CN100545937C - Media connection device and system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a media connection device and a system using the media connection device. The media connection device provided by the present invention is used as an intermediary between a media player and an audio device, controls the media player in response to a user's manipulation of the audio device, performs USB packet processing on an audio signal reproduced by the media player, and sends The audio signal packets are supplied to the audio device so that sound can be output from the audio device. Through the media connection device, an audio device with a USB host interface can be connected to an existing media player without changing the appearance. In addition, even in the case of DRM content, users can enjoy previously purchased songs without the need to support or re-purchase separate software.

Description

Media connection device and system using the same

technical field

The present invention relates to a media connection device, which is used as an intermediary between a media player and an audio device, controls the media player in response to manipulation of the audio device by a user, and performs an operation on an audio signal reproduced by the media player. The USB packet is processed, and the audio signal packet is supplied to the audio device so that sound can be output from the audio device.

Background technique

Media players such as MP3 players or voice recorders, which reproduce and record media files, have been widely used. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a conventional media player.

A conventional media player 1 has installed therein a nonvolatile storage device 5 such as a flash memory so that media files received from an external host device 7 such as a PC through a network can be stored in the storage device 5 . When a reproduction instruction is input through a user interface (UI) module, a media file is read from the storage device 5 and then transferred to the signal processor 6 . Then, the media player 1 performs signal processing according to a predetermined signal processing scheme such as MPEG-1 audio layer 3 .

In order to send and receive media files, the host device 7 and the media player 1 have a transmission medium connection function. FIG. 1 shows an example using USB (Universal Serial Bus). In USB technology, when two devices are connected to each other, one device performing a master function is called a USB host, and the other device performing a slave function is called a USB device. In FIG. 1, the host device 7 is set as a USB host, and the media player 1 is set as a USB device. Thus, the host device 7 comprises a USB host and the media player 1 comprises a USB device.

As for transmission media that can be used for such a purpose, IEEE1394 and wireless LAN are provided in addition to USB. Also, the connection therebetween can be achieved through cables, connection ports, or wireless media. When using IEEE 1394 or a wireless LAN, a concept different from the host-to-device concept may be used. In the case of IEEE 1394, a peer-to-peer structure is used in which the host device 7 is set as the SBP2 initiator and the media player 1 is set as the SBP2 target according to SBP2 (Serial Bus Protocol 2) which is an upper layer protocol. Therefore, in common transmission media including USB or IEEE 1394, modeling can be performed in which the host device 7 is set as the controller and the media player 1 is set as the target.

With the popularity of various media players, consumers increasingly want to listen to songs stored in the media players through a speaker system of a car audio device or a home audio device. To this end, an FM transmission function is added to a conventional media player so that songs played by the media player are transmitted over a specific FM frequency. Also, the audio device outputs an audio signal by performing frequency modulation in an FM reception mode. In addition, the Aux cable in the conventional audio device is separately extended and connected to the headphone jack of the media player.

Similarly, with the popularization of digital media technology, consumers increasingly expect to directly play digital content stored in a USB memory through the speaker system of a car audio device or a home audio device. For this reason, there is a patent application entitled "A MEDIAL PROCESSING DEVICE USING ANEXTERNAL" submitted by the present applicant on April 4, 2002 (Korean Patent Application No. 2003-21307) and published on October 15, 2003 (Korean Patent Registration No. 403,376). STORAGE DEVICE" patent application. According to this patent, an audio device includes a USB host interface to directly read and reproduce content stored in a USB memory.

Since a set of media players such as the Apple i-POD does not include FM reception and can only be connected through a dedicated interface, there are limitations to using conventional solutions without additionally interfacing with car audio. But consumers still buy the media players. In addition, the utilization rate is not high.

Recently, DRM is considered to be very important. Therefore, there are many situations where DRM content is stored in a media player or USB memory. Various problems and difficulties may arise when transferring these DRM contents to another device. Therefore, even with an external audio device, it is desirable to perform reproduction in a media player in which these contents are first registered.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a media connection device, which is used as an intermediary between a media player and an audio device, controls the media player in response to the user's manipulation of the audio device, and controls the playback by the media player. USB packet processing is performed on the audio signal of the audio signal, and the audio signal packet is supplied to the audio device so that sound can be output from the audio device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a media connection device used as a medium between a media player and an audio device, the media connection device includes: a media player connector, which includes an audio connector and a remote control connector , the audio connector connects to the media player's audio jack (the jack is typically a female connection into which a plug (i.e., a male connection) can be inserted) to receive analog audio output from the media player signal, the remote control connector is connected to the remote control socket of the media player to provide device control signals with respect to the media player, wherein the media player provides an interface to the media player; A/D A converter, which receives the analog audio signal output from the media player through the media player connector, and generates digital audio data through A/D conversion processing; an audio device connector, which is connected to the the audio device to provide an interface to the audio device; a system controller to group digital audio data provided from the A/D converter according to a transmission medium, and to generate digital audio data through the audio device connector; The audio data packet is supplied to the audio device so that the audio device outputs the sound of an analog audio signal through D/A conversion, when a manipulation generated by a user's manipulation in the audio device is provided through the audio device connector analyzing content manipulated by the user from the manipulation control data as data packets according to the transmission medium, and generating corresponding device control signals on the media player to control the device via the media player connector provided to the media player.

In order to achieve the above objects, the media connection device according to the present invention is characterized in that the transmission medium is USB, and further in that the audio device connector includes a USB connector connected to the audio device through the USB. a USB host interface of a device to provide the generated digital audio data packet as a USB packet signal to the audio device, and when a device control signal for controlling the media player is received from the audio device Device control signals are provided to the system controller.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a media connection system comprising a media player, an audio device and a media connection device, the media connection system comprising: a media player which reproduces a digital file to output an analog audio signal to an audio jack, and perform its own device control according to the specific remote control data provided by the remote control socket; the media connection device, the media connection device includes: a media player connector, which has an interface provided to the media player and corresponds to The audio connector of the audio jack, and the remote control connector corresponding to the remote control jack; an A/D converter, which receives an analog audio signal through the audio connector and generates it through A/D conversion processing digital audio data; an audio device connector that is connected to the audio device through a specific transmission medium to provide an interface; and a system controller that groups the digital audio data according to the transmission medium and that generates the audio data through the audio device connector. A digital audio packet is supplied to the audio device, and when the manipulation control data from the audio device is supplied as a data packet according to a transmission medium through the audio device connector, the content of the manipulation is analyzed from the manipulation control data, and a generated A corresponding device control signal for the media player to provide the device control signal to the media player via the remote control connector; and an audio device derived from digital audio provided by the media connection device Digital audio data is extracted from the data packet, D/A conversion is performed so that the sound of an analog audio signal is output, manipulation control data is generated when device manipulation is input from a user, and the manipulation control data is transmitted as a basis through the audio device connector The media data packets are provided to the media connection device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a media connection device used as an intermediary between a media player and an audio device, the media connection device includes: a media player connector connected to an audio device of the media player jack to receive an analog audio signal output from said media player, to be connected to a remote control jack of said media player to provide device control signals to said media player, and to provide an interface to said media player; A /D converter, which receives the analog audio signal output from the media player through the media player connector, and generates digital audio data through A/D conversion processing; the system controller, which is configured according to the transmission medium packetizing digital audio data generated by the A/D converter, receiving device control data from the audio device, analyzing device manipulated content from the device control data to generate corresponding device control signals for the media player, and passing the media player connector providing device control signals to the media player; and an audio device connector connected to the audio device via a specific transmission medium to be generated by the system controller via the transmission medium Digital audio data packets of the audio device are supplied to the audio device, manipulation control data of the audio device are received as data packets according to a transmission medium to provide the manipulation control data to the system controller, and are provided to the audio device Interface.

In order to achieve the above object, the media connection device according to the present invention is characterized in that the media player connector includes: an audio connector connected to the audio jack of the media player to receive output from the media player and a remote control connector connected to the remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals to the media player.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a media connection system comprising a media player, an audio device and a media connection device, the media connection system comprising: a media player which reproduces a digital file to output an analog audio signal to an audio jack , and perform its own device control based on specific remote control data provided through the remote control jack; a media connection device comprising: a media player connector connected to the audio jack of the media player to receive An analog audio signal output from the media player, connected to a remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals to the media player, and an interface to the media player; A/D conversion A device, which receives the analog audio signal output from the media player through the media player connector, and generates a digital audio signal through A/D conversion processing; a system controller, which is configured by the A according to the transmission medium The digital audio data generated by the /D converter is grouped, the manipulation control data is received from the audio device, the content manipulated by the device is analyzed from the manipulation control data to generate a corresponding device control signal on the media player, and through the media player a player connector providing device control signals to the media player; and an audio device connector connected to the audio device through a specific transmission medium to transmit digital audio data generated by the system controller through the transmission medium providing the audio device in packets, receiving manipulation control data of the audio device as data packets according to a transmission medium to provide the manipulation control data to the system controller, and providing an interface to the audio device; and an audio device that extracts digital audio data from a digital audio data packet supplied from the media connection device, performs D/A conversion so that the sound of an analog audio signal is output, and generates manipulation control when device manipulation is input from a user data, and manipulation control data is provided to the media connection device via the audio device connector as data packets according to a transmission medium.

In order to achieve the above object, the media connection system according to the present invention is characterized in that the media player connector of the media connection device includes: an audio connector connected to the audio jack of the media player to receive audio from an analog audio signal output by the media player; and a remote control connector connected to the remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals to the media player.

Description of drawings

These and/or other aspects and objects of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and easier to understand from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a conventional media player;

2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a media player according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 shows an example in which car audio is used as an audio device, to illustrate the connection of a media connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a reference diagram showing a state in which a media connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

Detailed ways

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

Hereinafter, a media connection device and a system using the media connection device according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a media connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an example in which a car audio is used as an audio device to explain connection of a media connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a reference diagram showing a state in which the media connection device of FIG. 3 is used.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the media connection device 100 is connected between the media player 10 and the audio device 20 to serve as an intermediary therebetween. The media connection device 100 includes a media player connector 110 , an A/D converter 120 , a system controller 130 and an audio device connector 140 .

The media player connector 110 is connected to the media player 10 through a predetermined transmission medium to provide an interface between the media player 10 and the media connection device 100 . As such an interface, an analog audio signal that is output as a result of reproduction of a media file in the media player 10 is basically included. More preferably, control access to the media player 10 is further included.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the media player connector 110 includes an earphone connector 111 and a remote control connector 112 . The earphone connector 111 is connected to an earphone jack of the media player 10 to receive analog audio signals. The remote control connector 112 is connected to the remote control jack 11 of the media player 10 to output device control signals to the media player 10 . In this case, the device control signal is supplied from the audio device 20 as described below.

The shape of the media player connector 110 is determined according to the structure of the media player 10 . For example, when the media player 10 is configured such that the headphone jack and the remote control jack 11 are separated from each other (as shown in FIG. Corresponding to the earphone jack and the remote control jack 11 respectively. The headphone jack and the remote control jack 11 shown in Fig. 3 represent the shape of the jack of the Apple i-POD.

The media player connector 110 can be applied not only to Apple i-POD, but also to other media players. When the media player 10 is configured with a single jack (not shown) providing both headphone and remote control functions, a single connector (not shown) corresponding to the jack is provided. Also, the structure of the media player connector 110 is not limited to those illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, but may be changed according to the connection interface of the media player to be applied.

A/D converter 120 converts an analog audio signal transmitted from media player 10 through media player connector 110 into digital audio data. Then, the A/D converter 120 provides the converted digital audio data to the system controller 130 . At this time, the conversion performed by the A/D converter 120 for generating digital audio data is typical A/D conversion processing in which processing load is considered.

The system control module 130 packets the digital audio data provided from the A/D converter 120 into a USB format. Then, the system control module 130 provides the generated USB packet to the audio device 20 through the audio device connector 140 .

In the state where the output of the media player 10 is transmitted to the audio device 20 through the media connector 100 so as to output sound, if the user performs a specific operation through the user interface of the audio device 20, the corresponding operation is performed in the media player 10. Device control. Hereinafter, this processing will be described.

In response to the user's manipulation, the audio device 20 generates manipulation control data. The manipulation control data is sent to the media connection device 100 through the audio device connector 140 as a USB packet. The system controller 130 analyzes the manipulation to generate device control signals with respect to the media player 10 . The generated device control signal is transmitted to the media player 10 through the media player connector 110 . Through such processing, device control according to user manipulation is performed in the media player 10 .

The manipulations represent signals that control typical operations of the media player 10, such as on/off functions, search functions, selection functions, play functions, or fast forward/rewind functions.

When processing an audio signal output from the media player 10 , the system controller 130 packets digital audio data into a USB format and provides the generated USB packets to the audio device 20 . In order to perform this operation, the system controller 130 inputs digital audio data to a specific register, and then provides a USB packet to the audio device 20 according to a trigger manipulation.

The audio device connector 140 is connected to the USB host interface 21 of the audio device 20 through a predetermined transmission medium such as a USB connector to provide communication using USB signal packets.

As described above, the media connection device of the present invention uses the well-known USB transmission medium as an example of the transmission medium. The audio device connector 140 includes a USB connector 141 connected to the USB host interface 21 of the audio device 20 through a USB transmission medium to provide USB signal packets to the audio device 20 and receive manipulation information of the media player 10 .

FIG. 4 is a reference diagram showing a state in which a media connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. In this state, the earphone connector 111 and the remote control connector 112 of the media connection device 100 are fitted and combined with the earphone jack/remote control jack 11 of the media player 10 . Furthermore, the USB connector 141 of the media connector 100 is fitted to the USB host interface 21 of the audio device 20 .

Therefore, by using the USB communication relay of the media connection device 100 , the user can control the media player 10 through button manipulation on the audio device 20 . In addition, the user can listen to the sound according to the audio signal output from the media player 10 through the speaker SP of the audio device 20 .

The audio processor of the audio device 20 acquires a digital audio signal from digital audio signal data transmitted by the media connection device 100 as a USB packet, and converts the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal by D/A conversion, thereby outputting sound. From this, it can be expected that the number of bits of A/D conversion and D/A conversion has a significant influence on the sound quality.

According to the media connection device of the present invention, the media connection device serves as an intermediary between the media player and the audio device, thereby controlling the media player according to a user's manipulation of the audio device. Furthermore, an audio signal to be reproduced by a media player is transferred through USB packet processing, so that the audio device can output sound.

Furthermore, the reproduction operation itself is performed in the media player. Therefore, even in the case of DRM content, users can enjoy previously purchased songs without the need to support or re-purchase separate software.

Furthermore, since the existing USB interface of the audio device is utilized as it is, there is no need to modify the appearance or install a dedicated interface.

While several embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, and the present general inventive concept The scope of the concepts is defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims (7)

1. A media connection device used as an intermediary between a media player and an audio device, said media connection device comprising: Media Player Connector, which includes: an audio connector connected to an audio jack of the media player to receive an analog audio signal output from the media player; and a remote control connector connected to the remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals with respect to the media player, wherein the media player provides an interface to the media player; an analog-to-digital converter that receives an analog audio signal output from the media player through the media player connector and generates digital audio data through an analog-to-digital conversion process; an audio device connector connected to the audio device through a specific transmission medium to provide an interface to the audio device; a system controller that packets the digital audio data supplied from the AD converter according to the transmission medium, and supplies the generated digital audio data packets to the audio device through the audio device connector so that the The audio device outputs the sound of the analog audio signal by digital-to-analog conversion, when manipulation control data generated by user manipulation in the audio device is supplied as data packets according to the transmission medium through the audio device connector The content of the user manipulation is analyzed from the manipulation control data, and a corresponding device control signal is generated for the media player to provide the device control signal to the media player through the media player connector. 2. The media connection device according to claim 1, Wherein, the transmission medium is a universal serial bus, and the audio device connector includes a universal serial bus connector, and the universal serial bus connector is connected to a universal serial bus of the audio device through the universal serial bus. a serial bus host interface to provide the generated digital audio data packet as a universal serial bus packet signal to the audio device, and when a device control signal for controlling the media player is received from the audio device providing the device control signal to the system controller. 3. A media connection system comprising a media player, an audio device and a media connection device, the media connection system comprising: A media player that reproduces digital files to output an analog audio signal to the audio jack and performs its own device control based on specific remote control data provided through the remote control jack; A media connection device, the media connection device comprising: a media player connector having an audio connector corresponding to the audio jack providing an interface to the media player, and a remote control connector corresponding to the remote control jack; an analog-to-digital converter that receives an analog audio signal through the audio connector and generates digital audio data through an analog-to-digital conversion process; an audio device connector connected to said audio device via a specific transmission medium to provide an interface; and a system controller that packetizes the digital audio data according to the transmission medium, and provides the generated digital audio packets to the audio device through the audio device connector, analyzing the content of manipulation from the manipulation control data when the manipulation control data of the audio device is packetized as data according to the transmission medium, and generating a corresponding device control signal with respect to the media player to pass through the remote control connector providing the device control signal to the media player; and an audio device that extracts digital audio data from a digital audio data packet provided by said media connection device, performs digital-to-analog conversion so that the sound of said analog audio signal is output, and generates a manipulation when a device manipulation is input from a user control data, and the manipulation control data is provided to the media connection device via the audio device connector as data packets according to the transmission medium. 4. A media connection device used as an intermediary between a media player and an audio device, said media connection device comprising: A media player connector connected to the audio jack of the media player to receive an analog audio signal output from the media player, connected to the remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals and providing an interface to said media player; an analog-to-digital converter that receives an analog audio signal output from the media player through the media player connector and generates digital audio data through an analog-to-digital conversion process; a system controller that groups digital audio data generated by the analog-to-digital converter according to a transmission medium, receives device control data from the audio device, and analyzes content manipulated by the device control data from the device to generate information about the corresponding device control signals of a media player, and providing said device control signals to said media player through said media player connector; and an audio device connector connected to the audio device through a specific transmission medium to supply digital audio data packets generated by the system controller to the audio device through the transmission medium, receiving data from the audio device according to the manipulating control data of data packets of the transmission medium to provide the manipulating control data to the system controller and to an interface of the audio device. 5. The media connection device according to claim 4, Wherein, the media player connector includes: an audio connector connected to an audio jack of the media player to receive an analog audio signal output from the media player; and A remote control connector connected to the remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals to the media player. 6. A media connection system comprising a media player, an audio device and a media connection device, the media connection system comprising: A media player that reproduces digital files to output an analog audio signal to the audio jack and performs its own device control based on specific remote control data provided through the remote control jack; A media connection device, the media connection device comprising: A media player connector connected to the audio jack of the media player to receive an analog audio signal output from the media player, connected to the remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals and providing an interface to said media player; an analog-to-digital converter that receives an analog audio signal output from the media player through the media player connector and generates a digital audio signal through an analog-to-digital conversion process; a system controller that groups digital audio data generated by the analog-to-digital converter according to a transmission medium, receives manipulation control data from the audio device, analyzes content manipulated by the device from the manipulation control data to generate information about the corresponding device control signals of a media player, and providing said device control signals to said media player via said media player connector; and an audio device connector connected to the audio device through a specific transmission medium to supply digital audio data packets generated by the system controller to the audio device through the transmission medium, receiving data from the audio device according to the manipulating control data of data packets of the transmission medium to provide the manipulating control data to the system controller and to an interface to the audio device; and an audio device that extracts digital audio data from a digital audio data packet provided by said media connection device, performs digital-to-analog conversion so that the sound of said analog audio signal is output, and generates a manipulation when a device manipulation is input from a user control data, and the manipulation control data is provided to the media connection device via the audio device connector as data packets according to the transmission medium. 7. The media connection system according to claim 6, Wherein, the media player connector of the media connection device includes: an audio connector connected to an audio jack of the media player to receive an analog audio signal output from the media player; and A remote control connector connected to the remote control jack of the media player to provide device control signals to the media player.

Images