host through an Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (ATAPI) interface. The method of claim 1, The signal generation unit, Multi-device access system, characterized in that implemented as a de-multiplexer. A tuner for receiving a broadcast signal; A playback unit for reproducing the broadcast signal as an image and an audio; At least one device for storing the broadcast signal; A controller configured to set a transmission direction of the broadcast signal between the device and the playback unit and to generate a selection signal for selecting the at least one device; And A signal generation unit for generating a device selection signal corresponding to the number of cases that can be generated according to the number of the selection signals, and selecting one of the plurality of devices as the generated device selection signal; AV device having a device access function. The method of claim 6, And an encoder unit provided between the playback unit and the control unit, and configured to convert the video and audio signals into a predetermined format. The method of claim 7, wherein The predetermined format is, An AV device having a multi-device access function, characterized in that it is in MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) format. The method of claim 8, One of the devices, And an apparatus for storing a broadcast signal encoded by the MPEG format. The method of claim 9, It is provided between the playback unit and the control unit, And a decoder configured to decode the broadcast signal stored in the device by being encoded in the MPEG format. The method of claim 10, The decoder unit, And a broadcast signal stored in the MPEG format in any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. The method of claim 9, The device for storing the broadcast signal, An AV device having a multi-device access function, characterized in that it is a hard disk drive. The method of claim 6, The signal generation unit, AV device having a multi-device access function, characterized in that implemented as a de-multiplexer. The method of claim 6, The at least one device, The AV device having a multi-device access function, characterized in that connected to the control unit by an ATAPI (Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface) interface.