Patent Description:
Hitherto, an audio device for processing a multi-channel digital audio signal has been known. For example, an audio reproduction device described in Patent Literature <NUM> decodes a <NUM> channel digital audio signal into analog audio signals for a front left channel, a front right channel, a center channel, a surround left channel, a surround right channel, and a subwoofer channel, amplifies the analog audio signals, and outputs each of the analog audio signals from a corresponding output terminal.

Patent Literature <NUM> proposes a television receiver in which, based on speaker information of each of one or more devices including speakers which is a memory of the television receiver, a transmitting audio signal to be transmitted to each device including a speaker, in which synchronization is established between devices including speakers in a reproduction mode, is formed and transmitted to the device (including a speaker) through a communication interface.

Patent Literature <NUM> proposes an audio signal transmitting apparatus which includes: a channel mapping unit which determines audio signals to be allocated to channels and generates channel mapping information indicating classes of the audio signals allocated to the channels; an audio signal transmitting unit for transmitting to external connection equipment the audio signals allocated to the channels by the channel mapping unit in accordance with a first transmission system or a second transmission system; and a connection management information providing unit for providing to the external connection equipment connection management information containing the channel mapping information and transmission system information indicating an audio signal transmission system.

Patent Literature <NUM> proposes a hybrid amplification architecture that separates individual audio amplifier stages from the power supply and a simple two- or three-conductor bus that transmits both power and audio signal to a plurality of daisy-chained speakers to playback adaptive audio content in an expanded surround-sound environment including surround and overhead speakers or for use within professional live sound applications and/or distributed audio systems.

In recent years, a <NUM> channel digital audio signal in which a surround back left channel and a surround back right channel are added to the <NUM> channels described above is becoming a main stream. For home use, Auro-3D (trademark) adaptable to up to <NUM> channels, Dolby Atoms (trademark) for Home adaptable to up to <NUM>. <NUM> channels, and others have been proposed, and a channel count of audio channels is on an ever-increasing trend.

Considering this situation, it is likely that a new digital audio signal supporting a channel count higher than an adaptable channel count of an audio device owned by a user comes to be in use before long. In order to listen to this new digital audio signal at a channel count higher than the adaptable channel count of the audio device owned by the user, the user is required to purchase a new audio device adaptable to this channel count to replace the owned audio device.

However, an audio device with a high adaptable channel count is generally expensive. It is costly to purchase a new audio device every time a digital audio signal is to be listened to at a channel count higher than the adaptable channel count of the owned audio device. In addition, the owned audio device that is no longer used is a waste of resources.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and is to provide a technology with which listening at a desired channel count is accomplished at a lower cost without wasting resources.

To solve the problems described above, in the present invention, an operation terminal causes a plurality of audio devices to process a multi-channel digital audio signal through cooperation among the plurality of audio devices. The operation terminal distributes audio channels to be processed among those audio devices, and determines, based on a signal processing time of each of the audio devices, an output delay time of each of the audio devices so that timing of outputting an analog audio signal matches for all of the audio devices. Each of the audio devices decodes the multi-channel digital audio signal input thereto into an analog audio signal for the audio channel distributed by the operation terminal to an own device, and outputs the analog audio signal created by the decoding with a delay of the output delay time determined by the operation terminal for the own device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation terminal according to claim <NUM>.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an audio system according to claim <NUM>.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided program according to claim <NUM>.

In the present invention, the audio channels to be processed are distributed among the plurality of audio devices and the output delay time is determined for each of the audio devices, and thus the plurality of audio devices are caused to process a multi-channel digital audio signal through cooperation with one another. Therefore, the multi-channel digital audio signal can be listened to at a channel count too high to be dealt with a single audio device, and a user can increase the channel count by adding to an audio device owned by the user, instead of replacing the owned audio device with a newly purchased audio device. According to the present invention, listening at a desired channel count is thus accomplished at a lower cost without wasting resources.

Now, one embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of an audio visual (AV) system according to this embodiment.

As illustrated in the figure, the AV system according to this embodiment includes a plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> (hereinafter may simply be referred to as "AV amplifier devices <NUM>"), a reproducing device <NUM>, a plurality of speakers <NUM>, a monitor <NUM>, and an operation terminal <NUM> for remotely operating the AV amplifier devices <NUM>.

The reproducing device <NUM>, the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, and the monitor <NUM> each include an HDMI (trademark). Digital AV cables <NUM> compatible with the HDMI (trademark) are used to connect between the reproducing device <NUM> and the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>, between the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> and the monitor <NUM>, and between the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> and the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>. Each of the speakers <NUM> is connected to one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> via an analog audio cable <NUM>. The AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the operation terminal <NUM> are connected to each other by Wi-Fi (trademark), Bluetooth (trademark), or other forms of near field communication.

The AV amplifier devices <NUM> reproduce a digital AV signal including a multi-channel digital audio signal and a multi-channel digital video signal in conformity to Auro-3D (trademark), Dolby Atoms (trademark) for Home, or a similar reproduction method. In this embodiment, the AV amplifier devices <NUM> are assumed to be adaptable to up to <NUM> channels (a front left channel FL, a front right channel FR, a center channel C, a surround left channel SL, a surround right channel SR, a surround back left channel SBL, a surround back right channel SBR, and a subwoofer channel SW).

The reproducing device <NUM> reproduces a digital AV signal supporting a plurality of channel counts, and outputs the digital AV signal as an HDMI (trademark) signal. In this embodiment, the digital AV signal is assumed to support a plurality of channel counts including a channel count of <NUM>. <NUM> channels (the front left channel FL, the front right channel FR, the center channel C, the surround left channel SL, the surround right channel SR, the surround back left channel SBL, the surround back right channel SBR, the subwoofer channel SW, a top front left channel TFL, a top front right channel TFR, a top middle left channel TML, a top middle right channel TMR, a top rear left channel TRL, and a top rear right channel TRR).

The speakers <NUM> are provided so as to correspond, on a one-to-one basis, to the audio channels counted in a channel count of the AV system, and each output an audio signal of the corresponding audio channel. In this embodiment, <NUM>. <NUM> channels are assumed to be the channel count.

The operation terminal <NUM> sets, in the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, information required to process, through cooperation between the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, a multi-channel digital audio signal included in the digital AV signal that is output from the reproducing device <NUM>.

In the AV system configured as described above, the operation terminal <NUM> distributes audio channels to be processed between the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. Here, out of the <NUM>. <NUM> channels, the front left channel FL, the front right channel FR, the center channel C, the surround left channel SL, the surround right channel SR, the surround back left channel SBL, the surround back right channel SBR, and the subwoofer channel SW are distributed to the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>, and the rest of the channels, namely, the top front left channel TFL, the top front right channel TFR, the top middle left channel TML, the top middle right channel TMR, the top rear left channel TRL, and the top rear right channel TRR, are distributed to the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>. The operation terminal <NUM> also determines an output delay time for each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, based on a signal processing time of the monitor <NUM> (a time required to create display data by decoding from the digital video signal included in the digital AV signal) and a signal processing time of each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> (a time required to create an analog audio signal by decoding from the digital audio signal included in the digital AV signal) so that timing of outputting the analog audio signal from each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> is in synchronization with video output from the monitor <NUM> (Auto Lip-Sync). The operation terminal <NUM> then sets the determined output delay time to each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>.

The AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> relays the digital AV signal output from the reproducing device <NUM> to the monitor <NUM> and the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>. The AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> also decodes the multi-channel digital audio signal included in the digital AV signal output from the reproducing device <NUM> into analog audio signals of the front left channel FL, the front right channel FR, the center channel C, the surround left channel SL, the surround right channel SR, the surround back left channel SBL, the surround back right channel SBR, and the subwoofer channel SW distributed to the own device <NUM>-<NUM>, and amplifies the analog audio signals. The AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> delays the analog audio signals of the audio channels by the output delay time set to the own device <NUM>-<NUM>, and then outputs the analog audio signals to the corresponding speakers <NUM> for the audio channels.

The AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> decodes the digital AV signal output from the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> into analog audio signals of the top front left channel TFL, the top front right channel TFR, the top middle left channel TML, the top middle right channel TMR, the top rear left channel TRL, and the top rear right channel TRR distributed to the own device <NUM>-<NUM>, and amplifies the analog audio signals. The AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> delays the analog audio signals of the audio channels by the output delay time set to the own device <NUM>-<NUM>, and then outputs the analog audio signals to the corresponding speakers <NUM> for the audio channels.

Details of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the operation terminal <NUM> which form the AV system according to this embodiment are described next. Detailed descriptions on the reproducing device <NUM>, the speakers <NUM>, and the monitor <NUM>, to which existing devices are applicable, are omitted.

Details of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> are described first.

<FIG> is a schematic function configuration diagram of each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>.

As illustrated in the figure, the AV amplifier devices <NUM> each include a digital AV input terminal <NUM>, a plurality of digital AV output terminals <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> (hereinafter may simply be referred to as "digital AV output terminals <NUM>"), a relay unit <NUM>, a plurality of analog audio output terminals <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> (hereinafter may simply be referred to as "analog audio output terminals <NUM>"), a plurality of amplifiers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> (hereinafter may simply be referred to as "amplifiers <NUM>"), a plurality of delay buffers <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> (hereinafter may simply be referred to as "delay buffers <NUM>"), an audio signal processing unit <NUM>, a near field communication interface unit <NUM>, a performance information acquisition unit <NUM>, a performance information notification unit <NUM>, a settings information reception unit <NUM>, and a distribution/delay setting unit <NUM>.

The digital AV input terminal <NUM> is connected to the reproducing device <NUM> or another of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>, and a digital AV signal is input thereto.

The digital AV output terminal <NUM> is connected to the monitor <NUM> or another of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>, and a digital AV signal is output therefrom.

The relay unit <NUM> relays the digital AV signal input to the digital AV input terminal <NUM> to the digital AV output terminals <NUM>.

Each of the analog audio output terminals <NUM> is connected to one of the speakers <NUM> via the analog audio cable <NUM>, and outputs an analog audio signal to the connected one of the speakers <NUM>.

The amplifiers <NUM> are each provided for one of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and each amplify an analog audio signal input thereto and output the amplified analog audio signal to the corresponding one of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>.

The delay buffers <NUM> are each provided for one of the amplifiers <NUM>, and each output an analog audio signal input thereto to the corresponding one of the amplifiers <NUM> after buffering the analog audio signal by a set output delay time.

The audio signal processing unit <NUM> decodes, for each audio channel distributed to its own device which is one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, the multi-channel digital audio signal included in the digital AV signal input to the digital AV input terminal <NUM> into an analog audio signal of the corresponding audio channel. The audio signal processing unit <NUM> outputs this analog audio signal to one of the amplifiers <NUM> connected to one of the analog audio output terminals <NUM> that is allocated the corresponding audio channel.

The near field communication interface unit <NUM> is an interface for connecting to the operation terminal <NUM> by Wi-Fi (trademark), Bluetooth (trademark), or other forms of near field communication.

The performance information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires, when the reproducing device <NUM> is connected to the digital AV input terminal <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>, performance information including an adaptable channel count (a maximum channel count supported by the multi-channel digital audio signal included in the digital AV signal) from the reproducing device <NUM>. The performance information acquisition unit <NUM> also acquires, when the monitor <NUM> is connected to one of the digital AV output terminals <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>, performance information including a signal processing time from the monitor <NUM>. Those pieces of performance information can be acquired by issuing inquiries with the use of a Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) command of the HDMI (trademark) to the device connected to the digital AV input terminal <NUM> and the device connected to the one of the digital AV output terminals <NUM>.

The performance information notification unit <NUM> notifies to the operation terminal <NUM>, in response to an inquiry received about the performance information from the operation terminal <NUM> via the near field communication interface unit <NUM>, the performance information including the adaptable channel count of its own device which is one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, a configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and a signal processing time. When the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> and/or the performance information of the monitor <NUM> which are acquired by the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> are available at that time, the performance information notification unit <NUM> notifies those pieces of performance information to the operation terminal <NUM> along with those pieces of performance information.

The settings information reception unit <NUM> receives settings information from the operation terminal <NUM> via the near field communication interface unit <NUM>.

The distribution/delay setting unit <NUM> sets, in the audio signal processing unit <NUM>, audio channels included in the settings information received by the settings information reception unit <NUM> from the operation terminal <NUM> as audio channels distributed to its own device which is one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>. The distribution/delay setting unit <NUM> also sets, in the delay buffers <NUM>, an output delay time included in the settings information received by the settings information reception unit <NUM> from the operation terminal <NUM> as an output delay time of its own device which is one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>.

Next, operation of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> is described.

Setting operation of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> is described first.

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating setting operation of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>.

This flow is started upon reception of an inquiry about the performance information at the near field communication interface unit <NUM> from the operation terminal <NUM>.

First, the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> determines whether a device is connected to the digital AV input terminal <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>. When there is a device connected thereto, the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> issues an inquiry to the connected device, and receives a response to the inquiry to check a type of the connected device. Similarly, the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> determines, for each one of the digital AV output terminals <NUM>, whether a device is connected to the one of the digital AV output terminals <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>. When there is a device connected thereto, the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> issues an inquiry to the connected device, and receives a response to the inquiry to check a type of the connected device (Step S100). A CEC command of the HDMI (trademark) can be used for the inquiries to the connected devices.

When it is confirmed that the reproducing device <NUM> is connected to the digital AV input terminal <NUM> ("YES" in Step S101), the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> transmits an inquiry about the performance information to the reproducing device <NUM> from the digital AV input terminal <NUM> via the relay unit <NUM>, and acquires the performance information including an adaptable channel count from the reproducing device <NUM> (Step S102).

When it is confirmed that the monitor <NUM> is connected to one of the digital AV output terminals <NUM> ("YES" in Step S103), the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> transmits an inquiry about the performance information to the monitor <NUM> from the one of the digital AV output terminals <NUM> via the relay unit <NUM>, and acquires the performance information including a signal processing time from the monitor <NUM> (Step S104).

Next, the performance information notification unit <NUM> notifies the performance information including the adaptable channel count of its own device which is one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, the configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and a signal processing time to the operation terminal <NUM> via the near field communication interface unit <NUM>, as well as the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> acquired from the reproducing device <NUM> and the performance information of the monitor <NUM> acquired from the monitor <NUM> when those pieces of performance information are already acquired by the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> (Step S105).

The settings information reception unit <NUM> waits for the transmission of the settings information from the operation terminal <NUM> via the near field communication interface unit <NUM> (Step S106). When the settings information has been received from the operation terminal <NUM> ("YES" in Step S106), the settings information reception unit <NUM> notifies audio channels to be processed, the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and an output delay time that are included in the settings information to the distribution/delay setting unit <NUM>. The notified audio channels are audio channels distributed to its own device which is one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> to be processed, the notified analog audio output terminals <NUM> are the analog audio output terminals <NUM> to which the audio channels to be processed are allocated, and the notified output delay time is the output delay time of its own device <NUM>.

In response, the distribution/delay setting unit <NUM> sets, in the audio signal processing unit <NUM>, the audio channels to be processed that are notified from the settings information reception unit <NUM>, along with the analog audio output terminals <NUM> to which the audio channels are allocated. The distribution/delay setting unit <NUM> also sets, in the delay buffers <NUM>, the output delay time notified from the settings information reception unit <NUM> (Step S107).

Operation of digital AV signal processing of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> is described next.

In <FIG>, the digital AV input terminal <NUM> outputs a digital AV signal input thereto to the relay unit <NUM> and the audio signal processing unit <NUM>.

In response, the relay unit <NUM> outputs the digital AV signal from the digital AV output terminal <NUM>-<NUM> when a device is connected to the digital AV output terminal <NUM>-<NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>. Similarly, the relay unit <NUM> outputs the digital AV signal from the digital AV output terminal <NUM>-<NUM> when a device is connected to the digital AV output terminal <NUM>-<NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>.

The audio signal processing unit <NUM> decodes, for each audio channel set by the distribution/delay setting unit <NUM>, a multi-channel digital audio signal included in the digital AV signal into an analog audio signal of the corresponding audio channel. The audio signal processing unit <NUM> outputs this analog audio signal to one of the delay buffers <NUM> that is connected via one of the amplifiers <NUM> to one of the analog audio output terminals <NUM> to which the corresponding audio channel is allocated.

When the analog audio signal is input, the one of the delay buffers <NUM> buffers this analog audio signal by the output delay time set by the distribution/delay setting unit <NUM>, and then outputs the analog audio signal to the corresponding one of the amplifiers <NUM>. When the analog audio signal is input, the one of the amplifiers <NUM> amplifies this analog audio signal and outputs the analog audio signal to the corresponding one of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>.

Next, details of the operation terminal <NUM> are described.

<FIG> is a schematic function configuration diagram of the operation terminal <NUM>.

As illustrated in the figure, the operation terminal <NUM> includes a near field communication interface unit <NUM>, a man-machine interface unit <NUM>, a performance information acquisition unit <NUM>, a channel distribution unit <NUM>, an output delay time determination unit <NUM>, a settings information notification unit <NUM>, and a main control unit <NUM>.

The near field communication interface unit <NUM> is an interface for connecting to the AV amplifier devices <NUM> by Wi-Fi (trademark), Bluetooth (trademark), or other forms of near field communication.

The man-machine interface unit <NUM> is an interface for presenting information to a user and receiving the user's various types of operation, and is configured from, for example, a touch-sensitive display.

The performance information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires, via the near field communication interface unit <NUM>, from each one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, the performance information of the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> including an adaptable channel count, the configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and a signal processing time. The performance information acquisition unit <NUM> also acquires the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> including the adaptable channel count of the reproducing device <NUM> from one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> to which the reproducing device <NUM> is connected (in <FIG>, the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>), and acquires the performance information of the monitor <NUM> including a signal processing time from one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> to which the monitor <NUM> is connected (in <FIG>, the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>).

The channel distribution unit <NUM> identifies channel counts reachable through cooperation of the plurality of AV amplifiers <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, from among adaptable channel counts included in the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> which is acquired by the performance information acquisition unit <NUM>, based on the adaptable channel count included in the performance information of each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> which is acquired by the performance information acquisition unit <NUM>. The channel distribution unit <NUM> further distributes an audio channel to be processed to each of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, based on a channel count selected by the user from among the identified channel counts.

Further, the channel distribution unit <NUM> determines, for each one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, which of the analog audio output terminals <NUM> is to be allocated for each audio channel to be processed that is distributed to the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, based on the configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM> which is included in the performance information of the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>.

The channel distribution unit <NUM> also outputs connection guidance data for informing the user of which audio channels are distributed to which of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, to the man-machine interface unit <NUM>.

The output delay time determination unit <NUM> determines an output delay time for each of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> so that timing of outputting an analog audio signal in the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> is in synchronization with video output in the monitor <NUM>, based on the signal processing times included in the performance information of each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the performance information of the monitor <NUM> which are acquired by the performance information acquisition unit <NUM>.

The settings information notification unit <NUM> notifies, via the near field communication interface unit <NUM>, to each one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, the settings information including audio channels distributed to the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> by the channel distribution unit <NUM> and an output delay time determined for the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> by the output delay time determination unit <NUM>.

The main control unit <NUM> controls the units <NUM> to <NUM> of the operation terminal <NUM> in an integrated manner.

Next, operation of the operation terminal <NUM> is described.

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating operation of the operation terminal <NUM>.

This flow is started upon reception of the user's predetermined operation for building the AV system, via the man-machine interface unit <NUM>.

First, the main control unit <NUM> instructs the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> to acquire the performance information. In response, the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> transmits an inquiry about the performance information to each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> via the near field communication interface unit <NUM>. The performance information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires, from the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>, the performance information of the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> including an adaptable channel count, the configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and a signal processing time, the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> including the adaptable channel count of the reproducing device <NUM>, and the performance information of the monitor <NUM> including the signal processing time of the monitor <NUM>, and acquires, from the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>, the performance information of the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM> including an adaptable channel count, the configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and a signal processing time (Step S50).

The main control unit <NUM> next gives the performance information of each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> that have been acquired by the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> to the channel distribution unit <NUM>, and instructs the channel distribution unit <NUM> to distribute channels. In response, the channel distribution unit <NUM> identifies channel counts reachable through cooperation of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> from among adaptable channel counts included in the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM>, based on the adaptable channel counts included in the pieces of performance information of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>. The channel distribution unit <NUM> then creates channel count selection screen data for displaying a channel count selection screen including a list of the identified channel counts, and displays the channel count selection screen on the man-machine interface unit <NUM> (Step S51).

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a display example of the channel count selection screen.

As illustrated in the figure, usable channel counts <NUM> are displayed in the form of a list on the channel count selection screen, along with checkboxes <NUM>. A cancel button for unchecking the checkboxes <NUM> is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>. An enter button for confirming checking of one of the checkboxes <NUM> is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>. The user checks any one of the checkboxes <NUM> and selects the enter button <NUM> with the checkbox checked. A usable channel count associated with the one of the checkboxes <NUM> that is checked is thus selected as a channel count to be used. An example in which a channel count of <NUM>. <NUM> channels is selected is illustrated in <FIG>.

Next, the man-machine interface unit <NUM> receives the selection of the channel count to be used from the user via the channel count selection screen (Step S52), and notifies the channel count selected to be used to the channel distribution unit <NUM>. In response, the channel distribution unit <NUM> determines distribution of audio channels included in the channel count selected to be used to the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, in accordance with a predetermined rule (Step S53).

Priorities of AV amplifier devices <NUM> are determined in descending order of adaptable channel counts. Here, any order of priority is determined for a plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM> that have the same adaptable channel count. Next, audio channels may be distributed to the AV amplifier devices <NUM> in descending order of priority, with major (basic) audio channels distributed first. For example, when the channel count to be used is a channel count of X. Z channels, the audio channels are distributed in the order of X, Y, and Z. In an example illustrated in <FIG>, a channel count of <NUM>. <NUM> channels is selected as a channel count to be used, audio channels corresponding to a "<NUM>" part (the front left channel FL, the front right channel FR, the center channel C, the surround left channel SL, the surround right channel SR, the surround back left channel SBL, the surround back right channel SBR, and the subwoofer channel SW) of the <NUM>. <NUM> channels are distributed to the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>, and audio channels corresponding to a "<NUM>" part (remaining audio channels: the top front left channel TFL, the top front right channel TFR, the top middle left channel TML, the top middle right channel TMR, the top rear left channel TRL, and the top rear right channel TRR) of the <NUM>. <NUM> channels are distributed to the AV amplifier device <NUM>-<NUM>. The channel distribution unit <NUM> allocates, for each one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, the analog audio output terminals <NUM>-<NUM> to <NUM>-<NUM> to the audio channels distributed to the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, based on the configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM> which is included in the performance information of the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>.

Next, the main control unit <NUM> gives the performance information of each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the performance information of the monitor <NUM> that have been acquired by the performance information acquisition unit <NUM> to the output delay time determination unit <NUM>, and instructs the output delay time determination unit <NUM> to determine output delay times. In response, the output delay time determination unit <NUM> determines an output delay time for each of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> so that timing of outputting an analog audio signal in the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> is in synchronization with video output in the monitor <NUM>, based on the signal processing times included in the pieces of performance information of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the monitor <NUM> (Step S54).

For example, when the signal processing times of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, and the signal processing time of the monitor <NUM> is <NUM>, the output delay times of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are determined to be <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The main control unit <NUM> next notifies results of the processing in the channel distribution unit <NUM> and the output delay time determination unit <NUM> to the settings information notification unit <NUM>, and instructs the settings information notification unit <NUM> to notify the settings information. In response, the settings information notification unit <NUM> creates, for each one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, the settings information including audio channels to be processed that are distributed by the channel distribution unit <NUM> to the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, the analog audio output terminals <NUM> to which the audio channels to be processed are allocated, and an output delay time determined for the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> by the output delay time determination unit <NUM>, and notifies the created settings information to the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> via the near field communication interface unit <NUM> (Step S55).

The main control unit <NUM> next instructs the channel distribution unit <NUM> to display the connection guidance. In response, the channel distribution unit <NUM> creates the connection guidance data for building an AV system at the channel count selected by the user to be used, and displays, on the man-machine interface unit <NUM>, connection guidance based on this connection guidance data (Step S56).

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a display example of a first screen of the connection guidance.

As illustrated in the figure, the first screen of the connection guidance displays a recommended example of an arrangement position <NUM> of the monitor <NUM> and arrangement positions <NUM> of the speakers <NUM> for the audio channels included in the channel count to be used, in relation to a listening position <NUM> of the user. The recommended example illustrated in <FIG> is an example for a case in which the channel count to be used is a channel count of <NUM>. <NUM> channels. An end button for closing the first screen of the connection guidance that is being displayed is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>, and a switch button for switching the connection guidance from the first screen to a second screen described later is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a display example of the second screen of the connection guidance.

The second screen of the connection guidance is displayed when the switch button <NUM> is selected on the first screen of the connection guidance illustrated in <FIG>.

As illustrated in the figure, the second screen of the connection guidance displays, for each one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, a table <NUM> showing connection relationships between the analog audio output terminals <NUM> and analog audio channels. A field for displaying identification information of the analog audio output terminal <NUM> is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>. A field for displaying an analog audio channel to be connected to one of the analog audio output terminals <NUM> that is displayed in the field <NUM> of the same row as that of the analog audio channel is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>. An end button for closing the second screen of the connection guidance that is being displayed is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>. A switch button for switching the connection guidance from the second screen to the first screen is denoted by a reference symbol <NUM>. It is preferred that the table <NUM> display a product name, a serial number, and the like of the one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>. This facilitates grasping of an association relationship to the actual one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>. A product name, a serial number, and the like of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> may be included in the performance information so that those pieces of information are acquired from the AV amplifier devices <NUM> along with adaptable channel counts, the configuration of the analog audio output terminals <NUM>, and the signal processing time.

One embodiment of the present invention is described above.

In this embodiment, the operation terminal <NUM> distributes audio channels to be processed among AV amplifier devices <NUM>, and determines an output delay time for each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, and thus a digital AV signal including a multi-channel digital audio signal is processed through cooperation of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>. Therefore, the multi-channel digital audio signal can be listened to at a channel count too high to be dealt with by one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> by itself, and a user can increase the channel count by adding to the AV amplifier devices <NUM> owned by the user, instead of replacing the owned AV amplifier devices <NUM> with a newly purchased device. According to this embodiment, listening at a desired channel count is thus accomplished at a lower cost without wasting resources.

In this embodiment, the operation terminal <NUM> identifies channel counts reachable through cooperation of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>, from among channel counts supported by the multi-channel digital audio signal, based on an adaptable channel count included in the performance information acquired from each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>, and distributes audio channels included in a channel count selected by a user from the identified channel counts among the AV amplifier devices <NUM>. The user can accordingly build an AV system by selecting a desired channel count from channel counts reachable through cooperation of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>.

The operation terminal <NUM> distributes the audio channels to be processed to the AV amplifier devices <NUM> in descending order of adaptable channel counts of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>. The AV amplifier devices <NUM> adaptable to more channel counts are considered to be higher in quality and processing capability. Therefore, an AV system having a higher quality can be built by distributing audio channels to the AV amplifier devices <NUM> in descending order of adaptable channel counts of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and distributing major audio channels first.

In this embodiment, the operation terminal <NUM> outputs the connection guidance for informing the user about which audio channel is distributed to which of the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>. This enables the user to build an AV system by referring to the connection guidance, thus improving user-friendliness.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the AV amplifier devices <NUM> each adjust timing of outputting, from one of the analog audio terminals <NUM>, an analog audio signal that has been created through decoding by the audio signal processing unit <NUM>, by outputting the analog audio signal to one of the delay buffers <NUM> and buffering the analog audio signal in the one of the delay buffers <NUM> by an output delay time set by the distribution/delay setting unit <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The timing of outputting the analog audio signal from one of the analog audio terminals <NUM> may be adjusted by using the audio signal processing unit <NUM> to delay, based on an output delay time set by the distribution/delay setting unit <NUM>, processing of creating an analog audio signal through decoding. In this case, the delay buffers <NUM> can be omitted.

In the embodiment described above, the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are connected in series, with the reproducing device <NUM> as a starting point, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may be connected in parallel via a reproducing device 2A as in a first modification example of the present invention illustrated in <FIG>. As another example, the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> may be connected in parallel via a distribution device <NUM> which is connected to the reproducing device <NUM> and which distributes a digital AV signal output from the reproducing device <NUM> to a plurality of components as in a second modification example of the present invention illustrated in <FIG>.

In the embodiment described above, two AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are connected in series, but three or more AV amplifier devices <NUM> may be connected in series. Similarly, in the first modification example illustrated in <FIG> and the second modification example illustrated in <FIG>, two AV amplifier devices <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> are connected in parallel, but three or more AV amplifier devices <NUM> may be connected in parallel.

In the embodiment described above, HDMI (trademark) interfaces are used as connection interfaces between the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the reproducing device <NUM>, between the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and the monitor <NUM>, and between one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> and another of the AV amplifier devices <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a universal serial bus (USB) interface or any other connection interface may be used as long as a digital AV signal can be transmitted and received through the interface.

In the embodiment described above, the operation terminal <NUM> acquires the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> from one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> that is connected to the reproducing device <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The operation terminal <NUM> may acquire the performance information of the reproducing device <NUM> directly from the reproducing device <NUM> by providing the reproducing device <NUM> with a connection interface (near field communication interface) to the operation terminal <NUM>.

similarly, in the embodiment described above, the operation terminal <NUM> acquires the performance information of the monitor <NUM> from one of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> that is connected to the monitor <NUM> via one of the digital AV cables <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The operation terminal <NUM> may acquire the performance information of the monitor <NUM> directly from the monitor <NUM> by providing the monitor <NUM> with a connection interface (near field communication interface) to the operation terminal <NUM>.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the functional configuration of each of the AV amplifier devices <NUM> which is illustrated in <FIG> may be implemented by hardware through use of an integrated logic IC, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or may be implemented by software through use of a computer, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP). Alternatively, the functional configuration may be implemented by a general computer, for example, a personal computer including a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, a flash memory, a hard disk drive or another such auxiliary storage device, a wireless LAN adaptor or another such communication device, a speaker, and a microphone, causing the CPU to load a predetermined program into the memory from the auxiliary storage device and execute the program.

In the embodiment described above, the function configuration of the operation terminal <NUM> which is illustrated in <FIG> may be implemented by a CPU by loading a predetermined program into a memory from an auxiliary storage device and executing the program in a smartphone, a tablet PC, or another portable terminal that includes the CPU, the memory, the auxiliary storage device which is a flash memory or the like, a communication device which is a wireless LAN adapter or the like, and an input device and a display device which are a touch-sensitive display or the like.

The embodiment described above takes as an example the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM> for processing a digital AV signal including a multi-channel digital audio signal and a multi-channel digital video signal in cooperation with one another, and an AV system including the plurality of AV amplifier devices <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable to a wide range of audio devices for processing a multi-channel digital audio signal through cooperation of a plurality of audio devices, and a wide range of audio systems each including a plurality of such audio devices.

In this case, the operation terminal <NUM> distributes audio channels to be processed among those audio devices, and determines, based on a signal processing time of each of the audio devices, an output delay time of each of the audio devices so that timing of outputting an analog audio signal matches for all of the audio devices. Each of the audio devices decodes the multi-channel digital audio signal input thereto into an analog audio signal for the audio channel distributed by the operation terminal <NUM> to the own device, and outputs the analog audio signal created by the decoding with a delay of the output delay time determined by the operation terminal <NUM> for the own device.

Claim 1:
An operation terminal (<NUM>) for causing a plurality of audio devices (<NUM>) to process a multi-channel digital audio signal through cooperation among the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>), comprising:
performance information acquisition means (<NUM>) configured to acquire, from each one of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>), performance information including an adaptable channel count and a signal processing time of the one of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>);
channel distribution means (<NUM>) configured to distribute an audio channel to be processed to each of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>), based on the adaptable channel count included in the performance information acquired by the performance information acquisition means (<NUM>) from each of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>);
output delay time determination means (<NUM>) configured to determine, for each of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>), an output delay time so that timing of outputting an analog audio signal matches in the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>), based on the signal processing time included in the performance information acquired by the performance information acquisition means (<NUM>) from each of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>); and
settings information notification means (<NUM>) configured to notify, to each one of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>), settings information including the audio channel to be processed that is distributed to the one of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>) by the channel distribution means (<NUM>) and the output delay time determined for the one of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>) by the output delay time determination means (<NUM>),
wherein the channel distribution means (<NUM>) is configured to distribute the audio channels to be processed to the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>) by prioritising the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>) in descending order of the respective adaptable channel counts of the plurality of audio devices (<NUM>).