KR20090051917A - Device for controlling external device in broadcasting receiver and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an external device of a broadcast receiver and a method thereof, and by connecting a broadcast receiver and an external device to a multimedia interface capable of two-way communication, and setting the auto-on time of the external device to the broadcast receiver. When the power on and playback related commands are transmitted to the corresponding external device through the multimedia interface, the user's convenience is improved.

Digital broadcast receiver, external device, auto power on, HDMI, CEC

Description

Device and method for controlling external device of broadcasting receiver {DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING EXTERNAL DEVICE IN BROADCASTING RECEIVER AND METHOD THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to the operation control of an external device using a multimedia interface in a broadcast receiver. Particularly, the operation of an external device can be set when the auto broadcast function is set in the digital broadcast receiver. The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling an external device of a broadcast receiver capable of controlling a power supply, a reproduction, and the like, and a method thereof.

Recently, due to the spread of various audio / video (A / V) home appliances, various types of external devices (e.g. DVD players, set-top boxes, VCRs, etc.) are used for broadcasting receivers such as televisions. Are increasingly being used to connect to other components, such as component, S-video, or DVI. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of this configuration, in which a digital set-top box 11 is connected through an RGB terminal of a broadcast receiver 10 and a DVD player 13 through an HDMI terminal of the broadcast receiver 10. ) Are connected, and the VCR 15 (Video Cassette Recorder) is connected to each other through the component terminal of the broadcast receiver 10.

Today's digital broadcast receiver 10 employs a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) terminal instead of a DVI terminal. HDMI is an upgraded interface from a digital visual interface (DVI). HDMI only transmits digital video, digital audio and additional information through a single interface.

The external devices 11, 13, and 15 are conventionally connected to the broadcast receiver 10 through a separate audio interface from the DVI interface, but with the advent of a new interface called HDMI, most broadcast receivers and external devices are connected from DVI to HDMI. The trend is changing rapidly.

On the other hand, looking at the auto-on setting menu of the conventional digital broadcast receiver, it was possible to set the day, time, channel, and volume in the broadcast receiver 10 as shown in FIG.

However, the auto-on setting mode is a function limited to the broadcast receiver 10. Even if the external devices 11, 13, and 15 are connected to the broadcast receiver 10, the broadcast mode is turned off (operation standby state). Even if the input mode of the receiver is switched to the external input, the content of the corresponding external device cannot be displayed on the broadcast receiver without signal.

Accordingly, the auto-on mode of the conventional broadcast receiver is only a function limited to the broadcast receiver, and it is impossible to view content of an external device connected to the broadcast receiver through the auto-on function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling an external device of a broadcast receiver capable of controlling an external device's power and playback by setting an auto-on function of an external device in a digital broadcast receiver.

Another object of the present invention is to set the auto-on function for the external device when the auto-on function is set in the digital broadcast receiver, the broadcast receiver that can control the power and playback of the external device when the digital broadcast receiver is turned on automatically An external device control apparatus and method thereof are provided.

Technical means of the present invention for achieving the above object, the memory for setting the automatic power-on time of the external device; A multimedia interface connecting the external device and the broadcast receiver to enable mutual communication; And a controller configured to control the operation of the external device by transmitting power-on and playback-related commands to the corresponding external device through the multimedia interface when the external device is turned on automatically.

The auto-on time of the external device set in the memory may be set in association with the auto-on function of the broadcast receiver.

The multimedia interface is a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector, and the control unit is configured to transmit power-on and playback-related commands of an external device through a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) pin, which is pin 13 of the HDMI connector. .

The technical method of the present invention for achieving the above object, the control unit comprises the steps of setting the auto-on time of the specific external device input through the auto-on setting menu in the memory; Checking, by the controller, whether a specific external device is set to be turned on automatically and its turn-on time; And when the on time of the specific external device is reached, the controller transmits a power-on and playback related command to the corresponding external device through the multimedia interface.

The auto-on time of the specific external device set in the memory may be set in association with the auto-on function of the broadcast receiver.

The auto-on setting menus of the broadcast receiver and the external device are individually configured, and the auto-on setting menu screens of the broadcast receiver and the external device are simultaneously or sequentially displayed on the display panel.

When the broadcast receiver and a specific external device are set to the auto-on function at the same time, it is characterized in that the on time of the corresponding external device is checked after the broadcast receiver is turned on.

As described above, the present invention can also set the auto-on function for an external device when the auto-on function is set in the digital broadcast receiver, thereby controlling the operation (on and playback, etc.) of the external device when the digital broadcast receiver is automatically turned on. By doing so, it is possible to reproduce the media of the external device in the broadcast receiver by the auto-on function, which has the advantage of improving user convenience.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a digital broadcast receiver to which an external device is connected according to an embodiment of the present invention. The broadcast receiver 100 includes a tuner 111, a DTV receiver 115, an HDMI receiver 125, and an A / V. And a processor 130, a video processor 141, a display panel 145, a controller 160, and the like.

The tuner 111 is configured to tune and receive a broadcast signal of a selected channel according to the channel selection control signal of the controller 160. If the auto-on mode is a reception mode for the RF channel instead of the input mode of the external device 200, the tuner 111 tunes a preset channel according to the controller 160.

The DTV receiver 115 is configured to receive a digital video signal input from a tuner 111 or an external device 200 (set top box, VCR, etc.) (not shown) to remove noise or convert it into digital data.

The HDMI receiver 125 classifies media data of an external device 200 (DVD player) input through the HDMI connector 121 and divides the media data into information such as horizontal sync signal, vertical sync signal, RGB, CLK, and voice data. It is comprised so that it may output to the said circuit part. The external device 200 connected to the HDMI connector 121 may connect not only a DVD player but also an A / V device such as a set top box or a VCR, depending on the design.

The A / V processor 130 is provided with the video signal and the audio signal output through the DTV receiver 115 or the HDMI receiver 125, respectively, and extracts the control signal included in the video signal to the video signal and the control signal. It is configured to separate and decode and to synchronize the video signal and the audio signal and output the video signal to the video processor 141 and the audio processor 151.

The video processor 141 scales the image data processed by the A / V processor 130 according to the size of the display panel 145 and displays the predetermined data through a predetermined LVDS unit (Low Voltage Differential Signaling). It is configured to output to the panel 145, the audio processing unit 151 is configured to convert the audio data processed by the A / V processor 130 to an analog signal and then amplify and output it to the speaker 155.

 The controller 160 automatically turns on the broadcast receiver 100 according to the auto-turn on of the broadcast receiver set in the memory 165 or requested by the user and the external device operation mode, and also via the HDMI connector 121. It is configured to control the overall operation of the broadcast receiver, such as by transmitting the operation control command of (200).

The external device 200 is connected to the broadcast receiver 100 through the HDMI connector 121, receives an operation control command through the HDMI connector 121, and performs an operation corresponding thereto. For example, when the operation control command transmitted from the broadcast receiver 100 is a power-on and playback-related command, the external device 200 turns on the power and plays the media to output the video and audio signals through the HDMI connector 121. It is configured to deliver to the broadcast receiver 100.

The broadcast receiver 100 is configured to transmit an operation control command of the external device 200 through the CEC terminal, which is pin 13 of the HDMI connector 121.

Meanwhile, the HDMI connector 121, which is a multimedia interface, is composed of 19 pins as shown in Table 1 below. Pins 1 to 12 are media data allocation pins through TMDS, Pin 13 is CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) pin, Pin 14 is inforframe pin, Pin 15 is SCL pin , Pin 16 is SDA pin, pin 17 is DDC / CEC ground pin, pin 18 is + 5V power pin, pin 19 is HPD (Hot Plug Detect) pin.

The 18 pin + 5V power pin is provided by the external device 200, the input mode pin in the broadcast receiver, the 19 pin HPD (Hot Plug Detect) pin is the output mode pin in the broadcast receiver, the broadcast receiver is HDMI or DVI This signal indicates that the situation can be received. If the HPD signal is high, it means that it is ready to receive; if it is low, it is not ready to receive.

When the broadcast receiver 100 is connected to the external device 200, the external device 200 detects the HPD signal output from the broadcast receiver and recognizes the presence of the broadcast receiver connected to the broadcast receiver 100.

HDMI connector PIN Signal assignment PIN Signal assignment One TMDS Data2 + 11 TMDS Clock Shield 2 TMDS Data2 Shield 12 TMDS Clock- 3 TMDS Data2- 13 CEC 4 TMDS Data1 + 14 Inforframe 5 TMDS Data1 Shield 15 SCL 6 TMDS Data1- 16 SDA 7 TMDS Data0 + 17 DDC / CEC Ground 8 TMDS Data0 Shield 18 + 5V Power 9 TMDS Data0- 19 Hot Plug Detect 10 TMDS Clock +

In general, there are three service functions using the CEC pin, which is pin 13 of the HDMI connector 121.

First, the function of controlling the external device 200 through the GUI screen of the broadcast receiver 100, the second function of automatically turning on the broadcast receiver during playback of the external device 200, and finally, the remote controller of the broadcast receiver A remote controller includes a function of controlling some operations (Play, REW, FF, STOP, REC) of the external device 200.

Therefore, the broadcast receiver 100 of the present invention performs the auto power-on function of the external device 200 using the third function and simultaneously controls the operation of the external device.

In order to perform the auto-on function according to the present invention, the broadcast receiver 100 and an external device 200 such as a DVD player, a VCR or a set-top box should be basically connected to the HDMI connector 121, and the broadcast receiver 100 And the external device 200 should be in the operation standby state, and the broadcast receiver 100 and the external device 200 should be able to mutually recognize the corresponding command transmitted by embedding a software module for the HDMI-CEC interface, respectively.

Accordingly, when a predetermined command is received from the remote controller 190, the broadcast receiver 100 converts a keycode of the remote controller 190, which is the received command, into a key control keycode for controlling an external device. The external device 200 is transmitted to the external device 200, and the external device 200 receives the control key code and performs an operation corresponding to the command.

In Table 2 below eotneunde represent the code for the HDMI-CEC control instructions and the instructions, in the present invention, the existing control instructions (Forward, Backward, Stop, Eject, Play, Pause) power-on command, in addition to (Power On ) Is added, and the power on command is CEC control using pin 13 of the HDMI connector 121.

HDMI-CEC Control code  External device control command Explanation 0x01 CECP_DECKCTRL_FWD DVD player: Skip forward, VCR: Wind forward 0x02 CECP_DECKCTRL_RWD DVD player: Skip backward, VCR: Rewind 0x03 CECP_DECKCTRL_STOP Stop 0x04 CECP_DECKCTRL_EJECT Eject 0x05 CECP_DECKCTRL_PLAY Play 0x06 CECP_DECKCTRL_PAUSE Pause 0x07 CECP_DECKCTRL_ON Power on

Next, a general control process for media playback using a multimedia interface using the flowchart of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

First, when the control unit 160 of the broadcast receiver 100 receives a command for selecting a menu for setting the turn-on time from the external remote controller 190 through the remote receiver 180, the control unit 160 of the broadcast receiver 100 is automatically stored in the memory 165. The screen data for the setting menu is read and controlled to be displayed on the display panel 145. 5 illustrates a GUI of an auto-on setting menu displayed on the display panel 145.

When the setting command for the day of the week, time, channel, and volume is transmitted from the remote controller 190 while the screen for the auto-on setting menu is displayed as described above, the remote receiving unit 180 of the broadcast receiver receives the received auto-on setting command. Is transmitted to the controller 160, and the controller 160 stores and sets the auto-on related data transmitted from the remote receiver 180 in the memory 165.

Here, when setting the auto-on data of the broadcast receiver 100, the controller 160 displays a menu screen for setting the auto-on data of the external device 200 at the same time as the auto-on setting screen of the broadcast receiver 100 or The display is sequentially displayed on the display panel 145. Accordingly, the auto-on mode of the external device 200 can be set by inputting information such as an input channel (external device selection), on-time, day of week, and volume in the same manner as setting the auto-on of the broadcast receiver 100. (S1).

Although the auto-on setting screen of the external device 200 may be displayed at the same time as the auto-on setting screen of the broadcast receiver 100, it is more preferable to sequentially display according to the user's selection.

Although the auto-on function has been described as being set in conjunction with the broadcast receiver 100 and the external device 200, it is also possible to set only the external device 200 as the auto-on function. When only the external device 200 is set to the auto-on function in the broadcast receiver 100, if the broadcast receiver 100 is turned off, the external device 200 may perform the auto-on operation even in the standby operation state. none. Therefore, when only the external device 200 is set to the auto-on function in the broadcast receiver 100, the broadcast receiver 100 should be turned on.

If the auto-on of the broadcast receiver 100 is set to RF or a wired channel during the auto-on setting process, and the auto-on function of the external device 200 is also set separately, the broadcast receiver 100 is automatically turned on. Preferably, the input of the external device 200 is prioritized.

As described above, in the state where the broadcast receiver 100 and the external device 200 are turned on, the control unit 160 of the broadcast receiver 100 stores the broadcast receiver (stored in the memory 165 at stand-by). The automatic on setting data of 100) and the current day and time are compared and checked to determine whether they match (S2 and S3).

If the auto-on setting data of the broadcast receiver 100 and the current day and time coincide with each other, the controller 160 turns on the broadcast receiver 100 and sets up the set channel and volume according to the previously stored setting data. (S4).

Subsequently, the controller 160 checks whether the automatic power-on mode of the external device 200 preset in the memory 165 is set and its turn-on time, and matches the current day of the week and the time. By checking the signal transmitted and received through the to determine whether the corresponding external device 200 is connected to the broadcast receiver 100 (S5 ~ S7).

Here, in order for the broadcast receiver 100 to control the external device 200, the broadcast receiver 100 and the external device 200 should be connected through an HDMI connector 121 which is a multimedia interface. 200 must be in a standby state (Stand-by) that can receive a control command from the broadcast receiver 100, and thus cannot be controlled when the corresponding external device is not connected through a multimedia interface capable of bidirectional communication. (S10).

When the external device 200 is connected to the broadcast receiver 100, the controller 160 converts the remote control keycode of the external device 200 preset in the memory 165 into the HDMI_CEC protocol command and then the HDMI connector. It passes to the external device 200 through the CEC pin 13 pin (121) (S8). At this time, the command that the broadcast receiver 100 transmits to the external device 200 includes a CECP_DECKCTRL_ON command, which is a power on command of the external device 200, and a playback command of the external device 200, as shown in Table 2. Play) CECP_DECKCTRL_PLAY command is included.

The external device 200 turns on the power according to the control command transmitted from the broadcast receiver 100 and plays back the media to transmit the video or / and audio signal through the HDMI connector 121 which is a multimedia interface. It is delivered to (S9).

Accordingly, the broadcast receiver 100 receives the video and audio signals transmitted through the HDMI connector 121, decodes and processes the video and audio signals through the A / V processor 130, and then displays the display panel 145. Each speaker 155 outputs the same.

As such, when the broadcast receiver 100 is automatically turned on, the external device 200 is controlled to turn on the external device 200 and play back the media.

On the other hand, the present invention has been described using the HDMI connector 121 as a multimedia interface as an example, any of the wired / wireless multimedia interface that can be communicated between the broadcast receiver 100 and the external device 200 can be applied, multimedia interface Is not limited to the HDMI connector.

Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed for purposes of illustration, and those skilled in the art will be capable of various modifications, changes and additions within the spirit and claims of the present invention. Changes, changes, and additions should be considered to be within the scope of the following claims.

1 is a general diagram illustrating an example in which a plurality of external devices are connected to a broadcast receiver through respective input terminals.

2 is a diagram illustrating a GUI of a conventional auto-on setting menu.

3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a digital broadcast receiver to which an external device is connected according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an external device of a broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a GUI of an auto-on setting menu according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

100: broadcast receiver 121: HDMI connector

125: HDMI receiver 130: A / V processor

145: display panel 160: control unit

165: memory 180: remote receiver

190: remote controller 200: external device

Claims (9)

A memory in which an auto-on time of the external device is set; A multimedia interface connecting the external device and the broadcast receiver to enable mutual communication; And Control unit for controlling the operation of the external device by transmitting power-on and playback-related commands to the corresponding external device through the multimedia interface when the automatic power-on time of the external device set in the memory; . The method according to claim 1, The apparatus for controlling an external device of a broadcast receiver, wherein the auto-on time of the external device set in the memory is set in conjunction with the auto-on function of the broadcast receiver. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the multimedia interface is a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector. The method according to claim 3, The control unit is an external device control apparatus for a broadcast receiver, characterized in that configured to transmit power-on and playback-related commands of the external device through the CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) pin of pin 13 of the HDMI connector. The control unit may include setting, in the memory, an auto-on time of the specific external device input through the auto-on setting menu; Checking, by the controller, whether a specific external device is set to be turned on automatically and its turn-on time; And When the on time of the specific external device is reached, the control unit transmits a power-on and playback related command to the corresponding external device through the multimedia interface. The method according to claim 5, The auto-on time of the specific external device set in the memory is set in conjunction with the auto-on function of the broadcast receiver, respectively. The method according to claim 6, The auto-on setting menu of the broadcast receiver and the external device is configured separately, and the auto-on setting menu screens of the broadcast receiver and the external device are simultaneously or sequentially displayed on the display panel. Way. The method according to claim 6, If the broadcast receiver and the specific external device is set to the automatic power on at the same time, the external device control method of the broadcast receiver, characterized in that for checking the turn-on time of the corresponding external device after the power of the broadcast receiver. The method according to claim 5, The multimedia interface is an HDMI connector, the external device control method of the broadcast receiver, characterized in that the communication using the CEC pin of the HDMI connector.

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