MXPA05011873A - Method for tuning to an interconnected ieee-1394 compliant device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method by a television includes considering only IEEE-1394 compliant recording devices discovered by a television for selection as a default recording device;disabling a discovered IEEE-1394 compliant recording device from a recording operation when the discovered recording device is without a desired recording feature (418);selecting a single discovered recording device as a default recording device for recording output from the television (420);and selecting one of multiple discovered IEEE-1394 compliant recording devices according to a criteria, when a particular one of the multiple discovered recording devices has not been selected by a television user (422).

Description

METHOD TO TUNE A DEVICE COMPATIBLE WITH IEEE-1394 INTERCONNECTED FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to devices compatible with IEEE-1394 and more in particular, to selective tuning with interconnected IEEE-1394 devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The IEEE-1394, also known as "Firewall" is a standard for a high capacity connection with the copy protection capability, which transmits audio and video over a single cable and transmits network commands. With two connectors, IEEE-1394 compliant devices can connect to one or more devices to create a network of 1EEE-1394 devices. Not only a TV with connectors compatible with IEEE-1394"two-way" can enter (accept) video and audio from IEEE-1394 compatible devices, the TV can also send (send) audio and video through the IEEE connectors -1394 to other devices compatible with IEEE-1394. This two-way transmission and output connection capability is important for recording from a TV to a digital video cartridge recorder, a DVCR, as examples. In addition, the TV can send audio and video control, AV / C, commands to other devices compatible with IEEE-1394 in order to control its functions, such as STOP, PAUSE, PLAY, etc. The interconnection of IEEE-1394 compatible devices with a TV presents the problem when the IEEE-1394 device receives a command, such as RECORD, sent by the viewer. When the TV is not currently tuned to the input of the desired IEEE-1394 compatible device on the TV, the command can not be sent to the correct device. Another problem with multiple IEEE-1394 compatible devices connected to a TV is to select a particular 1EE-1394 compliant recording device when the user wants to record a program. Known hard drives include a device called Audio and Video Hard Disk Drive (AVHDD). One measure for managing a viewer command is that each time s receive a RECORD command from the viewer's TV, an "instant" message will ask the user "Which device on the list do you want this RECORD command to go to? , this will be annoying and tiring for the user since the user often selects transport commands to go to the same IEEE-1394 device, and is probably the only IEEE-1394 recording device.Another previous practice is when, after the TV receives the RECORD command, the TV is programmed to force the user to manually "navigate" to the TV input, where the AVHDD of the video hard disk is connected by pressing CH + / or input keys. , the existing TV processing of commands can automatically enable automatic selection when the device is an AVHDD and disable it if it is not AVHDD.The problem is that sometimes there may not be information available. to make this determination or may not be appropriate for future devices. Accordingly, there is a need to selectively control, from the display device, the automatic recording and tuning of an IEEE-1394 compatible device interconnected with user commands in an intuitive manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A method through a television to handle the selection of multiple devices compatible with IEEE-1394, which includes considering only recording devices compatible with IEEE-1394 discovered by a television for selection as a recording device by omission, disable an IEEE-1394-compliant recording device discovered from a recording operation when the discovered recording device is without a desired recording feature, select an individual discovered recording device as a default recording device to record the output from the television, and selecting one of multiple recording devices discovered according to a criterion, when a particular device of the multiple discovered recording devices has not been selected by a television user. A method for tuning a television with an IEEE-1394 compliant device that includes the steps of using an IEEE-1394 compatible device previously selected as a default device to receive the output from a television when the previously selected device is connected to the TV; use a single IEEE-1394 compatible device discovered as the default device when there is no previously selected default device; and perform according to a criterion the first of multiple devices compatible with IEEE-1394 the default device when the default device has not been selected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding can be obtained by considering the following description along with the drawings, where: Figure 1 illustrates a diagram of IEEE-1394 compatible devices interconnected with a TV, illustrating an exemplary network for application of the invention. Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of selective routing of AV / C transport commands for video audio control according to the invention; and Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary user menu for application of the invention in an exemplary network configuration of Figure 1. Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary flow chart for selecting an IEEE-1394 recording device according to the invention. To facilitate understanding, identical reference numbers were used, where it was possible to point out identical elements that are common in the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the diagram 100 of Figure 1, an exemplary interconnection of compatible devices with IEEE-1394 103, 105 connected to a TV 101 television is shown. When the IEEE-1394 compatible devices are connected to a TV , if the TV is not tuned at that moment with the input of the IEEE-1394 device on the TV it can be ambiguous to know which device receives and responds to the viewer's command as RECORD. The interconnection shown in Figure 1 is only an exemplary configuration. Alternatively, the Television can have one, two or more IEEE-1394 connectors that are two-way, and will not only introduce the video from an external source but also will broadcast video. The benefit of an HDTV television broadcasting audio and video through a 1EEE-1394 compatible connector is that a digital television program received and tuned by the TV can broadcast to a digital recorder and record. Examples of digital recorders include a Video Audio Hard Drive (AVHDD) and a Digital Video Cartridge Recorder (DVCR). In an interconnection of IEEE-1394 devices and a TV, several problems must be solved in the way in which user controls are handled between the TV and the interconnected IEEE-1394 devices. A problem is the way to tell the TV the device to which you have to send the transport commands such as RECORD and PLAY, when multiple IEEE-1394 devices are connected to the TV. Related to the first problem is the way in which the TV should automatically select a default device for the user so that the user does not have to select one that he does not want. Also, another problem with the interconnection of IEEE-1394 compliant devices is how to use the digital recorder device (eg, AVHDD) as a quasi-personal PVR video recorder instead of just a solid state recorder. Another solution provided can be how to overcome auto-tuning when its effect is not convenient (that is, when the user can not watch the video from the TV that comes from the IEEE-1394 recorder to be displayed on the TV, which avoids the use of the IEEE-1394 recorder as a quasi-PVR).

An advantage of the IEEE-1394 device is that by implementing a standardized AV / C specification within the TV software, the user can use the remote control to send control commands to the TV, through the IEEE-1394 network, and a device without having the remote control in the same mode as the device is controlled and the remote control does not have to be controlled by the brand of the device. As an example, the remote can remain in the RCA TV mode and still control a Hitachi D-VCR. AV / C specifications for audio and video control are released by the IEEE-1394 Brand Association. The common specification, AVC 98a, defines a group of commands to control audio / video devices with the use of IEEE-1394. It is based on the function control protocol (FCP) defined in IEC61883-1. In addition to the common specification, AVC 98a, there are other documents for the specification such as Tuner, Camera, Tape Recorder, Disk and Monitor. However, the advantage of having control of any device with the AV / C commands presents a problem, which device in the IEEE-1394 network should receive the commands to be sent? An aspect of the invention is when the TV is tuned to a TV input, which one has an IEEE-1394 device connected to it? All AV / C commands will go to the IEEE-1394 device to which the TV is tuned. When the TV is not tuned to an IEEE-1394 input, only the RECORD and STOP commands can be sent to the default recording device. However, when tuned to an IEEE-1394 input, the TV can send any transport control command, regardless of whether the device allows recording (for example, an IEEE-1394 DVD player that does not record but only plays discs). The transport control commands such as PLAY, ADVANCE, DELAY, PAUSE, etc. Referring now to Figure 2, a diagram is shown 200 of the process for routing AV / C transport commands for video and audio control, in accordance with the invention. As long as a transfer command is not received, the command routing process remains inactive. When it is received 201 a transfer command, the process verifies that the TV is tuned to a device 202 compatible with IEEE-1394. When the TV is tuned to a particular IEEE-394 device, the received transport command is sent to a 1394 device in which the TV is tuned 205. When the TV is not tuned to a particular IEEE-1394 device, then it checks whether the command is a "RECORD" or "STOP". A command other than "RECORD" or "STOP" is ignored 203. A "STOP" command is sent to the IEEE-1394 recording device 207 by default. In response to a "RECORD" command, the process checks whether a default recording device 206 is available. The "RECORD" command can not be carried out if the default recorder 208 is not available. When an IEEE-1394 recorder is available by default and the default feature in the recorder is not turned on, the recording function can not be carried out. performed at 208. When the recording feature on the recorder 209 is activated and the TV is tuned to a digital channel 210, the recording operation is started by the IEEE-1394 recorder. After recording is started or when the TV is not tuned to a digital channel, a determination is made as to whether the automatic tuning feature of a specific IEEE-1394 device is turned on 212. When the automatic tuning feature is not in the TV stays in the current input 214, that is, in the connection path. When the automatic tuning feature is turned on on the TV, it automatically tunes to where the 213 IEEE-1394 device is connected. Again, the advantage of controlling any device with AV / C commands presents another problem. When the TV is not tuned to an input where an IEEE-1394 input is connected, then the IEEE-1394 device in the IEEE-1394 network should be asked, should the TV send transport commands to when to start recording? This has two solutions that are implemented on TV. One solution is for the TV to analyze all IEEE-1394 devices and automatically select the most appropriate one when applying a set of standards, the other solution is to provide a setting menu for the user to select an IEEE-1394 recording device by default, that the TV sends transport commands to when the TV is not tuned to the IEEE-1394 recording device by default. With reference to the deployment of the exemplary menu of Figure 3, the viewer has the ability to maneuver successively from the "Main Menu" through a "Connections" menu for a "1394 Adjustment" menu. The viewer has the option of sending a "RECORD" function to an IEEE-1394 device by default, shown as the "AVHDD Model" and maneuvering another menu display and selecting a default recording preference. The exemplary text string "Press record songs on selected device" shown in Figure 3, is a check box control element that if "verified" means that it is enabled, if "not verified" means that it is disabled. . When an AVHDD Model appears it is a model selection option field with the ability to toggle where highlighting and selecting the "OK" button will cause the next 1394 recording device to appear and the device is selected. By continuing to press "OK", the next device will be displayed, and so on. Another selection is "Off", already mentioned. It can be said that the latter is analogous to having multiple printers in the computer network and having to adjust a default printer that is used for printing. When the TV automatically selects an IEEE-1394 recording default state for a device, a group of rules is used. The rules or process for selecting a default recording device IEEE-1394 is illustrated in Figure 4. When a default or previously selected device remains connected to the TV, that TV is used as the device 410, 412, 413 of recording by default The process directs the TV to discover the 414 IEEE-1394 devices where a default or previously selected device does not exist 410 or when it exists in the system, the device is no longer connected 412. In a condition where there is no 415 device of recorder, then the default 1394 recorder device is set to nothing and the devices for selection as the default device 416 are not offered. IEEE-1394 415 discovered devices that can no longer be recorded 417 also result in omitting the 1394 recorder to nothing 416. A process structure of recordable devices 417 leads to a verification of whether the user has turned off the recording feature 418. When 418 the recording feature has been turned off, the process is returned to the initial question step to determine if a default or previously selected device exists in response to a new "RECORD" command from the user. When the user has not turned off the recording feature 418 and there is only one device 419 discovered, the TV will bypass that device as the default IEEE-1394 recording device 420. When 419 is more than one recorder device and the user selected a default device 421, the process applies the state of the default recorder to the device 422 selected by the user. When the user has not selected a default device 421, among multiple found 419 devices, the process assigns a default recorder state to the first device model identified with 422. Figure 4 illustrates the only "discovered" IEEE-1394 device. which has the ability to record IEEE-1394 (for example, AVHDD and D-VHS) which are considered in any setting as the self-selected default IEEE-1394 recording device. When there is at least one IEEE-1394 digital recording device connected, but the user does not want to use that feature, for example, due to an operation problem, a selection of "off" appears in the options field as a method to ignore the transport keys. When only 1 IEEE-1394 digital recording device is found, then it is the device selected by default, regardless of whether the AVHDD or DVCR. When there is more than one IEEE-1394 digital recording device, and the user has not made his selection, the device selected as the default recorder is the "first" device, by the model number, without considering the type of device. When the user has selected a particular target device from the list of devices on the screen and the last device disappears from the network, then the valid commands will go to the first device in the list, based on the model number. When a selected device is disconnected, then the first device in the classified list now becomes the default device, and when the previous device selected by the user comes back online it becomes the default device. Another aspect of the process is the "auto-tuning", for the IEEE-1394 recorder (ideally, a hard disk device, sometimes called the Audio Video Hard Drive (AVHDD)), when you press RECORD. The auto-tuning medium will automatically tune into the input where the AVHDD is connected when the RECORD button is pressed. By doing this, the user uses the AVHDD as a "digital solid-state hard disk drive recorder" to record programs; for example, the user can use the AVHDD as a quasi-PVR (device moved in time); for example, to pause a program, delay it, fast forward it, instant replay, jump 30 seconds, etc. It works as follows: when the TV is tuned to a digital program (analog is not allowed), and the user presses RECORD on the remote control of the TV, the RECORD command is sent through the IEEE-1394 network to the IEEE- 1394 set as the default recorder. When only this was done, then the AVHDD will only be a very expensive solid-state digital VCRE. But, because the TV will auto-tune to the input of the IEEE-1394 recorder by default on the TV when it receives the RECORD command; this allows the user not only to record the program but also enable trick modes such as PAUSE; DELAY, instant replay, JUMP 30 seconds, etc. This is possible because the TV broadcasts IEEE-1394 video from the TV tuner onto the default recording device, which is sent back to the TV for display (the video routing explains the slight delay when see the program sent back from the default recording device). In an alternative mode, anytime the TV is tuned to a digital channel, a RECORD command will be automatically sent to the AVHDD video audio hard drive. This will allow all programs to be memorized continuously in the AVHDD. This continuous video memorization allows the user to use trick modes and use their AVHDD as a PVR personal video recorder or a time-shifting device. The TV will hide the fact that it automatically tunes to the IEEE-1394 input of the video audio hard drive on the TV and instead pretends to be tuned to a digital channel on the TV tuner. In another alternative mode, automatic tuning with an IEEE-1394 recording device in response to a RECORD command feature, which may be inconvenient, may be resolved. For a DVCR digital video cartridge recorder, the user will want to solve a command for automatic tuning in RECORD since automatic tuning with a DVCR input of the digital video cartridge recorder is not useful, since the user does not have the ability to see the output of the DVCR, that is, the digital channel to be recorded from the TV tuner will not be seen by the user. When any of the IEEE-1394 recording devices connects to the TV but the user does not want to make the recording, you can disable the RECORD button completely so that an unwanted recording does not start. The user can do this with the on-screen menu shown in Figure 3, instead of selecting a device, such as an AVHDD model, in an alternating model selection option field, by selecting "off". In summary, the selective control of IEEE-1394 devices includes a solution to provide a setting menu for the user to select an IEEE-1394 compliant recording device, which the TV must carry commands for when the TV is not tuned to the IEEE-1394 recording device by default. Another aspect of the invention when the TV is tuned to an IEEE-1394 input, then, commands sent over the IEEE-1394 network are always sent to the device tuned at that time. Selective control of IEEE-1394 devices allows the user to automatically tune, "auto-tune" the IEEE-1394 recorder, ideally a hard disk device, sometimes called a video audio hard drive (AVHDD), when pressed RECORD. Auto-tuning means that you will automatically tune to the input where the IEEE-1394 recorder is connected when the RECORD button is pressed. By doing this, the user is allowed to use the AVHDD more than a "digital solid state hard disk drive recorder", the user can use the AVHDD as a quasi-PVR (time offset device), for example, to pause the program , delay it, fast forward it, instant replay, jump 20 seconds, etc. In addition, the selective control of the 1EEE-1394 devices allows the user to turn off the auto-tuning feature, as some devices will route the video from the TV to the recorder back to the TV for deployment (eg, a digital VCR). Although some of the embodiments embodying the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, those skilled in the art will be able to contemplate various embodiments that also incorporate these teachings.

Claims (10)

1. A method characterized in that it comprises the following steps: consider only recording devices compatible with IEEE-1394 discovered by a television for selection as a default recording device; disabling the IEEE-1394 compliant recording device discovered from a recording operation when the discovered recording device does not have the desired recording characteristic; select a single recording device discovered as the default recording device to record the output from the television; and selecting one of the multiple recording devices compatible with IEEE-1394 discovered according to a criterion, when the particular of the discovered recording devices has not been selected by the user of the television.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes the step of selecting the discovered recording device as a predetermined recording device according to a criterion, when a previous recording device selected by the television viewer does not It is available to record the output from the television.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that further carrying out the step of selecting a recording device previously selected by the television viewer as the default recording device when a current recording device designated as the recording device by default it is not available for recording and the recording device previously selected by the television viewer is available for recording.

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the recording device is one of a DVCR digital video cartridge recorder and an AVHDD audio, video hard disk unit.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the criterion is a list with numerical basis of the model numbers for the discovered recording devices.

6. A method for tuning an IEEE-1394 compatible device characterized in that it comprises the steps of: using an IEEE-1394 compatible device previously selected as the default device to receive the output from a television when the previously selected device is connected to television; use the only IEEE-1394 compliant device discovered as the default device when the default device has not been previously selected; and perform according to a criterion, the first of the multiple IEEE-1394 compliant devices discovered by the default device, when the default device has not been selected.

The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the device compatible with IEEE-1394 is a recording device.

The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the recording device is a recording device compatible with IEEE-394 which is one of a DVCR digital video cartridge recorder and an AVHDD audio, video hard disk drive. .

9. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the criterion is based on the rules defined by the user. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the device compatible with IEEE-1394 is interconnected with a television through another device compatible with IEEE-1394.