KR20030063600A - Apparatus and method for controlling analog devices by using the home network system - Google Patents

Abstract

You can control the operation of analog device through home network, check the product name and function of analog device, and when the event occurs on the analog device, send the event to the home network device to command a certain operation according to the event. To help.

According to the present invention, the control unit of the home network device determines whether a command to control an analog device or an A / V communication signal is input from the analog device, and when the command to control the analog device occurs, the middleware of the control unit is analog. A / V communication signal to be sent to the device is generated, and the generated A / V communication signal is converted into the A / V communication signal of the analog device by the protocol conversion means and transmitted to the analog device. When the communication signal is input, the A / V communication signal is converted into a home network protocol by the protocol conversion means, and the contents of the A / V communication signal transmitted by the analog device are determined by the converted home network protocol, and the corresponding operation is performed. Perform.

Description

Apparatus and method for controlling analog devices by using the home network system}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling an analog device using a home network to control the operation of an analog device that outputs an analog A / V (Audio / Video) signal through a home network.

Analog devices such as a DVD (Digital Video Disc) player or VCR (Video Cassette-tape Recorder) play back A / V signals stored in a predetermined storage medium such as DVD or video tape, and generate them as analog A / V signals. The generated analog A / V signal is input to a display device such as a television receiver, and the user is watching the analog A / V signal. In addition, the analog device and the display device are connected to each other by a predetermined control line to control the operation.

That is, in the related art, as shown in FIG. 1, the analog device 100 and the display device 110 are connected with a predetermined A / V signal line 120 so that the analog device 100 is connected to a predetermined size such as a DVD and a video tape. The analog A / V signal reproduced from the storage medium is input to the display device 110 through the A / V signal line 120, and the analog device 100 and the display device 110 are connected to the control line 130. By connecting the control line 130 to each other, it is possible to control the operation while transmitting a predetermined control signal and response signal.

For example, the control line 130 includes one ground line and one signal line, and the control line 130 is controlled by a control unit such as a microcomputer, which is built in the analog device 100 and the display device 110, respectively. Through the low-speed communication through the control operation between each other.

On the other hand, with the development of digital technology, devices such as various digital audio and video equipments gradually appear, and the devices are connected to a home network so as to control their operation.

Among the home network devices connected to the home network, the digital television receiver may receive and output an analog A / V signal generated by the analog device 100.

However, since the home network protocol used by the home network device and the A / V communication signals transmitted between the analog device 100 and the display device 110 are different from each other, the analog device 100 is connected to the home network. It is not possible to control the operation, and since the digital television receiver cannot recognize the control signal transmitted through the control line even when the analog device 100 and the digital television receiver are connected with the control line, the analog device ( There was a problem that can not control the operation of 100).

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling an analog device using a home network that can control the operation of the analog device through a home network.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling an analog device using a home network to input a product name and a function of the analog device from the analog device so that a user of the home network can check.

Still another object of the present invention is to control an analog device using a home network to transmit a generated event to a home network device when an event occurs while the analog device performs a predetermined operation to perform a predetermined operation according to the event. An apparatus and method are provided.

An apparatus for controlling an analog device using a home network of the present invention having the above object includes a modem embedded in a home network device, the modem relaying communication with a plurality of other home network devices through a home network cable, and the control unit Communication with the plurality of other home network devices through a modem is characterized in that the A / V communication signal generated when the operation command of the analog device is generated to transmit to the analog device.

The controller may control the operation of the home network device and the communication between the plurality of home network devices and the analog device, and the device driver may output a control signal to each part of the home network device according to the control of the middleware. A protocol conversion means converts the home network protocol of the middleware and the A / V communication signal of the analog device to each other, and an interface unit is located between the protocol conversion means and the analog device so as to operate the A / V communication signal. It characterized in that the transmission between each other.

The home network device further comprises an analog signal input unit for receiving analog A / V signals from the analog device, and further comprising an A / V processing unit for processing and outputting analog A / V signals inputted by the analog signal input unit. It features.

In the method of the analog device using the home network of the present invention, the control unit of the home network device determines whether a command to control the analog device or an A / V communication signal is input from the analog device, and controls the analog device as a result of the determination. When a command to be generated occurs, the middleware of the controller generates an A / V communication signal to be transmitted to the analog device, and the protocol conversion means converts the generated A / V communication signal into an A / V communication signal of the analog device and transmits it to the analog device. When the A / V communication signal is input from the analog device as a result of the determination, the A / V communication signal is converted into a home network protocol by the protocol conversion means, and the A / V transmitted by the analog device to the converted home network protocol. Judging the contents of the communication signal and performing the corresponding operation The features.

The command to control the analog device is characterized in that the command is input from a plurality of other home network devices via a home network cable or directly input to the home network device.

1 is a view for explaining a connection state of a conventional analog device and a display device,

2 is a view showing a state in which an analog device is connected to one home network device connected to a home network according to the control device of the present invention,

3 is a view showing the internal configuration of a home network device and an analog device according to the control device of the present invention,

4 is a view showing an example of the configuration of the A / V communication signal according to the present invention,

5 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an operation of a home network device according to the control method of the present invention.

6 is a signal flow diagram illustrating the operation of an analog device according to the control method of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

200, 210: home network device 220: home network cable

230: analog device 240: A / V signal line

250: control line 300, 400: control unit

301: middleware 303: device driver

335: protocol conversion means 307, 410: interface unit

310: modem 320: analog signal input

330: A / V processing unit 420: memory

430: media playback unit 440: analog signal processing unit

Hereinafter, an apparatus for controlling an analog device using a home network of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of FIGS. 2 to 6.

2 is a view showing a state in which an analog device is connected to one home network device connected to a home network according to the control device of the present invention.

Here, reference numerals 200 and 210 denote a plurality of home network devices operated on a predetermined home network protocol. The plurality of home network devices 200 and 210 are connected to each other by a home network cable 220, and the plurality of home network devices 200 and 210 connect the home network cable 220 according to a predetermined home network protocol. It is configured to control the operation by communicating with each other through.

Reference numeral 230 is an analog device for generating an analog A / V signal by playing back a predetermined storage medium such as a DVD or a video tape.

In the plurality of home network devices 200 and 210 and the analog device 230, the present invention provides one home network device 210 and the analog device 230 among the plurality of home network devices 200 and 210. Are connected to each other via the A / V signal line 240 and the control line 250. For example, a home network device 210 such as a digital television receiver installed at a position adjacent to the analog device 230 and capable of receiving and processing an analog A / V signal generated by the analog device 230. The analog device 230 is connected to each other by the A / V signal line 240 and the control line 250 so that the analog A / V signal output from the analog device 230 is connected to the home network through the A / V signal line 240. The device 210 is input to the device 210, and the home network device 210 and the analog device 230 are configured to perform bidirectional data communication with the A / V communication signal through the control line 250 to control each other.

3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the home network device 210 and the analog device 230. Here, reference numeral 300 denotes a control unit of the home network device 210. The controller 300 controls the operation of the home network device 210 while communicating with a plurality of other home network devices 200 through the home network cable 220, and also generates an operation of the analog device 230. Generates a predetermined A / V communication signal according to the command and transmits it to the analog device 230 through the control line 250, and the predetermined A / V input from the analog device 230 through the control line 250. Perform a predetermined operation according to the communication signal.

The controller 300 may include middleware 301 for controlling the operation of the home network device 210 and communication with a plurality of other home network devices 200 and the analog device 230, and the middleware 301. The device driver 303 for outputting a control signal to each unit of the home network device 210 under the control of the control unit, the home network protocol of the middleware 301 and the A / V communication signal of the analog device 230. Protocol conversion means 305 for converting each other from each other, and an interface unit 307 located between the protocol conversion means 305 and the analog device 230 for transmitting a predetermined A / V communication signal to each other. Equipped.

Reference numeral 310 is a modem and is located between the device driver 303 and the home network cable 220 to perform communication with each other. Reference numeral 320 is an analog signal input unit and inputs an analog A / V signal transmitted from the analog device 230 through the A / V signal line 240. Reference numeral 330 denotes an A / V processor which processes and outputs the analog A / V signal input by the analog signal input unit 320 under the control of the controller 300.

Reference numeral 400 is a control unit embedded in the analog device 230. The controller 400 performs an operation of a corresponding command while communicating with the home network device 210, and transmits information and event information required by the home network device 210 to the home network device 210. Control the operation.

Reference numeral 410 is an interface unit provided between the control unit 400 and the home network device 210 to transmit predetermined communication packets. Reference numeral 420 is a memory. In the memory 420, data such as an operation program of the controller 400 and a product name and an operation function of the analog device 230 are stored in advance, and are read and provided according to a request of the controller 400.

Reference numeral 430 denotes a medium reproducing unit for generating an analog A / V signal by reproducing a predetermined playback medium under the control of the control unit 400. Reference numeral 440 denotes an analog A / V signal generated by the medium reproducing unit 430. After processing, the analog signal processor transmits the signal to the home network device 210 through the A / V signal line 240.

In the control apparatus of the analog device using the home network of the present invention configured as described above, the middleware 301 of the control unit 300 of the home network device 210 passes through the device driver 303 and the modem 310, and the home network cable The communication is performed with the plurality of home network devices 210 through 220 to control the operation.

For example, according to a predetermined control command received through the home network cable 220, the modem 310, and the device driver 303, the middleware 301 controls the operation of the home network device 210, and also the middleware. 301 may control an operation by transmitting a control command to the plurality of other home network devices 210 through the device driver 303, the modem 310, and the home network cable 220.

In addition, a predetermined operation command or the like for controlling the operation of the analog device 230 is input from the plurality of home network devices 200 to the home network device 210 through the home network cable 220, or the user home. When a predetermined operation command for controlling the operation of the analog device 230 is generated by directly manipulating the network device 210, the middleware 301 receives a predetermined operation command signal for controlling the operation of the analog device 230. Occurs.

The predetermined operation command signal generated by the middleware 301 is converted into an A / V communication signal by the protocol conversion means 305 and then through the interface unit 307 and the analog device 230 through the control line 250. Is sent to.

As such, the predetermined A / V communication signal transmitted through the control line 250 is input by the control unit 400 through the interface unit 410 of the analog device 230, and the control unit 400 receives the received predetermined input. It performs the operation according to the A / V communication signal. For example, when the received A / V communication signal is a command for controlling the operation of the analog device 230, the controller 400 controls the operation of the analog device 230 according to the command.

That is, when the A / V communication signal inputted by the analog device 230 is a command to play a predetermined playback medium, the controller 400 controls the media playback unit 430 to play back a predetermined playback medium. In addition, a predetermined response A / V communication signal is generated and transmitted to the home network device 210 through the interface unit 410 and the control line 250. The A / V signal reproduced by the media playback unit 430 is After processing by the analog signal processor 440 is transmitted to the home network device 210 through the A / V signal line 240, the home network device 210 is the A / V signal line in accordance with the response A / V communication signal ( The A / V signal transmitted through the 240 is input through the analog signal input unit 320, processed by the A / V processing unit 330, and then output to be viewed by the user.

When the input A / V communication signal is an operation command to transmit a product name or function of the analog device 230, the controller 400 reads a corresponding product name or function from the memory 420, and The A / V communication signal is generated according to the product name or function, and the generated A / V communication signal is transmitted to the home network device 210 through the interface unit 410 and the control line 250 to transmit the analog device 230. The product name or function will be announced.

Here, the A / V communication signal is generated according to a predetermined standard and transmitted to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a start signal indicating the start of the A / V communication signal, a header, A / V communication signal information indicating that the A / V communication signal is a control command, a product name request, a product function request, a response signal, a product name transmission, a product function transmission, or an event occurrence, and a plurality of A / V communication signal information It consists of detailed information.

5 is a signal flow diagram illustrating an operation of a home network device according to the control method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 400, the middleware 301 of the home network device 210 determines whether a predetermined operation command to be transmitted to the analog device 230 occurs. For example, the middleware 301 receives a predetermined operation command or the like for controlling the operation of the analog device 230 from the plurality of home network devices 200 through the home network cable 220, or the user home. By directly operating the network device 210, it is determined whether a predetermined operation command for controlling the operation of the analog device 230 is generated.

When a predetermined operation command for controlling the operation of the analog device 230 occurs as a result of the determination of the step 400, the middleware 301 generates the command signal to be transmitted in step 401, the middleware 301 is The protocol conversion means 305 converts the generated command signal into an A / V communication signal according to a predetermined standard in step 404, and then analogs through the interface unit 307 and the control line 250 in step 406. Transmit to device 230.

The control unit 300 of the home network device 210 receives a predetermined A / V communication signal from the analog device 230 through the control line 250 and the interface unit 307 in step 408. In step 410, the predetermined A / V communication signal is converted by the protocol converting means 305 into a home network protocol and input to the middleware 301.

Then, the middleware 301 determines the information of the received A / V communication signal using the received home network protocol in step 412, and performs a predetermined operation according to the determined information.

6 is a signal flow diagram illustrating the operation of an analog device according to the control method of the present invention. As shown therein, the control unit 400 of the analog device 230 inputs a predetermined A / V communication signal from the home network device 210 through the control line 250 and the interface unit 410 in step 500. In step 502, it is determined whether the received predetermined A / V communication signal is an operation command that commands a predetermined operation.

If the determination result of the step 502 is a predetermined operation command, the control unit 400 performs a corresponding operation according to the predetermined operation command in step 504. For example, in the case of a command of playing, stopping, or fast playing the playing medium, the controller 400 controls the medium playing unit 430 to perform an operation of playing, stopping, or fast playing the playing medium.

In a next step 506, a response A / V communication signal is generated according to the received predetermined operation command, and the generated response A / V communication signal is transferred to the interface unit 410 and the control line 250 in step 508. The home network device 210 converts the response A / V communication signal transmitted by the home network device 210 through the interface unit 307 into the home network protocol. After input to the middleware 301, the middleware 301 determines the input of the response A / V communication signal.

If it is not an operation command in step 502, the controller 400 determines whether the A / V communication signal received in step 510 is a command to transmit a product name or product function information.

When the determination result of the step 510 is a command to transmit the product name of the analog device 230 or the function information of the product, the control unit 400 may store the product name of the analog device 230 or the memory 420 in step 512. Read the product functional information. In the next step 514 converts the product name or product function information of the read analog device 230 into an A / V communication signal, and in step 516 converts the product name or product function information to an A / V communication signal. It transmits to the home network device 210 through the interface unit 410 and the control line 250.

In addition, when the A / V communication signal is not input at step 500 and a predetermined event occurs at step 518, for example, when a playback operation of a playback medium is completed, the controller 400 generates an event. In step 520, the control unit 400 generates an A / V communication signal according to the predetermined event, and generates the A / V communication signal through the interface unit 410 and the control line 250. Transmit to device 210.

On the other hand, while the present invention has been shown and described with respect to specific preferred embodiments, various modifications and variations of the present invention without departing from the spirit or field of the invention provided by the claims below It can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the above description, the home network device 210 connecting the analog device 230 has been described as a digital television receiver as an example. However, the home network device 210 may be connected to another digital device in addition to the digital television receiver. In addition, the analog device 230 has been described as an example of an analog device that plays a predetermined playback medium. In addition to an analog device that plays a predetermined playback medium, the analog device 230 may control operations by connecting various analog devices such as an analog television receiver. .

As described in detail above, the present invention can provide an analog device to a home network device connected to a home network to control operations, thereby providing a user with a product name and a function of the analog device, and Operation control such as reservation recording is possible, and remote fault diagnosis can be performed.

Claims (6)

A modem embedded in the home network device and relaying communication with a plurality of other home network devices via a home network cable; And And a control unit configured to communicate with the plurality of other home network devices through the modem, and generate and transmit an A / V (Audio / Video) communication signal corresponding to an operation command of an analog device to be input to the analog device. Control device for analog devices using a home network. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit; Middleware for controlling an operation of a home network device and communication with a plurality of other home network devices and the analog device; A device driver configured to output a control signal to each unit of a home network device to operate according to the control of the middleware; Protocol conversion means for converting a protocol of a home network used by the middleware and an A / V communication signal of the analog device to each other; And And an interface unit positioned between the protocol conversion unit and the analog device to transmit A / V communication signals to each other. The method of claim 1, An analog signal input unit configured to receive an analog A / V signal from the analog device; And And an A / V processing unit for processing and outputting an analog A / V signal inputted by the analog signal input unit. A first step of determining, by the controller of the home network device, whether a command to control the analog device is input or an A / V communication signal is input from the analog device; A second process of generating, by the middleware of the controller, an A / V communication signal to be transmitted to the analog device when a command to control the analog device occurs in the first process; A third step of converting the A / V communication signal generated in the second process into an A / V communication signal of the analog device by the protocol conversion means and transmitting the same to the analog device; A fourth step of converting the A / V communication signal into a home network protocol when the A / V communication signal is input from the analog device in the first step; And And a fifth process of determining the contents of the A / V communication signal transmitted by the analog device using the home network protocol converted in the fourth process and performing a corresponding operation. . The method of claim 4, wherein the command to control the analog device of the first process comprises: a; A method for controlling an analog device using a home network, characterized in that the command is input from a plurality of different home network devices via a home network cable. The method of claim 4, wherein the command to control the analog device of the first process comprises: a; A control method of an analog device using a home network, characterized in that the command is directly input to the home network device.