JP2013025426A - Image output device and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output image data with a resolution displayable on a display device when starting an OS using a snapshot.SOLUTION: An image output device has plural snapshots including image data with different resolutions, reads out a resolution setting set for the image output device in starting, selects a snapshot including image data with a resolution matching the readout resolution, and starts an OS. As a result, the image output device can be started in a short time, and an image can be reliably displayed on a display device.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image output apparatus that operates based on an operating system.

  In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of embedded devices equipped with system software in order to control microcomputers incorporated in home appliances and industrial products. The system software is, for example, an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS). Embedded devices include mobile phones, car navigation systems, portable game machines, HDD recorders, robots, communication devices, and the like. Embedded devices are distinguished from PCs in terms of whether or not they have autonomy. Embedded devices have autonomy. By installing the OS, the ease of development of large-scale and complex products is improved.

  However, when a built-in Linux OS, which is being widely used as an operating system for embedded devices, is installed, for example, the OS is shut down, the power is turned on again, the OS is activated, and the embedded device is usable. It has been pointed out that it takes time to become.

  There is a hibernation technique as a method for shortening the startup time of an embedded device. In the hibernation technology in the PC, the contents of the processor, registers, peripheral device registers, main memory, and the like at the time of shutdown are written in a hard disk device or the like as a snapshot. It takes a certain amount of time to generate a snapshot. When the power is turned on next time, the snapshot is read from the hard disk, and the state immediately before the previous power cut off is restored. On the other hand, hibernation technology for embedded devices does not perform a process of saving a snapshot when the power is turned off. The reason why the embedded device does not save the snapshot when the power is turned off is that the power needs to be turned off immediately after the user performs an operation to cut off the power. Therefore, even if the user turns on the power again, it does not return to the state where the power was previously shut off. Always return to a certain state. The return state is determined when the embedded device is developed. Specifically, it is a state after the OS and application software are started. In other words, the snapshot is a fixed image file in the embedded device.

  By the way, if the embedded device has a function of outputting image data and can be connected to a display device (hereinafter referred to as an image output device), the resolution of the display device can be obtained by using a fixed snapshot. Unless the snapshot includes the corresponding image data, there is a problem that the image is not normally displayed on the display device.

  As a means to solve the above problem, a snapshot including information other than image data is stored in the image output device, and settings other than the settings related to image output are completed using the snapshot at the time of startup. There is a method for executing a conventional startup sequence (for example, an X Window startup sequence in a Linux OS). However, with this method, processing of the image data setting sequence takes time, and the problem of shortening the startup time of the image output apparatus by starting up using a snapshot cannot be solved.

In JP 2010-98533 A, a state in which image display data is stored in the RAM of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus is stored in a nonvolatile memory as snapshot data. Describes that the screen is displayed (the operation unit is activated).

However, according to the above technique, when a display device corresponding to a resolution that is not assumed by the image output device is connected to the image output device, the image cannot be normally displayed on the display device.

JP 2010-98533 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display device connected to an image output device when an image output device equipped with an OS is activated using a snapshot. It is to display an image reliably.

An image output apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is an image output apparatus that operates on the basis of system software and is connectable to a display apparatus that includes a display unit, and an image output unit that outputs image data; Corresponding to the resolution set by the resolution setting means, the snapshot storage means for storing the snapshot including the image data of the resolution of, the resolution setting means for setting the resolution of the image data output from the image output unit A snapshot selecting unit that selects the snapshot including the image data to be performed; and an activation unit that activates the system software using the snapshot selected by the snapshot selecting unit.

  The image output device has a plurality of snapshots each including image data having a different resolution, and selects and selects a snapshot including image data having a resolution that matches the resolution set in the image output device. The OS is started using the snapshot. Since the selected snapshot includes image data having the resolution set in the previous image output device, the image can be reliably displayed on the display device when the image output device is activated.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises display device information acquisition means for acquiring display device information including resolution information that can be displayed by the display device from the display device, and the snapshot selection means includes the display device information. A plurality of resolutions included and the resolution of the image data of the snapshot stored in the snapshot storage means are compared, and the image data having a resolution set by a predetermined condition among the matching resolutions is compared. Select the snapshot to contain.

  The image output device acquires information about a display device connected at the time of activation from the display device, and selects a snapshot including image data having a resolution that can be output by the display device. As a result, the image output apparatus can reliably output image data having a resolution that can be displayed by the display apparatus to the display apparatus.

An image output device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a display device change that determines whether or not the display device connected to the image output device is changed while the image output device is in an off state at the time of startup. The display device change detection unit further includes a detection unit, and determines that the display device connected to the image output device has not been changed from the display device to which the image output device was previously connected during operation. If so, the snapshot including the image data having the resolution set by the resolution setting means is selected.

The image output device determines whether the display device connected when the image output device was last operated is the same as the display device connected when the image output device was started up. Select a snapshot that contains image data with the set resolution. As a result, an image can be reliably displayed on the display device at the same resolution as that displayed on the display device during the previous operation of the image output device.

An image output apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a snapshot storing unit for each communication method that stores the snapshot including the image data having a plurality of resolutions for each communication method; and Communication method setting means for setting whether to use a communication method, wherein the snapshot selection means is selected by the resolution setting means among the snapshots of the communication method set by the communication method setting means. The snapshot including the image data having a set resolution is selected.

  Since the image output device has a snapshot for each communication method, a snapshot suitable for the communication method set in the image output device is selected. As a result, an image output apparatus having a plurality of communication methods can select and activate a snapshot for the currently set communication method.

An image output apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a user confirmation determination unit that determines whether or not it is necessary to confirm a resolution setting for a user; and the user confirmation determination unit sets a resolution setting for the user. A confirmation screen transmitting means for transmitting to the display device the image data for notifying whether or not to change the resolution being displayed on the display device when it is determined that it is necessary to check the resolution; When an instruction to change is input, the image output unit outputs the image data having the changed resolution specified by the user.

There are cases where the image output apparatus cannot normally read the resolution setting at the time of startup, or the display apparatus information of the display apparatus cannot be acquired. At that time, after the image output apparatus is activated, an image having a resolution different from the resolution desired by the user may be displayed on the display apparatus. When there is a possibility that the display device is displaying at a resolution different from the resolution desired by the user, the image output device can notify the user to confirm the change of resolution, and can prompt the user to confirm and change the resolution. . As a result, the user can start setting the resolution without performing another operation.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the resolution is changed by a user while the image output device is in operation, the snapshot including the image data having the changed resolution exists. Snapshot confirmation means for determining whether or not the snapshot including the image data having the changed resolution does not exist by the snapshot confirmation means, it is necessary to generate a new snapshot Snapshot generation information storage means for storing a file indicating that there is, snapshot generation determination means for determining whether the file stored by the snapshot generation information storage means exists at the time of startup, Snapshot generation determination means is configured to generate the snapshot generation information. If the file stored by the storage means has determined that there, and a snapshot generation means for generating the snapshot containing the image data of the resolution that has been set in the previous session.

When the image output device does not store the snapshot including the image data of the resolution set in the image output device, the image output device generates a snapshot including the image data of the resolution set during the previous operation at the time of startup. . As a result, the image output apparatus can be activated at high speed using a newly generated snapshot.

  When an image output device equipped with an OS is activated using a snapshot, an image can be reliably displayed on a display device connected to the image output device.

1 is an image display system diagram according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image output apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A list of snapshots. A list of snapshots. This is a resolution setting set in the image output apparatus. It is a flowchart with which a boot loader starts OS. It is a flowchart with which a boot loader starts OS. It is a flowchart with which a boot loader starts OS. Display device information. It is a flowchart which OS starts. This is a snapshot stored in the EEPROM. This is a snapshot stored in the EEPROM. It is a table for managing location information on an EEPROM of a snapshot. It is a flowchart which determines a resolution setting after OS starts. It is a flowchart which determines a resolution setting after OS starts. It is a flowchart which determines a resolution setting after OS starts. It is a flowchart which OS starts.

  Hereinafter, an image output apparatus according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image display system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The image output device 100 can be connected to the display device 200 by a communication method such as HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), composite, D-Sub (D-subminiature), and components.

  The image output apparatus 100 is an apparatus including terminals that can output image data, such as an AV amplifier, a camera, and a video camera. The image output apparatus 100 outputs image data such as a still image and a moving image.

  The display device 200 may be a monitor having only a display function, or may be a video receiving device having a function other than the display function such as a television.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image output apparatus 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The image output apparatus 100 includes an EEPROM 10, a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a RAM 13. The control unit 11 controls the image output apparatus 100 and is, for example, a microcomputer or a CPU. The EEPROM 10 includes a boot loader 10A, OS 10B, kernel 10C, snapshot 10D, snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E, resolution setting 10F, display device information 10G, confirmation file 10H, snapshot location information 10I, snapshot expansion program 10J, and application 10K. including. The EEPROM 10 may be a flash memory. Further, when there is no possibility that the boot loader 10A, OS 10B, kernel 10C, snapshot expansion program 10J, application 10K, and the like are rewritten by a system update or the like, they may be stored in a ROM (not shown). There are a plurality of snapshots 10D. The RAM 13 is a volatile memory that stores temporary information such as the OS 10B being activated, the application 10K being executed, the snapshot 10D after deployment, and the like when the image output apparatus 100 is operating.

The communication unit 12 communicates with the display device 200 via an HDMI cable, a DVI cable, a D-Sub cable, a composite cable, a component cable, and the like. The communication unit 12 executes transmission processing of image data displayed on the display device 200 and reception processing of display device information 10G of the display device 200.

FIG. 3 shows a snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E that manages resolution information of image data included in the snapshot 10D. The snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E manages the snapshot name and the resolution of the image data included in the snapshot 10D. For example, the snapshot 1 is a snapshot 10D including image data with a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels. There may be any number of snapshots 10D as long as the EEPROM 10 allows.

  FIG. 5 shows the resolution setting 10F. The image output apparatus 100 can set the resolution of image data output from the communication unit 12 via an operation unit (not shown). The resolution setting 10F manages the resolution set in the image output apparatus 100.

  The image output apparatus 100 having the above configuration stores a plurality of snapshots 10D each including image data having different resolutions. Then, the boot loader 10A reads the resolution setting 10F set in the image output apparatus 100 at the time of activation, selects a snapshot 10D including image data having a resolution that matches the resolution, and activates the OS 10B. Since the resolution setting 10F is the resolution of the image that was output during the previous operation of the image output apparatus 100, if the snapshot 10D including the image data having the resolution that matches the resolution setting 10F is used, the display apparatus 200 can be surely started up. An image can be displayed on the screen.

[Embodiment 1 for Starting OS]
The operation of the present invention will be described below. First, a first embodiment for starting the OS 10B will be described. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart in which the boot loader 10A of the image output apparatus 100 starts up the OS 10B. In the first embodiment, the snapshot 10D including the image data having the resolution set in the resolution setting 10F is selected, and the OS 10B is activated.

  When the image output apparatus 100 is powered on, the boot loader 10A is activated. The boot loader 10A determines whether or not the resolution setting 10F is stored in the EEPROM 10 (S11).

  When the boot loader 10A determines that the resolution setting 10F is stored (YES in S11), the value of the resolution setting 10F is set in the resolution parameter (S12). The resolution parameter is a parameter set in the kernel 10C when the OS 10B is activated. For example, when the resolution setting 10F shown in FIG. 5 is set, the value of the resolution parameter is 1024 × 768.

  The boot loader 10A activates the OS 10B (S13). When the boot loader 10A activates the OS 10B, it passes the resolution parameter to the kernel 10C of the OS 10B. The kernel 10C is software having a core function of the OS 10B. Thereafter, the kernel 10C reads the snapshot 10D, expands the snapshot 10D to the RAM 13, sets registers, etc., and sets the image output apparatus 100 in a usable state.

  When the boot loader 10A determines that the resolution setting 10F is not stored (NO in S11), the boot loader 10A sets the resolution parameter to the lowest resolution in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E (S14). For example, in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E of FIG. 3, the lowest resolution is 320 × 240, and therefore 320 × 240 is set as the resolution parameter. That is, since the resolution of the image data output from the image output apparatus 100 before the power is turned off is unknown, the image data with the lowest resolution is transmitted to the display apparatus 200, and the display apparatus 200 cannot display the image. Reduce the probability of being possible.

  The boot loader 10A stores the confirmation file 10H (S15). The confirmation file 10H is a file for the application 10K to determine whether or not to notify the user whether or not to change the resolution setting after the OS 10B is activated. The confirmation file 10H is stored in a storage area that can be referred to by both the boot loader 10A and the kernel 10C. Note that the storage location of the confirmation file 10H may be the EEPROM 10 or the RAM 13. This is because the confirmation file 10H is referred only when the image output apparatus 100 is in operation. Details of the processing for changing the resolution setting will be described later.

  The boot loader 10A acquires the display device information 10G from the display device 200 and stores it (S16). Details of the display device information 10G will be described later.

  Incidentally, the image output apparatus 100 may include a plurality of output terminals of different communication methods, and the display apparatus 200 may be simultaneously connected to these output terminals. In that case, the user sets in the image output apparatus 100 which of the output terminals the image output apparatus 100 outputs an image from. Then, the image output apparatus 100 outputs an image only from the set output terminal. For example, in the image output apparatus 100, when the terminal for outputting an image is set to HDMI by the user, video is output only from the HDMI terminal.

  Incidentally, for example, the snapshot 10D for HDMI is not compatible with the snapshot 10D for DVI. Therefore, the snapshot 10D needs to be prepared for each communication method. FIG. 4 shows a snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E for managing the snapshot 10D for each communication method. The snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E manages information on snapshots 10D for HDMI, DVI, and RGB. For example, when the output setting is HDMI in the image output apparatus 100, the snapshot 10D for HDMI in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E of FIG. 4 is used. In the following description, in order to clarify the description of the present invention, it is assumed that the output setting of the image output apparatus 100 is HDMI, and an image is output to the display apparatus 200 only from the HDMI terminal. .

  According to the first embodiment described above, the image output apparatus 100 selects the snapshot 10D including the image data of the resolution in accordance with the resolution setting stored in the resolution setting 10F. As a result, when the image output device 100 is activated, the screen is surely displayed on the display device 200.

[Embodiment 2 for Starting OS]
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the second embodiment in which the boot loader 10A activates the OS 10B. The same processes as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, the image output apparatus 100 acquires a resolution that can be displayed by the display apparatus 200, and selects a snapshot 10D that includes image data having a resolution that can be displayed by the display apparatus 200.

  When the image output apparatus 100 is powered on, the boot loader 10A is activated. The boot loader 10A acquires display device information (for example, EDID (Extended display identification data)) 10G, which is information of the connected display device 200, from the display device 200 (S21). FIG. 9 shows an example of the EDID 10G. In the EDID 10G, a manufacturer name, a model name, a screen size, and a resolution status of the display device 200 are described. As a means for the boot loader 10A to acquire the EDID 10G, there are a method of directly accessing the hardware of the image output apparatus 100 and a method of acquiring it via the BIOS.

  The boot loader 10A collates the resolution described in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E with the resolution list described in the EDID 10G, and the resolution described in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E matches the resolution of the EDID 10G. From the resolutions to be selected, the resolution is selected according to a predetermined condition (S22). Here, the predetermined condition is preferably the maximum resolution among the resolutions in which the resolution described in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E matches the resolution of the EDID 10G, but is described in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E. It is also possible to use the second resolution among the resolutions in which the resolution that is set matches the resolution of EDID10G. For example, the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E in FIG. 3 and the EDID 10G in FIG. 9 both describe a resolution of 1024 × 768, and 1024 × 768 is the highest resolution. Therefore, 1024 × 768 is specified by the boot loader 10A.

  The boot loader 10A sets the resolution specified in S22 as the resolution parameter (S23). Then, the boot loader 10A activates the OS 10B (S13).

According to the second embodiment described above, the image output apparatus 100 acquires the resolution information corresponding to the display apparatus 200 and uses the snapshot 10D including the image data having the resolution that can be displayed by the display apparatus 200. An image is displayed at 200.

[Third embodiment for starting an OS]
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the third embodiment in which the boot loader 10A activates the OS 10B. The same processes as those in FIG. 6 or FIG. In the third embodiment, when the image output device 100 is activated, is the display device 200 connected to the image output device 100 identical to the display device 200 that was connected during the previous operation of the image output device 100? Judge whether or not. When it is determined that the display device 200 to which the image output device 100 is connected at the time of startup and the display device 200 to which the image output device 100 was previously connected during operation are the same, the resolution setting 10F is set. A snapshot 10D including image data having a resolution is selected.

  The boot loader 10A reads the EDID 10G stored in the EEPROM 10 (S31). The EDID 10G stored in the EEPROM 10 is the EDID 10G of the display device 200 to which the image output device 100 was connected to the image output device 100 during the previous operation. Details of the processing for storing the EDID 10G will be described later. Note that the EDID 10G stored in the image output apparatus 100 is EDID2.

  The boot loader 10A acquires the EDID 10G of the currently connected display device 200 from the display device 200 (S21). The EDID 10G acquired from the display device 200 is assumed to be EDID1.

  The boot loader 10A determines whether EDID1 has been normally acquired from the display device 200 (S33). When it is determined that EDID1 has been acquired normally (YES in S33), the boot loader 10A determines whether EDID1 and EDID2 match (S34). Whether or not EDID1 and EDID2 match is determined based on whether or not the contents of all items of EDID10G match. When the boot loader 10A determines that EDID1 and EDID2 match (YES in S34), the boot loader 10A determines whether the resolution setting 10F is set (S11). If it is determined that the resolution setting 10F is set (YES in S11), the resolution described in the resolution setting 10F is set in the resolution parameter (S12), and the OS 10B is activated (S13).

  When the boot loader 10A determines that the resolution setting 10F is not set (NO in S11), the lowest resolution among the resolutions managed in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E is set in the resolution parameter (S38). . The reason why the boot loader 10A selects the lowest resolution in the process of S38 is that the display device 200 is more likely to support display as the resolution is lower, and therefore, the display device 200 is considered to be more likely to display an image. It is. Then, the confirmation file 10H is saved in the EEPROM 10 or RAM 13 (S15), EDID1 is saved in the EEPROM 10 (S39), and the OS 10B is activated (S13). Note that the storage destination of EDID1 needs to be a nonvolatile memory. This is because EDID1 is referenced when the image output apparatus 100 is turned off and then turned on again.

  When the boot loader 10A determines that EDID1 and EDID2 do not match (NO in S34), the boot loader 10A collates the resolution described in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E with the resolution described in the EDID 10G, and determines the snapshot resolution. Among the resolutions in which the resolution described in the correspondence list 10E matches the resolution described in the EDID 10G, the maximum resolution is determined and set in the resolution parameter (S22). Then, the boot loader 10A saves the confirmation file 10H (S15), saves EDID1 (S39), and starts the OS 10B (S13).

  If the boot loader 10A determines that EDID1 has not been successfully acquired from the display device 200 (NO in S33), the boot loader 10A determines whether the resolution setting 10F is set (S11). The case where the EDID 10G cannot be acquired from the display device 200 is, for example, a case where the display device 200 is a display device that does not have the EDID 10G, or a KVM (Keyboard Video South) switch between the display device 200 and the image output device 100. This is the case.

According to the third embodiment described above, the boot loader 10A is activated by setting the resolution of the resolution setting 10F as the resolution parameter when EDID1 and EDID2 match and the resolution setting 10F is set. When EDID1 and EDID2 match, it can be determined that the display device 200 connected to the image output device 100 has not been changed before the image output device 100 changes from the off state to the on state. Therefore, the image output apparatus 100 can reliably display an image on the display apparatus 200 at the previous resolution by being activated using the snapshot 10D including the image data of the resolution set in the resolution setting 10F. Is possible. Here, the off state is a state in which the image output apparatus 100 cannot communicate with the display apparatus 200, and includes, for example, a standby state, a hibernate state, and a sleep state. The on state is a state where the image output apparatus 100 can communicate with the display apparatus 200. If EDID1 and EDID2 do not match, it can be determined that the display device 200 connected to the image output device 100 has been changed from when the image output device 100 is turned on to when it is turned on. In that case, the image output device 100 can reliably display an image on the display device 200 by using the snapshot 10D including the image data having the resolution described in EDID1 of the display device 200.

  FIG. 10 shows a sequence chart of the process (S13) for starting the OS 10B of FIGS. The kernel 10C reads the snapshot expansion program 10J, which is a program for expanding the snapshot 10D, from the EEPROM 10 (S51).

The kernel 10C expands the snapshot 10D of the EEPROM 10 using the snapshot expansion program 10J and reads it into the RAM 13 (S52). FIG. 11 shows a snapshot 10D stored in the EEPROM 10. The root file system of the OS 10B is stored from the address 0x0000 to the address AD-1 of the EEPROM 10. Snapshot 1 is stored from address AD-1 to address AD-2. Snapshot 2 is stored from address AD-2 to address AD-3. That is, a snapshot 10D including image data of each resolution is stored in the EEPROM 10.

FIG. 13 shows snapshot location information 10I for managing location information (hereinafter referred to as an address) of the snapshot 10D including image data of each resolution and the size of the snapshot 10D. When reading the snapshot 10D to the RAM 13, the kernel 10C refers to the resolution parameter set in S12 and the snapshot location information 10I. That is, using the resolution parameter as a key, the start address of the snapshot 10D in the EEPROM 10 and the size of the snapshot 10D in the EEPROM 10 are acquired. For example, when 800 × 600 is set as the resolution parameter, the kernel 10C determines that the snapshot 10D whose start address in the EEPROM 10 is AD-3 and whose size is Size3 is used. The kernel 10C acquires the data for Size3 from the address AD-3 on the EEPROM 10.

  The kernel 10C sets the register of the processor of the image output apparatus 100, the register of the peripheral device, the contents of the main memory, and the like using the data obtained by developing the snapshot 10D (S53). Then, the kernel 10C loads the image data included in the snapshot 10D into the RAM 13 (S54).

  The kernel 10C transfers control to the application 10K and completes the activation of the OS 10B (S55). The application 10K is a software program that operates using the OS 10B. The application 10K starts control of the image output apparatus 100 (S56). The control executed by the application 10K is, for example, a response operation when the image output device 100 is operated by a user, or an operation of outputting an image or video to the display device 200.

  FIG. 12 shows another storage form of the snapshot 10 </ b> D in the EEPROM 10. The EEPROM 10 in FIG. 12 does not include image data in the snapshot 10D. The image data of each resolution is stored in another address of the EEPROM 10. When this storage form is used, the EEPROM 10 does not need to store the snapshot 10D other than the image data in duplicate, so that the memory capacity can be saved.

[Embodiment 1 for Resolution Confirmation after OS Starts]
FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of the first embodiment when the user confirms or changes the resolution setting after the OS 10B is activated.

  The application 10K determines whether or not the confirmation file 10H is stored in the EEPROM 10 (or RAM 13) (S61). The confirmation file 10H is created when the resolution setting 10F cannot be acquired or when the EDID 10G of the display device 200 cannot be acquired in the processing of FIG. 6 or FIG. 8, and is stored in the EEPROM 10 (or RAM 13). When the application 10K determines that the confirmation file 10H does not exist (NO in S61), the process ends. If it is determined that the confirmation file 10H exists (YES in S61), the application 10K transmits image data for displaying a message for changing the resolution to the display device 200 (S62).

The user confirms the resolution change screen displayed on the display device 200, and determines whether the resolution displayed on the display device 200 is acceptable (S63). It should be noted that the display device 200 may not be compatible with the resolution transmitted by the image output device 100 at startup, or when a monitor switch or the like is connected between the display device 200 and the image output device 100. 200 may not be able to display the confirmation screen itself transmitted by the process of S62. In this case, when a predetermined operation is performed on the image output apparatus 100, the image output apparatus 100 outputs the confirmation screen again with the lowest resolution. The predetermined operation is, for example, pressing and holding a display key of a remote control attached to the main body panel of the image output apparatus 100 or the image output apparatus 100. As a result, it can be prevented that nothing is displayed on the display device 200.

  When the application 10K determines that the current resolution is acceptable (YES in S63), the application 10K stores the EDID 10G of the display device 200 in the EEPROM 10 (S64). This EDID 10G may be saved by the process of S16 of FIG. 6 or S39 of FIG. 8, or may be acquired from the display device 200 if not saved. The EDID 10G saved by the process of S64 is read by the process of S31 in FIG. 8 when the image output apparatus 100 is activated next time.

  The application 10K stores the resolution set in the image output apparatus 100 in the resolution setting 10F (S65). Then, the confirmation file 10H is deleted from the EEPROM 10 (or RAM 13) (S66), and the process is terminated.

  When the application 10K determines that the user has requested to change the resolution (NO in S63), the application 10K generates image data with the changed resolution and transmits it to the display device 200 (S67). Then, the application 10K transmits image data for displaying a message for changing the resolution (S62). That is, the processes of S62, S63, and S67 are repeated until the user approves the resolution setting.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when there is a possibility that the image output apparatus 100 is activated at a resolution not desired by the user, the user can change the resolution of the image displayed on the display apparatus 200.

[Embodiment 2 for Resolution Confirmation after OS Starts]
FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of the second embodiment when the user confirms or changes the resolution setting after the OS 10B is activated. The same processes as those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

When the application 10K determines that the user has requested to change the resolution (NO in S63), the application 10K determines whether or not the snapshot 10D including the image data with the changed resolution exists in the EEPROM 10 ( S77). If the application 10K determines that the snapshot 10D including the image data corresponding to the changed resolution exists in the EEPROM 10 (YES in S77), the application 10K generates the image data with the changed resolution and transmits it to the display device 200. (S67).

When the application 10K determines that the snapshot 10D including the image data corresponding to the resolution after the change does not exist in the EEPROM 10 (NO in S77), the activation using the snapshot 10D is impossible at the time of activation. Therefore, the application 10K transmits to the display device 200 a message indicating that it takes time to start up the next time the image output device 100 is started up (S78). As a result, the user can know that the startup of the image output apparatus 100 is delayed when the changed resolution is set in the image output apparatus 100.

[Third embodiment of resolution confirmation after OS is started]
FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the third embodiment when the user confirms or changes the resolution setting after the OS 10B is activated. The same processes as those in FIGS. 14 and 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
According to the third embodiment, when the resolution is changed by the user, the application 10K determines whether or not the snapshot 10D including the image data with the changed resolution exists in the EEPROM 10. When the application 10K determines that there is no snapshot 10D including the image data with the changed resolution, it is necessary to generate the snapshot 10D including the image data with the new resolution when the image output apparatus 100 is restarted next time. Generate a snapshot generation file indicating that there is. The snapshot generation file is referred to by the boot loader 10A when the image display device 100 is activated next time, and is used to determine whether or not to generate a new snapshot 10D. Details of generation of the new snapshot 10D will be described later.

When the application 10K determines that the user has requested to change the resolution (NO in S63), the application 10K determines whether or not the snapshot 10D including the image data with the changed resolution exists in the EEPROM 10 ( S77). When the snapshot 10D including the image data with the changed resolution exists in the EEPROM 10, the boot loader 10A can be started up at high speed using the snapshot 10D when the image output apparatus 100 is started up next time. However, when the snapshot 10D including the image data with the changed resolution does not exist in the EEPROM 10, it is impossible to start up at high speed using the snapshot 10D when the image output apparatus 100 starts up next time. Note that the determination processing in S77 is executed depending on whether or not the changed resolution exists in the snapshot resolution list 10E.

When the application 10K determines that the snapshot 10D including the image data corresponding to the resolution after the change does not exist in the EEPROM 10 (NO in S77), the application 10K needs to generate a new snapshot 10D at the time of restart. Is stored in the EEPROM 10 (S87). There is no need to describe anything in the snapshot generation file. Note that this snapshot generation file is an image having a resolution that has been changed when the resolution of the image output apparatus 100 is changed by the user, even if the processing is other than the processing of FIGS. 14, 15, and 16. When the snapshot 10D including data does not exist in the EEPROM 10, it is created by the application 10K.

When the image output device 100 is activated next time, the application 10K transmits image data indicating that it takes time to activate (S78). In order to generate the snapshot 10D including the image data of the new resolution, it is necessary to restart the image output apparatus 100. Therefore, the application 10K transmits a screen including a message indicating that the image output apparatus 100 needs to be restarted to the display apparatus 200 in order to newly generate the snapshot 10D (S89). The user may restart immediately after confirming this message.

FIG. 17 shows a sequence chart of a process (S13) in which the kernel 10C determines whether a snapshot generation file exists and starts the OS 10B. The same processes as those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The kernel 10C determines whether or not the snapshot generation file exists in the EEPROM 10 (S101). When the kernel 10C determines that the snapshot generation file exists in the EEPROM 10 (YES in S101), the kernel 10C does not use the snapshot 10D, and starts booting according to a normal OS boot sequence (S102).

  The kernel 10C generates a snapshot 10D including image data having the resolution set in the resolution setting 10F (S103). Then, the kernel 10C deletes the snapshot generation file (S104). Then, the kernel 10C updates the snapshot location information 10I (S105). That is, the kernel 10C adds the address and size of the newly generated snapshot 10D to the snapshot location information 10I.

  The kernel 10C updates the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E (S106). That is, the snapshot name of the newly generated snapshot 10D and the resolution information of the image data included in the snapshot 10D are added to the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E.

  When the kernel 10C determines that the snapshot generation file does not exist in the EEPROM 10 (NO in S101), the kernel 10C does not need to newly generate the snapshot 10D, so the process of FIG. 10 is executed (S107).

For example, it is assumed that the resolution setting is changed to 2048 × 1080 by the user. In this case, in the process of S77 in FIG. 16, the application 10K determines that there is no snapshot 10D corresponding to the resolution after the change. This is because 2048 × 1080 snapshot 10D is not registered in the snapshot resolution correspondence list 10E. Therefore, a snapshot generation file is generated in the process of S87 of FIG. Then, it is determined that a new snapshot 10D needs to be generated by the processing of S101 in FIG. Then, a new snapshot 10D including image data with a resolution of 2048 × 1080 is generated by the process of S103. As a result, it is possible to start up the image output apparatus 100 with the resolution desired by the user using the newly generated snapshot 10D.

As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment.
The image output apparatus 100 may be a camera, a video camera, an audio / video player that can also output audio, or an AV receiver that relays audio and images. Also, an HDD may be provided, and various information stored in the EEPROM 10 may be stored in the HDD. The data output from the image output apparatus 100 may be a moving image in addition to a still image.

  The present invention can be suitably employed in devices such as AV receivers and audio / video output devices.

100 image output device 200 display device 10 EEPROM
10A Boot loader 10B OS
10C Kernel 10D Snapshot 10E Snapshot Resolution Correspondence List 10F Resolution Setting 10G Display Device Information 10H Confirmation File 10I Snapshot Location Information 10J Snapshot Deployment Program 10K Application 11 Control Unit 12 Communication Unit 13 RAM

Claims (7)

An image output device that operates based on system software and is connectable to a display device having a display unit,
An image output unit for outputting image data;
Snapshot storage means for storing a snapshot including the image data of a plurality of resolutions;
Resolution setting means for setting the resolution of the image data output from the image output unit;
Snapshot selection means for selecting the snapshot including the image data corresponding to the resolution set by the resolution setting means;
An image output apparatus comprising: an activation unit that activates the system software using the snapshot selected by the snapshot selection unit. A display device information acquisition unit configured to acquire display device information including resolution information that can be displayed by the display device from the display device;
The snapshot selection unit compares a plurality of resolutions included in the display device information with the resolution of the image data of the snapshot stored in the snapshot storage unit, and among predetermined resolutions, a predetermined value is selected. The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the snapshot including the image data having a resolution set according to the condition is selected. A display device change detection unit for determining whether or not the display device connected to the image output device has been changed while the image output device is in an off state at startup;
When the display device change detection means determines that the display device connected to the image output device has not been changed from the display device that was previously connected to the image output device, the resolution setting The image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the snapshot including the image data having a resolution set by a unit is selected. A snapshot storing means for each communication method for storing the snapshot including the image data of a plurality of resolutions for each communication method;
Communication method setting means for setting which communication method of the image output device is used;
The snapshot selection unit selects the snapshot including the image data having the resolution set by the resolution setting unit from the snapshots of the communication mode set by the communication mode setting unit. The image output apparatus according to claim 1. User confirmation determination means for determining whether or not the user needs to confirm the resolution setting;
When the user confirmation determining means determines that it is necessary to confirm the resolution setting to the user, the image data for notifying whether to change the resolution being displayed on the display device is transmitted to the display device. A confirmation screen transmission means,
The image output according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when an instruction to change the resolution is input by a user operation, the image output unit outputs the image data having the changed resolution specified by the user operation. apparatus. When the resolution is changed by a user operation while the image output device is in operation, the image output device further includes snapshot confirmation means for determining whether or not the snapshot including the image data of the changed resolution exists.
Snapshot generation for storing a file indicating that a new snapshot needs to be generated when it is determined by the snapshot checking means that the snapshot including the image data having the changed resolution does not exist Information storage means;
Snapshot generation determination means for determining whether or not the file stored by the snapshot generation information storage means exists at startup;
When the snapshot generation determination unit determines that the file stored by the snapshot generation information storage unit exists, a snapshot that generates the snapshot including the image data having the resolution set during the previous operation The image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shot generation unit.   An image output program for causing a computer to execute each unit of the image output apparatus according to claim 1.

Images