Information processing apparatus, method and program

An information processing apparatus includes: a speaker setup section that sets up each of a plurality of speakers; and a display control section that controls display of information regarding arrangement of the plurality of speakers and setting of the plurality of speakers set up by the speaker setup section.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP2006-248688 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Sep. 13, 2006, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method and program, and is preferably applied to a multichannel speaker system, for example.

2. Description of Related Art

There is an audio visual system (also referred to as an “AV system”) for audio and video reproduction: The audio visual system includes an audio amplifier with multichannel reproduction functions, a receiver including an audio amplifier with a tuner function and the like. Initial setting (or speaker setting) for each speaker should be done.

Generally, as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Laid-open Publication No. 2005-12534, the AV system with multichannel reproduction function includes a 5.1 channel speaker system: In line with the 5.1 channel audio format for DVD video for example, the 5.1 channel speaker system includes a left front speaker FL, a right front speaker FR, a center speaker CT, a left surround speaker SL, a right surround speaker SR and a subwoofer SW.

In recent years, the AV system may include a 6.1 channel speaker system, which has a surround back speaker in line with the 6.1 channel audio format such as “DOLBY DIGITAL EX (Registered Trademark)” and “dts-ES (Registered Trademark)”, a 7.1 channel speaker system, which has two surround back speakers, or a 9.1 surround speaker system, which has four surround speakers.

Setting up that kind of multichannel AV system should be done to present an appropriate multichannel reproduction environment: The setting items include “Use or Nonuse of Speaker”, “Large (a full bandwidth reproduction speaker)/Small (a middle and high bandwidth reproduction speaker)” and the like. Accordingly, the AV system is usually equipped with the speaker setup function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, as for that type of AV system, a user should decide on specifics for the setup items of each speaker placed in the listening space. This is particularly troublesome for the user because there are many setup items.

In addition, the number of the speaker setup items and its setting patterns will increase as the AV system has more channels, like from a 2 channel system to a 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 or 9.1 channel system. Like connecting the speaker with other devices, that kind of setup operation is troublesome for the user.

The AV system is usually equipped with a poor quality display (such as Fluorescent Display) as a user interface, which is usually mounted on acoustic devices such as audio amplifiers. Therefore, the user may have difficulty in specifying those setup items on the display.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points and is intended to provide an information processing apparatus, method and program that allow a user to easily set up a plurality of speakers.

In one aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes: a speaker setup section that sets up each of a plurality of speakers; and a display control section that controls display of information regarding arrangement of the plurality of speakers and setting of the plurality of speakers set up by the speaker setup section. This allows the user to visually check the arrangement of the plurality of speakers and the setting of each speaker. As a result, the user can set up the plurality of speakers easily.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user can visually check the arrangement of the plurality of speakers and the setting of each speaker. As a result, the user can set up the plurality of speakers easily. Thus, the information processing apparatus, method and program according to an embodiment of the present invention allow the user to easily set up the plurality of speakers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) Overall Configuration of an AV system

With reference toFIG. 1, an Audio Visual (AV) system1according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a home server2connected to a plurality of reproduction apparatus3, a plurality of speakers4and a display section or a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)5.

In this embodiment, the reproduction apparatus3include, for example, a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player3A, a Compact Disc (CD) player3B and a portable music player3C, each of which is connected to the home server2.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the speakers4, as a 7.1 channel surround system, include, for example, a left front speaker4FL, a right front speaker4FR, a center speaker4CT, a left surround speaker4SL, a right surround speaker4SR, a left surround back speaker4SBL, a right surround back speaker4SBR and a subwoofer4SW, each of which is connected to the home server2.

Each speaker4(4FL,4FR,4CT,4SL,4SR,4SBL,4SBR and4SW) is appropriately placed in the listening space to realize a desired acoustic effect.

In addition, the AV system1is designed to display on the LCD5various setup screens regarding the acoustic field space. The setup content, specified through a remote controller RCL, is stored in the AV system1, which then constructs the acoustic field environment based on the setup content to allow a user to listen to music.

(2) Configuration of the Home Server

Following describes the circuit configuration of the home server2. As shown inFIG. 2, the home server2includes a control section10connected to an operation input section11, an interface12, a data storage medium13, a fluorescent display14, a graphics processing section15, a digital signal processing section16, a delivery processing section17and an analog signal processing section18.

The control section10is a micro computer including a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to take overall control of the AV system1. In addition, the control section10includes a Read Only Memory (ROM), which stores various programs such as a basic program and various application programs, and a Random Access Memory (RAM), which serves as a work memory for the CPU.

The operation input section11generates control data in accordance with the operation of operation sections (such as an operation button, a rotatable encoder (i.e. a rotatable knob) or the like), which are placed on the surface of the home server2and the remote controller RCL (FIG. 1). The operation input section11supplies the control data to the control section10.

The interface12is, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB). The control data, supplied from the control section10, is for example transmitted via the interface12to the DVD player3A, the CD player3B and the portable music player3C. On the other hand, the control data generated by the DVD player3A, the CD player3B or the portable music player3C is transmitted via the interface12to the control section10.

The data storage medium13is for example a Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM). The data storage medium13stores setting data D1, which represent the setup content of the speakers4regarding the acoustic field space, and setting screen data D2, which are templates of screens for Graphical User Interface (GUI).

The fluorescent display14is mounted on the surface of the home server2. The fluorescent display14displays characters based on the content generated by the control section10, and other characters indicating the details of the setup items regarding the acoustic field space.

The graphic processing section15is designed to receive video signals from the DVD player3A via a digital video input terminal (not shown), an analog video input terminal (not shown) or a component video input/output terminal (not shown). In addition, the graphic processing section15may receive the setting data D1and the setting screen data D2from the data storage medium13.

After receiving the video signal, the graphic processing section15performs a signal processing process on the video signal and supplies a resulting video signal to the LCD5(FIG. 1), which then displays a video image based on the video signal.

On the other hand, when receiving the setting data D1and the setting screen data D2, the graphic processing section15generates a GUI screen data D3based on the setting data D1and the setting screen data D2and supplies the GUI screen data D3to the LCD5(FIG. 1), which then displays a GUI screen based on the GUI screen data D3.

A Digital Interface Receiver (DIR)31of the digital signal processing section16receives an optical digital audio signal from the DVD player3A or the portable music player3C via a digital input/output terminal. An Analog Digital Converter (ADC)32of the digital signal processing section16receives an analog audio signal from the CD player3B via an analog input/output terminal.

The DIR31electrically converts the optical digital audio signal into a digital audio signal and then supplies the digital audio signal to a decoder/Digital Signal Processor (DSP)33. The ADC32transforms the analog audio signal into a digital audio signal and then supplies the digital audio signal to a decoder/ DSP33.

The decoder/DSP33is designed to perform various processes on the digital audio signals supplied from the DIR31or the ADC32when needed. Specifically, the decoder/DSP33may decompress the digital audio signals when they have been compressed. The decoder/DSP33may demultiplex the digital audio signals when they have been multiplexed for 7.1 channels and the like.

When receiving from the control section10the setting data D1regarding the acoustic image which is to be realized by the speakers4, the decoder/DSP33performs, based on the setting data D1, various processes such as adjusting an amplitude or phase of a signal of a certain frequency or virtually increasing or decreasing the number of channels.

After performing those signal processing processes, the decoder/DSP33supplies a resulting digital audio signal to a Digital Analog Converter (DAC)34. The digital audio signal is transformed, by the DAC34, into an analog audio signal, which is then supplied to the delivery processing section17.

The delivery processing section17receives from the DAC34the analog audio signal and then supplies the received analog audio signal to one of volume adjustment sections411to418, which is associated with the channel of the received analog audio signal. The analog signal processing section18includes those volume adjustment sections411to418.

The volume adjustment sections411to418adjusts the level of the analog audio signal supplied from the delivery processing section17, based on a volume adjustment command supplied from the operation input section11. The adjusted analog audio signal is supplied to amplifiers421to428.

The analog audio signal of each channel is amplified by the corresponding amplifier421to428so as to drive a corresponding speaker4(4FL,4FR,4CT,4SL,4SR,4SBL,4SBR or4SW). The analog audio signal is then output through relays431to438.

By the way, when a command is supplied from the operation input section11, the relays431to438may shut down the supply of the analog audio signal to the unused speaker4. This allows a user to specify which speaker4is to be used.

(3) Process of the Control Section

Following describes the process of the control section10of the home server2. The control section10executes programs, such as a basic program and application program stored in the ROM, to perform various processes: The control section controls the display section14, the graphic processing section15, the digital signal processing section16, the delivery processing section17and the analog signal processing section18, based on the control data supplied from the operation input section11or the interface12, the setting data D1stored in the data storage medium13and the like.

(3-1) Playback Process

When a playback command, as the control data, is supplied from the operation input section11the control section10controls, in accordance with the playback command, the corresponding DVD player3A, CD player3B or portable music player3C for playback. The control section10then receives content information from the DVD player3A, CD player3B or portable music player3C and generates, based on the received content information, character data including a string of characters describing the content. The fluorescent display14or the LCD5therefore displays characters based on the character data.

For example, while the video signals, reproduced from a DVD disc, are supplied from the DVD player3A, the control section10supplies the video signals via the graphic processing section15to the LCD5(FIG. 1), which then displays the video images based on the video signals. On the other hand, when the CD player3B or the portable music player3C is driven to reproduce data, a video image is generated by the graphic processing section15in accordance with which player is driven and then is displayed on the LCD5.

(3-2) Acoustic Field Setup Process

When an acoustic field setup command, as the control data, is supplied from the operation input section11the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to generate the GUI screen data D3based on the setting data D1and setting screen data D2stored in the data storage medium13. The LCD5(FIG. 1) therefore displays a GUI screen based on the GUI screen data D3.

When a setup change command, a command to change the setting of each speaker4in the acoustic field space is supplied from the remote controller RCL or the operation input section11, the control section10updates, in accordance with the setup change command, the setting data D1stored in the data storage medium13.

If the setup change command is related to the acoustic image, the speakers4under the control of the control section10outputs, when the setup change command is supplied, predetermined test sound that matches the condition of the setup change command regarding the acoustic image. In addition, the control section10displays on the LCD5(FIG. 1) an image representing that acoustic image. This helps the user understand the acoustic image through their eyes and ears.

In this embodiment, the home server2has been set up in the following manner: The speakers4(4FL,4FR,4CT,4SL,4SR,4SBL,4SBR and4SW) are divided into a plurality of groups, each of which belongs to a certain acoustic field space such as a listening room, a kitchen or a child's room. Accordingly, a certain group of speakers4provides reproduced sound which is the same as or different from that of other groups.

In that manner, each group of the speakers4is located in a different acoustic field space or a different zone. The home server2takes charge of controlling all the zones, such as correcting the acoustic field of each zone.

(4) Acoustic Field Setup through GUI

Instead of the fluorescent display14of the home server2, the AV system1displays on a high quality LCD5the GUI screen for the setup of acoustic field. The setup of acoustic field may be automatically or manually done through the GUI screen.

(4-1) Automatic Acoustic Filed Setup through GUI After being powered on, the control section10of the home server2controls the graphic processing section15to generate a home screen HM (as shown inFIG. 3), which is then displayed on the LCD5. The uppermost stratum of the home screen HM includes a “Video” icon AC1, a “Music” icon AC2and a “Setting” icon AC3.

When the “Video” icon AC1on the home screen HM is selected, the control section10displays on the LCD5a video image VS based on the video signals supplied from the DVD player3A, as shown inFIG. 4.

When the “Music” icon AC2is selected, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to generate a notification screen N1(as shown inFIG. 5) including a string of characters (“NOW PLAYING”), which is for example irrelevant to the nusic reproduced by the CD player3B, and then displays the notification screen N1on the LCD5. Alternatively, the control section10may control the graphic processing section15to generate a notification screen N2(as shown inFIG. 6) including information such as a track number, time elapsed since the start of reproduction, artist name and album name of the music reproduced by the portable music player3C and then display the notification screen N2on the LCD5.

In that manner, the control section10displays the notification screens N1and N2(FIGS. 5 and 6). This helps the users understand through their eyes the fact that the CD is being played back or the information regarding the music reproduced by the portable music player3C.

In addition, the control section10of the home server2displays on the LCD5the GUI screens to perform an acoustic field autonomic setup process and an acoustic field manual setup process, which are easy-to-use. In this case, the “Setting” icon AC3(FIG. 3) is selected by the user. Subsequently, an “Auto Calibration” icon AC4is selected by the user from the lower stratum.

In this case, as shown inFIG. 7, the control section10displays on the LCD5an auto calibration top screen CT generated by the graphic processing section15. The auto calibration top screen CT is a first screen to be used to automatically start the acoustic setup process. The auto calibration top screen CT includes a string of characters (“Automatically Adjusting the Level and Distances of Speakers”). A new screen replaces the auto calibration top screen CT on the LCD5when the user pushes an “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL.

As shown inFIG. 8, when the “Enter” key of the remove controller RCL is pushed down, the control section10displays on the LCD5a listening position selection screen LPS generated by the graphic processing section15.

The listening position selection screen LPS is used to select one of three listening positions (“Position1”, “Position2” or “Position3”). The user pushes an up-down key of the remote controller RCL to select one of the listening positions (“Position1”, “Position2” or “Position3”).

Those listening positions, which can be set through the listening position selection screen LPS, may be associated with three listening points in the acoustic field space. The listening positions may be associated with three different types of correction patterns when the listening points are all the same. Alternatively, the listening positions may be associated with three different users. Their names may be freely changed.

The control section10replaces the listening position selection screen LPS (FIG. 8) on the LCD5with a measurement item check screen MIC (FIG. 7), which was generated by the graphic processing section15, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down.

The measurement item check screen MIC (FIG. 9) includes three items in order for the user to set up the acoustic filed: “Distance of Speakers”, “Level of Speakers” and “Frequency Characteristic”. The measurement item check screen MIC also includes checkboxes CB1to CB3in order for the user to tick or choose one or some of the items.

After one or some of the three items on the measurement item check screen MIC (FIG. 9) are checked and then the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down, the control section10replaces, as shown inFIG. 10, the measurement item check screen MIC on the LCD5with a measurement start screen MS, which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The measurement start screen MS (FIG. 10) includes a string of characters (“Start measurement after setting up a microphone at the listening position”) along with a “Start Measurement” icon AC5.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Start Measurement” icon AC5of the measurement start screen MS (FIG. 10) is being focused, the control section10replaces, as shown inFIG. 11, the measurement start screen MS on the LCD5with a measurement notification screen MZ, which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The measurement notification screen MZ (FIG. 11) displays a notification message, such as “Measurement will be started. Stay away from the measurement area”, for the precise measurement. The measurement notification screen MZ also displays a 5 second countdown to encourage the user, who watches the measurement notification screen MZ, to evacuate the measurement area by the start of the measurement.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while a “Stop Measurement” icon AC6of the measurement notification screen MZ (FIG. 11) is being focused, the control section10stops measuring and then replaces the measurement notification screen MZ on the LCD5with the above-noted auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7).

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down, the control section10replaces, as shown inFIG. 12, the measurement notification screen MZ (FIG. 11) on the LCD5with a measurement progress screen MIS, which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The measurement progress screen MIS (FIG. 12) displays a string of characters (“Measuring”) to notify the user of the fact that the measurement process regarding the selected items (such as the “Distance of Speakers”, “Level of Speakers” and “Frequency Characteristic” displayed on the measurement item check screen MIC (FIG. 9)) is being performed.

By the way, the user can stop the measurement by pushing the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL after selecting the “Stop Measurement” icon AC6.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Stop Measurement” icon AC6of the measurement progress screen MIS (FIG. 12) is being focused, the control section10replaces, as shown inFIG. 13, the measurement progress screen MIS on the LCD5with a measurement stop inquiry screen MSTP, which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The measurement stop inquiry screen MSTP (FIG. 13) includes a string of characters (“OK to stop the measurement?”). The measurement stop inquiry screen MSTP also includes a “Restart Measurement” icon AC7and a “Stop Measuring” icon AC8.

Only when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Stop Measuring” icon AC8of the measurement stop inquiry screen MSTP (FIG. 13) is being focused, the control section10stops the measurement of the acoustic field space and then replaces the measurement stop inquiry screen MSTP on the LCD5with the auto calibration top screen TP (FIG. 7).

By the way, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Restart Measurement” icon AC7of the measurement stop inquiry screen MSTP (FIG. 13) is being focused, the control section10replaces the measurement stop inquiry screen MSTP on the LCD5with the measurement start screen MS (FIG. 10) to restart the measurement.

By the way, when the control section10runs into an error while displaying the measurement progress screen MIS (FIG. 12), the control section10displays on the LCD5, as shown inFIGS. 14 to 18, one of error notification screens EN1to EN5, which was generated by the graphic processing section15, in accordance with the type of the error.

The error notification screen EN1(FIG. 14) includes a string of characters (“Error Code:30”) indicating that the error of the Error Code30has occurred. In addition, the description and instruction for the error are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Headphone is being inserted into the jack. Restart measurement after plugging off the headphone.”

The error notification screen EN2(FIG. 15) includes a string of characters (“Error Code:31”) indicating that the error of the Error Code31has occurred. In addition, the description and instruction for the error are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Speakers are switched off. Turn on the speakers before restarting measurement.”

The error notification screen EN3(FIG. 16) includes a string of characters (“Error Code:32”) indicating that the error of the Error Code32has occurred. In addition, the description and instruction for the error are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Sound was not detected from any channels. Make sure the microphone is appropriately connected for measurement. If it was connected, the microphone's code may have been broken.”

Similarly, the error notification screen EN4(FIG. 17) includes a string of characters (“Error Code:33”) indicating that the error of the Error Code33has occurred. In addition, the description and instruction for the error are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Front Speaker may be not connected or may have only one of Surround Speakers.”

Moreover, the error notification screen EN5(FIG. 18) includes a string of characters (“Error Code:34”) indicating that the error of the Error Code34has occurred. In addition, the description and instruction for the error are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Speakers may not be appropriately placed like the right speaker on the left side. Refer to the instruction manual (Preparation 1: Arrangement of Speakers) for rearrangement of speakers.” In this embodiment, there are the five error notification screens EN1to EN5as noted above. However, there may be more error notification screens.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Restart Measurement” icon AC7of the error notification screens EN1to EN5(FIGS. 14 to 18) is being focused, the control section10replaces the error notification screens EN1to EN5on the LCD5with the listening position selection screen LPS (FIG. 8) to perform a re-measurement process.

On the other hand, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Stop Measurement” icon AC8of the error notification screens EN1to ENS (FIGS. 14 to 18) is being focused, the control section10replaces the error notification screens EN1to EN5on the LCD5with the auto calibration top screen TP (FIG. 7) to end the measurement process.

If the control section10completes the measurement process without having any errors, the control section10replaces the measurement progress screen MIS (FIG. 12) on the LCD5with a measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) displays the plurality of speakers4(4FL,4FR,4CT,4SL,4SR,4SBL,4SBR or4SW) in the acoustic field space in three-dimensional manner. A message (“Complete Measurement”) notifies the user of the fact that the measurement of the acoustic field space was completed.

The measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) shows the arrangement of the plurality of speakers4(4FL,4FR,4CT,4SL,4SR,4SBL,4SBR or4SW) in three-dimensional manner. In addition, the distance (meter) from a listening point LP1(specified as a listening position) to each speaker4is displayed. Moreover, the volume balance (relative) between the speakers4, the volume levels (dB) and the like are displayed, along with a “Next” icon AC9.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Next” icon AC9of the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) is being focused, the control section10replaces, as shown inFIG. 20, the measurement completion screen MFN on the LCD5with a measurement result storage selection screen MSC, which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

By the way, there may be a need to give warning even after displaying the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) that informs completion of the measurement of the acoustic field space. In this case, the control section10displays a warning confirmation selection screen WCP on the LCD5as shown inFIG. 21.

The warning confirmation selection screen WCP (FIG. 21) includes a string of characters (“Measurement was completed. There are some warnings about the result. Do you want to check?”), along with a “Check” icon AC12and a “No check” icon AC13.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Check” icon AC12of the warning confirmation selection screen WCP (FIG. 21) is being focused, the control section10replaces the warning confirmation selection screen WCP on the LCD5with one of warning notification screens WN1to WN5(FIGS. 22 to 26).

The warning notification screen WN1(FIG. 22) includes a string of characters (“Warning Code:40”) indicating that there is a warning of the Warning Code40. In addition, the description and instruction for the warning are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Measurement took place under the circumstances in which the noise level was high. Retrying measurement may produce better results if the noise level around the system is kept low.”

The warning notification screen WN2(FIG. 23) includes a string of characters (“Warning Code:41”) indicating that there is a warning of the warning Code41. In addition, the description and instruction for the warning are displayed to notify the user: The message is “The input level of the detection microphone is too high to detect louder sound. Wait until the noise level becomes low before restarting measurement.”

The warning notification screen WN3(FIG. 24) includes a string of characters (“Warning Code:42”) indicating that there is a warning of the Warning Code42. In addition, the description and instruction for the warning are displayed to notify the user: The message is “The volume of the amplifier is too high to detect louder sound. Wait until the noise level becomes low before restarting measurement.”

Similarly, the warning notification screen WN4(FIG. 25) includes a string of characters (“Warning Code:43”) indicating that there is a warning of the Warning Code43. In addition, the description and instruction for the warning are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Measurement of the woofer's distance and phase or of the speaker's arrangement angle failed due to noise or the like. Wait until the noise level becomes low before restarting measurement.”

Moreover, the warning notification screen WN5(FIG. 26) includes a string of characters (“Warning Code:44”) indicating that there is a warning of the Warning Code44. In addition, the description and instruction for the warning are displayed to notify the user: The message is “Measurement is completed. However, the result shows the reversed phases of speakers. The terminals of Surround Back L and Surround Back R may be connected to the opposite jacks. In a case where they are appropriately connected, the problem may be attributed to the configuration of the speakers and you can use it as is.” By the way, in this embodiment, there are the five warning notification screens WN1to WN5(FIGS. 22 to 26). However, there may be other warning notification screens.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while a “Restart Measurement” icon AC13A of the warning notification screens WN1to WN5(FIGS. 22 to 26) is being focused, the control section10replaces the warning notification screens WN1to WN5on the LCD5with the listening position selection screen LPS (FIG. 8) to restart the measurement.

On the other hand, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while a “Stop Measurement” icon AC14of the warning notification screens WN1to WN5(FIGS. 22 to 26) is being focused, the control section10replaces the warning notification screens WN1to WN5on the LCD5with the measurement result storage selection screen MSC (FIG. 20), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The measurement result storage selection screen MSC (FIG. 20) includes a string of characters (“Save the result of measurement?”), along with a “Save” icon AC10and a “No Save” icon AC11to make sure whether the user wants to save the result of the measurement regarding the level and frequency characteristic of the speakers4or to restart measurement without saving the data.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “No Save” icon AC11of the measurement result storage selection screen MSC (FIG. 20) is being focused, the control section10replaces the measurement result storage selection screen MSC on the LCD5with a re-measurement selection screen RMC (FIG. 27), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The re-measurement selection screen RMC (FIG. 27) includes a string of characters (“Restart measurement?”), along with a “Restart Measurement” icon AC15and a “Stop Measurement” icon AC16to check if the user wants to restart the measurement or to stop the measurement because the user has determined not to save the result of the previous measurement before the re-measurement selection screen RMC was displayed.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Restart Measurement” icon AC15of the re-measurement selection screen RMC (FIG. 27) is being focused, the control section10replaces the re-measurement selection screen RMC on the LCD5with the measurement start screen MS (FIG. 10).

On the other hand, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Stop Measurement” icon AC16of the re-measurement selection screen RMC (FIG. 27) is being focused, the control section10replaces the re-measurement selection screen RMC on the LCD5with the auto calibration top screen TP (FIG. 7).

On the other hand, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the “Save” icon AC10of the measurement result storage selection screen MSC (FIG. 20) is being focused, the control section10replaces the measurement result storage selection screen MSC on the LCD5with a full flat automatic correction mode selection screen FAR (FIG. 28), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The full flat automatic correction mode selection screen FAR (FIG. 28) includes the strings of characters (“Full Flat”, “Engineer”, “Front Reference” and “OFF”), one of which (“Full Flat”) is being focused, and also includes a string of character “Leveling off the frequency measurement values of the speakers”). This means that this correction mode is to correct, based on the result of the frequency measurement of the acoustic field space, the frequency measurement values of the speakers4such that they are leveled off.

When one of the items (“Full Flat”, “Engineer”, “Front Reference” or “OFF”) on the full flat automatic correction mode selection screen FAR, for example the “Engineer”, is focused (or selected), the control section10replaces the full flat automatic correction mode selection screen FAR on the LCD5with an engineer automatic correction mode selection screen EAR (FIG. 29), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The engineer automatic correction mode selection screen EAR (FIG. 29), where the “Engineer” is being focused, includes a string of characters (“The frequency characteristic will become suitable for a reference listening room”) to notify the user of the fact that this correction mode is to correct, based on the result of the frequency measurement of the acoustic field space, the frequency characteristic of the speakers4such that it becomes suitable for a reference listening room.

When one of the items (“Full Flat”, “Engineer”, “Front Reference” or “OFF”) on the engineer automatic correction mode selection screen EAR (FIG. 29), for example the “Front Reference”, is focused (or selected), the control section10replaces the engineer automatic correction mode selection screen EAR on the LCD5with a front reference automatic correction mode selection screen FRAR (FIG. 30).

The front reference automatic correction mode selection screen FRAR (FIG. 30), where the “Front Reference” is being focused, includes a string of characters (“The characteristic of all the speakers will be suitable for the front speaker”) to notify the user of the fact that this correction mode is to correct, based on the result of the frequency measurement of the acoustic field space, the frequency characteristic of the speakers4such that it becomes suitable for the left and right front speakers4FL and4FR.

When one of the items (“Full Flat”, “Engineer”, “Front Reference” or “OFF”) on the front reference automatic correction mode selection screen FRAR (FIG. 30), for example the “OFF”, is focused (or selected), the control section10replaces the front reference automatic correction mode selection screen FRAR on the LCD5with an automatic correction off mode selection screen ARO (FIG. 31).

The automatic correction off mode selection screen ARO (FIG. 31), where the “OFF” is being focused, includes a string of characters (“The automatic correction is tuned off”) to notify the user of the fact that this correction mode is not to correct the frequency characteristic of the speakers4.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while one of the screens (the full flat automatic correction mode selection screen FAR (FIG. 28), the engineer automatic correction mode selection screen EAR (FIG. 29), the front reference automatic correction mode selection screen FRAR (FIG. 30) or automatic correction off mode selection screen ARO (FIG. 31)) is being displayed, the control section10automatically performs the correction process corresponding to the displayed screen, and then stores the resultant setting values in the data storage medium13as the setting data D1. After that, the control section10replaces the screens on the LCD5with the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The above describes the method of automatic acoustic field setting in which the control section10uses GUI.FIG. 32is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of the automatic acoustic field setup that uses various GUI screens.

(4-2) Automatic Acoustic Field Setup Process with GUI

As shown inFIG. 32, the control section10of the home server2executes an application program or an audio setup program to start a routine RT1from start step and then proceeds to step SP1. At step SP1, after the “Auto Calibration” icon AC4of the home screen HM displayed on the LCD5is selected, the control section10replaces the home screen HM on the LCD5with the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) and then proceeds to step SP2.

At step SP2, the control section10selects one of the automatic acoustic field measurement screens (i.e. the listening position selection screen LPS (FIG. 8), the measurement item check screen MIC (FIG. 9), the measurement start screen MS (FIG. 10), the measurement notification screen MZ (FIG. 11), the measurement progress screen MIS (FIG. 12) or the like) and displays the selected screen on the LCD5in order to measure the acoustic field space after the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) is being displayed. The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP3.

At step SP3, the control section10checks if it runs into any errors while displaying at step SP2one of the automatic acoustic field measurement screens (FIG. 8toFIG. 12). If the control section10detects an error while displaying the automatic acoustic field measurement screens, the control section10proceeds to next step SP4.

At step SP4, since there is an error during the automatic acoustic field measurement process, the control section10displays on the LCD5the corresponding error notification screen (one of the screens EN1to EN5(FIGS. 14 to 18)) and then proceeds to step SP5.

At step SP5, the control section10checks if the “Stop Measuring” icon AC8has been selected or pushed on the displayed error notification screen (one of the screens EN1to EN5(FIGS. 14 to 18)) by the user who checks the error message.

If the “Restart Measurement” icon AC7of the displayed error notification screen, instead of the “Stop Measuring” icon AC8, has been selected, the control section10returns to step SP2to display one of the automatic acoustic field measurement screens (FIG. 8toFIG. 12) and then performs the subsequent process.

Whereas if the “Stop Measuring” icon AC8of the displayed error notification screen has been selected, then the control section10proceeds to step SP17.

At step SP17, the control section10stops measuring the acoustic field space and then displays the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) on the LCD5. The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP18to end the process.

If the control section10at step SP3does riot detect any errors while displaying the automatic acoustic field measurement screens (FIGS. 8 to 12), the control section10proceeds to step SP6and displays on the LCD5the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19). The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP7.

At step SP7, after displaying the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19), the control section10checks if there is any warning to give, which may have been caused while performing the automatic acoustic field measurement process. If there is a warning, the control section10proceeds to step SP8. If not so, the control section10proceeds to step SP12.

At step SP8, since there is a warning to give, the control section10displays on the LCD5the warning confirmation selection screen WCP (FIG. 21) to let the user make the decision regarding whether or not to check the warning and then proceeds to step SP9.

At step SP9the control section10checks if the “Check” icon AC12of the warning confirmation selection screen WCP (FIG. 21) has been selected. If the “Check” icon AC12was not selected, then this means that the user does not want to check the warning and therefore the control section10proceeds to step SP12.

Whereas if the “Check” icon AC12was selected at step SP9, then this means that the user wants to check the warning and therefore the control section10proceeds to step SP10.

At step SP10, the control section10displays on the LCD5the corresponding warning notification screen (i.e. one of the screens WN1to WN5(FIGS. 22 to 26)) to let the user check the warning and then proceeds to step SP1.

At step SP11the control section10checks if the “Restart Measurement” icon AC13of the displayed warning notification screen has been selected. If the “Stop Measurement” icon AC14, instead of the “Restart Measurement” icon AC13, was selected, then this means that the user does not want to restart the measurement and therefore the control section10proceeds to step SP12.

Whereas if the “Restart Measurement” icon AC13was selected at step SP11after the user checked the warning on the displayed warning notification screen, then this means that the user wants to restart the measurement and therefore the control section10returns to step SP2to restart the automatic acoustic field measurement process.

At step SP12, the control section10displays on the LCD5the measurement result storage selection screen MSC (FIG. 20) to let the user make the decision regarding whether or not to save the data of the measurement result on the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) and then proceeds to step SP13.

At step SP13, the control section10checks if the “Save” icon AC10of the measurement result storage selection screen MSC (FIG. 20) has been selected. If the “Save” icon AC10was not selected, then this means that the user does not want to save the data of the measurement result regarding the automatic acoustic field measurement process through the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) and therefore the control section10proceeds to step SP14.

At step SP14, since the user does not want to save the data of the measurement result regarding the automatic acoustic field measurement process, the control section10displays on the LCD5the re-measurement selection screen RMC (FIG. 27) to let the user make the decision regarding whether or not to restart the measurement and then proceeds to step SP15.

At step SP15the control section10checks if the “Stop Measurement” icon AC16of the re-measurement selection screen RMC (FIG. 27) has been selected. If the “Restart Measurement” icon AC15of the re-measurement selection screen RMC (FIG. 27), instead of the “Stop Measurement” icon AC16, was selected, then this means the user wants to restart the measurement and therefore the control section10proceeds to step SP2to restart the automatic acoustic field measurement process.

Whereas if the “Stop Measurement” icon AC16was selected, then this means the user wants to stop the measurement and therefore the control section10proceeds to step SP17.

If the “Save” icon AC10of the measurement result storage selection screen MSC (FIG. 20) was selected at step SP13, then this means that the user wants to save the data of the measurement result regarding the automatic acoustic field measurement process through the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) and therefore the control section10proceeds to step SP16.

At step SP16, before saving the data of the measurement result regarding the automatic acoustic field measurement process through the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19), the control section10displays on the LCD5one of the following screens: the full flat automatic correction mode selection screen FAR (FIG. 28), the engineer automatic correction mode selection screen EAR (FIG. 29), the front reference automatic correction mode selection screen FRAR (FIG. 30) or automatic correction off mode selection screen ARO (FIG. 31). The control section10saves the measurement data, whose values have been corrected through one of the automatic correction mode selection screens (FIGS. 28 to 31), in the data storage medium13as the setting data D1and then proceeds to step SP17.

At step SP17, since it has stored the setting data D1in the data storage medium13at step SP16the control section10displays again on the LCD5the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) and then proceeds to step SP18to end the process.

(4-3) Manual Acoustic Field Setup Process with GUI

The following describes the method of manual acoustic field setup using GUI. After being powered on, the control section10of the home server2controls the graphic processing section15to generate the home screen HM (FIG. 3) and then displays the home screen HM on the LCD5.

When “Setting” icon AC3and the lower-layer's “Auto Calibration” icon AC4are selected on the home screen HM (FIG. 3) the control section10of the home server2displays the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) on the LCD5.

When a “Measure” icon ACM of the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) is selected, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to generate a position selection screen PS (FIG. 33), which is then displayed on the LCD5.

When a “Position” icon ACP of the position selection screen PS (FIG. 33) is selected, the control section10displays on the LCD5a manual setup editing screen MSE (FIG. 34). When a “Manual Setup” icon ACM of the manual setup editing screen MSE (FIG. 34) is selected, the control section10displays on the LCD5one of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39), which were generated by the graphic processing section15in a three-dimensional manner.

The speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35) visually illustrates, by putting a hatching image on the image of the left front speaker FL, that the left front speaker FL is currently selected for manual setup. The speaker selection screen SS2(FIG. 36) visually illustrates, by putting a hatching image on the image of the sub woofer4SW, that the sub woofer4SW is currently selected for manual setup.

Similarly, the speaker selection screen SS3(FIG. 37) visually illustrates, by putting a hatching image on the image of the center speaker4CT, that the center speaker4CT is currently selected for manual setup. The speaker selection screen SS4(FIG. 38) visually illustrates, by putting a hatching image on the image of the left surround speaker4SL, that the left surround speaker4SL is currently selected for manual setup. The speaker selection screen SS5(FIG. 39) visually illustrates, by putting a hatching image on the image of the left surround back speaker4SBL, that the left surround back speaker4SBL is currently selected for manual setup.

One of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39) is displayed depending on which key of the remote controller RCL (i.e. a “←”, “→”, “↑” or “↓” key) is pushed by the user. In this manner, the user can select one of the speakers4for manual setup by choosing from among the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39).

For example, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35) is being displayed, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to generate a speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) and then displays the speaker level screen SLV1on the LCD5. The speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) displays, as well as the arrangement of the speakers4, the volume level (+3 dB) of the target left front speaker4FL covered by the hatching image, which is a relative value to the other speakers4.

The speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) is a top view illustrating the arrangement of the speakers4in the acoustic field space in a two-dimensional manner while the speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35) displays the arrangement in a three-dimensional manner. In addition to the speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35), displaying the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) helps the user to understand much more about the arrangement of the speakers4.

In addition, the bottom area of the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) includes a setting display frame FC. The control section10displays the detailed setting of the left front speaker4FL, which is currently being specified for manual setup, in the setting display frame FC.

Specifically, the setting display frame FC displays the following items: the volume level (Level: +3.0 dB); a speaker distance (Distance: 2.7 meter), which is a distance from the left front speaker4FL to the listening point LP1specified as “Position 1” on the listening position selection screen LPS (FIG. 8); and the speaker size (Size: Large).

In this case, the control section10displays a value of “+3.0 dB” as the volume level of the left front speaker4FL on the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) while displaying a level mark MK1as an image of the volume level. When the up key UPK or a down key DWK around the setting display frame FC is pushed to change the volume level of the left front speaker4FL, the value of the volume level and the level of the level mark MK1will increase or decrease accordingly.

In that manner, not only does the value of the volume level indicate the volume level of the left front speaker4FL, but also the level mark MK1represents it in order to help the user to intuitively understand.

In addition, the control section10illustrates the other speakers4(other than the left front speaker4FL) on the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) by dotted lines. Accordingly, the user can easily understand that, among the speakers4, the left front speaker4FL is currently being selected for manual setup. At the same time the user can also understand the arrangement of the speakers4including the left front speaker4FL.

When the “→” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40) is being displayed on the LCD5, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to produce a speaker distance screen SDM (FIG. 41), which is then displayed on the LCD5.

The speaker distance screen SDM (FIG. 41) illustrates a distance (2.7 meters for example) between the target left front speaker4FL covered by the hatching image and the listening point LP1.

At the same time, the control section10displays a straight line between the left front speaker4FL and the listening point LP1and also displays the distance (2.7 meters for example) adjacent to the straight line. Accordingly, the user can intuitively make the comparison, regarding the distances from the listening point LP1, between the left front speaker4FL and the other speakers4.

When the “→” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the speaker distance screen SDM (FIG. 41) is being displayed on the LCD5, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to produce a speaker size screen SSZ (FIG. 42), which is then displayed on the LCD5.

The control section10puts the hatching images on both the target left front speaker4FL and the right front speaker4FR on the speaker size screen SSZ (FIG. 42). This is because the speaker size of the right front speaker4FR should be adjusted when the speaker size of the target left front speaker4FL is changed.

The word “speaker size” means: an entire bandwidth reproduction speaker for “Large” and a middle-to-high bandwidth reproduction speaker for “Small”. The control section10sets the speaker size of the left front speaker4FL and right front speaker4FR to “Large” or “Small”.

In this case, when the “↑” or “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated to push down the up key UPK or the down key DWK around the speaker size section of the setting display frame FC, the control section10changes the speaker size of the left front speaker4FL and right front speaker4FR to “Large” or “Small”.

Specifically, when the “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated to push down the down key DWK, the control section10replaces “Large”, displayed inside the setting display frame FC of the speaker size screen SSZ1, with “Small”. Accordingly, the LCD5displays a speaker size screen SSZ2(FIG. 43), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

In this case, the speaker size screen SSZ2(FIG. 43) displays the downsized images of the left front speaker4FL and right front speaker4FR. This helps the user to intuitively understand that the speaker size has been changed to “Small” without checking the setting display frame FC.

Similarly, when the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while for example the speaker selection screen SS4(FIG. 38) is being displayed, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to generate a speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) and then displays the speaker level screen SLV2on the LCD5. The speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) displays, as well as the arrangement of the speakers4, the volume level (+5 dB) of the target left surround speaker4SL covered by the hatching image, which is a relative value to the other speakers4.

The speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) is a top view illustrating the arrangement of the speakers4in the acoustic field space in a two-dimensional manner while the speaker selection screen SS4(FIG. 38) displays the arrangement in a three-dimensional manner. In addition to the speaker selection screen SS4(FIG. 38), displaying the speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) helps the user to understand much more about the arrangement of the speakers4.

In addition, the bottom area of the speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) includes a setting display frame FC. The control section10displays the detailed setting of the left surround speaker4SL, which is currently being specified for manual setup, in the setting display frame FC. Specifically, the setting display frame FC displays the following items: the volume level (Level: +5.0 dB); a speaker distance (Distance: 2.7 meter), which is a distance from the left surround speaker4SL to the listening point LP1specified as “Position 1” on the listening position selection screen LPS (FIG. 8); and the speaker size (Size: Small).

In this case, the control section10displays a value of “+5.0 dB” as the volume level of the left surround speaker4SL on the speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) while displaying a level mark MK2as an image of the volume level. When the up key UPK or the down key DWK around the setting display frame FC is pushed by operating the “↑” or “↓” key of the remote controller RCL to change the volume level of the left surround speaker4SL, the value of the volume level and the level of the level mark MK2will increase or decrease accordingly.

In that manner, not only does the value of the volume level indicate the volume level of the left surround speaker4SL, but also the level mark MK2represents it in order to help the user to intuitively understand.

In addition, the control section10illustrates the other speakers4(other than the left surround speaker4SL) on the speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) by dotted lines. Accordingly, the user can easily understand that, among the speakers4, the left surround speaker4SL is currently being selected for manual setup. At the same time the user can also understand the arrangement of the speakers4including the left surround speaker4SL.

When the “→” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down three times while the speaker level screen SLV2(FIG. 44) is being displayed on the LCD5, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to produce a speaker height selection screen SHS1(FIG. 45), which is then displayed on the LCD5.

The speaker height selection screen SHS1(FIG. 45) puts the hatching images on both the left surround speaker4SL and the right surround speaker4SR. This is because the height of the right surround speaker4SR should be adjusted when the height of the target left surround speaker4SL is changed.

The height of the speakers will be: “High”, in which the left surround speaker4SL and the right surround speaker4SR produce an audio image upwardly, or “Low”, in which the left surround speaker4SL and the right surround speaker4SR produce an audio image downwardly. The control section10can change the audio image localization of the left surround speaker4SL and right surround speaker4SR to “High” or “Low”.

In the speaker height selection screen SHS1(FIG. 45), the images of the target left surround speaker4SL and right surround speaker4SR are illustrated by solid lines. In addition, the setting display frame FC at the bottom of the screen shows “Position: Side/Low”, indicating that the audio image localization of the left surround speaker4SL and right surround speaker4SR is low.

When the “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated to push down the down key DWK adjacent to the section of “Position: Side/Low” of the setting display frame FC of the speaker height selection screen SHS1(FIG. 45), the control section10updates that section to display “Position: Side/High”. As a result, the LCD5displays the speaker height selection screen SHS2(FIG. 46), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

In the speaker height selection screen SHS2(FIG. 46), the images of the target left surround speaker4SL and right surround speaker4SR are illustrated by solid lines. In addition, the setting display frame FC at the bottom of the screen shows “Position: Side/High”, indicating that the audio image localization of the left surround speaker4SL and right surround speaker4SR is high.

When the “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated to push down the down key DWK adjacent to the section of “Position: Side/High” of the setting display frame FC of the speaker height selection screen SHS2(FIG. 46), the control section10updates that section to display “Position: Side/Low”. As a result, the LCD5displays the speaker height selection screen SHS1(FIG. 45).

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the speaker selection screen SS5(FIG. 39) is being displayed, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to generate a surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL1(FIG. 47) and then displays the surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL1on the LCD5.

The previous screen, or the speaker selection screen SS5(FIG. 39), put the hatching image only on the left surround back speaker4SBL. However, the surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL1(FIG. 47) puts the hatching images on both the left surround back speaker4SBL and the right surround back speaker4SBR. This is because the arrangement of the right surround back speaker4SBR should be adjusted when the arrangement of the target left surround back speaker4SBL is changed.

The surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL1(FIG. 47) displays one of the arrangement modes, which is called a “Status: Dual” mode: The left surround back speaker4SBL and the right surround back speaker4SBR are located behind the listening point LP1.

When the “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated to push down the down key DWK adjacent to the section of “Status: Dual” of the setting display frame FC of the surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL1(FIG. 47), the control section10replaces the surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL1with a surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL2(FIG. 48), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL2(FIG. 48) displays one of the arrangement modes, which is called a “Status: Single” mode: One surround back speaker4BS is located behind the listening point LP1.

When the “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated to push down the down key DWK adjacent to the section of “Status: Single” of the setting display frame FC of the surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL2(FIG. 48), the control section10replaces the surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL2with a surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL3(FIG. 49), which was generated by the graphic processing section15.

The surround back speaker arrangement selection screen SBL3(FIG. 49) displays one of the arrangement modes, which is called a “Status: No” mode: No surround back speaker is located behind the listening point LP1while the setting display frame FC displays the characters of “Status: No”.

In that manner, when the “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated, the control section10selects one of the selection screens SBL1to SBL3(FIGS. 47 to 49) to be displayed. The user selects the desired arrangement regarding the left surround back speaker4SBL and the right surround back speaker4SBR from among the arrangement examples presented by those selection screens.

The above describes the method of manual acoustic field setting in which the control section10uses the GUI function.FIG. 50is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the manual acoustic field setting process.

(4-4) Manual Acoustic Field Setting Process

As shown inFIG. 50, the control section10of the home server2executes an application program or the audio setup program to start a routine RT2from start step and then proceeds to step SP21. At step SP21, after the “Auto Calibration” icon AC4of the home screen HM (FIG. 3) displayed on the LCD5is selected, the control section10replaces the home screen HM on the LCD5with the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) and then proceeds to step SP22.

At step SP22, after displaying the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7), the position selection screen PS (FIG. 33) and the manual setup editing screen MSE (FIG. 34), the control section10displays one of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIG. 35 to 39) on the LCD5and then proceeds to step SP23.

At step SP23, the control section10checks if the user has selected one of the speakers4for manual setup by choosing one of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39). If the user has not chosen the speaker selection screen yet, the control section10returns to step SP22and waits until one of the speaker selection screens is selected.

If it determines at step SP23that the user has chosen the speaker selection screen, the control section10proceeds to step SP24. At step SP24, the control section10displays on the LCD5one of the following screens if the user has chosen the speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35) at step SP23: the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40), the speaker distance screen SDM (FIG. 41), the speaker size screen SSZ1(FIG. 42) or the speaker size screen SSZ2(FIG. 43). The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP25.

In that manner, after the user selects one of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39), the LCD5displays the corresponding speaker setup view screen.

At step SP25, the control section10checks if the user has completed the manual setup operation through the speaker setup view screen displayed at step SP24. If the user has not completed the operation yet, the control section10returns to step SP22to retry the above process. Whereas if the user has completed the operation, the control section10then proceeds to step SP26.

At step SP26, the control section10completes the manual setup process and then displays on the LCD5the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) again. The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP27to end the process.

(4-5) Manual Acoustic Field Setting Process for Speaker Pattern by Using GUI

In addition to the manual setting process for each channel's speaker4, the home server2performs the manual acoustic field setting process in which the acoustic field characteristic of the acoustic field space is easily set up by speaker patterns. In this case, one of the speaker patterns, such as 2 channels, 4 channels, 5.1 channels, 6.1 channels, 7.1 channels or 9.1 channels, is selected for the AV system1.

As shown inFIG. 51, the control section10of the home server2executes an application program or the audio setup program to start a routine RT3from start step and then proceeds to step SP31. At step SP31, after the “Auto Calibration” icon AC4of the home screen HM (FIG. 3) displayed on the LCD5is selected, the control section10replaces the home screen HM on the LCD5with the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) and then proceeds to step SP32.

At step SP32, after displaying the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7), the position selection screen PS (FIG. 33) and the manual setup editing screen MSE (FIG. 34), the control section10displays one of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIG. 35 to 39) on the LCD5and then proceeds to step SP33.

At step SP33, the control section10checks if the user has selected one of the speakers4for manual setup by choosing one of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39). If the user has chosen the speaker selection screen, the control section10proceeds to step SP34.

At step SP34, the control section10displays on the LCD5one of the following speaker setup view screens if the user has chosen the speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35) at step SP33: the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40), the speaker distance screen SDM (FIG. 41), the speaker size screen SSZ1(FIG. 42) or the speaker size screen SSZ2(FIG. 43). The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP35.

In that manner, after the user selects one of the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39), the LCD5displays the corresponding speaker setup view screen.

At step SP35, the control section10checks if the user has completed the manual setup operation through the speaker setup view screen displayed at step SP34. If the user has not completed the operation yet, the control section10returns to step SP32to retry the above process. Whereas if the user has completed the operation, the control section10then proceeds to step SP36.

At step SP36, the control section10completes the manual setup process and then displays on the LCD5the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) again. The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP42to end the process.

If it determines at step SP33that the user has not chosen the speaker selection screen yet, the control section10proceeds to step SP37. At step SP37, the control section10checks if an “Option” key of the remote controller RCL has been pushed. If the “Option” key has not been pushed yet, the control section10returns to step SP32to retry the above process. Whereas if the “Option” key has been pushed, the control section10proceeds to step SP38.

At step SP38, after the “Option” key of the remote controller RCL was pushed down while the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) is being displayed, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to produce an option item selection screen OIS (FIG. 52) and then displays the option item selection screen OIS on the LCD5. The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP39.

At step SP39, the control section10checks if a speaker pattern item ITM has been selected from an option item column ARI of the option item selection screen OIS (FIG. 52). If the speaker pattern item ITM has not been selected yet, the control section10proceeds to step SP36without having the speaker pattern item ITM selected. At step SP36, the control section10displays on the LCD5the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) again and then proceeds to step SP42to end the process.

Whereas if it determines at step SP39that the speaker pattern item ITM has been selected, the control section10proceeds to step SP40. At step SP40, since the speaker pattern item ITM was selected, the control section10controls the graphic processing section15to create a speaker pattern selection display screen SPSD (FIG. 53) and then displays the speaker pattern selection display screen SPSD on the LCD5. The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP41.

The speaker pattern selection display screen SPSD (FIG. 53) includes a speaker pattern selection column AR2from which one of the speaker patterns is selected. When the “↑” or “↓” key of the remote controller RCL is operated, a speaker pattern icon AC20moves along the speaker pattern selection column AR2to focus on one of the speaker pattern items. For example, when the speaker pattern icon AC20focuses on “7.1ch”, the adjacent area displays the image of the 7.1ch speaker arrangement.

Accordingly, the user can understand what he/she has selected by checking the speaker pattern selection display screen SPSD (FIG. 53), which for example displays the image of the 7.1ch speaker arrangement, and the characters selected by the speaker pattern icon AC20.

When the “Enter” key of the remote controller RCL is pushed down while the speaker pattern of “7.1ch” is selected by the speaker pattern icon AC20from the speaker pattern selection column AR2of the speaker pattern selection display screen SPSD (FIG. 53), the control section10operates the speaker system in a 7.1 channel mode.

At step SP41, the control section10checks if the setup for speaker pattern has been completed. If the setup has not been completed yet, the control section10returns to step SP40to retry the above process. If the setup has been completed, the control section10proceeds to step SP36.

At step SP36, the control section10completes the manual setting process for speaker pattern and then displays on the LCD5the auto calibration top screen CT (FIG. 7) again. The control section10subsequently proceeds to step SP42to end the process.

In that manners when the user selects, by controlling the speaker pattern icon AC20on the speaker pattern selection display screen SPSD (FIG. 53), the speaker pattern of “7.1ch”, the control section10of the home server2starts operating the speaker system in a 7.1 channel mode. In addition, the control section10displays on the LCD5the image of that speakers' arrangement. In that manner, the user can set up the speaker system only by controlling the icons while visually checking the arrangement of the speakers.

(5) Operation and Effect

The home server2of the AV system1is designed to display on the LCD5the measurement completion screen MFN (FIG. 19) and the like such that both the arrangement of the speakers4and the correlation between the speakers4and their setting are displayed on the same screen. Accordingly, the user can visually check both the arrangement of the speakers4of the multi-speaker system and the setting of each speaker4at once more easily than before, compared to the typical audio system that only has a poor fluorescent display.

If the home server2has only the fluorescent display14for displaying the setting information of the speakers4, the user has to set up one at a time. Therefore, the user may need to remember the setting of all the speakers4. It is too much of a bother to the users. However, the AV system1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, displays both the arrangement of the speakers4and each speaker's setting at once, enhancing its usability. Accordingly, the user can set up each speaker4while checking their setting.

In addition, the AV system1provides the user with the instructions for setting up the acoustic field of the acoustic field space by sequentially displaying the GUI screens. Accordingly, the user can set up the acoustic field easily. Moreover, the GUI screens display the strings of characters, such as the instructions of operation, errors, waning or the like. Accordingly, the user can find out how to solve the troubles without reading the manual scripts.

Furthermore, the AV system1displays various GUI screens in a way that helps the user to easily understand, such as replacing the speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35), in which the arrangement of the speakers4is displayed in a three dimensional way, with the speaker level screen SLV1(FIG. 40), in which it is displayed in a two dimensional way as if the user's line of vision is changed. In that manner, the graphical user interface, provided by the AV system1, helps the user to understand the information on the GUI screens at once.

Furthermore, the AV system1is designed to display the information, which are considered to be easily understood when they are displayed in a three dimensional manner, in a three dimensional manner from the start, such as the speaker size screen SSZ1(FIG. 42), the speaker size screen SSZ2(FIG. 43), the speaker height selection screen SHS1(FIG. 45) and the speaker height selection screen SHS2(FIG. 46).

Furthermore, for example, when the left front speaker4FL is selected from the speaker selection screen SS1(FIG. 35), the AV system1displays the speaker level screen SVL1(FIG. 40) for manual setup of the left front speaker4FL. In this case, the speaker level screen SVL1emphasizes the image of the target left front speaker4FL by solid lines and hatching while weakly displaying the other speakers4which are not allowed to be set up on this screen. This helps the user to set up the speakers4correctly.

Furthermore, when there is a plurality of speakers4to be set up for the acoustic field characteristic of the acoustic field space, there may be many matrix-like combinations of speaker patterns such as use or nonuse of the speakers4or their size. However, the AV system1displays the speaker pattern selection screen SPSD (FIG. 53) instead of displaying a matrix table and allows the user to visually check the speaker patterns and to select one of the speaker patterns. Accordingly, the user can easily perform the manual acoustic setting process for speaker patterns.

According to the above configuration, the AV system1provides a graphical user interface that helps the user to easily set up the acoustic field.

(6) Other Embodiment

In the above-noted embodiment, one example of the transition of the GUI screens is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The transition of the GUI screens can be different in terms of orders or combination.

Moreover, in the above-noted embodiment, the user selects one of the speakers4for manual setup from the speaker selection screens SS1to SS5(FIGS. 35 to 39). However, the present invention is not limited to this. The user may choose two or more speakers4for manual setup.

Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiment, the control section10of the home server2reads out from the ROM the audio setup program and loads it onto the RAM to execute the program. As a result, the control section10performs various processes, such as the automatic acoustic field setting process (FIG. 32), the manual acoustic field setting process (FIG. 50) and the manual acoustic field setting process (FIG. 51). However, the present invention is not limited to this. To perform those processes, the control section10may execute the audio setup program, which is installed from storage media (such as Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or semiconductor memories) or the Internet.

Furthermore, in the above-noted embodiment, the home server2(equivalent to an acoustic apparatus or an information processing apparatus for setting up the multi-channel speakers4) includes hardware components such as: the control section10, equivalent to a speaker setup section that sets up each of a plurality of speakers4; and the graphic processing section15, equivalent to a display control section that controls display of information regarding the arrangement of the speakers and setting of the speakers on the LCD5or a display section. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The software may provide the functions of the control section10and graphic processing section15. The control section10and the graphic processing section15may be integrated into one unit.

The method according to an embodiment of the present invention can be also applied to various systems for setting up a plurality of speakers, such as a multi-channel DVD multi speaker system, a multi-channel speaker system mounted on vehicles and a multi speaker system for theaters.