Data source, data conversion device, inverse data conversion device, auxiliary data file generation device, reception method, medium and information aggregate

• US 6,937,599 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Juri, Tatsuro, Yoshida, Junji, Yamada, Masazumi, Matsumi, Chiyoko
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US09/691,298
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 370/428, 370/389, 370/390, 370/392, 370/395.1, 370/395.6, 370/395.64, 370/401, 370/432, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 709/201, 709/212, 709/223, 709/226, 709/229, 709/245, 709/246, 709/250, 710/33, 710/36, 710/52, 710/105, 710/107, 710/126, 710/129, 710/130, 725/109, 725/110, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40058 Isochronous transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40071 Packet processing; Packet format adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific network H04N21/2381, H04N21/4363, H04N21/4381; packet switches H04L49/00; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/901 using storage descriptor, e.g. read or write pointers

Abstract

A data source has a data converting part for converting inputted data to predetermined data packets. A data buffer stores the data packets. A descriptor list stores a descriptor to which predetermined addresses are added, where a method of sending the data packets is described. A FIFO stores the predetermined addresses in a first-in first-out mode. A data sending part receives start instructions from the data converting part, refers to a predetermined address in which reference is not made yet in the FIFO, fetches data packets corresponding to the descriptor from the data buffer in accordance with a method of sending the descriptor indicated by the predetermined address, generates a send packet from the data packet and outputs the data packet. An end-of-send notice to the data converting part is also send when the output of the send packet is ended.

Claims

1. A reception method, wherein in the case where a data sink conforming substantially with IEC 61883 and a data source conforming with IEC 61883 are connected to an IEEE 1394 bus, and

in the case where said data sink is a personal computer having an IEEE 1394 interface and device controlling means for controlling all or part of devices connected to said IEEE 1394 bus,

upon receiving start-of-reception instructions, said data sink determines whether said data source is outputting output data to said IEEE 1394 bus using broadcast transmission, and

in the case where said data source is outputting said output data to said IEEE 1394 bus using broadcast transmission,

said data sink starts receiving said output data without establishing a point-to-point connection to said data source and uses only the broadcast transmission to receive said output data.

2. The reception method according to claim 1, wherein said data source has an output control register,

said output control register includes a flag indicating whether broadcast transmission is performed and a channel number indicating which channel said output data is outputted to, and

in the case where said data sink is said personal computer,

said data sink determines by reading said flag whether said data source outputs said output data to said IEEE 1394 bus using broadcast transmission, and

in the case where said data source outputs said output data to said IEEE 1394 bus using broadcast transmission,

said data sink receives said output data from the channel for which said channel number is described without changing said channel number.

3. The reception method according to claim 1, wherein said data source has an output control register,

said output control register includes therein a flag indicating whether broadcast transmission is performed and a channel number indicating to which channel the output data is outputted, and

in the case where said data sink is said personal computer,

said data sink determines by reading said flag whether said data source outputs said output data to said IEEE 1394 bus using broadcast transmission, and

said data sink changes said channel number to an arbitrary value N (N is a integer between 0 and 63), followed by receiving said output data from a channel whose channel number is said N.

4. The reception method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein in the case where said data source does not output said output data to the IEEE 1394 bus,

in the case where said data sink is said personal computer,

after said data sink establishes a point-to-point connection to said data source, said data source starts outputting said output data to said IEEE 1394 bus, and at the same time said data sink receives said output data.

5. The reception method according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein a second data sink conforming to IEC 61883 is connected to said IEEE 1394 bus, and

in the case where said data source outputs said output data to said IEEE 1394 bus under the condition that said data source is established with or establishes a point-to-point connection to said second data sink, and without using broadcast transmission, and

in the case where said data sink is said personal computer,

said data sink establishes a point-to-point connection to said data source, and receives said output data.

6. The reception method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said data source is a digital VCR for use at home.

7. The reception method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said data source is a set top box outputting MPEG data.

8. A medium carrying a program and data for executing the reception method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 executed by the computer, wherein said medium can be processed by a computer.

9. An information aggregate, wherein said information aggregate is a program and data for executing the reception method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 executed by a computer.

10. A medium that carries a program and data for executing the reception method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 executed by a computer, wherein said medium can be processed by the computer.

11. An information aggregate wherein said information aggregate is a program and data for executing the reception method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 executed by a computer.