JP2001358919A - Image display system, image display device, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To transfer image data from a plurality of image data sources to an image display device in an image display system configured by connecting a plurality of image data sources to a single image display device. An image display system and the like that can be efficiently performed are provided. SOLUTION: PC-X100, P which is an image data source
CY200 and Projector 300 as Image Display Device
And a network is constructed to assign an identifier to each image data source, and allocate a storage area in the image data storage unit 301 to each image data source in association with the identifier.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image display system including a plurality of image data sources and an image display device, an image display device used in the image display system, and a computer-readable recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image data is transferred from an image data source such as a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a "PC") to an image display device such as a projector, a plasma display panel (PDP), or various large-screen televisions. An example of an image display system used for displaying an image to be presented to a participant in a presentation or the like performed in a room or the like is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-330064. Hereinafter, such a conventional image display system will be briefly described.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the conventional image display system. The conventional image display system shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a PC-A 910 as an image data source, and a projector 930 that projects an image on a screen 940 as an example of an image display device. 930 is equipped with a wireless modem in each of them, so that image data is transmitted and received by wireless communication.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the PC-A 910 and the projector 930. As shown in the figure, the PC-A 910 includes an image data storage unit 911 for storing image data, a wireless modem 912 for transmitting image data to the projector 930, an antenna 912a, and image data stored in the image data storage unit 911. A display unit 913 including a display device for displaying the information and the like, a CPU and the like are mainly configured, and a PC-A
A control unit 914 that controls the entire 910 is provided.

On the other hand, the projector 930 is a PC-A9
10, an image data memory 931 for storing image data transmitted from an image data source, an antenna 932 for receiving image data transmitted from the PC-A 910 or the like.
a, wireless modem 932, image data memory 931
An image display unit 933 for projecting image data stored in the CPU 940 on a screen 940, and a control unit 934 mainly configured by a CPU and the like to control the entire projector 930
It has.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC-A 910 and the projector 930 in the image display system having the above configuration. As shown in the figure, the PC-A 910 serving as an image data source transmits image data to be displayed on the projector 930 to the projector 930 (S901), and the projector 930 receives the transmitted image data (S901). S90
2). After that, the projector 930 temporarily stores the received image data in the image data memory 931 (S90).
3) The stored image data is displayed by the image display unit 933 (S904).

In this case, when a plurality of image data are transmitted and an image to be displayed on the screen 940 is selected from among them, for example, a method using a remote control provided in the projector 930, a method using the image data, A method of selecting an image using a keyboard or the like provided in the PC-A 910 as a source and transmitting a control signal from the PC-A 910 to the projector 930 may be considered.

[0008]

However, in the conventional image display system as described above, a wireless modem is used for transmitting and receiving image data between the image data source and the image display device. Since it is a rule that only one image data source can be connected at a time, for example, as shown in FIG.
If you want to transfer image data even from 0, PC-A
There is a problem that the image data cannot be transmitted from the PC-B 920 unless the use of the 910 is completed.

More specifically, for example, when a user of the PC-A 910 transfers image data to the projector 930 to give a presentation,
When the presenter changes to the user of B920, P
Unless the presentation by the user of C-A 910 is finished, image data cannot be transmitted from PC-B 920, and it has been difficult to smoothly change presenters.

Further, even if a plurality of image data sources can be connected to a single image display device, in the conventional technique, for example, image data transmitted from the PC-A 910 is also transmitted from the PC-B 920. Image data
Because they are stored together in the same area, for example,
The PC-A 910 transmits highly confidential image data and stores the image data in the projector 930.
When the B-920 is connected, there is also a problem that the user of the PC-B 920 can access the highly confidential image data. Even if the image data is not so confidential, for example, PC-B920
It is preferable that the user can effectively prevent the occurrence of a trouble that the user unnecessarily selects and displays the image data transmitted from the PC-A 910.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in an image display system in which a plurality of image data sources are connected to a single image display device, the plurality of image data sources are connected. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display system or the like that can smoothly transfer image data from a data source to an image display device.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an image display system according to the present invention is an image display system including a plurality of image data sources and an image display device, wherein the plurality of image data sources are Image data transmitting means for transmitting image data to the image display device via a network, wherein the image display device receives image data transmitted by the image data transmitting means via a network, Image data storing means for storing image data received by the image data receiving means, connection detecting means for detecting that at least one of the plurality of image data sources is connected to a network, and the connection detecting means An identifier that gives an identifier of the image data source to at least one of the image data sources whose connection has been detected. Storage means for assigning a storage area of the image data storage means to at least one of the image data sources to which an identifier has been assigned by the identifier assignment means, in association with the identifier assigned by the identifier assignment means. And management means.

In this configuration, for the image data source to which the identifier is assigned, the storage area associated with the identifier is assigned to the image display device side, so that the image data transmitted from the plurality of image data sources is Is stored in the storage area allocated to the. On the other hand, since the image display device of the present invention is a network-compatible device, while displaying the image data transferred from one image data source,
It is possible to transmit image data from another image data source. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly change the presenters as described above, and to effectively prevent the problem that the image data transferred from another image data source is accessed and displayed by mistake. Can be.

The "identifier" used here is an identifier used when managing the storage area of the image data storage means, and an identifier such as an IP address normally assigned when connected to a network is used as it is. However, it may be assigned separately from the identifier on the network. Therefore, a situation can be assumed in which an identifier on the network is assigned, but the “identifier” for the storage area management is not assigned, that is, a plurality of image data sources are connected to the network, As for the "identifier" for the storage area management, a situation in which only one of them is assigned,
Alternatively, there may be various situations such as the above-mentioned “identifier” being assigned to a plurality of image data sources, but the actual storage area being assigned to only one of them.

The timing of allocating the storage area is arbitrary. For example, the image display device includes an identifier transmitting means for transmitting the identifier assigned by the identifier assigning means to an image data source corresponding to the identifier. At least one of the plurality of image data sources includes an identifier receiving unit that receives an identifier transmitted from the identifier transmitting unit, wherein the image data transmitting unit transmits image data to the image display device. Transmitting the image data with the identifier received by the identifier receiving means added thereto, wherein the image display device detects that the image data receiving means has received the image data to which the identifier has been added. Detection means, wherein the storage area management means, when the reception of the image data is detected by the identifier reception detection means, It is preferable that in correspondence with the additional identifier in the data to assign a storage area of said image data storage means. If the storage area is allocated when the image data source is connected to the network, the storage area is also allocated to the image data source that does not actually transfer the image data, and the use efficiency of the storage area deteriorates. Because there is.

Here, at least one of the plurality of image data sources includes conversion means for converting image data present in the image data source into a format usable in the image display device. Preferably, when the image data is transmitted by the image data transmitting means, the format of the image data to be transmitted is converted. This is because there is no need to mount a processor having a high processing capability that can support various image formats on the image display device side, which contributes to cost reduction of the image display device.

In this case, at least one of the image data sources converts the image data in a format usable in the image display device into a format editable in the image data source. It is preferable to provide the conversion means. This is because, when an editing request unit described later is provided, it becomes easier to edit the image data on the image data source side.

When the network is a network using wireless communication, it is effective that the conversion means performs a conversion process including compression of image data. Further, at least one of the plurality of image data sources includes: an editing request unit that receives a request for editing image data stored in the image data storage unit; and Editing request transmitting means for transmitting a signal indicating that data editing has been requested, by adding an identifier assigned to the image data source to the signal, and the image display device transmits the signal by the editing request transmitting means. Editing request receiving means for receiving the edited signal, and when the editing request receiving means receives the signal, sends the image data requested to be edited to an image data source corresponding to the identifier added to the signal. By providing the editing data transmitting means for transmitting the image data, even if the image data needs to be corrected after the image data is once transferred to the image display device. It is possible to deal with.

Here, for example, the image display device further includes an identifier determining unit that determines whether an identifier added to the signal received by the editing request receiving unit is a valid identifier, The data transmitting means transmits the image data requested to be edited to the image data source when the identifier is determined to be valid by the identifier determining means, and stores the data assigned to each image data source. If only the area can be accessed, it is possible to effectively prevent the problem that the image data transferred from another image data source is edited by mistake.

Further, the editing data transmitting means may transmit a signal to reject image data transmission when the identifier determining means determines that the identifier is not valid. Further, the image display device may further include a storage request input unit that receives a specification of whether to store or delete the image data stored in the image data storage unit, and that the storage input receiving unit stores the image data. It is preferable to include an image data storage management unit that manages the image data so that the image data stored in the image data storage unit is stored until the timing at which the image data is to be erased when the designation of the image data is received. .

In an image display device used in an image display system like the present invention, it is general that the storage capacity of the image data storage means is not so large.
Normally, it is preferable to delete the transferred image data when the image data source disconnects from the network or when the power is turned off.However, the same image data is often deleted on different days. This is because there is a case where it is desired to display the image data, and in such a case, it is possible to avoid the trouble of transferring the image data every time.

Further, the image display device further comprises authentication data input means for receiving an input of authentication data when the storage request input means receives a designation to store the image data, Means are
If the authentication data received by the authentication data input unit is stored in association with the image data to be stored, the stored image data can be prevented from being accessed by a third party.

Further, the image display device of the present invention comprises an image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from an image data source via a network, and an image storing image data received by the image data receiving means. Data storage means, connection detection means for detecting that at least one of the image data sources is connected to the network, and image data for at least one of the image data sources whose connection has been detected by the connection detection means. Identifier providing means for providing a source identifier; and at least one of the image data sources to which the identifier is provided by the identifier providing means, the image data storing means being associated with the identifier provided by the identifier providing means. Storage area management means for allocating the storage area.

Here, the image display device comprises: an identifier transmitting means for transmitting the identifier provided by the identifier providing means to an image data source corresponding to the identifier; and the image data receiving means comprising: An identifier reception detecting unit that detects reception of the image data to which the identifier has been added is provided.The storage area management unit includes, when the reception of the image data is detected by the identifier reception detecting unit, It is preferable that a storage area of the image data storage is allocated in association with the added identifier.

A recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for realizing the function of an image data source used in the image display system according to the present invention. When transmitting the image data present at the source to the image display device via a network, the image data is a program for executing a process including a conversion process of converting the image data into a format usable in the image display device. It is characterized by:

The program recorded on the recording medium is
By installing the image display apparatus in a normal information processing apparatus such as a PC, it is possible to realize the image display system of the present invention by combining an image display apparatus equipped with a processor having a not so high processing capability. Here, when the network is a network by wireless communication, it is effective that the conversion process includes a compression process of image data.

[0027]

Embodiments of an image display system and the like according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(1) Overall Configuration of Image Display System FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of an image display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image display system includes a PC-X100 and a PC-Y200 as image data sources and a projector 300 as an example of an image display device. In, the image data source and the image display device are connected using a wireless modem, whereas in the present embodiment, the projector 300 is compatible with a network, and the image data source and the image display device are connected to each other. Is different from the past in that a network is constructed between them.

In the present embodiment, the PC-X100, PC
A description will be given of a case where a connection is established between -Y200 and the projector 300 via a wireless network, but the network may be wired or wireless. Further, as described later, it is considered that it may be necessary to impose a certain limit on the number of connected image data sources according to the capacity of the image data storage area in the projector 300, as described later.
There is no particular limitation as long as these environmental conditions are satisfied.

Further, the protocol of the wireless network is not particularly limited, and the present invention can be applied to a general wireless LAN protocol such as IEEE802.11.
You may apply to tooth etc. In the present embodiment,
The image projected from the projector 300 is a screen 4
As the image display device, various image display devices such as a large-screen television and a display device such as a plasma display panel can be used as the image display device.

FIG. 2 shows the PC-X1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a PC, a PC-Y200, and a projector 300. The PC-X 100 includes an image data storage unit 101, a communication unit 102, an antenna 102a, a display unit 103, a control unit 104, a network configuration unit 105
It has. Similarly, the PC-Y 200 includes an image data storage unit 201, a communication unit 202, an antenna 202a, a display unit 203, a control unit 204, and a network configuration unit 205. Hereinafter, the configuration of the image data source will be described using the PC-X100 as an example.

The image data storage unit 101 comprises a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD).
Image data to be transmitted to the projector 300 and displayed is stored. The communication unit 102 is the wireless LAN described above.
Communication control is performed according to the protocol of The image data stored in the image data storage unit 101 is transmitted to the projector 300 via the communication unit 102 and the antenna 102a.

The display unit 103 is composed of an image display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and is used when displaying, editing, confirming, and the like the image data stored in the image data storage unit 101 on the image data source side. Can be. The control units 104 are each configured around a CPU,
It controls the entire image data source.

The network configuration unit 105 is a PC-X1
00 (and the PC-Y 200), controls exchange of various control signals when constructing a wireless LAN between the projectors 300, and the like. The projector 300 includes an image data storage unit 301, a communication unit 302, an antenna 302a, an image display unit 303, a control unit 304, and a network configuration unit 305.
It has.

The image data storage unit 301 is provided with the HD
D, a storage device such as an image memory, and stores image data transmitted from an image data source such as PC-X100 or PC-Y200. In the present embodiment, when a wireless LAN is established with PC-X100, PC-Y200, etc., image storage areas corresponding to respective image data sources are allocated in image data storage unit 301. It is. Details of this image area allocation will be described later.

The communication unit 302 controls communication with an image data source via a wireless LAN. Image display unit 303
Performs projection of an image on the screen 400. The image display unit 303 is an image display mechanism provided in a general projector, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.
For example, the image data storage unit 301 includes a light source, a projection lens, a liquid crystal light valve, a dichroic prism, and the like.
Is projected on the screen 400.

The control unit 304 is mainly composed of a CPU and controls the entire projector 300. The network configuration unit 305 controls exchange of control signals when constructing a network with the image data source. Next, in the image display system according to the present embodiment, when transmitting image data from the image data source to the image display device, the operation of the image data source and the image display device is performed by transmitting the image data from the PC-X 100 to the projector 300. The case of transmission will be described as an example. FIG.
PC-X100 and projector 3 when constructing a network and transmitting image data between the two.
9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the 00.

As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, first, a detection signal for constructing a network is transmitted from the projector 300 side (S101). This operation is started, for example, by input to an input device such as a network construction button provided on the projector 300 side, and the PC-X 100 that has received the detection signal (S10)
2), a reply to the network connection is made (S103).
It receives the detection signal from projector 300,
This means transmitting a signal to the effect that connection to a wireless network to be established is desired.

The projector 300 that has received the reply from the PC-X 100 (S104) assigns an identifier to the PC-X 100, transmits the identifier to the PC-X 100 (S105), and stores image data. An arbitrary area for the PC-X 100 is secured in the unit 301 (S106). At this time, the secured area and PC-X1
The image data storage area is allocated as described above by associating the identifier given to 00. Thereafter, by controlling access to the area allocated to the PC-X 100 from another image data source, another image data source may access the image data. Can be effectively prevented, and even when the image data transferred from one image data source is highly confidential, the image data with high confidentiality is transmitted from another image data source. Can be prevented from being accessed.

As a specific method of allocating the storage area of the image data storage unit 301 in association with the identifier, for example, Win
If an OS (operating system) embedded in a device such as dowsCE (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation) is installed, the file function of the OS can be used, and various other methods are possible.

The identifier associated with the storage area does not necessarily need to be recognizable to the user as to which image data source the area corresponds to, and is represented by a random number or character string. May be used. This identifier is added when transmitting image data or a control signal from the image data source, or when transmitting from the image display device to the image data source. If the identifier is recognizable by the image data source and the image display device, Because it is enough. That is, in the present embodiment, the identifier on the network assigned when each image data source is connected to the network is associated with the storage area, but the identifier for allocating the storage area is assigned separately. You may.

Further, various control methods can be considered for the capacity of the storage area to be allocated. It is also conceivable to detect that the image data source is connected to the network and to sequentially allocate a storage area of a predetermined capacity every time it is detected. However, since the capacity of the image data storage unit 301 is limited, for example, In the case of allocating a predetermined capacity, when the number of connected image data sources reaches a predetermined number, a storage area is not allocated to a subsequent image data source, or a connection is made during an initial predetermined time. For example, a method of allocating a storage area according to the number of image data sources (division of the total capacity of the image data storage unit 301 by the number of connected image data sources) can be considered.

Note that the storage area may be allocated when image data to which an identifier has been added is received from the image data source. A storage area is allocated to an image data source (a terminal device such as a PC) merely connected to a network without actually transmitting image data, so that the storage capacity of the image data storage unit 301 is wastefully secured. This is because it can be prevented from being performed.

On the other hand, the PC-X 100 receives the identifier transmitted from the projector 300 (S10).
7) At the time of transmitting the image data, the image data is transmitted to the projector 300 with the identifier added thereto (S108). The projector 300 receives the transmitted image data (S109), and stores the image data in the image data storage unit 301 according to the identifier of the PC-X 100 added to the image data (S110). At this time, the image data is stored in the PC-
It will be stored in the area allocated to X100.

In the above description, the operation of the PC-X 100 as an image data source has been described.
When the image data source Y200 or another image data source desires to participate in the network, the same operation as that of the PC-X100 is performed, so that the storage area is allocated as long as the capacity of the image data storage unit 301 permits. Can be. When the image data is received, the projector 300 determines the identifier added to the image data,
The image data may be stored in a storage area allocated to the image data source that has transmitted the image data.

Also, various methods are conceivable for a method of constructing a network. As in the above-described embodiment, a detection signal is transmitted from the projector 300, and the image data source receiving the detection signal replies. For example, a method of transmitting a network connection signal from the image data source to the projector 300 may be used. In particular, it is conceivable that a new image data source is connected to the network once established, and in such a case, a connection request from the new image data source is sent to the projector 300 side. It is preferable to have a configuration that allows reception.

As described above, according to the image display system of the present embodiment, when a network is constructed, an identifier is given to an image data source that wants to connect to the network, In the image data storage unit, a storage area is allocated in association with the identifier of each image data source, so that when image data is transmitted from the image data source thereafter, the storage allocated to the image data source Image data is stored in the area, so that access to the image data from other image data sources can be restricted.

Further, for example, when a presentation is being performed by displaying image data transferred from one image data source, image data is transmitted from another image data source to the image display device in parallel. So you can
It is possible to efficiently transmit image data from a plurality of image data sources, and to smoothly change presenters when giving a presentation as described above.

In the present embodiment, identifiers are assigned to all the image data sources connected to the network. In other words, the identifiers of the terminals connected to the network on the network are stored. Although it is also used for area allocation, as described above, an identifier for allocating a storage area may be given separately from an identifier on the network. In this case,
Other than the image data source that actually transfers the image data, the identifier may not be assigned, or only the identifier may be assigned first, and the storage area may be used when the image data is actually transmitted. Can be assigned.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In an image display system in which an image data source and an image display device are connected via a network, an information processing device equipped with a processor having relatively high processing capability such as a PC is used as the image data source, while a projector or the like is used. Generally, a processor having a high processing capability is not mounted on the image display device side.

Further, particularly when a network is constructed by wirelessly connecting the image data source and the image display device, the data transmission speed is inevitably lower than that of a wired network. It is common practice to transfer image data after compressing it. Correspondingly, the image display device often receives and displays compressed image data, for example, image data compressed according to the so-called JPEG standard.

However, when the image data is compressed and transferred, the image data source creates and edits the image data using various software. If it is attempted to transfer the image data as it is, it takes a long time to transfer the image data, and the image display device needs to be equipped with the software. This leads to an increase in the cost of the display device.

Thus, the present embodiment provides an image display system that can display image data created and edited by various software on the image display device without increasing the cost of the image display device. FIG. 4 shows PC-X100, PC-Y200,
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a projector 300. As shown in FIG.
Since most of them are the same as the first embodiment,
The following description focuses on differences from the first embodiment.

The image data source of the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that image data sources 106 and 206 are provided. Hereinafter, taking PC-X100 as an example,
An image data source according to the present embodiment will be described. The image data conversion unit 106 converts the image data created and edited using various application software stored in the image data storage unit 101 into the image display device 300.
To a format that can be used in. For example, various types of image data are
It has a function to convert the data into a format that can be displayed by using, and to compress it according to the JPEG standard.

In the present embodiment, at the timing of transferring image data from the image data source to the image display device, the image data conversion unit 106 converts the format of the image data, and converts the converted image data to the image display device. Send to FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image data source and the image display device according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the operations from steps S201 to S207 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description is omitted. In the present embodiment, when a user of the PC-X 100 instructs image data transfer, image data of a format corresponding to various applications is loaded from the image data storage unit 101 (S208), and the image data conversion unit 106 In step S209, the image is converted into an image format that can be displayed by the projector 300 (S209). Note that the format conversion in the present embodiment includes compression, but compression is not necessarily performed as long as the format is converted into a format that can be displayed by the projector 300.

Thereafter, the converted image data is transmitted to projector 300 (S210). In this case, the projector 300 that has received the image data (S211) adds the identifier to the image data storage unit 3 according to the identifier.
01 (S2).
12) is the same as in the first embodiment. As described above, in the image display system according to the present embodiment, the image data source is created with various software,
Since the edited image data is converted (or converted and compressed) into an image format that can be used on the image display device and then transmitted to the image display device, the image display device is equipped with a processor with high processing capability. No need.
Therefore, image data created and edited by various software can be displayed without increasing the cost of the image display device.

The image data conversion unit 1 according to the present embodiment
06 is provided with a function of converting from an image format available on the image display device side to an image format compatible with various software, even if an editing request unit described in the following embodiments is provided, Editing of data can be performed smoothly. (Embodiment 3) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a process will be described in which image data once transferred from the image data source to the image display device is edited again on the image data source side.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the image data source and the image display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the configuration of the projector 300 as the image display device is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted here. Also, regarding the configuration of the PC-X100 and the like as the image data source, the description of the same configuration as the above-described embodiment will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, P
The C-X100 and the like are different from the first embodiment in that an edit request unit 107 is provided. This editing request section 10
7 receives an instruction from the user to edit the contents of the image data already transferred to the image display device, and instructs the image display device to transfer the image data to be edited to the image data source. Request.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image data source and the image display device according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the processing from steps S301 to S310 is the same as in the first embodiment,
Detailed description here is omitted. With respect to the image data once transferred to the projector 300 by the above processing,
When the content needs to be edited, the editing request unit 107 transmits a request to transfer data in the image data storage unit 301 on the image display device side in accordance with an instruction from the user. Here, by transmitting the signal of the transfer request with the identifier given to the PX-X100 added thereto, it is possible to prevent the image data transferred from another image data source from being accessed by mistake. . That is, the transfer request is received (S31).
2) The projector that has confirmed the identifier (S31)
3) Then, the image data in the image data storage unit 301 is transmitted to the image data source (S314).

Since the projector 300 manages the identifier assigned to each image data source, step S
As a result of confirming the identifier in 313, it can be detected that the identifier is not valid. In this case, for example, from the image display unit 303 of the projector 300, the fact that there is an invalid request can be displayed on the screen 400, or a rejection signal may be transmitted to the image data source. . However, especially when the identifier on the network is also used as an identifier for storage area management, if the identifier is not valid, it may be impossible to transmit an appropriate signal to the image data source, In this case, the rejection is displayed on the projector 300.
, It is preferable to be able to carry out by some method (for example, display on the screen 400, lighting of LED, etc.).

Various methods are conceivable for selecting image data to be requested for editing. For example, in FIG. 1, a list screen of image data files as displayed on the screen 400 can be displayed and specified by a pointing device, a remote controller, or the like, but all files are displayed by other Since there is a possibility that an incorrect specification is made by the user, it is preferable to perform filtering such as displaying only a file in a storage area in which image data currently displayed is stored. Alternatively, the list data of the image data file may be transmitted to the image data source, and may be designated on the image data source side. In this case, it is needless to say that it is preferable to transmit only the list data of the files in the storage area allocated to the image data source.

If the identifier is valid and the image data is transmitted to the image data source, the image data source receives the transmitted image data (S315) and uses the corresponding software to execute the image data transmission. After editing the content of
The edited image data is transmitted (S316). Also in this case, by transmitting the image data source with the identifier added thereto, the following steps S317 and S3 are performed.
At 18, image data can be stored in a storage area allocated to the image data source.

As described above, in the image display system according to the present embodiment, the contents of the image data once transferred to the image display device can be edited. In that case, the image data is transferred from another image data source. It is possible to prevent the contents of the image data from being edited. (Embodiment 4) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which image data once transmitted to an image display device and used for a purpose such as a presentation is stored on the image display device side.

Generally, the storage capacity of the image data storage means mounted on the image display device used in the image display system of the present invention is compared with the number of image data transferred from the image data source. Is usually not large enough, for image data that has already been used for presentations, etc., the power of the image display device is turned off or the network connection with the image data source is cut off. It is often considered preferable to detect such a situation and automatically delete the image data stored in the image display device.

However, transferring the image data from the image data source every time becomes complicated, such as when the same presentation is given to many participants over several days. In the embodiment, the image data once transferred can be stored in the image display device. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the image data source and the image display device according to the present embodiment. The PC-X100 and the like, which are image data sources according to the present embodiment, have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. In the projector 300 as an image display device, a detailed description of a portion having the same configuration as that of the above embodiment is omitted, and a portion different from the above embodiments will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the projector 300 of the present embodiment is different from the previous embodiments in that the projector 300 includes a data storage management unit 306, a network state detection unit 307, and an information input unit 308. ing. As described above, the data storage management unit 306 stores the transferred image data in the image data even after the actual use of the projector 300 is completed, such as after the power of the projector 300 is turned off or after the network connection is cut off. Part 30
1 and a series of processes for deleting the transferred image data after the process is completed. In the present embodiment, when the image data source that has transferred the image data has disconnected from the network, control is performed to save or delete the transferred image data.

The network status detection unit 307 detects the status of connection of each image data source to the network. Therefore, when the image data source disconnects the network connection, the network state detection unit 307 detects the disconnection. The information input unit 308 receives an input from the user whether to save or delete the image data. Information input unit 3
As 08, an input switch or button may be provided on the image display device side, or an instruction may be given from the image data source side via a network.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image display device when the disconnection of the network connection of the image data source is detected in the image display system of the present embodiment. That is, when disconnection of the network connection of the image data source is detected by the network state detection unit 307 (S401), it is determined whether to save or delete the image data transferred to the image data storage unit 301 (S401). S402). This determination may be made with reference to preset information, or may be specified at this time.

If the stored image data is to be saved (S402: Yes), the data saving management unit 306 saves the image data stored in the image data storage unit 301. In this embodiment, the storage position of the image data in this case is stored in an image data storage area regardless of the area allocated to the image data source. This is because once the image data source disconnects the network connection, the same area as this time is not always allocated when the image data source connects to the network next time.

On the other hand, when the image data is not stored (S402: No), the data storage management unit 306
The image data stored in the image data storage unit 301 is deleted (S404), and the process ends. As described above, in the image display system according to the present embodiment, once transferred image data can be stored on the image display device side, so that when the same content presentation is performed every day, the image data No longer need to be transferred.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment,
The processing when the image data once transferred to the image display device is stored in the image display device has been described. However, in the method according to the fourth embodiment, the area in which the image data is stored is an area that can be accessed by other users. Therefore, when the image data to be stored includes highly confidential information, Can cause problems.

In this embodiment, a password can be set when the image data is stored in the image display device, so that a highly confidential image data can be stored in the image display device. Prevent problems from occurring. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an image data source and an image display device according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image data source according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that used in each of the above embodiments, and thus detailed description is omitted here. Also, regarding the configuration of the projector 300 as an image display device, the password management unit 309
Is different from the fourth embodiment, and therefore, the different points will be described below.

The password management unit 309 prompts the user to set a password when the image data is stored by the data storage management unit 306, and receives the password setting from the user. Further, it has means for storing the set password. The password can be set via the information input unit 308 provided in the projector 300. In this case, if an input device is provided on the side of the projector 300 as the information input unit 308, it is preferable to provide a numeric keypad or a simple keyboard, but this numeric keypad or keyboard is displayed on the screen 400 and used as a mouse or the like. The input may be instructed by a pointing device. Alternatively, the setting may be made from the image data source side via a network.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image display device in the image display system according to the present embodiment. That is, when the network state detection unit 307 detects that the image data source has disconnected the network connection (S501), it is determined whether to save or delete the image data stored in the image data storage unit 301. (S502). When saving image data (S50
2: Yes), the password management unit 309 requests input of a password (S503).

In this embodiment, when a password is input, the validity of the password is determined (S504), and when a correct password is input (S504: Ye)
s) The image data stored in the image data storage unit 301 is stored by the data storage management unit 306 (S50).
5). Here, various methods can be considered as a method for determining the validity of the password. In the present embodiment, it is determined only whether the password is not the same as the already set password. Of course, the setting date of the password or the like may be stored, and condition setting may be performed such that the password once used cannot be reused for a predetermined period.

In the present embodiment, the data storage management unit 30
When the image data is stored according to step 6, the image data is stored in association with the set password. Then, the correspondence between the set password and the storage position of the image data is stored in the password management unit 309. Accordingly, when the image data source connects to the network next time, the corresponding image data can be loaded by inputting the password.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image display device when the stored image data is reloaded in the system of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, when loading the stored image data, the password management unit 309 requests the input of a password (S601), and the input password is changed to the password set in the stored image data. Is determined (S602).

If the input password is correct (S602: Yes), the image data stored in the storage data storage area of the image data storage unit 301 is extracted and displayed (S603). In the present embodiment, the extracted image data is displayed immediately. However, the image data may be moved from the storage data storage area to the storage area allocated to the image data source.

As described above, in the image display system according to the present embodiment, the password is set when the image data is stored. It is possible to prevent excessive access from persons. In the present embodiment, the storage period of the image data is not particularly limited, but once the stored image data is stored indefinitely,
Since the storage area of the image data storage unit 301 is wastefully consumed, for example, image data after a predetermined number of days may be automatically deleted.

As described in the above embodiments, by using the image display system and the image display device of the present invention, it is possible to transfer image data from a plurality of image data sources to the image display device. The transfer can be performed smoothly, and the problem that the image data is accessed from an image data source other than the image data source to which the image data is transferred can be effectively prevented. .

Note that the image display system and the image display device of the present invention do not necessarily mean that a plurality of image data sources must be connected and used, and that a single image data source is connected and used. Of course, you can. Further, the image display system of the present invention can be realized by installing a program for executing the functions of the image display system in a general information processing apparatus such as a PC. The program is a CD-ROM
It can be distributed in a format stored in various recording media such as a disk, a floppy disk, and a memory card.

[0083]

As described above, according to the image display system of the present invention, the image data source includes the image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the image display device via the network, Image data receiving means for receiving the image data transmitted by the image data transmitting means via a network, image data storing means for storing the image data received by the image data receiving means, and the plurality of image data Connection detecting means for detecting that at least one of the sources is connected to the network, and an identifier for assigning an identifier of the image data source to at least one of the image data sources whose connection has been detected by the connection detecting means Assigning means, and at least one of the image data sources to which the identifier is assigned by the identifier assigning means, A storage area management unit that allocates a storage area of the image data storage unit in association with the identifier assigned by the identifier assignment unit, so that image data is transferred from a plurality of image data sources to the image display device. Can be performed efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing an overall configuration of an image display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a PC-X100, P in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of the CY 200 and the projector 300.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a PC-X100 according to the first embodiment when a network is constructed and image data is transmitted.
4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the projector 300.

FIG. 4 shows a PC-X100, P in the second embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a C-Y 200 and a projector 300.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the PC-X 100 and the projector 300 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a PC-X100, P in the third embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a C-Y 200 and a projector 300.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the PC-X 100 and the projector 300 according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a PC-X100, P in the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a C-Y 200 and a projector 300.

FIG. 9 illustrates a projector 300 according to a fourth embodiment.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a PC-X100 according to the fifth embodiment,
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC-Y 200 and a projector 300.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the projector 300 when image data is stored in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the projector 300 when loading stored image data in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing an overall configuration of a conventional image display system.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram illustrating configurations of a PC-A 910 and a projector 930.

FIG. 15 shows a PC-A9 in a conventional image display system.
10 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the projector 10 and the projector 930.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 PC-X 200 PC-Y 101, 201 Image data storage unit 102, 202 Communication unit 102a, 202a Antenna 103, 203 Display unit 104, 204 Control unit 105, 205 Network configuration unit 106, 206 Image data conversion unit 107, 207 Edit request unit 300 Projector 301 Image data storage unit 302 Communication unit 303 Image display unit 304 Control unit 305 Network configuration unit 306 Data storage management unit 307 Network status detection unit 308 Information input unit 309 Password management unit 400 Screen

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04L 13/08 G09G 5/00 555D 5K034 H04N 1/00 555A H04L 11/00 310B F-term (reference) 5B069 AA01 AA02 BA04 BA10 KA06 LA05 LA12 5C062 AA06 AA37 AB23 AB40 AB42 AC05 AC24 AC25 BA02 BD07 5C073 AA04 AA06 AB12 AB17 BA01 BB01 CE01 CE04 5C082 AA03 AA34 BA02 BA12 BB01 BB25 BB44 CA76 CB01 CB10 DA31 MM09 5K03 A03 MM09 5K03 A03

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image display system including a plurality of image data sources and an image display device, wherein the plurality of image data sources include image data transmitting means for transmitting image data to the image display device via a network. An image data receiving unit that receives the image data transmitted by the image data transmitting unit via a network; an image data storage unit that stores the image data received by the image data receiving unit; Connection detection means for detecting that at least one of the plurality of image data sources is connected to a network, and at least one of the image data sources whose connection has been detected by the connection detection means, An identifier assigning unit for assigning an identifier; and an image data source assigned with the identifier by the identifier assigning unit. The image display system, which comprises for one even without, the storage area management means for allocating a storage area of said image data storage means in association with assigned identifiers by the identifier providing unit. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising: an identifier transmitting unit configured to transmit an identifier assigned by the identifier assigning unit to an image data source corresponding to the identifier, wherein at least one of the plurality of image data sources includes: An identifier receiving unit for receiving an identifier transmitted from the identifier transmitting unit, wherein the image data transmitting unit transmits the image data to the image display device, the identifier received by the identifier receiving unit on the image data. The image display device further comprises: identifier reception detecting means for detecting that the image data receiving means has received the image data to which the identifier has been added, wherein the storage area management means comprises: When reception of the image data is detected by the reception detecting means, the image data record is associated with an identifier added to the image data. The image display system according to claim 1, characterized in that allocating a storage area of the unit. 3. At least one of the plurality of image data sources includes a conversion unit that converts image data present in the image data source into a format usable in the image display device. 3. The image display system according to claim 1, wherein a format of the image data to be transmitted is converted when the image data is transmitted by the image data transmitting unit. 4. At least one of the image data sources includes a second conversion unit that converts image data in a format usable in the image display device into a format editable in the image data source. The image display system according to claim 3, comprising: 5. The image display system according to claim 3, wherein the network is a network based on wireless communication, and the conversion unit performs a conversion process including compression of image data. 6. An image processing apparatus comprising: at least one of the plurality of image data sources: an editing request unit that receives a request for editing image data stored in the image data storage unit; and a case where the editing request unit receives the request. And an editing request transmitting means for transmitting a signal indicating that the editing of the image data has been requested, by adding an identifier assigned to the image data source, and transmitting the editing request. Editing request receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted by the means, and when the editing request receiving means receives the signal, an image corresponding to an identifier added to the signal, the image data requested to be edited. 3. An editing data transmitting means for transmitting the edited data to a data source.
6. The image display system according to any one of 4 and 5. 7. The image display device further comprises: an identifier determining unit that determines whether an identifier added to the signal received by the editing request receiving unit is a valid identifier. 7. The image display system according to claim 6, wherein, if the identifier is determined to be valid by the identifier determination unit, the image data requested to be edited is transmitted to an image data source. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said editing data transmitting means transmits a signal to reject image data transmission when said identifier determining means determines that the identifier is not valid. 2. The image display system according to 1. 9. The image display device, further comprising: a storage request input unit for receiving a designation as to whether to save or delete the image data stored in the image data storage unit; An image data storage management unit that manages the image data so as to store the image data stored in the image data storage unit until a timing at which the image data is to be erased when a designation to store the image data is received; The image display system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: 10. The image data storage device according to claim 1, further comprising: an authentication data input unit configured to receive an input of authentication data when the storage request input unit receives a designation to store the image data. The image display system according to claim 9, wherein the means stores the authentication data received by the authentication data input means in association with the image data to be stored. 11. An image data receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from an image data source via a network, an image data storage means for storing the image data received by the image data receiving means, and an image data source. Connection detecting means for detecting that at least one of the image data sources is connected to the network, and an identifier assignment for assigning an identifier of the image data source to at least one of the image data sources whose connection has been detected by the connection detecting means. Means for assigning a storage area of the image data storage means to at least one of the image data sources to which an identifier has been assigned by the identifier assignment means in association with the identifier assigned by the identifier assignment means And an image display device. 12. The image display device, comprising: an identifier transmitting unit configured to transmit an identifier assigned by the identifier assigning unit to an image data source corresponding to the identifier; and the image data receiving unit includes: An identifier reception detecting unit that detects reception of the image data to which the identifier has been added, wherein the storage area management unit adds the image data to the image data when the reception of the image data is detected by the identifier reception detection unit 12. The image display device according to claim 11, wherein a storage area of the image data storage unit is allocated in association with the assigned identifier. 13. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for realizing a function of an image data source used in the image display system according to claim 3, wherein the program is stored in the image data source. When the image data is transmitted to the image display device via a network, the program executes a process including a conversion process of converting the image data into a format usable in the image display device. Recording medium. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is a network by wireless communication, and the conversion processing includes a compression processing of image data.
4. The recording medium according to 3.