Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method, program, and recording medium

• US 20050101251A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kondo, Tetsujiro, Nakanishi, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

An IC chip allows first communication for performing communication with all of the other IC chips, and second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties. That is to say, the IC chip performs sending/receiving signals with a new communication arrangement with both the first communication which is a broadcasting arrangement and the second communication which is a communicatory arrangement. This enables the function upgrading electronic equipment to be performed easily, and enables flexible signal processing with a new communication arrangement.

Claims

1. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

three or more signal processing means, each of which include

a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing means, and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

wherein at least one of said three or more signal processing means perform first communication with all of the other signal processing means at the same time.

2. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said communication unit of other signal processing means receives a signal for controlling said signal processing, and

wherein the signal processing unit of said other signal processing means performs signal processing corresponding to the signal received at said communication unit.

3. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said communication unit of the other signal processing means receives a signal for controlling said signal processing,

wherein, according to the signal received at said communication unit, a part of said other signal processing means enter a state for performing said signal processing, and the rest of said other signal processing means enter a state for nonperforming said signal processing, and

wherein said other signal processing means in the state for performing said signal processing perform signal processing corresponding to the signal received at said communication unit.

4. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said three or more signal processing means perform

said first communication, and

second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing means.

5. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication unit performs communication with electromagnetic waves.

6. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication unit sends or receives a signal for controlling said signal processing.

7. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication unit sends or receives a signal to be subjected to said signal processing.

8. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing means are disposed within a housing shielding electromagnetic waves.

9. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said three or more signal processing means perform

said first communication, and

second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing means;

wherein said second communication is performed while restricting communication parties with frequency division.

10. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said three or more signal processing means each further comprise an antenna, and

wherein said communication unit performs communication with electromagnetic waves via said antenna.

11. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said three or more signal processing means allow

said first communication, and

second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing means, and

wherein said second communication is performed while restricting communication parties with coding division.

12. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said three or more signal processing means allow

said first communication, and

second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing means, and

wherein said second communication is performed while restricting communication parties by adjustment of the polarization of said electromagnetic waves.

13. A signal processing method comprising:

a step of first communication for allowing at least one of three or more signal processing means including

a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing means, and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

to perform communication with all of the other signal processing means at the same time.

16. A signal processing method according to claim 13, at least one of said three or more signal processing means including

said step of first communication, and

a step of second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing means.

14. A program comprising:

a step of first communication for allowing at least one of three or more signal processing means including

a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing means, and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

to perform communication with all of the other signal processing means at the same time.

15. A recording medium storing a program comprising:

a step of first communication for allowing at least one of three or more signal processing means including

a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing means, and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

to perform communication with all of the other signal processing means at the same time.

17. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing apparatus; and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

wherein first communication is performed with all of the other signal processing apparatuses at the same time.

18. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 17, allowing

said first communication, and

second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing apparatuses,

wherein said second communication is performed while restricting communication parties with frequency division.

19. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an antenna,

wherein said communication unit performs communication with electromagnetic waves via said antenna.

20. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said communication unit sends or receives a signal for controlling said signal processing.

21. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said communication unit sends or receives a signal to be subjected to said signal processing.

22. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 17 allows

said first communication, and

second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing apparatuses,

wherein said second communication is performed while restricting communication parties with coding division.

23. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 17, allowing

said first communication, and

second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing apparatuses,

wherein said second communication is performed while restricting communication parties by adjustment of the polarization of said electromagnetic waves.

24. A signal processing method comprising:

a step of first communication for a signal processing apparatus including

a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing apparatus, and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

performing communication with all of the other signal processing apparatuses at the same time.

25. A signal processing method according to claim 24, allowing

said step of first communication for performing communication with all of the other signal processing apparatuses at the same time, and

a step of second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing apparatuses,

wherein said step of second communication is performed while restricting communication parties with frequency division.

26. A signal processing method according to claim 24, allowing

said step of first communication for performing communication with all of the other signal processing apparatuses at the same time, and

a step of second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing apparatuses,

wherein said step of second communication is performed while restricting communication parties with coding division.

27. A signal processing method according to claim 24, allowing

said step of first communication for performing communication with all of the other signal processing apparatuses at the same time, and

a step of second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties among the other signal processing apparatuses,

wherein said step of second communication is performed while restricting communication parties by adjustment of the polarization of said electromagnetic waves.

28. A program comprising:

a step of first communication for allowing a signal processing apparatus including

a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing apparatus, and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

to communicate with all of the other signal processing apparatuses at the same time.

29. A recording medium storing a program comprising:

a step of first communication for allowing a signal processing apparatus including a communication unit for performing communication with the other signal processing apparatus, and

a signal processing unit for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication unit,

to communicate with all of the other signal processing apparatuses at the same time.

30. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

first wireless communication means for performing first wireless communication;

signal processing means for performing signal processing based on the signal received by said first wireless communication;

second wireless communication means for performing second wireless communication with the other apparatuses; and

control means for performing function control of said first wireless communication or said signal processing according to the signal received by said second wireless communication.

31. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first wireless communication means send or receive an image signal or a signal necessary for the signal processing of the image signal.

32. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first wireless communication means send or receive a signal for controlling said signal processing.

33. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first wireless communication means send or receive a signal to be subjected to said signal processing.

34. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30,

wherein said first wireless communication means further comprise an antenna for performing said first wireless communication, and

wherein said control means disables the functions of said first wireless communication by grounding the antenna.

35. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first or second wireless communication means each comprise an antenna for performing said first or second wireless communication.

36. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, configured of a one-chip semiconductor.

37. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, disposed within a housing shielding electromagnetic waves.

38. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first wireless communication means receive a signal to be subjected to signal processing by said signal processing means with said first wireless communication, and also send function information representing functions to be provided by said signal processing means to said other apparatuses.

39. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30,

wherein said first wireless communication means receive a signal to be subjected to signal processing by said signal processing means with said first wireless communication, and also receive a signal processing instruction signal for instructing signal processing to be performed by said signal processing means, and

wherein said signal processing means perform signal processing following said signal processing instruction signal.

40. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said first wireless communication means receive a signal to be subjected to signal processing by said signal processing means with said first wireless communication, and also send a signal to be subjected to signal processing by the other signal processing apparatuses to said other signal processing apparatuses.

41. A signal processing method comprising:

a signal processing step for performing signal processing based on the signal received by said first wireless communication of a signal processing apparatus including

first wireless communication means for performing first wireless communication, and

second wireless communication means for performing second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

a control step for performing function control of said first wireless communication or said signal processing according to the signal received by said second wireless communication.

42. A program comprising:

a signal processing step for performing signal processing based on the signal received by said first wireless communication of a signal processing apparatus including

first wireless communication means for performing first wireless communication, and

second wireless communication means for performing second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

a control step for performing function control of said first wireless communication or said signal processing according to the signal received by said second wireless communication.

43. A recording medium storing a program comprising:

a signal processing step for performing signal processing based on the signal received by said first wireless communication of a signal processing apparatus including

first wireless communication means for performing first wireless communication, and

second wireless communication means for performing second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

a control step for performing function control of said first wireless communication or said signal processing according to the signal received by said second wireless communication.

44. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

wireless communication means for performing wireless communication;

signal processing means for performing signal processing based on a part of the signal received by said wireless communication; and

control means for performing function control of said signal processing according to another part of the signal received by said wireless communication.

45. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 44, configured of a one-chip semiconductor.

46. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 44, disposed within a housing shielding electromagnetic waves.

47. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said wireless communication means further send a signal obtained by said signal processing with wireless communication.

48. A signal processing method for a signal processing apparatus having wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, said method comprising:

a signal processing step for performing signal processing based on a part of the signal received by said wireless communication; and

a control step for performing function control of said signal processing according to another part of the signal received by said wireless communication.

49. A program for a signal processing apparatus having wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, said program comprising:

a signal processing step for performing signal processing based on a part of the signal received by said wireless communication; and

a control step for performing function control of said signal processing according to another part of the signal received by said wireless communication.

50. A recording medium storing a program for a signal processing apparatus having wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, said program comprising:

a signal processing step for performing signal processing based on a part of the signal received by said wireless communication; and

a control step for performing function control of said signal processing according to another part of the signal received by said wireless communication.

51. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

three or more signal processing units, each of which include

a communication section for performing communication with the other signal processing means, and

a signal processing section for performing signal processing based on the signal received at said communication section,

wherein at least one of said three or more signal processing units performs first communication with all of the other signal processing units at the same time.