JPH11163866A - Connection state transmitter, connection state display data generator, and connection state display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow all display devices in a network to hierarchically display a connection state. SOLUTION: A master node ID table generating circuit 3 generates information of a master node ID table denoting cross reference between ID of each node and ID of its master node based on information of a topology map 1. This information is given to a connection display data generating circuit 4, where connection display data for hierarchical display of a network are generated. Furthermore, an encode circuit 5 converts the connection display data into transmission data in compliance with the IEEE 1394 and sends the data. The connection display data are generated by a data format for hierarchical display and the transmission data are generated by a transmission data format of the IEEE 1394, then display devices on the network in compliance with the IEEE 1394 standards display hierarchically the network connection state based on the connection display data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection status transmission device, a connection status display data creation device, and a connection status display method suitable for a network conforming to a standard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a unified standard of a digital interface system for transmitting and receiving data between digital image devices, IEEE (The Inst.) Which is a low-cost peripheral interface suitable for multimedia use has been developed.
itute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, In
c.) 1394 is becoming widespread. IEEE 1394,
Multiple transfer of a plurality of channels is possible. In addition, IE
EE1394 is an isochronous system that guarantees that video and audio data and the like are transferred within a certain period of time.
s) Since it has a transfer function, it is a digital interface suitable for image transmission.

[0003] In IEEE1394, daisy chain and tree topologies can be constructed.
Up to 63 nodes can be connected to one bus.

[0004] Since the free connection status is permitted as described above, it is convenient to display the current connection status. The current connection status is managed by a bus manager provided at a predetermined single node in the bus.

[0005] However, the node having the function of the bus manager does not always have the display unit. For this reason, in order to display the connection status, it is necessary to transmit the connection information from the bus manager to the node having the display unit. However, there is no standard regarding the transmission format for transmitting the connection information.

On the other hand, the IEEE 1394 data transfer protocol has three layers (hereinafter, 139) of a physical layer and a link layer.
4 layers). Although these 1394 layers are standardized, an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS)
There is no standardized OS layer that defines the management of hardware and the provision of a user interface in a node using the above. Also, an API (Application Program) that standardizes an interface for an application to use a service such as an OS is used.
There is no standardized ramming interface.

Recently, in the field of information equipment and home electric appliances,
There is a movement to share these OS layers and APIs. In this case, if the data format of the connection information from the bus manager is specified, the API can be shared.

A method of creating image data indicating the display of the connection status from the connection information of the bus manager and transmitting the image data is also conceivable. However, in this case, the amount of data to be transmitted becomes enormous, and the burden on both the bus manager and the display increases.

In IEEE 1394, the maximum number of layers (hops) from the root when connecting in a tree shape is limited to 16. However, if the connection status is not displayed so that the number of hops can be easily grasped, the user may make a connection exceeding the permitted maximum number of hops. Further, even when a connection exceeding the maximum number of hops is made, it cannot be easily determined which device should be disconnected.

[0010]

As described above, conventionally, such a function is provided from a bus manager having topology information to an OS layer having a display function, or from a node having a bus manager having topology information. There is no standard for data that transmits the connection status indication to nodes that are not display devices, and the connection status cannot be displayed without increasing the load on both the connection information output side and the display side. There was a point.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and standardizes the transmission format of connection information so that the load on both the output side and the display side of the connection information is not increased. And a connection status transmission device that can display a common display on all displays by sharing an interface between the 1394 layer and the API or the OS layer. It is an object to provide a display data creation device and a connection status display method.

Further, the present invention provides a connection status transmitting device, a connection status display data creating device, and a connection status display method capable of displaying a display of a connection status in which the number of hops can be easily grasped. The purpose is to:

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection status transmitting apparatus, wherein all nodes are divided into hierarchies according to the number of hops from a root in a tree-like topology. A continuous ID is assigned to a node to which the node belongs, and a parent node is provided in a network in which an ID larger than that of the child node is assigned. The node IDs of the nodes are arranged in order of size for each of the hierarchies. The present invention is provided with a data output means for transmitting node IDs arranged in order as connection display data or for generating transmission data of a predetermined transmission data format from the connection display data and transmitting the transmission data to the network. The connection status display data creation device according to claim 2 is configured to output the connection display data or the connection status data from the connection status transmission device according to claim 1. An image in which transmission data is input and image data for displaying a connection status display hierarchically indicating the connection status of the network based on the input connection display data or the connection display data extracted from the transmission data is generated. It has data creation means,
In the connection status display method according to claim 8 of the present invention, in a tree-like topology, all nodes are divided into hierarchies according to the number of hops from the root, and continuous IDs are assigned to nodes belonging to each branch for each higher branch. In a network where a parent node is assigned a larger ID than a child node,
The node IDs of the nodes are arranged in the order of size for each of the layers, and the node IDs arranged in the order of the layers and in the order of the size are transmitted as connection display data, or the transmission data of a predetermined transmission data format is obtained from the connection display data. And transmitting the connection indication data or the transmission data transmitted through a predetermined transmission path, and the connection extracted from the input connection indication data or the transmission data. Generating image data for displaying a connection status display hierarchically indicating the connection status of the network based on the display data.

[0014] In the first aspect of the present invention, the data output means may arrange the node IDs arranged in the order of the size in each hierarchy and arrange them in the order of the hierarchy and in the order of the size to send out as connection display data, or The transmission data created from the connection display data is transmitted. For example, by displaying on the receiving side based on these data, the hierarchical connection status of the network can be grasped.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the connection display data or the transmission data created by the data output means of the first aspect is input to the image data creating means. The image data creation means extracts connection display data from the input transmission data. The image data creation means obtains image data for displaying a connection status display hierarchically indicating a network connection status from the connection display data. For example, by providing this image data to the display device, it is possible to grasp the hierarchical connection status of the network.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, on the transmitting side, the node IDs arranged in the order of size in each layer are arranged in the order of the hierarchy and in the order of the size and transmitted as connection display data. The transmission data created from the connection display data is transmitted. On the receiving side, image data for displaying a connection status display hierarchically indicating the network connection status is obtained from the connection display data. For example, by providing this image data to the display device, it is possible to grasp the hierarchical connection status of the network.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing one embodiment of a connection status transmitting device and a connection status display data generating device according to the present invention, respectively. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the IEEE 1394 protocol configuration.

In FIG. 3, the protocol configuration of the node 21 includes an IEEE 1394 interface 22, an API 23 and an OS layer 24. The IEEE 1394 interface 22 has three 1394 layers, a physical and link layer 25 and a transaction layer 26, and has a bus management unit 27.

The physical and link layer 25 is an interface between the physical layer and the link layer. In the physical layer, encoding and decoding of transmission data,
It performs bus arbitration processing and interface processing with the medium, and performs packet transmission and reception and cycle control in the link layer.

The transaction layer 26 defines a command transmission and reception protocol. The transaction layer 26 sends and receives transmission data to and from a not-shown transmission medium (IEEE 1394 bus) via the physical and link layers 25.

The transaction layer 26 transmits data to and from the OS layer 24 via the API 23. The API 23 is an interface for an application to use services such as an OS, and the OS layer 24 provides hardware management and a user interface. For example, when the OS layer 24 has a display unit, when the connection display data is shared, the OS layer 24
24 allows display based on the connection display data input via the API 23.

At one specific node on the IEEE 1394 bus (not shown),
A bus management unit 27 is provided in the interface 22.
The bus management unit 27 performs node control and bus management, and performs, for example, cycle master control, performance optimization control, power management, transmission speed management, configuration management, and the like. Communication between nodes is enabled by node control.

By the way, in IEEE 1394,
As described above, each node is connected in a daisy chain or tree shape. At power-on or the like, a bus reset occurs, and information (connection information) regarding the connection status of the nodes is initialized. At the time of node initialization, each node is a branch that is connected to a plurality of other nodes, a leaf that is connected to only one node, or is in a disconnected state. Information.

In IEEE 1394, when a bus reset occurs, first, the topology is identified. That is, after the bus reset, all the leaf nodes transmit a parent notification signal (parent_notify) indicating a notification from the child node to the parent node via a port to which the branch node is connected (hereinafter referred to as a parent port). The branch node that has received the parent notification signal transmits a child notification signal (child_notify) indicating a notification from the parent node to the child node via a port (hereinafter, referred to as a child port) that has received the signal. As a result, a parent-child relationship is determined between the two nodes.

Further, among the ports connected to other nodes, a branch node having a port that has not received either the parent notification signal or the child notification signal transmits the parent notification signal via this port. 2 connected between ports
Of the two nodes, the node that first receives the parent notification signal becomes the parent node, and the other node becomes the child node.

Thereafter, the same processing is repeated, and the parent node determined last in the bus becomes the root. After the topology is identified, the node ID is identified.

That is, each node is given a node ID with a lower number as the port number of a node of each layer is lower, and a node ID with a lower number as a node is connected lower in the hierarchy. Is added. Therefore, the node ID of the leaf node connected to the youngest port of each layer node including the root and located at the lowest layer from the root is 0. If the upper-level branch node having a node ID of 0 has only one child node, this branch node becomes node ID 1 and 2
When there are two or more child nodes, the node ID of the lowest leaf node connected to the next lowest port number is 1.

A node whose node ID is 0 first broadcasts that its own node ID is 0 to other nodes. Thereafter, the other node uses the number of self node ID packets received from the other node at the time of broadcasting as its own node ID. In the order described above, each node broadcasts its own node ID, and all nodes broadcast their own node IDs.

The self node ID from each node is transmitted by a self (self) ID packet. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the self ID packet.

As shown in FIG. 4, the self ID packet has "10" at the beginning,
Phy_ID, “0”, “L”, gap_cn
t, sp, del, c, pwr, p0, p1, p2,
i and m are arranged, and the logical inversion signal of the first quadlet is arranged in the next 32 bits. Of the self ID packet, p0, p1, and p2 are 3 bits by 2 bits.
The state of each port is shown, "11" indicates connection to a child node, "10" indicates connection to a parent node, and "01" indicates connection to another node. "00" indicates that the port does not exist. When there are four or more ports in each node, p3, p4,... Indicating the port status are transmitted in the next quadlet.

The bus management section 27 has a bus manager (not shown). The bus manager receives self ID packets transmitted from all nodes and
A topology map, which is a set of the first quadlets of the D packet, is created.

In FIG. 1, the connection information reading circuit 2
The information of the topology map 1 created by the bus manager in the bus management unit 27 is read. The connection information reading circuit 2 stores the read information in a parent node ID table creation circuit 3
Output to

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the parent node ID table creation circuit 3.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the method.

FIG. 5 shows six nodes # 0 to # 5 on the bus.
Indicates a state in which is connected. In addition, in the example of FIG. 5, the port number is indicated by the number following the symbol p. The nodes # 0 to # 5 are respectively assigned 0 to 5 as node IDs by the above-described node ID identification method. The node whose node ID is 5 is the root.

For each node, there can be only one parent node, but there can be multiple child nodes. For this reason, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 calculates the parent node ID for each node in order to be able to grasp the connection status. Parent node ID table creation circuit 3
First, the ID of the child node is checked for each node, and thereby the parent node of each node is calculated.

As described above, the data p0, p1, and p2 in the self ID packet are "11" when each port is connected to a child node. First, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 checks the data p0, p1, and p2 indicating the port status for all nodes on the network, and determines the number of child ports to which child nodes are connected (hereinafter referred to as the number of children). Count.

For example, the data p0 and p2 contained in the self ID packet output from the node # 3 are both "11", and the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 determines that the child number is 2 for the node # 3. Detect that there is. Table 1 below shows information indicating the number of children for each node counted by the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 in the example of FIG.

[0038] Next, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 checks the node having the child port, that is, the node having the child node, in ascending order of the node numbers, and calculates the node ID of the child node. If the parent node has only one child port, the ID of the child node is 1 from the ID of the parent node.
Is subtracted. In the example of FIG. 5, as is clear from Table 1, no child port exists in the nodes # 0 and # 1. The node having the first child port in ascending order of the node number is the node # 2 whose node ID is 2 from Table 1. Since the child number of the node # 2 is 1, the child node of this node has a node ID of 1
(= 2-1) node # 1.

Next, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 checks whether or not the next node # 3 has a child port. Node # 3 has two child ports as shown in Table 1. Therefore, for node # 3, at least one child node has node ID 3
2 is node # 2, which is one smaller than node # 2. The other child node of the node # 3 is a node having a node ID smaller than that of the node # 2 and not a child node of another node. Since the node # 1 is a child node of the node # 2, another child node of the node # 3 is a node # 0 having a node ID of 0.

According to the same procedure, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 checks the node IDs of the child nodes of each node in ascending order of the node numbers. In the example of FIG. 5, as shown in Table 1, since the number of children of node # 4 and node # 5 are both one, the node I of the child node of these nodes is one.
D is 3, 4 respectively.

Thus, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3
The node ID of the child node for each node is calculated. The parent node ID table creation circuit 3 utilizes the fact that one parent node is always connected to any node other than the root,
Conversely, the node ID relationship between each node and its parent node is determined from the information of the child nodes connected to each node.
Table 2 below shows the relationship between each node and its parent node.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a state in which eight nodes # 0 to # 8 are connected on the bus. Also in this example, the nodes # 0 to # 7 are respectively assigned 0 to 7 as node IDs by the above-described node ID identification method. The node whose node ID is 7 is the root.

Also in the case of this example, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 first checks the ID of the child node for each node, and thereby calculates the parent node of each node. That is, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 checks the data p0, p1, and p2 indicating the state of the port for all nodes on the network, and counts the number of children.

Table 3 below shows information indicating the number of children for each node counted by the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 in the example of FIG.

[0045] Next, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 checks the nodes having the child ports in ascending order of the node numbers, and calculates the node IDs of the child nodes. In the example of FIG. 5, as apparent from Table 3, there is no child port in the nodes # 0 and # 1. The next node # 2 has one child
Therefore, the child node for this node is node I
D is 1 (= 2-1) node # 1.

The next node # 3 has no child port. The next node # 4 has three child ports as shown in Table 3. For node # 4, at least one child node is two nodes # 3 whose node ID is one less than three. Node # 3
Are child nodes having node IDs smaller than that of node # 4 and not child nodes of other nodes. From Table 3, node # 2 and node # 0 are child nodes. It turns out that it is.

According to the same procedure, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 checks the node IDs of the child nodes of each node in ascending order of the node numbers. In the example of FIG. 6, as shown in Table 3, the child nodes of node # 6 are node # 5, and the child nodes of node # 7 are node # 6 and node # 4.

The parent node ID table creation circuit 3 obtains the relationship between each node and its parent node based on the calculated node ID of the child node for each node. Table 4 below shows the relationship between each node and its parent node in the case of FIG.

[0049] The parent node ID table creation circuit 3 outputs to the connection display data creation circuit 4 information indicating the relationship between the created node and the ID of the parent node.

The connection display data creation circuit 4 creates connection display data in a predetermined data format from the input information and outputs the connection display data to the encoding circuit 5. The encoding circuit 5 converts the input connection display data into a transmission data format and outputs it.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the connection display data creation circuit 4.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an encoding circuit 5 and an encoding circuit 5;
FIG. 7A shows a connection display data format.
(B) shows a transmission data format. Also,
FIG. 8 shows a state in which 24 nodes # 0 to # 23 are connected on the bus. Also, in the example of FIG. 8, the port number is indicated by the number following the symbol p. The nodes # 0 to # 23 are respectively assigned 0 to 23 as node IDs by the above-described node ID identification method. The node whose node ID is 23 is the root.

In the case of FIG. 8, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3 creates a parent node ID table shown in Table 5 below as indicating the correspondence between IDs of nodes and parent nodes.

[0053] The connection display data creation circuit 4 rearranges the node IDs based on the result of the parent node ID table. That is, the connection display data generation circuit 4 uses the rule that the root has the maximum ID value, the young ID number is given from the leaf, and the parent ID value is always larger than the child ID value. The node IDs are rearranged so that a hierarchical connection status can be displayed.

In the example of Table 5, the connection display data creation circuit 4
First arranges the root node ID 23 at the head, and then arranges the node IDs of the child nodes of this node # 23 in ascending order of the numbers. From Table 5, the child nodes of the node # 23 have the node IDs 3, 9, 10, and 22 of the node # 3.
# 9, # 10, and # 22, indicating the node ID 2
After 3, 3, 9, 10, 22 are arranged.

Next, nodes # 3, # 9, # 10, # 22
, The child nodes are examined in this order, and the node IDs are arranged in ascending order of the child node IDs. The child node of the node # 3 has node IDs 0, 1, and
Since the nodes are # 2, # 0, # 1, and # 2, the node IDs are arranged in this order. The child node of node # 9 is
From Table 5, since the node IDs are the nodes # 5 and # 8 having the node IDs 5 and 8, the node IDs 5 and 8 are arranged in this order. As shown in Table 5, the next node # 10 has no child nodes. The node IDs of the child nodes of the node # 22 are 13, 18, 20, and 21 from Table 5.

Up to the node # 22, the connection display data creation circuit 4 determines the node IDs 23, 3, 9, 10, 22,
Node IDs are arranged in the order of 0, 1, 2, 5, 8, 13, 18, 20, 21.

Thereafter, the connection display data generating circuit 4 is similarly operated.
Rearranges the node IDs. That is, next, the connection display data creation circuit 4 sets the nodes # 0, # 1, # 2, # 5, #
13, # 18, # 20, and # 21 in this order,
The child nodes are examined, and the node IDs of the examined child nodes are arranged in ascending order.

After all, the connection display data creation circuit 4 is configured as shown in Table 5
From the node IDs 23, 3, 9, 10, 22, 0, 1,
2,5,8,13,18,20,21,4,6,7,1
The node IDs are arranged in the order of 1, 12, 14, 17, 19, 15, and 16.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the connection display data creation circuit 4 arranges the rearranged node IDs in 8-bit data and outputs the arranged node IDs to the encoding circuit 5 as connection display data.

FIG. 7B shows the structure of an IEEE 1394 asynchronous packet. The asynchronous packet is configured by arranging a header, a header CRC, data, and a data CRC. Encoding circuit 5
Places the connection display data in the data portion of the IEEE 1394 asynchronous packet. Encoding circuit 5
Is arranged to transmit connection display data in asynchronous packets.

The transmission data from the encoding circuit 5 is transmitted to an IEEE 1394 bus (not shown) via a terminal 6. The connection display data creation circuit 4
Can be directly output via the terminal 7.

In FIG. 2, transmission data transmitted via the IEEE 1394 bus is supplied to a transmission data decoding circuit 11 via a terminal 9. The transmission data decoding circuit 11 depackets the inputted asynchronous packet and supplies the connection display data arranged in the data portion to the connection status image data creation circuit 12.

Note that connection display data may be input to the terminal 10. In this case, the connection display data from the terminal 10 is directly supplied to the connection status image data creation circuit 12.

The connection status image data creating circuit 12 creates image data indicating the network connection status from the input connection display data and supplies the image data to the display circuit 13.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the connection status image data creating circuit 12 in FIG. FIG. 9 shows FIG.
This corresponds to the connection display data shown in FIG.

For example, the connection status image data creation circuit 12
When the connection display data shown in FIG.
Image data for displaying the connection status display shown in FIG. 9 is created. The connection status image data creation circuit 12 uses the rule that the root has the maximum ID value, a young ID number is given from the leaf, and the parent ID value is always larger than the child ID value. Create the connection status display shown.

That is, the connection status image data creation circuit 12
The hierarchy is determined from the input connection display data. FIG.
The connection display data shown in (a) is 23, 3, 9, 10,
22,0,1,2,5,8,13,18,20,21,
4,6,7,11,12,14,17,19,15,1
The node values are arranged in the order of 6. According to the rules described above, a portion in the data string where node IDs smaller than the previous node ID are arranged is a layer break. That is, in the example of FIG. 7A, 23 → 3, 22 → 0, 21 →
There is a layer break at 4 and 19 → 15.

The node ID 23 indicates the route since it has the maximum ID value. Next node ID 3 to node ID 22
The four node IDs 3, 9, 10, and 22 are assigned to the nodes of the second hierarchy. Also, nine node IDs from the next node ID 0 to the node ID 21
0, 1, 2, 5, 8, 13, 18, 20, and 21 are assigned to nodes in the third hierarchy.

Thereafter, in the same manner, the connection status image data creation circuit 12 returns to the node # 0 indicated by the node IDs 0 to 23.
It is determined to which layer # through # 23 belong. FIG.
In the example of (a), the node # 23 is the first layer in the root, the nodes # 3, # 9, # 10, and # 22 are the second layer, and the nodes # 0, # 1, # 2, and # 5. , # 8, # 13, #
18, # 20 and # 21 are the third hierarchical level, nodes # 4 and #
6, # 7, # 11, # 12, # 14, # 17, and # 19 are the fourth hierarchical levels, and the nodes # 15 and # 16 are the fifth hierarchical levels.

The connection status image data generation circuit 12 generates a connection status display in which each node from the first level to the fifth level is arranged for each layer as shown in FIG. Next, the connection status image data creation circuit 12 determines which node of each layer is connected to the node of each layer, that is, which node is the parent node of each node.

From the rules described above, child nodes have a node ID that is lower than the parent node. The connection status image data creation circuit 12 determines that a node having a node ID larger than that of the node in the next higher layer is a parent node of the node in each layer.

For example, the node of the second hierarchy is node # 3,
# 9, # 10, and # 22. Node I in the third hierarchy
A node in which D is smaller than 3 is a child node of node # 3. Nodes in the third hierarchy are nodes # 0, # 1, # 2, #
5, # 8, # 13, # 18, # 20, # 21, and it can be seen that the child nodes of node # 3 are nodes # 0, # 1, # 2. The child node of node # 9 is node #
This is a third-tier node having a node ID greater than 3 and a node ID smaller than node # 9. That is,
The child nodes of the node # 9 are the nodes # 5 and # 8.

Similarly, the connection status image data creation circuit 12 checks the child nodes of all the nodes and displays a line indicating the parent-child relationship as shown in FIG. The connection status image data creating circuit 12 outputs image data for displaying the connection status table shown in FIG.

Further, device information may be input to the connection status image data creation circuit 12 from each node via the terminal 8. The device information includes a device name of each device and an icon (graphic information) indicating the device. In the IEEE1394 WG, IEEE1
The memory space of each device specified in 212, which can be read from other devices (Configuration RO
It has been considered to include a device name and device icon information in M), and information read from this memory space may be used as device information.

The connection status image data creation circuit 12 is connected to the terminal 8
When device information is input from the device, image data for displaying a device name and a device icon display provided by the device information can be created instead of a box display or the like indicating a node. ing.

The display circuit 13 displays an image based on the image data from the connection status image data generation circuit 12.

The encoding circuit 5 and the transmission data decoding circuit 11 can be realized by the physical and link layers 25 and the transaction layer 26.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 10 to 12 are explanatory diagrams showing the flow of data of connection display data and transmission data by arrows. FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of image display by the display circuit 13.

Now, the topology map 1, connection information readout circuit 2, parent node ID table creation circuit 3, connection display data creation circuit 4, connection status image data creation circuit 12, and display circuit 13 in FIGS. 1 and 2 are the same. It is assumed that it is provided on the device of the node. FIG. 10 shows an example of this case. The bus management unit 27 has a function provided by software, and the connection information reading circuit 2 in FIG.
The parent node ID table creation circuit 3 and the connection display data creation circuit 4 are configured by the bus management unit 27.

The node 21 receives a self ID packet from each node via the IEEE 1394 bus. The self ID packet is supplied to the bus management unit 27 via the physical and link layers 25 and the transaction layer 26. The bus management unit 27 forms the topology map 1 from the self ID packet.

Connection information reading circuit 2 by bus management unit 27
Reads the information of the topology map 1 and gives it to the parent node ID table creation circuit 3. The parent node ID table creation circuit 3 creates a parent node ID table indicating which node is the parent node for all nodes. The connection display data creation circuit 4 creates connection display data based on the parent node ID table, and outputs it from the terminal 7.

The connection display data is sent from the bus management unit 27 to the AP.
It is supplied to the OS layer 24 via I23. OS layer 24
Has a display unit 31, which has the function of the connection status image data creation circuit 12 in FIG.

The connection display data input via the terminal 10 is supplied to the connection status image data creation circuit 12. The connection status image data creation circuit 12 creates image data indicating a hierarchical display of the network connection status based on the connection display data.

Now, it is assumed that the connection display data corresponds to FIG. 7A. In this case, the connection status image data creating circuit 12 determines that the portion where the value of the node ID continuously increases belongs to the same hierarchy, and the portion where the value of the node ID discontinuously decreases, that is, the previous portion of the data string. A portion where node IDs smaller than the node ID are arranged is determined to be a layer break, and nodes are arranged for each layer. Next, the connection status image data creation circuit 12 determines that a node having a node ID larger than that node among the nodes in the next higher layer is the parent node of the node in each hierarchy, and Ask for a relationship. In this way, the connection status image data creation circuit 12 creates image data for displaying the connection status display of FIG. 9 showing the hierarchy and parent-child relationship of each node.

This image data is supplied to a display circuit 13 (not shown).
And a connection status display shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the screen. With this display, the user can easily grasp the current hierarchical connection status.

Further, device information may be transmitted from each node via the IEEE 1394 bus. The device information is supplied to the display unit 31 of the OS layer 24 via the physical and link layer 25, the transaction layer 26, and the API 23, and is supplied to the connection status image data creation circuit 12 included in the display unit 31.

In this case, the connection status image data creation circuit 12 uses the input device information to
In place of the display indicating each node, image data for displaying the name of the device and its icon is created.

FIG. 13 shows a display on the display screen of the display circuit 13 in this case. Note that the example in FIG. 13 does not correspond to FIG. In the example of FIG. 13, the route is a television receiver, and a notebook computer,
DV deck and set-top box are connected,
It shows that a DVD-ROM, a printer, a camcorder, an amplifier, and a CD changer are connected in the hierarchy, and a PC camera and a D-VHS video tape recorder are connected in the fourth hierarchy. The parent-child relationship of each node is indicated by a line connecting the icons of each node.

By this display, the user can easily grasp what device the connected node actually corresponds to and at what layer the node is connected.

In FIG. 10, the topology map 1, the connection information readout circuit 2, the parent node ID table creation circuit 3, the connection display data creation circuit 4, the connection status image data creation circuit 12, and the topology map 1 in FIGS. Although the display circuit 13 has been described as being provided on the device of the same node, for example, the topology map may be on another node, and the functions of these circuits may be assigned to other circuits other than the bus management unit 27. Or, it may be realized by software.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which the node 32 has no display unit. It is assumed that the function of each circuit in FIG. 1 can be realized by, for example, the bus management unit 27 or the like.
FIG. 12 does not have the function of each circuit in FIG. 1, but the display unit 31 that realizes the function of the connection status image data creation circuit 12 in FIG. .

Now, it is assumed that the networks are connected in the connection state shown in FIG. Bus management unit 27 in FIG.
Creates a parent node ID table corresponding to Table 5 based on the information of the topology map, and creates connection display data based on the parent node ID table. The connection display data is supplied to the transaction layer 26 and the physical and link layers 25, and is converted into a transmission data format corresponding to IEEE1394 by the encoding circuit 5 of FIG. In this case, the connection display data is arranged in the data portion in the asynchronous packet.

Transmission data from the physical and link layers 25 is transmitted to the node shown in FIG.
Transmitted to 33. The node 33 is provided with the transmission data decoding circuit 11 of FIG.
With this, connection display data is extracted from the transmission data.
This connection display data is transmitted to the OS layer 24 via the API 23.
Is supplied to the display unit 31.

The connection status image data generating circuit 12 of the display unit 31
Creates image data for displaying the connection status shown in FIG. 9 based on the connection display data. This image data is given to the display circuit 13, and the display shown in FIG. 9 is performed on the screen.

When the node 33 receives device information from another node via the IEEE 1394 bus, the connection status image data creating circuit 12 of the display unit 31 replaces the display of FIG. Create image data for performing display indicating the above.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the transmitting side creates a parent node ID table indicating the correspondence between the IDs of each node and its parent node based on the topology map.
The information in the parent node ID table is converted into connection display data of a predetermined data format in consideration of the hierarchical connection status display. Further, the connection display data is converted into a predetermined transmission data format and transmitted. On the receiving side, connection display data is obtained from transmission data or direct connection display data is obtained, and image data for displaying a hierarchical connection status display is created from the connection display data. Therefore, if there is a node having a function of creating and displaying image data from the connection display data in the network, even if each node is any device, and the transmission side and the reception side are the same node In this case, the hierarchical connection status can be displayed in the same format even when the display device is different.

Therefore, it is extremely effective when the OS layer and the API are shared.

Also, by displaying the hierarchical connection status,
The number of hops from the route can be easily grasped, and the user can be prevented from connecting the device beyond the limit of the number of hops, and the device connected beyond the limit of the number of hops can be prevented. It is easy to know.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a node having the function of the connection status image data creating circuit 12 reads out device information from another node. The device information may be read from the node and transmitted to the node having the function of the connection status image data creating circuit 12.

That is, each circuit in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be configured in any node, and may be configured in any position in the node. As described above, FIGS. 1 and 2
May be realized by software. For example, the connection status image data creation circuit 12 and the display circuit 13 may exist on different nodes. In addition, the connection display data is written in a readable / writable memory space of the device of the predetermined node, and the node having the connection status image data creating circuit 12 reads the connection display data stored in this memory space. Is also good.

[0101]

As described above, according to the present invention, the connection status is displayed without increasing the load on both the output side and the display side of the connection information by standardizing the transmission format of the connection information. And one that
By sharing the interface between the 394 layer and the API or the OS layer, there is an effect that a common display can be displayed on all the display devices. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to display a display of a connection status in which the number of hops can be easily understood.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a connection status transmitting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a connection status display data creation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining nodes connected to an IEEE 1394 standard network;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a self ID packet.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection example of a network.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection example of a network.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining formats of connection display data and transmission data.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a format of connection display data.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a connection status image data creation circuit 12 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection status display.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Topology map, 2 ... Connection information readout circuit, 3 ... Parent node ID table creation circuit, 4 ... Connection display data creation circuit,
5 ... encoding circuit, 11 ... transmission data decoding circuit, 12
... Connection status image data creation circuit, 13 ... Display circuit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. In a tree-like topology, all nodes are divided into hierarchies according to the number of hops from the root, and continuous IDs are assigned to nodes belonging to each branch for each higher branch, and the parent node is larger than the child node The node IDs are provided in a network to which IDs are assigned, and the node IDs of the nodes are arranged in order of size for each of the layers, and the node IDs arranged in order of hierarchy and in order of the size are transmitted as connection display data or the connection indication is displayed. A connection status transmitting apparatus comprising: data output means for generating transmission data in a predetermined transmission data format from data and transmitting the transmission data to the network. 2. The network according to claim 1, wherein the connection indication data or the transmission data is input from the connection status transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, and based on the input connection display data or the connection display data extracted from the transmission data. A connection status display data generating device, comprising image data generating means for generating image data for displaying a connection status display hierarchically indicating the connection status of the connection status. 3. The data output means calculates parent node ID information by calculating an ID correspondence between each node and its parent node based on data indicating a port state in a topology map in the network. Means, dividing each node into layers based on the parent node ID information, arranging node IDs of nodes in each layer in order of size,
2. The connection status transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: connection display data generating means for generating the connection display data by arranging the node IDs in a hierarchical order and in the size order. 4. The hierarchy determining means for determining a part where the value of a series of node IDs transmitted as the connection display data rises or falls discontinuously as a break of a hierarchy; Utilizing the fact that an ID larger than that of the child node is assigned, a parent-child relationship determining unit that determines a parent-child relationship based on the node ID of each of the adjacent two hierarchies, Connection status display generating means for generating image data for displaying a connection status display hierarchically indicating the network connection status based on the result and the determination result of the parent-child relationship determination means. The connection status display data creation device according to claim 2. 5. The connection display data is created in a connection display data format that can be used in a device having all display functions in the network, and the transmission data is a device having all display functions in the network. The connection status transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the connection status transmitting device can convert the connection status data into the connection display data. 6. The connection status display data creation device according to claim 2, wherein the image data creation means performs display based on device information on each device connected to the network. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection display data and the device information are stored in a memory space provided at one or a plurality of nodes in a network and supplied to the image data creating unit. 7. The connection status display data creating device according to 6. 8. In a tree topology, all nodes are divided into hierarchies according to the number of hops from the root, successive IDs are assigned to nodes belonging to each branch for each higher branch, and a parent node is larger than a child node. In a network to which an ID is assigned, a node I
D is arranged in order of size, and node IDs arranged in order of hierarchy and in order of size are sent out as connection display data, or transmission data of a predetermined transmission data format is created from the connection display data, And the connection display data or the transmission data transmitted via a predetermined transmission path is input, and the network is based on the input connection display data or the connection display data extracted from the transmission data. Generating image data for displaying a connection status display hierarchically indicating the connection status of the connection status.