Audio visual system having a serial bus for identifying devices connected to the external terminals of an amplifier in the system

• US 6,910,085 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Horiguchi, Mari, Takaku, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casiano, Angel L.
• Application Number:
  US09/824,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 710/2, 710/7, 710/8, 710/10, 710/15, 710/20, 710/62, 710/4, 710/9, 710/16, 710/31, 710/33, 710/18, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 711/170, 709/209, 709/221, 709/242
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/387 for adaptation of different data processing systems to different peripheral devices, e.g. protocol converters for incompatible systems, open system

Abstract

An information processing system comprising a computer connected to an amplifier in an audio visual (AV) system through an IEEE 1394 serial bus connection. The amplifier has various different types of external terminals for connecting to other AV devices. The computer requests, receives and displays name information on the external terminals from the amplifier. A user of the system can select various AV devices from the name information displayed on the computer. The computer then commands the amplifier to switch to the selected AV device.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprised of a main information processing device controlled by a control device through a communication means, and sub-information processing devices connected to said main information processing device, said communication means being a serial bus, said main information processing device being an amplifier, and said control device being a computer, wherein:

said main information processing device comprises;

a plurality of terminals for connecting to a plurality of sub-information processing devices with a corresponding plurality of connecting means;

at least one of said connecting means being said communication means;

memory means for memorizing name data indicating names of said terminals;

wherein said memory means changes the name data indicating the names of said terminals in accordance with a user'"'"'s input operation; and

name data transmission means for transmitting said name data to said control device through the communication means; and

said control device comprises;

name data receiving means for receiving said name data which is transmitted from said main information processing device through said communication means; and

display control means for displaying the names of said terminals on the display means based on said name data.

2. The information processing system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said control device comprises;

selecting means for selecting the name of said terminal corresponding to the user'"'"'s input operation, from among said names of said terminals displayed on said display means; and

selected terminal identification number data transmission means for transmitting said terminal selected to said main information processing device as selected terminal identification number data through said communication means; and

said main information processing device comprises;

selected terminal identification number data receiving means for receiving said selected terminal identification number data, which is transmitted from said control device through said communication means; and

switching control means for switching an input/output of said information processing device to the terminal indicated by said selected terminal identification number data from among said plurality of terminals.

3. An information processing device in an information processing system constructed by connecting the information processing device and a control device through a communication means, said communication means being a serial bus, said information processing device being an amplifier, and said control device being a computer;

comprising;

a plurality of terminals for connecting a plurality of sub-information processing devices to the information processing device with a corresponding plurality of connecting means;

at least one of said connecting means being said communication means;

memory means for memorizing name data indicating names of said terminals;

wherein said memory means changes the name data indicating the names of said terminals in accordance with a user'"'"'s input operation; and

name data transmission means for transmitting said name data to said control device through the communication means.

4. The information processing device as defined in claim 3, comprising:

selected terminal identification number data receiving means for receiving selected terminal identification number data indicating a desired terminal, which is transmitted from said control device through said communication means; and

switching control means for switching an input/output of said information processing device to the terminal indicated by said selected terminal identification number data, from among said plurality of terminals.

5. A control device in an information processing system constructed by connecting a main information processing device and the control device through a communication means, said communication means being a serial bus, said main information processing device being an amplifier, and said control device being a computer;

comprising;

name data receiving means for receiving name data indicating the names of a plurality of terminals in said main information processing device, which is transmitted from the main information processing device through the communication means;

the plurality of terminals for connecting to a plurality of sub-information processing devices with a corresponding plurality of connecting means;

at least one of said connecting means being said communication means;

name data changing means for changing the name data indicating the names of said terminals received by said name data receiving means, according to a user'"'"'s input operation; and

display control means for displaying the names of said terminals on a display means based on said name data.

6. The control device as defined in claim 5, comprising:

selecting means for selecting the name of said terminal corresponding to the user'"'"'s input operation, from among the names of said terminals displayed on said display means; and

selected terminal identification number data transmission means for transmitting said selected terminal to said main information processing device as selected terminal identification number data through said communication means.

7. An information processing method in an information processing system comprised of a main information processing device controlled by a control device through a communication means, and a plurality of sub-information processing devices connected to said main information processing device respectively, said communication means being a serial bus, said main information processing device being an amplifier, and said control device being a computer;

comprising the steps of;

memorizing name data indicating the names of a plurality of terminals in said main information processing device, which are provided to connect to said plurality of sub-information processing devices with a corresponding plurality of connecting means, in a memory means;

at least one of said connecting means being said communication means;

changing the name data indicating the names of said terminals memorized in said memory means, according to a user'"'"'s input operation;

transmitting said name data to said control device from said main information processing device through the communication means;

receiving said name data, which is transmitted from said main information processing device through the communication means, by said control device; and

displaying the names of said terminals on a display means based on said name data.

8. The information processing method as defined in claim 7, comprising the steps of:

selecting the name of said terminal corresponding to the user'"'"'s input operation, from among the names of said terminals displayed on said display means;

transmitting said terminal selected to said main information processing device from said control means as selected terminal identification number data through the communication means;

receiving said selected terminal identification number data, which is transmitted from said control means through said communication means, by said main information processing device; and

switching an input/output of said main information processing device to the terminal indicated by said selected terminal identification number data, from among said plurality of terminals.

9. An information processing method of an information processing system constructed by connecting a main information processing device and a control device through a communication means, said communication means being a serial bus, said main information processing device being an amplifier, and said control device being a computer;

comprising the steps of;

memorizing name data indicating the names of a plurality of terminals which are provided in said main information processing device to connect to a plurality of sub-information processing devices via a corresponding plurality of connecting means, in a memory means;

at least one of said connecting means being said communication means;

changing the name data indicating the names of said terminals, which is memorized in said memory means, according to a user'"'"'s input operation; and

transmitting said name data to said control device through the communication means.

10. The information processing method as defined in claim 9, comprising the steps of:

receiving selected terminal identification number data indicating the name of a desired terminal, which is transmitted from said control device through said communication means; and

switching an input/output of said main information processing device to the terminal indicated by said selected terminal identification number data, from among said plural number of terminals.

11. A control method of an information processing system constructed by connecting a main information processing device and a control device through a communication means, said communication means being a serial bus, said main information processing device being an amplifier, and said control device being a computer;

comprising the steps of;

receiving name data indicating the names of a plurality of terminals provided in said main information processing device, which is transmitted from said main information processing device through the communication means;

said plurality of terminals being for connecting to a plurality of sub-information processing devices with a corresponding plurality of connecting means;

at least one of said connecting means being said communication means;

changing the name data indicating the names of said terminals, which is memorized in a memory means, according to a user'"'"'s input operation; and

displaying the names of said terminals on a display means based on said name data.

12. The control method as defined in claim 11, comprising the steps of:

selecting the name of said terminal corresponding to the user'"'"'s input operation, from among the names of said terminals displayed on said display means; and

transmitting said terminal selected to said main information processing device as selected terminal identification number data from said control device through said communication means.