MXPA99009570A - Data transmission control device and da transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

A data transmission system is presented in which a function block is housed in a subunit in a unit, the subunit and the function block. For this purpose, the data transmission system includes digital STB 60. A DTV 70. and an audio amplifier 80. Within the DVTV 70 a video monitor subunit 71 is housed within which is a function block of decoder 72 and a feature function block 73. Within the audio amplifier 80 there is an audio sub-unit 81 within which are accommodated a decoder function block 82 and a function function block 83, which may have functions common with the decoder function block 72 and the function function block 73, respectively, and a processing function block

Description

DATA TRANSMISSION CONTROL DEVICE AND DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a data transmission control apparatus and a data transmission method applicable to a system that performs a reciprocal device control, a reciprocal report of states that represent device states, and data exchange. More particularly, it relates to a data transmission control apparatus and a data transmission method that carries out a communication between units, subunits and functional blocks, which are physical entities that provide real functions of the devices. Description of the Related Art Recently, the control of electronic equipment installed in homes has been in common use. For example, a data transmission system in which a television receiver (TV) 202 or a video recorder (VTR) 204 is manually controlled from a remote location through infrared remote control command devices.

(IR remote control devices) 201, 203, as shown in Figures 1A and IB. Likewise, data transmission systems of this type can be constructed in which a control signal transmitted from a remote control command device IR 211 is received by a television 2012 and is further transmitted through a cable to a VTR 213 or to an audio device 214 through wired remote controllers 215, 216, as shown in Figure 2. In a data transmission system of this type, remote control command devices IR 201, 203 211 or the wired control devices 215, 216 are sent coded control signals (control code signals), responsible for the selection of the station by a synchronizer, not illustrated, luminance adjustment of a monitor unit , not illustrated, or sound volume adjustment of an audio unit, not illustrated, for example to televisions 202, 212. The control code signals are separated into category codes , specifying each device itself, such as televisions 202, 212 or audio amplifiers, not illustrated, or units as portions that provide real functions of each device, and control codes, such as, for example, high / low volume for adjust the sound volume of an audio unit, not illustrated. Meanwhile, the conventional data transmission system, which employs the remote control command devices IR 201, 203, 211 or the wired remote controllers 213, 216 described above, suffers from the following problems. First, in the conventional data transmission system, the IR remote control command devices depend on the types of devices, as shown in Figure 1A and IB. Thus, the number of IR remote control command devices is equal to the number of devices that remote commands must receive, which affects the ease of use of the devices. In addition, if, in conventional data transmission systems, there are several devices of the same type, it frequently occurs that a control signal transmitted from a single remote IR control device activates several devices of the same type in its entirety. . That is, if, in the conventional data transmission system, several devices of the same type coexist, the respective devices can not be operated separately. Likewise, in the conventional data transmission system, if the various devices are connected through the use of wired remote controllers, there is some limitation as to the connection sequence of the various devices. In addition, in the conventional data transmission system, since IR remote control command devices or wired remote controllers can only perform unidirectional communication, it is not possible to report the status of each device to the IR remote control command devices or to the wired remote controllers, in such a way that the user can not know the status of each of the devices. Likewise, in the conventional data transmission system, the IR remote control device and the wired remote controller suffer from the following drawbacks. That is, the conventional data transmission system suffers from the problem that, as the device type increases, the number of category codes becomes insufficient. On the other hand, several devices of the same type can not be discriminated by the remote control code, so that, if there are several devices of the same type, the respective devices can not be operated separately. Also, it is not possible to handle a complicated control. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data transmission control device and a data transmission control method that overcomes the inherent problem of the data transmission system that controls the device through the use of an IR remote control command device or a wired remote controller to perform more diversified control.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a data transmission control device that includes a unit as a logical assembly that provides real functions and at least one subunit in the unit, the subunit is lower in order than the unit and is an assembly for carry out logical functions. The subunit includes at least one function block. This function block, lower in order than the subunit, is an assembly to carry out logical functions. The data transmission control device carries out the control based on the function block. In this data transmission control device, the subunit includes a function block having a function in common with that of the function blocks provided in different types of subunits. With the data transmission control device, components that have the same function can be used in common. In addition, the data transmission control device includes a communication device for communicating with external equipment. By this means of communication, communication is established between the unit, subunit, or the function block of the data transmission control device and those of various external equipment. In the data transmission control device, according to the present invention, the communication between the units, subunits and function blocks can be carried out between several devices. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for transmitting data to a control device that includes a unit as a logical assembly that provides real functions, at least one subunit is lower in order than the unit and is an assembly to perform logical functions, and at least one function block. The function block is lower in order than the unit and is an assembly to carry out logical functions. The method of data transmission includes a step for transmitting a control command to control the function block or data representing a response command of the function block state. In the present method of data transmission, the control device can be controlled based on the function block. In the present method of data transmission, the information is included in the data to specify one of several function blocks of the same type housed in a subunit. In the present data transmission method, control commands that control the portions having the same function can be used in common. In the data transmission control devices, in accordance with the present invention, a unit, as a unit that provides real functions, is housed in at least one subunit as a unit for performing functions of the lower order than the functions of the unit . Likewise, at least one function block is housed in the subunit, as a unit to carry out the functions of the lower order than the functions of the subunit. Accordingly, in the data transmission control device, according to the present invention, there is no need to issue control commands, which have the extensive information to carry out a divfied control of the subunit, being possible to carry out the control based on the function block, thus allowing fine control and relieving the load imposed in another way when transmitting the control command. Likewise, the subunit includes a function block that has a function in common with those of function blocks provided in different types of subunits. Thus, with the data transmission control device according to the present invention the components having the same function can be used in common, which implies a lower cost. Likewise, since the control command to control the subunits and function blocks can be used in common, a programmatic can be easily developed and the cost of commercial design can be decreased. The data transmission control device according to the present invention includes a communication device for establishing communication with the external equipment in such a way that, through this means of communication, communication can be had between the unit, subunit, or the function block of the data transmission control device and those of several external equipment. Accordingly, in the data transmission control device of the present invention, wherein the communication can be obtained between the units, subunits and the function blocks of the various transmission control devices, the entire units or the entire subunits they can be controlled, or adjusted, while fine control can be achieved based on the function block. In the method according to the present invention for transmitting data to a control device that includes a unit as a logical assembly that provides real functions, at least one subunit in the unit, the subunit being lower in order to the unit, and being a assemble to carry out logical functions, and at least one function block, the function block being inferior in order to the subunit and being an assembly to carry out logical functions, a control command to control the function block or data which represents a command of the response of the state of the function block is transmitted to the control device.

Accordingly, in the transmission method of the present invention, the control device can be finely controlled based on the function block, without the need to provide a control command of the voluminous information to carry out a diversified control on the subunit , thus reducing the load imposed in another way on the transmission of command. Likewise, in the data transmission method according to the present invention, information is found in the data for specifying a pre-established function block of a set of function blocks s of the same type housed in a subunit. Thus, with the data transmission control method, in accordance with the present invention, since the control command for controlling the subunits and the function blocks can be used in common, a programmatic one can be easily developed, while they can be decreased the commercial design costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows an illustrative structure of a conventional data transmission system. Figure 2 shows another illustrative structure of the conventional data transmission system. Figure 3 shows an illustrative structure of a data transmission system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 shows an illustrative structure of a data transmission system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 shows an illustrative figure of a digital television receiver unit (DTV) in the data transmission system. Figure 6 shows the cyclic structure of data transmission of a device connected through IEEE 1394. Figure 7 illustrates the structure of a address space in the CSR architecture. Figure 8 illustrates the position, name and operation of the Main CSR. Figure 9 illustrates the general ROM format. Figure 10 illustrates details of a bus information block, a root directory and unit directory. Figure 11 illustrates a stacked model of the IEEE interface of Figure 5. Figure 12 illustrates the relationship between the command and the FCP response. Figure 13 illustrates the relationship between command and response in more detail. Figure 14 shows an illustrative structure of an AV amplifier unit in the data transmission system. Figure 15 shows another illustrative structure of a DTV unit in the data transmission system. Figure 16 shows an illustrative format of the control protocol used in the data transmission system. Figure 17 shows an illustrative format in the control protocol used in the data transmission system and an illustrative command transmitted to the function block. Figure 18 illustrates the structure of a routine data transmission system that employs the IEEE high-performance serial bus. Figure 19 illustrates the configuration of the data transmission system and specifically its logical connection. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES With reference to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail. The modalities, now explained, focus on a data transmission system employing data transmission control devices in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, these modalities apply the data transmission control devices to a data transmission system built using the high-performance serial bus according to IEEE 1394, hereinafter referred to as the IEEE 1394 serial bus. This data transmission system is elaborates from a unit that logically represents an assembly of physically existing equipment, subunits that present a lower order concept of the unit and that represent an assembly configured to carry out logical functions of the equipment. The unit and the subunit represent concepts that comprise the physical equipment and the programmatic equipment. The function block can also be built only by the programmatic, such as programs. Meanwhile, this transmission system establishes a signal connection between respective units, respective subunits and respective functional blocks, as will be explained below, under the concept of a logical connection. The concept of logical connection, which is explained below at the end of the present description, is basically omitted in the following description. The data transmission system illustrated in Figure 3 includes a digital television receiver (DTV) 20, a video recorder (VTR) 30 and an audio receiver 40. the DTV 20, VTR 30 and the audio receiver 40 here they are each constituted by a single unit. In the DTV 20, a video tuner subunit 21, a video monitor sub-unit 22, a video sub-unit 23 and a panel sub-unit 24 are housed. Each sub-unit accepts a control command from a control command device. Remote IR 10 in such a way that it can be controlled by this command. Even though no display device is shown in the DTV 20 in Figure 3, it is considered in the following description that the display device is housed in the DTV 20 in the drawing. Here, the display device is not controlled by the control command and therefore is not considered as a subunit. A video tuner subunit 31 and a video platform subunit 32 are housed within the VTR 30. An audio tuner subunit 41 and an audio subunit 42 are housed within the audio receiver 40. In this transmission system of data, the DTV 20, the VTR 30 and the audio receiver 40 are interconnected in IEEE 1394 series buses 51, 52. The data transmission system, configured in accordance with what is described above, is controlled by the command device remote control IR 10. That is, in this data transmission system, the IR remote control command device 10 transmits a control signal to the DTV 20. The panel sub-unit 24 decrypts the IR remote control command to convert the command in control commands of a preset format in order to transfer the converted command to the video tuner subunit 21, video monitor subunit 22 and to the audio subunit 23. These commands convert These are configured to control subunits 21 through 23. On the other hand, these subunits 21 through 23 report the states of these devices to the sub-unit of panel 24 by means of pre-set status commands. The resulting state information is displayed on a display monitor of the DTV 20. If the remote control command device IR 10 carries out bidirectional communication, the status information is shown on a display device, not shown. In addition, the IR remote control commands are converted into an asynchronous transmission mode of the serial bus according to IEEE 1394 and transmitted from the DTV 20 on the IEEE 1394 series buses 51, 52 to the VTR 30 and to the receiver 40. The status information of the video tuner subunit 31 and the video platform subunit 32, housed in the VTR 30, and the status information of the audio tuner subunit 41 and the subunit 42. of audio, housed in the audio receiver 40, are reported in the IEEE 1394 series buses 51, 52 to the panel sub-unit 24 in order to be displayed on the DTV 20 display monitor. If the command device remote control IR 10 performs bidirectional communication, the status information is transmitted to the remote control command device 10 for presentation on a display device, not illustrated, of the device and remote control commands IR 10 for confirmation. In the data transmission system described above, common functions can be provided to the video tuner subunits 21, 31 housed in the DTV 20 and in the VTR 30 and the audio tuner subunit 41 housed in the audio receiver 40. Similarly, common functions can be provided to the audio sub-units 23, 42, housed in the DTV 20 and in the audio receiver 40. Thus, in the data transmission system, low costs can be obtained by the use of common parts or components. In addition, in this data transmission system, control commands to control these subunits can be used in common, thus facilitating the programmatic development of the respective units and the low cost in the design of commercial products. Meanwhile, in the data transmission system described above, function blocks, not illustrated, are housed within the subunit in order to provide control commands to this functional block, thus ensuring massive control of what is possible in a system constituted by the subunits. A second embodiment of the present invention will be explained below. The data transmission system of the preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figure 4, includes a digital box that is placed on top of the television (digital STB) 60, a DTV 70, which does not house any tuner subunit, and an audio amplifier. 80. The digital STB 60, DTV 70 and the audio amplifier 80 are configured here as separate separate units. Meanwhile, in this data transmission system, a display monitor, not illustrated, is housed in the DTV 70. A tuner subunit 61 is housed in the digital STB 60. A subunit is housed in the DTV 70. video monitor 71. A decoder function block 72 and a feature function block 73 are also housed in the video monitor sub-unit 71. In the drawing, FB refers to a function block. Meanwhile, the display monitor does not fall under the function block, for the same reason as the aforementioned one. In the audio amplifier 80 there is an audio subunit 81 within which are accommodated a decoder function block 82, a processing function block 82 and a feature function block 84. In this data transmission system , the digital STB 60, DTV 70 and the audio amplifier 80 are interconnected in IEEE 1394 serial buses 91, 92. In the data transmission system described above, common functions can be provided to the decoder function block 72 and the feature function block 73, housed in the video monitor subunit 71 of the DTV 70, on the one hand and the decoder function block 82 and feature function block 84, housed in the audio subunit 81 of the amplifier audio, on the other hand. Thus, in the data transmission system, low costs can be realized through the use of common parts or components. Likewise, in the data transmission system, control commands to control these subunits can be used in common, thus ensuring a facilitated development of the programmatic of the respective units and low cost of design of commercial products. Likewise, in that data transmission system, since with control it can be carried out based on the function block, there is no need to send control commands that have the voluminous information to carry out several controls in the subunits, ensuring thus a fine control to relieve the load in relation to the transmission of the control commands. With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the DTV units and audio amplifier in the present data transmission system are explained in more detail. In the following explanation, it is considered that the unit equivalent to the DTV 70 is a DTV unit 100 and a unit equivalent to the audio amplifier 80 is an AV amplifier unit 110. With reference to Figure 5, a DTV 100 unit includes an IEEE 1394 interface, as a means of communication, which has an isochronous process and an asynchronous process to carry out an isochronous transmission mode and an asynchronous transmission mode in the data transmitted by the IEEE 1394 serial bus, under the control of a CPU (unit central processing). The isochronous transmission mode is a mode used to transmit information signals every pre-established communication cycle, such as every 125μm, and is used when transmitting information signals, such as digital video signals or audio signals. digital, in real time. The asynchronous transmission mode is a mode used in the non-periodic transmission of connection control commands or equipment operation control command to respective function blocks, that is, in the DTV 100 unit, the respective function blocks they are controlled by the central processing unit. With reference to figure 6 to 10, IEEE 1394 will be explained in more detail. Figure 6 shows a cyclic structure of data transmission of equipment connected through IEEE 1394. In IEEE 1394, the data is divided into packets and transmitted with division in time, with a cycle of a length of 125μs as reference. This cycle is produced by a cycle start signal supplied from a node that has a cycle master function. In an isochronous package, a band required for transmission is provided from the leading edge of each cycle. The band is called that even when it is based on time. Thus, in the isochronous transmission, data transmission is ensured in a pre-established time. However, if a transmission error occurs, data is lost, because there is no data protection system. The node that has acquired a bus as a result of arbitration sends an asynchronous packet during the time not used for the isochronous transfer of each cycle. In asynchronous transmission, a positive transmission is ensured through the use of recognition and retry. However, the timing of the transmission is not constant. In order for a pre-established node to carry out an isochronous transmission, the node must handle the isochronous function. Likewise, at least one of the nodes associated with the isochronous function requires to be protected with the cycle master function. In addition, at least one of the nodes connected to the serial buses IEEE 1394 9-1 to 9-4 must have the function of an isochronous resource manager. The IEEE 1394 is established in accordance with the CRS architecture (for control and status registration) that has a 64-bit address space prescribed in ISO / IEC13213. Figure 7 illustrates the structure of a direction space of the CSR architecture. The top 16 bits are node IDs that show a node in each IEEE 1394, and the remaining 48 bits are used to designate the address space in accordance with each node. The upper 16 bits are divided into 10 bits of the bus ID and 6 bits of the physical ID (node ID in the narrow sense). The value of all "1" is used for a special purpose, so that 1023 buses and 63 nodes can be specified. In a terabyte address space, defined by the 48 internal bits, the space prescribed by the upper 20 bits is divided into an initial recording space, a private space and an initial memory space, used by an appropriate 2048-byte recorder for CSR or an appropriate record for IEEE 1394. If the space prescribed by the lower 20 bits is an initial recording space, the space prescribed by the lower 28 bits is used as an initial unit space or as control registers. connection (PCRs) used for the configuration ROM (read only memory) and for particular application for nodes. Figure 8 illustrates the direction of movement, name and operation of main CSRs. The displacement in Figure 8 indicates a direction of travel from there and the address FFFFFOOOOOOOh in which the initial registration space begins. The number sequence that has h at the end indicates a hexadecimal notation. An available record of bandwidth, which has a displacement of 220 h, indicates a band that can be assigned to isochronous communication. Only a value of a node that operates as an isochronous resource manager is retained as valid. That is, even when CSR of Figure 7 is owned by each node, only the available record of bandwidth owned by the isochronous resource manager is kept as valid. Stated differently, the bandwidth availability record is owned only by the isochronous resource manager. If no band is assigned to the isolated communication, a maximum value is kept in the available bandwidth register, while the value decreases each time a band is assigned to the isolated communication. Each bit of a channel recorder available, with a shift from 224 h to 228 h is associated with each channel number from 0 to 63. Bit 0 indicates that the channel has already been assigned. Only the available channel record of a node that operates as an isochronous resource manager is valid. Turning to Figure 7, a ROM configuration based on a general ROM format (read-only memory) is arranged in the 200 h to 400 h directions in the initial registration space. Figure 9 shows the general ROM format. Each node, as an access unit in the IEEE 1394, can have several other units that operate independently between them, as the units use the address space in the common node. Unit directories (directory_of_units) can indicate the version or position of the programmatic in relation to the unit. Even though the bus information block information bus block_blocks and the raster_directory are fixed, the positions of the other blocks can be specified by means of offset addresses. Figure 10 shows details of the bus information block bus_information_block, root_directory directories, and unit_directory directory. In the ID_of_Company in the block_of_bus_info, ID numbers indicating the manufacturer of the equipment are stored. In the ID_of_Chip a unique ID is stored in the world, appropriate for the equipment and that does not connect with other equipment. An ID_spec_de_unidad of the directory_of_unit of a device that complies with IEC1883, OOh, AOh and 2Dh are written in a first object, second object, and in a third object, according to the IEEE 1394 standard, they are written respectively. In the first object, and in LSB (Less significant bit) of a third object of the unit switching version (version_of_unit_commutation) are written Olh and 1, respectively. Returning to FIG. 5, a video monitor subunit 101 and a display monitor 106 are included in the DTV unit 100. The video monitor subunit 101 has a CODEC function block 102, a selection function block 103, a composer function block 104 and a feature function block 105. The digital video signal, input to the DTV 100 unit through the IEEE 1394 interface, is decoded in the CODEC 102 function block in video signals and in Display data on the screen, known below as OSD data. The decoded video signals are input to the selection block 103. The OSD data is input to the composer function block 104, the analog video signals are input to the selection function block 103. The analog video signals and the signals The video decoded signals in the CODEC function block 102 were subjected to selection by the selection function block 103. The video output signal, which results from this selection, is input to the composition function block 104. The video output and the OSD data are synthesized in the compositor function block 104. The resulting synthesis signal is input to the feature function block 105. The synthesis signal is set in the feature function block 105 as to the clarity of the image or the mixing of colors for a color image and is sent as an output signal to the display monitor 106. With ref Referring to Figures 11 to 13, an IEEE 1394 interface 107 is explained. Figure 11 shows a stacked model of the IEEE 1394 interface 107. In Figure 11, a feature 311, a link layer 312, a transaction layer 313 and a bus handling in series 314, as they conform in accordance with IEEE 1394. An FCP (function control protocol) 115 conforms to IEC61883. An FCP (function control protocol) 115 conforms to IEC61883. A set of AV / C 316 commands conforms to 1394 TA specifications. Figure 12 illustrates commands and responses from FCP315. The FCP is a protocol for controlling AV equipment in IEEE 1394. As shown in Figure 12, the control side is a controller and a controlled side is a target. The FCP command transmission or response is carried out between nodes using a write transaction of the IEEE 1394 asynchronous communication. The target that has received the data returns an acknowledgment to the controller to confirm receipt. Figure 13 illustrates the relationship between the FCP command and response illustrated in Figure 12 in greater detail. A node A computer and a node B computer are interconnected on the IEEE 1394 bus. The node A computer is an A controller and the node B computer is a target. A command register and a record of responses, each of 512 bytes, are provided for each node A and B. As shown in FIG. 13, the controller provides a command by writing a command message in a command register 324 of the White. Conversely, the blank provides a response by writing a response message in a response register 322 of the controller. These two messages are coupled to exchange control information. The format of the control protocol, sent by FCP, will be explained below with reference to Figure 16. The AV amplifier unit 110, illustrated in Figure 14, has the respective function blocks controlled by the central processing unit. Similar to the DTV unit, in accordance with what is described above, the AV amplifier unit 110 includes an IEEE 1394 interface having an isochronous process and an asynchronous process. The AV 110 amplifier unit has an audio sub unit there 111, within which is a CODEC function block 112, a selection function block 113, a mixer function block 114, a processing function block 115 and a feature function block 116. Audio signals Digital inputs, input to the AV 110 amplifier unit through the IEEE 1394 interface, are input to the CODEC 112 function block to be decoded into audio signals. The decoded audio signals are input to the mixer function block 114. On the other hand, the analog audio signals or the linear PCM (pulse code modulation) audio signals are input to the selection function block 113 a from which selected audio signals are input to the mixer function block 114. These audio signals are mixed in the mixer function block 114. The mixed signals, obtained in this way are sent to the processing function block 115, such as Dolby Processing-Logic (registered trademark of DOLBY INC.), where the signals are subjected to several processing operations. Output signals from the processing function block 115 are input to function block 116 to adjust the amount of tone or sound quality, such as reverberation. The resulting signals are sent as output signals. With reference to Figure 15, a DTV unit, containing a tuner subunit, as an alternative structure of the DTV unit 100 described above, is explained in detail with reference to Figure 15. An ADTV unit 120, illustrated in Figure 15, it includes a tuner subunit 121, a panel sub-unit 122, a video monitor sub-unit 123, an audio sub-unit 124 and a display monitor 125. Similar to the DTV unit 100, the unit DTV 120 is configured to input data transmitted on the serial bus according to IEEE 1394 through the interface according to IEEE 1394 in a manner not illustrated here for reasons of simplicity. That is, the DTV 120 unit is connected to the external unit on the IEEE 1394 serial bus. The video monitor subunit 123 includes a CODEC function block 126 and a feature function block 127. The audio subunit 124 has a processing function block 128 and a feature function block 129. In the DTV unit 120, digital broadcast signals, for example, received by the tuner subunit 121, are input to the CODEC function block 126, which is located in the video monitor subunit 123 in the form of an MPEG stream (Moving Picture Experts Group ). The MPEG stream is decoded in the CODEC function block 126 into video signals and audio signals. The video signals are input to the feature function block 127 to adjust the image quality. Output signals from the feature function block are displayed on the display monitor 125. The analog or linear PCM audio signals obtained upon decoding are input to a processing function block 128 where the signals are subjected to various processing. The processed signals are input to feature function block 129. The processed signals are adjusted in terms of sound quality and sent as output signals to a horn system, not shown, belonging to a DTV 120 unit, or to an external speaker system, not illustrated. In the data transmission system, constituted by the units, subunits and function blocks mentioned above, the control protocol used to transmit the control command in the asynchronous transmission mode of the serial bus according to IEEE 1394 and to receive the response state is explained with reference to figure 16. In the control protocol format a quadrat = 31 bits are used as a unit, as shown in figure 16. The first four blocks represent a packet header. If the whole format is considered as a package, the last quad is the data CRC (cyclic redundancy review). These 6 blocks represent the basic structure in the asynchronous transmission mode of the serial bus according to IEEE 1394. In the packet header, the destination ID (destination_ID) is an address of the unit of the transmission destination, with a source ID (Source_ID) being an address of the unit of the transmission source. The seventh and the following blocks represent a block of data. In a data block, four bits of the first CTS (set of command transactions) discriminate between the control command and the state response system. For example, CTS = 0000b is a set of AV / C commands (audiovideo / control). The following description, this AV / C command set is taken as an example. The four type / response bits represent the codes to discriminate between the control command and the status response and to prescribe the types of the control command and the status response. The 5 bits of the subunit type (subunit_type) indicate an address of a subunit enclosed in the destination unit of the transmission set by the destination ID. For example, the video subunit assigns 00000b = OOh, while the audio subunit assigns 00001b = Olh. The three bits of the subunit ID (subunit_ID) are used to discriminate a case of several subunits contained in a unit. That is, if three subunits of the same type are enclosed in a unit, the subunit ID is useful to discriminate which of the 3 subunits it is. An opcode is a code of the control command and the status response. An operand (operand) is a modifier of the control command and the status response, with the required number n being different with the type of operation codes of the control command and status response. In the data transmission system described above, control commands and status response commands, directed towards a unit or subunit, are transmitted on a serial bus according to IEEE 1394. For example, commands directed towards the monitor subunit of video 101 of the DTV 100 unit may be employed to control, such as, for example, color tone control of the general clarity or color tone of a color image, and for status response. On the other hand, the commands directed towards the audio subunit 111 of the AV amplifier unit 110 can be used for general adjustment of sound volume, tone control or right-left ethereal balance, etc. The command format for transmitting commands to the function block and for receiving the status response from the function blocks is in accordance with what is illustrated in figure 17. That is, some function block commands are assigned to the codes of operation to indicate that the next data is a command to transmit a command of the function block and to receive the status response. This operating code is assigned one of the OOh to OFh codes, such as 04h, to indicate that the command is common to units and subunits. The first operand (operand [0]) is a type of function block (function_block_type) and the second operand (operand [1]) is a function block ID (function_block_ID). This type of function block indicates an address of the function block while the function block ID is used to select several function blocks of the same type in the subunit. The third operand (operand [2]) is a command to receive the control command to the function block specified in the operation subcode and the status response. The fourth operand (operand [3]) is a suboperand (suboperand) for the operation subcode. In the data transmission system described above, the control command and the status response command, directed towards the function block, are transmitted through the serial bus according to IEEE 1394 by the control protocol that forms the format described above. . For example, in a DTV unit described above 100, a control command for decoding the MPEG signals is sent to the CODEC function block 102, while a control command for selecting decoded video signals and ultra-video signals are sent to the block. selection function 103. A control command is sent to video synthesizing OSD data from the CODEC function block 102 and the video output signals selected in the selection function block 103 in the composer function block 104. Thus, the DTV unit 100, employing the control protocol, can perform a fine adjustment of the function blocks that are in the video monitor subunit 101. In the AV amplifier unit described above 110 , the control protocol described above can be used to carry out a diversified control, such as the sending of a control command or conversion signals to signals from Dolby Processing-Logic to the processing function block 115 and send a control command to adjust the sound volume level of each audio signal channel of the various channels of the function block 116. In the data transmission system , built using the units, subunits, and function blocks, interconnected through the serial bus according to IEEE 1394 mentioned above, the signal connection between the units, subunits and function blocks is now explained under the concept of logical connection. The general data transmission system employing the serial bus according to IEEE 1394, is of a structure such that as shown in Figure 18, nodes as logical units are contained in a module as a physical unit of a device, a subunit of a logical function assembly is found in the unit, and in said function blocks as units of the logical functions in the subunit are in the subunit. Therefore, the modules, nodes and units are considered here as equivalents, and a connection between a unit and the outside and a connection in the unit are explained. With reference to Figure 19, the data transmission system includes, as a logical connection, a serial bus connection, a subunit connection and a function unit connection. The serial bus connection indicates a signal input / output for the serial bus according to IEEE 1394. The subunit connection indicates a signal input / output for a bus in the subunit and can be considered as a connection of the lowest hierarchical layer of the serial bus connection. The function block connection indicates a signal input / output for a bus in the function block and can be considered as a connection of the still lower hierarchical layer of the function block. In Figure 19, the left and right connections of each block indicate a connection for input and a connection for output, respectively. In this data transmission system, data transmitted on the serial bus according to IEEE 1394 are input to the serial bus connection for input. The data entered into the serial bus connection is eventually pre-processed in a unit and distributed to the subunit conditions for input of each subunit to which the data must be entered. This establishes a logical connection between the subunit and the serial bus connection of the unit. Input data to the subunit connection are eventually processed in each subunit and distributed to an input function block connection of each function block. That is, a logical connection is established between the function block and the subunit subunit connection. The logical connection between the respective function blocks is achieved by the function block connection for output of the data output function block and by the function block connection to enter the function block to which the data must be entered. . When data processed in various ways for each function block must be sent to higher order units, that is, from the function block to the subunit, the data is collected in the subunit connection of the subunit for output. The output data from the subunit connections of the sending subunit are sent to outside the serial bus connection of the sending unit. In the data transmission system, the unit, and the sub-unit are logically connected to each other, while the sub-unit and the function block are connected to each other and respective function blocks are connected to each other to distribute the data. In the data transmission system, in accordance with what is described above, where a function block is provided as a lower hierarchical layer of the subunit, it becomes possible to use parts or commands in common, in a more meticulous manner, while it is possible carry out a fine control of the data transmission. The present invention is not limited to the modalities described above, for example, it is possible to use control commands other than those described above to control the respective function blocks. For example, one can contemplate the use of commands to control the CODEC function blocks of an AV amplifier unit that specify the signal coding system in use such as, for example, AC-3 (Audio-3 Coding) or MPEG. Likewise, the commands to control the processing function blocks of the AV amplifier unit can be the commands designed to control the dynamic range or to change the mode, such as the chorus, in addition to the commands to convert the signal into the Dolby Logic signs. In addition, the commands to control the feature function block can be AGC (automatic gain control). The present invention can be encoded in another way without departing from the scope of said invention.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS An electronic equipment that includes: a unit as a logical assembly that provides real functions; and at least one subunit in said unit, said subunit is of lower order than said unit and is an assembly for carrying out logical functions; said subunit includes at least one function block, said function block is inferior in order to said subunit and is an assembly to carry out logical functions.
2. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said subunit includes a function block having a function in common with that of function blocks provided in different types of subunits.
3. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, further comprising: a communication device for establishing communication with an external equipment; where the communication is obtained through said communication device between said unit, subunit or the function block and a unit, a subunit or a function block of said external equipment.
4. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said communication device complies with a high-performance serial bus standard according to IEEE 1394.
5. The electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein the electronic equipment is a control device of data transmission to control the transmission of data.
6. The electronic equipment according to claim 3, wherein said function block includes an input device for entering a control command; and a control device for controlling the function of said function block based on said control command; said control command includes the information that specifies the type of the function block; the information specified by said function from said several function blocks of the same type; and the control information that specifies the type of control for said function block.
7. An electronic equipment for sending a control signal to control an external electronic equipment, said external electronic equipment includes a unit as a logical assembly that provides real functions, at least one subunit in said unit, said subunit is of a lower order compared to said unit and is an assembly for carrying out logic functions, and at least one function block, said function block is of lower order compared to said subunit and is an assembly for carrying out logic functions; said electrical equipment comprises: a control command actuation device for specifying the type of the control command; a control command generation device for generating a control command based on the performance of said control command actuation device; and a control command output device for sending the generated control command to said external electronic equipment; said control command includes the information specific to the type of said function block; the information that this function specifies from several functions of the same type; and the control information that specifies the type of control for said function block.
8. The electronic equipment according to claim 7, wherein said control format further includes the information for specifying a pre-established unit among several units; and the information to specify a pre-established subunit among the various subunits housed in said pre-established unit.
9. A method for transmitting data to a control device that includes a unit as a logical assembly that provides real functions; at least one subunit in said unit, said subunit is of a lower order compared to said unit and is an assembly to carry out logical functions; and at least one function block, said function block is of lower order than said subunit and is an assembly for carrying out logical functions; wherein the method of data transmission includes a step for transmitting a control command to control said function block or data representing a response command of the state of said function block.
10. The data transmission method according to claim 9, wherein said transmission step includes a unit transmission step for transmitting said data to said unit of said control device; a subunit transmission step for transmitting said data transmitted to said unit to said subunit; and a function block transmission step for transmitting said data transmitted to said unit to said function block.
11. The data transmission method according to claim 9, wherein said data includes the information that specifies the type of said function block.
12. The data transmission method according to claim 9, wherein said data includes the information for specifying one of several function blocks of the same type housed in a subunit.
13. The data transmission method according to claim 9, wherein said data includes the subunit information to specify the subunit that the pre-established function block has.
14. The data transmission method according to claim 13, wherein said data includes the unit information to specify the unit having said subunit.
15. The method of data transmission according to claim 9, further comprising: transmitting a control command to control the function block or a response command for the state of the function block.
16. 16. The data transmission method according to claim 9, further comprising: transmitting data to modify the control command to control the function block or data to modify the response command for the state of said function block. The data transmission method according to claim 9, wherein said data is formatted in accordance with a high performance serial bus standard according to IEEE