Information processor, TV system, control method and program

• US 20050114901A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ono, Kenichiro, Nakano, Masaki, Tsunoda, Takashi, Yui, Hideaki, Uehara, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 7,825,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/4181 for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An information processor enabling a digital broadcast to be viewed at a child device at a low cost, a TV system and a program are provided. Video decoders are corrected to the post-stage of demultiplexers, respectively, and video data of MPEG divided by the demultiplexers is decoded by the video decoders. At this time, the video data of MPEG is converted into a display format of a base band in a raster scan form. A common memory having a capacity equivalent to at least one displayed image, and a memory controller controlling the operation of the common memory are further provided. Three write video data output from resolution converters is stored in the common memory under control by the memory controller.

Claims

1. A information processor comprising output means inputting a plurality types of video sources including compressed video data, selecting from said video sources a video source for each sub-information processor, and outputting video data included in the video source,

wherein said information processor comprises a video decoder converting said compressed video data into non-compressed video data, and

said output means outputs said video data in a non-compressed base band to at least one of a plurality of said sub-information processors.

2. The information processor according to claim 1, wherein said output means outputs to a main display video data included in at least one type of video source selected from said plurality of types of video sources.

3. The information processor according to claim 2, wherein said output means outputs video data included in two or more types of video sources selected from said plurality of types of video sources as video data for multi view display.

4. The information processor according to claim 3, comprising:

resolution converting means provided in a number equal to at least the number of said video sources and creating video data matching the display format of said main display and a sub-display from said video sources; and

a frame memory provided in the post-stage of said resolution converting means and storing said video data.

5. The information processor according to claim 4, wherein said frame memory comprises:

a moving picture plane provided independently for each said video source;

an OSD plane for said main display; and

at least one OSD plane for said sub-display

wherein a picture created from video data stored in said moving picture plane can be displayed on either said main display or said sub-display.

6. The information processor according to claim 5, wherein said output means synthesizes OSD data read out from any of the OSD planes for said sub-display with video data read out from said moving picture plane, creates video data matching the display format of said sub-display and outputs the video data.

7. The information processor according to claim 2, comprising:

picture selection accepting means.accepting selection of a picture to be displayed on any of said sub-displays from pictures displayed on said main display;

output destination designation accepting means accepting designation of a sub-display on which said selected picture is displayed; and

output allowable/unallowable determining means for determining whether it is allowable or unallowable to output video data of said selected picture to said sub-display,

wherein said video data is outputted based on the result of determination by said output allowable/unallowable determining means.

8. The information processor according to claim 7, wherein said output allowable/unallowable determining means comprises output confirming means for displaying on said main display a warning providing notification of a change in display function occurring when video data is output to said sub-information processor, and a determination input unit requesting input of the change in said display function is admitted or not.

9. The information processor according to claim 3, comprising:

request accepting means for accepting a request of output of video data from said sub-information processor; and

request allowable/unallowable determining means for determining whether it is allowable or unallowable to output video data requested from said sub-information processor,

wherein said video data is outputted based on the result of determination by said request allowable/unallowable determining means.

10. The information processor according to claim 9, wherein if the video source of video data requested to be output from said sub-information processor is identical to the video source of a picture displayed on a main view of said main display, said request allowable/unallowable determining means determines that it is unallowable to transfer said video data to said sub-display.

11. The information processor according to claim 10, wherein if the video source of video data requested to be output from said sub-information processor is identical to the video source of a picture displayed on a sub view of said main display, said request allowable/unallowable determining means determines that it is allowable to transfer said video data to said sub-display.

12. The information processor according to claim 2, comprising:

retrieval means for retrieving from said plurality of types of video sources a video source of which video data can be output from said sub-output means; and

retrieval result outputting means for outputting a result retrieved by said retrieval means to said sub-information processor.

13. The information processor according to claim 2, comprising input switching means provided in the pre-stage of said resolution converting means and capable of outputting said video source to a plurality of resolution converters at the same time.

14. The information processor according to claim 13, wherein video data included in the same video source and created by mutually different resolution converters is assigned to mutually different moving picture planes of a frame memory provided in the post-stage of said resolution converter.

15. The information processor according to claim 13, comprising output confirming means for displaying on said main display a warning providing notification of a change in display function occurring when a picture of requested video data is displayed on said main display, and a determination input unit requesting input of whether the change in said display function is admitted or not if video data requested to be output to said main display is identical to video data being output to said sub-information processor.

22. A TV system comprising:

the information processor according to claim 1;

a sub-information processor capable of performing two-way communication with said information processor;

a main display connected to said information processor; and

a sub display connected to said sub-information processor,

wherein said sub-information processor does not have said video decoder.

16. An information processor comprising:

main output means for outputting to a main display video data included in at least one type of video source selected from a plurality of types of video sources input; and

sub-output means for selecting from said plurality of types of video sources a video source for each sub-information processor and outputting video data included in the video source to sub-information processors for sub-display provided outside,

wherein if the video source of video data requested to be output to said main display coincides with the video source of video data being output to said sub-information processor, an alternative picture different from said requested picture is displayed on said main display while said video data is continuously output to said sub-information processor.

17. The information processor according to claim 16, wherein said main display can provide multi view display in which a plurality of window views are displayed, and

said alternative picture is displayed on a view of said plurality of window screens, assigned for said video source.

18. An information processor comprising sub-output means for selecting from a plurality of types of video sources input a video source for each sub-information processor, and outputting video data included in the video source to sub-information processors for sub-display provided outside,

wherein said information processor comprises:

request accepting means for accepting a request of output of video data from said sub-information processor; and

mediation means for mediating between requests for said output based on a predetermined priority, and

said sub-output means outputs the video data to said sub-information processor based on output of said mediation means.

19. The information processor according to claim 18, comprising main output means for outputting to the main display video data included in at least one type of video source selected from said plurality of types of video sources.

20. The information processor according to claim 18, wherein said output means outputs video data included in two or more types of video sources selected from said plurality of types of video sources as video data for multi view display, and said information processor comprises source managing means for managing the video source of video data being output to said sub-information processor, and the video source of video data being output to said main display.

21. The information processor according to claim 18, comprising notification means for providing notification that requested video data cannot be output via said sub-output means to a sub-information processor that can not receive output of the requested video data.

23. A TV system comprising:

the information processor according to claim 18;

a sub-information processor capable of performing two-way communication with said information processor;

a main display connected to said information processor; and

a sub display connected to said sub-information processor.

29. The information processor according to claim 18, wherein in said mediation means, a priority is set in the order of the recording reservation, the viewing reservation and the channel request.

30. The information processor according to claim 29, wherein said mediation means performs mediation based on a priority level set for each of said main display and said sub-information processors.

24. A method for controlling an information processor comprising the steps of:

inputting to an information processor a plurality of types of video sources including compressed video data;

selecting from said video sources a video source for each of a plurality of sub-information processors connected to said information processor; and

outputting video data included in the video source in a non-compressed base band to at least one of said plurality of sub-information processors.

25. A control method for controlling the operation of an information processor comprising:

main output means for outputting to main display video data included in at least one type of video source selected from a plurality of types of video sources input;

sub-output means for selecting from said plurality of types of video sources a video source for each sub-information processor, and outputting video data included in the video source to sub-information processors for sub-display provided outside, said method comprising the steps of;

comparing the video source of video data requested to be output to said main display with the video source of video data being output to said sub-information processor; and

displaying an alternative picture different from said requested picture on said main display if said video sources coincide with each other.

26. A control method for controlling the operation of an information processor comprising sub-output means for selecting from a plurality of types of video sources input a video source for each sub-information processor, and outputting video data included in the video source to sub-information processors for sub-display provided outside, said method comprising:

a step of accepting a request of output of video data from said sub-information processor;

a mediation step of mediating between requests for said output based on a predetermined priority; and

a step of outputting said video data to said sub-information processor based on the result of said mediation step.

27. A program for controlling the operation of an information processor comprising output means inputting a plurality of types of video sources including compressed video data, selecting from said video sources a video source for each sub-information processor and outputting video data included in the video source,

wherein a computer is made to perform process in which said output means outputs said video data in a non-compressed base band to at least one of a plurality of said sub-information processors.

28. A program for controlling the operation of an information processor comprising sub-output means for selecting from a plurality of types of video sources input a video source for each sub-information processor, and outputting video data included in the video source to sub-information processors for sub-display provided outside,

wherein a computer is made to perform:

process of accepting a request in which a request of output of video data from said sub-information processor is accepted;

process of managing a source in which the video source of video data being output to said sub-information processor is managed; and

mediation process in which if requests for output of video data from a plurality of sub-information processors are made on any of said plurality of types of video sources, mediation between requests are performed based on a predetermined priority to determine a sub-information processor which can output the video data.

31. An information processor comprising sub-output means for selecting from a plurality of types of video sources input a video source for each sub-information processor, and outputting video data included in the video source to sub-information processors for sub-display provided outside, said information processor comprising:

inquiry means for inquiring of said sub-information processor whether it is allowable or unallowable to stop output of video data being output; and

output stopping means for causing said sub-output means to stop output of video data if receiving a signal indicating admitting of the stop of output of the video data from said sub-information processor.

32. The information processor according to claim 31, wherein if no response is given from the sub-information processor even when predetermined time elapses after said sub-information processor is inquired, said output stopping means causes said sub-output means to stop output of said video data.