Information processing device, method thereof and recording medium

• US 20010025327A1
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kimura, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 6,804,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4269 using a handshaking protocol, e.g. Centronics connection

Abstract

An information processing device, method thereof and a recording medium for easily switching input signals. A broadcast connection and a point-to-point connection are established between the receive device and the transmit device. When the user commands the canceling of the P.P. connection established for the receive device or the transmit device, only the broadcast connection remains established. In this state, the user receives signals on a receive device sent from the desired transmit device, and commands the restoring of the P.P. connection with the desired transmit device. The switching of input signals to the receive device is in this way performed by temporarily canceling the P.P. connection.

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising:

first establishing means for establishing a point-to-point connection on said broadcast connection channel along with establishing a broadcast connection with external devices connected by way of a digital bus; and

cancel means for canceling the point-to-point connection established by said first establishing means.

2. An information processing device according to

claim 1

, wherein said information processing device further comprises a second establishing means for establishing on said channel, said point-to-point connection canceled by said cancel means.

3. An information processing device according to

claim 2

, wherein when said point-to-point connection with external devices is canceled by said cancel means, signals are received from other external devices by way of said broadcast connection channel.

4. An information processing device according to

claim 2

, wherein said information processing device further comprises a timer, and after a specified amount of time elapses after signals are received from said other external devices by way of said broadcast connection channel, a point-to-point connection is also automatically established by said second establishing means on said broadcast connection channel.

5. An information processing device according to

claim 2

, wherein said device for establishing said point-to-point connection by said second establishing means is the device with a point-to-point connection established by said first establishing means, a device that outputs information input when said point-to-point connection was established by said second establishing means, or is a device specified by the user.

6. An information processing device according to

claim 2

, wherein said information processing device further comprises memory means from among at least one of:

information relating to said device with a broadcast connection and a point-to-point connection established by said first establishing means,

information relating to a device exchanging data with a broadcast connection established when said point-to-point connection was canceled by said cancel means, and information relating to a device with a point-to-point connection established by said second establishing means.

7. An information processing device according to

claim 1

, wherein said information processing device further comprises display means showing a menu for selecting external equipment to establish said broadcast connection and said point-to-point connection by said first establishing means.

8. An information processing method, comprising:

a first establishing step for establishing a point-to-point connection on said broadcast connection channel along with establishing a broadcast connection with external devices connected by way of a digital bus; and

a cancel step for canceling the point-to-point connection established by said first establishing step.

9. An information processing method according to

claim 8

, wherein said information processing method further comprises a second establishing step for establishing on said channel, said point-to-point connection canceled by said cancel step.

10. An information processing method according to

claim 9

, wherein when said point-to-point connection with external devices is canceled in said cancel step, signals are received from other external devices by way of said broadcast connection channel.

11. An information processing method according to

claim 9

, wherein said information processing method further comprises a counting step for counting the time, and after a specified amount of time elapses after signals are received from said other external devices by way of said broadcast connection channel, a point-to-point connection is also automatically established by said second establishing step on said broadcast connection channel.

12. An information processing method according to

claim 9

, wherein said device for establishing said point-to-point connection by said second establishing step is the device with a point-to-point connection established by said first establishing step, a device that outputs the information input when said point-to-point connection was established by said second establishing step, or is a device specified by the user.

13. An information processing method according to

claim 9

, wherein said information processing method further comprises a storage step for storing at least one from among:

information relating to said device with a broadcast connection and a point-to-point connection established by said first establishing step,

information relating to a device exchanging data with a broadcast connection established when said point-to-point connection was canceled by said cancel means, and

information relating to a device with a point-to-point connection established by said second establishing step.

14. An information processing method according to

claim 8

, wherein said information processing method comprises a display step showing a menu for selecting external equipment for establishing said broadcast connection and said point-to-point connection by said first establishing step

15. A recording medium recorded with a program capable of being loaded by a computer, wherein said medium comprises:

a first establishing step that along with establishing a broadcast connection, establishes a point-to-point connection on said broadcast connection channel with external devices connected by way of a digital bus; and

a cancel step for canceling the point-to-point connection established by said first establishing step.

16. A recording medium according to

claim 15

, wherein said recording medium further comprises a second establishing step for establishing on said channel, said point-to-point connection canceled by said cancel step.