U.S. patent application number 11/710343 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for electronic equipment, method of receiving data, method of transmitting data, method of setting channel and method of grouping electronic equipment into channels.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Hajime Hata, Junji Kato, Makoto Sato.
Application Number | 20070174510 11/710343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15456351 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070174510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hata; Hajime ; et
al. |
July 26, 2007 |
Electronic equipment, method of receiving data, method of
transmitting data, method of setting channel and method of grouping
electronic equipment into channels
Abstract
It becomes possible for a user to set a transmission or
reception channel arbitrarily and easily. Each of equipment
connected to an IEEE 1394 bus may include a register provided
within a RAM 113 to thereby set a transmission or reception default
channel. If channels used in the transmission and the reception are
not set when the transmission is started, then default channel may
be used. When equipment is set to a channel setting mode by
operating an operation section 116, a control section 112 may
display a channel setting picture on a display section 115. In this
state, a user may select a set channel by operating an up-key 116a
and a down-key 116b of the operation section 116. Thereafter, when
a user operates a "YES" key 116c, the control section 112 may write
a selected channel in the above-mentioned register, and ends a
default channel setting operation. A user can set the transmission
or reception channel arbitrarily and easily.
Inventors: |
Hata; Hajime; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Kato; Junji; (Tokyo, JP) ; Sato;
Makoto; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,;KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
15456351 |
Appl. No.: |
11/710343 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10303337 |
Nov 25, 2002 |
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11710343 |
Feb 23, 2007 |
|
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09583810 |
May 30, 2000 |
6591313 |
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10303337 |
Nov 25, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
710/33 ;
348/E5.108; 386/E5.043; 386/E5.07; 386/E9.013 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 9/8042 20130101;
H04L 12/40065 20130101; H04L 12/64 20130101; H04N 21/43632
20130101; H04N 5/4401 20130101; H04N 5/782 20130101; H04N 21/426
20130101; H04N 5/775 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/033 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/00 20060101
G06F013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 27, 1999 |
JP |
P11-148598 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for receiving data of a predetermined channel,
comprising: memory means for storing a reception channel; operation
means for setting the reception channel in said memory means, where
said reception channel is set at any desired time and is any
desired reception channel; and reception means for receiving data
of said reception channel based on said reception channel set to
said memory means.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory means
comprises a register.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display
means for displaying a setting picture for setting said reception
channel in said memory means by said operation means.
4. An apparatus for receiving data of a predetermined channel,
comprising: memory means for storing a reception channel; reception
means for receiving a communication command; determination means
for determining whether said communication command received at said
reception means is a communication command concerning setting a
reception channel; setting means for setting said reception channel
in said memory means when said communication command received at
said reception means is the communication command concerning
setting a reception channel, where said reception channel is set at
any desired time and is any desired reception channel; and
reception means for receiving data of said reception channel based
on said reception channel set to said memory means.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said communication
command comprises a packet of a predetermined format and said
packet includes: a command discrimination element for indicating
that said communication command is a communication command
concerning the setting of a transmission channel, a transmission
and reception discrimination element for determining whether a set
channel is a reception channel or a transmission channel, and a
channel number discrimination element for indicating a set channel
number.
6. An apparatus for transmitting data of a predetermined channel,
comprising: memory means for storing a transmission channel;
operation means for setting a transmission channel in said memory
means, where said transmission channel is set at any desired time
and is any desired transmission channel; and transmission means for
transmitting data from said transmission channel based on said
memory means to which said transmission channel was set.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said memory means
comprises a register.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising display
means for displaying a setting picture for use in setting said
transmission channel to said memory means by said operation
means.
9. An apparatus for transmitting data of a predetermined channel,
comprising: memory means for storing a transmission channel;
reception means for receiving a communication command;
determination means for determining whether said communication
command received at said reception means is a communication command
concerning setting a transmission channel; setting means for
setting said transmission channel in said memory means when said
communication command is a communication command the setting the
transmission channel, where said transmission channel is set at any
desired time and is any desired transmission channel; and
transmission means for transmitting data form said transmission
channel based on said transmission channel set to said memory
means.
10. An apparatus connected to electronic equipment, said electronic
equipment comprising: issue means for issuing a communication
command used to set at least one of a reception channel and a
transmission channel of said electronic equipment, where the
reception channel is set at any desired time and is any desired
reception channel and where the transmission channel is set at any
desired time and is any desired transmission channel; and
transmission means for transmitting said communication command
issued by said issue means to said electronic equipment.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said issue means
includes generation means for generating a packet of a
predetermined format and said packet thus generated includes: a
command discrimination element for indicating that said
communication command is a communication command concerning the
setting of a channel, a transmission and reception discrimination
element for determining whether a set channel is a reception
channel or a transmission channel, and a channel number
discrimination element for indicating a set channel number.
12. A data reception method for receiving data of a predetermined
channel, comprising the steps of: setting a reception channel,
where the reception channel is set at any desired time and is any
desired reception channel; storing said reception channel in a
memory; and receiving data of said reception channel based on said
reception channel memorized said memory means.
13. The data reception method as claimed in claim 12, wherein step
of setting operation process includes displaying a set picture for
use in setting said reception channel and memorizing in said
memory.
14. A data reception method for receiving data of a predetermined
channel, comprising: a reception process for receiving a
communication command; a determination process for determining
whether said communication command received at said reception
process is a communication command concerning setting a reception
channel; a setting process for setting a reception channel in
memory when said communication command is the communication command
concerning setting the reception channel, where the reception
channel is set at any desired time and is any desired reception
channel; and a reception process for receiving data of said
reception channel based on said reception channel set to said
memory.
15. A data transmission method for transmitting data of a
predetermined channel, comprising: a transmission channel setting
operation for performing an operation to set a transmission
channel, where the transmission channel is set at any desired time
and is any desired transmission channel; a transmission channel
setting process for storing said transmission channel in a memory
based on said transmission channel setting operation; and a
transmission process for transmitting data from said transmission
channel based on said transmission channel stored in said
memory.
16. The data transmission method as claimed in claim 15, wherein
said transmission channel setting operation includes a display step
for displaying a set picture used for setting said transmission
channel to said memory.
17. A data transmission method for transmitting data of a
predetermined channel, comprising: a reception process for
receiving a communication command; a determination process for
determining whether said communication command received at said
reception process is a communication command concerning setting a
transmission channel; a setting process for setting a transmission
channel in said memory means when said communication command is the
communication command concerning setting the transmission channel,
where the transmission channel is set at any desired time and is
any desired transmission channel; and a transmission process for
transmitting data from said transmission channel based on said
transmission channel set to said memory means.
18. A channel setting method for setting a channel of an apparatus
connected to electronic equipment, comprising the steps of: an
issue process for issuing a communication command used to set at
least one of a reception channel and a transmission channel of the
electronic equipment, where the reception channel is set at any
desired time and is any desired reception channel and where the
transmission channel is set at any desired time and is any desired
transmission channel; and a transmission process for transmitting
said communication command issued at said issue process to said
electronic equipment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 10/303/337, filed on Nov. 25, 2002; which is a divisional of
U.S. application Ser. No. 09/583,810, filed on May 30, 2000 (now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,313); the disclosures of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to electronic equipment for use with
a communication system connected by a communication bus such as an
IEEE 1394 bus, for example. More particularly, this invention
relates to electronic equipment or the like including a register
for setting transmission and reception channels and an operation
means for setting channels to this register and in which the
transmission and reception channels can be set arbitrarily and
easily.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In a communication system connected by a communication bus
such as an IEEE 1394 bus, a channel and a band which are bus
resources may be maintained and a connection may be made by a
virtual plug according to the IEC 61883-1 standard, whereby a video
signal, an audio signal and the like can be transferred in the
isochronous mode.
[0006] However, since conventional electronic equipment comprising
the above-mentioned communication system are difficult to actively
discover equipment to be connected, any of electronic equipment may
use the same channel in advance. Even when there are bands to
spare, electronic equipment should .take the channel from other
electronic equipment or should wait for the available channel until
the channel is opened.
[0007] The IEC 61883-1 standard has a function (1) capable of
setting a channel available in transmission equipment and reception
equipment when the transmission is started, and is unable to set a
channel without searching equipment to be connected. Also, when the
transmission is started, if the channel is not set, then
transmission equipment is able to transmit data via a
previously-determined channel (default channel) described in a
specific transmission setting register. Although this 61883-1
standard has prepared a function (2) capable of designating another
channel by rewriting this default channel, this standard is unable
to set a channel of reception equipment.
[0008] Accordingly, when the above-mentioned function (1) is not in
use, if some method of operating a channel is not determined, then
it is not possible to execute a transmission using a plurality of
channels. This situation may apply for other cases in which a
signal to be transmitted is a signal of the same type and a signal
of other format as well. Further, when a plurality of channels are
not in use, even though different transmission rates are permitted
in a bus, data should be transmitted at the lowest transmission
rate in order for electronic equipment to match with performances
of all sorts of reception equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide
electronic equipment or the like in which a transmission channel
and a reception channel can be set arbitrarily and easily.
[0010] Electronic equipment according to this invention is
electronic equipment connected to a communication bus for receiving
data of a predetermined channel transmitted through the
communication bus. This electronic equipment comprises a memory
means for setting a reception channel and an operation means for
setting the reception channel to this memory means. In this case,
this electronic equipment may further include a display means for
displaying a setting picture to set the reception channel to this
memory means.
[0011] Also, electronic equipment according to this invention is
electronic equipment connected to a communication bus for receiving
data of a predetermined channel transmitted through the
communication bus. This electronic equipment comprises a memory
means for setting a reception channel, a reception means for
receiving a communication command transmitted through the
communication bus and a setting means for setting the reception
channel to the memory means if the communication command received
at this reception means is a communication command concerning the
setting of the reception channel.
[0012] Also, electronic equipment according to this invention is
electronic equipment connected to a communication bus for
transmitting data of a predetermined channel to the communication
bus. The electronic device comprises a memory means for setting a
transmission channel and an operation means for setting a
transmission channel to this memory means. In this case, this
electronic equipment may further include a display means for
displaying a setting picture to set the transmission channel to the
memory means.
[0013] Also, electronic equipment according to this invention is
electronic equipment connected to a communication bus for
transmitting data of a predetermined channel to the communication
bus. This electronic equipment comprises a memory means for setting
a transmission channel, a reception means for receiving a
communication command transmitted through the communication bus and
a setting means for setting the transmission channel to the memory
means if the communication command received at this reception means
is a communication command concerning the setting of the
transmission channel.
[0014] Also, a data reception method according to this invention is
a data reception method connected to a communication bus for
receiving data of a predetermined channel transmitted through the
communication bus. This data reception method comprises the steps
of a reception channel setting operation process for executing an
operation to set a reception channel, a reception channel setting
process for memorizing the reception channel in memory means based
on the operation and a reception process for receiving the data of
the reception channel transmitted, through the communication bus
based on the reception channel set to the memory means.
[0015] Also, a data reception method according to this invention is
a data reception method connected to a communication bus for
receiving data of a predetermined channel transmitted through the
communication bus. This data reception method comprises the steps
of a reception process for receiving a communication command
transmitted through the communication bus, a determination process
for determining whether or not the communication command received
at the reception process is a communication command concerning the
setting of a reception channel, a setting process for setting a
reception channel to a memory means if the communication command is
the communication command concerning the setting of the reception
channel and a reception process for receiving the data of the
reception channel transmitted through the communication bus based
on the reception channel set to the memory means.
[0016] Also, a data transmission method according to this invention
is a data transmission method connected to a communication bus for
transmitting data of a predetermined channel to the communication
bus. This data transmission method comprises the steps of a
transmission channel setting operation process for executing an
operation to set a transmission channel, a transmission channel
setting process for memorizing the transmission channel in a memory
means based on the above-mentioned operation and a transmission
process for transmitting data through the communication bus from
the transmission channel based on the transmission channel set to
the memory means.
[0017] Also, a data transmission method according to this invention
is a data transmission method connected to a communication bus for
transmitting data of a predetermined channel to the communication
bus. This data transmission method comprises the steps of a
reception process for receiving a communication command transmitted
through the communication bus, a determination process for
determining whether or not the communication command received at
the reception process is a communication command concerning the
setting of a transmission channel, a setting process for setting a
transmission channel to the memory means if the communication
command is the communication command concerning the setting of the
transmission channel and a transmission process for transmitting
data from the transmission channel through the communication bus
based on the transmission channel set to the memory means.
[0018] According to this invention, electronic equipment may
include a memory means for setting a reception channel and a
transmission channel. The reception channel and the transmission
channel may be set to this memory means by an operation means.
Alternatively, the reception channel and the transmission channel
may be set to this memory means in accordance with a received
communication command.
[0019] Also, electronic equipment according to this invention may
be electronic device connected to a communication bus. This
electronic equipment may comprise an issue means for issuing a
communication command to set either of or both of a reception
channel and a transmission channel of other electronic equipment
connected to a communication bus and a transmission means for
transmitting a communication command issued by this issue means
through a communication bus to other electronic equipment.
[0020] Also, a channel setting method according to this invention
is a channel setting method of setting a channel of electronic
equipment connected to other electronic equipment through a
communication bus. This channel setting method comprises the steps
of an issue process for issuing a communication command used to set
either of or both of a reception channel and a transmission channel
of other electronic equipment connected to the communication bus
and a transmission process for transmitting the communication
command issued at the issue process to the other electronic
equipment through the communication bus.
[0021] According to this invention, when either of or both of the
reception channel and the transmission channel of other electronic
equipment connected to the communication bus may be set, a
communication command therefor may be issued. This communication
command may be transmitted through the communication bus to other
electronic equipment. Thus, in other electronic equipment, the
reception channel and the transmission channel may be set to the
memory means for setting the reception channel and the transmission
channel, for example.
[0022] Also, electronic equipment according to this invention may
be electronic equipment connected to a communication bus. This
electronic equipment may comprise an information acquisition means
for acquiring information of all electronic equipment connected to
the communication bus, a group means for grouping all electronic
equipment into a plurality of channels based on the information
acquired by the information acquisition means and a display control
means for displaying the grouped states from this group means on a
display. In this case, this electronic equipment may further
include an operation means for performing a confirmation operation
of the grouped states from this group means and a channel setting
means for setting a transmission or reception channel used by all
electronic equipment based on the grouped states when the
confirmation operation is performed by this operation means.
[0023] A channel grouping method according to this invention is a
channel grouping method of grouping electronic equipment connected
to other electronic equipment through a communication bus into a
plurality of channels. This channel grouping method comprises the
steps of an information acquisition process for acquiring
information of a plurality of electronic equipment connected to the
communication bus, a grouping process for grouping a plurality of
electronic equipment into a plurality of channels based on
information acquired at the information acquisition process and a
display process for displaying the grouped states of the grouping
process on a display.
[0024] According to this invention, information (e.g. model
information and icon information) of all electronic equipment
connected to the communication bus may be acquired, and all
electronic equipment may be grouped in association with a
transmission rate and a corresponding speed. Then, this grouped
state may be displayed on the display, whereby a user can refer to
such grouped state when all electronic equipment may be grouped.
Also, when a user executes the confirmation operation for such
grouping, channels of all electronic equipment may be set
automatically based on such grouped state, and a user may become
possible to omit a channel setting operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a
communication system using an IEEE 1394 bus according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a main
portion of an IEEE 1394 node;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cycle structure of a data
transmission of equipment connected via the IEEE 1394;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fundamental format of an IEEE
1394 standard packet;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data format of an IEEE 1394
standard asynchronous packet;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a data format of an IEEE 1394
standard isochronous packet;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining a structure of a CSR architecture address space;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining positions, names and operations of principal CSRs;
[0033] FIG. 9 is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining a general ROM format;
[0034] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of a bus information
block, a root directory and a unit directory;
[0035] FIG. 11 is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining an arrangement of a PCR;
[0036] FIGS. 12A to 12D are diagrams showing arrangements of an
OMPR, an oPCR, an iMPR and an iPCR, respectively;
[0037] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship among a plug, a
plug control register and an isochronous channel;
[0038] FIG. 14 is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining the manner in which transmission and reception channels
are set by operating an operation section;
[0039] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a format of a communication
command;
[0040] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an asynchronous packet in which
a communication command is inserted into a data block;
[0041] FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams showing formats of a default
channel set command and a response; and
[0042] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the manner in
which equipment may be grouped to provide equipment groups.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0043] An embodiment according to this invention will hereinafter
be described with reference to the drawings.
[0044] FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows in block form a
communication system 100 in which a plurality of electronic
equipment serving as IEEE 1394 nodes may be connected to an IEEE
1394 bus. This communication system 100 may be arranged by
connecting DVCRs (digital video cassette recorders) 102, 103,
monitors 104, 105, a satellite broadcast receiver 106, a VTR (video
tape recorder) 107 and a PC (personal computer) 108 to an IEEE 1394
bus 101.
[0045] In general, the IEEE 1394 node 110 may comprise an IEEE 1394
communication section 111, a control section 112, a RAM
(random-access memory) 113, a ROM (read-only memory) 114, a display
section 115 and an operation section 116 as shown in FIG. 2. Under
control of the control section 112, the IEEE 1394 communication
section 111 may assemble data supplied from the control section 112
into packets, may transmit this IEEE 1394 packet through the bus
101, may extract data from the packet received from the bus 101,
and may output the extracted data to the control section 112.
[0046] The ROM 114 may include a configuration ROM, and this ROM
114 may store therein various kinds of programs, various kinds of
parameters or the like. The RAM 113 may function as an IEEE 1394
CSR (control and status registers), and may properly store therein
data, programs and the like required when the control section 112
may execute a variety of processing.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data transmission cycle
structure of equipment connected via the IEEE 1394. According to
the IEEE 1394, data may be divided into packets and may be
transmitted in a time-sharing manner based on a communication cycle
of a duration of 125.mus. This cycle may be created by a cycle
start signal supplied from a node (any one of the equipment shown
in FIG. 1) having a cycle master function.
[0048] As the data transfer mode within one communication cycle,
there may be available an isochronous data transfer mode for
transmitting an information signal such as a video signal and an
audio signal and an asynchronous data transfer mode for irregularly
transferring control signals such as an operation control command
for equipment and a connection control command among equipment, if
necessary. According to the IEEE 1394 standard, data may be
transferred at the unit of packets.
[0049] The isochronous packet may maintain a band (referred to as a
band although it is assumed to be a time unit) necessary for
transmission from the beginning of all cycles. Therefore, in the
isochronous transmission, the transmission of data within a
constant time may be guaranteed. However, when a transmission error
occurs, the isochronous transmission may not have a structure to
protect data from such transmission error so that data may be lost.
During a time period which may not be used in the isochronous
transmission of each cycle, a node, which has maintained the bus as
a result of arbitration, may transmit an asynchronous packet.
Although the asynchronous transmission may guarantee a reliable
transmission by using an acknowledge and a retry, a transmission
timing may not become constant.
[0050] In order for a predetermined node to execute the isochronous
transmission, such node should cope with the isochronous function.
Also, at least one of nodes which may cope with the isochronous
function should have the cycle master function. Further, at least
one of nodes connected to the IEEE 1394 bus 101 should have an
isochronous resource manager function.
[0051] In the asynchronous data transfer, a control signal in which
some equipment issues some request to other equipment will be
referred to as a command, and the side for transmitting this
command will be referred to as a controller. Then, the side for
receiving the command will be referred to as a target. The target
may return a control signal (response) indicative of the executed
result of the command to the controller, if necessary. Then, a
series of exchanges which may be started by the transmission of the
command and which may be ended by the return of the response will
be referred to as a command transaction.
[0052] The controller may be able to request a specific operation
to the target and to inquire the present state of the target by
using the command transaction. Also, equipment within the system
may be able to start and end the command transaction. That is, the
equipment within the system may become either the controller or the
target.
[0053] As described above, according to the IEEE 1394 standard,
data may be transferred at the unit of packets. FIG. 4 shows a data
format which may be used to implement the data communication
according to the IEEE 1394 standard, i.e. a fundamental format of
packet. That is, roughly classified, this packet may comprise a
header, a transaction code (tcode), a header CRC, user data and a
data CRC. The header CRC may be generated based on only the header.
The IEEE 1394 standard may prescribe that the node should not
effect an action on a header which may be rejected by the check of
the header CRC or should not answer such rejected header. Also,
according to the IEEE 1394 standard, the header should contain the
transaction code, and this transaction code may define types of
principal packets.
[0054] Also, according to the IEEE 1394 standard, as derivatives of
the packet shown in FIG. 4, there may be available an isochronous
packet and an asynchronous packet (see FIG. 3) which may be
discriminated by the transaction code.
[0055] FIG. 5 shows a data format of an asynchronous packet. In
this asynchronous packet, a header may comprise identification data
of destination node (destination-ID), a transaction label (tl), a
retry code (rt), a transaction code (tcode), priority information
(pri), identification data of source node (source-ID), information
inherent in packet type (destination-offset, rcode, reserved), data
inherent in packet type (quadlet-data, data-length, extended-tcode)
and a header CRC.
[0056] FIG. 6 shows a data format of an isochronous packet. In this
isochronous packet, a header may comprise a data length
(data-length), isochronous data format tag (tag), an isochronous
channel (channel), a transaction code (tcode), a synchronizing code
(sy) and a header CRC.
[0057] Control such as activation and stop of flow of data on the
IEEE 1394 bus 101 may be implemented based on the concepts of plugs
and plug control registers. As the plug control register, there may
be available the above-mentioned CSR. Isochronous data which may
flow from some equipment to other equipment may flow as isochronous
packets in one channel on the bus 101. Isochronous data may be
transmitted through an output plug of some equipment to the channel
on the bus 101, and such data may be received through an input plug
of other equipment.
[0058] Transmission and reception of data through the output plug
and the input plug may be controlled by an output plug control
register (OPCR) and an output master plug register (oMPR), and an
input plug control register (iPCR) and an input master plug
register (iMPR), respectively. While the master plug register may
control attributes inherent in equipment, the plug control register
may control attributes independent of equipment.
[0059] The IEEE 1394 may conform to a CSR (control & status
register) architecture having 64-bit address space prescribed by
the ISO/IEC 13213. FIG. 7 is a diagram to which reference will be
made in explaining a structure of a CSR architecture address space.
High-order 16 bits may be node ID which may indicate nodes on each
IEEE 1394, and remaining 48 bits may be used to designate the
address space given to each node. The high-order 16 bits may be
divided to provide 10 bits of a bus ID and 6 bits of a physical ID
(node ID in a narrow sense). Since the values in which all bits may
become 1 are used for a special purpose, it may be possible to
designate 1023 buses and 63 nodes.
[0060] A space prescribed by high-order 20 bits of 256 tera-byte
address space prescribed by low-order 48 bits may be divided to
provide an initial register space used in a 2048-byte CSR inherent
register and IEEE 1394 inherent register or the like, a private
space, an initial memory space and the like. If the space
prescribed by high-order 20 bits is the initial register space, the
space prescribed by low-order 28 bits may be used as an initial
unit space used in a configuration ROM (Configuration read-only
memory) and available in the use inherent in the node and a plug
control register (PCRs) and the like.
[0061] FIG. 8 is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining offset addresses, names and operations of main CSRs. The
offset in FIG. 8 may indicate the offset address from FFFFF0000000h
(numerals ended with h may represent a hexadecimal notation)
address from which the initial register space begins. A bandwidth
available register having offset 220h may indicate a bandwidth that
can be assigned to the isochronous communication wherein only a
value of a node which may be operating as the isochronous resource
manager may be made valid. That is, although each node may have the
CSR of FIG. 7, only the bandwidth available register of the
isochronous resource manager may be made valid. In other words,
only the isochronous resource manager may have the bandwidth
available register substantially. The bandwidth available register
may store therein a maximum value if the band is not assigned to
the isochronous communication. Such value may be decreased each
time the band is assigned to the isochronous communication.
[0062] In channel available register of offsets 224h to 228h,
respective bits may correspond to channel numbers from 0 to 63,
respectively. If the bit is 0, this means that such channel was
already assigned. Only the channel available register of a node
which may be operating as the isochronous resource manager may be
made valid.
[0063] Referring back to FIG. 7, a configuration ROM based on a
general ROM (general read-only memory) format may be located in the
addresses 400h to 800h within the initial register space. FIG. 9 is
a diagram to which reference will be made in explaining the general
ROM format. A node that may be the access unit on the IEEE 1394 can
have a plurality of units which are operated independently while
the nodes are using the address space commonly. Unit directories
(unit-directories) may indicate the version and position of the
software for this unit. Although positions of a bus information
block (bus-info-block) and a root directory (root-directory) are
fixed, positions of other blocks may be designated by offset
addresses.
[0064] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of the bus information
block, the root directory and the unit directory. A company-ID
within the bus information block may store therein an ID number
indicating a manufacturer of equipment. A Chip-ID may store therein
only one ID inherent in such equipment and which may not overlap
those of other equipment. Also, according to the IEC 61883
standard, of the unit specification ID (unit-spec-ID) of the unit
directory of equipment which satisfy the IEC 61883, 00h may be
written in the first octet, A0h may be written in the second octet,
and 2Dh may be written in the third octet, respectively. Further,
of the unit switch version (unit.sw.version), 01h may be written in
the first octet, and 1 may be written in the LSB (Least Significant
Bit) of the third octet.
[0065] In order to control the input and output of equipment
through an interface, the node may include a PCR, prescribed by the
IEC 61883, in the addresses 900h to 9FFh within the initial unit
space of FIG. 7. This may be an entity of a concept of plug in
order to form a signal line analogous to an analog interface from a
logical standpoint as mentioned above. FIG. 11 is a diagram to
which reference will be made in explaining an arrangement of a PCR.
The PCR may include an oPCR (output plug control register)
indicative of an output plug and an iPCR (input plug control
register) indicative of an input plug. Also, the PCR may include
OMPR (output master plug register) and iMPR (input master plug
register) registers indicative of output plug or input plug
information inherent in each equipment. Although each equipment
should not include a plurality of oMPRs and iMPRs, equipment can
include a plurality of oPCRs and iPCRs corresponding to individual
plugs in accordance with a capability thereof. The PCR shown in
FIG. 11 may include 31 oPCRs and 31 iPCRs, respectively. A flow of
isochronous data may be controlled by operating the registers
corresponding to these plugs.
[0066] FIGS. 12A to 12D are diagrams showing arrangements of the
OMPR, the OPCR, the iMPR and the iPCR, respectively. Specifically,
FIG. 12A shows the arrangement of the oMPR, FIG. 12B shows the
arrangement of the OPCR, FIG. 12C shows the arrangement of the
iMPR, and FIG. 12D shows the arrangement of the iPCR, respectively.
A 2-bit data rate capability on the MSB (most significant bit) side
of the OMPR and the iMPR may store therein a code indicative of the
maximum transmission rate of isochronous data that can be
transmitted from and received by that equipment. A broadcast
channel base of the OMPR may prescribe the channel number used in
the broadcast output. If transmission equipment does not set a
channel when the transmission is started, then a channel described
in this 6-bit "broadcast channel base" field may be used as a
transmission channel (default channel).
[0067] A 5-bit number of output plugs on the LSB side of the oMPR
may store therein the number of output plugs of that equipment,
i.e. a value indicative of the number of oPCRs. A 5-bit number of
input plugs on the LSB side of the iMPR may store therein the
number of input plugs of that equipment, i.e. a value indicative of
the number of iPCRs. A non-persistent extension field and a
persistent extension field may be areas defined for future
expansion.
[0068] A 6-bit area following the 2-bit data rate capability of the
iMPR may be a reserved field, and may be used to set a reception
channel (default channel) in this embodiment. If the reception
equipment does not set a channel when the transmission is started,
then a channel described in this 6-bit reserved area may be used as
the reception channel.
[0069] An on-line on the MSB of the OPCR and the iPCR may indicate
the state in which the plug is in use. That is, if the value of
such on-line is held at 1, then this means that its plug may be
ON-LINE. If it is held at 0, then this means that its plug may be
OFF-LINE. A value of a broadcast connection counter of the OPCR and
the iPCR may indicate the existence of the broadcast connection (1)
or the absence of the broadcast connection (0). A value of a
point-to-point connection counter having a 6-bit width of the OPCR
and the iPCR may indicate the number of point-to-point connections
of that plug.
[0070] A value of a channel number having a 6-bit width of the OPCR
and the iPCR may indicate the isochronous channel number to which
that plug may be connected. A value of a data rate having a 2-bit
width of the OPCR may indicate a real transmission rate of a packet
of isochronous data outputted from that plug. A code stored in an
overhead ID having a 4-bit width of the oPCR may indicate the
bandwidth of the overhead of the isochronous communication. A value
of a payload having a 10-bit width of the OPCR may indicate the
maximum value of data contained in the isochronous packet that can
be handled by that plug.
[0071] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship among the plug,
the plug control register and the isochronous channel. AV devices
27-1 to 27-3 may be connected by the IEEE 1394 bus. Isochronous
data whose channel was designated by an oPCR[1] of oPCR[0] to
oPCR[2] and whose transmission rate and whose number of OPCR may be
prescribed by the OMPR of the AV device 27-3 may be transmitted to
a channel #1 of the IEEE 1394 bus. Based on iPCR[0] whose input
channel #1 was designated of iPCR[0] and iPCR[1] whose transmission
rate and whose number of iPCR were prescribed by the iMPR of the AV
device 27-1, the AV device 27-1 may read the isochronous data from
the channel #1 of the IEEE 1394 bus. Similarly, the AV device 27-2
may transmit isochronous data to a channel #2 designated by the
oPCR[0], and the AV device 27-1 may read the isochronous data from
a channel #2 designated by the iPCR[1].
[0072] In this embodiment, the description of "broadcast channel
base" field of the output master plug register (oMPR) shown in FIG.
12A and the description of the 6-bit reserved field of the input
master plug register (iMPR) shown in FIG. 12C can be rewritten by a
user when the user may operate the operation section 116. That is,
when electronic equipment is set to a channel setting mode by a
user operating a mode change key (not shown) of the operation
section 116, the control section 112 may display a channel setting
picture on the display section 115 as shown in FIG. 14. In this
state, the user is able to select the set channels by depressing an
up-key 116a and a down-key 116b of the operation section 116.
Thereafter, when the user depresses a "YES" key 116c, the control
section 112 may write the channel thus selected in the "broadcast
channel base" field of the output master plug register (OMPR) and
the 6-bit reserved field of the input master plug register (iMPR)
within the RAM 113, and then may end the channel setting mode. When
the user depresses a "NO" key 116d instead of the "YES" key 116c,
the control section need not write the selected channel, and may
end the channel setting mode.
[0073] Also, while the same channel may be written in the
"broadcast channel base" field of the output master plug register
(OMPR) and the 6-bit reserved field of the input master plug
register (iMPR) and the same channel may be set as the transmission
and reception default channels in the above-mentioned setting
operation, when electronic equipment may be set to the channel
setting mode of any of the transmission channel and the reception
channel by operating the mode change key, by the similar setting
operation mentioned above, the selected channel may be written in
the "broadcast channel base" field of the output master plug
register (OMPR) and the 6-bit reserved field of the input master
plug register (iMPR), and the transmission or reception default
channel may be set.
[0074] Incidentally, while the setting picture may be displayed on
the display section 115 of each equipment in the above-mentioned
setting operation, this setting picture may be displayed on the
monitors 104, 105 connected to the bus 101 and may be used by a
user's setting operation.
[0075] As described above, according to this embodiment, each
equipment serving as the IEEE 1394 node connected to the IEEE 1394
bus 101 may include the register for setting the default channels
of the transmission channel and the reception channel and in which
the transmission channel and the reception channel may be
arbitrarily and easily set to this register by a user operating the
operation section 116.
[0076] Thus, the user can easily prepare several channels using the
same default channel in accordance with the performances of each
equipment. The performances of each equipment may be corresponding
formats of DVCR, MPEG, audio or the like and a speed at which data
can be transmitted and the like. Also, there may be made groups for
different purposes even though equipment have the same performance.
Of the groups thus made, when data may be sequentially transmitted
from a plurality of equipment, a plurality of equipment take the
same channel in that sequential order. Accordingly, equipment which
may receive this default channel is able to constantly receive data
from the new equipment which begins to transmit data. In this case,
when it is intended to prevent the new transmission equipment from
taking a channel until the recording of a signal is ended after
some reception equipment started recording the signal, it may be
possible to lock such channel.
[0077] Also, while the transmission channel and the reception
channel may be set by describing the channel in the "broadcast
channel base" field of the above-mentioned output master plug
register (OMPR) and the 6-bit reserved field of the input master
plug register (iMPR) in the above-mentioned embodiment, the
transmission channel and the reception channel can be set by
transmitting communication command from other equipment.
[0078] FIG. 15 shows a command format. A CTS (command transaction
set) may indicate the type of the command set. A CT/RC (command
type/response code) may indicate the type of requirement with
respect to the command, and may indicate the type of response with
respect to the response. An HA (header address) may indicate the
address with respect to the command, and may indicate the source
with respect to the response. Then, an OPC (operation code) and an
OPR (operand) may indicate the command and its parameter. Such
communication command may be inserted into the data block portion
of the asynchronous packet and then transferred as shown in FIG.
16.
[0079] The manner in which a channel is set to equipment B from
equipment A will be described. FIG. 17A shows an example of a set
command transmitted from the equipment A to the equipment B. This
set command may comprise an OPC, an OPR1, an OPR2 following the
CTS, the CT/RC, HA. The CTS may be set to "0h" (here, "h" may
represent the hexadecimal notation). This "0h" may mean that the
set command may be an AV/C (audio.multidot.video/control) command
set which may conform to the IEEE 1394 bus protocol. The CT/RC may
be set to "CONTROL". The HA may be set to "equipment B". The OPC
may be set to "default channel set". The OPR1 may be set to "input"
or "output". In this case, when the reception default channel is
set, it may be set to "input". When the transmission default
channel is set, it may be set to "output" . The OPR2 may be set to
"channel number" and may indicate the channel number to be set.
[0080] In the equipment B which received such set command, the
control section 112 may write the channel indicated by the OPR2 in
the "broadcast channel base" field of the output master plug
register (OMPR) or the 6-bit reserved field of the input master
plug register (iMPR) within the RAM 113. Thereafter, this equipment
B may transmit a response shown in FIG. 17B to the equipment A.
This response may comprise an OPC, an OPR1, an OPR2 following the
CTS, the CT/RC, HA. The CTS, the HA, the OPC, the OPR1, the OPR2
may have the same contents as those of the above-mentioned set
command. Only the HA may be set to "equipment A". In the equipment
A which received this response, the control section 112 can confirm
that the transmission or reception default channel may be set in
the equipment B as instructed.
[0081] While the transmission or reception default channel may be
set by transmitting the communication command from other equipment
as described above, the transmission or reception default channel
can be set by directly writing a channel in the "broadcast channel
base" field of the output master register (OMPR) or the 6-bit
reserved field of the input master plug register (iMPR) from other
equipment. In this case, there may be used a transaction comprising
a compare and swap command and a response prescribed in the IEEE
1394 specification, for example.
[0082] Since the transmission or reception default channel of each
equipment can be set by using a communication command from other
equipment or the like as described above, equipment which can
transmit a communication command or the like can set default
channels of other equipment in a centralized fashion.
[0083] While the setting of the reception default channel also is
made possible by using the 6-bit reserved field of the input master
plug register (iMPR) as described above, this reception default
channel may not be set independently but the transmission default
channel set in the "broadcast channel base" field of the output
master plug register (oMPR) may be used as the reception default
channel.
[0084] Although not shown, any equipment (e.g. personal computer)
connected to the IEEE 1394 bus may select an auto configuration of
an application software for example, may read Unique ID by reading
configuration ROMs of all equipment connected to the bus, may read
icon information of model, may discriminate a corresponding speed
by analyzing collected Self ID and may check a corresponding format
by using an AV/C command, whereby all target equipment may be
grouped to provide recommended groups which may be displayed on the
screen of the monitor. Then, further, after the user made the
confirmation operation, the above-mentioned set command, for
example, may be issued in response to the resultant groups, whereby
default channels of all equipment may be set automatically.
[0085] FIG. 18 shows an example of the manner in which groups may
be displayed. This display example may be an example in which
equipment 1 to 10 may be grouped to provide three groups of channel
61, channel 62, channel 63. The equipment 1 to 3 of the channel 61
may be audio-relating equipment, the equipment 4 to 6 of the
channel 62 may be video equipment which may handle the MPEG format,
and the equipment 7 to 9 of the channel 63 may be video equipment
which may handle the DVCR format. Also, the equipment 10 may be
equipment which may be used to convert the format between the DVCR
and the MPEG. The reception (input) may be set to the channel 63,
and the transmission (output) may be set to the channel 62.
[0086] In the channel 61, any of the equipment 1 to 3 may not
receive data. In the channel 62, the equipment 10 may transmit
data, and the equipment 6 may receive data. In the channel 63, the
equipment 8 may transmit data, and the equipment 7, 9, 10 may
receive data. In this case, the equipment 9 may be locked in order
to record a signal from the equipment 8 or the like. Also, the
equipment 10 may convert data of the IDVCR format of the channel 63
into data of the MPEG format and transmit the resultant data to the
channel 62.
[0087] While this invention is applied to the electronic equipment
used in the communication system connected via the IEEE 1394 bus as
described above, it is needless to say that this invention can be
similarly applied to electronic equipment used in a communication
system connected via other communication bus.
[0088] According to this invention, the electronic equipment may
include the register for setting the transmission or reception
default channel and the operation means for setting a channel to
the register. Therefore, a user can set the transmission or
reception channel arbitrarily and easily. Thus, equipment having
different performances can be grouped into other groups, and a
plurality of channels can be communicated simultaneously. Also,
since equipment is grouped into different groups in response to
different transmission rates, the band can be used effectively.
That is, if the equipment is not grouped into different groups in
the above-mentioned manner, then in order for electronic equipment
to match with performances of all sorts of reception equipment, it
is unavoidable that data should be transmitted at the lowest
transmission rate.
[0089] Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention
with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood
that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and
that various changes and modifications could be effected therein by
one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope
of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *