JP2000152110A - Video audio device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the video audio device to receive plural programs transmitted by different transport streams at the same time without providing plural reception means for one video audio device. SOLUTION: A center device stores in advance information denoting that connection device is provided with each of reception circuits 11, 21 among connection devices connecting to a digital transmission line. In the case of receiving plural programs transmitted by different transport streams at the same time, the operation of each of the reception circuits 11, 21 is controlled based on the stored information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video and audio device connected by a serial bus and a control method therefor, and is suitable for simultaneously receiving or recording a plurality of programs transmitted by different transport streams.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Television broadcasting in the form of digital signals has been started, and one transport stream (hereinafter, referred to as "transport stream") has been proposed to enable transmission of more programs.
A program transmission method for transmitting a plurality of programs has been put to practical use.

[0003] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a plurality of programs (programs) on such a TS. Here, three programs including programs A, B, and C are time-division multiplexed and transmitted in order for each transport packet. D-VHS is standardized as a magnetic recording device that can receive a plurality of programs transmitted in this way and simultaneously record the received programs in a bit stream.

[0004]

However, in general, a magnetic recording device does not always have a plurality of receiving means, and thus such a device cannot simultaneously receive programs in a plurality of different TSs.

[0005] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, programs A, B, and C are transmitted by TS1, programs D, E, and F are transmitted by TS2, and programs G and
When H and I are transmitted, a plurality of programs in the same TS can be recorded simultaneously, but, for example, a program A and a program E transmitted by different TSs cannot be recorded simultaneously.

That is, since the receiving means of the magnetic recording apparatus cannot receive a plurality of TSs at the same time, it is necessary to mount a plurality of receiving means in order to simultaneously receive a plurality of TSs. Therefore, when it is desired to increase the number of programs to be simultaneously received, it is necessary to increase the number of mounted receiving means.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a video and audio device according to the present invention is connected to another device via a digital transmission line so that a control signal in addition to an information signal can be bidirectionally transmitted. An audio / video device that can be transmitted to the digital transmission line, an interface for transmitting a control signal in addition to the information signal via the digital transmission line, and any of the connection devices connected to the digital transmission line, Information storing means for storing information indicating whether or not the digital broadcast receiving means is provided, when simultaneously receiving a plurality of programs transmitted in different frequency bands, based on the information stored in the information storing means. Operating each digital broadcast receiving means in the connected device having the digital broadcast receiving means, and controlling to simultaneously receive the plurality of programs. Further, in at least one frequency band in the different frequency bands, two or more programs are transmitted, and the digital broadcast receiving means for receiving the frequency band in which the two or more programs are transmitted includes transmission in the frequency band. Extracting one or more programs from a signal, and controlling the connected device so that a program stream forming the plurality of programs received by each digital broadcast receiving unit in the connected device is formed. It is.

[0008] A control method for an audiovisual device according to the present invention is a method for controlling an audiovisual device capable of bidirectionally transmitting a control signal in addition to an information signal by connecting to another device via a digital transmission path. And among the connected devices connected to the digital transmission path, stores information indicating which connected device has digital broadcast receiving means,
When simultaneously receiving a plurality of programs transmitted in different frequency bands, based on the information stored in the information storage unit, operate each digital broadcast reception unit in the connected device including the digital broadcast reception unit. And outputting a control signal to simultaneously receive the different frequency bands.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An audiovisual apparatus and a control method thereof according to the present invention utilize a receiving means of another apparatus connected via a digital interface in order to simultaneously receive a plurality of programs in different TSs. Thus, the plurality of programs can be received simultaneously, and the details will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a video and audio device according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of devices are connected by a serial bus conforming to IEEE 1394 (hereinafter, referred to as IEEE 1394). In FIG. 1, a set-top box (hereinafter referred to as STB) 10 and a digital tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as digital VTR) 20 are connected by IEEE1394, and signals from these devices are further output to digital TV 30 via IEEE1394. FIG.

First, the STB 10 will be described. A high frequency signal of a digital broadcast received by an antenna enters via an RF input terminal and is input to a receiving circuit 11 composed of a frequency conversion circuit, a demodulation circuit, and an error correction circuit. Is done. The receiving circuit 11 demodulates an RF signal in a desired frequency band, performs an error correction process, and
Is output to the terminal.

[0012] Then, the format conversion unit 12 extracts only the packets of the program based on the instruction from the user from the transport packets in the input TS, and then converts the extracted packets of the program (program) into the program stream ( (Hereinafter referred to as PS).

In the STB 10, a microcomputer 13 is connected to a digital interface 14 by a bus, and a memory 15 for temporarily recording the digital signal converted by the format converter 12 on the bus, as will be described later. A non-volatile memory 16 for storing information of devices connected to the IEEE 1394 and a human interface (HMI) 17 such as an operation panel are also connected, and bidirectional signal exchange is performed as appropriate.

With the above configuration, the format conversion unit 1
The digital signal converted to PS by the microcomputer 2
Is output to the digital VTR 20 and the digital TV 30 via the interface unit 14 based on the control of.

Next, the digital VTR 20 will be described. A similar receiving circuit 21 is provided in the digital VTR 20, and a high frequency signal of a digital broadcast received by an antenna enters through an RF input terminal. Then, the receiving circuit 21 demodulates the RF signal in the desired frequency band, performs error correction processing, and
2 is output to TS.

[0016] Then, after extracting only the packets of the program based on the instruction from the user from the transport packets in the input TS, the format conversion unit 22 converts the extracted packets of the program (program) into the PS.
And output.

In the digital VTR 20, similarly to the configuration of the STB 10, a microcomputer 23 is connected to a digital interface 24 via a bus, and this bus is used to temporarily record the digital signal converted by the format converter 22. A memory 25, a non-volatile memory 26 for storing device information, and a human interface (HMI) 27 such as an operation panel are connected, and bidirectional signal exchange is appropriately performed.

A recording signal processing unit 28 is also connected to the bus, and the recording signal processing unit 28 arranges the PS from the format conversion unit 22 or the STB 10 into a predetermined format suitable for recording a signal on a recording medium. The signal processing is performed as described above, and the signal is recorded on the recording medium via the recording amplifier 29.

As described above, the digital VTR 20 has the ST
Receiving circuit 21 and format conversion unit 22 as in B10
The digital VTR 20 is configured to be able to record the digital broadcast received by the receiving circuit 21 provided therein and the digital broadcast received by the receiving circuit 11 in the STB 10. These digital broadcasts can be viewed on a digital TV 30 connected to the digital VTR 20.

Next, connection device information created inside a center device which is the center of these systems when these devices are connected to IEEE1394 will be described. I
One of the devices connected by EEE1394 is set as a center device which is the center of the entire system. Here, description will be made assuming that the STB 10 is set as the center device.

When the STB 10 is set as the center device, other devices (here, the digital VTR 20 and the digital TV 30) except the STB 10 transmit their own device information stored therein to the center device (STB1).
0). For example, a digital VTR 20
In, after its own device information is read out to the non-volatile memory 26, this information is sent to the STB 10, and
This information is managed in the nonvolatile memory 16 in the TB 10.

At this time, the device information output to the STB 10 as the center device includes at least information indicating whether or not the device itself has a receiving circuit for receiving digital broadcasting. STB10
, Device information indicating that a receiving circuit is provided is output. Similarly, the digital TV 30 transmits the STB1
0, device information indicating whether or not a receiving circuit is provided is output to the nonvolatile memory 1 in the STB 10.
6 is managed.

Each device transmits its own device information when it is connected to IEEE 1394 for the first time, but when no center device is set, the transmission of such information is suspended. When the center device is set, the center device sends data declaring that it is the center device to other devices, and each device other than the center device receives its data, and then receives its own device information. To the center device. Whenever the center device is changed, device information is output to a new center device and this information is managed.

As described above, the S set as the center device
Device information of all devices connected to the IEEE 1394 is collected in the non-volatile memory 16 of the TB 10, and information indicating which device has a built-in receiving circuit is managed.
Here, it is assumed that the digital TV 30 does not include a receiving circuit.

Next, an operation when a plurality of programs (programs) are simultaneously recorded by the digital VTR 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The user can display a program to be recorded, for example, on an EPG displayed on the screen of the digital TV 30.
(Electric Program Guide). Here, a case where a program A, a program B, and a program F broadcast in the same time zone are selected will be described.

At this time, it is assumed that the user views only the program B of the selected three programs on the digital TV 30 and records all of these three programs on the digital VTR 20. Also, here, each program is represented by T as shown in FIG.
S, and at this time, program A and program B are
S, that is, transmitted by TS1, and the program F
It is assumed that the data is transmitted by TS2 different from.

First, when the user selects a program A, a program B, and a program F as described above (F101), the microcomputer 13 in the center device checks the number of the TS to which the selected program is transmitted (F102). That is, T between program A and program B
It is confirmed that the S number is 1 and the TS number of the program F is 2.

Then, it is further confirmed that there are a plurality of selected programs in the same time zone (F103). Here,
If the user selects only one program, or selects a plurality of programs to be broadcast in different time zones, N is selected.

After confirming that there are a plurality of programs in the same time zone, the microcomputer 13 next divides these programs into IEEE
It is confirmed whether or not it is possible to allocate to each receiving circuit in the device connected to 94 (F104). At this time,
The microcomputer 13 sends the IEEE memory to the nonvolatile memory 16.
An inquiry is made as to which device connected to the 1394 has a built-in receiving circuit, and the receiving circuit is operated by a timer recording operation such as a timer recording operation reservation unit (not shown) during a time period for recording a program. Make sure you don't.

That is, when it is confirmed that the receiving circuit 11 in the STB 10 and the receiving circuit 21 in the digital VTR 21 are both usable during the time period in which the programs A, B, and F are recorded, the microcomputer 13 determines For example, the receiving circuit 21 receives the program A and the program B (TS1), and allocates each program to be recorded so that the receiving circuit 11 receives the program F (TS2) (F105).

It is assumed that the user has selected a program A, a program D, a program G, and the like.
If it is not possible to assign to the receiving circuit connected to
For example, a message indicating that all programs cannot be recorded may be displayed on the screen of the digital TV 30 to prompt the user to reselect a program to be recorded (F101). Also, when the recording bit rate of the digital VTR 21 is less than the bit rate at which all the programs selected by the user are recorded, the user may be similarly prompted to reselect a program.

[0032] When the allocation of each program to be recorded is completed, and the program A, the program B, and the program F are actually recorded, the receiving circuit 21
Receives the TS1, and the microcomputer 13 and the microcomputer 23 control each circuit so that the format conversion unit 22 extracts only the transport packets of the program A and the program B (F
106). The receiving circuit 11 receives the TS2, and the format converter 12 controls each circuit so that only the transport packet of the program F is extracted.

Then, on the bus of the digital VTR 20,
As shown in FIG. 3, the PS is formed from the PS for the program A and the program B from the format conversion unit 22 and the PS for the program F inputted from the STB 10, and is inputted to the recording signal processing unit 28 and recorded on the recording medium. Is done. At this time, the microcomputer 13 in the STB 10 and the digital VT
The microcomputer 23 in the R20 adjusts the timing so that packets constituting each program do not coincide with each other on the time axis and are output in a distributed manner. In addition, digital TV30
, Only the PS relating to the program B is output, and the user views the program B on the screen.

[0034] As described above, according to the audiovisual apparatus according to the present invention, the transport packet for performing the recording from the TS received by each of the receiving circuits by operating the plurality of receiving circuits in the apparatus connected by IEEE1394. Since only the PS is extracted to form the PS, a plurality of programs (programs) transmitted by different TSs can be recorded.

Although not described in detail in the above embodiments, the programs A, B, and F that have been synchronously received and recorded at the same time need not start or end at the same time.
The broadcast start times of the programs A, B, and F are different from each other,
Even when the broadcast end times of the programs A, B, and F are different from each other, if there is a partially overlapping time zone in which these three programs are broadcast at the same time, this time zone is set to the same time zone. And

In the above embodiment, the digital VTR 2
0 to record the program and at the same time the user
30 shows an example of viewing a program, but is not limited to this.
It goes without saying that these programs may be recorded by setting a timer reservation.

In the above embodiments, the receiving circuits 11 and 2
1 has been described as a receiving circuit for receiving a digital broadcast, but the present invention is not limited to this. One or both of the receiving circuits 11 and 21 may be a receiving circuit for receiving an analog broadcast, and further, an output signal of the receiving circuit may be used. May be converted to a digital transport stream and input to the format converter 12 or 22.

That is, by constituting a digital broadcast receiving means by a receiving circuit for receiving an analog broadcast and a means for converting the output signal into a digital transport stream, a program based on an analog broadcast and a program based on a digital broadcast can be obtained. Alternatively, it becomes possible to simultaneously receive or record a plurality of programs by analog broadcasting.

In the above embodiment, the STB 10 is set as the center device.
Alternatively, when the digital TV 30 is set as a center device, similarly, device information of each device connected to the IEEE 1394 is managed in the center device, and a plurality of programs (programs) transmitted by different TSs are recorded. Becomes possible.

[0040]

According to the present invention, information indicating which of the connected devices having digital broadcast receiving means among the connected devices connected to the digital transmission path is held in the center device in advance. . Therefore, when simultaneously receiving a plurality of programs transmitted in different frequency bands, it is possible to operate a plurality of digital broadcast receiving means mounted on a device connected to the digital transmission path based on the held information. It is possible to simultaneously receive more programs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a video and audio device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation when recording a plurality of programs.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing PSs constituting a plurality of programs transmitted by different TSs.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how a plurality of programs are transmitted by one TS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing three different TSs.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Set-top box (STB) 11, 21 ... Receiving circuit 12, 22 ... Format conversion part 13, 23 ... Microcomputer 14, 24 ... Digital interface 15, 25 ... Memory 16, 26 ... Non-volatile memory 17, 27 ... Human interface (HMI) 20 ... Video tape recorder (digital VTR) 28 ... Recording signal processing unit 29 ... Recording amplifier 30 ... Digital TV

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/081 H04N 7/13 Z 7/24 F term (Reference) 5C025 BA14 DA01 DA10 5C053 FA20 FA21 JA30 KA05 KA24 KA30 LA06 LA07 5C059 RA01 RA08 RB01 RB10 RF04 SS02 SS11 5C063 AA20 AB03 AB07 AB20 AC10 5K034 AA19 CC06 DD02 FF02 FF13 HH02 HH14 HH17 HH26 HH63 JJ12 JJ20 KK04

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims 1. An audiovisual device capable of transmitting a control signal in addition to an information signal in two directions by connecting to another device via a digital transmission path, and controlling the information signal in addition to the information signal via the digital transmission path. An interface for transmitting a signal, and a connection device connected to the digital transmission path,
Information storing means for storing information indicating which connected device has the digital broadcast receiving means, and when the plurality of programs transmitted in different frequency bands are simultaneously received, the information is stored in the information storing means. An audiovisual apparatus, wherein each digital broadcast receiving means in a connected device having digital broadcast receiving means is operated based on the information so as to control the simultaneous reception of the plurality of programs. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the different frequency bands is
Two or more programs are transmitted in one frequency band, and the digital broadcast receiving means for receiving the frequency band in which the two or more programs are transmitted extracts one or more programs from the transmission signal in the frequency band. 2. The audiovisual apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connected apparatus is controlled such that a program stream forming said plurality of programs received by each digital broadcast receiving means in said connected apparatus is formed. 3. A method for controlling an audiovisual device capable of bidirectionally transmitting a control signal in addition to an information signal by connecting to another device via a digital transmission line, wherein the connection is connected to the digital transmission line. In the equipment,
Stores information indicating which connected device has the digital broadcast receiving means, and when simultaneously receiving a plurality of programs transmitted in different frequency bands, based on the information stored in the information storage means, A control method for an audiovisual apparatus, comprising: operating each digital broadcast receiving means in a connection device provided with the digital broadcast receiving means, and outputting a control signal to simultaneously receive the different frequency bands.