KR20060116444A - Methode for controlling link mode in device link system based television - Google Patents

Abstract

A link mode control method in a device link system based on a TV is provided to operate and control respective slave devices, confirm a current operating status, and selectively turn on/off a link mode with each slave device in a digital TV. A TV operated as a master device of a device link system confirms a current operating status(S10-S12). The TV compares the confirmed current operating status with a predetermined link mode on/off control condition(S13). The TV selectively turns on/off a link mode for connecting with a slave device according to the compared result(S14-S18).

Description

{Methode for controlling link mode in device link system based television}

1 shows an overall configuration of a device link system according to the present invention,

2 illustrates a stereo jack applied to a device link system according to the present invention,

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a television remote control applied to the device link system according to the present invention.

4 illustrates an embodiment of an interface structure of a slave device to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which a master device and a slave device to which the present invention is applied transmit and receive a command through a daisy chain method.

6 illustrates an embodiment in which a main graphic user interface screen is displayed according to the present invention.

7 illustrates an embodiment in which a sub-graphics user interface screen is displayed according to the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a link mode control method in a digital television to which the present invention is applied;

9 illustrates an embodiment of link mode control condition information stored and managed according to the present invention.

※ Explanation of code for main part of drawing

10: digital television 11: set-top box

12: V13 13: DVD recorder

14: receiver 110: jack connector

111: line driver 112: microcomputer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a link mode control method in a device link system based on television. For example, various types of A / V devices installed in a home can be connected based on a digital television. In addition, the present invention relates to a link mode control method in a device link system based on a television for more convenient operation control of an A / V device desired by a user.

In recent years, digital televisions (D-TVs) capable of outputting and displaying high-definition video and high-quality audio have been widely used and commercialized. For example, digital TVs (VCRs) and DVD recorders (DVDs) are available. -Recorder, and Set Top Box (STB) can be connected.

Meanwhile, the DVD recorder or set-top box may include a hard disk recorder (HDD-Recorder) capable of recording and storing digital data in a large recording medium such as a hard disk (HDD).

In addition, a receiver capable of three-dimensionally outputting high-quality multi-channel (eg, 5.1 CH) audio through a plurality of speakers may be connected to the digital television. The receiver may be connected to a VCD or a DVD. Combi-Home Theater, a combination product that includes a recorder, can be used.

Then, the user selectively controls the devices connected to the digital television to watch analog audio and video played in the VR or digital audio and video played in the DVD recorder, or the set top. Audio and video of the digital broadcast received through the box can be viewed.

In addition, a user may control the combination home theater so that high-quality multi-channel audio is three-dimensionally output through a plurality of speakers, and a video screen displayed through the digital television and a plurality of speakers are output. Multi-channel audio can be heard in three dimensions.

However, in order to control the operation of the V-Cal, DVD recorder, set-top box, and combination home theater connected through a digital television as described above, the user has to operate the remote control of the device, which is inconvenient in use. Of course, the problem that takes a long time to control the operation of the desired device occurs.

Accordingly, the present invention has been created to solve the above problems, for example, various types of devices such as V-Cal, DVD recorder, set-top box, and receiver installed in the home, such as stereo jack (Stereo Jack) By using a daisy chain method to connect and connect to a digital television, in addition to controlling operation of each slave device in the digital television, checking the current operating status and linking with each slave device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a link mode control method in a device link system based on a television for selectively turning on / off a link mode.

A link mode control method in a television-based device link system according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of: checking a current operation state in a television operated as a master device of the device link system; Comparing the checked current operation state with a preset link mode on / off control condition; And selectively turning on / off a link mode for connection with a slave device according to the comparison result.

Further, in the television, when the link mode is off, a television-specific function is performed, and when the link mode is on, a control function as a master device is performed. In the link mode on control condition, a slave device search is performed. One or more of start, control of slave device operation by menu selection, request message of slave device, communication with slave device, and the link mode off control condition includes slave device search termination, television power off, external At least one of an input selection key input, a PIP selection key input, and an entire link system off mode may be included.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a link mode control method in a device link system based on a television according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a device link system based on a television according to the present invention. For example, a set top box 11, a BC12, Various types of devices, such as the DVD recorder 13, the receiver 14, and the like, are connected to the digital television 10 through an A / V signal line, respectively.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the devices are serially connected and connected to the digital television 10 through a daisy chain type control line. For example, in addition to a plurality of signal input / output ports for transmitting and receiving A / V signals with each device, the digital television 10 includes one stereo jack port for a control line with the set-top box 11. Stereo Jack Port) is provided separately.

Meanwhile, the set top box 11 is provided with two stereo jack ports for a control line with the digital television 10 and a control line with a V-CAL 12. The set top box 11 has a stereo jack port. In addition, two stereo jack ports are provided for the control line with the set top box 11 and the control line with the DVD recorder 13.

In addition, the DVD recorder 13 includes two stereo jack ports for a control line with the VRC 12 and a control line with the receiver 14 such as a Combi-Home Theater. The receiver 14 is provided with two stereo jack ports for a control line with the DVD recorder 13 and a control line (unassigned) with any other device.

On the other hand, the stereo jack, for example, as shown in Figure 2, 3.5mm stereo jack mainly used in general personal computer (PC) or earphone, etc. can be used, as described above in a daisy chain method through the stereo jack In addition to a plurality of key buttons for selecting and controlling a television function, the remote controller for operating and controlling a digital television connected to each device operates each device connected in a daisy chain manner. Key buttons for control are additionally assigned.

For example, assuming that the device link system according to the present invention is an 'XLink' system, the remote control includes a key button for turning on / off the TV and the XLink devices, as shown in FIG. Key buttons for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) screen and key buttons for selectively outputting audio output through a TV or a home theater are additionally allocated.

In the set-top box 11 connected to a device connected in a daisy chain manner through a stereo jack, for example, a digital television, which is a master device, and operated as a slave device as described above, FIG. As shown in the drawing, the jack connector 110, the line driver 111, the microcomputer 112, and the like are included.

On the other hand, the request command received from the digital television 10 via the jack connector 110 of the set top box, via the R1_In / Out terminal of the line driver 111, to the microcomputer 112. At the same time as the input, it is transmitted through the T2_In / Out terminal of the line driver 111 to the VRC 12 connected to the other stereo jack input / output port of the jack connector 110.

On the other hand, when a response command is generated by the microcomputer 112 of the set top box, the response command is input / output of the jack connector 110 via the T1_In / Out terminal of the line driver 111. When a response command is generated from the V12 or the like, the response command is transmitted via the R2_In / Out terminal and T1_In / Out of the line driver 111. And the digital television 10 connected to the input / output port of the jack connector 110.

In addition, in the digital television 10, for example, when performing a system booting operation, as shown in FIG. 5, a request command (for example, DiscoverDevices) for confirming connection of each slave device is generated. The request command is serially transmitted to the respective devices through a series of daisy chain methods described above with reference to FIG.

Each device that receives the request command generates a corresponding response command (eg, Slave1Res (), Slave2Res () ...), and the response command is a digital television through a daisy chain method. In the digital television, each device that is currently linked can be identified.

On the other hand, in the digital television, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, when the user selects and inputs the 'XLink GUI' key button additionally assigned to the remote control of the digital television, XLink capable of a user interface (User Interface) is possible. After generating a graphic user interface screen and displaying the screen, an operation control of a specific function and device that the user arbitrarily selects and designates.

For example, in the digital television 10 acting as a master device, after checking the enable state of each device acting as the slave devices, various functions that a user can select can be selected from the main graphical user interface. If the VCR is disabled among the slave devices, as shown in FIG. 6, the main GUI screen is displayed on the Main GUI screen. Menu items corresponding to VCRs are displayed differently from other menu items.

In addition, since the menu items corresponding to the television in the current state are displayed differently from other menu items on the main graphic user interface screen, the user may access the main graphic user interface screen. It is determined that the television is currently operating and that the VCR function cannot be selected.

On the other hand, in the digital television 10, when the user selects and designates any one menu item displayed on the main graphical user interface screen, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the digital television 10 corresponds to a DVD function. When a menu item is selected, the sub-user graphic interface screen for selecting one of the DVD-Recorder and the Combi-Home Theater, which are devices capable of providing the DVD function, is displayed. Will be displayed.

When the user selects and selects a menu item corresponding to a Combi-Home Theater through the sub-user graphic interface screen, the digital television 10 operates the combi home theater 14. By generating a unique request command (for example, HT_Request Command) for control and transmitting in a daisy chain manner, the combi home theater 14 is controlled for operation.

Accordingly, the user can select the device currently being operated and any desired function through the main graphic user interface (Main-GUI) screen provided in the digital television, and also the sub graphic user interface ( Through the Sub-GUI) screen, any one device providing a desired function can be selected and controlled to perform a desired function on the corresponding device.

On the other hand, in the digital television to which the present invention is applied, when a user's key input or a request message transmitted from a slave device is received, a link mode for connection connection with a slave device is checked by checking a current operation state. ) On / Off (On / Off) is selectively controlled, which will be described in detail below.

8 shows an operation flowchart of a link mode control method in a digital television to which the present invention is applied. For example, when the digital television 10 is powered on by a user (S10), Keep the Link Mode off so that the user can then use the digital television as a master device, or select and use the television's unique features.

On the other hand, in the digital television 10, a user inputs an arbitrary key button using a television remote control (TV-Remocon) described above with reference to FIG. 3, or a slave such as a DVD recorder 13; When receiving a request message (eg, DVDDirectPlay) generated from the device (S11), the current operation status (Status) is checked (S12).

In addition, the checked current operation state is compared with preset link mode control condition information (S14). For example, as shown in FIG. 9, link mode control condition information is shown. The link mode on / off control conditions according to various operating states are stored in association with each other. When the digital television starts searching for each slave device (eg, Status # 1), the link mode is automatically turned on, and the slave device is automatically turned on. If the search operation is terminated (eg Status # n + 1), the link mode is automatically turned off.

When the menu screen described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 is displayed on the digital television 10, the menu screen is displayed in a state where the link mode is turned off by using the slave device information that has been previously stored and stored. If the user requests to control the operation of the slave device through the menu screen (eg, Status # 2), the link mode is automatically turned on.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the user inputs a home theater key button provided on the television remote control (for example, Status # 3), receives a request message (for example, DVDDirectPlay) generated from a DVD recorder, or the like (for example, Status # 4), if communication occurs that transmits an audio signal from the television to the receiver (e.g. Status # 5), or if communication between the television and the slave device is performed (e.g. Status # 6), link mode is The state is automatically controlled.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the user turns off the television (eg, Status # n + 2), or the user selects and inputs an external input key button provided on the television remote control (eg, Status # n +). 3) If you select and enter a Picture In Picture (PIP) key button (e.g. Status # n + 4), or turn off the entire link system (e.g. Status # n + 5), the link mode It will automatically control off.

That is, in the digital television, when the checked current operation state is compared with preset link mode control condition information, and the link mode on control condition is satisfied (for example, Status # 1 to # 6), the link is connected. By controlling the mode to the ON state (S15), the control function as the master device is performed (S16).

Then, the checked current operation state is compared with preset link mode control condition information, and when the link mode off control condition corresponds (for example, Status # n + 1 to # n + 5), the link mode Control (or hold) to the off state (S17), so that the user can select and use the unique function as a television (S18), and when the system power is turned off (S19), after controlling the link mode to the off mode, The system is terminated (S20).

Or more, preferred embodiments of the present invention described above, for the purpose of illustration, those skilled in the art, within the technical spirit and the technical scope of the present invention disclosed in the appended claims below, to further improve various other embodiments Changes, substitutions or additions will be possible.

The link mode control method in the device-based link system based on the television according to the present invention constructed and constructed as described above includes, for example, various types of slaves installed in a home, such as a DVR, a DVD recorder, a set-top box, and a receiver. The devices are connected to a digital television, which is a master device, in a daisy chain manner by using a stereo jack, and in each of the digital televisions, each slave device is operated and controlled. By checking (Status) and selectively turning on / off the link mode with each slave device, it is possible to automatically select and perform a unique function of the digital television and a control function as a master device. Any desired slave device via digital television The operation control device, or is extremely useful inventions are able to be performed normally select a specific function of the television.

Claims (6)

Identifying a current operating state in a television operated as a master device of the device link system; Comparing the checked current operation state with a preset link mode on / off control condition; And And linking the link mode for the connection with the slave device selectively on / off according to the comparison result. The method of claim 1, In the television, when receiving a user key input or a request message transmitted from a slave device, a link in a television-based device link system, which compares a current operation state with a link mode on / off control condition. Mode control method. The method of claim 1, In the television, when the link mode is off, the link mode control method in a television-based device link system, characterized in that to perform a television-specific function. The method of claim 1, In the television, a link mode control method in a television based device link system, characterized in that when the link mode is turned on, a control function as a master device is performed. The method of claim 1, The link mode on control condition may include at least one of starting a slave device search, controlling a slave device operation by menu selection, receiving a request message from the slave device, and communicating with the slave device. Link Mode Control Method in Device Link System. The method of claim 1, The link mode off control condition includes any one or more of slave device search termination, television power off, external input selection key input, PIP selection key input, and link system total off mode. Link mode control method in a device link system based on.

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