JPH1175131A - Tuner selector, tuner and control method for the tuner selector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow all house appliances on a network to receive data from a tuner selector by providing one set of the tuner selector on the network and connecting various tuners to the tuner selector. SOLUTION: Antennas 2a-5a dealing with each reception broadcast form are connected respectively to a ground wave tuner 2, a BS tuner 3, a CS tuner 4 and an FM tuner 5 and the tuners are connected individually to the tuner selector 1. The tuner selector 1 recognizes the tuners 2-5 and selects any of the tuners 2-5 requested by the user and outputs the data received from any selected tuner among the tuners 2-5 to an in-home local area network 6. In the case of extending other tuners, they are similarly connected to the tuner selector 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a tuner for selecting various programs supplied wirelessly or by wire, a tuner selector for selecting the tuner, and a method for controlling these.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, a LAN (local area network) has been increasingly constructed even at home in order to obtain a more comfortable communication environment. Under these circumstances,
The idea of connecting home appliances via a network and operating them is emerging. Especially for AV equipment, since video and audio data are transmitted and stored as digital signals,
It is considered that the opportunity to transmit and receive audio data increases. The present applicant has already made some proposals on these control methods, and for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-6943.
As disclosed in No. 9, "Remote control method of home electric appliances", a method of preparing a program for controlling itself in home electric appliances in advance can be said to be a very effective means. In this case, the user can control the home electric appliance by loading and executing this program from the device that performs control.

In recent years, WWW browsers used for browsing the WWW (World Wide Web) of the Internet have become widespread, and the network browsing environment is being unified. Under this environment, a program described by a common control code flows, thereby mitigating a difference in environment of each device. Since address management is performed in response to an increase / decrease in the number of devices connected to the network, communication control regarding data transmission / reception to / from a newly connected device can be easily performed. For these reasons, the applicant's earlier proposal suggested that WW
By remotely controlling home appliances using a protocol common to the protocol used in the W browser, home appliances on the network can be more easily controlled.

Further, when AV devices are connected via a network, not only the advantages of the control system described above but also physical transmission means for connecting home appliances can be integrated into one. That is, as described above, by digitizing the image / sound data, it can be transmitted on the same network as the digital data used for the control system. As a result, conventionally, for example, TV and VT
When connecting R, in addition to an antenna cable, a video signal cable, and two audio signal cables, a control cable must be connected to each other to operate in conjunction with each other. This problem can be solved.

[0005]

Conventionally, TVs, VTRs, and the like have a tuner for each device because of the large number of connections and the difficulty in controlling between the devices. Video from the tuner held in the device
Recording and playback of audio signals.

However, in a network environment as described above, since the conventional disadvantages are solved, it is desirable to combine devices having the same function into one from the viewpoint of cost. In particular, even if a TV or VTR is individually owned by a tuner, in order for other home appliances to use it, it is necessary to search for which tuner is held in which device on the network, Also, physical management such as the necessity of connecting an antenna to each tuner is troublesome.

[0007] Considering only TV broadcasting, it is necessary to receive not only terrestrial broadcasting but also various kinds of broadcasting such as BS broadcasting and CS digital broadcasting, and a plurality of tuners corresponding to each type are used. This is not economical in terms of cost, and it is very troublesome to wire an antenna.

Accordingly, the present invention provides one tuner selector on a network and connects various tuners to this tuner selector, so that all home electric appliances on the network can be connected to the tuner selector. It is an object of the present invention to be able to receive such data.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As a means for achieving the above object, the present invention aims to provide a tuner selector, a tuner, and a method for controlling the tuner selector.

[0010] 1. A device having a plurality of tuners connected thereto, a selecting means for selecting one of the tuners and outputting the output data to a network, and a control program for controlling itself, and a device requesting loading of the control program A control program output means for outputting the control program via the network to the control program, and a control means for performing control according to the control request when a control request by the control program is received via the network, and connected via the network. When a control request or a control program load request for the tuner is received, the request is sent to the corresponding tuner, and the tuner control program sent from the tuner is received,
A tuner selector for transmitting a load request to a device that has transmitted the load request via a network.

2. 2. The tuner selector according to claim 1, wherein when a request from a device is received via a network, a connected tuner is searched and a list of tuners is transmitted to the requested device.

3. The tuner according to the above 1 or 2,
A tuner connected to the selector, for converting data such as video / audio received by the receiving means into a predetermined format and outputting the data to the tuner selector, the tuner having a control program for performing at least channel switching control; A transmission unit that transmits the control program to the tuner selector when a request is received; and a control unit that performs control in accordance with the control request when a control request by the control program is received from the tuner selector. A tuner characterized in that:

4. 3. A method for controlling a tuner selector according to claim 1, wherein the control program controls the tuner selector with respect to the tuner selector from a device connected to a network. Make a request, execute the received tuner selector control program, make a load request for the desired tuner control program, execute the received tuner control program, and receive the video / audio received by the tuner. And a tuner selector control method characterized by receiving data such as data.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, one tuner selector is prepared on a home network, and various tuners are connected to this tuner selector. Then, all home electric appliances on the network can receive data from the tuner selector.
Specifically, a control program for the tuner selector 1 itself is prepared in the tuner selector 1. This control program recognizes a connected tuner, selects a desired tuner, and controls the receiving channel to output received program data. Then, a program for requesting a control program for the tuner selector 1 is provided in a home electric appliance such as a TV operated by the user, and the user operates the control program from the tuner selector 1 in accordance with the request of the program. A desired program can be viewed by loading the home appliance to be executed and executing the control program in the home appliance. Then, by using the method of the present invention, it is not necessary for all home appliances in the home to individually have a tuner.

[0015] Even when a new broadcast is started,
Tuner that can receive the broadcast
By simply connecting to the selector, it is possible to view programs that can be received by all tuners including this tuner. Furthermore, even when a new home appliance is purchased, it is not necessary to newly perform an operation related to tuner connection such as antenna connection just by connecting to a network. And since the program held by each home appliance is used for controlling these tuners, when the user controls the home appliance using the tuner from other home appliances connected to the network, What is necessary is just to provide the execution means of the program in the household electric appliance directly controlled by the user, and it is possible to control even a newly purchased electric home appliance.

Furthermore, in the present invention, all tuners are connected to a tuner selector, and only the tuner selector is connected to the home network. It is convenient for the user to make a selection, and one tuner is physically used.
There is an effect that it can be managed in individual places.

Hereinafter, a tuner, a tuner selector, and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram for explaining a connection relationship between the tuner selector 1 and the tuners 2 to 5.

In FIG. 1, terrestrial tuners 2, BS tuners 3, CS tuners 4, and FM tuners 5 are connected to antennas 2a to 5a, respectively, corresponding to a reception broadcast mode. Connected individually. Then, the tuner selector 1 recognizes the connected tuners 2 to 5, selects the tuners 2 to 5 requested by the user, and selects the home L.
The received data from the selected tuners 2 to 5 is output to the AN 6. To add another tuner, the tuner is connected to the tuner selector 1 in the same manner.

FIG. 3 shows a control program for the tuner selector 1, and its operation will be described below. This control program recognizes the tuners 2 to 5 connected to the tuner selector 1, selects the desired tuners 2 to 5, controls the receiving channel, and controls to output the received program data. And stored in the tuner selector 1. Then, a tuner selector 1 is provided to a home electric appliance such as a TV operated by the user.
By loading the control program from the PC and executing the control program in the home appliance, a desired program can be viewed. In FIG.
Assuming that the control program is loaded on a home electric appliance such as a TV, an execution procedure by the home electric appliance is shown.

In FIG. 3, first, in order to transmit / receive data to / from the tuner selector 1, a line connection is opened (step 11), and a list of tuners 2 to 5 connected to the tuner selector 1 (step 11). Tuner)
(Step 12). When the tuner list is received (step 13 → yes), a desired tuner (for example, terrestrial tuner 2) is selected from the tuner list (step 14), and a request to load a control program of the selected terrestrial tuner 2 is issued. Perform (step 15).

When the control program for the terrestrial tuner 2 is received (step 16 → yes), the terrestrial tuner 2
Is executed (step 17), and channel selection and the like are performed as described later with reference to FIG. At this time, the control program of the tuner selector 1 waits for a request from the user (step 18). When the user receives a request to select a tuner other than the current terrestrial tuner 2 (for example, BS tuner 3) (step 19 → yes), the control program of the currently activated terrestrial tuner 2 is terminated (step 24). Newly selected BS tuner 3
Request to load the control program (step 1)
5). Then, the control program of the BS tuner 3 is received (step 26 → yes), the control program of the BS tuner 3 is executed (step 27), and a request from the user is waited for (step 18).

Waiting for a request from the user (step 1)
At the time of 8), when a request to end the tuner control program is received (step 18 → yes → step 19 → no → step 20 → yes), the tuner control program that is currently being executed is ended (step 21), Disconnect the line connection with the selector 1 (step 22). The control program of the tuner selector 1 can select a desired tuner from home electric appliances directly operated by the user by performing the above operations.

Next, the operation control of the tuner selector 1 when a request is received from the controlling home appliance via the network will be described with reference to FIG. When a request comes via the network (step 31 → yes), if the request is a request for the tuner (step 32 →
yes), and sends the request to the currently selected tuner (step 33). Then, when a request to load the control program of the tuner selector 1 comes (step 34 → yes), the control program of the tuner selector 1 is sent out (step 35). (Yes), a list of connected tuners is transmitted (step 37).

Further, when a tuner selection request is received (step 38 → yes), the tuner is connected to the selected tuner (step 39), and the control program of the selected tuner itself (the tuner selector 1). ) (Step 40), and sends the loaded tuner control program to the network (the requested home appliance).

FIG. 5 shows an example of a control program for the tuners 2 to 5, and its operation will be described below. The control program of the tuners 2 to 5 is transmitted from the tuners 2 to 5 to the TV.
And the like, which is loaded via the tuner selector 1 into a home electric appliance such as a home electric appliance to change channels. Here, a description will be given assuming that the home appliance has already been loaded.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, when there is a request from the user (step 51 → yes) and this is a channel change request (step 52 → yes).
s) Output a request to the tuner to change to the requested channel (step 53). Then, when an end declaration is received from the control program of the tuner selector 1 (step 51 → yes → step 52 → no → step 54 → yes), the processing ends.

Here, in the network in which the home electric appliances 1 to 5, 7, and 8 are connected to the home LAN 6 shown in FIG. 2, a procedure for controlling the tuners 2 to 5 and the tuner selector 1 from the TV 7 is described. Will be described below. In FIG. 1, the tuners 2 to 5 have a card shape or a board shape, and are connected by being inserted into a throttle of the tuner selector 1.

First, a flow chart of the procedure at the time of startup is shown in FIG. 6 and will be described below. The user operates the TV 7 to set the TV
As an input device for program data to be viewed in
When the selector 1 is selected, the TV 7 requests the tuner selector 1 to load the control program (step 61). The tuner selector 1 having received the load request transmits the control program to the TV 7 (Step 62).
The TV 7 receives and executes this control program (step 63). Note that the control program of the tuner selector 1 opens a line for transmitting and receiving AV data to the tuners 2 to 5 at startup.

First, the control program requests the tuner selector 1 for a list of the currently connected tuners 2 to 5 (step 64). The tuner selector 1 checks the connected tuners 2 to 5, creates a list of the tuners, and transmits the list to the TV 7 (step 65). TV7
Receives the tuner list (step 66), selects a desired tuner (here, terrestrial tuner 2) from the supplied list in the control program of tuner selector 1 (step 67), and selects The load request for the control program of the terrestrial tuner 2 is output to the tuner selector 1 (step 68).

Then, the tuner selector 1 having received the request makes a request for a control program to the terrestrial tuner 2 (step 69). The terrestrial tuner 2 outputs a control program to the tuner selector 1 (step 70), and the tuner selector 1 transmits the control program of the terrestrial tuner 2 to the TV 7 (step 71). TV7
Receives and executes the control program of the terrestrial tuner 2 (step 72).

Next, a procedure for selecting a tuner will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Here, up to step 72 in FIG.
The case where the BS tuner 3 is newly selected while the terrestrial tuner 2 is already selected in V7 will be described.

First, the user selects the BS tuner 3 (step 81). Here, if the BS tuner 3 has already been selected, the process ends. However, since the terrestrial tuner 2 has been selected, the control program of the terrestrial tuner 2 that is currently being executed ends (step 82). Then, a load request for the control program of the selected BS tuner 3 is transmitted to the tuner selector 1 (step 83).

The tuner selector 1 is a BS tuner 3
Is requested to load the control program (step 84). Upon receiving this request, the BS tuner 3 sends a control program to the tuner selector 1 (step 8).
5). The tuner selector transmits the control program of the BS tuner 3 to the TV 7 (Step 86). T
V7 receives and executes the control program of BS tuner 3 (step 87).

FIG. 8 shows a procedure relating to channel selection, which will be described below. Here, FIG.
Alternatively, it is assumed that a desired tuner has already been selected by the procedure described with reference to FIG.

First, the user operates the TV 7 to select a channel (step 91). The tuner control program already loaded on the TV 7 transmits a tuning request to the tuner selector 1 by adding the channel selected to the currently connected tuner (step 92).

The tuner selector 1 having received the request looks at the tuner information and transmits a tuning request to the tuner corresponding to the tuning request (step 93). The tuner that has received the tuning request changes the receiving channel of the program to the requested channel (step 94).

Finally, a case where the viewing of the program from the tuner is terminated will be described. Such end processing is performed by the TV
7 is a process performed when input is switched to reproduce and view a source other than the tuner, for example, the VTR 8, or when the TV 7 is turned off to stop viewing.

First, when the user switches the input source to a device other than the tuner or performs a process of turning off the power of the TV 7, the control program of the tuner selector 1 declares the end to the tuner, and executes the tuner control program. Terminate. Next, the line that has been opened with the tuner selector 1 is closed. Finally, tuner selector 1
End the control program. By performing the control as described above, a desired program can be viewed by controlling the tuner selector from a device connected to the network such as the TV 7.

[0039]

According to the tuner selector of the present invention, all the tuners are controlled as one.
There is no need to search for which tuner is held in which device on the network, and the tuner and channel can be easily selected. Also,
Physical wiring such as connecting an antenna to each tuner is also simplified.

The tuner of the present invention sends out a control program for controlling at least channel switching and is controlled by this control program, so that it can be easily controlled from home electric appliances connected to the network.

Further, according to the tuner selector control method of the present invention, the received tuner selector control program and the tuner control program are executed to receive video / audio data received by the tuner. Therefore, there is an effect that a tuner can be easily selected and a program can be selected, and even if a new tuner is added, it can be easily handled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a connection example of a tuner and a tuner selector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a connection example of a tuner and a tuner selector of the present invention to a network.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control program of a tuner selector.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control flow in a tuner selector.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a tuner control program.

FIG. 6 is a time chart illustrating an example of a flow at the time of activation.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an example of the flow of tuner selection.

FIG. 8 is a time chart illustrating an example of a flow of program selection.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Tuner selector 2 Terrestrial tuner 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a Antenna 3 BS tuner 4 CS tuner 5 FM tuner 6 Home LAN 7 TV (television) 8 VTR (video tape recorder)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A plurality of tuners, a selecting means for selecting one of the tuners and outputting the output data to a network, and a control program for controlling itself; Control program output means for outputting via the network to the device that has requested loading, and control means for performing control according to the control request when receiving a control request by the control program via the network, When a control request or a control program load request for the tuner connected via a network is received, the request is sent to the corresponding tuner, and the tuner control program sent from the tuner is received. Transmission to the device that transmitted the load request via the network. Tuner selector to. 2. When a request from a device is received via a network, a connected tuner is searched and a list of tuners is transmitted to the requested device. Tuner selector. 3. The tuner according to claim 1 or 2,
A tuner connected to the selector, for converting data such as video / audio received by the receiving means into a predetermined format and outputting the converted data to the tuner selector, the tuner having at least a control program for controlling channel switching; A transmission unit that transmits the control program to the tuner selector when a request is received; and a control unit that performs control according to the control request when a control request by the control program is received from the tuner selector. A tuner characterized in that: 4. A tuner selector control method for controlling a tuner selector according to claim 1 or 2 from a device connected to a network, wherein the tuner selector is controlled by the tuner selector. Make a load request for the control program to execute, execute the received tuner selector control program, make a load request for the desired tuner control program, execute the received tuner control program, and execute the received tuner control program. A method for controlling a tuner selector, characterized by receiving data such as received video / audio.