Abstract:
A combination system including a plurality of reproducing apparatuses, such as a digital versatile disk player (DVDP) and a video cassette recorder, and a method for controlling operation of the same. The combination unit includes a selecting unit for selecting a reproduced signal provided by one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses that is switched to a play mode, a selection information storing unit for storing selection information identifying the reproducing apparatus that outputs the reproduced signal selected by the selecting unit, and a control unit for controlling the reproducing apparatus to switch to a pause mode or a stop mode when the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit changes from identifying the reproducing apparatus to identifying another reproducing apparatus of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses. The control unit can be disposed in one of the plurality of the reproducing apparatuses, and can control that reproducing apparatus to switch from the pause mode into the stop mode when the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit is not changed for a predetermined time period. Accordingly, the operability of the combination system improves, while undesired power consumption due to unnecessary reproducing operation of the reproducing apparatus can be prevented.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application No. 2002-19691, filed on Apr. 11, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention:  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a system and method for combining a plurality of reproducing apparatuses in a single unit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system for combining a plurality of devices, such as digital versatile disk players and videocassette recorders, in a single unit, and a method for controlling operation of the same.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art:  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 shows a combined DVDP/VCR system  10  and its associated peripherals connected. The combined DVDP/VCR system  10  has a video cassette recorder (VCR) unit  11  for performing functions of the VCR such as reproducing video and audio from a magnetic tape and recording an externally received signal onto the magnetic tape, and a digital versatile disk player (DVDP) unit  12  for performing functions of the DVDP such as reproducing video and audio from a DVD. In addition to the separate functions of the VCR unit  11  and the DVDP unit  12 , the combined DVDP/VCR system  10  also has the combined functions such as recording the video and audio reproduced from the DVDP unit  12  onto the magnetic tape by the VCR unit  11 .  
           [0006]    The combined DVDP/VCR system  10  is connected to a television  23  for outputting the video and audio reproduced from the DVDP unit  12  or from the VCR unit  11 , and is also connected to an audio amp  21  for outputting the audio signal reproduced from the DVDP unit  12 . In addition, the combined DVDP/VCR system  10  can be connected to external devices  25  such as a camcorder, and therefore, the combined DVDP/VCR system  10  performs recording and reproducing of the video and audio input from the external devices  25 .  
           [0007]    The VCR unit  11  and the DVDP unit  12  of the combined DVDP/VCR system  10  are constructed as one system. Hence, a user can switch the modes of the VCR unit  11  and the DVDP unit  12 , and manipulate the respective functions of the VCR unit  11  and the DVDP unit  12  by manipulating a separate input device such as a remote controller  15 , or by manipulating an operational panel (not shown) provided with the combined DVDP/VCR system  10 .  
           [0008]    In the conventional combined DVDP/VCR system  10  constructed as described above, video and audio signals are output through a display unit (e.g., television) by a reproducing operation performed by the VCR unit  11  or the DVDP unit  12 . When one of the units  11  or  12  is performing a reproducing operation and the user wants the other unit  11  or  12  to perform the reproducing operation instead, he or she has to switch the play mode of the reproducing unit  11  or  12  to a stop mode, and then switch the mode of the other unit  11  or  12  to the play mode, which is quite complicated.  
           [0009]    Japanese Patent No. 7-312071 to Matsushita Electric Ind. Co., Ltd., the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a Reproducing device which includes a combination apparatus having improved operability, in an attempt to solve the above problems.  
           [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows the reproducing device disclosed in JP 7-312071, which includes a VCR unit  11 A, a DVDP unit  12 A, an input unit  20  for selecting the VCR unit  11 A or the DVDP unit  12 A to operate in a play mode, and an output determining unit  30  for controlling the selected unit  11 A or  12 A to operate in the play mode. The reproducing device further includes an output selecting unit  40  for selecting the VCR unit  11 A or the DVDP unit  12 A to operate in the play mode under the control of the output determining unit  30 , and a display unit  50  for displaying an output signal reproduced by the unit  11 A or  12 A that is selected by the output selecting unit  40 .  
           [0011]    For example, when the user inputs a VCR reproducing command through the input unit  20  during the reproducing operation of the DVDP unit  12 A, the output determining unit  30  controls the VCR unit  11 A to perform a reproducing operation, while controlling the DVDP unit  12 A to stop the reproducing operation. The output selecting unit  40  selects the output signal reproduced from the VCR unit  11 A and outputs the selected output signal to the display unit  50 .  
           [0012]    In other words, the device disclosed in JP 7-312071 provides improved operability for the case where the user inputs through the input unit  20  a command for reproducing operation of the other unit during the reproducing operation of one unit, by preferentially switching the mode of the other unit into a play mode and outputting the reproduced signal through the display unit  50 .  
           [0013]    The combination apparatus disclosed in JP7-312071 also provides improved operability, especially when the unit is made to switch to the play mode through the input unit  20 ._However, the improvement in operability does not occur when the unit is made to switch to the play mode upon insertion of a recording medium, namely, a video tape or DVD, into a deck (not shown).  
           [0014]    For example, in the case where the DVDP unit  12 A is switched to the play mode due to insertion of the DVD in the deck when a reproducing operation is being performed by the VCR unit  11 A, the output determining unit  30  cannot determine whether the DVDP unit  12 A is switched to the play mode or not, and accordingly, the VCR unit  11 A keeps operating in the play mode. Therefore, the user has to separately input the stop command for the DVDP unit  12 A through the input unit  20 , or stop the operation of the DVDP unit  12 A by taking the DVD out of the deck.  
           [0015]    Furthermore, when the user needs to switch the DVDP unit  12 A to the play mode to search the recorded contents on the DVD when a reproducing operation is being performed by the VCR unit  11 A, the user has to switch the VCR unit  11 A to the stop mode, and then switch the DVDP unit  12 A to the play mode. The user also has to switch the VCR unit  11 A back to the play mode after the completion of search, which results in inconvenience for the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combination system having a plurality of reproducing apparatuses, and a method for controlling the operation of the system, which provide an improved reliability and convenience in operation by a user.  
           [0017]    The above object is substantially accomplished by a combination system having a plurality of reproducing apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system employs a selecting unit for selecting a reproduced signal from one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses that is switched to a play mode, a selection information storing unit for storing selection information identifying the reproducing apparatus that outputs the reproduced signal selected by the selecting unit, and a control unit for controlling that reproducing apparatus to switch to either a pause mode or a stop mode when the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit changes from identifying that reproducing apparatus to identifying another reproducing apparatus of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses.  
           [0018]    The control unit can be provided in one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses, such as the VCR, and controls that reproducing apparatus to switch from the pause mode to a play mode when the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit is not changed for a predetermined time period.  
           [0019]    The plurality of reproducing apparatuses comprise a digital versatile disk player (DVDP) for reproducing recorded data in a digital versatile disk (DVD), and a videocassette recorder (VCR) for reproducing recorded data in a magnetic tape. The system further employs an on-screen display (OSD) unit for generating a selection menu in the form of an OSD screen which pertains to the operational mode of the one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses when the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit is changed.  
           [0020]    The above object is also substantially accomplished by a method for controlling an operation of a combination system having a plurality of reproducing apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes the steps of selecting a reproduced signal of one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses that is switched to a play mode, storing a selection information identifying the apparatus that outputs the selected reproduced signal, and controlling that reproducing apparatus to switch into either a pause mode or a stop mode when the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit has changed from identifying that reproducing apparatus to identifying another of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses.  
           [0021]    The controlling step further switches one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses from the pause mode to a stop mode when the stored selection information is not changed for a predetermined time period.  
           [0022]    The method further includes a step of displaying the selection menu pertaining to the operational mode of the one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses in the format of an on-screen display (OSD) when the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit is changed from identifying one of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses to identifying another of the plurality of reproducing apparatuses.  
           [0023]    Accordingly, the operability of the combination system is improved, and power consumption due to unnecessarily operating the reproducing apparatuses can be prevented. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    The above-mentioned objects and the feature of the present invention will be more apparent by describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail referring to the appended drawings, in which:  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional combined DVDP/VCR system;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a combined DVDP/VCR as described in Japanese Patent No. 7-312071;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a combined DVDP/VCR system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for controlling the operation of the combined DVDP/VCR system shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for controlling the operation of the combined DVDP/VCR system shown in FIG. 3 according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a selection menu displayed on a screen according to the operation controlling method shown in FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a combined DVDP/VCR system  100  according to one example of the present invention. As shown, the combined DVDP/VCR system  100  includes a DVDP unit  120  and a VCR unit  110 .  
         [0033]    Specifically, the combined DVDP/VCR system  100  includes a VCR unit  110  for performing functions of a VCR, a DVD unit  120  for performing functions of a DVDP, an external signal input unit  140  for inputting signals from the external devices such as a camcorder, and a broadcast receiving unit  150  for receiving a broadcast signal. The system  100  further includes a signal inputting unit  140  for inputting signals output from the VCR unit  110  and the DVDP unit  120  and the external signals, a selecting unit  130  for a selecting among the signals input from the broadcast receiving unit  150 , and an output unit  160  for providing peripherals, such as a television or amplifier, with the signals output from the VCR unit  110  and the DVDP unit  120 .  
         [0034]    The VCR unit  110  includes a VCR deck  111 , a video/audio processing unit  113 , an on-screen display unit (OSD)  114 , a VCR control unit  115 , a display  116 , an input unit  117 , and a remote controller  200  for inputting control commands from a remote area.  
         [0035]    The VCR deck  111  operates to record data onto a magnetic tape, or to read the recorded data from the magnetic tape. When the magnetic tape is inserted in the VCR deck  111 , the VCR control unit  115  switches the VCR unit  110  into the play mode, thereby reproducing signals from the magnetic tape inserted in the VCR deck  111 .  
         [0036]    The video/audio processing unit  113  processes the video/audio signals reproduced in the VCR deck  111  into a predetermined signal, and outputs the processed signal. The OSD unit  114  generates signals, such as subtitle signals and a selection menu, on an OSD screen. The VCR control unit  115  controls the overall operation of the VCR unit  110 , and has a selection information storing unit  115   a.    
         [0037]    The VCR control unit  115  receives from the DVD control unit  129  the information about the operational status and environment setting of the DVDP unit  120 . The transmission/reception of the information is made under a predetermined communication protocol with the power of the combined DVDP/VCR system on.  
         [0038]    The selection information storing unit  115   a  stores the selection information about whether the reproduced signal selected by the selecting unit  130  under the control signal of the VCR control unit  115  is from the VCR unit  110  or from the DVDP unit  120 . Operational commands of the user are input through the input unit  117  and the remote controller  200 , and the operational mode and environment setting mode for the VCR unit  110  and the DVDP unit  120  are displayed through the display  116  for the user&#39;s notice.  
         [0039]    The DVDP unit  120  includes a DVD deck  121 , a DE-MUX  122 , a video decoder  123 , a video buffer  124 , an audio decoder  125 , a DVD OSD unit  126 , an encoder  127 , an audio D/A  128  and a DVD control unit  129 . Usually, all these components are constructed as a single component, except for the DVD control unit  129  and the DVD deck  121 .  
         [0040]    The DVD deck  121  reads the data recorded in the DVD. When the DVD is loaded n the DVD deck  111  and the deck  111  is inserted in the DVDP deck  121 , the DVD control unit  115  switches the DVD unit  120  to the play mode, thereby reproducing the data from the DVD in the DVD deck  111 .  
         [0041]    The DE-MUX  122  outputs the data read from the DVD deck  121  as the video signal and the audio signal separately. The video decoder  124  and the audio decoder  125  decode the compressed video/audio signals to restore the signals into original digital video/audio signal, and the video buffer  124  stores the video data in a predetermined amount, which will generally construct one frame screen. The encoder  127  converts the digital video signal into an analog television image signal, and outputs a component video signal comprising a complex image signal, super video signal and YCbCr.  
         [0042]    The audio D/A  128  converts the digital audio signal output from the audio decoder  125  into an analog audio signal and outputs the converted analogue audio signal. The DVD OSD unit  126  stores text data and figures overlapped with the DVD screen, and performs the OSD functions. The DVD control unit  129  controls the overall operation of the DVDP unit  120 , and transmits to the VCR control unit  115  the information about the operational status and environment setting status of the DVDP unit  120 .  
         [0043]    The output unit  160  receives the signal output from the DVD encoder  124 , the selecting unit  130  and the OSD unit  114 , and outputs the input signal as a DVD video, DVD audio, VCR video and a VCR audio signal. The output unit  160  is connected to peripherals such as a television and audio system, which output the video and audio respectively.  
         [0044]    The external signal input unit  140  is connected to the selecting unit  130 , which functions to transmit the externally-input signal to the selecting unit  130 . The signal output terminals of the external devices, such as a camcorder, are connected to the external signal input unit  140 . The broadcast receiving unit  15  is also connected to the selecting unit  130 , and receives the broadcasting signal from the broadcasting station and transmits the received broadcasting signal to the selecting unit  130 .  
         [0045]    Accordingly, the signals of the external devices and broadcasting signals can be transmitted to the combined DVDP/VCR system  100  through the external signal input unit  140  and the broadcast receiving unit  150 , respectively, while the signals of the external devices and broadcasting signals can also be recorded onto the magnetic tape or reproduced through the television or a monitor by using the VCR unit  110 .  
         [0046]    The method for controlling the operation of the combined DVDP/VCR system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in greater detail.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the method for controlling the operation of the combined DVDP/VCR system  100  according to an preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0048]    When the user inputs the reproducing command for the DVDP unit  120  through the input unit  117  and the remote controller  200 , or when the DVD is loaded/inserted in the DVD deck  121 , the DVDP unit  120  is switched to the play mode in step S 1 . When the DVD control unit  129  transmits information to the VCR control unit  115  indicating that the DVDP unit  120  is in the play mode, the VCR control unit  115  controls the selecting unit  130  to select the reproduced signals, that is, the video/audio signals, from the DVDP unit  120  and to input the selected signals to the output unit  160 . At the same time, the VCR control unit  115  stores the selection information about the DVDP unit  120  that outputs the reproduced signals selected by the current selecting unit  130  in the selection information storing unit  115   a.    
         [0049]    When the video tape is inserted into the VCR deck  111  during the reproducing operation (step S 1 ) of the DVDP unit  120  of the combined DVDP/VCR system  100 , the VCR control unit  115  recognizes the insertion of the video tape into the VCR deck  111 , and switches the VCR unit  110  to the play mode in step S 3 . The VCR unit  110  can also be switched to the play mode by the user&#39;s input of the VCR reproducing command through the input unit  117  and the remote controller  200 .  
         [0050]    Accordingly, the VCR control unit  115  provides an appropriate control signal which controls the selecting unit  130  to select the reproduced signal of the VCR unit  110  instead of the reproduced signal of the DVDP unit  120 .. At the same time, the VCR the selection information storing unit  115   a  of the control unit  115  stores selection information indicating the selection of the VCR unit  110  by the selecting unit  130 . The VCR control unit  115  checks the selection information storing unit  115   a  and determines whether the stored selection information has changed or not in step S 5 .  
         [0051]    When the VCR control unit  115  determines that the stored selection information has changed from the DVDP unit  120  to the VCR unit  110 , the VCR control unit  115  transmits a pause command to the DVD control unit  129 , to switch the operation of the DVDP unit  120  to the pause mode in step S 9 . Although the mode is switched to the pause mode in this embodiment as an example, the mode can be also switched to the stop mode.  
         [0052]    When it is determined that there is no change in the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit  115   a  for a predetermined time, for example, when there is no mode switching caused by a stop command given to the VCR unit  110  (or ejection of video tape) and a reproducing command given to the DVDP unit  120  (or insertion of DVD into the DVD deck), the VCR control unit  115  in step S 11  transmits the stop command to the DVD control unit  129  so as to completely stop the DVDP unit  120  which was in the pause mode.  
         [0053]    In this example, the DVDP unit  120  is in the pause mode before it is switched to the stop mode, in case there is a need to switch the DVDP unit  120  to the play mode for a brief searching of the video/audio signals of the DVDP unit  120  and VCR unit  110  that have not been output, for reasons such as setting the environment of the system, and so on.  
         [0054]    Accordingly, the DVD control unit  129  switches the operational mode of the DVDP unit  120  in response to the control command transmitted from the VCR control unit  115 .  
         [0055]    The above description provides an example of a method of mode switching caused by the insertion of the recording medium in the selected deck  111  or  121 , and a method of switching the unselected reproducing apparatus to a pause mode and a stop mode when the selected reproducing device is switched to the play mode in response to the reproducing command input from the user through the input unit  117 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 5 shows a method for controlling the operation of the combined DVDP/VCR system according to another example of an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the reproducing device, which is not selected during a manual selection, is switched to the pause mode and the stop mode.  
         [0057]    Through steps S 1  through S 5  of FIG. 4, and in step S 5  in particular, the VCR control unit  115  determines that the selection information stored in the selection information storing unit  115   a  has changed to indicate that the selecting unit  130  has stopped selecting the reproduced signals of the DVDP unit  120  and has begun selecting the reproduced signals of the VCR unit  110 . As indicated in step S 21  of FIG. 5, the VCR control unit  115  displays a certain selection menu on the screen  300  through the OSD unit  114  as shown in FIG. 6, to allow for selection of an operational mode of the DVDP unit  120 .  
         [0058]    As shown in FIG. 6, in response to the query, “DO YOU WANT TO STOP DVDP?”, the user selects ‘YES’ (Step S 23  of FIG. 5) or ‘NO’ (Step S 25  of FIG. 5). When the ‘YES’ is selected, the VCR control unit  115  transmits the stop command to the DVD control unit  129  in step S 27 , to switch the DVDP unit  120  to the stop mode. However, in order to switch the VCR unit  110  back to the play mode to search the recorded contents in the video tape, the user selects the ‘NO’ selection in step S 25 .  
         [0059]    As described above, the VCR unit  110  is switched to the play mode during the reproducing operation of the DVDP unit  120 , and vice versa. By switching the operation of the apparatus not in operation to the pause mode and stop mode, automatically or manually, the combination system having a plurality of reproducing apparatuses has improved operability, while also reducing unnecessary power consumption which is caused due to the unnecessary operation of the reproducing apparatus.  
         [0060]    According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, in the combined system of the DVDP unit  120  and the VCR unit  110  for the reproducing operation, the DVDP unit  120  or the VCR unit  110  that is not operating is switched to the pause mode or the stop mode, automatically or manually. As a result, the operability of the system is improved, while the waste of power consumption is prevented.  
         [0061]    Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiment, but various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.