INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PROGRAM

• US 20100054709A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: MISAWA, Junichiro, Otsuka, Sumio, Ishimatsu, Kenji, Kotake, Kikuo, Matsumoto, Kenichi, Kamon, Hidekazu
• Granted Patent: US 8,437,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/239
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay

Abstract

An information processing apparatus is provided that includes a control unit to execute an operating system and selectively output a first video signal or both the first video signal and a first audio signal, an external input unit to which an external content signal containing a second video signal and a second audio signal transmitted from an external apparatus is input, and a reproduction state switch control unit to selectively switch a first reproduction state for reproducing the first video signal or both the first video signal and the first audio signal, and a second reproduction state for reproducing the second video signal and the second audio signal, wherein, if input of the external content signal to the external input unit is detected during a reproduction standby state, the reproduction state switch control unit switches the reproduction standby state with the second reproduction state.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a control unit to execute an operating system and selectively output a first video signal indicating a video or both the first video signal and a first audio signal indicating a sound based on execution of the operating system;

an external input unit to which an external content signal containing a second video signal indicating a video and a second audio signal indicating a sound transmitted from an external apparatus is input; and

a reproduction state switch control unit to selectively switch a first reproduction state for reproducing the first video signal or both the first video signal and the first audio signal, and a second reproduction state for reproducing the second video signal and the second audio signal when a video signal and an audio signal are to be reproduced,

wherein, if input of the external content signal to the external input unit is detected during a reproduction standby state that is not any of the first reproduction state and the second reproduction state, the reproduction state switch control unit switches from the reproduction standby state with the second reproduction state.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit generates an activation signal indicating execution of the operating system upon execution of the operating system, and

the reproduction state switch control unit includes

an external content signal detection unit to detect the external content signal input to the external input unit;

a state change determination unit to determine a change in the reproduction state based on reproduction state information indicating reproduction state related to reproduction of a video signal and an audio signal, the activation signal, and a detection result in the external content signal detection unit; and

a reproduction processing switching unit to selectively switch the first reproduction state and the second reproduction state based on a determination result of the state change determination unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the state change determination unit determines a change in the reproduction state based further on the first video signal.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the second video signal contained in the external content signal includes a plurality of color signals and a clock signal for synchronizing the color signals, and

the external content signal detection unit detects input of the external content signal based on a change in clock of the clock signal.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a switch input unit to generate a switch signal for switching the first reproduction state and the second reproduction state based on operation input,

wherein the reproduction processing switching unit switches the first reproduction state and the second reproduction state based on the switch signal transferred from the switch input unit.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit generates an activation signal indicating execution of the operating system upon execution of the operating system, and

if the activation signal transferred from the control unit is detected during the reproduction standby state, the reproduction state switch control unit switches the reproduction standby state with the first reproduction state.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an audio output unit to receive at least one of the first audio signal output from the control unit and the second audio signal contained in the external content signal and selectively output a sound indicated by the first audio signal or the second audio signal,

wherein the reproduction state switch control unit transfers an audio switch control signal to the audio output unit upon switching to the second reproduction state, and

the audio output unit selectively outputs the second audio signal when the audio switch control signal is transferred.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the audio output unit includes an amplifier to amplify the first audio signal or the second audio signal to be selectively output based on a transferred power supply voltage,

the information processing apparatus further includes

a power supply to output the power supply voltage to be supplied to the audio output unit;

and

a switching unit to selectively transfer the power supply voltage to the amplifier based on a transferred power supply signal, and

the reproduction state switch control unit outputs a first power supply signal for selectively transferring the power supply voltage to the amplifier to the switching unit upon switching to the second reproduction state.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the control unit outputs a second power supply signal for selectively transferring the power supply voltage to the amplifier to the switching unit upon execution of the operating system, and

the switching unit includes

an OR-circuit to output a power supply signal having a signal level for selectively transferring the power supply voltage to the amplifier upon input of at least one of the first power supply signal and the second power supply signal;

and

a switching element to selectively transfer the power supply voltage to the amplifier based on the power supply signal output from the OR-circuit.

10. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a control unit to execute an operating system and selectively output a first video signal indicating a video or both the first video signal and a first audio signal indicating a sound based on execution of the operating system;

an external input unit to which a third video signal indicating a video and a third audio signal indicating a sound transmitted from an external apparatus are input; and

a reproduction state switch control unit to selectively switch a first reproduction state for reproducing the first video signal or both the first video signal and the first audio signal, and a third reproduction state for reproducing at least one of the third video signal and the third audio signal when a video signal and an audio signal are to be reproduced,

wherein, if input of the third video signal or the third audio signal to the external input unit is detected during a reproduction standby state that is not any of the first reproduction state and the third reproduction state, the reproduction state switch control unit switches the reproduction standby state with the third reproduction state.

11. A program causing a computer to execute the steps of:

detecting an external content signal input to an external input unit to which the external content signal containing a second video signal indicating a video and a second audio signal indicating a sound is input;

determining a change in state related to reproduction of a video signal and an audio signal based on reproduction state information indicating reproduction state related to reproduction of a video signal and an audio signal, an activation signal transferred from a control unit that executes an operating system and generates the activation signal indicating execution of the operating system, and a detection result in the detecting step; and

selectively switching a first reproduction state for reproducing a first video signal indicating a video or both the first video signal and a first audio signal indicating a sound output from the control unit, and a second reproduction state for reproducing the second video signal and the second audio signal, based on a determination result in the determining step.