U.S. patent application number 11/847210 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for control apparatus and control method, network system, program for control apparatus, and information recording medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to PIONEER CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Masao Higuchi, Ryuichiro Morioka, Gaku Yamamura.
Application Number | 20080140223 11/847210 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36941209 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080140223 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Higuchi; Masao ; et
al. |
June 12, 2008 |
CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD, NETWORK SYSTEM, PROGRAM FOR
CONTROL APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM
Abstract
The present invention provides a control apparatus and the like
capable of performing exclusive control in a network without adding
a new configuration to an existing apparatus to be controlled and,
even in the case where the apparatus to be controlled or the like
drops from the network, capable of maintaining and continuing the
original exclusive control state. In a bus system S in which an
apparatus C to be controlled and a control apparatus CC are
exclusively associated with each other and the operation of one
apparatus C to be controlled is controlled by one control apparatus
CC, exclusive control information indicating correspondence between
operation of each of the apparatuses C to be controlled and a
control apparatus CC which controls the operation is stored
similarly in all of the control apparatuses CC with respect to each
of the apparatuses to be controlled. The operation in any of the
apparatuses C to be controlled is controlled by the control
apparatus CC on the basis of the stored exclusive control
information.
Inventors: |
Higuchi; Masao;
(Tsurugashima-shi, JP) ; Morioka; Ryuichiro;
(Tsurugashima-shi, JP) ; Yamamura; Gaku; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LADAS & PARRY
5670 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 2100
LOS ANGELES
CA
90036-5679
US
|
Assignee: |
PIONEER CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
36941209 |
Appl. No.: |
11/847210 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/40032 20130101;
G05B 19/042 20130101; H04L 12/40 20130101; G05B 2219/25061
20130101; G05B 2219/2642 20130101; G05B 2219/23027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/3 |
International
Class: |
G05B 15/02 20060101
G05B015/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2005 |
JP |
2005-055454 |
Mar 1, 2006 |
JP |
PCT/JP2006/303848 |
Claims
1. A network system including one or more apparatuses to be
controlled and one or more control apparatuses, at the time of
controlling operation of any of the apparatuses to be controlled
from any of the control apparatuses, the operation being controlled
in such a manner that the apparatus to be controlled whose
operation is controlled and the control apparatus for controlling
the operation are associated one-on-one while excluding the other
control apparatuses, the control apparatus included in the network
comprising an exclusive control information storing device which
stores, for each of the apparatuses to be controlled, exclusive
control information indicating correspondence between operation of
each of the apparatuses to be controlled and a control apparatus
which controls the operation, and the control apparatus being for
controlling the operation in any of the apparatuses to be
controlled on the basis of the stored exclusive control
information. wherein one of the control apparatuses included in the
network system is set as a central control unit, and the central
control unit comprises: a first updating device, when request
information indicative of a request to make the central control
unit control the operation of any of the apparatuses to be
controlled included in the network system is entered which updates
the exclusive control information stored in the central control
unit in correspondence with the apparatus to be controlled which is
shown in the request information to information indicating that the
central control unit exclusively controls the operation of the
apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the request
information; and a second updating device when the request
information is entered which updates the exclusive control
information stored in the control apparatuses other than the
central control unit in correspondence with the apparatus to be
controlled which is shown in the request information to information
indicating that the central control unit exclusively controls the
operation of the apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the
request information.
2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein all of the
exclusive control information corresponding to all of the
apparatuses to be controlled is stored in the exclusive control
information storing device included in each of the control
apparatuses.
3. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the control
apparatus comprises: a monitoring device which monitors a
connection state between the apparatus to be controlled and the
network system; and an updating device, when the connection state
changes, which updates each of the exclusive control information in
accordance with the changed connection state.
4. (canceled)
5. A network system according to claim 1, wherein the other control
apparatus comprises: a third updating device, when second request
information indicative of a request to make the other control
apparatus control the operation of any of the apparatuses to be
controlled included in the network system is entered, which updates
the exclusive control information stored in the central control
unit to information indicating that the other control apparatus
exclusively controls the operation of the apparatus to be
controlled indicated by the second request information in
correspondence with the apparatus to be controlled indicated by the
second request information; and a fourth updating device, when
update request information is entered from the central control
unit, which updates the exclusive control information stored in the
other control apparatus in correspondence with the apparatus to be
controlled which is indicated by the second request information to
information indicating that the other control apparatus exclusively
controls the operation of the apparatus to be controlled indicated
by the second request information on the basis of the update
request information, and the central control unit comprises an
output device, when the second request information is entered to
the other control apparatus and the exclusive control information
stored in the central control apparatus in correspondence with the
apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the second request
information is updated, which outputs the update request
information to the other control apparatus, the update request
information being for updating the exclusive control information
stored in the other control apparatus in correspondence with the
apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the second request
information to information indicating that the other control
apparatus exclusively controls the operation of the apparatus to be
controlled which is shown in the second request information.
6. The network system according to claim 1, wherein each of the
exclusive control information has identification information for
identifying the control apparatus storing the exclusive control
information from the other control apparatuses, and the system
further comprises a setting device which sets one of the control
apparatuses as the central control unit on the basis of the
identification information.
7. The network system according to claim 1, wherein when connection
between the central control unit and the network system is
interrupted, any of the other control apparatuses is set as a new
central control unit, and the new central control unit comprises
the first updating device and the second updating device.
8. The network system according to claim 6, wherein when a new
control apparatus is connected to the network system, the setting
device determines whether the newly connected control apparatus is
to become the central control unit or not on the basis of the
identification information stored in the newly connected control
apparatus and, when the newly connected control apparatus functions
as the central control unit, the new central control unit comprises
obtaining device which obtains the exclusive control information
from any of the other control apparatuses.
9. A central control method executed by a central control unit as
any one of control apparatuses included in a network system
including one or more apparatuses to be controlled and one or more
control apparatuses, at the time of controlling operation of any of
the apparatuses to be controlled from any of the control
apparatuses, the operation being controlled in such a manner that
the apparatus to be controlled whose operation is controlled and
the control apparatus for controlling the operation are associated
one-on-one while excluding the other control apparatuses, the
method comprising: a storing process of storing exclusive control
information indicating correspondence between operation of each of
the apparatuses to be controlled and a control apparatus which
controls the operation, into exclusive control information storing
device in each of the control apparatuses; and an operation control
process of controlling the operation in any of the apparatuses to
be controlled on the basis of the stored exclusive control
information. wherein the method comprises: a first updating
process, when request information indicative of a request to make
the central control unit control the operation of any of the
apparatuses to be controlled included in the network system is
entered of updating the exclusive control information stored in the
central control unit in correspondence with the apparatus to be
controlled which is shown in the request information to information
indicating that the central control unit exclusively controls the
operation of the apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the
request information; and a second updating process when the request
information is entered of updating the exclusive control
information stored in the control apparatuses other than the
central control unit in correspondence with the apparatus to be
controlled which is shown in the request information to information
indicating that the central control unit exclusively controls the
operation of the apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the
request information.
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. An information recording medium where a program for making a
computer function as a central control unit according to claim 1 is
recorded so that it can be read by the computer.
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of a
control apparatus and a control method, a network system, a program
for a control apparatus, and an information recording medium. More
particularly, the invention belongs to the technical field of a
control apparatus for controlling, for example, operation of an
apparatus to be controlled which is connected to a bus by
transmitting/receiving information via the serial bus, a network
system including the control apparatus, a control method in the
control apparatus, a program for the control apparatus, and an
information recording medium on which the program for the control
apparatus is recorded.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In recent years, products conformed with a standard for
easily connecting various external devices to a personal computer
by wire, for example, the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard, the
IEEE1394 (IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
1394-1995 standard for High Performance Serial Bus) standard are
widely generalized. In particular, products conformed with the
IEEE1394 standard are generalized as the standard suitable for
connecting sound/video devices or a sound/video device and a
personal computer by wire. The operation of information
reproduction, information recording, or the like in an apparatus to
be controlled such as the sound/video device can be also controlled
remotely using a control apparatus such as a personal computer
connected according to the IEEE1394 standard. As an association for
establishing and spreading a common standard to be adhered in the
control operation, so-called 1394TA (1394 Trade Association,
http://www.1394ta.org/) is established.
[0003] An AV/C (Audio Visual/Control) command is used as a control
information (command) transmitted/received between the apparatus to
be controlled and the control apparatus at the time of controlling
the operation of the apparatus to be controlled by the control
apparatus. The specification of the AV/C command is standardized by
the 1394TA. More concretely, as one of standards determining the
specifications of the AV/C command, "TA Document 2001012, AV/C
Digital Interface Command Set General Specification Version 4.1"
has been announced by the 1394TA. As a part related to the present
invention in the standard, in section 11.4, a reserve command is
defined as a command for exclusively controlling an apparatus to be
controlled only by one control apparatus while excluding the other
control apparatuses. According to the standard, specifically, when
an apparatus to be controlled to which the reserve command can be
applied receives the reserve command from a control apparatus
connected to a network conformed with IEEE1394, the apparatus to be
controlled recognizes apparatus identification information
(generally called GUID (Global Unique ID) which is identification
information unique to the control apparatus all over the world) of
a control apparatus which outputted the reserve command and, after
that, performs an operation written in a control command from the
control apparatus whose apparatus identification information was
recognized preferentially over operations written in control
commands from other control apparatuses.
[0004] One of the conventional techniques related to control of an
apparatus to be controlled using the reserve command (hereinafter,
called a first conventional technique) is an exclusive control
method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2001-53766.
[0005] There is also HAVi (Home Audio Video interoperability,
http://www.havi.org/) as a group for promoting interoperability and
standardization of connection of a plurality of information
processors using networks including the IEEE1394 standard.
[0006] One of the specifications standardized by HAVi is a HAVi
specification (full name is "HAVi specification Version 1.1"). In
section 3.5 (device control) of the specification, the concept of
"DCM (Device Control Modules)" is written as a method of
controlling the operation of an apparatus to be controlled from a
control apparatus in the network. In section 3.8 (resource
manager), a mechanism for exclusively controlling an apparatus to
be controlled in the HAVi specification is written.
[0007] Specifically, the DCM is a software module as the concept
unique to HAVi defining API (Application Program Interface), in
which apparatuses to be controlled which are connected to a network
are abstracted and operations of them are controlled by a control
apparatus in a remote place. In the DCM, as API for exclusively
controlling an apparatus to be controlled, the concepts of "reserve
(reserve of a control right indicative of exclusive control on the
apparatus to be controlled)" and "release (release of the control
right)" are defined. The DCM is provided only for a single control
apparatus selected from control apparatuses existing on a serial
bus conformed with the 1394 standard same as that of the apparatus
to be controlled.
[0008] The concept of the DCM also permits the case where exclusive
control information (to be specific, exclusive control information
showing correspondence between an apparatus to be controlled and a
control apparatus exclusively controlling the apparatus to be
controlled) is stored in an apparatus to be controlled. However,
when the apparatus to be controlled itself is an apparatus which is
not adapted to an operation based on the exclusive control
information, the corresponding exclusive control information is
stored in the control apparatus.
[0009] In the HAVi specification, only the concepts of "reserve"
and "release" are defined as API in the DCM concept for exclusive
control between a plurality of control apparatuses. A mode of
realizing the API itself in each of the control apparatus and the
apparatus to be controlled is not clearly specified. The
conventional technique of the exclusive control method conformed
with the HAVi specification will be called a second conventional
technique hereinafter.
[0010] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2003-116181 discloses another conventional technique (hereinafter,
called a third conventional technique) of controlling the operation
of an apparatus to be controlled from a remote control apparatus
connected to a network to which the apparatus to be controlled is
also connected.
[0011] In the third conventional technique, a single control server
existing in the network has the control rights to control the
operations of all of apparatuses to be controlled which are
connected in the network. Each of the control rights corresponding
to each of the apparatuses to be controlled is given to a control
request terminal or the like other than the control server. When a
plurality of control apparatuses capable of functioning as control
servers exist in the same network, first, a process of acquiring
the control right is performed among the control apparatuses,
thereby setting a single control server in the network. That is, in
the third conventional technique, the control rights on all of the
apparatuses to be controlled are collectively controlled by a
single control server existing in the network.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0012] The conventional techniques, however, have the following
problems.
[0013] The first conventional technique has a problem such that, as
long as an apparatus to be controlled as a control object does not
support the reserve command, the operation of the apparatus to be
controlled cannot be exclusively controlled. Most of apparatuses to
be controlled have the configuration for dealing the reserve
command. It is therefore generally difficult to spread the
exclusive control method using the reserve command.
[0014] In the second conventional technique, like the first
conventional technique, it is substantially unrealistic that the
apparatus to be controlled has the mechanism for the exclusive
control. Therefore, the second conventional technique has to employ
a method of controlling the apparatus to be controlled by storing
exclusive control information conformed with the DCM in the control
apparatus itself.
[0015] In this case, if only one set of a control apparatus and an
apparatus whose operation is controlled by the control apparatus
exists on the same serial bus, there is no problem. However, if a
plurality of control apparatuses exist on the same serial bus, the
following problem occurs. When a control apparatus having the
function of the DCM and in which the exclusive control information
is disconnected from the original serial bus, any one of the other
remaining control apparatuses on the serial bus to which the
apparatus to be controlled is also connected has to newly have the
function of the DCM. However, it is impossible to receive the
exclusive control information stored in the original control
apparatus (which is disconnected and does not exist on the serial
bus) from the control apparatus. Consequently, the exclusive
control information used by the other apparatuses to be controlled
and control apparatuses disappears from the network. To recover the
original relation between the apparatus to be controlled and the
control apparatus, a problem occurs such that transmission itself
of information in the network becomes unstable for long time (in
other words, transmission of information is interrupted).
[0016] Further, with respect to the third conventional technique,
like the second conventional technique, there is no problem when
only one set of a control apparatus and an apparatus to be
controlled exists on the same serial bus. However, if a plurality
of control apparatuses exist on the same serial bus and the control
server having the control right on the whole is disconnected from
the serial bus, the exclusive control information corresponding to
the apparatuses to be controlled disappears from the network
including the original serial bus. To recover it, like the second
conventional technique, a problem occurs such that transmission
itself of information in the network becomes unstable for long
time.
[0017] The present invention has been achieved in view of the
problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a control
apparatus, a network system including the control apparatus, a
control method in the control apparatus, a program for the control
apparatus, and an information recording medium on which the program
for the control apparatus is recorded, capable of performing
exclusive control by a control apparatus in a single network
without adding a new configuration to an existing apparatus to be
controlled and, even in the case where the apparatus to be
controlled or the control apparatus drops from the network, capable
of maintaining and continuing the original exclusive control
state.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0018] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 1 relates to a control apparatus included in a network system
including one or more apparatuses to be controlled and one or more
control apparatuses, at the time of controlling operation of any of
the apparatuses to be controlled from any of the control
apparatuses, the operation being controlled in such a manner that
the apparatus to be controlled whose operation is controlled and
the control apparatus for controlling the operation are associated
one-on-one while excluding the other control apparatuses,
[0019] wherein the control apparatus comprises exclusive control
information storing means for storing, for each of the apparatuses
to be controlled, exclusive control information indicating
correspondence between operation of each of the apparatuses to be
controlled and a control apparatus which controls the operation,
and
[0020] the operation in any of the apparatuses to be controlled is
controlled on the basis of the stored exclusive control
information.
[0021] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 4 relates to a network system including the control apparatus
according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
[0022] wherein one of the control apparatuses included in the
network system is set as a central control unit, and
[0023] the central control unit comprises:
[0024] first updating means, when request information indicative of
a request to make the central control unit control the operation of
any of the apparatuses to be controlled included in the network
system is entered, for updating the exclusive control information
stored in the central control unit in correspondence with the
apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the request
information to information indicating that the central control unit
exclusively controls the operation of the apparatus to be
controlled which is shown in the request information; and
[0025] second updating means, when the request information is
entered, for updating the exclusive control information stored in
the control apparatuses other than the central control unit in
correspondence with the apparatus to be controlled which is shown
in the request information to information indicating that the
central control unit exclusively controls the operation of the
apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the request
information.
[0026] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 9 relates to a control method executed by a control apparatus
included in a network system including one or more apparatuses to
be controlled and one or more control apparatuses, at the time of
controlling operation of any of the apparatuses to be controlled
from any of the control apparatuses, the operation being controlled
in such a manner that the apparatus to be controlled whose
operation is controlled and the control apparatus for controlling
the operation are associated one-on-one while excluding the other
control apparatuses,
[0027] the method comprising:
[0028] a storing process of storing exclusive control information
indicating correspondence between operation of each of the
apparatuses to be controlled and a control apparatus which controls
the operation, into exclusive control information storing means in
each of the control apparatuses; and
[0029] an operation control process of controlling the operation in
any of the apparatuses to be controlled on the basis of the stored
exclusive control information.
[0030] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 10 relates to a central control method executed by a central
control unit as any one of the control apparatuses included in the
network system including the control apparatus according to claim
9,
[0031] the method comprising:
[0032] a first updating process, when request information
indicative of a request to make the central control unit control
the operation of any of the apparatuses to be controlled included
in the network system is entered, of updating the exclusive control
information stored in the central control unit in correspondence
with the apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the request
information to information indicating that the central control unit
exclusively controls the operation of the apparatus to be
controlled which is shown in the request information; and
[0033] a second updating process, when the request information is
entered, of updating the exclusive control information stored in
the control apparatuses other than the central control unit in
correspondence with the apparatus to be controlled which is shown
in the request information to information indicating that the
central control unit exclusively controls the operation of the
apparatus to be controlled which is shown in the request
information.
[0034] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 11 relates to a program for a control apparatus, for making a
computer function as a control apparatus according to any one of
claims 1 to 3.
[0035] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 12 relates to a program for a central control unit, for
making a computer function as a central control unit according to
any one of claims 4 to 8.
[0036] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 13 relates to an information recording medium where the
program for a control apparatus according to claim 11 is recorded
so that it can be read by the computer.
[0037] In order to solve the problems, the invention according to
claim 14 relates to an information recording medium where the
program for a central control unit according to claim 12 is
recorded so that it can be read by the computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0038] FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing the configuration
of a bus system in a first embodiment. FIG. 1A is a block diagram
showing a general configuration of the bus system, and FIG. 1B is a
block diagram showing the configuration of a control apparatus of
the first embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processes in the case where a
new apparatus to be controlled is connected to a bus in the first
embodiment.
[0040] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the operation in the
bus system in the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing
the operation in the case where a control right acquisition request
is generated in a master control apparatus, and FIG. 3B is a
flowchart showing process of setting a control right in an
individual control unit.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operations performed in the
case where the control right acquisition request is generated in
the master control apparatus in the first embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing operations performed in the case
where the control right acquisition request is generated in a slave
control apparatus in the first embodiment.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing operations performed in the
case where the control right acquisition request is generated in
the slave control apparatus in the first embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing process of releasing the
control right in the individual control unit in the first
embodiment.
[0045] FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing the operation in a bus
system in a second embodiment. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the
operation in the case where a master control apparatus is
disconnected from the bus, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing
operation performed in the case where a master control apparatus is
newly connected to the bus.
[0046] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing operations performed in the
case where a master control apparatus is newly connected to the bus
in the second embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0047] C apparatus to be controlled [0048] CC control apparatus
[0049] B bus [0050] S bus system [0051] 1 operation unit [0052] 2
request receiving unit [0053] 3 managing unit [0054] 31 recognizing
unit [0055] 32 information managing unit [0056] 33 individual
control unit generating unit [0057] 34 exclusive control
information setting unit [0058] 4 individual control part [0059] 4A
exclusive control information [0060] 41 control command issuing
unit [0061] 42 exclusive control information holding unit [0062] 5
network communication unit [0063] MCC master control apparatus
[0064] SCC slave control apparatus
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0065] Best modes for carrying out the present invention will now
be described with reference to the drawings. In the following
embodiments, for example, the invention is applied to the case
where the above-described apparatus to be controlled and the
control apparatus are connected to a bus such as a serial bus
conformed with the IEEE1394 standard and the operation of the
apparatus to be controlled is controlled by the control apparatus
in a one-to-one corresponding manner.
(1) First Embodiment
[0066] A first embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B to FIG. 7.
[0067] FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams showing the configuration
of a bus system or the like in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a
flowchart showing processes executed in a control apparatus
according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams
showing the operation performed in the case where a request
operation of a request to control the operation of an apparatus to
be controlled connected to a bus is executed by a master control
apparatus to be described later, in each of control apparatuses in
the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processes
executed in the control apparatus in the case where the operation
shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is executed. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing
operation performed in the case where a request operation of a
request to control the operation of the apparatus to be controlled
connected to the bus by a slave control apparatus to be described
later, in each of the control apparatuses in the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the whole process in each of the
control apparatuses in the case where the operation shown in FIG. 5
is executed. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing process of releasing the
control right in an individual control part 4 which will be
described later.
[0068] The embodiments will be described with respect to the case
where a plurality of apparatuses to be controlled and a plurality
of control apparatuses are connected to one bus, and the operation
of one apparatus to be controlled is controlled only from one
control apparatus excluding the other control apparatuses will be
described. In addition, in the embodiment, the case where the
request operation is executed in each of the plurality of control
apparatuses will be described.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 1A, a bus system S according to the first
embodiment has a configuration in which a plurality of apparatuses
C to be controlled and a plurality of control apparatuses CC are
connected to a bus B, and the operation of one of the apparatuses
to be controlled is controlled by using one control apparatus. The
configuration of the apparatus C to be controlled is similar to
that of the apparatus to be controlled capable of exclusively
controlling the operation via the bus B in the conventional
technique.
[0070] More concretely, as the operation in the bus system S, for
example, a user using the bus system S performs a necessary
operation on the control apparatuses CC by using a remote
controller or the like, thereby transmitting an operation command
corresponding to the operation to an apparatus C to be controlled
via the bus B. The apparatus C to be controlled which receives the
operation command performs operation requested by the operation
command. Further more concretely, for example, when the user makes,
in a control apparatus, a recording programming setting of
programming start of a recording operation in an apparatus to be
controlled, the control apparatus starts at desired time and,
further, sends the operation command indicative of "power-on",
"recording start", or the like in the apparatus to be controlled
from the control apparatus to the apparatus to be controlled. In
response to the operation command, the recording operation in the
apparatus C to be controlled is started.
[0071] Examples of the apparatus to be controlled in the first
embodiment are an optical disk player/recorder, a digital video
tape player/recorder, and a hard disk recorder. Examples of the
control apparatus are a digital television apparatus, a digital
tuner, a personal computer and the like for controlling the
operation of the apparatuses to be controlled. The first embodiment
can be applied to the case where the control apparatus CC of the
first embodiment is included in, for example, an optical disk
player and the operation of another optical disk recorder (an
optical disk recorder as an apparatus to be controlled) is
controlled by using the optical disk player.
[0072] Next, a concrete configuration of the control apparatus CC
will be described with reference to FIG. 1B. FIG. 1B is a block
diagram showing a general configuration of the control apparatus CC
of the first embodiment. Each of the control apparatuses CC
included in the bus system S has the configuration shown in FIG.
1B.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 1B, the control apparatus CC of the first
embodiment has an operation unit 1 including an operation button,
the remote controller, and the like, a request receiving unit 2, a
managing unit 3, individual control units 4 of the same number as
that of the apparatuses C to be controlled, which are associated
with the apparatuses C to be controlled connected to the bus B in a
one-to-one correspondence manner, a network communication unit 5 as
monitoring means and output means directly connected to the bus B,
and an output unit 6 such as a display.
[0074] The managing unit 3 has a recognizing unit 31, an
information managing unit 32, an individual control unit generating
unit 33, and an exclusive control information setting unit 34 as
updating means and first to fourth updating means.
[0075] Further, each of the individual control units 4 has a
control command issuing unit 41 and an exclusive control
information holding unit 42 as exclusive control information
storing means. Each of the individual control units 4 is realized
by software using a physical memory, a logic circuit, and the like
preliminarily provided in the control apparatus CC in accordance
with the number of apparatuses C to be controlled which are
connected to the bus B. Therefore, the number of individual control
units 4 increases/decreases in accordance with the number of
apparatuses C to be controlled.
[0076] Next, the operation will be described.
[0077] In the case of controlling the operation of any of the
apparatuses C to be controlled by using the control apparatus CC of
the first embodiment, when an operation indicative of the control
is executed by the user on the operation unit 1, the request
receiving unit 2 receives an operation signal corresponding to the
executed operation.
[0078] In the first embodiment, the operation signal includes a
control right acquisition request signal indicative of a request to
acquire control right for controlling the operation of any of the
apparatuses C to be controlled by the control apparatus CC, and a
control command issue request signal indicative of a request to
issue a control command used at the time of actually controlling
the apparatus C to be controlled after acquisition of the control
right. The received control acquisition request signal is output to
the exclusive control information setting unit 34 in the managing
unit 3, and the control command issue request signal is output to
the control command issuing unit 41 in the individual control part
4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled as the
destination of the control command.
[0079] In the case where a response signal to each of the request
signals is transmitted from the managing unit 3 to which the
control acquisition request signal is output or the apparatus C to
be controlled as an object of the control command issue request
signal, the request receiving unit 2 notifies the user of the
content of the response signal by outputting the response signal or
the like to the output unit 6.
[0080] The details of the operation of the managing unit 3 to which
the control right acquisition request signal is input and the
details of the operation of the individual control part 4 to which
the control command issue request signal is input will be described
later.
[0081] On the other hand, the network communication unit 5 performs
operations of managing information transmitting/receiving process
via the bus B and a change in the configuration of the entire bus
system S including the bus B (for example, a change in the
configuration of the entire bus system S due to disconnection
between the apparatus C to be controlled or the control apparatus
CC and the bus B and new connection of the apparatus C to be
controlled or the control apparatus CC to the bus B) and notifying
the managing unit 3 or the like of whether a change occurs or
not.
[0082] Next, the operation of each of the individual control units
4 will be described.
[0083] As stated above, the individual control units 4 correspond
to the apparatuses C to be controlled included in the bus system S
in a one-to-one corresponding manner, and each individual control
part 4 is constructed in the control apparatus CC only when the
corresponding apparatus C to be controlled is connected to the bus
B. In the case where a plurality of apparatuses C to be controlled
of the same kind and the same model are connected to the bus B, the
individual control units 4 of only the same number as that of the
apparatuses C to be controlled which are connected are
provided.
[0084] The exclusive control information holding unit 42 in the
individual control part 4 stores exclusive control information of
the first embodiment. The exclusive control information includes:
information indicating whether a control right corresponding to the
apparatus C to be controlled, for controlling the operation of the
apparatus C to be controlled connected to the bus B (that is, the
apparatus C to be controlled corresponding to the individual
control part 4) is set or not; and apparatus identification
information (concretely, such as the GUID for identifying the
control apparatuses CC) for identifying the control apparatus CC to
which the control right is given in the case where the control
right is set for the corresponding apparatus C to be controlled (or
the user controlling the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled by using the control apparatus CC, a portable
information terminal device or a remote controller to which the
control right is given, or the like).
[0085] The exclusive control information itself is generated on the
basis of a request from the exclusive control information setting
unit 34, which will be described later, in the managing unit 3.
More concretely, the identification information may be
identification information expressing the user himself/herself, or
identification information for identifying the portable information
terminal device or the remote controller itself. Identification
information for identifying software (module) such as an
application program for realizing a so-called user interface on the
operation unit 1 or an application program for automatically
executing programmed-recording operation can be also used.
[0086] The control command issuing unit 41 issues a necessary
control command for the apparatus C to be controlled as an object
of an operation control via the network communication unit 5 in
response to a request for controlling a device to be controlled
from the user or the like via the operation unit 1. The control
command issuing unit 41 recognizes and processes information
notified from the apparatus C to be controlled as the object and
response information to the control command from the apparatus C to
be controlled and, as necessary, sends reply, notification, or the
like to the control requester such as the user.
[0087] When the control command issuing unit 41 of the first
embodiment receives a request for controlling the operation of the
corresponding apparatus C to be controlled via the operation unit
1, the control command issuing unit 41 refers to the exclusive
control information stored in the exclusive control information
holding unit 42 prior to issue of the necessary control command,
and recognizes the content of the setting of the control right on
the apparatus C to be controlled as the destination of the control
command. In the case where it is recognized as a result that no
control right is set on the apparatus C to be controlled, or in the
case where the control right is set and identification information
identifying the user or the like making the request for controlling
the operation of the apparatus C to be controlled is described in
the exclusive control information, the control command issuing unit
41 issues a control command necessary for controlling the operation
of the apparatus C to be controlled as the object for the apparatus
C to be controlled.
[0088] On the other hand, in the case where the control right is
set and identification information identifying another user or
another control apparatus CC is included in the exclusive control
information referred to, the operation request of the user or the
like for controlling the apparatus C to be controlled by the
control apparatus CC including the control command issuing unit 41
whose operation is being described is rejected. The information
indicative of the rejection is output from the output unit 6 to the
user or the like, and the control command issuing unit 41 does not
issue a control command.
[0089] The operation of the managing unit 3 will now be
described.
[0090] First, on reception of a notification indicating that the
apparatus C to be controlled is newly added to the bus B from the
network communication unit 5, the recognizing unit 31 in the
managing unit 3 performs communication with the newly connected
apparatus C to be controlled via the network communication unit 5
to obtain various information from the apparatus C to be
controlled, thereby specifying the kind and the details of the
newly connected apparatus C to be controlled. The obtained
information is stored in the form of a database in the information
managing unit 32.
[0091] On the other hand, when disconnection between any of the
apparatuses C to be controlled and the bus B (that is,
disconnection of the apparatus C to be controlled from the bus
system S) is recognized via the network communication unit 5, the
content such as corresponding information stored in the information
managing unit 32 is updated.
[0092] Next, the individual control unit generating unit 33 in the
managing unit 3 performs operation according to the state of
connection/disconnection of the apparatus C to be controlled
recognized by the recognizing unit 31 to the bus B. In the case
where a new apparatus C to be controlled is additionally connected
to the bus B, the individual control unit generating unit 33
generates an individual control part 4 corresponding to the newly
connected apparatus C to be controlled. On the other hand, when the
apparatus C to be controlled which has been connected to the bus B
drops from the bus B, the corresponding individual control part 4
which has been operated until then is eliminated from the control
apparatus CC.
[0093] The above operations in the managing unit 3 will be
generally described by using the flowchart of FIG. 2 with respect
to the case where a new apparatus C to be controlled is
additionally connected to the bus B.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 2, the recognizing unit 31 which receives
the notification indicating that a new apparatus C to be controlled
is added performs communication with the apparatus C to be
controlled to obtain various information (step S1), specifies the
kind and the details of the newly connected apparatus C to be
connected on the basis of the obtained information, and stores the
information in the form of a database in the information managing
unit 32 (step S2).
[0095] Next, on the basis of the information newly stored in the
information managing unit 32, an individual control part 4
corresponding to the newly connected apparatus C to be controlled
is generated (step S3). In the case of FIG. 1 where a plurality of
control apparatuses CC exist, the process of generating a new
individual control part 4 shown in FIG. 2 may be performed in each
of the control apparatuses CC. However, in consideration of
reducing the information transmission amount on the bus B, the
processes from acquisition of the information indicative of the
newly connected apparatus C to be connected (see step S1 in FIG. 2)
to determination of the kind and the like (see step S2 in FIG. 2)
are executed only by one control apparatus CC (hereinafter, the
representative control apparatus CC will be called a master control
apparatus MCC) in the plurality of control apparatuses CC. The
control apparatuses CC other than the master control apparatus MCC
(hereinafter, the control apparatuses CC other than the master
control apparatus MCC will be called slave control apparatuses SCC)
may receive the information indicative of the specified kind and
the like provided from the master control apparatus MCC and perform
only the process of generating the individual control part 4 in the
slave control apparatuses SCC. A method of determining the master
control apparatus MCC out of the plurality of control apparatuses
CC will be described later.
[0096] On the basis of the control right acquisition request signal
sent via the request receiving unit 2 from the user or the like,
the exclusive control information setting unit 34 sends a request
to set a control right corresponding to the apparatus C to be
controlled to the individual control part 4 corresponding to the
apparatus C to be controlled indicated by the request signal.
[0097] The operation of the exclusive control information setting
unit 34 in the first case where the control right acquisition
request signal is executed by the operation unit 1 in the master
control apparatus MCC and the master control apparatus MCC itself
acquires the control right and that in the second case where the
control right acquisition request signal is executed by the
operation unit 1 in the slave control apparatus SCC and the slave
control apparatus SCC acquires the control right are different from
each other. Consequently, each of the cases will be described with
reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B to FIG. 7.
(I-i) Embodiment in the Case where Master Control Apparatus MCC
Acquires Control Right
[0098] First, the first case where an operation for the control
right acquisition request is executed in the operation unit 1 in
the master control apparatus MCC will be described with reference
to FIG. 3A.
[0099] As shown in FIG. 3A, the master control apparatus MCC and
the slave control apparatus SCC are connected to the same bus B,
and the operation of the apparatus C to be controlled which is
connected to the bus B is controlled by the master control
apparatus MCC. In this case, when an operation of acquiring the
control right on the operation of the apparatus C to be controlled
is performed by using the operation unit 1 in the master control
apparatus MCC from the user or the like (step S5), the exclusive
control information setting unit 34 in the managing unit 3 which
receives the corresponding control right acquisition request signal
makes the individual control part 4 included in the same master
control apparatus MCC (the individual control part 4 preliminarily
generated in the master control apparatus MCC in correspondence
with the apparatus C to be controlled as a control object of the
operation) set the requested control right (step S6).
[0100] The control right setting process in the step S6 will be
described more concretely with reference to FIG. 3B.
[0101] As the control right setting process, first, by referring to
the exclusive control information held in the exclusive control
information holding unit 42 in the individual control part 4 to
which the setting is instructed, a check is made to see whether the
control right to control the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled is already set by a control apparatus CC other than the
master control apparatus MCC or not with respect to the apparatus C
to be controlled whose operation is presently requested to be
controlled (step S61). If the control right has been already set by
another control apparatus CC (YES in step S61), a reply indicative
of the fact is sent to the exclusive control information setting
unit 34, and the exclusive control information setting unit 34
which receives the reply notifies the user of the fact via the
output unit 6 (step S64).
[0102] On the other hand, when it is determined in step S61 that
the control right has not been set yet in the apparatus C to be
controlled as an object of operation control by another control
apparatus CC (NO in step S61), the exclusive control information
corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled is set in the
corresponding individual control part 4 so as to include apparatus
identification information indicative of the master control
apparatus MCC in which the operation of the control right setting
request is performed (apparatus identification information such as
the GUID) as the control apparatus CC for acquiring the control
right on the apparatus C to be controlled as an object (step S62).
Further, the exclusive control information is rewritten to
information indicating that the control right of the corresponding
apparatus C to be controlled is already set (step S63). After that,
the control right setting process in the individual control part 4
is finished.
[0103] When it is set in the individual control part 4
corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled in the master
apparatus MCC that the master control apparatus MCC has the control
right of the target apparatus C to be controlled (step S6), a
control right setting request is made via the bus B, to request
rewriting of the exclusive control information stored in the
individual control part 4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be
controlled in the slave control apparatus SCC with information
indicating that the control right of the target apparatus C to be
controlled has been acquired by the master control apparatus MCC
(step S7).
[0104] The exclusive control information setting unit 34 in the
managing unit 3 of the slave control apparatus SCC which receives
the control right setting request from the master control apparatus
MCC makes the individual control part 4 included in the slave
control apparatus SCC (that is, the individual control part 4
generated in correspondence with the apparatus C to be controlled
whose control right is acquired by the master control apparatus
MCC) set the requested control right (step S8).
[0105] The control right setting process executed in the slave
control apparatus SCC in the step S8 is basically similar to that
described with reference to FIG. 3B.
[0106] Specifically, as the control right setting process in the
slave control apparatus SCC, first, the exclusive control
information setting unit 34 refers to the exclusive control
information held in the exclusive control information holding unit
42 in the individual control part 4 corresponding to the apparatus
C to be controlled whose control right is acquired by the master
control apparatus MCC, thereby determining whether or not the
control right to control the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled, whose operation control is being presently requested,
is set from a control apparatus CC other than the master control
apparatus MCC (step S61). In the case where the control right from
a control apparatus CC other than the master control apparatus MCC
has been already set for the apparatus C to be controlled as an
object of the operation control in the individual control part 4 in
the slave control apparatus SCC for some reason (YES in step S61,
in this case, the exclusive control information held in the
individual control part 4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be
controlled in the master control apparatus MCC and the exclusive
control information held in the individual control part 4
corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled in the slave
control apparatus SCC are different from each other), the fact is
notified to the original master control apparatus MCC via the bus B
(step S64). After that, it is preferable, for example, to rewrite
the exclusive control information in association with transmission
of the control information requesting to rewrite the exclusive
control information from the master control apparatus MCC which has
received the notification so that the exclusive control information
matches the corresponding exclusive control information in the
master control apparatus MCC.
[0107] On the other hand, when it is determined in step S61 that
the control right has not been set yet in the apparatus C to be
controlled as an object of operation control by another control
apparatus CC (NO in step S61), the exclusive control information
corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled is set in the
individual control part 4 so as to include apparatus identification
information indicative of the master control apparatus MCC which
has acquired the control right as the control apparatus CC for
acquiring the control right of the target apparatus C to be
controlled (step S62). Further, the exclusive control information
is rewritten to information indicating that the control right on
the corresponding apparatus C to be controlled is already set (step
S63). After that, the control right setting process in the
individual control part 4 is finished.
[0108] Next, processes for acquiring the control right on the
apparatus C to be controlled in the master control apparatus MCC
described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B will be mentioned in
time sequence by using FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing
processes in time sequence from top to bottom since the operation
of requesting that the master control apparatus MCC acquires the
control right on the apparatus C to be controlled is performed in
the master control apparatus MCC shown in FIG. 3A until the master
control apparatus MCC actually acquires the control right. In FIG.
4, step numbers similar to those in FIG. 3B are given to processes
similar to those shown in FIG. 3B, and their detailed description
will not be repeated.
[0109] As shown in FIG. 4, when the operation for requesting
acquisition of the control right on the apparatus C to be
controlled is performed in the master control apparatus MCC (step
S5), the managing unit 3 performs a process of inhibiting other
request operations until the control right based on the request is
acquired (step S5-1). After the inhibiting process is executed,
even when another operation for requesting acquisition of the
control right on the apparatus C to be controlled on which the
control right is being set at present is executed in the master
control apparatus MCC, the process for the operation is stopped
until the present process is completed or a message indicating that
the operation is invalid is displayed, for example, in the output
unit 6 or the like in the master control apparatus MCC.
[0110] After completion of the inhibiting process in step S5-1, the
managing unit 3 generates a control right setting request to the
individual control part 4 in the master control apparatus MCC (step
S6). A control right setting process corresponding to the request
(concretely, a process of rewriting exclusive control information
in the corresponding individual control part 4) is executed (steps
S61 to S64 in FIG. 3B). A response indicating that the setting
process is performed successfully is sent to the managing unit 3
(step S65).
[0111] After completion of the control right acquiring process in
the master control apparatus MCC, a similar setting request for
acquiring the control right is generated for the managing unit 3 in
the slave control apparatus (step S7). The managing unit 3
generates a control right setting request to the individual control
part 4 in the slave control apparatus SCC (the individual control
part 4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled as an
object of the operation control) (step S8). A control right setting
process corresponding to the request is executed in the individual
control part 4 (steps S61 to S64 in FIG. 3B). A response indicating
that the setting process is performed successfully is sent to the
managing unit 3 in the master control apparatus MCC via the
managing unit 3 in the slave control apparatus SCC (steps S65 and
S66).
[0112] After that, the process of inhibiting the other request
operations executed in the managing unit 3 in the master control
apparatus MCC (step S5-1) is cancelled (step S67). Further, a
response indicative of success in the acquisition is notified to
the user who requested acquisition of the control right to the
master control apparatus MCC, by using the output unit 6 or the
like (step S68). After that, the series of processes for the
control right acquisition is completed.
(I-ii) Embodiment in the Case where Slave Control Apparatus SCC
Acquires Control Right
[0113] Next, the second case in which the operations for a request
to acquire the control right on the apparatus C to be controlled
are performed in the operation unit 1 in the slave control
apparatus SCC will be described with reference to FIG. 5.
[0114] As shown in FIG. 5, the master control apparatus MCC and the
slave control apparatus SCC are connected to the same bus B, and
the operation of the apparatus C to be controlled connected to the
bus B is controlled by the slave control apparatus SCC. In this
case, when the user or the like performs an operation of acquiring
the control right on the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled by using the operation unit 1 in the slave control
apparatus SCC (step S10), the exclusive control information setting
unit 34 in the managing unit 3 which receives a corresponding
control right acquisition request signal transfers the control
right acquisition request signal to the exclusive control
information setting unit 34 in the managing unit 3 included in the
master control apparatus MCC via the bus B (step S11).
[0115] The exclusive control information setting unit 34 in the
master control apparatus MCC which receives the control right
acquisition request signal makes the individual control part 4
included in the same master control apparatus MCC (that is, the
individual control part 4 generated in advance in the master
control apparatus MCC in correspondence with the apparatus C to be
controlled as an object of the operation control from the slave
control apparatus SCC) set the requested control right (step
S13).
[0116] As the control right setting process in the step S13,
basically, processes similar to those in the case described with
reference to FIG. 3B are executed.
[0117] Specifically, as the control right setting process, first,
by referring to the exclusive control information held in the
exclusive control information holding unit 42 in the individual
control part 4 instructed to make the setting, whether or not the
control right to control the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled, whose operation control is being presently requested by
the slave control apparatus SCC, is set from a control apparatus CC
other than the slave control apparatus SCC is determined (step S61
in FIG. 3B). In the case where the control right from another
control apparatus CC has been already set (YES in step S61 in FIG.
3B), a reply indicative of the fact is sent to the slave control
apparatus SCC via the bus B. The exclusive control information
setting unit 34 in the slave control apparatus SCC which receives
the reply notifies the user of the fact via the output unit 6 in
the slave control apparatus SC (step S64 in FIG. 3B).
[0118] On the other hand, when it is determined in the confirming
process (step S61 in FIG. 3B) that the control right has not been
set yet in the apparatus C to be controlled as an object of
operation control of the slave control apparatus SCC by another
control apparatus CC (NO in step S61 in FIG. 3B), the exclusive
control information corresponding to the apparatus C to be
controlled is set in the corresponding individual control part 4 so
as to include apparatus identification information indicative of
the slave control apparatus SCC which has performed the control
right setting request as the control apparatus CC for acquiring the
control right of the target apparatus C to be controlled (step S62
in FIG. 3B). Further, the exclusive control information is
rewritten to information indicating that the control right on the
corresponding apparatus C to be controlled is already set (step S63
in FIG. 3B). After that, the control right setting process in the
individual control part 4 is finished.
[0119] When it is set in the individual control part 4
corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled in the master
apparatus MCC that the slave control apparatus SCC has the control
right on the target apparatus C to be controlled (step S13), a
control right setting request is made via the bus B to the slave
control apparatus SCC, to request rewriting of the exclusive
control information stored in the individual control part 4
corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled as the object of
the operation control in the slave control apparatus SCC with
information indicating that the control right of the apparatus C to
be controlled is acquired by the slave control apparatus SCC (step
S14).
[0120] The exclusive control information setting unit 34 in the
managing unit 3 of the slave control apparatus SCC which receives
the control right setting request from the master control apparatus
MCC makes the individual control part 4 included in the slave
control apparatus SCC (that is, the individual control part 4
generated in advance in the slave control apparatus SCC in
correspondence with the apparatus C to be controlled whose control
right is acquired by the slave control apparatus SCC) set the
requested control right (step S15).
[0121] The control right setting process executed in the slave
control apparatus SCC in the step S15 is basically similar to that
described with reference to FIG. 3B.
[0122] Specifically, as the control right setting process in the
slave control apparatus SCC, first, the exclusive control
information setting unit 34 in the slave control apparatus SCC
refers to the exclusive control information held in the exclusive
control information holding unit 42 in the individual control part
4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled whose control
right is acquired by the slave control apparatus SCC, thereby
determining whether or not the control right to control the
operation of the apparatus C to be controlled, whose operation
control is being presently requested, is set from a control
apparatus CC other than the slave control apparatus SCC (step S61
in FIG. 3B). In the case where the control right from a control
apparatus CC other than the slave control apparatus SCC has been
already set for the apparatus C to be controlled as an object of
the operation control in the individual control part 4 in the slave
control apparatus SCC for some reason (YES in step S61 in FIG. 3B,
in this case, the exclusive control information held in the
individual control part 4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be
controlled in the slave control apparatus SCC and the exclusive
control information held in the individual control part 4
corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled in the master
control apparatus MCC are different from each other), the fact is
notified to the original master control apparatus MCC via the bus B
(step S64 in FIG. 3B). After that, it is preferable, for example,
to rewrite the exclusive control information in association with
transmission of the control information requesting to rewrite the
exclusive control information from the master control apparatus MCC
which has received the notification so that the exclusive control
information matches the corresponding exclusive control information
in the master control apparatus MCC.
[0123] On the other hand, when it is determined in the confirming
process (step S61 in FIG. 3B) that the control right has not been
set yet in the apparatus C to be controlled as an object of
operation control by another control apparatus CC (NO in step S61
in FIG. 3B), the exclusive control information corresponding to the
apparatus C to be controlled is set in the individual control part
4 so as to include apparatus identification information indicative
of the slave control apparatus SCC which has acquired the control
right as the control apparatus CC for acquiring the control right
of the target apparatus C to be controlled (step S62 in FIG. 3B).
Further, the exclusive control information is rewritten to
information indicating that the control right on the corresponding
apparatus C to be controlled is already set (step S63 in FIG. 3B).
After that, the control right setting process in the individual
control part 4 is finished.
[0124] Next, processes for acquiring the control right on the
apparatus C to be controlled in the slave control apparatus SCC
described with reference to FIG. 5 will be mentioned in time
sequence by using FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processes
in time sequence from top to bottom since the operation of
requesting that the slave control apparatus SCC acquires the
control right on the apparatus C to be controlled is performed in
the slave control apparatus SCC shown in FIG. 5 until the slave
control apparatus SCC actually acquires the control right. In FIG.
6, step numbers similar to those in FIG. 5 are given to processes
similar to those shown in FIG. 5, and their detailed description
will not be repeated.
[0125] As shown in FIG. 6, when the operation for requesting
acquisition of the control right on the apparatus C to be
controlled is performed in the slave control apparatus SCC (step
S10), the managing unit 3 in the slave control apparatus SCC sends
a request for setting the control right to the managing unit 3 in
the master control apparatus MCC via the bus B (step S11).
[0126] The managing unit 3 in the master control apparatus MCC
which received the request performs a process of inhibiting other
control right requests to the master control apparatus MCC until
the control right based on the request is acquired (step S11-1).
After the inhibiting process is executed, even when another
operation for requesting acquisition of the control right on the
apparatus C to be controlled on which the control right is being
set at present is executed in the master control apparatus MCC, the
process for the operation is stopped until the present process is
completed or a message indicating that the operation is invalid is
displayed, for example, in the output unit 6 or the like in the
master control apparatus MCC.
[0127] After completion of the inhibiting process in step S11-1,
the managing unit 3 generates a control right setting request to
the individual control part 4 in the master control apparatus MCC
(step S13). A control right setting process corresponding to the
request (concretely, a process of rewriting exclusive control
information in the corresponding individual control part 4) is
executed (steps S61 to S64 in FIG. 3B). A response indicating that
the setting process is performed successfully is sent to the
managing unit 3 (step S70).
[0128] After completion of the control right acquiring process in
the master control apparatus MCC, a setting request for acquiring
the control right in the slave control apparatus SCC is generated
for the managing unit 3 in the slave control apparatus SCC (step
S14). The managing unit 3 in the slave control apparatus SCC
generates a control right setting request to the individual control
part 4 in the slave control apparatus SCC (the individual control
part 4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be controlled as an
object of the operation control) (step S15). A control right
setting process corresponding to the request is executed in the
individual control part 4 (steps S61 to S64 in FIG. 3B). A response
indicating that the setting process is performed successfully is
sent to the managing unit 3 in the master control apparatus MCC via
the managing unit 3 in the slave control apparatus SCC (steps S71
and S72).
[0129] After that, the process of inhibiting the other request
operations executed in the managing unit 3 in the master control
apparatus MCC (step S11-1) is cancelled (step S73). Further, a
response indicative of success in the acquisition is notified from
the managing unit 3 in the master control apparatus MCC to the user
who requested acquisition of the control right to the slave control
apparatus SCC via the managing unit 3 and the output unit 6 in the
slave control apparatus SCC (steps S74 and S75). After that, the
series of processes for the control right acquisition in the slave
control apparatus SCC is completed.
[0130] When the user of the master control apparatus MCC shown at
the left end of FIG. 6 separately generates a request for acquiring
the control right on the apparatus C to be controlled which is
acquired by the slave control apparatus SCC during inhibition of
other control right setting requests (step S11-1, refer to the
thick arrow in FIG. 6) (step Sx), the request is held until the
request reception inhibition is cancelled (step S73). After
cancellation of the request reception inhibition, the request is
received by the managing unit 3 in the master control apparatus
MCC. A process of inhibiting other control right requests to the
master control apparatus MCC until acquisition of the control right
based on the request is performed (step S11-1). After that, the
control right acquisition request is transferred from the exclusive
control information setting unit 34 in the managing unit 3 to the
individual control part 4 corresponding to the apparatus C to be
controlled (step S80). Since exclusive control information
indicating that the control right of the target apparatus C to be
controlled is acquired by the slave control apparatus SCC is
already held in the individual control part 4 (steps S61 to S64 in
FIG. 3B), a response that the request of the user is not accepted
is sent from the individual control part 4 to the exclusive
information setting unit 34 (step S81). Further, the response is
sent to the user who tried to acquire the control right of the
apparatus C to be controlled (step Sx) by operating the master
control apparatus MCC via the output unit 6 of the master control
apparatus MCC (step S82).
[0131] In the case where a plurality of control apparatuses CC are
connected to a single bus B in the foregoing first embodiment, with
respect to setting of one of the control apparatuses CC as the
master control apparatus MCC, for example, it is preferable to
compare the values of the apparatus identification information of
the control apparatuses CC connected to the bus B with each other
and set the control apparatus CC having the largest value as the
master control apparatus MCC.
[0132] For example, in the 1394 standard, when one control
apparatus CC is detached from the bus B, all of the control
apparatuses CC grasp the apparatus identification information of
the control apparatuses CC after the detachment. Consequently, in
accordance with the grasped values of the apparatus identification
information, in the case where the value of the apparatus
identification information indicative of a control apparatus CC
itself is larger than that of the apparatus identification
information showing another control apparatus CC, the control
apparatus CC itself recognizes to be the master control apparatus
MCC and functions as the master control apparatus MCC. Similarly,
in the case where the value of the apparatus identification
information indicative of a control apparatus CC itself is smaller
than that of the apparatus identification information showing
another control apparatus CC recognized, the control apparatus CC
itself recognizes to be a slave control apparatus SCC and functions
as the slave control apparatus SCC.
[0133] For the process in the case where the control right on the
apparatus C to be controlled whose operation control right is to be
acquired has been already set from any of the control apparatuses
CC (NO in step S61 in FIG. 3B), at the time of canceling the set
control right and newly resetting a control right, it is necessary
to release the originally set control right to the control
apparatus CC requesting acquisition of the control right.
[0134] In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the exclusive control
information setting unit 3 in the control apparatus C in which the
control right to be released is set refers to the exclusive control
information holding unit 42 in the corresponding individual control
part 4, and checks whether the control right is already set on the
apparatus C to be controlled corresponding to the individual
control part 4 or not (step S85). When no control right is set (NO
in step S85), it is unnecessary to release the control right and a
response indicative of failure to the release request is sent to
the requester (step S88).
[0135] On the other hand, when the control right is already set by
any of the control apparatuses CC in the process of step S85 (YES
in step S85), the apparatus identification information indicative
of the control apparatus CC having the control right is erased from
the corresponding exclusive control information to release the
control right (step S86). Further, the information is rewritten to
information indicating that the control right of the control
apparatus CC is not set by any of the control apparatuses CC (step
S87), and the process for the release is finished.
[0136] Further, with respect to processes performed in the case
where the apparatus C to be controlled whose operation is
controlled by any of the control apparatuses CC drops from the bus
B, when the drop occurs, first, the network communication unit 5 in
each of the control apparatuses CC detects the drop of the
apparatus C to be controlled, and notifies the managing unit 3
included in the same control apparatus CC of the drop. The managing
unit 3 receiving the notification deletes the individual control
part 4 in the control apparatus CC corresponding to the apparatus C
to be controlled which is dropped (detached) from the bus B from
the control apparatus CC. At this time, all of information
including the exclusive control information held in the individual
control part 4 is also deleted. By the processes, the drop is
recognized in each of the control apparatuses CC.
[0137] As described above, in the operation of the bus system S
according to the first embodiment, each of the control apparatuses
CC has the exclusive control information holding unit 42 for
holding the exclusive control information for each apparatus C to
be controlled, and controls the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled on the basis of the held exclusive control information.
Thus, without adding any new configuration to the apparatus C to be
controlled, the one-to-one corresponding relation is established
between the apparatus C to be controlled and the control apparatus
CC, and the operations of the apparatuses C to be controlled can be
exclusively controlled.
[0138] Since the exclusive control information corresponding to all
of the apparatuses C to be controlled is held in each of the
exclusive control information holding units 42 included in the
control apparatuses CC, the control apparatuses CC can share the
same exclusive control information. When any of the control
apparatuses CC drops from the bus system S, the exclusive control
information corresponding to each of the apparatus CC to be
controlled is left in any of the control apparatuses CC remaining
in the bus system S. Therefore, the operation control of the
apparatus C to be controlled can be continued in conformity with
the standard also after the drop.
[0139] Further, when information of a request to control the
operation of any of the apparatuses C to be controlled is input to
the master control apparatus MCC, the exclusive control information
in the apparatuses CC to be controlled is updated so as to obtain
the relation between the apparatus C to be controlled and the
master control apparatus MCC shown in the request information.
Thus, the operation control can be performed between each of the
apparatuses C to be controlled and each of the control apparatuses
CC without contradiction.
[0140] Further, also in the case where information of a request to
control the operation of any of the apparatuses C to be controlled
is input to the slave control apparatus SCC, the exclusive control
information in the control apparatuses CC is updated so as to
obtain the relation between the apparatus C to be controlled and
the control apparatus CC shown in the request information. Thus,
the operation control can be performed between each of the
apparatuses C to be controlled and each of the control apparatuses
CC without contradiction.
[0141] In addition, any of the control apparatuses CC is set as the
master control apparatus MCC on the basis of the apparatus
identification information such as GUID for identifying the control
apparatuses CC. Consequently, any of the control apparatuses CC can
be set as the master control apparatus MCC without any
contradiction in relation with the other slave control apparatuses
SCC.
(II) Second Embodiment
[0142] Next, a second embodiment as another embodiment of the
present invention will be described by referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B
and FIG. 9. FIGS. 8A and 8B are block diagrams showing the
configuration and operation of a bus system of the second
embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing operations of the bus
system of the second embodiment. In FIGS. 8A and 8B and FIG. 9,
similar reference numerals are designated to components similar to
those of the bus system S of the first embodiment, and their
detailed description will not be repeated.
[0143] In the first embodiment, the processes for acquiring the
control right to control the operation of any of the apparatuses C
to be controlled which are connected to the bus B by either the
master control apparatus MCC or the slave control apparatus SCC
have been described. In the following second embodiment, handling
of exclusive control information in the case where the master
control apparatus MCC or the apparatus C to be controlled is
detached from the bus B in the bus system S in the first embodiment
will be described.
(II-i) Embodiment in the Case where Master Control Apparatus MCC is
Detached from Bus B
[0144] In the second embodiment, processes performed in the case
where the master control apparatus MCC is detached (drops) from the
bus B will be described with reference to FIG. 8A. As the
precondition of FIG. 8A, it is assumed that one master control
apparatus MCC and one slave control apparatus SCC are connected to
the bus B, and the operation of the apparatus C to be controlled is
controlled by either the master control apparatus MCC or the slave
control apparatus SCC.
[0145] As shown in FIG. 8A, in the master control apparatus MCC
detached from the bus B, all of the individual control part 4
(including exclusive control information 4A held in the exclusive
control information holding unit 42) formed until then
disappears.
[0146] On the other hand, in the (original) slave control apparatus
SCC remaining in the bus B after the master control apparatus MCC
is detached, although the control apparatus CC functioned as the
master control apparatus MCC until then is detached, the same
exclusive control information 4A as that held in the detached
master control apparatus MCC is already also held in the (original)
slave control apparatus SCC. Consequently, the function of the
control apparatus CC is continuously displayed by using the held
exclusive control information 4A.
[0147] Since the number of the control apparatus CC connected to
the bus B becomes only one, the (original) slave control apparatus
SCC displays the function of the master control apparatus MCC.
(II-ii) Embodiment in the Case where Control Apparatus CC is Newly
Connected to Bus B
[0148] Next, processes performed in the case where the master
control apparatus MCC shown in FIG. 8A is detached from the bus B
and, after that, re-connected to the bus B will be described by
referring to FIG. 8B.
[0149] In the case where the control apparatus CC having apparatus
identification information to become the master control apparatus
MCC is newly connected to the bus B, a plurality of control
apparatuses CC exist on the same bus B. Therefore, the process for
making any of the control apparatuses CC as the master control
apparatus MCC is executed. Concretely, the process is performed as
follows. At the time the control apparatus CC to become the master
control apparatus MCC is newly connected to the bus B, the value of
the apparatus identification information is recognized in each of
all of the control apparatuses CC including the connected control
apparatus CC. By comparing the recognized values, each of the
control apparatuses CC determines to become the master control
apparatus MCC or the slave control apparatus SCC, and makes the
setting by itself.
[0150] It is assumed that, by the above processes, in the case
shown in FIG. 8B, the left control apparatus CC newly connected is
set as the master control apparatus MCC in each of the control
apparatuses CC, and the right control apparatus CC is set as the
slave control apparatus SCC in each of the control apparatuses
CC.
[0151] In the control apparatus CC which newly became the master
control apparatus MCC, by the method described in the first
embodiment, the individual control parts 4 corresponding to all of
the apparatuses C to be controlled which are connected to the bus B
at present are generated in the master control apparatus MCC.
[0152] The exclusive control information 4A which has been valid in
the bus system S until then and is held in each of the individual
control parts 4A of the control apparatuses CC which newly became
the slave control apparatuses SCC has to be taken in the new master
control apparatus MCC.
[0153] Consequently, in the bus system S of the second embodiment,
an acquisition request for transmitting the exclusive control
information 4A held until then in the control apparatuses CC to the
new master control apparatus MCC via the bus B is sent from the
managing unit 3 in the master control apparatus MCC to the managing
units 3 in the other control apparatuses CC (step S91). The
managing unit 3 in the slave control apparatus SCC which receives
the request reads the exclusive control information 4A held in all
of the individual control parts 4 in the slave control apparatus
SCC (step S92). In response to the request, the individual control
parts 4 read the exclusive control information 4A held by
themselves and transmit it to the new master control apparatus MCC
via the bus B (step S95).
[0154] The exclusive control information setting unit 34 in the
managing unit 3 of the master control apparatus MCC which has
received the exclusive control information 4A sets the obtained
exclusive control information 4A in the individual control parts 4
(step S96), thereby performing operation preparation in the bus
control apparatus MCC.
[0155] Next, processes performed when the master control apparatus
MCC described with reference to FIG. 8B is newly connected will be
mentioned in time sequence by using FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flowchart
showing processes in time sequence from top to bottom, which are
performed when the master control apparatus MCC shown in FIG. 8B is
newly connected. In FIG. 9, step numbers similar to those in FIG.
8B are given to processes similar to those shown in FIG. 8B, and
their detailed description will not be repeated.
[0156] As shown in FIG. 9, when the master control apparatus MCC is
newly connected to the bus B, the managing unit 3 included in the
master control apparatus MCC performs a process of inhibiting other
request operations until the processes accompanying the new
connection complete (step S90). After the inhibiting process is
executed, even when any request operation for the present master
control apparatus MCC is executed in the master control apparatus
MCC, the process for the operation is stopped until the present
process is completed or a message indicating that the operation is
invalid is displayed, for example, in the output unit 6 or the like
in the master control apparatus MCC.
[0157] After completion of the inhibiting process in step S90, the
managing unit 3 generates a request to send the exclusive control
information 4A presently held in the slave control apparatus SCC to
the master control apparatus MCC, to the managing unit 3 in the
slave control apparatus SCC (step S91). The managing unit 3 in the
slave apparatus SCC which receives the request generates a request
to read the exclusive control information 4A held in the individual
control parts 4 in the slave control apparatus SCC, to all of the
individual control parts 4 (step S92). In response to the request,
the individual control parts 4 read the exclusive control
information 4A held by themselves (step S93) and transmit it to the
managing unit 3 (step S94).
[0158] The managing unit 3 which receives the exclusive control
information 4A from the individual control parts 4 transmits it to
the managing unit 3 in the master control apparatus MCC via the bus
B (step S95).
[0159] The managing unit 3 which receives the exclusive control
information 4A sends a request to hold the received exclusive
control information 4A to the individual control parts 4 in the
master control apparatus MCC (step S96). Each of the individual
control parts 4 performs a process of storing the exclusive control
information 4 corresponding to the request (step S97), and a
response indicating that the storing process or the like is
performed successfully is sent to the managing unit 3 (step
S98).
[0160] After that, the process of inhibiting the other request
operations executed in the managing unit 3 in the master control
apparatus MCC (step S90) is cancelled (step S99), and the series of
processes for acquiring the exclusive control information 4A
accompanying new connection of the master control apparatus MCC is
completed.
[0161] Hereinafter, in a manner similar to the first embodiment,
the control right on each of the apparatuses C to be controlled is
transmitted/received among the control apparatuses CC, thereby
realizing exclusive control on each of the apparatuses C to be
controlled.
[0162] As described above, by the operations of the bus system S
according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects
produced by the operations of the bus system S according to the
first embodiment, the connection state between the apparatus C to
be controlled and the bus B is monitored. When the connection state
changes, the exclusive control information 4A is updated according
to the changed connection state. Therefore, the exclusive control
on the apparatus C to be controlled can be executed reliably in
accordance with the latest connection state.
[0163] When the control apparatus CC which has functioned as the
master control apparatus MCC until then drops from the bus B, a new
master control apparatus MCC is set by changing the setting of any
of the slave control apparatuses SCC. Thus, the relation between
the apparatus C to be controlled and the control apparatus CC in
the bus system S can be maintained without any contradiction.
[0164] Further, when a new control apparatus CC is connected, a new
master control apparatus MCC is set on the basis of the apparatus
identification information of the control apparatus CC, and the
exclusive control information 4A is taken over from the master
control apparatus MCC functioned until then. Consequently, even
when a newly connected control apparatus CC becomes the master
control apparatus MCC, it can control the apparatuses C to be
controlled without contradiction in relation with the other control
apparatuses CC.
(III) Modifications
[0165] Modifications of the present invention will be
described.
[0166] As a first modification, the unit of setting the exclusive
control information in the configuration of the first or second
embodiment is not limited to the entire apparatus C to be
controlled but may be a sub unit (for example, a hard disk drive in
an optical disk recorder, an optical disk recorder, or a broadcast
reception tuner) in the apparatus C to be controlled, or a function
element in the apparatus C to be controlled such as a logical plug
unit for transmitting/receiving a broadcast stream.
[0167] In this case, by setting the unit of setting the exclusive
control right to a function element, the control rights of
functions which are not being used can be released to the other
control apparatuses CC. It enables a user to request and execute
recording of a broadcast program via a bus while another user is
viewing information recorded on an optical disk.
[0168] As a second modification, an attribute of priority to other
control apparatuses CC may be set in a control right setting
requester (control apparatus CC) having an identifier for
identifying the user or the like to which the control right is
given. By setting the attribute indicative of the level (high or
low) of priority in the control apparatus CC itself, even if the
control right is set exclusively in the individual control part 4,
when a control right acquisition request is generated from a
control apparatus CC having higher priority, the control apparatus
CC having higher priority can forcedly acquire the control
right.
[0169] Therefore, exclusive operation control on the apparatus C to
be controlled according to applications can be realized.
Specifically, for example, by giving high priority to a function of
executing programmed recording or a function of receiving urgent
broadcast and showing it to the user, an effect is obtained such
that important process can be executed with reliability.
[0170] As a third modification, in addition to the case where the
apparatus C to be controlled and the control apparatus CC are
connected to the same bus B, for example, a control apparatus CC
connected to another bus may be connected via a so-called bridge
device, and receive a control right acquisition request and a
control command issue request from the user or the like to the
apparatus C to be controlled in the control apparatus CC. In this
case, the individual control part 4 corresponding to the apparatus
C to be controlled is not formed in the control apparatus CC
connected to another bus. Consequently, the managing unit 3 which
receives the request transfers it to the managing unit 3 in the
control apparatus CC connected to the same bus to which the
apparatus C to be controlled is also connected, thereby realizing
remote operation control between the buses.
[0171] With the configuration, for example, in a network in a
house, it is unrealistic to connect apparatuses in a plurality of
rooms by a single bus B due to the limitations of the cable length
and the bandwidth, but a method may be considered in which a bus B
is constructed in each of the rooms and the plurality of buses B
are connected by a bridge device. With the configurations of the
foregoing embodiments, the operation of the apparatus CC to be
controlled in a room can be controlled from another room.
Therefore, the operation of the apparatus C to be controlled can be
exclusively controlled also from a control apparatus CC connected
to the different bus B.
[0172] Finally, as a fourth modification, the present invention can
be applied to the case where the apparatus C to be controlled and
the control apparatus CC are connected to the same bus B, in
addition, a control apparatus connected to another network
performing communication in accordance with another protocol is
connected via a bridge device or a router, and the control
apparatus controls the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled which is connected to the bus B in the embodiments. In
this case, the individual control part 4 corresponding to the
apparatus C to be controlled is not formed in the control apparatus
connected to another kind of network. Consequently, the managing
unit 3 which receives a request from a control apparatus on the
another network transfers it to the managing unit 3 in the control
apparatus CC connected to the same bus B to which the apparatus C
to be controlled is also connected, thereby realizing the
control.
[0173] In this case, the operation of the apparatus C to be
controlled which is connected to the bus B can be controlled
exclusively also from the control apparatus connected to a network
other than the bus in the foregoing embodiments.
[0174] Further, by recording a program corresponding to the
flowcharts shown in FIG. 2, 3A, 4, 6, 7, or 9 in an information
recording medium such as a flexible disk, a semiconductor memory,
or a hard disk or by obtaining the program via the Internet or the
like and recording it, and reading and executing the program by a
general computer, the computer can be utilized as the managing unit
3 or the individual control part 4 in the embodiments.
* * * * *
References