Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural display systems – Remotely located
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-07
2001-11-06
Luu, Matthew (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural display systems
Remotely located
C345S001100, C348S705000, C348S706000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313812
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a control system for electronic equipment comprising, for example, a plurality of A/V (Audio/Visual) equipment connected so as to be controlled by one controller.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, A/V equipment which can perform an OSD (On Screen Display) output and has a GUI (Graphic User Interface) function existed. In such equipment, for example, a control state set by the user by using a remote controller is displayed to a monitor connected to the equipment. Thus, the user can confirm a setting state of a control of the equipment even from a position away from the equipment.
In the conventional A/V equipment, it is possible to connect a plurality of equipment having the GUI function, to select a video output and an audio output of each equipment, and to supply them to, for example, a monitor.
However, hitherto, a remote controller to control each of those equipment is an exclusive-use controller for each equipment. Therefore, the user needs to exchange and grasp the different remote controller for each equipment to be operated and to operate it. There is, consequently, a problem such that the GUI function provided to inherently improve an operability causes a deterioration in operability due to the operation such that the user exchanges and grasps the different remote controller.
Hitherto, an A/V equipment such that a number of connected A/V equipment are controlled in a lump, for example, what is called an A/V amplifier also existed. According to such an A/V amplifier, information of the other A/V equipment connected is previously stored in a memory provided in the amplifier and a function is selected for the amplifier by a remote controller or the like using infrared rays is selected, thereby controlling the equipment connected.
Consideration will now be made with respect to a case where an A/V equipment having a control corresponding to the A/V amplifier, for example, what is called a CD (Compact Disc) changer in which a number of CDs are enclosed and a specific CD is selected from a number of CDs and is reproduced is connected to the A/V amplifier. In the A/V amplifier, when the CD changer is selected as a function, a control corresponding to the CD changer is displayed on a monitor connected to the amplifier. The user operates the remote controller or the like on the basis of the display, so that he can control the CD changer.
When the connected equipment is a CD changer, a list of titles of the CDs enclosed in the CD changer can be displayed on the monitor by a predetermined operation. The titles which are displayed in this instance are stored into the memory of the A/V amplifier by transmitting information represented by characters reproduced, for example, in the CD changer to the A/V amplifier or transmitting information represented by characters by a direct input to the A/V amplifier by a remote control unit or the like by the user. However, in the A/V amplifier, since the equipment which is connected cannot be specified, a large capacity in the memory cannot be allocated to the specific equipment. Therefore, there is a problem such that the A/V amplifier itself cannot display a large amount of information.
On the other hand, even in the foregoing CD changer, the changer having the GUI function exists. In this case, in addition to the titles of the CDs enclosed in the CD changer, much information such as names of artists, titles of pieces of music recorded in the CDs, and the like can be displayed to the monitor. On the basis of this display, the user selects the CD by the remote controller and can select a desired piece of music with respect to the selected CD and can reproduce it. Various information represented by characters has previously been stored in the memory provided for the CD changer. In the example of the CD changer, different from the foregoing A/V amplifier, since information such as functions of the set, the number of discs, and the like is obvious, an optimum memory construction can be used. In this case, however, the user has to operate the remote controllers of both of the A/V amplifier and the CD changer.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a concentrated control system of electronic equipment which can perform a concentrated remote control in a system to which A/V equipment having the GUI function is connected.
According to the invention, to solve the foregoing problem, there is provided a control system for electronic equipment for concentratedly controlling a plurality of electronic equipment, comprising: at least one or more electronic equipment which are connected by a predetermined method and can be controlled by a predetermined control signal; a controller for transferring the control signal to at least one of the electronic equipment; transfer means for transferring a data signal to each of the electronic equipment; discriminating means for discriminating contents of the data signal transferred by the transfer means; and selecting means for selecting the electronic equipment on the basis of a discrimination result in the discriminating means and displaying display data from the selected electronic equipment, wherein a control is shifted to the selected electronic equipment.
According to the invention, to solve the foregoing problem, there is provided a controller which is used in a system for concentratedly controlling a plurality of electronic equipment which comprises at least one or more electronic equipment which are connected by a predetermined method and can be controlled by a predetermined control signal, transfer means for transferring a data signal to each of the electronic equipment, discriminating means for discriminating contents of the data signal transferred by the transfer means, and selecting means for selecting the electronic equipment on the basis of a discrimination result in the discriminating means and displaying display data from the selected electronic equipment, and in which a control is shifted to the selected electronic equipment on the basis of the control signal, characterized in that the control signal is transferred to at least one of the electronic equipment for the system.
According to the invention, to solve the foregoing problem, there is provided electronic equipment which can be controlled by a predetermined control signal and in which a plurality of electronic equipment can be connected, characterized by comprising: transfer means for transferring a data signal to the other electronic equipment connected; receiving means for receiving a data signal from the other electronic equipment connected; discriminating means for discriminating contents of the data signal received by the receiving means; and selecting means for selecting the other electronic equipment on the basis of a discrimination result in the discriminating means and displaying display data from the selected other electronic equipment, wherein a control is shifted to the other electronic equipment on the basis of a predetermined control signal.
As mentioned above, according to the invention, among the connected electronic equipment, the control is shifted to the electronic equipment selected on the basis of an instruction of the controller and the display data from the selected electronic equipment is displayed, so that the electronic equipment can be concentratedly controlled.
The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 0612157 (19
Asakura Keiichi
Hirai Takahiro
Ishikawa Masami
Ishizuka Takashi
Katsuyama Akira
Blackman Anthony J.
Luu Matthew
Maioli Jay H.
Sony Corporation
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