Electronic-equipment control apparatus, electronic-equipment control method and electronic-equipment control system

• US 5,905,882 A
• Filed: 01/24/1996
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakagami, Yasuhiko, Sueyoshi, Takahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHAMED, AYNI Y
• Application Number:
  US08/590,943
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/309
• US Class Current: 700/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/43615 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

An electronic-equipment system is formed by a home switch connected to a telephone, a VCR, an audio apparatus, a-personal computer, a set-top box (decoder) and a television receiver by home data lines. The home switch transmits data received from the pieces of electronic equipment to destinations through a public data line. Before being transmitted to a destination, the data is first converted into data in a predetermined internal protocol and then converted into data in a protocol for the public data line. The home switch also receives incoming data transmitted through the public data line. The received data undergoes reversed protocol conversion before being transmitted to the electronic equipment. In addition, data output by a piece of electronic equipment can be transmitted to another piece of electronic equipment at the same home through the home switch.

Claims

1. An electronic-equipment control apparatus comprising:

a first terminal connected to a first piece of electronic equipment;

a second terminal connected to a second piece of electronic equipment;

a third terminal connected to a public communication line, wherein said first and second pieces of electronic equipment and said public communication line transmit data having appended thereto an ID indicating an address of a transmission destination;

a first protocol converting unit connected to said first terminal;

a second protocol converting unit connected to said second terminal;

a third protocol converting unit connected to said third terminal; and

a high-speed bus for interconnecting outputs of said first, second and third protocol converting units,

wherein said first, second and third protocol converting units each output data respectively received from said first, second and third terminals in accordance with a predetermined internal protocol, and wherein output data received by one of said first, second and third protocol converting units corresponding to said transmission destination from another one of said first, second and third protocol converting units is transmitted to said transmission destination using a corresponding predetermined protocol, wherein each one of said first, second and third protocol converting units includes a DMA controller for controlling DMA transfers of data through said high-speed bus.

2. The electronic-equipment control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second pieces of electronic equipment comprise one of audio/video related equipment, computer related equipment and communication related equipment.

3. The electronic-equipment control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second pieces of electronic equipment exchange data with one of said first and second protocol converting units connected to said first and second terminals, respectively, after converting an internal input/output analog signal into an input/output digital signal.