Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8072549?dq=7,453,150
Timestamp: 2015-04-21 05:56:11
Document Index: 69039047

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 210', 'art 120', 'art 220', 'art 230', 'art 320', 'art 332', 'art 210', 'art 110']

Patent US8072549 - Repeater apparatus to provide a source apparatus with format information ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn a home theater system having a source apparatus, a repeater apparatus and a sink apparatus connected in the recited order, when connected to a sink apparatus, whatever type it is, the repeater apparatus provides the source apparatus with video and audio signal format information that allows correct...http://www.google.com/patents/US8072549?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8072549 - Repeater apparatus to provide a source apparatus with format information that can be processed by both a sink apparatus and the repeater apparatus and method for controlling the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8072549 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/720,026Publication dateDec 6, 2011Filing dateNov 25, 2005Priority dateNov 25, 2004Also published asCN101129069A, CN101129069B, DE602005021393D1, EP1816868A1, EP1816868A4, EP1816868B1, US20080080596, WO2006057324A1Publication number11720026, 720026, US 8072549 B2, US 8072549B2, US-B2-8072549, US8072549 B2, US8072549B2InventorsYoshifumi Inoue, Masahiko MizoguchiOriginal AssigneePanasonic CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (23), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (3), Classifications (27), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetRepeater apparatus to provide a source apparatus with format information that can be processed by both a sink apparatus and the repeater apparatus and method for controlling the same
US 8072549 B2Abstract
In a home theater system having a source apparatus, a repeater apparatus and a sink apparatus connected in the recited order, when connected to a sink apparatus, whatever type it is, the repeater apparatus provides the source apparatus with video and audio signal format information that allows correct transmission. A control part 210 of the repeater apparatus 200 reads EDID information from memory 321 of the connected sink apparatus 300, and analyzes video and audio signal formats that can be processed by the sink apparatus 300, and when any format that cannot be handled by the repeater apparatus 200 itself is included, the repeater apparatus deletes information concerning that format to reconstruct the EDID information, and stores the reconstructed information into memory 221 in order to cause the source apparatus 100 to reference the stored information as EDID information of the repeater apparatus itself.
1. A repeater apparatus comprising:
a receiving part for decoding video and audio signals in a predetermined format that have been encoded by a source apparatus;
a transmitting part for re-encoding at least the video signal out of the decoded video and audio signals for transmission to a sink apparatus;
an audio reproducing part having an audio signal processing part and an amplifier part; and
a control part for controlling operations of the receiving part, the transmitting part and the audio reproducing part, and storing information into memory, the information being acquired from the sink apparatus and defining a plurality of formats that can be processed by the sink apparatus,
wherein the control part newly sets a video signal format that can be processed by the repeater apparatus, the newly set video signal format being an overlap between video signal formats that can be processed by the sink apparatus and video signal formats that can be processed by the repeater apparatus; the control part sets an audio signal format that can be processed by the repeater apparatus regardless of a format acquired from the sink apparatus; the control part replaces the format defining information stored in the memory with information defining the newly set format; the audio signal decoded by the receiving part is inputted to the audio reproducing part so as to be reproduced as audio; and the video signal decoded by the receiving part is inputted to the transmitting part so as to be re-encoded and transmitted to the sink apparatus.
2. The repeater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a soundless audio signal is generated by the audio signal processing part, and transmitted to the sink apparatus after being encoded by the transmitting part, along with the video signal.
3. The repeater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving part is capable of receiving a signal conforming to an HDMI standard, and the transmitting part is capable of transmitting the signal conforming to the HDMI standard.
4. The repeater apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information defining the formats of the video and audio signals is information conforming to an EDID standard.
5. A repeater apparatus controlling method for decoding video and audio signals in a predetermined format that have been encoded by a source apparatus, and thereafter re-encoding the video and audio signals for transmission to a sink apparatus, the method comprising:
acquiring, from the sink apparatus, information defining a plurality of formats for the video and audio signals that are configured to be processed by the sink apparatus,
analyzing the acquired information and information defining formats for the video and audio signals that are configured to be processed by a repeater apparatus,
setting a video signal format to be processed by the repeater apparatus, the set video signal format being an overlap between video signal formats that are configured to be processed by the sink apparatus and video signal formats that are configured to be processed by the repeater apparatus,
setting an audio signal format to be processed by the repeater apparatus regardless of the acquired information, and
reproducing the audio signal as audio by an audio reproducing part included in the repeater apparatus using the set audio signal format, and re-encoding and transmitting the video signal to the sink apparatus to be reproduced using the set video signal format.
6. The repeater apparatus controlling method according to claim 5, wherein the re-encoding and transmitting of the video signal to the sink apparatus further comprises encoding and transmitting a soundless audio signal, along with the video signal, to the sink apparatus.
7. The repeater apparatus controlling method according to claim 5, wherein the reproducing of the audio signal, and the re-encoding and transmitting of the video signal, respectively comprises reproducing and re-encoding and transmitting audio and video signals conforming to an HDMI standard.
8. The repeater apparatus controlling method according to claim 5, wherein the acquiring of the information defining the plurality of the formats for the video and audio signals comprises acquiring information conforming to an EDID standard.
As an interface standard for transmitting digital video and audio signals between the output apparatus and the receiving apparatus, a standard called �High-Definition. Multimedia Interface� (hereinafter, referred to as the �HDMI�; see Non-Patent Document 1) is established.
Because the HDMI standard makes it possible to transmit video and audio data in high-quality and uncompressed form, and the audio data is transmitted along with a video signal with a blanking period in which the audio data is superimposed (hereinafter, such a signal is referred to as the �HDMI signal�), the HDMI standard has advantages, for example, in that it is not necessary to separate an audio output terminal and a video output terminal as is required conventionally. Furthermore, the standard is expected to come into wide use in the future because the HDMI signal being transferred is encoded and thus copyright-protected.
In the HDMI, basically, a plurality of apparatuses are connected in series via cables conforming to the HDMI standard (hereinafter, referred to as the �HDMI cables�), and signals are transmitted between the apparatuses in one direction. The apparatuses are classified into three types:
(1) �Source� for transmitting signals (hereinafter, referred to as the �source apparatus�); (2) �Sink� for receiving signals (hereinafter, referred to as the �sink apparatus�); and (3) �Repeater� disposed between the source apparatus and the sink apparatus and having abilities to receive and retransmit signals as well as, for example, a 1-input/1-output or multi input/multi output selector function for selecting the source apparatus or the sink apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as the �repeater apparatus�). Note that the repeater apparatus does not simply pass the signals therethrough, but has in itself abilities both as the sink apparatus and as the source apparatus, and functions for reproducing a video signal and an audio signal by decoding a received HDMI signal, and reconverting these signals into an HDMI signal before retransmission.
Note that the sink apparatus at least stores information called �Extended Display Identification Data� (hereinafter, referred to as the �EDID�; see Non-Patent Document 2) for defining formats of video and audio signals, and the source apparatus can reference the EDID information in the sink apparatus by reading it via a serial signal line called a �DDC� in the HDMI cable.
For example, when the EDID information indicates THAT �THE FORMAT OF THE VIDEO SIGNAL IS COMPATIBLE WITH 480P and 1080i, and the format of the audio signal is a linear PCM 2-channel format and compatible with sampling frequencies of up to 192 kHz�, the source apparatus can operate in such a manner as �not to use 720p but to output audio of up to 192 kHz without limiting the audio at 48 kHz�.
Non-Patent Document 1: �High-Definition Multimedia Interface Specification Version 1.1�, 2004 Non-Patent Document 2: �ENHANCED EXTENDED DISPLAY IDENTIFICATION DATA STANDARD Release A, Revision 1 VESA,�, 2002 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To attain the above object, the present invention provides a repeater apparatus comprising:
a receiving part for decoding video and audio signals in a predetermined format that have been encoded by a source apparatus; a transmitting part for re-encoding at least the video signal out of the decoded video and audio signals for transmission to a sink apparatus; and a control part for controlling operations of the receiving part and the transmitting part, and storing information into memory, the information being acquired from the sink apparatus and defining a plurality of formats that can be processed by the sink apparatus, wherein the control part newly sets a format that can be processed by the repeater apparatus, the newly set format being an overlap between the formats that can be processed by the sink apparatus and formats that can be processed by the repeater apparatus, and the control part replaces the format defining information stored in the memory with information defining the newly set format. The repeater apparatus of the present invention may further comprise an audio reproducing part having at least an audio signal processing part and an amplifier part, the audio signal decoded by the receiving part may be inputted to the audio reproducing part so as to be reproduced as audio, and the video signal decoded by the receiving part may be inputted to the transmitting part so as to be re-encoded and transmitted to the sink apparatus.
Also, a soundless audio signal may be generated by the audio signal processing part, and transmitted to the sink apparatus after being encoded by the transmitting part, along with the video signal.
In addition, in the repeater apparatus of the present invention, it is preferred that the receiving part is capable of receiving a signal conforming to an HDMI standard, and the transmitting part is capable of transmitting the signal conforming to the HDMI standard. Also, it is preferred that the information defining the formats of the video and audio signals is information conforming to an EDID standard.
In addition, the present invention provides a method for controlling the repeater apparatus, which is a repeater apparatus controlling method for decoding video and audio signals in a predetermined format that have been encoded by a source apparatus, and thereafter re-encoding the signals for transmission to a sink apparatus,
wherein for at least one of the video and audio signals, information defining a plurality of formats that can be processed by the sink apparatus is acquired from the sink apparatus, and the acquired information and information defining formats that can be processed by a repeater apparatus are analyzed to set an overlapping format as a new format that can be processed by the repeater apparatus. Effect of the Invention
The repeater apparatus of the present invention is capable of allowing the source apparatus to recognize only video and audio signal formats falling within the range that can be processed by the repeater apparatus based on whatever ability owned by a sink apparatus connected thereto, and therefore the source apparatus can output a signal after automatically determining an optimal format in accordance with the ability of the sink apparatus.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a home theater system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating video signal formats that can be processed by each apparatus in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating audio signal formats that can be processed by each apparatus in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process for editing EDID information in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for editing EDID information in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In the case where the format A is, for example, 1080i, �being capable of processing the format A� means that, as for the source apparatus 100, the content signal processing part 120 can reproduce a video signal from a recording medium, such as an optical disk, in 1080i format. In addition, it means that, as for the repeater apparatus 200, the HDMI receiving part 220 can reproduce an HDMI signal, which is transmitted from the source apparatus 100, as a video signal in 1080i format, and thereafter the HDMI transmitting part 230 can reconvert the video signal into an HDMI signal for transmission. Also, it means that, as for the sink apparatus, the HDMI receiving part 320 can reproduce an HDMI signal, which is transmitted from the repeater apparatus 200, as a video signal in 1080i format, which is thereafter displayed on the display part 332.
Lastly, the control part 210 brings the HotPlug signal line 403 back to High level in order to notify the control part 110 of the source apparatus 100 that the EDID Information in the repeater apparatus 200 has become readable (S11). Thereafter, each time the connection status of the sink apparatus 300 is changed, the processing will be executed from step S1.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for editing the EDID information in a repeater apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The present embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that audio is reproduced from the internal loudspeakers 335 of the sink apparatus 300, rather than from the external loudspeakers 243 of the repeater apparatus 200. Because other features are similar to those in Embodiment 1, and the configuration of the home theater system is not changed from that shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5.
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Apr. 7, 2008 with English Translation.2PCT International Search Report dated Feb. 21, 2006.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8810732 *Feb 9, 2007Aug 19, 2014AliphcomAuto-select algorithm for a high-definition multimedia interface switchUS8948254 *Jan 20, 2009Feb 3, 2015Sony CorporationVideo signal transmitting device, video signal transmitting method, video signal receiving device, and video signal receiving methodUS20100073574 *Jan 20, 2009Mar 25, 2010Sony CorporationVideo signal transmitting device, video signal transmitting method, video signal receiving device, and video signal receiving method* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification348/723, 386/231, 725/80, 386/230, 348/552International ClassificationH04N7/18, H04N5/38, H04N7/16, H04N7/00Cooperative ClassificationG06F3/14, H04N21/4122, H04N21/43615, H04N21/4363, H04N21/42646, H04N7/163, H04N21/4367, H04N21/4398, H04N21/440218European ClassificationH04N21/41P4, H04N21/4402F, H04N21/436H, H04N21/426D, H04N21/4367, G06F3/14, H04N21/4363, H04N21/439R, H04N7/16E2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionNov 14, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: PANASONIC CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:021835/0446Effective date: 20081001Owner name: PANASONIC CORPORATION,JAPANFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100203;REEL/FRAME:21835/446Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100209;REEL/FRAME:21835/446Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100216;REEL/FRAME:21835/446Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100225;REEL/FRAME:21835/446Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL 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