Data processing apparatus, data processing system, television signal receiving apparatus, and printing apparatus

• US 20020019982A1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Aratani, Shuntaro, Ohno, Tomoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00294 for printing images at a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A data processing apparatus comprises a processing unit, for performing processes related to multiple functions, an allocation unit, for allocating, to the multiple processes, different codes for performing the multiple processes, and a control unit, for controlling the processing unit to perform the processes in accordance with codes allocated by the allocation unit, wherein the allocation unit allocates a predetermined code for a specific process of the multiple processes, and allocates a code, other than the predetermined code, for processes other than the specific process.

Claims

1. A data processing apparatus comprising:

processing means, for performing processes related to multiple functions;

allocation means, for allocating, to said multiple processes, different codes for performing said multiple processes; and

control means, for controlling said processing means to perform said processes in accordance with the codes allocated by said allocation means,

wherein said allocation means allocates a predetermined code for a specific process of said multiple processes, and allocates a code, other than said predetermined code, for processes other than said specific process.

2. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said allocation means includes:

change means, for changing said predetermined code to be allocated to said specific process,

wherein said predetermined code is changed in accordance with a change operation performed by said change means.

3. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said allocation means changes, for each allocation operation, codes to be allocated for the processes other than said specific process.

4. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said allocation means includes:

setting means, for setting the number of digits for a code composed of multiple numerical digits,

wherein a code having said number of digits that is set is allocated for processes other than said specific process.

5. A data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said setting means is capable of setting, from among multiple sets of the numbers of digits, the number of digits for corresponding users.

6. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, during the allocation process performed for allocating a code other than said predetermined code, when a predetermined period of time has not elapsed since the time a code has been allocated that is the same as a code to be allocated, said allocation means changes the number of digits of a code set by said setting means and allocates said code.

7. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, from among said multiple processes, said allocation means allocates a predetermined code for a process having a high use frequency, and a code other than said predetermined code for a process having a low use frequency.

8. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said allocation means manually sets a code for a specific process of said multiple processes, and in accordance with the number order, allocates to processes other than said specific process codes other than said manually set code.

9. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

input means, for manually entering an arbitrary code,

wherein said control means controls said processing means for performing said processes in accordance with said code allocated by said allocation means and said code entered by said code input means.

10. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

input means, for entering data,

wherein said processing means processes said data entered by said input means.

11. A data processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said input means enters program data received through television broadcasting, and wherein said multiple processes include the selection of a channel whereat said program data are included.

12. A data processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in response to said selection, said allocation means allocates, as said code, the same number as the number of said channel.

13. A data processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said specific process includes said channel selection, and the processes other than said specific process include at least either a reservation for recording a program related to said program data or an audiovideo reservation.

14. A data processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said input means receives e-mail data, and said multiple processes include a process for outputting to said display means information related to said e-mail data.

15. A data processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said input means receives data written in a markup language, and said multiple processes include a process for visualizing said data.

16. A data processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said input means receives image data and said multiple processes include a process for outputting said image data to at least one of printing means, display means and reproduction means.

17. A data processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said input means receives image data from a storage medium on which said image data is stored.

18. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

protocol communication means, for performing protocol communication with an external device,

wherein said specific process includes a process for outputting to said display means, via said protocol communication means, information related to an operation panel used to operate said external device.

19. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said specific process includes a process for the allocation of a code by said allocation means.

20. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

display output means, for outputting, to said display means, code information that correlates said multiple processes with codes allocated by said allocation means.

21. A data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

printing output means for outputting, to printing means, code information that correlates said multiple processes with codes allocated by said allocation means.

22. A data processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said printing output means outputs said code information to said printing means at a predetermined time.

25. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said allocation means includes:

change means, for changing said predetermined code to be allocated to said specific process,

wherein said predetermined code is changed in accordance with a change operation performed by said change means.

26. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said allocation means changes, for each allocation operation, codes to be allocated for the processes other than said specific process.

27. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said allocation means includes:

setting means, for setting the number of digits for a code composed of multiple numerical digits,

wherein a code having said number of digits that is set is allocated for processes other than said specific process.

28. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said setting means is capable of setting, from among multiple sets of the numbers of digits, the number of digits for corresponding users. 25

29. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, during the allocation process performed for allocating a code other than said predetermined code, when a predetermined period of time has not elapsed since the time a code has been allocated that is the same as a code to be allocated, said allocation means changes the number of digits of a code set by said setting means and allocates said code.

30. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein, from among said multiple processes, said allocation means allocates a predetermined code for a process having a high use frequency, and a code other than said predetermined code for a process having a low use frequency.

31. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said allocation means manually sets a code for a specific process of said multiple processes, and in accordance with the number order, allocates to processes other than said specific process codes other than said manually set code.

32. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

input means, for manually entering an arbitrary code,

wherein said control means controls said processing means for performing said processes in accordance with said code allocated by said allocation means and said code entered by said code input means.

33. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said multiple processes include a process for the selection of a channel to which a television signal received from said reception means is transmitted.

34. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 33, wherein in response to said selection, said allocation means allocates, as said code, the same number as the number of said channel.

35. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said specific process includes said channel selection, and the processes other than said specific process include at least either a reservation for recording a program related to said program data or an audiovideo reservation.

36. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said television signal is transmitted by digital TV broadcasting.

37. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said multiple processes include at least one of the transmission/reception of e-mail data, the browsing of the WWW (World Wide Web), the editing of image data obtained by a digital camera, and the display of an operation panel for the operation of an external device via protocol communication means.

38. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said specific process includes a process for the allocation of a code by said allocation means.

39. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

display output means, for outputting, to said display means, code information that correlates said multiple processes with codes allocated by said allocation means.

40. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

printing output means for outputting, to printing means, code information that correlates said multiple processes with codes allocated by said allocation means.

41. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said printing output means outputs said code information to said printing means at a predetermined time.

42. A television signal receiving apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

search means, for searching, in accordance with a predetermined search condition, for a program related to a television signal received by said reception means,

wherein said allocation means allocates a code other than said predetermined code to at least either the reservation of the recording of said program found by said search means, or an audiovideo reservation.

47. A data processing system according to claim 42 , wherein, when a code is entered to said input means while said processing means is performing a process, said processing means performs a process corresponding to said input code.

23. A data processing method comprising the steps of:

allocating different codes to multiple processes related to multiple functions in order to perform said multiple processes; and

performing said multiple processes in accordance with said different codes allocated by said allocation means,

wherein, at said allocation step, a predetermined code is allocated for a specific process of said multiple processes, and a code, other than said predetermined code, is allocated for processes other than said specific process.

24. A television signal receiving apparatus comprising:

reception means, for receiving a television signal;

processing means, for performing multiple processes related to multiple functions;

allocation means, for allocating, to said multiple processes, different codes for performing said multiple processes; and

control means, for controlling said processing means to perform said processes in accordance with codes allocated by said allocation means,

wherein said allocation means allocates a predetermined code for a specific process of said multiple processes, and allocates a code, other than said predetermined code, for processes other than said specific process.

43. A data processing system comprising:

processing means, for performing multiple processes related to multiple functions;

allocation means, for allocating, to said multiple processes, different codes for performing said multiple processes;

printing means, for printing said allocated codes in correlation with said multiple processes;

code input means, for manually entering codes; and

control means for performing said processes in accordance with said codes allocated by said allocation means and said codes entered by said code input means,

wherein said allocation means allocates a predetermined code for a specific process of said multiple processes, and allocates codes other than said predetermined code for processes other than said specific process.

44. A data processing system according to claim 43, wherein said allocation means includes:

change means, for changing said predetermined code to be allocated to said specific process,

wherein said predetermined code is changed in accordance with a change operation performed by said change means.

45. A data processing system according to claim 43, wherein said allocation means changes, for each allocation operation, codes to be allocated for the processes other than said specific process.

46. A data processing system according to claim 43, wherein said allocation means manually sets a code for a specific process of said multiple processes, and in a ccordance with the number order, allocates to processes other than said specific process codes other than said manually set code.

48. A data processing system according to claim 43, wherein said multiple processes include at least one of selection of a channel related to a television signal, timer reservation of a program, the transmission/reception of e-mail data, the browsing of the WWW (World Wide Web), the editing of image data obtained by a digital camera, and the display of an operation panel for the operation of an external device via protocol communication means.

49. A data processing system according to claim 43, wherein said printing means prints said code information at a predetermined time.

50. A data processing system according to claim 49, further comprising:

printing time setting means, for manually setting said predetermined time.

51. A printing apparatus connected to a data processing apparatus comprising:

input means, for receiving code data from said signal processing apparatus; and

printing means, for printing said code data received from said input means,

wherein said signal processing apparatus allocates different codes for multiple processes for performing said multiple processes related to multiple functions, controls said processing means for performing said multiple processes in accordance with said allocated codes, allocates a predetermined code for a specific process of said multiple processes, allocates codes other than said predetermined code for processes other than said specific process, and outputs, to said printing apparatus, code information that correlates said multiple processes with said allocated codes.

52. A printing apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said printing means prints said code information at a predetermined time.

53. A printing apparatus according to claim 52, further comprising:

printing time setting means, for manually setting said predetermined time.