Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery – Data processing system error or fault handling – Reliability and availability
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-07
2004-10-12
Beausoliel, Robert (Department: 2113)
Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery
Data processing system error or fault handling
Reliability and availability
C714S004110, C701S033000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06804795
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electronic device for use with an audio-visual system comprising a plurality of devices and its repair method, for example. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic device and its repair method in which defects of respective devices can be detected and repaired satisfactorily by using a digital interface laid among a plurality of devices, for example.
BACKGROUND ART
In an audio-visual system comprising a plurality of devices, for example, it has been proposed to transmit audio and video data and various control data among the devices by using a digital interface. Specifically, in the format of the digital interface prescribed by the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394, for example, respective devices connected by the bus are called nodes. During one frame period, isochronous transfer mode packets and asynchronous transfer mode packets can be transmitted among the nodes connected by the bus.
When data is transmitted through the interface prescribed by the IEEE 1394, stream data of a large capacity such as video data and audio data is transmitted in the isochronous transfer mode. When data is transmitted in the isochronous transfer mode, while a predetermined transmission band is being secured in advance, transmission of data is executed so that data is transmitted in the isochronous transfer mode with a real time property being secured. However, in the isochronous transfer mode, when an error occurs in the transmission, the isochronous transfer mode has no mechanism capable of protecting data from the error so that data is lost accordingly.
Data such as control data and still picture data are transmitted in the asynchronous transfer mode. In the case of the asynchronous transfer mode, data can be transmitted by transmitting asynchronous packets from a node which secures a transmission line by executing processing called an arbitration to secure a band during a period which is not available in the isochronous transfer. In this mode, a reliable transmission can be guaranteed by executing processing of acknowledge and retry. However, when the band on the bus is secured, each packet is transmitted so that transmission timing cannot be made constant.
When a plurality of audio devices and video devices are connected by the IEEE 1394 system standard bus, a controller is able to control operation of a controlled device in a remote control fashion by transmitting various kinds of control data from one device (controller) to the other device (controlled device).
When such control data are transmitted, there can be applied a transmission system of an AV/C command (AV/C Command Transaction Set) which is a control command applied to an audio-visual device (AV device), for example. Details of the IEEE 1394 system and details of the AV/C command are laid-open in the internet home page http://www. 1394TA. org.
When an audio-visual system in which a plurality of apparatus are connected by using the above digital interface is constructed in, a home, for example, there is used an arrangement shown in
FIG. 2
, for example. Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 2
, there is provided a bus line
9
which is prescribed by the IEEE 1394, for example. To this bus line
9
, there are connected a video recording and playbacking apparatus (VCR)
100
manufactured by a vender A, a disc recording and playbacking apparatus (MD)
200
manufactured by a vender B, a disc playbacking apparatus (CD)
300
manufactured by a vender C and a television receiver (TV)
400
manufactured by a vender D.
However, when the audio-visual system is constructed by using such bus line
9
, if one apparatus malfunctions, an influence of the malfunctioning apparatus spreads to the whole of the bus line
9
. Further, in that case, a user cannot visually specify a defective apparatus. Accordingly, in order to solve such problem, a user has to request the venders A, B, C, D to repair their own apparatus, respectively, and hence extremely a lot of time and labor should be wasted.
On the other hand, a technology capable of detecting the defective part of an apparatus and repairing the detected part by using codes which can be set to respective venders and are prescribed in the above IEEE 394 interface has been developed. However, the above technology can be implemented after the defective apparatus has been specified and therefore cannot be used when a user cannot visually specify a defective apparatus as described above.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In view of the aforesaid aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device and its repair method in which when a specific device in a system with a plurality of apparatus connected thereto by using a bus based on a conventional digital interface malfunctions, such defective device can be detected and repaired readily and easily.
According to the first invention, there is provided an electronic device which, in compliance with a predetermined digital interface wherein a predetermined identification code, a processing target discriminating code, a processing field prescribing code and processing information are set, comprises:
means for recognizing the identification code;
means for discriminating the processing target when the identification code is recognized; and
processing means for executing the processing information in accordance with the processing field if the processing target contains its own device. With this arrangement, it is possible to realize the device in which the defective device can be detected and repaired with ease.
According to the second invention, in the electronic device according to the first invention,
a code for targeting all devices and a code for targeting a device of each of the venders are set to the processing target discriminating code, and
the processing information is executed if it is determined that the code for processing all devices or the code for targeting each vender device targets its own device. With this arrangement, processing necessary for the target device can be executed satisfactorily.
According to the third invention, in the electronic device according to the second invention, a processing field prescribing code following the code for targeting all devices and the processing information are determined general-purposely and processing is executed in accordance with them. With this arrangement, processing necessary for the device can be executed satisfactorily.
According to the fourth invention, in the electronic device according to the second invention, the processing field prescribing code following the code for targeting each vender device and the processing information are determined unique to each vender and processing is executed in accordance with them. With this arrangement, processing unique to each vender and which is required by the device can be executed satisfactorily.
According to the fifth invention, in the electronic device according to the second invention, when a master device transmits the processing information for inquiring a malfunction of a device together with the code for targeting all devices, a slave device transmits answer information for the inquiry about the malfunction to the master device. With this arrangement, a defective device can be specified easily.
According to the sixth invention, in the electronic device according to the fifth invention, the slave device includes a diagnosing means for diagnosing the malfunction of the device and information of the diagnosing means is transmitted to the master device as answer information for the inquiry about the malfunction. With this arrangement, a defective device can be specified easily.
According to the seventh invention, in the electronic device according to the fifth invention, the master device includes a communication means for communicating with the outside, and, together with the code for targeting each vender device, the processing information on repairing the slave device and which is determined unique to each vender are tran
Kawamura Harumi
Sato Masahiko
Beausoliel Robert
Duncan B
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