U.S. patent application number 14/622353 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-19 for vehicle-mounted device and device authentication method.
The applicant listed for this patent is ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Ryo Sukegawa, Kentaro Yamamoto.
Application Number | 20150334441 14/622353 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52669484 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150334441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sukegawa; Ryo ; et
al. |
November 19, 2015 |
VEHICLE-MOUNTED DEVICE AND DEVICE AUTHENTICATION METHOD
Abstract
A vehicle-mounted device includes a first authentication unit
for performing first authentication processing in which, when a
first device is connected to an output unit, the vehicle-mounted
device is authenticated as a source device and the first device is
authenticated as a sink device; a second authentication unit for
performing second authentication processing in which, when a second
device is connected to the input unit while a digital content is
being output to the first device from the output unit, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the sink device and the
second device is authenticated as the source device; a
determination unit; and a third authentication unit for performing
third authentication processing in which the vehicle-mounted device
is authenticated as a repeater device when a condition for
providing the digital content from the second device to the first
device is determined to be satisfied by the determination unit.
Inventors: |
Sukegawa; Ryo; (Iwaki-shi,
JP) ; Yamamoto; Kentaro; (Iwaki-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
52669484 |
Appl. No.: |
14/622353 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/44 20130101;
H04N 21/436 20130101; G06F 21/82 20130101; H04N 21/41422 20130101;
H04N 21/25816 20130101; H04N 21/4516 20130101; H04N 21/4627
20130101; H04N 21/4367 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/414 20060101
H04N021/414; H04N 21/4627 20060101 H04N021/4627; H04N 21/258
20060101 H04N021/258; H04N 21/436 20060101 H04N021/436 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 13, 2014 |
JP |
2014-099977 |
Claims
1. A vehicle-mounted device including an input unit connectable to
a device compatible with a predetermined interface standard and
inputting a digital content from the device and an output unit
connectable to a device compatible with the predetermined interface
standard and outputting a digital content to the device, the
vehicle-mounted device comprising: a first authentication unit for
performing first authentication processing in which, when a first
device compatible with the predetermined interface standard is
connected to the output unit, the vehicle-mounted device and the
first device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a source
device at a transmission side of the digital content and
authenticate the first device as a sink device at a reception side
of the digital content; a second authentication unit for performing
second authentication processing in which, when a second device
compatible with the predetermined interface standard is connected
to the input unit while the digital content is being output to the
first device authenticated as the sink device from the output unit,
the vehicle-mounted device and the second device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device as the sink device and authenticate the
second device as the source device; a third authentication unit for
performing third authentication processing in which the
vehicle-mounted device, the second device, and the first device
authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a repeater device for
relaying a digital content between the second device authenticated
as the source device and the first device authenticated as the sink
device; a determination unit for determining whether a condition
for providing the digital content from the second device
authenticated as the source device to the first device
authenticated as the sink device is satisfied or not; and a content
output control unit configured such that, when the determination
unit determines that the condition for providing the digital
content from the second device to the first device is satisfied,
the digital content from the second device which is input from the
input unit is relayed and output to the first device via the output
unit after the third authentication unit finishes the third
authentication processing.
2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 comprising: a
selection unit for selecting a device connected to the input unit
as a source device of the digital content which is to be output
from the output unit, characterized in that when the selection unit
selects the second device as a source device of the digital content
which is to be output from the output unit, the determination unit
determines that the condition for providing the digital content
from the second device to the first device is satisfied.
3. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 2 comprising a
content output stop control unit configured such that when the
selection unit selects the second device as the source device of
the digital content which is to be output from the output unit, the
content output stop control unit stops output of the digital
content from the output unit to the first device which has been
performed until then.
4. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 comprising an
authentication suspending control unit for suspending the third
authentication processing performed by the third authentication
unit when the determination unit determines that the condition for
providing the digital content from the second device to the first
device is not satisfied.
5. A device authentication method for operating a vehicle-mounted
system including a vehicle-mounted device including an input unit
connectable to a device compatible with a predetermined interface
standard and inputting a digital content from the device and an
output unit connectable to a device compatible with the
predetermined interface standard and outputting a digital content
to the device, the device authentication method comprising: a first
authentication act in which, when a first device compatible with
the predetermined interface standard is connected to the output
unit, the vehicle-mounted device and the first device authenticate
the vehicle-mounted device as a source device at a transmission
side of the digital content and authenticate the first device as a
sink device at a reception side of the digital content; a second
authentication act in which, when a second device compatible with
the predetermined interface standard is connected to the input unit
while the digital content is being output to the first device
authenticated as the sink device from the output unit, the
vehicle-mounted device and the second device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device as the sink device and authenticate the
second device as the source device; a third authentication act in
which the vehicle-mounted device, the second device, and the first
device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a repeater device
for relaying a digital content between the second device
authenticated as the source device and the first device
authenticated as the sink device; a determination act for
determining whether a condition for providing the digital content
from the second device authenticated as the source device to the
first device authenticated as the sink device is satisfied or not;
and a content output control act in which, when the condition for
providing the digital content from the second device to the first
device is determined to be satisfied in the determination act, the
digital content from the second device which is input from the
input unit is relayed and output to the first device via the output
unit after the authentication in the third authentication act is
finished.
6. The device authentication method according to claim 5
comprising: a selection act for selecting a device connected to the
input unit as a source device of the digital content which is to be
output from the output unit, characterized in that when the second
device is selected in the selection act as a source device of the
digital content which is to be output from the output unit, the
condition for providing the digital content from the second device
to the first device is determined to be satisfied in the
determination act.
7. The device authentication method according to claim 6 comprising
a content output stop control act for stopping output of the
digital content from the output unit to the first device which has
been performed until then, when the second device is selected in
the selection act as the source device of the digital content which
is to be output from the output unit.
8. The device authentication method according to claim 5 comprising
an authentication suspending control act for suspending the
authentication in the third authentication act when the condition
for providing the digital content from the second device to the
first device is determined not to be satisfied in the determination
act.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application Number 2014-099977, filed May 13, 2014, the entirety of
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle-mounted device
including an input device connected to a device compatible with a
predetermined interface standard such as HDMI (registered
trademark) (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and inputting a
digital content from the device and an output unit connected to a
device compatible with the predetermined interface standard and
outputting a digital content to the device, and a device
authentication method for a vehicle-mounted system including the
vehicle-mounted device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A vehicle-mounted system including a digital television
tuner, display monitors provided for a front seat and a back seat,
and a navigation apparatus has been suggested (JP 2008-211338 A).
In this vehicle-mounted system, in accordance with a command from
the navigation apparatus serving as a system master in the
vehicle-mounted system, a digital television tuner serving as a
source device authenticates the navigation apparatus as an
authentic repeater device and authenticates the display monitor,
which is to display a digital video content, as an authentic sink
device. After the authentication, a digital video content which is
output from the digital television tuner serving as the source
device is relayed by the navigation apparatus serving as the
repeater device and is distributed to the display monitor serving
as the sink device, so that the display monitor displays the
digital video content which is output from the digital television
tuner.
[0006] In the vehicle-mounted system described in JP 2008-211338 A,
when the display monitor to which the digital video content is to
be output (on which the digital video content is to be displayed)
is changed (change of the distribution path), e.g., when the state
is changed from a state in which the digital video content is
distributed to both of the display monitors for the front and back
seats to a state in which the digital video content is distributed
to only the display monitor for the front seat, the distribution of
the digital video content from the digital television tuner is
stopped temporarily on the basis of the command from the navigation
apparatus, and the changed display monitor is authenticated as the
authentic sink device. Therefore, in JP 2008-211338 A, the video of
the display monitor which is commonly used before and after the
change (the display monitor for the front seat in the example)
temporarily blacks out, and the problem that this causes the users
to feel annoyed has been identified.
[0007] Also, a vehicle-mounted system is known which includes a
vehicle-mounted device including an input unit connected to a
device compatible with the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia
Interface) and inputting a digital content from the device and an
output unit connected to a device compatible with the HDMI and
outputting a digital content to the device. In such vehicle-mounted
system, when a first device compatible with the HDMI (for example,
a display device provided for the back seat) is connected to the
output unit of the vehicle-mounted device, and the second device
compatible with the HDMI (for example, a smartphone) is connected
to the input unit of the vehicle-mounted device, then, the first
device is authenticated as a sink device, the second device is
authenticated as a source device, and the vehicle-mounted device is
authenticated as a repeater device. For example, when the output
unit of the vehicle-mounted device outputs a digital video content
to the first device (the display device provided for the back seat)
and the second device (smartphone) is connected to the input unit
of the vehicle-mounted device while the digital video content is
being output (displayed) from the first device, the output of the
digital video content from the output unit of the vehicle-mounted
device to the first device is temporarily interrupted when the
vehicle-mounted device, the first device, and second device
authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a repeater device, and
this causes the output (for example, display) of the digital
content of the first device to be temporarily stopped (for example,
the video temporarily blacks out), and the same problem as the
problem associated with the system described in JP 2008-211338 A
may occur. More specifically, the problem that the users feel
annoyed may occur.
[0008] The present invention is made in view of such circumstances,
and embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle-mounted
device capable of making it less likely for the user to feel
annoyed about a change in the output of a connected device due to
authentication processing. In addition, embodiments of the present
invention provide a device authentication method in a
vehicle-mounted system including the vehicle-mounted device.
SUMMARY
[0009] A vehicle-mounted device according to the present disclosure
may be a vehicle-mounted device including an input unit connected
to a device compatible with a predetermined interface standard and
inputting a digital content from the device and an output unit
connected to a device compatible with the predetermined interface
standard and outputting a digital content to the device, and the
vehicle-mounted device includes a first authentication unit for
performing first authentication processing in which, when a first
device compatible with the predetermined interface standard is
connected to the output unit, the vehicle-mounted device and the
first device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a source
device at a transmission side of the digital content and
authenticate the first device as a sink device at a reception side
of the digital content, a second authentication unit for performing
second authentication processing in which, when a second device
compatible with the predetermined interface standard is connected
to the input unit while the digital content is output to the first
device authenticated as the sink device from the output unit, the
vehicle-mounted device and the second device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device as the sink device and authenticate the
second device as the source device, a determination unit for
determining whether a condition for providing the digital content
from the second device authenticated as the source device to the
first device authenticated as the sink device is satisfied or not,
and a third authentication unit for performing third authentication
processing in which, when the determination unit determines that
the condition for providing the digital content from the second
device to the first device is satisfied, then, the vehicle-mounted
device, the second device, and the first device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device as a repeater device for relaying a digital
content between the second device authenticated as the source
device and the first device authenticated as the sink device,
wherein the digital content from the second device which is input
from the input unit is relayed and output to the first device via
the output unit after the third authentication unit finishes the
third authentication processing.
[0010] According to such a configuration, when the first device
compatible with the predetermined interface standard is connected
to the output unit of the vehicle-mounted device, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the source device, and
the first device is authenticated as the sink device, and the
digital content is output from the output unit of the
vehicle-mounted device to the first device. When the second device
compatible with the predetermined interface standard is connected
to the input unit while the digital content is output to the first
device authenticated as the sink device from the output unit, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the sink device, and the
second device is authenticated as the source device. At this
occasion, the vehicle-mounted device is not immediately
authenticated as the repeater device for relaying the digital
content from the second device authenticated as the source device
to the first device authenticated as the sink device, and instead,
when the condition for providing the digital content from the
second device authenticated as the source device to the first
device authenticated as the sink device is satisfied, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the repeater device for
relaying the digital content from the second device authenticated
as the source device to the first device authenticated as the sink
device.
[0011] The vehicle-mounted device according to the present
disclosure may include: a selection unit for selecting a device
connected to the input unit as a source device of the digital
content which is to be output from the output unit, and when the
selection unit selects the second device as a source device of the
digital content which is to be output from the output unit, the
determination unit determines that the condition for providing the
digital content from the second device to the first device is
satisfied.
[0012] According to such a configuration, when the second device
connected to the input unit is selected as the source device of the
digital content which is to be output from the output unit, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the repeater device for
relaying the digital content from the second device authenticated
as the source device to the first device authenticated as the sink
device.
[0013] The vehicle-mounted device according to the present
disclosure may include a content output stop control unit
configured such that when the selection unit selects the second
device as the source device of the digital content which is to be
output from the output unit, the content output stop control unit
stops output of the digital content from the output unit to the
first device which has been performed until then.
[0014] According to such a configuration, when the second device is
selected as the source device of the digital content which is to be
output from the output unit, output of the digital content from the
output unit to the first device which has been performed until then
is stopped, and the vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the
repeater device.
[0015] A vehicle-mounted device according to the present disclosure
may be a vehicle-mounted device including an input unit connected
to a device compatible with a predetermined interface standard and
inputting a digital content from the device and an output unit
connected to a device compatible with the predetermined interface
standard and outputting a digital content to the device, and the
vehicle-mounted device includes a first authentication unit for
performing first authentication processing in which, when a first
device compatible with the predetermined interface standard is
connected to the output unit, the vehicle-mounted device and the
first device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a source
device at a transmission side of the digital content compatible
with the predetermined interface standard and authenticate the
first device as a sink device at a reception side of the digital
content compatible with the predetermined interface standard, a
second authentication unit for performing second authentication
processing in which, when a second device compatible with the
predetermined interface standard is connected to the input unit
while the digital content is output to the first device
authenticated as the sink device from the output unit, the
vehicle-mounted device and the second device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device as the sink device and authenticate the
second device as the source device, and a third authentication unit
for performing third authentication processing in which the
vehicle-mounted device, the second device, and the first device
authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a repeater device for
relaying a digital content between the second device authenticated
as the source device and the first device authenticated as the sink
device, wherein the digital content from the second device which is
input from the input unit is relayed and output to the first device
via the output unit after the third authentication unit finishes
the third authentication processing, and the vehicle-mounted device
further includes a determination unit for determining whether a
condition for providing the digital content from the second device
authenticated as the source device to the first device
authenticated as the sink device is satisfied or not, and an
authentication suspension control unit configured such that, when
the determination unit determines that the condition for providing
the digital content from the second device to the first device is
not satisfied, the authentication suspension control unit suspends
the third authentication processing performed by the third
authentication unit.
[0016] According to such a configuration, when the first device
compatible with the predetermined interface standard is connected
to the output unit of the vehicle-mounted device, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the source device, and
the first device is authenticated as the sink device, and the
digital content is output from the output unit of the
vehicle-mounted device to the first device. When the second device
compatible with the predetermined interface standard is connected
to the input unit while the digital content is output to the first
device authenticated as the sink device from the output unit, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the sink device, and the
second device is authenticated as the source device. When the
condition for providing the digital content from the second device
authenticated as the source device to the first device
authenticated as the sink device is not satisfied, it is suspended
to authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as the repeater device
for relaying the digital content from the second device
authenticated as the source device to the first device
authenticated as the sink device.
[0017] A device authentication method according to the present
disclosure may be a device authentication method for a
vehicle-mounted system including a vehicle-mounted device including
an input unit connected to a device compatible with a predetermined
interface standard and inputting a digital content from the device
and an output unit connected to a device compatible with the
predetermined interface standard and outputting a digital content
to the device, and the device authentication method includes a
first authentication step in which, when a first device compatible
with the predetermined interface standard is connected to the
output unit of the vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle-mounted
device and the first device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device
as a source device at a transmission side of the digital content
compatible with the predetermined interface standard and
authenticate the first device as a sink device at a reception side
of the digital content compatible with the predetermined interface
standard, a second authentication step in which, when a second
device compatible with the predetermined interface standard is
connected to the input unit of the vehicle-mounted device while the
digital content is output to the first device authenticated as the
sink device from the output unit of the vehicle-mounted device, the
vehicle-mounted device and the second device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device as the sink device and authenticate the
second device as the source device, a determination step for
determining whether a condition for providing the digital content
from the second device authenticated as the source device to the
first device authenticated as the sink device is satisfied or not
in the vehicle-mounted device, and a third authentication step in
which, when the condition for providing the digital content from
the second device to the first device is determined to be
satisfied, then, the vehicle-mounted device, the second device, and
the first device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a
repeater device for relaying a digital content between the second
device authenticated as the source device and the first device
authenticated as the sink device.
[0018] A device authentication method according to the present
disclosure may be a device authentication method for a
vehicle-mounted system including a vehicle-mounted device including
an input unit connected to a device compatible with a predetermined
interface standard and inputting a digital content from the device
and an output unit connected to a device compatible with the
predetermined interface standard and outputting a digital content
to the device, and the device authentication method includes a
first authentication step in which, when a first device compatible
with the predetermined interface standard is connected to the
output unit of the vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle-mounted
device and the first device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device
as a source device at a transmission side of the digital content
compatible with the predetermined interface standard and
authenticate the first device as a sink device at a reception side
of the digital content compatible with the predetermined interface
standard, a second authentication step in which, when a second
device compatible with the predetermined interface standard is
connected to the input unit of the vehicle-mounted device while the
digital content is output to the first device authenticated as the
sink device from the output unit of the vehicle-mounted device, the
vehicle-mounted device and the second device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device as the sink device and authenticate the
second device as the source device, a third authentication step in
which the vehicle-mounted device, the second device, and the first
device authenticate the vehicle-mounted device as a repeater device
for relaying a digital content between the second device
authenticated as the source device and the first device
authenticated as the sink device, a determination step for
determining whether a condition for providing the digital content
from the second device authenticated as the source device to the
first device authenticated as the sink device is satisfied or not
in the vehicle-mounted device, and an authentication suspension
control step in which, when the condition for providing the digital
content from the second device to the first device is determined
not to be satisfied in the determination step, the authentication
in the third authentication step is suspended.
[0019] According to embodiments of the vehicle-mounted device of
the present disclosure, when the second device serving as the
source device is connected to the input unit while the digital
content is output to the first device authenticated as the sink
device from the output unit, the vehicle-mounted device is not
immediately authenticated as the repeater device for relaying the
digital content from the second device authenticated as the source
device to the first device authenticated as the sink device, and
instead, when a condition for providing the digital content from
the second device to the first device is satisfied, the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the repeater device for
relaying the digital content from the second device to the first
device. Therefore, even if the output of the digital content to the
first device authenticated as the sink device is stopped when the
vehicle-mounted device is authenticated as the repeater device, the
user understands that the fact that the condition for providing the
digital content from the second device to the first device is
satisfied means that it is a time to switch the digital content
which is output to the first device, and therefore, the user is
less likely to feel annoyed about the change in the output of the
connection device (first device) due to the authentication
processing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
vehicle-mounted device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a flow of
processing when a video content is distributed in a vehicle-mounted
system including a vehicle-mounted device, a portable terminal, and
a rear display device;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing
which is to be executed by a processing unit of the vehicle-mounted
device in the processing on the vehicle-mounted system as shown in
FIG. 2; and
[0023] FIG. 4 is a figure illustrating an example of a selection
screen of source devices displayed on a display unit of the
vehicle-mounted device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
explained with reference to the drawings.
[0025] A vehicle-mounted device according to an embodiment of the
present invention is configured as shown in FIG. 1.
[0026] In FIG. 1, a vehicle-mounted device 100 has a computer unit
(including a CPU), and has a processing unit 11 executing various
kinds of processing in accordance with a program. The processing
unit 11 is connected to a navigation unit 18 performing navigation
processing such as route guidance of a vehicle and an AV unit group
17 (including a CD/DVD drive, a digital television, a digital
radio, and the like) outputting a digital video content. The
processing unit 11 is connected to an output circuit 15 connected
to a speaker 16. Under the control of the processing unit 11, an
audio signal from the AV unit group 17 and the navigation unit 18
is provided via the output circuit 15 to the speaker 16, and sound
based on the audio signal is output from the speaker 16. The
processing unit 11 is further connected to a storage unit 14 (for
example, hard disk drive) storing various kinds of information such
as audio information and video information (digital video content)
subjected to playback processing by the AV unit group 17 and map
information used for processing with the navigation unit 18.
[0027] The vehicle-mounted device 100 includes a display unit 13
constituted by an LCD panel and provided on an instrument panel or
the like facing the front seat of the vehicle, and an operation
unit 12 constituted by a touch panel or the like integrally
provided with the display unit 13 (LCD panel). The processing unit
11 executes various kinds of processing on the basis of input
information according to the operation of the operation unit 12,
and can display, on the display unit 13, information about an image
and the like obtained from various kinds of processing.
[0028] Further, the vehicle-mounted device 100 includes an HDMI
input unit 19 and an input terminal 20. Under the control of the
processing unit 11, the HDMI input unit 19 inputs a signal of a
digital video content that is output according to a rule specified
in the HDMI from a device (for example, smartphone 300) compatible
with the interface standard of the HDMI connected via an HDMI cable
to the input terminal 20. The processing unit 11 can display, on
the display unit 13, a digital video content which is input with
the HDMI input unit 19. The vehicle-mounted device 100 includes an
HDMI output unit 21 and an output terminal 22. Under the control of
the processing unit 11, the HDMI output unit 21 outputs a digital
video content provided by the AV unit group 17 to a device (for
example, a rear display device 200 provided at the back seat)
compatible with the HDMI interface standard connected via an HDMI
cable to the output terminal 22 in accordance with a rule specified
in the HDMI interface standard.
[0029] The processing unit 11 can also output a digital video
content, which is input by the HDMI input unit 19 from a device
connected to the input terminal 20, to a device connected to the
output terminal 22 via the HDMI output unit 21.
[0030] In a case where the rear display unit 200 (compatible with
the HDMI) provided at the back seat side of the vehicle is
connected to the output terminal 22 of the vehicle-mounted device
100 as shown in FIG. 1, and subsequently, the smartphone 300
(compatible with the HDMI) is connected to the input terminal 20,
then, processing according to the sequence as shown in FIG. 2 is
performed by the vehicle-mounted device 100, the rear display
device 200, and the smartphone 300. In this event, the processing
unit 11 of the vehicle-mounted device 100 executes processing in
accordance with a procedure as shown in FIG. 3.
[0031] When the vehicle-mounted device 100 confirms that the rear
display device 200 (HDMI compatible device: first device) is
connected to the HDMI output unit 21 via the output terminal 22
(see (1) in FIG. 2), the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the rear
display unit 200 authenticate the vehicle-mounted device 100 as a
source device at a transmission side of a digital content, and
authenticate the rear display device 200 as a sink device at a
reception side of a digital content (see (2) in FIG. 2). In this
process, when the processing unit 11 of the vehicle-mounted device
100 determines that the rear display unit 200 which is an HDMI
compatible device is connected to the HDMI output unit 21 (YES in
S11 in FIG. 3), the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the rear display
unit 200 perform first source/sink authentication processing (first
authentication processing) to authenticate the vehicle-mounted
device 100 as a source device and authenticate the rear display
device 200 as a sink device (S12 in FIG. 3: first authentication
unit). When the vehicle-mounted device 100 and the rear display
device 200 authenticate the vehicle-mounted device 100 as the
source device and authenticate the rear display unit 200 as the
sink device, the processing unit 11 causes the HDMI output unit 21
to start output of the digital video content from, e.g., a digital
television, in the AV unit group 17 to the rear display device 200
in accordance with a rule defined in the HDMI (S13 of FIG. 3).
Accordingly, for example, the digital video content of the digital
television is distributed from the vehicle-mounted device 100
serving as the source device to the rear display unit 200 serving
as the sink device, and the rear display unit 200 outputs the
distributed digital video content (display and audio output) (see
FIG. 2).
[0032] As described above, when the vehicle-mounted device 100
confirms that the smartphone 300 (HDMI compatible device: second
device) is connected to the HDMI input unit 19 via the input
terminal 20 (see (3) in FIG. 2) while the digital video content is
output from the vehicle-mounted device 100 (source device) to the
rear display unit 200 (sink device), the vehicle-mounted device 100
and the smartphone 300 authenticate the vehicle-mounted device 100
as the sink device at the reception side of the digital content,
and authenticates the smartphone 300 as the source device at the
transmission side of the digital content (see (4) in FIG. 2). In
this process, when the processing unit 11 of the vehicle-mounted
device 100 monitoring connection of an HDMI compatible device to
the HDMI input unit 19 (see S14 in FIG. 3) determines that the
smartphone 300 which is the HDMI compatible device is connected to
the HDMI input unit 19 (YES in S14 in FIG. 3) after the HDMI output
unit 21 is caused to output the digital video content to the rear
display unit 200 (see S13 in FIG. 3), the vehicle-mounted device
100 and the smartphone 300 perform second source/sink
authentication processing (second authentication processing) to
authenticate the vehicle-mounted device 100 as the sink device and
authenticate the smartphone 300 as the source device (S15 in FIG.
3: second authentication unit).
[0033] In this event, as between the vehicle-mounted device 100 and
the rear display unit 200, the vehicle-mounted device 100 is
recognized as the source device, and the rear display unit 200 is
recognized as the sink device, and as between the vehicle-mounted
device 100 and the smartphone 300, the vehicle-mounted device 100
is recognized as the sink device, and the smartphone 300 is
recognized as the source device. Then, for example, the digital
video content from the digital television which is output from the
vehicle-mounted device 100 is distributed to the rear display unit
200, and the digital video content is output from the rear display
unit 200.
[0034] In this situation, the processing unit 11 of the
vehicle-mounted device 100 determines whether the source to be
played back is the HDMI or not (S16 in FIG. 3). At this time,
playback of the video content from the smartphone 300 (HDMI
compatible device) serving as the source device has not yet been
started (NO in S16 in FIG. 3), and therefore, the processing unit
11 displays, on the display unit 13, a selection screen (selection
unit) of an AV source device as shown in FIG. 4 on the basis of,
e.g., an operation performed with the operation unit 12 by the
user. Then, the processing unit 11 suspends execution of relay
authentication processing for authenticating the vehicle-mounted
device 100 as a repeater device for relaying a digital video
content between the smartphone 300 authenticated as the source
device connected to the HDMI input unit 19 and the rear display
unit 200 authenticated as the sink device connected to the HDMI
output unit 21 (S17 in FIG. 3: authentication suspending control
unit). Then, the processing unit 11 determines whether an operation
for selecting an HDMI compatible device as an AV source device
(operation of an "HDMI" button in FIG. 4) is performed or not in a
selection screen (see FIG. 4) displayed on the display unit 13, and
more specifically, the processing unit 11 determines whether a
condition for providing a digital video content from the smartphone
300 (second device) authenticated as the source device to the rear
display unit 200 (first device) authenticated as the sink device is
satisfied or not (S18 in FIG. 3).
[0035] When an operation for selecting an HDMI compatible device
(operation of the "HDMI" button) is performed on the selection
screen of the AV source device (see FIG. 4) (YES in S18), the
processing unit 11 determines that the condition for providing a
digital video content from the smartphone 300 (second device)
authenticated as the source device to the rear display unit 200
(first device) authenticated as the sink device is satisfied, and
stops the output of the digital video content of the digital
television to the rear display unit 200 serving as the sink device
connected to the HDMI output unit 21 (S19).
[0036] As described above, in the vehicle-mounted system, when the
HDMI compatible device connected to the HDMI output unit 21 is
selected as the AV source device, the distribution of the digital
video content of the digital television from the vehicle-mounted
device 100 to the rear display unit 200 is stopped (see (5) in FIG.
2). As a result, the output (display and audio output) of the
digital video content on the rear display unit 200 is no longer
provided, and, for example, the screen of the rear display unit 100
blacks out. In this state, in the vehicle-mounted device 100, the
smartphone 300 connected to the HDMI input unit 19, and the rear
display unit 200 connected to the HDMI output unit 21, the
smartphone 300 authenticated as the source device and the rear
display unit 200 recognized as the sink device authenticate the
vehicle-mounted device 100 as the repeater device for relaying a
digital video content between the smartphone 300 and the rear
display unit 200 (see (6), (7) in FIG. 2)
[0037] In this process, the processing unit 11 of the
vehicle-mounted device 100 stops the output of the digital video
content from the digital television via the HDMI output unit 21 to
the rear display unit 200 (see S19 in FIG. 3), and thereafter, the
vehicle-mounted device 100, the smartphone 300, and the rear
display unit 200 performs relay authentication processing (third
authentication processing) for authenticating the vehicle-mounted
device 100 as the repeater device for relaying the digital video
content between the smartphone 300 and the rear display unit 200
(S20 in FIG. 3: third authentication unit).
[0038] Thereafter, the processing unit 11 relays the digital video
content from the smartphone 300 which is input from the HDMI input
unit 19, and causes the HDMI output unit 21 to output the digital
video content to the rear display unit 200 (S21 in FIG. 3).
Therefore, the digital video content from the smartphone 300 is
distributed to the rear display unit 200 via the vehicle-mounted
device 100 authenticated as the repeater device (see FIG. 2). The
digital video content provided from the smartphone 300 is displayed
on the rear display unit 200.
[0039] It should be noted that the processing unit 11 of the
vehicle-mounted device 100 executes predetermined processing
according to a predetermined procedure after relay transfer of the
digital video content from the smartphone 300 to the rear display
unit 200 is started (see * mark in FIG. 3). When the video content
from the HDMI compatible device serving as the source device starts
to be played back (YES in S16), the processing unit 11 executes the
relay authentication processing without suspending the processing
to perform the processing of relaying the digital video content
from the HDMI compatible device and outputting the digital video
content to the rear display unit 200 (S21 in FIG. 3)
[0040] Further, when the HDMI compatible device is not connected to
the HDMI output unit 21 (NO in S11 in FIG. 3), or when any HDMI
compatible device is not selected on the selection screen (see FIG.
4) (NO in S18 in FIG. 3), then, the processing unit 11 executes a
predetermined processing according to a predetermined procedure
(see * mark in FIG. 3).
[0041] According to the vehicle-mounted device 100 as described
above, when the smartphone 300 serving as the source device is
connected to the HDMI input unit 19 while digital video content
already is output to the rear display unit 200 authenticated as the
sink device from the HDMI output unit 21, the vehicle-mounted
device 100 is not immediately authenticated as the repeater device
for relaying the digital video content from the smartphone 300
authenticated as the source device to the rear display unit 200
authenticated as the sink device, and instead, the HDMI compatible
device is selected on the selection screen of the AV source devices
as shown in FIG. 4, and when a condition for providing the digital
content from the smartphone 300 to the rear display unit 200 is
satisfied, the vehicle-mounted device 100 is authenticated as the
repeater device for relaying the digital video content from the
smartphone 300 to the rear display unit 200.
[0042] Therefore, even if the output of the digital video content
of the digital television to the rear display unit 200
authenticated as the sink device is stopped when the
vehicle-mounted device 100 is authenticated as the repeater device,
the user who operates the selection screen in order to switch the
source device of the digital video content by his or her own will
is already understanding that it is a time to switch the digital
video content which is output to the rear display unit 200, and
therefore, even if the output of the digital video content from the
rear display unit 200 is lost when the relay authentication is
performed, the user is less likely to feel annoyed by the change in
the output.
[0043] The vehicle-mounted device according to the present
disclosure has the effect of making it less likely for the user to
feel annoyed by a change in the output of a connected device due to
authentication processing, and the vehicle-mounted device according
to the present disclosure is useful as a vehicle-mounted device
including an input device connected to a device compatible with a
predetermined interface standard such as HDMI (High Definition
Multimedia Interface) and inputting a digital content from the
device and an output unit connected to a device compatible with the
predetermined interface standard and outputting a digital content
to the device.
[0044] While there has been illustrated and described what is at
present contemplated to be preferred embodiments of the present
invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may
be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true
scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made
to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the invention
without departing from the central scope thereof. Therefore, it is
intended that this invention not be limited to the particular
embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all
embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *