KR20010021719A - Method and apparatus for setting connections between a number of information processing apparatuses - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus and method for connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses together in a desired manner to each information processing apparatus connected to a network. The signals may be formed to represent a graphical interface for displaying on the display unit. This graphical interface can represent the available connections between information processing devices connected to a network. The user can select the desired connection by using the graphical interface and then control signals can be formed therefrom. The desired connection between the corresponding information processing apparatuses can be established in accordance with the control signal. As a result, the input / output connection setting or settings of the information processing devices coupled to the network can be easily performed.

Description

Method and apparatus for setting connections between a number of information processing apparatuses

A plurality of information processing apparatuses, including video tape recorders (VTRs), having digital interfaces, integrated digital VTRs, hard disk drives (HDDs) and mini disk (trademark) MD devices for recording video and sound data Can be arranged in a plurality of different arrangements. Such products may enable one-to-one connections between two devices, and may not be possible to extend or complex arrays of connections.

However, other information processing apparatuses may have a digital interface operable in accordance with certain criteria, such as the IEEE 1394 protocol, in order to allow a plurality of information processing apparatuses to be connected. In this arrangement, data can be transferred between any two of the plurality of information processing devices connected to the IEEE 1394 serial bus by selecting any one of these devices. However, with regard to data input / output between information processing devices having such a digital interface that can be freely selected, the connection setting operation may need to be performed at the respective information processing devices. Performing this connection establishment operation can be time consuming and / or cumbersome for the user.

Television receivers, personal computers, network terminals and / or the information processing devices may be connected using a digital interface to form a home network. In such a home network, if the user wishes to connect a plurality of devices to enable data transfer between the desired ones of these devices, the user will have to perform the wasted and / or cumbersome time to set up the operation.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for establishing a connection, and more particularly, to such an apparatus and method in which data input / output connection establishment or settings between a plurality of information devices connected to a network can be easily performed.

1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a connection manager of the system of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a diagram illustrating the function of the connection manager of FIG. 2.

4 shows a cycle structure of data transfer between connected devices in accordance with IEEE 1394;

5 is a diagram to which reference may be made in explaining an example of a structure of an address space of a CSR architecture.

FIG. 6 may be referred to to illustrate an example of locations, names and functions of essential CSRs.

7 illustrates the ROM format.

Fig. 8 shows "bus_info_block", "root_directory" and "unit_directory".

9 illustrates an arrangement of plug control registers (PCRs).

10A-10D illustrate configurations for oMPR, oPCR, iMPR and iPCR.

11 shows plugs, plug control registers and isochronous channels.

12 is a flowchart that can be referred to to explain an example of input / output setting operation.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the ID device table.

14 illustrates an arrangement of a node ID table.

15 illustrates a graphical interface for specifying input / output connections.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart that may be referenced to explain an example of operation to check whether a device conforms to IEC 61883. FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart that may be referred to to illustrate an example input / output connection operation. FIG.

18 is a flow chart that may be referred to to explain an example of a release of an input / output connection operation.

FIG. 19 illustrates a graphical interface for input / output connection designation indicating that the VTR and set top box cannot be connected to each other due to differences in signal formats.

20 illustrates a graphical interface for specifying input / output connections.

Fig. 21 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the ID name table.

It is an object of the present invention to allow an information processing device coupled to a network having a plurality of information processing devices coupled thereto to be operated to perform input / output connection establishment 42 of other information processing devices connected to the network.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for coupling together a plurality of information processing apparatuses in a desired manner in which each information processing apparatus is connected to a digital bus. The device is a device for generating a signal representing a graphical interface for display on a display unit representing any available connections between information processing devices connected to a digital bus, a desired connection selected from the available connections represented by the graphical interface. A device for receiving signals from a pointing user and for forming a control signal therefrom and a device for generating a signal for causing a desired connection between corresponding information processing apparatuses to be established in accordance with the control signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses together in a desired manner in which each information processing apparatus is connected to a digital bus. The apparatus includes a device for generating a signal representing a graphical interface for displaying on a display unit indicative of information processing apparatuses connected to a digital bus; A device for receiving a desired connection signal indicative of a desired connection between corresponding information processing apparatuses and for forming a control signal therefrom, said device in which said desired connection signal is obtained as an input provided to a user through the use of a graphical interface; And a device for generating information for causing a desired connection between corresponding information processing apparatuses to be established in accordance with the control signal.

Other objects, features and advantages according to the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments when the corresponding components read the same reference numbers and the same accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

1 shows a connection management unit 1, an HDD 4, a VTR 5, an integrated digital video camera / recorder 6 connected to each other by buses 9-1 to 9-4, which may be IEEE 1394 serial buses. ), A network 99 having a set top box 7 is shown. That is, in the network 99, a digital interface conforming to IEEE 1394 may be used to connect these information processing apparatuses.

The remote controller 2 can be adapted to receive input commands from the user and to transmit corresponding infrared light signals using the cross keys or ten cluster keys at the remote controller. The connection manager 1 may receive the infrared optical signal transmitted from the remote controller 2 and control the information processing apparatuses or devices connected to the network 99 according to the input / output connection command indicated by the received optical signal. You may. In addition, the connection management unit 1 may include information attached to the types and / or names of manufacturers of devices connected to the network 99, information on a data format usable by the devices, and input between devices. It is also possible to supply an output signal to the monitor 3 to produce information to be displayed on it, such as information indicating the status of the output / output connection (s).

The devices shown in FIG. 1 form nodes or accessible units or nodes or accessible units in accordance with IEC 61883, which defines audiovisual (AV) data transmission in accordance with IEEE 1394 and in accordance with the provisions of IEEE 1394. May be considered. In other words, devices that do not comply with certain criteria such as IEC 61883 cannot be controlled by the connection management unit 1.

2 shows the inside of the connection manager 1. The infrared signal receiver 11 may receive an infrared light signal transmitted from the remote controller 2, may adjust the received infrared light signal to obtain a control signal, and may receive a central processing unit ( Control signal to the CPU). The CPU 12 may determine the control content based on the information stored in the random access memory (RAM) 13 regarding the state of the program stored in the read-only memory (ROM) 16 and the devices connected to the IEEE 1394 in the control signal. It is also possible to control the devices connected via the interface 14.

The ROM 16 is stored in the program used by the CPU 12 and fixed data that can be used as calculation parameters. The RAM 13 is stored as parameters in the program used by the CPU 12, parameters of the states of devices connected to the IEEE 1394, and the like, which can be changed appropriately during execution of the program. The interface 14 may be an input / output interface according to IEEE 1394 to which IEEE 1394 serial buses 9-1 to 9-3 are connected.

The monitor control unit 15 may receive data from the CPU 12 or receive data stored from the RAM 13, convert the same into a video signal, and transmit a video signal to the monitor 3 so as to be displayed on the monitor. You can also supply. An electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 17 may be used to store company names and device names according to company identification codes (IDs) and chip IDs, and must be stored even after power down. May be used to store other information.

The functional units of the connection management unit 1 realized when the CPU 12 executes the program are shown in FIG. The device name setting unit 21 may set devices that are identified with the node identification codes IDs connected to the network 99 to names already stored or input by the user. The input / output connection setting unit 22 may input settings of input / output connections of devices connected to the network 99. The input / output connection setting execution unit 23 may execute setting of input / output connections of devices connected to the network 99 based on the device input / output connection setting input by the input / output connection setting unit 22. have. The display control section 24 displays on the monitor 3 information required from a user for inputting the necessary settings or respective settings, such as the information accompanying the status of the input / output connections of the devices connected to the network 99. To be possible. The input / output connection state memory unit 25 may store information appended to the state of input / output connections of devices connected to the network 99. The device function checker 26 may check whether each device connected to the network has a predetermined function, such as a function capable of operating according to IEC 1883.

The cycle structure of data transfer between connected devices in accordance with IEEE 1394 is shown in FIG. As noted above, in IEEE 1394, data may be divided into packets and transmitted in a time division manner based on a cycle of 125 ms. This cycle may be caused by a cycle start signal supplied from a node having a cycle master function (which may be one of the devices shown in FIG. 1). The band or time unit can be stabilized from the beginning of each cycle for the transmission of isochronous packets. In isochronous transmission, data may be transmitted at any time period, but the transmitted data may be lost if a transmission error occurs because no procedure is provided for protecting or reproducing the data. During each time period in each cycle where isochronous communication is not performed, several nodes that stabilize the bus as a result of coordination may send asynchronous packets. In an asynchronous transmission, an acknowledgment signal is sent to the transmitting device to signal receipt of the data, and in the absence, the transmitting device may retransmit the data. Alternatively, if the data is not received correctly, the receiving device may send a retry signal to the transmitting device after the transmitting device retransmits the data. As a result, reliable data transmission can be provided. However, in asynchronous transmission, the transmission timing may not be constant.

If some nodes perform isochronous transmission, they must be compatible with the isochronous function and at least one of these nodes must have a cycle master function. In addition, at least one of the nodes connected to the IEEE 1394 serial buses 9-1 to 9-4 should have isochronous resource management function.

IEEE 1394 has a 64-bit address space and follows the control and status register (CSR) architecture specified in accordance with ISO / IEC 13213 or ANSI / IEEE 1212. The structure of the CRS architecture address space is shown in FIG. In this structure, the upper 16 bits form a node ID representing one of the IEEE 1394 nodes and the remaining 48 bits are used to specify the address space allocated to the node. The upper 16 bits are separated into a 10-bit bus ID and a 6-bit physical or node ID. The case where all bits are set to 1 is for a special purpose, so 1023 buses and 63 nodes can be designated.

In the 256-terabyte address space defined by the lower 48 bits, the space defined by the upper 20 bits is the initial register used for dedicated space, initial memory space, etc., specific registers of 2048 byte CSRs, specific registers of IEEE 1394, etc. Divided into spaces, while the lower 28 bits are the configuration read-only memory (ROM), initial unit space for the specific use of nodes, as defined in IEC 61883, etc., if the initial register space is defined as the upper 20 bits. It is used as plug control registers (PCRs).

Offset addresses, names and functions of the essential CRSs are shown in FIG. 6. The offsets shown in FIG. 6 are offset addresses from the address FFFFF0000000h (where “h” represents hexadecimal) at the beginning of the initial register space.

The bandwidth enable register with offset 220h indicates the band that can be allocated for isochronous communication. Only the value of the bandwidth enable register for a node acting as an isochronous resource manager is valid. That is, each node has the CSRs shown in FIG. 5, and the bandwidth enable register of the isochronous resource manager may be effective. In other words, essentially, the isochronous resource manager has a bandwidth available register. In the bandwidth available register, the maximum value may be stored when the band is not allocated for isochronous communication and the value may be reduced with each time the band is allocated.

Channel enable registers with offsets 224h through 228h have bits corresponding to channel numbers 0 through 63, respectively. A bit with a zero value indicates that the corresponding channel has been allocated. Only channel-enabled registers in a node acting as an isochronous resource manager are effective.

Returning to Fig. 5, the configuration ROM based on the read only memory (ROM) format is arranged or allocated from address 400h to address 800h. One example of such a ROM format is shown in FIG. Each node, which is an IEEE 1394 compliant access unit, can generally include a plurality of units that operate independently while using the address space. "Unit_directories" may specify the software version or locations for these units. Although the locations of "bus_info_block" and "root_directory" can be fixed, the locations of other blocks can be specified by offset addresses.

Details of "bus_info_block", "root_directory" and "unit_directory" are shown in FIG. The ID number representing the manufacturer of the device may be stored in "Company_ID" of "Bus_info_block". The unique ID (assigned to each device only) in the device may be stored in "Chip_ID" of "Bus_info_block". For devices conforming to the IEC 61883 standard, in "unit_spec_id" of "Unit_directory", "00h" is written in the first octet, "A0h" is written in the second octet, and "2Dh" is written in the third octet. Also, in "unit_sw_version", "0lh" is written in the first octet and "1" is written in the least significant bit (LSB) of the third octet.

Regarding device input / output control over the interface, each node has plug control registers (PCRs) with addresses 900h through 9FFh at the initial unit location shown in FIG. This may be the entity of the "plug" concept in a signal path format that is logically analogous to an analog interface. The arrangement of PCRs is shown in FIG. As shown therein, PCRs include an output plug control register (oPCR) representing an output plug, an input plug control register (iPCR) representing an input plug, and an output master plug register (oMPR) representing information about a particular input and output plug of the device. ) And an input master plug register (iMPR). Each device may have a single oMPR and a single iMPR, but may have a plurality of oPCRs and a plurality of iPCRs corresponding to plugs depending on the likelihood of the device. In the arrangement of FIG. 9, there are 31 oPCRs and 31 iPCRs. The flow of isochronous data can be controlled by operating the registers corresponding to the plugs.

The configurations of oMPR, oPCR, iMPR, and iPCR are shown in FIGS. 10A-10D, respectively.

Code representing the maximum rate at which the corresponding device transmits or receives data may be stored in a two bit “data rate performance” portion located towards the most significant bit (MSB) of oMPR and iMPR. A plurality of channels used for broadcast output may be stored in the 6-bit "broadcast channel base" of oMPR. The value representing the plurality of output plugs of the device (ie, the plurality of oPCRs) may be stored in a 5-bit “number of output plugs” on the LSB side of the oMPR. A value representing a plurality of input plugs of the device (ie, a plurality of iPCRs) may be stored in a 5-bit “number of input plugs” on the LSB side of the iMPR. Three bits of reserved portion and eight bits of "non-persistent extent" and eight bits of "persisted extent" are stored or defined for later use.

The 1-bit "Online" portion of the MSB side of oPCR and iPCR indicates the plug's usage. For example, a value of 1 may indicate an online state of the plug and a value of 0 may indicate an offline state of the plug. The 1-bit "broadcast connection counter" of oPCR and iPCR may indicate a broadcast connection status. For example, a value of 1 may indicate that a broadcast connection exists and a value of 0 may indicate that a broadcast connection does not exist. The six-bit “point to point connection counter” of oPCR and iPCR may represent a plurality of point to point connections of a plug. The 6-bit “number of channels” of oPCR and iPCR may represent a plurality of isochronous channels to which plugs are connected. The 2-bit “data rate” portion of the oPCR may represent the actual transmission rate of isochronous data packets supplied from the plug. The 4-bit “overhead ID” portion of the oPCR may have a stored code that indicates the overhead bandwidth for isochronous communication. The 10-bit “payload” portion of the oPCR may represent the maximum value of data that may be included in isochronous packets and / or processed by the plug. Reserved parts can be reserved for later use or for others.

11 shows the relationship between plugs, plug control registers and isochronous channels. As shown in Fig. 11, AV devices 31-1 through 31-3 are connected to each other by an IEEE 1394 serial bus. The AV device 31-3 is an IEEE 1394 serial designated to oPCR [0], oPCR [1] and oPCR [1] of oPCR [2] specified for the number and transmission rate of the oMPR of the AV device 31-3. Isochronous data can be supplied to channel # 1 of the bus. The AV device 27-1 is assigned to the designated channel # of the IEEE 1394 serial bus via iPCR [0] and iPCR [0] of iPCR [1], which are defined in terms of the number and transmission rate for the iMPR of the AV device 31-1. The isochronous data supplied to 1 can also be read. Similarly, AV device 31-2 may supply isochronous data to channel # 2 specified by oPCR [0], and AV device 31-1 may, for example, transmit from channel # 2 designated via iPCR [1]. Time data can also be read.

Input / output connection establishment operations for devices connected to the network 99 having the connection manager 1 and other devices according to a plurality of predetermined criteria are now shown with reference to FIG. As described above, the connection management unit 1 may include a device name setting unit 21 (FIG. 3). This portion is stored in an already formed ID device table that may include company IDs, chip IDs, and names of devices connected to the network. One example of the arrangement of the ID device table is shown in FIG.

In step S11, the user can connect the device to the network 99 using a cable according to a predetermined criterion (IEEE 1394 serial bus).

The process leads to step S12, where bus reconfiguration can be performed automatically by the bus initialization function at the physical layer of each node to enable bus reconfiguration. With this reconfiguration, the node ID is reassigned to each node.

In step S13, the device function checking unit 26 (FIG. 3) may determine whether the recently connected device complies with predetermined criteria such as IEC 61883 or IEC 1883.

Thereafter, the process goes to step S14, where the device name setting unit 21 (FIG. 3) is connected with the company IDs of the nodes to form the node ID reference table of the node IDs, chip IDs, and node IDs of the nodes. The chip IDs can be read continuously. One example of such a node ID reference table with company IDs, chip IDs, and node IDs of nodes is shown in FIG. 14.

The process then comes to step S15, where the device name setting unit 21 may form an ID device reference table of company IDs, chip IDs, and device names.

In step S16, the display control unit 24 (FIG. 3) can read the name of the device recently connected from the device name setting unit 21 and give this name to be displayed on the monitor 3. As soon as this indication appears, if necessary, the user can correct or input the name of the device in the device name setting section 21 by the operation of the remote controller 2. This new input can be written to the ID device table.

In step S17, the user can input a command for performing an input / output connection setting operation by using the remote controller 2 (FIG. 1). As a result, the input / output connection setting input 22 (FIG. 3) may give rise to a graphical interface for specifying the input / output connection to be displayed on the monitor 3. While observing this displayed graphical interface, the user can enter the desired input / output connection settings by operating the remote controller 2. This connection setup may be in accordance with certain criteria, such as IEC 61883.

In step S18, the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 (FIG. 3) performs a process of attaching an input / output connection or disconnection to a predetermined node among the nodes based on the input / output connection setting command obtained in step S17. Can be done. After the execution of this process involving the attachment / disconnection of a given node, the state of the network 99 may be stored in the input / output connection memory section 25 (FIG. 3).

Therefore, in the present invention, connection setting for any or all devices in the network can be performed by using the connection management unit 1 as described above. As will be appreciated, by using the present invention, the desired connection establishment (s) of the device (s) can be performed without the operation of each device (s).

An example of the graphical interface of the input / output connection designation of step S17 (FIG. 12) is shown in FIG. 15. Cells 30-1 through 30-4 arranged in the topmost horizontal column represent the output plugs of several devices (e.g. camera / recorder, set top box, video tape recorder and hard disk drive). The leftmost columns of cells 32-1 through 32-4 represent input plugs of the devices. A cell located at the intersection of a column containing one of the output plug cells and a column containing one of the input plug cells indicates the connection state between each output plug and each input plug, the crosshatching, shading or similar portion of the cell. Indicates the connection between the corresponding plugs and the missing part indicates that this connection has not been established. For example, the cell 34 represents a connection state between the output plug of the set top box 7 and the input plug of the VTR 5. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 15, cell 34 indicates that the output plug of set-top box 7 is connected to the input plug of VTR 5. In another example, the cell 35 represents the connection between the output plug of the HDD 4 and the input plug of the camera / recorder. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 15, the cell 35 is the output plug of the HDD 4. Is connected to the input plug of the camera / recorder 6.

In the graphical interface example of FIG. 15, empty cells indicate that each connection is possible although each connection is not established. In addition, double cross hatching in cells indicates that the connection between corresponding floods is not possible. As such, in the example of FIG. 15, because the devices appear in such order from left to right in the horizontal column of output plug cells and from top to bottom in the vertical column of input plug cells, the resulting display indicates the corresponding connections. Diagonal line between the top left corner and the bottom right corner of the double cross hatching indicating that this is not possible.

The operation of the device function check section 26 (FIG. 3) to determine whether the device complies with certain criteria such as IEC 61883 will now be described with reference to FIG. 16. Regarding a device conforming to the IEC 61883 standard, in "unit_spec_id" of "unit_directory", "00h" may be written in the first octet, "A0h" may be written in the second octet, and "2Dh" in the third octet Can be written. Also in "unit_sw_version" for devices conforming to IEC 1883, "01h" may be written in the first octet and "1" may be written in the LSB of the third octet. From these values, it may be possible to determine whether the device complies with IEC 1883.

In step S21, the device function checking unit 26 may read the recently connected device as "unit_spec_id" and "unit_sw_version" in the "unit_directory". The process may then proceed to step S22.

In step S22, the device function checking unit 26 determines whether the first to third octets of "unit_spec_id" are 00h, A0h, and 2Dh, respectively, and the LSBs of the first octet and the third octet of "unit_sw_version" are 01h and It can be determined whether or not. If the result of this determination is positive (ie, the first through third octets of "unit_spec_id" are 00h, A0h, and 2Dh, respectively, and the LSBs of the first octet and third octet of "unit_sw_version" are 01h and 1, respectively). ), The process can reach step S23.

In operation S23, the device function inspecting unit 26 may read the plurality of output plugs and the plurality of input plugs of the recently connected device. After that, the process is terminated. Alternatively, step S23 may be omitted and if the determination result of step S22 is positive, the process may be terminated.

If the determination result is negative in step S22, the process may reach step S24. In step S24, the process for the device that does not comply with IEC 61883 may be performed.

Based on the above-described process, the connection manager 1 can perform input / output setting operations for devices only according to IEC 61883 and having plug control registers.

The operation for providing the input / output connections in step S18 (FIG. 12) by the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 (FIG. 3) will now be described with reference to FIG.

In step S31, the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 requests or requests that a node operating in the isochronous method (for example, the set top box 7) acquires an isochronous communication channel. In response to this requirement, a node operating in an isochronous manner sets "0" for the bit of the channel available register (s) in the CSRs corresponding to the unoccupied channel (s). The process can then go to the next step S32.

In step S32, the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 requests that a node operating in the isochronous method acquire the necessary isochronous communication band or time period. In response to this requirement, a node operating in an isochronous manner subtracts the required band value from the value of the bandwidth available register in the CSRs. The process can then go to step S33.

In step S33, the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 selects not to use among the iPCRs (iPCR [j]) and selects a plurality of isochronous channels to be used in iPCR [j] (that is, obtained in step S31). A plurality of channels) and create an input device designated by the user in step S17 (FIG. 12) to set " 1 " in the point-to-point connection counter (FIG. 10).

In step S34, the input / output connection setting unit 23 selects not to use among the oPCRs oPCR [k], and sets it to oPCR [k] with the isochronous channel number as it is set in iPCR [j]. And an output device specified by the user to set "1" in the point-to-point connection counter.

As soon as the channel, band and output and input plugs are secured as described above, data can be transferred from the output plug of the designated output device to the input plug of the designated input device by using the reserved channel and band.

The operation of the input / output disconnection release process performed by the input / output connection establishment execution unit 23 (FIG. 3) after completion of data transmission will now be described with reference to FIG.

In step S41, the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 and the " channel number " of the oPCR [k] of the output device designated by the user for releasing or arranging oPCR [k] in an unused or usable state. You can clear the "point to point connection counter". The process can then follow step S42.

In step S42, the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 and the " channel number " of oPCR [k] of the input device designated by the user for releasing or arranging iPCR [k] in the unused or usable state. Clear the "Point to Point Connection Counter". The process can then go to step S43.

In step S43, the input / output connection setting execution unit 23 requests the node acting as the isochronous resource management unit to release the necessary registered communication band. In response to this request, the node acting as an isochronous resource management unit adds a predetermined value according to the band to be released to the value of the bandwidth available register in the CSRs. The process can then follow step S44.

In step S44, the input / output connection establishment execution unit 23 requests that the node acting as the isochronous resource management unit release the isochronous communication channel. In response to this request, a node acting as an isochronous resource management unit may set a bit corresponding to the channel available registers in the CSRs with a value of "1". After that, the process can be terminated.

When performing the checking process of step S13 (FIG. 12), the device function checking unit 26 (FIG. 3) sends an input / output plug signal format command from the AV / C digital interface command set to a predetermined criterion (such as IEC 61883). The output table signal format can be queried or requested by the plug of each device. If the obtained signal format information appears in different formats among the plurality of devices, the connection management unit 1 notifies the user not to establish a connection between each of the iPCRs and the oPCRs, resulting in a notification to be provided to the user. Or by using a graphical interface for specifying input / output connections on the monitor 3 to prevent the user from selecting a connection between them.

19 illustrates the graphical interface for specifying input / output connections for the user to know that the VTR 5 and the set top box 7 cannot be connected to each other due to differences in signal formats or by not following such predetermined criteria. One example is shown (shown with double crosshatching in cells 97 and 98).

Although double cross hatching is shown in FIG. 19, cells to indicate that a connection cannot be established due to non-compliance with differences in signal formats, certain criteria, etc. may be displayed in a color distinct from that of other cells. . Alternatively, other arrangements may be used to distinguish between cells indicating that the connection could not be established and indicating that the connection could be established.

Another example of a graphical interface for specifying input / output connections is shown in FIG. 20. In this example, icons and names of the devices can be displayed. By using this indication, the user can enter commands for the desired connection between the devices by performing a mouse-like operation that may be similar to the connection operation of the input and output plugs of analog devices. For example, a user may use a mouse device, which may be included in the remote controller 2 (FIG. 1), to obtain a desired signal input device (eg camera 6) from a desired signal output device (eg VTR 5). You can drag the pointer up to). As soon as the pointer is dragged, an image 96 of the cable and icon 95 indicating the signal input / output direction can be displayed.

One example of the arrangement of the ID name table in the device name setting unit 21 that can be used to obtain the device name from the company IDs and the chip IDs is shown in FIG. The ID name table may include names of manufacturers corresponding to company IDs and product category names corresponding to chip IDs. The data in this table may have already been written to a memory medium such as EEPROM 17 (FIG. 2) capable of holding such data in the absence of a normal power source. The device name setting unit 21 can temporarily set the device name based on the name read from the ID name table. As an example, in the situation where "1" is read out as a company ID for a recently connected device and "2" is read out as a chip ID about a device, the device name setting unit 21 returns the name "SONY_VTR" about a device. The name "SONY" (corresponding to company ID "1") and the name "VTR" (corresponding to chip ID "2") can be combined to obtain.

To avoid the possibility of giving the same name to other devices, a number can be added after the end of each name character sequence. For example, when information (company ID and chip ID) is obtained from a device, the device name setting unit 21 can read the name "DEVICE" from the ID name table and the user obtains a device name such as "DEVICE01". You can add "1" to it. When the same information is read from other devices, the device name setting section 21 is a name obtained by adding all the names read from the sequence of numbers already used as the ID name table and the device names and the sequence of numbers different from each other. Can be set temporarily. For example, in the state where "DEVICE01" and "DEVICE02" have already been used as the device name, the device name setting unit 21 can automatically set "DEVICE03" temporarily for the recently added device. This setting method can also be used for devices in which company IDs and chip IDs can be read.

The connection management unit 1 may provide an interface to the user to change the contents of the ID name table, and the user interface for changing the device name is temporarily set to another character sequence as described above. These interfaces, which are easily and immediately available to the user, set the desired device name in the connection manager 1.

As described above, the connection manager 1, which is easily and quickly available to the user, performs desired connection settings or settings between a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to a network, where data can be transmitted between them.

The remote controller 2 may be a mouse or keyboard or any device capable of using a signal formed from a user input to be supplied to the connection manager 1.

Although the connection manager 1 is described as a separate device, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the functionality of the connection manager may be included in another device (eg VTR 5).

Although various information items are described as displayed on the monitor 3, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, these items may be displayed by the front panel of the connection manager 1, the display panel of the remote controller 2, and the like.

The result of the input / output connection setting performed by the connection manager 1 for the nodes of the network can be displayed in the input / output connection designation graphic interface. Input / output connection designation A graphical interface may be configured to allow the output plug and the input plug to be repeatedly connected to limit IEEE 1394 channels and bands.

Alternatively, the connection management unit 1 may provide the RAM 13 at a predetermined time interval or after occurrence of a predetermined event or the like to use such connection conditions to be restored after a bus reset occurrence that may occur by connecting an additional device to a bus or the like. It can be adapted to store input / output connection conditions in a memory such as (Fig. 2). That is, after a bus reset occurs, the connection manager may automatically read the stored connection information and perform a reconnection process to reestablish connection conditions existing before the bus reset.

A computer program for performing the above process may be provided in communication media including networks and satellites, as well as recording media such as magnetic disks, compact disc read only storage (CD-ROM) and solid state memory.

Therefore, the present invention enables input / output setting or settings between a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected to a network to be performed by using one information processing apparatus. As a result, the devices of the input / output setting or settings connected to the network can be easily and effectively performed. In addition, the present invention operates or follows a plurality of predetermined criteria, such as IEEE 1394 and IEC 61883.

Although the preferred embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described in detail herein, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and modifications, and other modifications and changes are defined by the appended claims as defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated that it may be effective to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit.

As described above, the information processing apparatus and the information processing method according to the present invention preferably make a hard disk drive (HDD) for recording a home network-connected video tape recorder (VTR), an integrated video system, video data and audio data, and the like. Each applies.

Claims (54)

An information processing apparatus connected to a network together with a plurality of other information processing apparatuses, the information processing apparatus comprising: Unique information obtaining means for obtaining unique information of the information processing apparatuses in the network, Connection command input means for generating signals representing a user interface for displaying on a display unit based on the unique information and inputting a connection command to at least one of the information processing devices, and Connection setting execution means for establishing a connection from the connection command input means to the at least one information processing apparatus of the information processing apparatuses or from the at least one information processing apparatus of the information processing apparatuses based on the connection command. Information processing device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said network is a bus interface. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information apparatus is an audio / visual apparatus. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: magnetic identification (ID) input means for inputting magnetic IDs output from the respective information processing apparatuses on the network when a bus reset of the network occurs; Means for obtaining a plurality of said other devices based on said magnetic IDs. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of said information processing apparatuses comprises storage means for storing at least unique numbers designating a manufacturer of each information processing apparatus, said unique information obtaining means serving as said unique information in said storage means. And an information processing device for obtaining the minimum unique numbers. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising means for obtaining names corresponding to the information processing apparatuses in each of the unique numbers, Means for generating signals indicative of the names for the connection command input means to display on the display unit. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for generating signals indicative of a connection state set by said connection setting execution means for said connection command input means to display on said display unit. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connection command input means generates signals representing the information processing devices on the network as icons for display on the display unit and the icon on the display unit in accordance with the connection command. Means for combining a second one of the icons with a first one of the icons. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising device name setting means for setting names in said information processing apparatuses connected to a network. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: format checking means for checking a format of data which can be input or output to the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus on the network, and output from the first information processing apparatus. And the connection setting execution means sets the connection between the first information processing device and the second information processing device when the format of the data that can be inputted and the format of the data that can be input to the second information processing device is similar. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising function checking means for checking whether each of the information processing apparatuses or information processing apparatuses of the information processing apparatuses has a predetermined data transfer function on the network. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information processing apparatuses having the predetermined data transfer function have predetermined data stored in a storage means, and wherein the function checking means each of the information processing apparatuses or information processing apparatuses of the information processing apparatuses is configured as the predetermined processing unit. An information processing apparatus that checks whether or not the data of the. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising connection state storage means for storing the connection state of the network before bus reset on the network, wherein the connection establishment execution means is configured in the connection state storage means in the connection state storage means after the bus reset. An information processing apparatus that establishes a connection based on the. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection setting execution device is arranged according to each connection command from the connection command input means corresponding to the connection arrangement between the first information processing device and the second information processing device. 2 An information processing apparatus for establishing at least two connections between the information processing apparatuses. A method for establishing a connection to an information processing apparatus connected to a network together with a plurality of other information processing apparatuses, the method comprising: Obtaining unique information of information processing devices on the network; Displaying a user interface based on the unique information, Inputting a connection command to at least one of the information processing apparatuses, and Establishing a connection to the at least one information processing device of the information processing devices or from the at least one information processing device of the information processing devices based on the connection command. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said network is a bus interface. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said information device is an audio / visual device. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: inputting magnetic identifications (IDs) output from each of the information processing apparatuses when a bus reset of the network occurs, and based on the magnetic IDs, a plurality of the information processing apparatuses. Obtaining the connection. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of said information processing apparatuses comprises storage means for storing at least unique numbers specifying a manufacturer of respective information processing apparatuses, wherein said step of acquiring said unique information is carried out in said storage means. Connection establishment method for obtaining the minimum unique numbers as information. 20. The connection establishment according to claim 19, further comprising obtaining names corresponding to the information processing apparatuses from each of the unique numbers, and wherein displaying the user interface comprises displaying the names. Way. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising indicating a connection status of the network. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of displaying a user interface comprises displaying each of the information processing devices on the network as an icon, and wherein entering a connection command is performed on a second icon of the icons. A method of establishing a connection comprising associating a first icon. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising setting names for the information processing devices on the network. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of checking a format of data that can be input or output to the first information processing device or the second information processing device on the network, wherein the setting step is performed in the first information processing device. And establishing a connection between the first information processing device and the second information processing device when the format of the data to be output and the format of the data to be input to the second information processing device are similar. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising checking whether each of the information processing apparatuses or information processing apparatuses of the information processing apparatuses on the network has a predetermined data transfer function. The information processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the information processing apparatuses having the predetermined data transmission function have predetermined data stored in a storage means, and wherein the inspecting step is performed by each information processing apparatus or information processing apparatuses of the information processing apparatus. How to establish a connection to check whether or not 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the connection state of the network before bus reset on the network, wherein the establishing step establishes a connection based on the connection state stored after the bus reset. . 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said setting step comprises at least two operations between a first information processing device and a second information processing device on said network in accordance with each connection instruction for connection between said first information processing device and said second information processing device. Connection establishment method for establishing connections. An information processing apparatus adapted to be connected to and adapted to a digital bus to which a first and a second information processing apparatus are connected, wherein the connection is not established between the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus. Connection command input means for inputting a connection command indicating a connection between a first information processing device and a second information processing device on the bus, and Information including connection setting means for outputting a control signal of the connection command to the first information processing device and the second information processing device and establishing a connection between the first information processing device and the second information processing device. Processing unit. 30. The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising format checking means for checking a format of data that can be input or output to the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus, wherein the connection setting means comprises: the first information; Information processing for establishing the connection between the first information processing device and the second information processing device when the format of the data output from the processing device and the format of the data input to the second information processing device are similar. Device. 30. The information processing apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising function checking means for checking whether each of the information processing apparatuses or the information processing apparatuses of the information processing apparatuses on the bus has a predetermined data transfer function. 32. The information processing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the information processing apparatuses having the predetermined data transfer function have predetermined data stored in the storage means, and wherein the function checking means includes each of the information processing apparatuses or the information processing apparatuses of the information processing apparatuses. An information processing apparatus that checks whether it has data. 30. The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising connection state storage means for storing the connection state between the first information processing device and the second information processing device before a bus reset on the bus, wherein the connection setting means comprises: And an information processing apparatus for establishing a connection based on the state in said connection state storing means after a bus reset. The information processing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said connection setting means establishes at least two connections between said first information processing apparatus and said second information processing apparatus. A method for establishing a connection with respect to an information processing device connected and adapted on a digital bus to which first and second information processing devices are connected, wherein the connection is not established between the first information processing device and the second information processing device. , Inputting a connection command indicating a connection between a first information processing device and a second information processing device on the bus, and Establishing the connection by outputting a control signal of the connection command to a first information processing device and a second information processing device. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of inspecting a format of data that can be input or output to the first information processing apparatus or the second information processing apparatus, wherein the setting step is to output from the first information processing apparatus. And establishing a connection when the format of the data and the format of the data to be input to the second information processing apparatus are similar. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising checking on the bus whether each of the information processing devices or information processing devices has a predetermined data transfer function. 38. The information processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the information processing apparatuses on the bus having the predetermined data transfer function have predetermined data stored in a storage means, and the inspecting step is performed by each information processing apparatus or information processing apparatuses of the information processing apparatus. How to establish a connection to check whether you have data. 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of storing said connection state between said first information processing device and said second information processing device before bus reset on said bus, wherein said setting step comprises: after said bus reset; A method of establishing a connection that establishes a connection based on state. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the setting step establishes at least two connections between the first information processing device and the second information processing device. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bus interface is an IEEE 1394 bus interface. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the bus interface is an IEEE 1394 bus interface. An apparatus for connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses together in a desired manner in which each information processing apparatus is connected to a digital bus, the apparatus comprising: Means for generating a signal representing a graphical interface for displaying on a display unit representing any available connections between information processing devices connected to the digital bus, Means for receiving signals from a user representing a desired connection selected among the available connections shown on the graphical interface and forming a control signal therefrom; Means for generating a signal to cause a desired connection between corresponding information processing devices to be established in accordance with the control signal. 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the digital bus is an IEEE 1394 bus. 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the graphical interface further represents an unavailable connection or connections between information processing devices connected to the digital bus. 44. The matrix of columns and rows of claim 43, wherein a graphical interface forms a plurality of cells in which information processing devices connected to the digital bus are identified in columns and rows and the available connections are identified from the cell or cells corresponding thereto. Device with type arrangement. A method for connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses together in a desired manner in which each information processing apparatus is connected to a digital bus, the method comprising: Generating a signal representing a graphical interface for displaying on a display unit representing any available connections between information processing devices connected to the digital bus, Receiving signals from a user representing a desired connection selected among the available connections shown on the graphical interface and forming a control signal therefrom, and Generating a signal for causing a desired connection between corresponding information processing devices to be established in accordance with said control signal. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein the digital bus is an IEEE 1394 bus. 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the graphical interface further represents an unavailable connection or connections between information processing devices coupled to the digital bus. 48. The matrix of columns and rows of claim 47, wherein the graphical interface forms a plurality of cells such that information processing devices connected to the digital bus are identified in columns and rows and the available connections are identified from corresponding cells or cells. How to have a type array. An apparatus for connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses together in a desired manner in which each information processing apparatus is connected to a digital bus, the apparatus comprising: Means for generating a signal representing a graphical interface for displaying on a display unit representing information processing devices coupled to the digital bus; Means for receiving a desired connection signal representing a desired connection between corresponding information processing devices and forming a control signal therefrom, wherein the desired connection signal is obtained from an input provided by a user with the use of the graphical interface. The desired connection signal receiving and control signal forming means, and Means for generating a signal to cause a desired connection between corresponding information processing devices to be established in accordance with the control signal. 52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the digital bus is an IEEE 1394 bus. A method for connecting a plurality of information processing apparatuses together in a desired manner in which each information processing apparatus is connected to a digital bus, the method comprising: Generating a signal representing a graphical interface for displaying on a display unit representing information processing devices connected to the digital bus, Receiving a desired connection signal representing a desired connection between corresponding information processing devices and forming a control signal therefrom, wherein the desired connection signal is obtained from an input provided by a user with the use of the graphical interface. Signal receiving and control signal forming step, and Generating a signal to cause a desired connection between corresponding information processing devices to be established in accordance with the control signal. 54. The method of claim 53 wherein the digital bus is an IEEE 1394 bus.