Patent Publication Number: US-2010111320-A1

Title: Acoustic system and update method of the acoustic system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an acoustic system and an update method of the acoustic system and can be applied to, for example, an acoustic system in which an audio signal is transmitted to each room of a dwelling via a cable deployed in the wall of the dwelling and the audio signal is reproduced by speakers embedded in the wall. The present invention simplifies update processing when compared with processing in related art by providing an update connector in a main box that selectively outputs an audio signal from source units to zone units and successively updating programs of the zone units by update data input via the connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In related art, acoustic systems in which an audio signal is transmitted to each room of a dwelling via a cable deployed in the wall and the audio signal is reproduced by speakers embedded in the wall have been provided in the USA and other countries. In such an acoustic system, music source equipment is set up in a predetermined location of a dwelling and an audio signal output from the music source equipment is transmitted to each room. The acoustic system has a controller provided in each room to control transmission or the like of the audio signal. Therefore, in such an acoustic system, each piece of equipment constituting a system has a high level of expandability because the system configuration is different from dwelling to dwelling. 
     Concerning this kind of acoustic system, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-59408 proposes a method of optimizing resource sharing in a home network. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Incidentally, in this kind of acoustic system, it is necessary to update a program of the controller arranged in each room. If, in this case, the controller program is updated in each room, there is a problem that update work will become very complicated. 
     In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide an acoustic system capable of simplifying update processing when compared with a system and an update method of the acoustic system in related art. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an acoustic system including a source unit that outputs an audio signal, a plurality of zone units that are each installed in a desired location of a dwelling, output control data in accordance with a user&#39;s operation, and output the audio signal from a speaker and a main box that selectively outputs the audio signal of the source unit to the zone units in accordance with the control data. The zone units may output the control data in response to the user&#39;s operation by executing a zone unit program maintained in a built-in memory by built-in arithmetic processing means and the main box may update successively the zone unit program of the plurality of zone units by successively transmitting update data input via a connector to the plurality of zone units. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an update method of an acoustic system, comprising, a source unit that outputs an audio signal, a plurality of zone units that are each installed in a desired location of a dwelling, output control data in accordance with a user&#39;s operation by executing a zone unit program maintained by built-in arithmetic processing means in a built-in memory, and output the audio signal from a speaker, and a main box that selectively outputs the audio signal of the source unit to the zone units in accordance with the control data, including the step of updating an update target by update data input via a connector. The update step may include the steps of switching the update targets successively by the plurality of zone units and updating the zone unit program to be updated by transmitting the update data to the zone unit to the updated. 
     According to the embodiment of the present invention, a zone unit program for a plurality of zone units can successively be updated via a main box. Therefore, update processing of each zone unit can be performed in an installation location of the main box without an update being performed in each room so that update processing can significantly be simplified when compared with the past. 
     According to the present invention, update processing can significantly be simplified when compared with processing in related art concerning an acoustic system in which, for example, an audio signal is transmitted to each room of a dwelling via a cable deployed in the wall of the dwelling and the audio signal is reproduced by speakers embedded in the wall. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an acoustic system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a main box in the acoustic system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the main box in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a keypad in the acoustic system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the keypad in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing a processing procedure in interphone mode; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure in door phone mode; 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure in monitor mode; 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure in party mode; 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing connections in update processing; and 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure in update processing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that, in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elements that have substantially the same function and structure are denoted with the same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of these structural elements is omitted. 
     1. First Embodiment  
     2. Modification 
     FIRST EMBODIMENT  
     Configuration of the Embodiment 
     [Overall Configuration] 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an acoustic system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. An acoustic system  1  transmits an audio signal and a video signal to each room of a dwelling via a cable deployed in the wall and so that the audio signal and video signal are reproduced in each room. 
     The acoustic system  1  has a main box  2  provided in an inconspicuous location in the basement or the like and source units  3 A to  3 D provided in an installation location of the main box  2 , a listening room or the like. Moreover, each room has zone units  4 A to  4 D provided therein. Incidentally, the source units  3 A to  3 D may be provided in the same room as the zone units  4 A to  4 D. In the acoustic system  1 , the source units  3 A to  3 D and the zone units  4 A to  4 D are connected to the main box  2  via a cable deployed in the wall. The acoustic system  1  transmits an audio signal and video signal output from the source units  3 A to  3 D to each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the main box  2  for reproduction. 
     Here, each of the source units  3 A to  3 D is a source-side unit that selects content under the control of the main box  2  and outputs an audio signal and video signal of the content to the main box  2 . The source units  3 A to  3 D have an external device  6  that outputs an audio signal or an audio signal and video signal and a wall port  7  forming n interface between the external device  6  and the main box  2  provided therein. 
     Here, the external device  6  is an audio device or AV device functioning as a dedicated AV receiver or a source. The dedicated AV receiver is a main preamplifier installed in the listening room or the like and has a receiving function of FM broadcasting and TV broadcasting, an external input function, a function of a selector, and an external output function. The dedicated AV receiver switches operations and outputs an audio signal and video signal to the wall port  7  based on control data transmitted from the main box  2  via the wall port  7 . The dedicated AV receiver also selects an video signal and audio signal input into an external input terminal to output the video signal and audio signal to the wall port  7  by controlling an external device connected to the external input terminal. 
     Therefore, if the dedicated AV receiver is applied to the external device  6 , the acoustic system  1  is configured in such a way that a desired audio device or AV device can be added using the external input terminal of the dedicated AV receiver. Further, by directly inputting a video signal and audio signal of the external device  6  of another source unit into the external input terminal of the AV receiver, the external device  6  of the other source unit can be used in the listening room or the like. On the other hand, an audio device functioning as a source is, for example, a compact disk player, tuner of FM broadcasting and the like. An AV device functioning as a source is, for example, a tuner of TV broadcasting and the like. 
     The wall port  7  is an input/output terminal installed on the wall. The wall port  7  outputs control data output from the main box  2  to the external device  6  and outputs an audio signal and video signal output from the external device  6  to the main box  2 . 
     The zone units  4 A to  4 D are terminal units installed in a room or the like. The zone units  4 A to  4 D output control data to the main box  2  in response to a user&#39;s operation and reproduces an audio signal or a voice signal transmitted from the main box  2 . The zone units  4 A to  4 D have a keypad  9  that outputs control data to an external speaker  8  embedded in the wall and the main box  2  and also drives the external speaker  8  based on an audio signal output from the main box  2  and a display apparatus  10  that reproduces a video signal output from the main box  2  provided therein. The display apparatus  10  is installed as necessary. 
     The main box  2  switches operations to control operations of each of the source units  3 A to  3 D based on control data output from the zone units  4 A to  4 D. The main box  2  selectively outputs an audio signal and video signal input from each unit by the operation switching to the zone units  4 A to  4 D. 
     More specifically, the main box  2  selects an audio signal and video signal output from the desired source units  3 A to  3 D to output the audio signal and video signal to the zone units  4 A to  4 D under the control of the keypad  9  provided in each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D and also outputs control data to the external device  6  provided in each of the source units  3 A to  3 D. As a result, in the acoustic system  1 , the source and content can be selected by operating the keypad  9  in each room to enjoy the selected content in each room. 
     [Configuration Concerning Extensions] 
     The keypad  9  switches the operation mode to an interphone mode based on a user&#39;s operation. The interphone mode is an operation mode in which the keypad  9  is used as a terminal apparatus of an interphone to transmit and receive a voice signal between the keypads  9 . The keypad  9  transmits a voice signal acquired by a built-in microphone to the main box  2 . The main box  2  transmits the voice signal to the other zone units  4 A to  4 D and, after an audio signal being silenced, the zone units  4 A to  4 D output the transmitted voice signal from an internal speaker. Conversely, the other zone units  4 A to  4 D acquire a voice signal and transmit the voice signal to the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the main box  2 . Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , a call can be made between rooms in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are installed by using each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D as an interphone terminal. 
     Further, door phones  11 A and  11 B can be connected to the main box  2  and if an operation control to call the door phone  11 A or  11 B is operated, a ring tone is output by driving a door chime  12 . The main box  2  also outputs a voice signal output from the door phone  11 A or  11 B to the corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D under the control of the zone units  4 A to  4 D and transmits a voice signal acquired by the zone units  4 A to  4 D to the door phone  11 A or  11 B for output. The corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D silence an audio signal and then output the transmitted voice signal from an internal speaker or output a voice signal acquired by a microphone to the main box  2 . Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , a conversation can be held with a visitor from each room in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are installed by using each of the corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D as a terminal of the door phone  11 A or  11 B. 
     The main box  2  has a monitor video signal from video cameras  13 A and  13 B input thereinto and outputs the monitor video signal to the desired zone units  4 A to  4 D under the control of the keypad  9 . Accordingly, the acoustic system  1  can monitor, for example, pets or visitors in the entranceway from each room in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are installed. 
     A digital source unit  14  is a source-side unit that uses a digital audio device  15  such as a mobile music player as a music source. The digital source unit  14  outputs control data output from the main box  2  to the digital audio device  15  via a digital wall port  16 . The digital source unit  14  also outputs a digital audio signal output from the digital audio device  15  to the main box  2  via the digital wall port  16 . The main box  2  outputs control data, like the source units  3 A to  3 D, also to the digital source unit  14  and has a digital audio signal input thereinto to selectively output the digital audio signal to the zone units  4 A to  4 D. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , music content accumulated in a mobile music player or the like can also be enjoyed in each room in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are installed. 
     [Detailed Configuration of the Main Box] 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view showing an external configuration of the main box  2 . The main box  2  is created in a box-like shape and connectors CN 11 A, CN 11 B, CN 12 , and CH 14  to connect the door phones  11 A and  11 B, the door chime  12 , and the digital source unit  14  respectively are provided on a top surface thereof. Connectors CN 3 AA to CN 3 DA, CN 3 AC to CN 3 DC, and CN 3 AV to CN 3 DV for audio signal, data communication, and video signal to connect the source units  3 A to  3 D respectively are provided on the top surface. Also, connectors CN 4 AA to CN 4 HA, CN 4 AC to CN 4 HC, and CN 4 AV to CN 4 DV for audio signal, data communication, and video signal to connect the zone units  4 A to  4 D respectively are provided on the top surface. 
     Incidentally, the connectors CN 4 AA to CN 4 HA and CN 4 AC to CN 4 HC for audio signal and data communication to connect the zone units  4 A to  4 D respectively are provided for eight systems. In contrast, the connectors CN 4 AV to CN 4 DV for video signal to connect the zone units  4 A to  4 D respectively are provided for four systems. Therefore, while the main box  2  can connect up to eight zone units, four systems thereof are terminals that reproduce only an audio signal without the display apparatus  10  being installed. 
     The main box  2  has connectors CN 13 AV and CN 13 BV to input a monitor video signal and CNPCA and CNPCB to connect a computer provided on the side thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the main box  2 . In the main box  2 , a video switcher  21  is a switcher to switch output of a video signal. The video switcher  21  has a video signal of the source units  3 A to  3 D input thereinto via the connectors CN 3 AV to CN 3 DV and a monitor video signal from the video cameras  13 A and  13 B input thereinto via the connectors CN 13 AV and CN 13 BV. The video switcher  21  selectively outputs the input video signal or monitor video signal to the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the connectors CN 4 AV to CN 4 DV under the control of a controller  22 . 
     An audio switcher  20  is a switcher to switch output of an audio signal and voice signal. The audio switcher  20  has an audio signal of the source units  3 A to  3 D input thereinto via the connectors CN 3 AA to CN 3 DA. The audio switcher  20  selectively outputs the input audio signal to the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the connectors CN 4 AA to CN 4 HA under the control of a controller  22 . 
     The audio switcher  20  has a voice signal input thereinto from the door phone  11 A or  11 B via the connector CN 11 A or CN 11 B and a voice signal input thereinto from the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the connectors CN 4 AA to CN 4 HA. The audio switcher  20  selectively outputs the voice signal from the door phone  11 A or  11 B to the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the connectors CN 4 AA to CN 4 HA under the control of a controller  22 . The audio switcher  20  also selectively outputs the voice signal from the zone units  4 A to  4 D to the door phone  11 A or  11 B via the connector CN 11 A or CN 11 B and to the other zone units  4 A to  4 D via the connectors CN 4 AA to CN 4 HA. The audio switcher  20  also has a digital audio signal from the digital source unit  14  input via a connector CN 14  input thereinto after being converted into an analog signal by a digital/analog conversion circuit  25 . The audio switcher  20  selectively outputs the audio signal input from the digital/analog conversion circuit  25  to the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the connectors CN 4 AA to CN 4 HA under the control of the controller  22 . 
     The controller  22  is arithmetic processing means for controlling operations of the acoustic system  1  and controlling operations of each unit of the acoustic system  1  by executing a program recorded in a memory  26 . Thus, the controller  22  is connected to the source units  3 A to  3 D and the zone units  4 A to  4 D via the connectors CN 3 AC to CN 3 DC and CN 4 AC to CN 4 HC for data communication respectively and also is connected to the door phones  11 A and  11 B via the connectors CN 11 A and CN 11 B respectively in such a way that an operation by the calling operation control can be detected. The controller  22  is also connected to the door chime  12  via the connector CN 14  in such a way that the door chime  12  can be controlled. 
     [Detailed Configuration of the Keypad] 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view showing the external configuration of the keypad  9 . The keypad  9  has a rectangular shape protruding from a back surface thereof and is installed on the wall of each room by embedding the protruding portion in the wall. The keypad  9  has a display unit  27  to display a menu screen and the like and also volume operation controls  28 U and  28 D, a silencing operation control  29 , a menu display operation control  30 , an execution/return operation control  31 , a power operation control  32 , a cursor/input operation control  33  and the like provided thereon. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the keypad  9 . The keypad  9  acquires a voice signal of the user through a built-in microphone  34  and amplifies the voice signal by an amplification circuit  35 . The keypad  9  outputs the voice signal output from the amplification circuit  35  to the main box  2  under the control of a controller  36 . The keypad  9  also drives the external speaker  8  by an amplification circuit  37  based on an audio signal transmitted from the main box  2 . The keypad  9  also drives a built-in speaker  39  by an amplification circuit  38  based on an audio signal transmitted from the main box  2 . 
     In the keypad  9 , the controller  36  is arithmetic processing means for controlling operations of the acoustic system  1  together with the controller  22  of the main box  2 . The controller  36  controls operations of each unit of the acoustic system  1  by executing a program recorded in a memory  45 . The keypad  9  has a receiving unit that receives a remote control signal from a remote commander and is configured in such a way that each unit can be controlled by operating a remote controller in the same manner as when the operations controls  28 D to  33  are operated. 
     [Control of the Controllers  22 ,  36 ] 
     In the acoustic system  1 , if the power operation control  32 , the menu display operation control  30 , or a corresponding operation control of the remote commander is operated, the controller  36  of the keypad  9  displays a main menu screen in the display unit  27  based on an instruction of the controller  22  of the main box  2 . The controller  36  displays the current time detected by a built-in timer in the display unit  27  in the standby state. The controller  36  switches the display of the display unit  27  by starting up the power supply of the keypad  9  when the power operation control  32  or the corresponding operation control of the remote commander is operated. If the power supply of the main box  2  is not up and running when the power supply of the keypad  9  is started up, control data is output to the controller  22  of the main box  2  to start up the power supply of the main box  2  as well. 
     In the main menu screen, the controller  36  accepts a menu selection by an operation of the cursor/input operation control  33  or the corresponding operation control of the remote commander. A lower-level menu screen is displayed according to an instruction of the controller  22  by a menu selection to further accept a menu selection. Accordingly, the acoustic system  1  accepts a menu selection by displaying a menu in a hierarchical structure. 
     Here, the controllers  22 ,  36  accept setup settings by the menu selection and record setup information in the memory  26  of the controller  36 . The setup is, for example, settings of icons constituting the menu of each of the source units  3 A to  3 D and names thereof, settings of the names of rooms in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are set up, settings of icons constituting the menu of the door phones  11 A and  11 B and names thereof, and associations of the video cameras  13 A and  13 B with the zone units  4 A to  4 D or the door phones  11 A and  11 B. More specifically, the names of the source units  3 A to  3 D are, for example, FM broadcasting, AM broadcasting, TV broadcasting and the like and the names of rooms in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are set up are, for example, a living room, kitchen and the like. Names of the door phones  11 A and  11 B are, for example, an entrance and the like. If, for example, the video camera  13 A is installed in a room in which the zone unit  4 A is installed, associations of the video cameras  13 A and  13 B are settings of a link between the video camera  13 A and the zone unit  4 A. 
     The controller  22  provides instructions of the display of the main menu screen, lower-level menu screens and the like to the controller  36  based on setup information recorded in the memory  26  and the controller  36  displays the main menu screen, lower-level menu screens and the like using icons and names set by setup based on the notification to accept various kinds of selections. 
     [Control of the Source Unit] 
     Here, if the selection of a menu of the source units  3 A to  3 D is made in the main menu screen, the controller  36  notifies the controller  22  of the main box  2  of the selection. The controller  22  performs data communication with the external device  6  of the corresponding source unit  3 A to  3 D based on the notification to detect content selectable by the external device  6 . The controller  22  notifies the controller  36  of the detected selectable content and the controller  36  displays a lower-level menu screen by displaying a menu of selectable content based on the notification. When a menu of content is selected, the controller  22  is notified of the selection. 
     The controller  22  of the main box  2  controls the corresponding source units  3 A to  3 D, the audio switcher  20 , and the video switcher  21  based on the notification to input an audio signal and video signal concerning the user-selected content and selectively outputs the audio signal and video signal to the corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D. 
     The controller  36  of the keypad  9  outputs an audio signal output from the main box  2  from the external speaker  8  under the control of the amplification circuit  37  and starts up the power supply of the display apparatus  10  to reproduce a video signal in the display apparatus  10 . 
     The controller  36  also controls the amplification circuit  37  to perform processing of variable volume, silencing or cancellation of silencing by operating the volume operation controls  28 U and  28 D or the silencing operation control  29  in a state in which music content or video content being reproduced. 
     Similarly, the controller  36  accepts source and content selections by switching the display of the display unit  27  by operating the cursor/input operation control  33  and provides instructions to the main box  2  to switch to the selected source and content. The controller  22  of the main box  2  switches operations of the corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D, the video switcher  21 , and the audio switcher  20  following instructions from the controller  36  to input an audio signal and video signal concerning the user-reselected source and content before outputting the audio signal and video signal to the corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D. 
     In the acoustic system  1 , desired music content or video content can be used in each room in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are installed by a sequence of control operations by the controllers  22 ,  36 . 
     If a dedicated AV receiver is connected to the external device  6 , an external device is connected to the external input terminal of the AV receiver, and a source unit of the AV receiver is selected in the main menu screen, the controller  36  displays a lower-level menu screen by displaying a menu to select the external device connected to the AV receiver. After the selection of the external device in the lower-level menu screen, a menu of content selectable by the corresponding external device is displayed. Information necessary for the display of these lower-level menus and content menus is acquired by the controller  22  of the main box  2  from an external device by, for example, data communication via the AV receiver. The menu display of the external device may be set by the setup. 
     [Interphone Mode] 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for the controllers  22 ,  36  in interphone mode. If a menu of the interphone mode is selected in the main menu screen, the controller  22  switches the operation mode to the interphone mode to start the processing procedure and moves from step SP 1  to step SP 2 . A zone unit in which the interphone mode is set will be called a calling-side zone unit below. 
     At step SP 2 , the controller  22  notifies the controller  36  of the keypad  9  of the interphone mode and the controller  22  notifies the controller  36  of selectable call targets based on records in the memory  26  by this notification. Here, selectable call targets all other zone units or one zone unit. The controller  36  lists selectable call targets by the name of rooms set by the setup based on the notification from the controller  22  of the main box  2 . 
     Subsequently, the controller  22  moves to step SP 3 , the selection of a call target from the listing by the user is accepted, and the controller  22  of the main box  2  is notified of the selected call target. The controller  22  of the main box  2  notifies the call target keypad  9  of the name of the room in which the calling-side zone unit is installed by this notification and the name of the calling-side room is displayed by the call target display unit  27 . In this case, if the power supply of the call target keypad  9  is not up and running, the controller  22  starts up the power supply of the keypad  9  before notification of the name of the room. 
     At subsequent step SP 4 , the calling-side controller  22  silences output of an audio signal from the external speaker  8  and starts output of a voice signal acquired by the microphone  34  to the main box  2 . If no audio signal has been output from the external speaker  8 , silencing processing is omitted. The controller  22  of the main box  2  controls the operation of the audio switcher  20  corresponding to processing of the controller  36  at step SP 4  to output a voice signal output from the calling-side keypad  9  to the call target keypad  9 . The call target keypad  9  silences output of an audio signal from the external speaker  8  and outputs a voice signal transmitted from the main box  2  from the built-in speaker  39 . Also in this case, if no audio signal has been output from the external speaker  8 , silencing processing is omitted. 
     At subsequent step SP 5 , the controller  22  of the main box  2  determines whether a response has been received from the call target keypad  9 . Here, the controller  36  of the call target keypad  9  starts output of the voice signal from the built-in speaker  39 . If a predetermined operation control is operated in this state, the call target controller  22  notifies the main box  2  of the response and also stops output of the voice signal from the built-in speaker  39  and outputs the voice signal acquired by the microphone  34  to the main box  2 . Therefore, if a predetermined operation control is operated in the call target keypad  9 , the controller  22  of the main box  2  gets a positive result and at step SP 5  and moves from step SP 5  to step SP 6 . 
     At step SP 6 , the controller  22  of the main box  2  notifies the calling-side controller  36  of the response and the calling-side controller  36  displays the name of the room of the zone unit that returned a response by the notification in the display unit  27 . At subsequent step SP 7 , the controller  22  controls the operation of the audio switcher  20  and transmits a voice signal from the keypad  9  that returned a response to the calling side. 
     Subsequently, the controllers  22 ,  36  move to step SP 8  and determines whether the end of the interphone mode is instructed by determining whether the execution/return operation control  31  is operated in the calling-side keypad  9 . If a negative result is obtained at step SP 8 , the controllers  22 ,  36  return to step SP 5 . On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP 5 , the controllers  22 ,  36  move to step SP 9  and, like step SP 8 , determines whether the end of the interphone mode is instructed. If a negative result is obtained here, the controllers  22 ,  36  return to step SP 5 . On the other hand, if the execution/return operation control  31  is operated in the calling-side keypad  9 , the controllers  22 ,  36  move to step SP 10  to end the processing procedure because a positive result will be obtained at step SP 8  or SP 9 . With the end of the processing procedure, the calling-side controller  36  and the call target controller  36  return to original operation modes thereof to end output of the voice signal and silencing of the audio signal. 
     Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , a voice signal acquired by a calling-side keypad is transmitted to a call target and also a voice signal acquired by a call target keypad is transmitted to the calling side to configure the terminal of an interphone by each zone unit. 
     [Door Phone Mode] 
     When an operation of the calling operation control of the door phone  11 A or  11 B is detected, the controller  22  of the main box  2  switches the operation mode to the door phone mode. Here, the door phone mode is an operation mode that causes the keypad  9  to function as the terminal of the door phone  11 A or  11 B. If the power supply of the main box  2  is not up and running, the controller  22  starts up the power supply and then switches the operation mode to the door phone mode. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure for the controllers  22 ,  36  in door phone mode. When the processing procedure is started, the controller  22  of the main box  2  moves from step SP 11  to step SP 12  to output a calling sound. Here, if the door chime  12  is connected and the door phone  11 A or  11 B and the door chime  12  are associated by setup processing, the controller  22  outputs a calling sound by driving the door chime  12 . On the other hand, if the door chime  12  is not connected or the door phone  11 A or  11 B and the door chime  12  are not associated, the controller  36  controls the zone units  4 A to  4 D to output a calling sound from the built-in speaker  39 . 
     Further, the controller  36  notifies the zone units  4 A to  4 D of the name of the corresponding door phone  11 A or  11 B set in the setup and displays the name in the display unit  27 . Further, if the video camera  13 A or  13 B and the door phone  11 A or  11 B are associated in the setup, a monitor video signal of the corresponding video camera  13 A or  13 B is output to the zone units  4 A to  4 D and displayed in the display unit  27  under the control of the video switcher  21 . Accordingly, the acoustic system  1  can check the figure of a visitor from each room set in advance. 
     Subsequently, the controller  22  moves to step SP 13  to determine whether a response is received from any zone unit. Here, if a predetermined operation control is operated, the controller  36  of the keypad  9  notifies the main box  2  of the response and also silences output of an audio signal before starting output of a voice signal acquired by the microphone  34  to the main box  2 . Based on the response from the controller  36 , the controller  22  of the main box  2  obtains a positive result at step SP 13  and moves from step SP 13  to step SP 14 . 
     At step SP 14 , the controller  22  starts transmission/reception of a voice signal between the door phone  11 A or  11 B and the zone unit that returned a response under the control of the audio switcher  20 . That is, the controller  22  starts output of the voice signal of the door phone  11 A or  11 B to the zone unit that returned a response and output of the voice signal of the zone unit that returned a response to the door phone  11 A or  11 B. 
     Subsequently, the controller  22  moves to step SP 15  to determine whether the end of the door phone mode is instructed by determining whether the execution/return operation control  31  of the keypad that returned a response is operated. If a negative result is obtained at step SP 15 , the controller  22  repeats step SP 15 . If a negative result is obtained at step SP 13 , the controller  22  moves to step SP 16  to determine whether a fixed time has passed and, if a negative result is obtained here, returns to step SP 13 . On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained at step SP 15  or SP 16 , the controller  22  moves to step SP 17  to end the processing procedure. With the end of the processing procedure, the keypad  9  that returned a response returns to the original operation thereof to end output of the voice signal and silencing of the audio signal. 
     Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , a voice is exchanged with the door phone  11 A or  11 B by using the keypad  9  installed in each room as a terminal apparatus of the door phone  11 A or  11 B. 
     [Control of the Controllers  22 ,  36  in Monitor Mode] 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the controllers  22 ,  36  in monitor mode. Here, the monitor mode is an operation mode in which one of the rooms in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are installed as a monitoring target and audio of the monitoring target or audio and video of the monitoring target are monitored by other zone units. If the menu of the monitor mode is selected in the main menu screen, the controller  36  of the keypad  9  switches the operation mode to the monitor mode to start the processing procedure and moves from step SP 21  to step SP 22 . 
     At step SP 22 , the controller  36  of the keypad  9  lists targets that can be monitored based on records in the memory  26  by means of data communication with the controller  22 . Here, the controller  36  lists targets that can be monitored by listing the names of rooms in which the other zone units are installed based on a notification from the controller  22 . 
     Subsequently, at step SP 23 , the controller  36  accepts the selection of a monitoring target by making a selection from the listing and notifies the controller  22  of the main box  2  of the selection. If an audio signal has been reproduced by the external speaker  8 , output of the audio signal is silenced. 
     Based on the notification from the controller  36 , at subsequent step SP 24 , the controller  22  of the main box  2  instructs the keypad  9  of the monitoring target to switch the operation and silences output of an audio signal by the keypad  9 . Further, the controller  22  makes settings so that a voice signal acquired by the microphone  34  is output to the main box  2  by controlling the amplification circuit  38  in the keypad  9 . The controller  22  also controls the audio switcher  20  to output the voice signal output from the keypad  9  to be monitored to the keypad  9  in monitor mode before the voice signal is output from the built-in speaker  39 . Accordingly, the acoustic system  1  starts voice monitoring of another room by the keypad  9  in monitor mode. 
     Here, in processing of the setup, if the zone unit to be monitored and the video camera  13 A or  13 B are associated, the controller  22  notifies the keypad  9  in monitor mode of the association. When monitoring of a voice signal starts in the keypad  9  in monitor mode, the controller  36  displays a menu of video monitoring in the display unit  27  based on the notification. When the selection of the menu of video monitoring is detected, the controller  22  of the main box  2  is notified of the selection. 
     The controller  22  of the main box  2  determines whether the notification is present at step SP 25  and, if a positive result is obtained here, moves to step SP 26 . Here, the controller  22  outputs a corresponding monitor video signal to the keypad  9  in monitor mode by controlling the video switcher  21  and in the keypad  9 , the monitor video signal is displayed in the display unit  27  under the control of the controller  36 . Accordingly, the acoustic system  1  starts voice monitoring of another room by the keypad  9  in monitor mode. 
     Subsequently, the controller  22  moves to step SP 27  to determine whether the end of the monitor mode is instructed by determining whether the execution/return operation control  31  of the keypad  9  in monitor mode is operated. If a negative result is obtained at step SP 27 , the controller  22  moves to step SP 28  to repeat step SP 27 . If a negative result is obtained at step SP 25 , like step SP 27 , the controller  22  determines whether the end of the monitor mode is instructed and, if a negative result is obtained here, returns to step SP 25 . On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained at step SP 27  or SP 28 , the controller  22  moves to step SP 29  to end the processing procedure. With the end of the processing procedure, the keypad to be monitored and that in monitor mode return to the original operations thereof to end output of the voice signal and silencing of the audio signal. 
     [Control of the Digital Source Unit] 
     If the menu of the digital source unit  14  is focused in the main menu screen, the controller  22  of the main box  2  performs data communication with the digital audio device  15  via the digital wall port  16  to acquire attribute information of the digital audio device  15 . The controller  22  detects the device name of the digital audio device  15  based on the attribute information and displays the device name in the main menu screen by notifying the corresponding keypad  9  of the device name. The device name here is, for example, a mobile music player, mobile phone with a reproduction function of music and the like and the controller  22  displays these device names using the names set in the setup. 
     When the selection of a device name is notified by the controller  36 , the controller  22  detects selectable menus in the digital audio device  15  based on similar data communication with the digital audio device  15 . The controller  22  notifies the corresponding keypad  9  of the detected menus and the controller  36  of the keypad  9  displays the detected menus in a lower-level menu screen based on the notification. Selectable menus here are for a mobile music player, for example, a play list, artist, album, genre, piece and the like. 
     When the selection of a menu is notified from the controller  36  in the lower-level menu screen, the controller  22  detects selectable menus based on similar data communication with the digital audio device  15  and notifies the controller  36  of the selectable menus and also displays the selectable menus. 
     Accordingly, the controller  36  accepts the selection of content through the same user interface as that when the digital audio device  15  is directly operated and controls the operation of each unit so that the selected content is output to the corresponding zone unit. 
     [Party Mode] 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure for the controllers  22 ,  36  in party mode. Here, the party mode is an operation mode in which the same content from the same source is reproduced by all zone units. If a menu of the party mode is selected in the main menu screen, the controller  36  of the keypad  9  switches the operation mode to the party mode to start the processing procedure and moves from step SP 31  to step SP 32 . 
     Here, the controller  36  notifies the main box  2  of the switching of the operation mode to the party mode. The controller  36  also displays a menu screen similar to that described above to accept the selection of a source and content from the user and notifies the main box  2  of the selection of the source and content. 
     At subsequent step SP 33 , the controller  22  of the main box  2  outputs an audio signal and video signal by the source and content notified at step SP 32  to all zone units under the control of the video switcher  21  and the audio switcher  20 . The controllers  36  of all zone units correspondingly reproduce the audio signal and video signal output from the main box. If, in this case, the power supply of the keypad  9  is not up and running, the controller  36  starts up the power supply thereof before reproducing the audio signal and video signal. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , content selected by one zone unit is reproduced in all zone units. The controller  22  accepts an operation to switch the source or content from all zone units. 
     Subsequently, the controller  22  of the main box  2  determines whether the end of the party mode is instructed by determining whether the execution/return operation control  31  is operated in any zone unit. If a negative result is obtained at step SP 34 , the controller  22  repeats step SP 34 . On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained at step SP 34 , the controller  22  moves to step SP 35  to end the processing procedure and to restore settings of each unit to states before starting the party mode. 
     [Update Processing] 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram offered to illustrate update processing. The acoustic system  1  executes an update program  42  on a computer  41  connected to the main box  2  to update programs recorded in the memory  26  of the main box  2  and the memory  45  of each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D by a main box program  43 A and a zone unit program  43 B maintained in the update program  42  respectively. 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart showing the processing procedure for the computer  41  by the update program. When execution of the update program is instructed, the computer  41  moves from step SP 41  to step SP 42 . At step SP 42 , the computer  41  detects the version of the program maintained in the memory  26  of the controller  22  through data communication with the controller  22  of the main box  2 . The computer  41  also detects the version of the program maintained in the memory  45  of the controller  36  through data communication with the controller  36  of each of the keypads  9  via the controller  22 . 
     Subsequently, the computer  41  moves to step SP 43 . Here, the computer  41  judges each version detected at step SP 42  based on versions of the programs  43 A,  43 B maintained in the update program to detect the main box  2  and the keypad  9  that need an update. The computer  41  determines whether it is necessary to perform an update based on a detection result and, if a negative result is obtained here, the computer  41  moves from step SP 43  to step SP 44  to end the processing procedure. 
     On the other hand, if there is the main box  2  or the keypad  9  that needs an update, a positive result is obtained at step SP 43  and the computer  41  moves from step SP 43  to step SP 45 . Here, the computer  41  sets one of the main box  2  and the keypad  9  that need an update as an update target. The maintained program  43 A or  43 B is transmitted to the update target to update records of the memory  26 ,  45  by the transmitted program  43 A or  43 B. 
     Subsequently, the computer  41  moves to step SP 46  to determine whether all the main box  2  and the keypad  9  that need an update are updated. If a positive result is obtained here, the computer  41  moves to step SP 44  to end the processing procedure. On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step SP 46 , the computer  41  returns to step SP 45  by switching the update target. 
     Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , programs in the main box  2  and the keypad  9  are successively updated by the computer  41  connected to the main box  2 . 
     Operations of the Embodiment  
     In the above configuration of the acoustic system  1  ( FIGS. 1 to 5 ), if a source and content are selected in the keypad  9  provided in one of the zone units  4 A to  4 D, the main box  2  is notified of the selection. Each unit is controlled by the controller  22  provided in the main box  2  based on the notification and a video signal and audio signal of the user-selected content are selectively output to the corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D via the video switcher  21  and the audio switcher  20 . The video signal and audio signal output from the main box  2  are transmitted through a cable deployed in the wall to each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D and reproduced by the display apparatus  10  and the speaker  8 . 
     Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , a lease is shared by rooms and desired content can be enjoyed in each room by operating the keypad  9  installed in each room. When an audio device or video device installed in a listening room or the like is applied to the external device  6  of the source units  3 A to  3 D, music content or video content viewed in a listening room or the like can be enjoyed in each room. 
     In the acoustic system  1 , a dedicated AV receiver having the receiving function of FM broadcasting and TV broadcasting, external input function, function of a selector, and external output function and controllable by the main box  2  is prepared as An audio device installed in the listening room. Therefore, when the dedicated AV receiver is applied to the external device  6 , various sources can be added by using the external input terminal of the of the AV receiver and accordingly, expandability of the acoustic system can be further extended. In this case, because sources can be added without a source unit being added, sources can be added without doing large-scale work such as deployment of cables in the wall of a dwelling so that the system configuration of this type of the acoustic system  1  can be changed flexibly and easily. 
     Moreover, the digital source unit  14  can be connected to the main box  2  in the acoustic system  1  and if the digital source unit  14  is selected in the keypad  9  provided in one of the zone units  4 A to  4 D, the main box  2  is notified of the selection. Each unit is controlled by the controller  22  provided in the main box  2  based on the notification and the menu of the digital audio device  15  provided digital source unit  14  is displayed to accept the selection of content. The digital audio device  15  is controlled by the main box  2  based on the selection and an audio signal output from the digital audio device  15  is transmitted to the corresponding zone units  4 A to  4 D for reproduction. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , by using the digital audio device  15  such as a mobile music player as a source, music content of the digital audio device  15  can be enjoyed in each room. 
     In the acoustic system  1 , the main box  2  is configured in such a way that a monitor video signal can be input into the main box  2  and in the case of the door phone mode or monitor mode, the monitor video signal is selectively output to the zone units  4 A to  4 D according to user&#39;s instructions detected via the keypad  9 . In each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D, the monitor video signal is displayed in the display unit  27  of the keypad  9 . Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , the monitor video signal can also be monitored in rooms in which the zone units  4 A to  4 D are installed by making effective use of the configuration in which a video signal and audio signal are output to each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D. Therefore, in the acoustic system  1 , a video camera that outputs a monitor video signal may be installed when necessary to use the video camera for various kinds of monitoring or the like, enabling extension of the range of availability by further expanding functions. 
     More specifically, the main box  2  is configured in such a way that the door phones  11 A and  11 B can be connected and a calling sound is output from the door chime  12  or the zone units  4 A to  4 D by operating the calling operation control in door phone mode in the door phone  11 A or  11 B. If the user operates one of the zone units  4 A to  4 D and a response is received, a voice signal is exchanged between the zone unit  4 A to  4 D from which a response is received and the door phones  11 A and  11 B. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , a visitor can be dealt with by voice by using the keypad  9  provided in the zone units  4 A to  4 D as a terminal apparatus of door phone. 
     If the door phone  11 A or  11 B and the video camera  13 A or  13 B are associated in setup processing in advance in the acoustic system  1 , a monitor video signal from the video camera  13 A or  13 B is output to the corresponding zone unit  4 A to  4 D and displayed according to instructions of the user in processing in door phone mode. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , the video camera  13 A or  13 B may be installed, for example, in an entrance hall to be able to check the figure of a visitor by the video camera  13 A or  13 B, enabling function extension when compared with the past. 
     In monitor mode, on the other hand, a monitoring target is set by operating one of the zone units  4 A to  4 D and a zone unit operated by the user is set as a transmission target. A voice signal of the zone units  4 A to  4 D set as a monitoring target is acquired in monitor mode and the voice signal is transmitted to the transmission target via the main box  2 . In the transmission target, the voice signal is output from the built-in speaker  8 . Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , for example, conditions of a room in which another zone unit is installed are monitored based on voice to monitor conditions of the room. 
     If the zone unit  4 A to  4 D set as a monitoring target in setup processing in advance and the video camera  13 A or  13 B are associated in the acoustic system  1 , a monitor video signal from the video camera  13 A or  13 B is output to the corresponding zone unit  4 A to  4 D and displayed according to instructions of the user in monitor mode. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , conditions of a room in which another zone unit may be installed are monitored based on video, in addition to voice, to monitor conditions of the room, enabling extension of the range of availability by further expanding functions. 
     Particularly, by setting output of a monitor video signal in door phone mode or monitor mode by associations in setup processing, the range of availability can be extended by flexibly dealing with the installation location of a video camera that changes in various ways depending on the system configuration. That is, visitors can be checked by installing two units of the video cameras  13 A and  13 B, for example, in the entrance and the back door together with the door phones  11 A and  11 B respectively or instead, visitors and pets can be monitored by installing the video cameras  13 A and  13 B in the entrance and the living room respectively. Or, pets can be monitored by arranging two units of the video cameras  13 A and  13 B in the living room and a pet room. 
     In the acoustic system  1 , on the other hand, if the user selects the interphone mode in one of the zone units  4 A to  4 D, the zone unit is set as the calling side and the selection of the call target zone unit  4 A to  4 D is accepted. A voice signal acquired by the microphone  34  contained in the keypad  9  is exchanged between the calling side and the call target side via the main box  2  in the acoustic system  1 . Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , the keypad  9  of each of the zone units  4 A to  4 D can be used as a terminal apparatus of interphone, thereby enabling extension of the range of usage. 
     On the other hand, if the user selects the party mode in one of the zone units  4 A to  4 D, a video signal and audio signal of the source and content selected in the zone unit  4 A to  4 D are output to all the zone units  4 A to  4 D from the main box  2 . Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , for example, when a party is given in a dwelling, music content and video content common to all rooms can be provided, further improving ease of use when compared with the past. 
     Also in party mode, if switching of the source and content is instructed in the zone units  4 A to  4 D including the zone units that selected the party mode, the video signal and audio signal output to all the zone units  4 A to  4 D by the main box  2  are switched according to the instruction. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , in a party, for example, content can be changed in various ways by operating the nearby zone unit  4 A to  4 D while music content and video content common to all rooms being provided, further improving ease of use. 
     Incidentally, each unit of the acoustic system  1  is controlled by executing programs stored in the memories  26 ,  45  of the main box  2  and the keypad  9  by the controllers  22 ,  36  respectively. Therefore, it becomes necessary to update programs stored in these memories  26 ,  45 . However, since the keypad  9  is installed in each room, if no new way is devised, it will be necessary to move to each room in which the keypad  9  is installed to update the keypad  9  separately. Therefore, update processing will be very complicated. 
     Particularly in this type of the acoustic system  1 , programs may be updated when a long time passes after installation and in such a case, even the location of the keypad  9  may be unknown. Thus, in such a case, it becomes difficult to update a portion of the keypads  9  constituting the acoustic system in the end. Therefore, it becomes difficult to reliably update the acoustic system  1  as a whole. 
     Thus, in the acoustic system  1  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ), the main box  2  is provided with the connectors CNPCA and CNPCB to connect a computer and a computer is connected to the connector CNPCA or CNPCB. Using the computer, the keypads  9  are successively updated by transmitting update data to the keypads  9  via the main box  2  and the main box  2  is also updated. Accordingly, in the acoustic system  1 , the keypads installed in each room can successively be updated from the location where the main box  2  is installed, simplifying update processing significantly when compared with the past. 
     Moreover, even the keypad  9  whose location is unknown can also be updated reliably by transmitting update data by using the data communication cable to transmit control data from the keypad  9 . 
     Effect of the Embodiment 
     According to the above configuration, update processing can be simplified when compared with the past by providing connectors in a main box that selectively outputs an audio signal from source units to zone units and updating programs in the main box successively by update data input via the connectors. 
     By transmitting the update data to a plurality of zone units via a data communication cable deployed in a wall to input control data from the zone units at this point, update processing can be simplified by effectively using the existing configuration and further, update processing can reliably be performed even if a long period of time passes after installation. 
     Also by performing update processing of the main box, the update processing can be simplified when compared with the past. 
     &lt;Modification&gt; 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 
     In the embodiment described above, a case in which a computer is connected and zones units are successively updated by executing a program in the computer is described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example and, for example, update data may be provided by recording the update data in a memory card so that zone units may be successively updated with the update data by executing a program provided in a main box. 
     In the above embodiment, a case in which the present invention is applied to an acoustic system that transmits an audio signal and vide signal. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example and can also be applied widely to an acoustic system that transmits only an audio signal. 
     The present invention can be applied to an acoustic system that transmits an audio signal to each room of a dwelling via a cable deployed in the wall of the dwelling and reproduces the audio signal by a speaker embedded in the wall. 
     The present application contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2008-282734 filed in the Japan Patent Office on 4 Nov. 2008, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.