Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method, program, and recording medium

• US 7,933,573 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kondo, Tetsujiro, Nakanishi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao; Minh D
• Application Number:
  US12/117,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 455/161.2, 455/164.2, 455/234.2, 455/84, 235/492, 235/380, 375/354
• US Class Current: 455/161.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

An IC chip allows first communication for performing communication with all of the other IC chips, and second communication for performing communication while restricting communication parties. That is to say, the IC chip performs sending/receiving signals with a new communication arrangement with both the first communication which is a broadcasting arrangement and the second communication which is a communicatory arrangement. This enables the function upgrading electronic equipment to be performed easily, and enables flexible signal processing with a new communication arrangement.

Claims

1. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

first wireless communication circuit that performs first wireless communication;

signal processing circuit that performs signal processing based on a signal received by said first wireless communication;

second wireless communication circuit that performs second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

a control circuit that performs function control of said first wireless communication by enabling or disabling the first wireless communication circuit or that performs function control of said signal processing by causing the signal processing circuit to enter an active mode or an inactive mode according to a signal received by said second wireless communication.

2. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication circuit sends or receives an image signal or a signal necessary for the signal processing of the image signal.

3. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication circuit sends or receives a signal for controlling said signal processing.

4. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless communication circuit sends or receives a signal to be subjected to said signal processing.

5. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said first wireless communication circuit further comprises an antenna for performing said first wireless communication, and

wherein said control circuit disables the functions of said first wireless communication by grounding the antenna.

6. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first or second wireless communication circuits each comprises an antenna for performing said first or second wireless communication.

7. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, configured of a one-chip semiconductor.

8. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, disposed within a housing shielding electromagnetic waves.

9. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

first wireless communication circuit that performs first wireless communication;

signal processing circuit that performs signal processing based on a signal received by said first wireless communication;

second wireless communication circuit that performs second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

a control circuit that performs function control of said first wireless communication or said signal processing according to a signal received by said second wireless communication,

wherein said first wireless communication circuit receives a signal to be subjected to signal processing by said signal processing circuit with said first wireless communication, and also sends function information representing functions to be provided by said signal processing circuit to said other apparatuses.

10. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

first wireless communication circuit that performs first wireless communication;

signal processing circuit that performs signal processing based on a signal received by said first wireless communication;

second wireless communication circuit that performs second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

a control circuit that performs function control of said first wireless communication or said signal processing according to a signal received by said second wireless communication,

wherein said first wireless communication circuit receives a signal to be subjected to signal processing by said signal processing circuit with said first wireless communication, and also receives a signal processing instruction signal for instructing signal processing to be performed by said signal processing circuit, and

wherein said signal processing circuit performs signal processing following said signal processing instruction signal.

11. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

first wireless communication circuit that performs first wireless communication;

signal processing circuit that performs signal processing based on a signal received by said first wireless communication;

second wireless communication circuit that performs second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

a control circuit that performs function control of said first wireless communication or said signal processing according to a signal received by said second wireless communication,

wherein said first wireless communication circuit receives a signal to be subjected to signal processing by said signal processing circuit with said first wireless communication, and also sends a signal to be subjected to signal processing by the other apparatuses to said other apparatuses.

12. A signal processing method comprising:

performing signal processing based on a signal received by a first wireless communication of a signal processing apparatus including

first wireless communication circuit that performs first wireless communication, and

second wireless communication circuit that performs second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

performing function control of said first wireless communication by enabling or disabling the first wireless communication circuit or performing function control of said signal processing by causing it to be active or inactive according to the signal received by said second wireless communication.

13. A non-transitory tangible recording medium storing a program, when executed the program causing a signal processing apparatus to implement steps comprising:

performing signal processing based on a signal received by a first wireless communication of a signal processing apparatus including

first wireless communication circuit that performs first wireless communication, and

second wireless communication circuit that performs second wireless communication with other apparatuses; and

performing function control of said first wireless communication by enabling or disabling the first wireless communication circuit or performing function control of said signal processing by causing it to be active or inactive according to the signal received by said second wireless communication.

14. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

wireless communication circuit that performs wireless communication;

signal processing circuit that performs signal processing based on a signal received by said wireless communication, the signal including a command; and

a control circuit that performs function control of said signal processing by causing the signal processing circuit to enter an active mode according to a part of the signal, not including the command, received by said wireless communication when the command indicates that the signal processing apparatus is in an active operating mode.

15. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 14, configured of a one-chip semiconductor.

16. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 14, disposed within a housing shielding electromagnetic waves.

17. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

wireless communication circuit that performs wireless communication;

signal processing circuit that performs signal processing based on a part of the signal received by said wireless communication; and

a control circuit that performs function control of said signal processing by causing the signal processing circuit to enter an active or inactive mode according to another part of the signal received by said wireless communication;

wherein said wireless communication circuit further send a signal obtained by said signal processing with wireless communication.

18. A signal processing method for a signal processing apparatus having wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, said method comprising:

performing signal processing based on a signal received by said wireless communication, the signal including a command; and

performing function control of said signal processing by causing it to be active according to a part of the signal, not including the command, received by said wireless communication when the command indicates that the signal processing apparatus is in an active operating mode.

19. A non-transitory tangible recording medium storing a program for a signal processing apparatus having wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, when executed the program causing the signal processing apparatus to implement steps comprising:

performing signal processing based on a signal received by said wireless communication, the signal including a command; and

performing function control of said signal processing by causing it to be active according to a part of the signal, not including the command, received by said wireless communication when the command indicates that the signal processing apparatus is in an active operating mode.