JPH04346598A - Av equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically execute exact and speedy system link operations when being constructed as an AV system by a system control bus. CONSTITUTION:A status information output means 52 is provided to output status information, a status information input means 53 is provided to input the status information outputted from the other AV equipment connected to the system, a required link operation discriminating means 54 is provided to discriminate the required link operation according to the inputted status information, and the discriminated operation is controlled by an operation control means 51 to control the operation. By such a system controller, the exact and speedy system link operations can be realized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to AV (audio/visual) equipment such as monitor devices, VTRs, and disc players.

0002

[Prior art] A of monitor devices, VTRs, tuners, etc.
V equipment is not only used in a system by connecting each device with an AV signal line to input and output audio signals and video signals (hereinafter referred to as AV signals).
By connecting devices using a system control bus and exchanging control signals between devices, users can
An AV system has been realized that makes it possible to automatically perform cooperative operations between V devices without having to operate each device individually.

[0003] That is, each AV device systemized by a system control bus outputs necessary command signals to other AV devices via the system control bus to cause them to execute predetermined operations, or Even if a certain AV device does not directly output operation command signals for other devices, if a command signal for controlling the operation of a certain AV device is sent to the system control bus, the other AV devices will detects the command signal and makes its own decision,
If it is determined that some kind of action is necessary, that action can be executed.

For example, as shown in FIG.
, the VTR 2, and the monitor device 3 are connected into a system by a system control bus BC for exchanging command signals and an AV signal line LAV for inputting and outputting AV signals.

[0005] First, let us take as an example the reserved recording operation of a satellite broadcast program. In this case, the user performs reservation registration for the VTR 2 in advance to set recording start and end times, channels, and the like. Then, just before the reservation start time, VT
System control bus BC from R2 to BS tuner 1
A command signal to turn on the power is issued via the terminal, and a channel control command is issued to execute the reception operation of the reserved program. Then, the AV signal of that program is on AV signal line L.
Since the signal is supplied to the VTR 2 via the AV, the VTR 2 starts recording the AV signal. For example, by directly supplying command signals to other devices via the system control bus BC, cooperative operations within the system are possible without the user having to operate each individual AV device.

[0006] Furthermore, as a method in which a command signal is not directly output from one AV device to another AV device, for example, when performing VTR playback in a system configured as shown in FIG. 4, there is a method called VTR playback. When a command signal flows to the system control bus BC, the BS tuner 1 and the monitor device 3 make their own judgment based on the command signal for VTR playback flowing to the system control bus BC, and for example, the monitor device 3 performs an operation such as turning on the power. It is also possible to perform a system cooperation operation in which the BS tuner 1 determines that the operation is unnecessary and does not execute anything.

[0007]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the system is systemized using the system control bus BC, as mentioned above, certain AV devices directly communicate with predetermined AV devices that require cooperative operation. The method of performing cooperative operations by outputting command signals becomes inconvenient as the scale of the AV system increases (that is, the number of connected AV devices increases).

[0008] In other words, when a certain AV device wants multiple other AV devices to perform various cooperative operations, it is necessary to output predetermined command signals to each device, and all command signals must be sent out. There is a problem in that it takes time to complete the process, and as a result, the exclusive time of the system control bus BC becomes longer, which may interfere with other operations. Furthermore, since each device executes a predetermined operation in sequence, there is also a drawback that the start-up of the cooperative operation is slow.

[0009] Furthermore, in a system in which other AV devices perform cooperative operations by having other AV devices independently decide whether to execute a predetermined operation based on a command signal sent to a predetermined device flowing through the system control bus BC, even if the scale of the AV system increases, Although the exclusive time of the system control bus BC does not become long, each AV device executes a predetermined operation assuming that the other AV devices are executing operations based on the command signal. However, there is a problem in that the cooperative operations are not necessarily performed accurately.

For example, if a command signal for VTR playback flows to the system control bus BC when the VTR 2 is in the off state, even if the monitor device 3 makes its own judgment based on the command signal for VTR playback and turns on the power, the VTR
Since TR2 is in the off state, it does not perform a playback operation based on the VTR playback command signal that should be accepted when it is in the on state. In other words, accurate cooperative operation will not be realized.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an AV device that can construct an AV system by connecting with other AV devices via a system control bus. a status information output means for outputting status information, which is information regarding the executed operating state, to the system control bus; and a status information output means for outputting status information, which is information regarding the executed operating state, to the system control bus from other AV equipment connected as an AV system by the system control bus. status information input means for inputting the status information that has been received;
Provided is an AV device having a cooperative operation determining means for determining a necessary cooperative operation from input status information, and a control means capable of executing operation control determined as necessary by the cooperative operation determining means. It is something to do.

0012

By inputting and outputting status information via the system control bus, each AV device connected via the system control bus can accurately determine the current operating status of other AV devices. Therefore, by detecting the status information, it becomes possible to make accurate decisions regarding cooperative operations. Further, unlike the case where command signals are sent to each AV device individually, it does not require time.

[0013]

[Example] Figure 1 shows an A constructed using the AV equipment of the present invention.
This figure shows an example of a V system, where 10 is a monitor/speaker device, 20 is an AV selector, 30 is a VTR, and 40 is a multi-disc player (MDP).
Each of the V devices corresponds to an embodiment of the AV device of the present invention.

In the monitor/speaker device 10, 11
12 is a system controller constituted by a microcomputer consisting of a CPU, ROM, RAM, and an interface section; 12 performs predetermined processing and amplification on the supplied video and audio signals, and outputs them to the monitor screen 13 and L and R speakers; This is an AV signal output processing section that supplies the signals to 14L and 14R and outputs them as video or audio. Also 1
2a is a CPU that controls the operation of the AV signal output processing section 12;
This CPU 12a is connected to the system controller 11 via an inner bus Bi, and causes the AV signal output processing section 12 to execute a predetermined operation based on an operation command from the system controller 11.

Reference numeral 15 denotes an operation signal input section through which operation signals are input from the user, such as a panel operation section provided on the surface of the casing of the monitor/speaker device 10, or a command signal by infrared rays from a remote commander. It consists of an infrared receiving and demodulating section that receives. When the user performs an operation using the operation button of the panel operation section or the remote commander, a command signal corresponding to the operation is supplied from the operation signal input section 15 to the system controller 11 via the inner bus Bi. Then, the system controller 11 supplies an operation command to the AV signal output processing section 12 based on the supplied command signal.

Next, in the AV selector 20, 21 is a system controller, 22 is a selector section having an input section and an output section for the AV signal line LAV, and a CPU 22a that executes operation control of the selector section 22 is connected to an inner bus Bi. Connected to the system controller. Further, 23 is an operation signal input section similar to the operation signal input section 15 in the monitor/speaker device 10.

Further, the VTR 30 is similarly provided with a system controller 31, and also includes a deck section 32 that performs recording/playback operations on the videotape, a tuner section 33 that performs reception operations, and a timer section 34 that performs time management. Each has a CPU as an operation control means.
32a, 33a, 34a are installed, and the inner bus Bi
It is connected to the system controller 31 via. Further, 35 is an operation signal input section.

In the MDP 40, 41 is a system controller, 42 is a disc player section, and 43 is an operation signal input section. Similarly, a CPU 42a which controls the disc player section 42 receives operation commands from the system controller 41 via an inner bus Bi. are being supplied.

Each of these AV devices is capable of bidirectional communication between the system controllers 11, 21, 31, and 41 via the system control bus BC, so that accurate cooperative operations can be automatically realized. It is possible. That is, the system controller 11,
21, 31, and 41 are shown in Figure 2 by software respectively.
Functional blocks as shown in FIG. 1 are formed, and status information, which is information indicating the operating state, can be input/output to/from the system control bus BC.

51 issues necessary operation commands to the actual operation parts of each AV device via the inner bus Bi based on the command signals supplied from the operation signal input parts (15, 23, 35, 43). It is an operation control means for outputting. Note that the operating unit here refers to the system controller 1.
1, the selector section 22 for the system controller 21, the deck section 32, tuner section 33, and timer section 34 for the system controller 31, and the disc player section 42 for the system controller 41. Further, when the operation control means 51 is supplied with determination information indicating that a certain operation should be executed from the necessary operation determination means 54 (described later), the operation control means 51 outputs operation commands to each operation section via the inner bus Bi based on the determination information indicating that a certain operation should be executed. do.

52 is a status information output means for generating status information indicating the operating state executed based on the operation command from the operation control means 51, and outputting this to the system control bus BC; This status information input means detects and inputs the status information output from the status information output means of the AV equipment to the system control bus BC.

Furthermore, 54 is status information input means 53
This is a necessary operation determining means that performs a determining operation on the status information input from. That is, based on a certain operating state of a certain AV device in the AV system indicated by the status information, the own AV device determines whether some kind of operation is necessary, and transmits the determination information to the operation control means 51. It is intended to supply

[0023] The system controllers 11, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 21, 22, 22, and 21 have shown in FIG.
In steps 31 and 41, the operations shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 are executed.

First, the operation signal input section (15, 23, 35
, 43), a predetermined operating unit (the CPU 1 controlling the operating unit)
2a, 22a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 42a) (F101→F104). Then, if necessary, status information, which is information about the operating state executed by the operating command, is outputted from the status information output means 52 to the system control bus BC (F105, F106). Whether or not the status information needs to be output is determined depending on whether the operating state requires some kind of cooperative operation with other AV devices.

On the other hand, even if no command signal is input, if status information output from another AV device is detected and input by the status information input means 53, the operating state of the predetermined device indicated by this status information is changed. The necessary operation determining means 54 determines whether the AV equipment requires some kind of cooperative operation in response to the above (F102, F103).
), supplies the discrimination information to the operation control means 51, and executes a predetermined cooperative operation if necessary (F103→F10
4).

[0026] Here, the cooperative operation that should be executed in conjunction with a certain operating state of a certain AV device depends on the type and number of AV devices actually constructed as an AV system, and the connection state of the AV signal line LAV. Therefore, in the system controllers 11, 21, 31, and 41, after the AV system is constructed, the operations to be executed in response to various status information of other AV devices are automatically or in accordance with the user's instructions. Registered by operation.

For example, when a system controller installed in an AV device constructs an AV system using the system control bus BC and turns on the power, it sends various information requests to other AV devices connected within the system. Some devices allow you to check the model and connection status of each AV device connected to the system, enter the answer, and set the address. Since the cooperative operation can be determined, each system controller 11, 21, 31, 41 can automatically register the cooperative operation data accompanying various status information in the necessary operation determining means 54.

[0028] Furthermore, since the cooperative operation may depend not only on the connection status of the AV signal line LAV, but also on the user's usage pattern and preferences, for example, after the user has constructed the system, the various statuses of other AV equipment may be It is preferable to be able to register actions to be performed in response to information. Of course, for cooperative operations that are not affected by the connection state of the AV signal line LAV, the manner of use, etc., necessary operations may be registered in advance in response to predetermined status information when each AV device is manufactured.

In any case, if such registration is performed, the necessary action determining means 54 can determine the cooperative action based on the presence or absence of registration of the action corresponding to the input status information.

The AV equipment of this embodiment is a monitor/speaker device 10, an AV selector 20, a VTR 30, and an MDP 4.
0, reliable cooperative operation is possible by having the system controller shown in FIG. 2 and executing control based on the input/output of status information as shown in FIG. Below, AV equipment 10, 20, 30, 4 of this example
Two examples of cooperative operations realized in an AV system constructed using AV system 0 will be explained.

① Perform the playback operation of the VTR 30. The user uses the panel switch or remote commander to
When you turn on the TR30 and operate the VTR playback,
Power on and VT of VTR 30 from operation signal input section 35
A command signal for R playback is supplied to the system controller 31. Operation control means 5 of system controller 31
1 turns on the power and controls the playback operation in the deck section 32 in accordance with this, and status information indicating this operating state of "VTR playback" is output from the status information output means 52 to the system control bus BC. Then, the monitor/speaker device 10, AV selector 20, and MDP 40 that have input this status information make a determination by the necessary operation determining means 54 in the system controllers 11, 21, and 41, respectively, and execute the next operation.

-Monitor/speaker device 10...Turn on the power and listen to the AV input from the AV signal line LAV.
The signal is output from the monitor screen 13 and speakers 14L and 14R. - AV selector 20: Turns on the power and switches the AV signal line input to correspond to the VTR 30.・MDP40...No cooperative operation.

[0033] ■ The MDP 40 performs a laser disc playback operation. A command signal for powering on the MDP 40 and playing the disk is supplied from the operation signal input section 43 to the system controller 41 according to the user's operation.
The operation control means 51 of the system controller 41 turns on the power and controls the playback operation in the disc player section 32 in accordance with this, and the status information indicating the operation state of "laser disc playback" is sent from the status information output means 52 to the system control bus BC. is output to. The monitor/monitor where you entered this status information will then be
The speaker device 10, AV selector 20, and VTR 30 perform a determination by the necessary operation determining means 54 in the system controllers 11, 21, and 31, respectively, and execute the next operation.

-Monitor/speaker device 10...Turn on the power and listen to the AV input from the AV signal line LAV.
The signal is output from the monitor screen 13 and speakers 14L and 14R. - AV selector 20: Turns on the power and switches the AV signal line input to correspond to the MDP 40.・VTR30...No cooperative operation.

A constructed by the AV equipment of this embodiment
In the V system, each AV device can detect the status information output from each AV device to the system control bus BC, and independently determine whether to perform a cooperative operation to realize system operation. It is.

That is, by inputting and outputting status information via the system control bus, each AV device systemized by the system control bus can accurately determine the operating status of other AV devices in the system and self-regulate. It is possible to determine the action to be performed. In other words, the AV device of this embodiment determines its own operation based on the actual operating state of other AV devices. Unlike the AV equipment in the system, since the determination is not made based on the assumption that a certain operating state has been executed in other AV equipment, inappropriate cooperative operation control will not be performed.

[0037] Furthermore, since each AV device inputs its own status information and performs time-parallel cooperative operation control, command signals are sent individually to other AV devices in the system. Unlike conventional AV systems, it takes time to control cooperative operations, and the system control bus BC
This eliminates the problem that the dedicated time for the system becomes longer and the time it takes to start up the system becomes longer.

[0038] It goes without saying that the AV equipment of the present invention is not limited to the equipment mentioned in the above-mentioned embodiments. There are countless examples of systems constructed using these AV devices. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, only two examples of simple cooperation operations in a relatively small-scale AV system were explained, but more complex cooperation operations may be set as the system scale increases or high-performance models are introduced. It is something that

[0039]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the AV device of the present invention outputs status information when performing a certain operation, and also detects status information output from other AV devices and performs necessary cooperative operations. Because it is configured to be able to identify and execute the system, it has the excellent effect of automatically executing accurate and quick system coordination operations when constructed as an AV system using the system control bus. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an AV system constructed using AV equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a system controller of the AV device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system controller of the AV device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conventional AV system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Monitor/speaker device 11, 21, 31, 41 System controller 20
AV selector 30 VTR 40 MDP 51 Operation control means 52 Status information output means 53 Status information input means 54 Necessary operation determination means

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: In an AV device that can construct an AV system by connecting to other AV devices via a control bus, status information, which is information regarding the executed operating state, is output to the control bus. status information output means; status information input means for inputting status information output to the control bus from other AV devices connected as the AV system; and necessary cooperative operations based on the input status information. An AV device characterized by having a cooperative operation determining means for making a determination, and a control means capable of executing operation control determined as necessary by the cooperative operation determining means.